Event Planning Ethics and Etiquette: A Principled Approach to the Business of Special Event Management / Edition 1

by Judy Allen

Overview

The world of event planning can be alluring and dangerous at once-exotic locales, wining and dining, and people traveling without their spouses. In such situations the line between business and pleasure blurs and the nature of relationships gets cloudy. With a thoughtless act or a less-than-tactful word, long-lasting business relationships can be ruined forever.

Beyond that, budgets are on the chopping block and competition for business is tight. In that environment, people often cut not just financial corners, but the ethical ones, too. There’s a fine line between innocent perks and inappropriate gifts or kickbacks. Event planners today must navigate a minefield of potentially sticky situations that can easily blow up in their face. Without a professional code, lines of acceptable behavior are easily crossed. And what you do personally can hurt you professionally.

Event Planning Ethics and Etiquette provides event planners with the companion they need to stay out of trouble, keep professional relationships healthy and profitable, avoid the riskier temptations of the lifestyle, and win business in a highly competitive market using ethical business practices.

• Explains how to establish policies and codes of behavior, in the office and onsite at events.
• Offers guidelines on when it is acceptable to accept a gift, what is acceptable, and what is inappropriate.
• Shows how to prepare yourself, as well as your staff, for what to expect, and how to handle the unexpected with business finesse.
• Covers business etiquette in event planning crisis management situations.
• Helps you to avoid putting yourself and your company at personal and professionals risk.
• Features real-life examples and situations, and advice on how to handle them with poise and professionalism.
• Includes a list of “Event Planning Do’s and Don’ts.”

Event Planning Ethics and Etiquette will be of value to the professional event planner; to event planning suppliers and clients working with industry professionals; as well as to those in related fields, such as public relations, administrative professionals, communications; and anyone in the hospitality, culinary, and travel industry.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780470676448
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	07/30/2009
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Judy Allen is one of the world's leading authorities on staging, event and lifestyle design and the bestselling author of ten books for the professional, business and consumer markets. Allen, a master of creative design, has flawlessly executed successful special events-corporate, social, and celebrity-for up to 2,000 guests at a time in more than 30 countries around the world. She has designed and produced memorable events such as Disney's worldwide theatrical opening-night gala for Beauty and the Beast, and the orchestration of Oscar-winning director Norman Jewison's 25th anniversary celebration for Fiddler on the Roof.
Highly skilled in staging events that are strategically designed to be one-of-kind experiences and a master of transforming the energy of an event environment by engaging the senses with trademark primary design principles, Allen has worked closely with CEOs, CFOs, presidents and their executive staff around the globe to create, implement and oversee their corporate and social business events.
The many diverse events that Allen has designed and executed extend from complex one-day events to elaborate arrangements of theme productions taking place over the course of a week. These events ranged from very exclusive VIP events to multimillion-dollar, multimedia fantasy extravaganzas including seven new-car product launches and involved high-tech stage and show productions.
Allen, and her 2jproductions (www.2jproductions.com) partner, Joe Shane, are now bringing their dynamic creative energy, innovative style and perceptive insight to home, life and lifestyle design and world class resorts around the world through Sensual Home Living^TM (www.sensualhomeliving.com) and other initiatives.

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Table of Contents

Acknowledgements.

Preface.

Part One: Business Ethics.

Chapter 1: The Ethical Cost of Doing Business.

Event Planner and Supplier Professional Working Relationships.

In-Office Sales Presentations.

Communication Between Planners and Suppliers.

Business Meals.

Familiarization Trips.

Industry Functions.

Holiday Celebrations.

Proposals and Quotes.

Event Operations.

On-Site Meetings.

Business Referrals.

Confidentiality.

Business Favors.

Chapter 2: Fair Competition.

Supplier-to-Supplier Ethics.

Staff.

Chapter 3: Maintaining Ethical Boundaries.

Business Interactions Between Event.

Planners and Clients.

Finding the Right Match to Do Business With.

Using Business Discretion.

How to Handle Unethical Behavior.

Part Two: Business Etiquette.

Chapter 4: Business Etiquette, Protocol and Entertaining: On Your Home Turf.

Their Offices.

In Restaurants.

Out and About.

Elevated Entertainment.

Out On the Town.

Industry Events.

At Home.

Weekend Retreats.

Holidays Parties.

Chapter 5: Business Etiquette, Protocol and Entertaining: Out of Town or Country.

Familiarization Trips.

Site Inspections.

Personal Travel.

Part Three: Codes of Conduct.

Chapter 6: Codes of Conduct in the Office: Clients, Suppliers and Planners.

Chapter 7: Codes of Conduct on Site: Clients, Suppliers and Planners.

Pre-Event Meetings (Pre-cons).

On Site Event Orchestration.

Post-Event Celebrations.

Client, Supplier and Planner Codes of Conduct.

Chapter 8: Codes of Conduct on Site: Event Planning Crisis Management.

Guest Safety and Security.

Event Fulfillment, Safety and Security.

ABCs of Event Planning Crisis Management.

Sample Plans.

Recap of the ABCs of Event Planning Crisis Management.

Chapter 9: Event Planning Ethics, Etiquette and Essentials A-Z.

Chapter 10: Event Planning Dos and Don’ts: How to Develop In-Office and On-Site Ethics and Business Etiquette Policies.

Conclusion.

Index.

What People are Saying About This

Patti J. Shock

The importance of developing long-term relationships between planners and suppliers is driven home in this outstanding book on ethics and business etiquette in the events industry. The reader is taken through scenarios that point out areas of ethical lapses that are often just considered as ‘the cost of doing business.’ Advice is given on how to choose relevant gifts that are appropriate, and not construed as a bribe or a kickback. From business meals to familiarization trips, there is practical advice on accepting or refusing perks. This is an extremely timely and much-needed book.
—Professor and Chair Tourism and Convention Administration Department Harrah College of Hotel Administration University of Nevada, Las Vegas

David L. Spear

The study and discussion of ethics is both intriguing and valuable, especially in the ever-expanding special events industry. Judy Allen’s book, Event Planning Ethics and Etiquette, addresses many areas of this fascinating topic. I welcome a book that provokes special events professionals to examine their opinions and beliefs on ethics, etiquette, and accepted business practices.
—CSEP Classic Effects by Events, Inc. President, International Special Events Society (ISES)

Mary E. Power

The goal of the Convention Industry Council is to advance the professionalism of the meeting, convention, and exhibition industry. Judy Allen’s book on ethics and etiquette for event planning certainly supports this mission. We salute her efforts. In today’s competitive business environment, it is now more important than ever to distinguish yourself and your company with ethical business practices. Business relationships based on mutual trust and honest business practices will weather any economic storm and build a successful future for all involved.
—President Convention Industry Council

Marta Pawych

An excellent, timely benchmark for all those who strive to achieve the highest standard in the event planning industry. This invaluable resource will progressively lead event professionals through the fundamental steps in organizing, planning, and succeeding in event management. A must read!
—CMM, CMP, CSEP Director Meetings, Events & Sponsorships Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario

Mary Lou Josey

Ethics and etiquette are the ultimate foundation of event planning. This book outlines all of the criteria necessary for each and every event planner to be a success. The relevancy of this information has never been more important in the industry than it is today. My thanks to Judy Allen.
—Program Coordinator Event Management Certificate Program Ryerson University

From the Publisher

"An excellent, timely benchmark for all those who strive to achieve the highest standard in the event planning industry. This invaluable resource will progressively lead event professionals through the fundamental steps in organizing, planning, and succeeding in event management. A must read!"
Marta Pawych, CMM, CMP, CSEP
Director Meetings, Events & Sponsorships
Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario

"The importance of developing long-term relationships between planners and suppliers is driven home in this outstanding book on ethics and business etiquette in the events industry. The reader is taken through scenarios that point out areas of ethical lapses that are often just considered as 'the cost of doing business.' Advice is given on how to choose relevant gifts that are appropriate, and not construed as a bribe or a kickback. From business meals to familiarization trips, there is practical advice on accepting or refusing perks. This is an extremely timely and much-needed book."
Patti J. Shock
Professor and Chair
Tourism and Convention Administration Department
Harrah College of Hotel Administration
University of Nevada, Las Vegas

"The goal of the Convention Industry Council is to advance the professionalism of the meeting, convention, and exhibition industry. Judy Allen's book on ethics and etiquette for event planning certainly supports this mission. We salute her efforts. In today's competitive business environment, it is now more important than ever to distinguish yourself and your company with ethical business practices. Business relationships based on mutual trust and honest business practices will weather any economic storm and build a successful future for all involved."
Mary E. Power
President
Convention Industry Council

"Ethics and etiquette are the ultimate foundation of event planning. This book outlines all of the criteria necessary for each and every event planner to be a success. The relevancy of this information has never been more important in the industry than it is today. My thanks to Judy Allen."
Mary Lou Josey
Coordinator, Event Management Certificate Program
Ryerson University

"The study and discussion of ethics is both intriguing and valuable, especially in the ever-expanding special events industry. Judy Allen's book, Event Planning Ethics and Etiquette, addresses many areas of this fascinating topic. I welcome a book that provokes special events professionals to examine their opinions and beliefs on ethics, etiquette, and accepted business practices."
David L. Spear, CSEP
Classic Effects by Events, Inc.
President, International Special Events Society (ISES)

Editorial Reviews

Wouldn't a professional code, a guide to dealing with tricky questions of ethics and etiquette, come in handy? Luckily, there's "Event Planning Ethics and Etiquette." Author Judy Allen offers policies and codes of behavior for both office and event site; guidelines on the gifts-vs.-blackmail ethical conundrum; tips for handling the unexpected with finesse; rules of business etiquette; suggestions for avoiding personal and professional risk; and real-world examples. - (September 2003)

Meeting News

Following September 11, a number of industries tanked, among them hospitality, travel, and event planning. In the aftermath, ethical boundaries were likely pushed as companies tried to drum up new business, the author says. Her book attempts not only to create ethical standards for the event planning industry, but also to suggest proper etiquette and codes of conduct for everything from securing permits to disaster planning. The book is livened up with anecdotes from actual planning nightmares, such as the publicity stunt that saw Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip set adrift on a barge on Manitoba’s Red River. This is a must-read not only for event professionals, but also for small-business people conceiving product introductions and conference appearances.

Harvard Business School

Mind Your P's & Q's - and More

Judy Allen strikes again. The veteran event planner and president of Judy Allen Productions, Toronto, has published her third book on event planning in the past four years. Allen's latest, Event Planning Ethics and Etiquette (Wiley, June 2003) takes on a range of issues in which planners are called on to use their professional discretion, from fam trips to business favors.

Allen writes with the voice of experience and offers readers guidelines for establishing ethical policies in the office and on-site at events. The advice on etiquette might seem self-evident to experienced professionals, but it is nonetheless a good refresher and excellent reading for novices who need to know how to keep personal and professional boundaries from being crossed.

Corporate Meetings & Incentives