The Economy's Impact on the Special Event Industry

Event Staffing Agencies See Business Boost for 2012 Mar 28, 2012 1:39 PM, By Lisa Hurley It's an old rule of thumb that if the temporary staffing business is growing, then the economy is ready to grow too. And based on reports from staffing agencies that specialize in special events, the future is looking brighter for the event industry as a whole....

Hot and Not: What Event Segments Will Drive Business in 2012 Mar 20, 2012 4:13 PM, By Natasha Garber What kinds of events are most likely to drive business in 2012? Experts in four major markets track the trends....

Event Pros to Focus on Innovation, Social Media in 2012 Jan 11, 2012 3:19 PM, By Lisa Hurley Confidence that the economy is at least beginning to stabilize has special event professionals more optimistic for 2012, but some familiar hurdles will remain for the foreseeable future. ...

Special Event Experts 'Polish the Process' for Success in 2012 Jan 4, 2012 1:02 PM, By Lisa Hurley In the old days, special event pros could succeed on a simple mix of creativity and energy. But ever-shorter lead times and ever-more-demanding clients are changing the nature of the business, requiring a more structured approach to operations....

Special Events Business Forecast 2012 Jan 1, 2012 12:00 PM, By Lisa Hurley The mood is lifting among special event professionals, with 47 percent predicting they will stage more events this year than they did in 2011....

Rental Essentials: Forecast 2012--A Brighter Day for Party Rental? Jan 1, 2012 12:00 PM, By Lisa Hurley Ask for the word around party rental and you'll hear a better forecast for business in 2012....

Party Rental Industry Bullish for Special Events in 2012 Dec 14, 2011 2:11 PM, By Lisa Hurley A healthy 64 percent of party rental operators say they expect to produce more special events in 2012 than they did this year....

Tight Budgets Expected to Continue in 2012, Special Events Survey Says Dec 7, 2011 1:10 PM, By Lisa Hurley The No. 1 New Year's resolution for special event professionals in 2012? It's the same one, sad to say, that they made this year—to continue to create effective events on smaller budgets....

Big Party Rental Companies Forecast Gains in 2011 Nov 9, 2011 2:19 PM, By Lisa Hurley The biggest event rental companies predict that their 2011 revenue will run 3.1 percent ahead of last year, according to Special Events Magazine....

Hotels See Special Event Business Firming Up for 2011-12 Nov 2, 2011 1:50 PM, By Lisa Hurley Although the glory days of 2007 have not returned, many hoteliers are seeing special event business firm up at their properties....

Worries over Economy Dominate Event Industry Challenges, Survey Says Sep 28, 2011 1:09 PM, By Lisa Hurley By a wide margin, concern about the economy is the No. 1 challenge facing special event professionals in the next 12 months. ...

10th Annual Special Events' Corporate Event Marketplace Study Jul 1, 2011 12:00 PM, Edited by Lisa Hurley Fair-weather forecast: The brightening outlook for the corporate special event market continues, with 86 percent of respondents saying they will produce...

Big Event Companies Forecast Stronger Year in 2011 Sep 7, 2011 4:51 AM, By Lisa Hurley After a tough 2010, when overall revenue fell 1 percent, the biggest event planning companies forecast a stronger year in 2011, predicting a 9 percent boost in revenue on average....

Caterers Foresee Solid 2011 Holiday Party Season Sep 14, 2011 2:27 PM, By Lisa Hurley Two-thirds of caterers responding to the latest online poll from Special Events foresee solid holiday party business this year....

Bright Outlook for 2012, Special Events' Advisory Board Says Jul 6, 2011 11:53 AM, By Lisa Hurley Both bookings and budgets look better for 2012, members of the Special Events Advisory Board say....

Corporate Event Forecast Brighter for 2012, Special Events Survey Says Jun 8, 2011 6:56 AM, By Lisa Hurley The market for corporate special events is showing a healthy rebound, with 44 percent of respondents predicting they will produce more corporate events in 2012 than they will this year....

Top Caterers Describe Market Forecast for 2011 May 11, 2011 1:13 PM, By Lisa Hurley At the end of the first quarter of 2011, the biggest caterers are seeing a welcome boost in business, notably in the corporate sector, though they still must keep a lid on costs....

Event Pros Share Secrets to Success in 2011 Dec 15, 2010 12:58 PM, By Lisa Hurley Even as confidence that the new year will bring better business for special event professionals grows, event professionals aren't just waiting for better business to knock on the door. Instead, they are addressing emerging challenges with new strategies to foster cooperation and innovation....

Ready to Party: Party Rental Foresees Better Year in 2011, Survey Says Dec 8, 2010 8:30 AM, By Lisa Hurley The party rental business is predicting a better year in 2011, with 61 percent saying they expect to handle more events next year than they did in 2010....

Confidence Up for Event Business in 2011, Special Events Survey Says Dec 1, 2010 7:51 AM, By Lisa Hurley Confidence in the future of special events is rebounding strongly, with both in-house and independent event pros predicting they will produce more events in 2011....

Corporate Event Trends: The Gala Nominees Speak Out Nov 24, 2010 11:04 AM, By Lisa Hurley What are the major trends in the world of corporate events? Ask the Gala Award nominees in Best Corporate Event....

The Economy: Are Event Pros Predicting a Dreaded "Double Dip"? Jul 14, 2010 2:07 PM The latest online survey from Special Events shows that 41 percent of respondents fear we're headed for a double-dip recession....

Corporate Event Market Looking Up in 2010 and 2011, Special Events Survey Says Jun 23, 2010 12:01 PM, By Lisa Hurley The mood in the corporate special event community is definitely picking up, according to the annual Special Events Corporate Event Marketplace study, which will be released next month....

The New Day for Corporate Special Events Apr 7, 2010 5:31 AM, By Lisa Hurley With scant exceptions, the way special event professionals are doing their jobs today is very different from five years ago--and it might never go back again....

Newbie "Wedding Planners" Plague the Professionals Mar 24, 2010 2:11 PM, By Lisa Hurley Along with price-shopping brides who haggle over every penny in the wedding budget, veteran wedding professionals face another headache these days: the newbie wedding planner. ...

2010 Showing Better Event Business, Special Events Survey Says Feb 17, 2010 2:02 PM, By Lisa Hurley After a wrenching year, the special event business is perking up, the latest online survey from Special Events says....

Special Events Temp Agencies See Business Boost Feb 10, 2010 12:35 PM Agencies that provide temporary event staff are seeing business bloom....

Who's Hiring in Special Events Now�and Why Feb 3, 2010 12:58 PM, By Lisa Hurley Although most special events professionals find it's business as usual�recession-era business as usual, that is�some are taking the unusual step of hiring staffers....

Alive and Thriving: Tips from Veteran Event Pros on Staying in Business Jan 27, 2010 1:44 PM, By Lisa Hurley Five veteran event professionals shared how they have thrived....

Rental Essentials: Party and Event Rental Business Forecast for 2010 Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM, By Lisa Hurley The annual Special Events event rental forecast for 2010 shows a brighter mood among operators, with fully 52 percent expecting to handle more events...

Event Rental Sees Break in Business Clouds in 2010 Jan 5, 2010 5:46 PM, By Lisa Hurley The annual Special Events event rental forecast for 2010 shows a brighter mood among operators, with fully 52 percent expecting to handle more events in the new year, up from only 37 percent in last year's survey.<...

Event Budgets Expected to Stay Skintight in 2010, Special Events Study Says Dec 16, 2009 6:44 AM, By Lisa Hurley Working with lean budgets will be the No. 1 challenge facing special event professionals in 2010, according to the latest survey from Special Events. ...

Event Pros See Brighter Forecast for 2010, Special Events Survey Says Dec 9, 2009 5:48 AM, By Lisa Hurley Both in-house and independent special event professionals see a brighter picture for events in 2010, according to the latest survey from Special Events. ...

Lower Bar, Bat Mitzvah Budgets Bedevil Event Planners, But They Respond with Creative Cuts Nov 25, 2009 12:24 PM, By Lisa Hurley Even milestone events such as bar and bat mitzvahs are facing the brunt of the brutal economy....

Event Pros Still Going Eco-chic Despite Sour Economy Nov 17, 2009 5:29 PM, By Special Events Staff Although the tough economy is prohibiting many event professionals from working as "green" as they'd like to, the appeal of beautiful yet eco-conscious events remains strong....

Go Green to Keep Going, Party Rental Says Nov 11, 2009 1:14 PM, By Lisa Hurley The green movement may keep party rental in the long green. ...

Event Pros Scale Back Decor to Please Clients Oct 14, 2009 7:15 AM The majority of special event professionals today say they are scaling back decor at the events they create because their clients demand it....

Corporate Event Forecast Mixed, Latest Survey Says Oct 7, 2009 12:41 PM, By Lisa Hurley The latest online poll from Special Events shows mixed opinions from special event professionals on when corporate event business—which has fallen off sharply in the last year—will show signs of strength....

Blooming in Bad Times: Success Secrets from Top Event Planning Companies Sep 23, 2009 1:26 PM, By Lisa Hurley Some event planning companies are actually having a better year this year than last. Here are three success stories....

Targeting New Markets Takes Time and Money--and Brings Surprises, Special Event Experts Say Sep 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Lisa Hurley Although breaking into new markets and offering new services can be vital to staying afloat in tough times, the process often takes more time and costs...

Caterers Show Cautious Optimism for 2009 Holiday Party Business Sep 9, 2009 3:49 PM, By Lisa Hurley Caterers and venues show cautious optimism about 2009 holiday party business, with 72 percent predicting that they will have the same or better business this year than they did in 2008....

More Event Planners Expect Recovery to Start This Year May 13, 2009 7:17 AM, By Lisa Hurley Whether it's due to better news from the stock market or less-than-miserable unemployment reports, some 41 percent of special event professionals polled this week by Special Events predict that the economy will start to recover this year. ...

Editor's Page: Time for A Change May 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Lisa Hurley Anyone who pays any attention to the news must be wondering, what other challenges could possibly beset the world of special events? The recession has...

10 Things You Need to Know to Ride Out the Recession May 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Richard Foulkes Leaders around the world have declared their national economies in recession. Each announcement triggers consumers to cut back, employers to downsize,...

Tough Economy Dominates 2009 Event Forecast Dec 17, 2008 3:21 PM, By Lisa Hurley Predictably, the sour economy worldwide is seen by event professionals as their greatest challenge in 2009, according to the annual forecast developed by Special Events Magazine. ...

Rental Operators Vary on Keeping Fuel Surcharges Dec 10, 2008 6:01 AM Although virtually all rental companies boosted delivery fees to offset skyrocketing fuel charges this summer, they vary on keeping the higher fees in place...

Editor's Page: Economy Gives Event Industry Trial by Fire Dec 1, 2008 12:00 PM, Lisa Hurley Half of all in-house event professionals and nearly 60 percent of independents predict they will stage more events this year than in 2007. The forecast...

GEP DMC Survey Gives Peek into Year Ahead Dec 9, 2008 4:47 PM GEP's annual DMC survey results are in...

Rental Operators Hold Line on Discounting Nov 11, 2008 4:23 PM Despite the tough economy, most event rental operators say they will not be discounting the price of their services, according to a recent online poll from Special Events. ...

Holiday Party Outlook Grim; Are You Discounting? Nov 5, 2008 6:50 AM Although yesterday's U.S. presidential election will calm some of the general uncertainty nagging at financial markets, the outlook for the corporate holiday party business remains bleak....

Fuel Prices Fall But Rental Profits Still Feel Pressure Oct 22, 2008 6:10 AM With fuel prices dropping, are event rental fleets reaping the benefit? So far, the answer is mixed....

Economy Crashes Holiday Party Business Oct 8, 2008 6:43 AM Nearly two-thirds of respondents to an online Special Events poll say that lousy economic news is cutting into their corporate holiday party business....

Editor's Page: Financial News is a Wild Ride for Special Events Oct 1, 2008 12:00 PM, Lisa Hurley I've never flown in a stunt plane making loop-the-loops. But reading newspaper headlines last month covering America's astonishing economic news makes...

30 Top Rental Companies Note Economic Chill Oct 1, 2008 5:07 AM The respondents to Special Events Magazine's 11th annual "30 Top Event Rental Companies" list predict an 8 percent boost in revenue this year, but the forecast for 2009 is not so rosy....

Event Pros Weigh In on Financial Crisis Sep 24, 2008 7:54 AM Businesspeople are holding their breath this week as the U.S. Congress wrangles over the astonishing $700 billion bailout proposed by the Bush Administration to save the sinking financial sector....

Successful Fundraising in Tight Economy Sep 1, 2008 12:00 PM Times are tight, but good causes still need money. So how do event producers work with scaled-back budgets? Read on....