Dominique has joined the team at Functions&Events.co.nz taking on the role of Sales Executive.  We sit down for a question and answer session with her so you can get to know the person taking your next function enquiry.

 

How long have you been working in sales and event management?

I've been in the industry seven years including my time spent at WelTec where I studied a triple diploma in business, marketing and management to compliment my event experience.

When did you know you wanted to work in the events industry?

When I was studying German and politics at Victoria University.

Wow that's a bit of a change what brought that on?

I was working part time in an English Pub and enjoyed taking care of the events there and decided I wanted to switch from politics to events!

Any regrets?

None at all - best decision i've made.  The event industry is so dynamic and every day is different from the last.

Any massive events you care to talk about?

During the Rugby World Cup I looked after several of the team events including - South Africa, France, Fiji and Argentina.  Plus i've also looked after the Australians when they have come over for tests.

Any tips for someone booking their next social function?

Any details that you can give us - big or small - will help us find the best fit for you!

What's something people tend to forget with events?

What AV requirements they need - not every venue has this on site.

What's the most memorable function you have ever attended?

My best friends wedding - it was a fusion of her traditional Greek family and his laid back Kiwi approach.  It was so special and such a cool melting pot of cultures - definitely one to remember.

If you've got a function coming up make sure you contact Dominique by email or phone 021 548 725, she's more than happy to help!

Holidays are well and truly over and work is in full swing with a very exciting 2013 looming ahead of us.  If you're anything like me and easing back into the new year with doing some planning, it will help you to know that Functions & Events is here to take the stress out of organising all those off site meetings, workshops and seminars you need to get booked in.  With 17 venues in Auckland and one in Christchurch, Functions & Events has plenty of options to ensure your year is well planned out.  Contact us today to see how we can help you info@functionsandevents.co.nz or call us on 09 573 0078.

In my recent conversations with people organising corporate Christmas events, the general consensus is the majority of people want to do an activity along with their lunch or dinner.  It seems people aren't content anymore to just eat and drink, they require a team bonding activity as well.

 As such, I've come up with some great ideas for activities you can do before or after going to a Functions & Events venue for your delicious Christmas meal:

1. Paddle boarding on Takapuna beach followed by lunch or dinner at The Elephant Wrestler
2. Bowls at the local bowling club followed by lunch or dinner at your local
3. A stunt driving session at Drive Rush in North Harbour Stadium followed by a meal at The Merchant Bar & Kitchen
4. A tennis lesson or inter-company comp followed by a meal and drinks at your local
5. A pub quiz in a private function room while you enjoy your meal
6. Loads more options - just let us know what sort of things you'd like to do

We've got loads of great ideas so all you need to do is contact us and let us do all the hard organisational work for you.  Call Functions & Events today on 09 573 0078 or email info@functionsandevents.co.nz

When organising a function, it can be a bit hard to please everyone, especially when choosing wine.  People have specific likes and dislikes and won't hesitate in letting you know about them!  Choosing the right wine can be easy when you enlist the asssistance of knowledgeable staff. 

With excellent wines on our lists such as Man 'O War, Brancott Estate, Rabbit Ranch, and many more, you will be spoilt for choice, your guests will be satisfied and you will be organiser extraordinaire!  

You know how sometimes big things come along that seem really big and scary and like you are never going to be able to do it?  Well I am learning that the best thing to do in these situations is just to face the fear and get on with it!  Once the fear is faced and you work out all the logistical problems and deliver, it is a hugely satisfying feeling.  So if you've got the work Christmas party, or your birthday coming up, or a big corporate event that needs organising, don't get overwhelmed and feel swamped with how much there is to do, just face the fear and do it!  Part of facing the fear might be asking for help, so get in touch with Functions & Events and let us help 09 573 0078 or info@functionsandevents.co.nz

Every business owner and employee should have a clear idea of who their ideal client is.  That person who will provide your business with a key relationship, someone you love to work with and who speaks positively about you to everyone they meet. In identifying your key client, it's important to think about what and how much business they will give you, who they could refer you to, how enjoyable it will be working with them and how you can foster and develop that relationship.  An ideal client for Functions & Events would be the PA, EA, event organiser or meeting planner that has mulitple events to organise throughout the year, and doesn't want to waste time ringing round umpteen venues trying to find suitable spaces.  Functions & Events can help these people by providing them with multiple venue options so they get variety with their functions, and if one venue is unavailable, there will certainly be other options that are available.  If you know someone who could benefit from the services Functions & Events offers, direct them to our website www.functionsandevents.co.nz or get them to give us a call today 09 573 0078.

 

It was all go around here last week with plenty of fun functions to keep us occupied.  We attended Chic Moa on Sunday 17 June at The Flying Moa.  The annual event saw more than 130 women get together to receive fashion tips from stylist Christina Jane, make up do's and dont's from Freckles & Blush, and Moa Clothing was there with racks and racks of beautiful, stylish clothes.  The bubbles were flowing, the food was delicious and the service was friendly and fantastic! 

You may not be aware, but as well as amazing venues, Functions & Events also does catering!  Thursday saw us assisting BNZ Partners with celebrating Matariki in style when we catered their 120 person sit down dinner.  The BNZ offices were transformed into a formal dining area, with designer lighting, a beautiful table setting and people ready to bring in the new year.  A good time was had by all with plenty of food and an outstanding performance by the Nga Puna O Waiorea kapa haka group. 

So onwards and upwards for the coming week, who knows what fun things will crop up in the coming days!

Having work social clubs and making the effort to have some fun with your colleagues, is important in creating an enjoyable and cooperative atmosphere at work.  Pub crawls, go karting, quiz nights - those are some pretty standard social club activities that get everyone involved, having fun and getting to know each other.  What about incorporating a cocktail making session and seeing people's creativity flow, enjoying a meal together with entertainment such as a stand up comedian or theatre sports for something a bit different, or create your own quiz specific to your group.

For assistance with ideas for social club get togethers, contact Functions & Events info@functionsandevents.co.nz

Life is busy.  That's pretty much a given for everyone.  And if you're not careful, time can get away on you and before you know it, it's been months since you've seen any of your friends, let alone got everyone together for a good catch up.  You don't need an occasion to get everyone together for a bit of function - just the reason that you're mates and need to hang out.  Some fun ideas for friend catch ups:

A breakfast/brunch, afternoon drinks and nibbles, a sit down dinner in a small private room, cocktail lessons and party in private room/bar, ladies lunch, long lunch - the list goes on!

For more great ideas or to lock your friends in for a Friends Function contact Functions & Events info@functionsandevents.co.nz

Winter is well and truly here with darkness descending early and a cold snap to the air.  I don't know about you, but I love a good mid-winter Christmas celebration for shaking away those winter blues and putting some cheer back into winter.  Functions & Events has some great options for mid winter celebrations, so rally the team and have some fun!  info@functionsandevents.co.nz

You want to make your function one that people will remember.  So why not organise something special for your event.  It could be something way out like a fire dancer or stilt walkers, something fun like a magician, comedian or band or something as simple as speeches and a few awards.  Your guests will appreciate the extra effort and it will give them something to remember your event for.

If you need ideas or help with organising something special, contact us on info@functionsandevents.co.nz for suggestions

Having the right venue for your function can make or break the success of your event.  Here are a few things to think about when choosing a venue:

1.  Guest numbers.  It may sound like an obvious one, but make sure the venue you choose can comfortably accommodate your guests.  If the venue is too small, uncomfortable will be the word of the day; too large and it will be difficult to create a fun and enjoyable atmosphere.

2.  Convenience.  You want your venue of choice to be easy to locate, have plenty of parking and be easy to access.  If you choose a venue that is hidden away and difficult to find, your guests will end up being stressed, late or possibly lost!

3.  Wet weather options.  If your function is being held at a fickle time of year weather wise, ensure your venue has wet weather cover or is a venue where the rain won't impact your event.  Keep in mind the average temperature and make sure there is adequate air conditioning in summer and heating in winter.  It's super hard to concentrate if you're sweating up a storm or chilled to the bone!

4.  Venue Inspection.  The majority of venues will welcome an inspection by their clients as it gives them an opportunity to showcase their site as well as meet their customers and get a thorough understanding of their needs.  By meeting venue staff, it helps you to feel more comfortable that you have chosen the right venue for your function and confident that the event will run smooothly.

5.  Venue Services.  Make sure you have a good understanding of what services the venue provides.  Do they supply food or do you need to organise an external caterer?  Are staff provided with venue hire?  Are security staff included in venue hire?  Are there any restrictions the venue has in place?  For example, some venues have decorative restrictions where you can't attach decorations to walls.  Can you play our own music or does it have to be the house music?  If you have special dietary requirements, can the venue accommodate those or are you allowed to bring your own food?

These points are a small snapshot of things to think about - when organising a function there are a multitude of things to think about!  However, if the basics are covered, the rest is easy!

 

I know it's only May, but all those super organised PA's, EA's and Event Organisers are already booking their corporate Christmas functions!  Key dates in December are already booking out at many of our venues and I thought it was a perfect time to talk about ideas for 'event extras' and how to raise your function above the norm.

Begin planning your function with a party planning checklist.  Once a venue and menus have been decided on, it's time to start thinking about decorations.  Some venues will provide a Christmas tree, basic decorations and organise all the extras for you, while at others you may be required to bring your own.  It's a fun way to start your event with a group of you decorating the tree, putting up balloons and Christmas crackers on the table; it gets everyone relaxed, enjoying themselves and in the Christmas spirit.  On the other hand, it's great to be able to just walk into a venue and know everything will be set up ready for you and you didn't have to lift a finger!

Organise arrival 'Christmas Cocktails' or an arrival glass of bubbles for each guest - a fun, welcoming way to get the evening started.

Centrepieces are a great way to distinguish your function as being special and something as simple as a small bunch of flowers in the middle of the table can really brighten up a room and make it feel extra special. 

Enlist the help of the Function Coordinator at the venue where you are holding your function.  Chances are, the venue will be able to organise many of the 'event extras' for you.

If you are interested in talking about options for your 2012 Christmas event, contact Functions & Events.co.nz on info@functionsandevents.co.nz

 

 

1.    Remove the hassle of searching for a venue - let us know your function requirements and we will find a venue to best suit you.

2.  A variety of venues to suit different occasions - Christmas parties, corporate meetings, presentations, seminars, birthday parties, engagements, anniversaries, product launches and general celebrations, we've got it all covered.

3.  Loyalty Membership - become a valued customer and earn loyalty points for every function you hold at a Functions & Events.co.nz venue.  For every dollar you spend you receive one point, with 8 points being worth $1.  Redeem your points at any time - reward your staff and clients or use your points for your next function.

4.  Relaxed venues with professional service and comfortable surroundings.  Our experienced staff pay the utmost attention to detail to ensure all your requirements are met and your guests have a truly memorable experience.

5.  Extensive selection of menus - we cater formal sit down meals, buffet meals, finger food and canapes as well as our a la carte menus.  Our chefs will work with you to create a menu that will delight and impress with any special dietary requirements catered for.

With those 5 fabulous reasons to book your next function or event at one of our venues, contact us today to arrange viewing of venues or to book your next function.  info@functionsandevents.co.nz or call 573 0078

We all know our staff are what really sells our products or services.  That's why it is important to invest time and effort to ensure they are trained properly.  Too often a waiter will have to run back to the kitchen to confirm what the daily specials are, or a customer service assistant will um and ah about the qualities or advantages of the product they are trying to sell you.  A well thought out and organised training program can change all of that and boost your sales and reputation.  Here at Functions and Events.co.nz we have an inhouse training manager who is dedicated to running training programs for front and back of house staff.  We have noticed an increase in the levels of enthusiasm of staff once they have completed one of our courses and an increase in sales.  With positive results like this we will definitely be continuing with our training!

Happy New Year everybody! The teams at Functions and Events are ready for another big year and have a lot of things in the pipeline.

We are already working on packages for Auckland’s big events coming up such as pre-game hospitality packages for the Bledisloe Cup at Eden Park and the New Zealand v Ireland rugby match, we have function space in the heart of the Viaduct for the Volvo Ocean race allowing those who get in quick enough to book prime location to welcome those for the Auckland stopover not to mention we will also be at convene to showcase the many venues we have throughout Auckland and Christchurch.  It’s going to be an exciting year and with the help of our clients we hope to make it a memorable one.

Handy Tip:  Social Functions – When organizing a function, ask for input or ideas from your guests. You don’t want to be booking a venue that half your staff or colleagues despise or find it hard to organize their transportation to and from. Also, think about the smaller things, do people have enough time to get there after work, does everyone know the dress code and what time do you expect everyone to arrive? As the last thing you want is for the bulk of the food to come out when barely any of the guests have arrived.

What a fantastic year we had last year at Functions and Events!

Rugby World Cup turned out to be a great success for our venues and was great for those corporates that organized their functions from multinationals such as DHL right through overseas agents from England, France and South Africa to name a few. With events such as corporate hosting on the viaduct, pre-game hospitality only a stone’s throw away from Eden Park right down to dining in exclusive dining rooms all over Auckland for those who wanted something a bit more intimate while watching those last teeth clenching knockout matches.

With Christmas queries coming through by the dozen shortly after the final whistle there was no time for the team at Functions and Events to wind down – with all kinds of events such as cocktail parties in The Elephant Wrestlers sun kissed courtyard, social drinks and nibbles in the bustling viaduct, ladies lunch in the new Merchant Bar and Kitchen in Albany right through to intimate sit down dinners for 60 in the stunning Bridgman Room with Valley Rooftop Terrace our clients definitely found themselves spoilt for choice.

BUT IT DOESENT STOP THERE!

With 2012 bringing wonderful and exciting new things the team at Functions and Events are working hard at offering client packages for Bledisloe Cup and other Eden park Events not to mention day time corporate and business meetings in our fully equipped and exclusive function rooms if you’re planning something this year and want to have a stress free time doing it – contact us now and let us cater to your taste, needs and budget!!!

Handy tip for the New Year: When dealing with clients in today’s modern society, too many people are hiding behind their emails while trying to build relationships. Try giving your valued clients a courtesy call to see how things are and if they are happy with the service they are currently receiving– you will be surprised at the new opportunities that will arise. These may be referrals for companies and contacts that are interested in your services through to finding out further details about your client and what processes they make when making decisions which will help you find ways to further apply your goods and services to their company.