We helped a law firm client with the on-site management of their breakfast seminar at the Harvard Club for 200 clients and prospects on the topic of capital markets.

April 6-9, 2011

We helped a client with the on-site management of their 3-day partner retreat in New York City. Over 200 law firm partners and their spouses came together for two nights of client open houses showcasing the firm’s new offices, a dine-around New York City and a gala retirement dinner at Cipriani 42^nd Street.

We had less than four months to plan our partner retreat in Florida. Our first question was “can we bring Ginger?” She brings her wisdom, professionalism and sense of calm to every event on which she helps us. As we walked her through our plan, she helped us make sure all details were in place (without making us feel she was taking over). She was invested in our success and took responsibility for certain tasks that let us focus on other priorities. Ginger Donnan Events is our secret weapon to making a huge event look easy! – Events Manager, New York Law Firm, March 2010

February 5-10, 2008

In 3 months time, 6 days of events were organized for a large corporate law firm that included registration, hotel, car service and other arrangements for 550 people, as well as a 50-person dinner, two 550-person receptions, a 400-person all-day meeting and a 670-person black tie dinner/dance.

I was given a 3 month window to plan a major international partner meeting in New York to be attended by over 400 individuals. In addition I needed to plan a formal Black Tie dinner dance on the following evening to be attended by 700 people. We had to coordinate transportation for guests arriving from over 26 countries and also hosted a series of smaller events around these two major events. I called upon Ginger Donnan to assist me with this mammoth project and was not disappointed. Ginger stayed on top of the planning and coordination, even when she was being pulled in 100 directions at once. She is organized, thorough and always pleasant to work with. I would invite her to be on my team anytime. – Rick McKenna, Chief Administrative Officer, February 2008

The destination was selected due to the ample indoor space for meetings, as well as the outdoor courtyards and beachfront, perfect for warm-weather receptions and dinners. Yet day after day, we were forced to move meals inside as the cold wind continued to whip.

How do you make the same ballroom look different for the fourth time?

Kudos goes to our client’s event manager who took the reigns away from hotel and destination management services alike to draw up a diagram that resulted in this scene. By moving the stage to an alternate wall, guests felt the difference immediately upon entering the room. In addition, lighting provided an evening-appropriate ambiance, as well as multiple lounge areas set with low couches and tables (not shown).

What are your ideas for transforming an everyday ballroom into something special?

One aspect of meeting planning that we’ve seen affected by these concerns is whether or not to invite significant others to off-site meetings. Law firm partner retreats are back on the calendar but guests are staying home. The problem is that partners are then anxious to leave as soon as the meeting ends, skipping essential opportunities to strengthen bonds during activities and dinners. We’re encouraging clients to carefully consider this as well as these findings from the research conducted for the ”Face Time” campaign:

• Face-to-face meetings build trust and relationships;
• Both education and training are more effective in a live setting;
• Live meetings actually save time and money;
• Live meetings facilitate problem solving through a more effective exchange of ideas;
• Face-to-face meetings provide the human connection that powers business;
• Face-to-face meetings create jobs and powers the economy.