A request comes in for a business event. The date is free, the group sounds interesting and your venue is actually perfect. You send a proposal and yet the organiser drops out, without a word. Recognisable? Chances are it's not down to your terrace, your venue or your menu. It's down to speed. In today's business market, ‘taking your time’ is no longer an option. Companies often shoot their requests to five venues at once. Whoever is first to put a tight proposal on the digital mat often has half the deal in place.
Where you used to have some time to spare, things are really different now. Companies often send a request to 3, 4 or even 5 locations at once and want to know quickly: does it fit? can it be done? And what does it cost? If they have to wait, find out things themselves or email three times for clarity, your proposal is already no longer interesting.
Moving fast = booking more often
Venues that have their act tight at the back end grab the most bookings. The secret? Asking the right questions straight away. By being clear upfront about your capacity and capabilities, you avoid a ping-pong game of e-mails.
Instead of typing manual emails, you can work with the smart application module of MICE Operations. This way, the client immediately gets the right questions and you have all the info you need for a bang-up job offer at once. That saves you time behind the computer and the client immediately knows he is in good hands with you.
Don't be secretive about the price
Many venues remain vague about prices. Logical, as almost everything is bespoke. But for companies, this is counterproductive. They have to switch internally, check budgets and get agreement. And if there is no target price anywhere, your proposal will remain at the bottom of the pile.
By being transparent about price structure, you give the organiser something to hold on to. Do you work with interactive offers, then the booker immediately sees what the cost is. This conveys confidence and looks a lot more professional than a flat PDF. Moreover, you avoid those annoying discussions about the invoice afterwards.
From ‘maybe’ to a signed offer
A great location is step one, but the payoff is in how easy you make it for the customer. Companies choose the path of least resistance. The smoother you make booking, the more often they will come back to you for the next meeting or company drinks.
MICE Operations helps you cut out that red tape. No more loose mails, notes or Excel lists, just one clear overview. This leaves your hands free for extra hospitality.
The all-in-one event management software
MICE Operations offers the sales and planning software that makes your work in the hospitality industry easier. With MICE, you no longer work with separate documents, e-mails and systems, but have a complete overview of your events, schedules and work lists. Handy for your colleagues and guests alike. This way, you spend much less time on administrative processes, your turnover grows and you have all attention on hospitality.
