Intro -- Author Dedication -- Acknowledgments -- SECTION ONE -- About This Book -- Chapter -- 1 -- Introduction -- What's New in This Edition? -- My Story -- Chapter -- 2 -- This Guide Is for You -- The Scope of This Book -- How and When to Use This Guide -- Benefits to the Reader -- Intended Audience -- Using Checklists and Timelines -- What Should We Call It? -- Stories and Personal Experiences -- Book Disclaimer -- Chapter -- 3 -- The Anatomy of an Event -- Special and Social Events -- Business and Educational Events -- Why People Meet -- Who Are Your Participants? -- Location, Location, Location -- What All Events Have in Common -- Goals and objectives -- Date, time and site selection -- Promotion and marketing -- Participants/attendees -- Agenda -- Job of an Event Planner -- SECTION TWO -- The Big Picture -- Chapter -- 4 -- Defining Your Purpose -- Goals and Objectives -- Possible goals and objectives -- Financial Goals -- Return on investment (ROI) -- Internal ROI -- External ROI -- Chapter -- 5 -- The Planning Sessions -- Designing the Planning Session -- High level - goal questions -- Timing is Everything -- Assigning Roles and Responsibilities -- Creating Timelines and Checklists -- Timelines -- Checklists -- Outsourcing -- Chapter -- 6 -- Where is the Money? -- Creating a Budget -- Revenue/income stream -- Using sponsorship -- Expenses -- Fixed costs -- Variable expenses -- Indirect costs -- Breaking even -- Accounting Styles -- Payment method options -- SECTION THREE -- Taking Care of the People and the Planet -- Chapter -- 7 -- Planning Responsibly -- Green Event Planning -- Corporate Social Responsibility -- Cultural Sensitivity, Diversity and Ethics -- Chapter -- 8 -- Planning for the Environment -- Is this event necessary? -- Think locally -- The Green Game Plan -- Beyond Recycling -- Carbon Offsets.

How does carbon offsetting help fight climate change? -- Green Venues and Locations -- Ask your participants to participate in green travel! -- Chapter -- 9 -- Social Responsibility -- Creating Partnerships -- Chapter -- 10 -- Culture, Diversity and Ethics -- Cultural Sensitivity and Diversity -- Ethics -- SECTION FOUR -- High Level Logistics -- Chapter -- 11 -- Get Down to Business -- Date and Time Selection -- Choose a Destination -- Site Selection -- Using convention and visitors bureaus -- Request for proposal (RFP) -- Site Inspections -- Outdoor Sites -- The ADA -- Using a Destination Management Company -- Choosing Talent -- Speaker/lecturer/instructor -- Entertainers -- The speaker's budget -- Signing a contract -- Create the Agenda -- Business and educational agendas -- Social and special events agendas -- Add wellness to your agenda -- Chapter -- 12 -- Creating Atmosphere -- Room Set-Up and Designs -- Registration and ticket sales area -- Audiovisual Choices -- Access to Wi-Fi -- Budgeting your internet access -- Audiovisual considerations -- Technical support -- Program Material and Promotional Gifts -- Gifts -- Chapter -- 13 -- Food and Beverage Choices -- Know Your Audience -- Trends Come and Go -- Guaranteeing your numbers -- Factors that can impact your numbers -- Working with the Venue and Caterer -- Cost-Cutting Suggestions -- General suggestions -- Receptions and cocktail parties -- Serving wine -- Coffee breaks and continental breakfasts -- Suggested timelines -- Alcohol Liability -- SECTION FIVE -- Marketing and Networking -- Chapter -- 14 -- Marketing and Networking -- Promoting Your Event -- The Invitation -- Put your registration in the invitation -- Designing Your Website -- Online registration -- Reaching Your Target Market -- Promoting a Global Event -- Visa requirements in flux -- Timing -- SECTION SIX -- Technology Speaking.

Chapter -- 15 -- The World of Technology -- Chapter -- 16 -- Staying on Top of Technology -- Know What You Need -- Audiovisual Services and Equipment -- Terminology and definitions -- Presentation management -- Using kiosks -- Internet Access -- Types of bandwidth -- The cost of access -- Using Virtual Events -- Descriptions of virtual events -- Hybrid Events -- Technology Trends and a Look Ahead -- SECTION SEVEN -- Social Media and Social Networking -- Chapter -- 17 -- Using Social Media and Social Networking -- The Roles of Social Media and Networking -- Where to Start -- Create and build strategies -- Establish goals and objectives -- Decide your platforms -- Build a following -- Measure your success -- Importance of blogging (as an example of a platform) -- Going Forward -- SECTION EIGHT -- Cover Your Assets - Contracts, Insurance and Security -- Chapter -- 18 -- Contracts -- Creating a Contract -- Amending a Contract -- Expect the Unexpected -- Acts of god and force majeure -- Signing with Vendors and Suppliers -- Privacy concerns -- Signing foreign contracts -- Chapter -- 19 -- Insurance -- Types of Insurance -- Chapter -- 20 -- Security Issues -- High-Profile Guests -- Crowd Control -- If Outside Security Firm is Necessary -- Data Security -- Registration and ticket sales data -- Network Protection -- Create Your Privacy Policy -- SECTION NINE -- On-Site Logistics -- Chapter -- 21 -- Logistically Speaking -- Finalize and Confirm Details -- Registration confirmation -- Speakers and entertainment confirmation -- Arrange pre-event meeting -- Finalize transportation needs -- Contact vendors and suppliers -- Create event binder -- Create evaluations forms -- Schedule volunteers -- Pack a mobile office -- Event Materials -- Create name badges -- Shipping -- Shipping tips -- Out of country shipping -- Chapter -- 22 -- The Day Has Arrived!.

When You Arrive -- Rehearsal -- Registration Check-in Area -- Signs -- On-Site Management -- Staff and volunteers -- Inspect the rooms -- At the end of the day -- Contingency Plan -- Chapter -- 23 -- Wrap It Up! -- Pay the Bills -- Debriefing -- Thank You's -- Evaluations -- Final Report -- Chapter -- 24 -- Resources -- SECTION TEN -- Appendices -- Appendix -- A -- Tips to Becoming a Great Planner -- Associations and Organizations -- Trade Publications -- Qualities of an Event Planner -- Negotiations Skills and Strategies -- Potential Employers -- Event planning companies -- Hospitality industry -- The corporate market -- Appendix -- B -- Checklists -- Planning Session Questionnaire - high level -- Designing and Defining Your Event -- Task Status Report -- Budgeting Costs and Expenses -- Site Selection -- Speakers/Entertainer Arrangements -- Sample Speaker/Entertainer Agreement -- Food and Beverage Functions -- Quick Reference Guide for Food and Beverage Serving Amounts -- Coffee Breaks and Continental Breakfasts -- Alcohol Service -- Receptions -- Room Set-up and Audiovisual Needs -- Room Setup Matrix Example -- Registration Setup -- Designing Your Promotional Material -- Social Media/Networking/Marketing -- Environmental Checklist for Venue Selection -- Planning for a Cause - Social Responsibility -- Sample Evaluation Form -- Post Event Fact Status Sheet -- Appendix -- C -- Timelines -- Timeline for a smaller events -- Large Event Timeline -- About the Author.