In today’s world, we have more choices available to us than ever before, and this seems especially true of meetings. Decades ago, meetings tended to be simple and straightforward, but with more and more on-trend vendors, remarkable sites, and impactful speakers becoming available every day, it is no wonder that corporate and nonprofit meeting planners feel a bit overwhelmed at times. There are so many decisions to make, and you may have to piecemeal elements from various partners and companies.
This is certainly true in Minnesota. Bonnie L. Carlson, president and CEO of Bloomington Minnesota Travel & Tourism, says there is a large variety of hotel brands to choose from in Bloomington, and then there is also the Mall of America with its 83,000 square feet of meeting space, to name a couple things that might interest meeting and event planners.
While it is a positive thing to have so many possibilities at our fingertips, it can help when something comes along that removes the guesswork and stress from decision-making: the one-stop shop. This phrase entered the American lexicon in the 1920s and denotes a company that provides multiple products and services all under one roof, removing the need to shop around.
Luckily, there are many venues, suppliers, and event-planning companies in Minnesota that regularly serve as one-stop shops, which can make your life as a meeting and event planner that much easier.
Ease and Efficiency
There are many forms of one-stop shops that can come to the rescue when planning an event, with several options available throughout Minnesota. For instance, a venue can act as a one-stop shop, such as Events at France 44 in Minneapolis. Doubling as a destination for wine and spirits, it also has event space available.
“One of our biggest goals in creating the Events at France 44 space was to create a spot where our clients are able to get everything they need in one package, at one business,” says Hailey White, hospitality and events director of Events at France 44. “All our menu items are made in-house, from freshly made pasta and pizza to our decadent cheese and charcuterie grazing boards. We also work with a variety of beverage vendors, which means that our menus are not just limited to what is on our list, but they can be fully customized to fit your budget and preferences.”
It is always handy when a venue can supply food and beverages so you can avoid having to hire an outside caterer, and, in addition, rentals of the Events at France 44 space include complimentary access to amenities found on-site—such as tables, chairs, and linens—as well as technology like screens, mics, and music systems.
The team also provides full event staffing, team-building packages with certified in-house educators, gifting services, and decor, and have partnerships with an area florist and a valet company.
Lumber Exchange Event Center, also in Minneapolis, has its own one-stop-shop aspects. The staff includes a robust team comprised of sales and account executives, in addition to on-site event managers, a specialized concierge, and an in-house executive chef.
“We handle all food and beverage needs, audio and visual requirements, and even have an entertainment director who can assist in securing entertainment or speakers for events,” says Senior Account Executive Hannah Fox. She says the venue also includes tables, chairs, linens, dishes, and surround sound, and planners can book outside options as well, like dessert services and photo booths, and the event center handles the billing directly.
“When it comes to services we don’t provide, such as lodging, we rely heavily on vendor partnerships with local companies we have worked with for several years,” Fox adds. “The AC Hotel Minneapolis Downtown, for example, is connected to our building, and we trust them to care for our clients with the same excellent service we do.”
Apart from seeking out one-stop shops to make their work easier, planners in their own right can serve as one-stop shops to their clients. For example, Wendy Porter, chief event strategist at Wendy Porter Events of Minneapolis, says her company handles everything from start to finish—this can include vendor and speaker research, event marketing, graphic design, and menu planning.
Nicole Baggett, owner and director of client experience at Host a Toast in Minneapolis, says while her company isn’t exclusive to any one venue, caterer, or rental company, her team is “able to plan a truly custom event without the added layer of needing to research the right vendors,” thanks to the company’s preferred vendor network.
Local convention and visitors bureaus also can act as one-stop shops for those who are planning area events. When it comes to Bloomington, Carlson says that the bureau offers complimentary services to meeting planners, such as providing hotel information and options for entertainment, speakers, and contacts.
Angie Richards, vice president of sales at Experience Rochester, MN, calls the organization a crucial one-stop shop for planners, as it has a wide range of services available for every stage of the planning process. Conveniently, this convention and visitors bureau doubles as the sales team for the city’s convention center, Mayo Civic Center. “This one-stop-shop model simplifies communication, reduces stress, saves time, and empowers planners to focus on creating exceptional events,” Richards says.
A Helping Hand
As a planner who offers all-in-one services herself, Baggett knows the importance of keeping everything in one place when planning the details of an event.
“A one-stop shop for event planning allows for the most cohesive planning process and event execution,” she says. “Clients also can maximize their budget. Event planners work closely with clients to determine their budget and vision, then articulate priorities that align with both the vision and the budget. Managing multiple communications with several different vendors can be time-consuming and overwhelming, but when one event professional is handling all the communications and details, it reduces stress and decision fatigue for the client.”
Richards agrees with this sentiment, saying, “A one-stop-shop approach to event planning is invaluable to planners. It streamlines the process, saves time, and allows planners to focus on the creative aspects of their event while relying on the expertise of their partners to handle logistics.” Going through a one-stop shop can also allow you to “truly connect with your guests, without distraction,” as White puts it.
At the end of the day, these one-stop-shop venues, suppliers, and planners want to ease the heavy lifting of planning an event. “For us, it all comes down to streamlining to make our clients’ lives easier and more organized,” Fox says. “Being able to source items and services from fewer companies allows clients to concentrate their efforts on the event’s fine details and minimizes the need to coordinate across multiple companies or individuals.”
Everything You Need
Suppliers also can operate as one-stop shops, “doing it all” for their event-planning clients.
One such example is Après Event and Tent Rental, which is based in Minnetonka.
Emily Peter, sales assistant and design/marketing for the company, says, “We like to say Après has everything you need for an event, except flowers and food, and we know the best in the biz who do those things.” Going beyond simply decor and tent rentals, Après helps clients with just about every detail of an event, down to the glassware for serving.
And the fact that so many rental options are in one place doesn’t hurt either. “Après provides short-term and long-term tenting for a variety of projects ranging from social events to industrial projects,” says Peter. “In addition to tenting, we have a vast collection of rentals that includes 20 different sizes of tables and 30 seating options, several styles of china and flatware, and over 350 different fabrics in our linen collection. Our rental inventory is growing almost daily.”
apresparty.com
bloomingtonmn.org
experiencerochestermn.com
france44.com
hostatoast.co
wendyporterevents.com
