In this episode of Not The Same As Last Year, Clare Forestier discusses one of the biggest challenges in event planning today: short lead times. Whether it’s due to budget constraints, economic uncertainty, or the trend of late bookings, planners and suppliers are increasingly having to adapt to events that are confirmed last minute. Clare shares insights from her recent planner forum with the Meetings Events Suppliers Association, where industry experts discussed the effects of short lead times on quality, costs, and attendee experience.

Key Points Covered:

• Why Short Lead Times are a Growing Trend: From last-minute budget approvals to clients’ hesitation to commit early, Clare discusses the factors that are driving the shift towards shorter planning timelines.
• Setting Boundaries and Educating Clients: Clare explores how event professionals can set clear boundaries to maintain quality, even under pressure, and why client education is essential to successful last-minute planning.
• Smart Technology Solutions: The episode highlights the importance of moving beyond spreadsheets to use cloud-based, event-specific tools that make coordination easier and less stressful.
• Building Strong Supplier Relationships: Clare emphasises the importance of trusted suppliers who can work effectively under tight timelines

Russell Magnuson https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-magnuson/

RD Mobile: https://www.resultsdirect.com/rdmobile

David O'Coimin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidocoimin/

Nook Event Pods

Andrew Roby: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewrobyeventplanner/

The Meetings Event Suppliers Association: https://themesa.community/mesa

Ready to dive deeper? Download your free guide, five ways to elevate your attendee experience without breaking the bank HERE

Connect with Clare:

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