THE FORUM GROUP – Sydney Event Management Company

With Easter just around the corner, we thought it would be a great opportunity to share with you some simple and inexpensive tips to help you make the most of your holiday.

1. When making drinks for your guests – (both young and old), why not try a few of these Easter themed beverages. Click here.

2. Don’t have a lot of space to hide Easter eggs? Try placing eggs in small, homemade baskets or grass patches, and placing them strategically around your flat. Have a lot of plants? Use the pots as hiding spots for your Easter eggs. Wherever your kids or guests find their eggs, simply finding them is sure to put a smile on their faces.

3. Jellybeans – in the appropriate Easter colour palette always make a nice statement. Try this: get a clear bowl and fill it with yellow, green, white, pink, grey and purple – a simple yet effective look.

4. Having family and friends over for dinner? Why not give each a personalised Easter egg with their initials? They won’t forget it and it is sure to add that extra something special to their holiday.

5. Bring on the trivia - Test your guests knowledge of Easter with a short, fun quiz. Could be a great option to have around should the weather turn sour. Here’s a really fun quiz we found on Martha Stewart.com

What are some other inexpensive tips and ideas for celebrating Easter this year? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment below.

Exibitor Magazines’s ’2010 Economic Outlook Survey’ indicates that 33% of exhibit managers plan to cut staff travel and accommodation costs this year. With many companies still recovering from the GFC, sticking to budget has never been more crucial. So how can companies look at minimising these travel costs? Candy Adams suggests the following ideas;

1. Recruit staff/products from the local area – minimise the cost of airfares, accommodation and freight.

2. Book hotels with complimentary breakfast and transfers - for staff that do require accommodation, look for hotels that offer complimentary breakfast and transfers (or otherwise have a partnership with a preferred supplier that can get you a discounted rate).

3. Rent a car for your staff - this may work out cheaper than paying for taxi’s and transfers. It’s also preferable and convenient to have your own means of transport and be able to go to and from the exhibition should a situation arise, for example if you need extra supplies for your stand.

4. Organise group meals and buy groceries for your team – hotels and restaurants will undoubtedly be much more expensive,  and the last thing you want is your staff leaving expensive bills on your desk when you return back to the office. Group meals are a great way for the team to bond and communicate throughout the event. Exhibitions often involve long hours and can be very tiring. By stocking up on supplies, your team will appreciate having snacks readily available and the ability to be able to eat their dinner quickly and have more time to sleep/unwind.

5. Negotiate hotel rates – ask the venue if they can offer you a discounted rate for booking several rooms.

Do you have any further ideas on how you can cut travel costs at your next exhibition? Leave a comment below.