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Clients bringing guests to client apprec events

Posted on 18. Aug, 2008 by PJS in Events

When we have customer appreciation events, such as sporting events, there is always a huge push for clients to bring guests.  Now the key words here are “customer” and “appreciation”, so where do guests fit in?

In gauging ROI on these events, you definitely want to have as many clients as possible to network with.  BUT, where a guest fits in is when that guest will enhance the client’s experience.

For example, you are hosting a San Diego Chargers football suite.  Mr. Smith has a 12 year old son who loves the Chargers. Mr. Smith and his son watch the games all the time together and the son’s room looks like a San Diego shrine. In this case Mr. Smith would actually rather his son go to the event then himself.  So as hosts, you have to let Mr. Smith and Smith Jr. attend together.

Father and son will enjoy the game immensely and dad will be a hero… and so will you.

Cautions: Guests are fine, I can give a load of other examples, BUT you must have limits.  Typically one guest per client is acceptable, and it should not be encouraged.  What that means is invite your clients but DO NOT mention bringing a guest at first.  If the client comes back to you and wants to invite a guest then you can allow, but I stress, do not encourage at first.  Remember, you want as many clients as possible.  If you mention you can bring a guest at first, many people will invite a guest for the heck of it.

Further caution: Beware of clients trying to bring whole families.  You have to stick to your guns on “one guest”.  Some people want to have their wife, two kids and mother-in-law.  It’s a nice idea, but it takes too many tickets away from clients.

Tags: clients, customers, donts, dos, events, guests, tips