According to this report, the global events industry market size was valued at $736.8 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach $2.5 trillion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 6.8% from 2024 to 2035.
Whether you want to host a small, private celebration party or a large, public event with thousands of attendees, there are diverse and specialized companies for managing and executing each event.
Event planning companies handle everything from start to finish, ensuring that audiences have a great and memorable experience.
In this guide, we will look at the most popular types of event management and event planning services with some examples, so you can identify your perfect partner for your next event.
What is Event Management or Event Planning
Event management is the process of planning, managing, supervising, and executing events of all sizes, whether it is a public or private event.
From event venue selection, budgeting, marketing, and coordinating vendors to managing event decor, lighting & logistics, as well as guest registration – every aspect of the event is managed and owned by event management companies and agencies.
Event managers lead and take charge of the event, ensuring that the event runs smoothly and according to the plan.
5 Different Types of Event Management & Planning
1) Corporate Event Planning
Corporate event planning involves organizing and executing events for corporations and companies, helping them accomplish their business objectives and goals.
Corporate event planners assist businesses in every stage of the event, from venue researching and booking, event budgeting,marketing and promotions, to managing and coordinating with various vendors such as caterers, photographers, decorators, entertainers, and more.
The following are some of the events that are managed by corporate event planners:
- Conferences & Summits
Conferences and summits are formal events held to educate participants on the latest industry trends in their field. They involve keynote presentations, panel discussion sessions, networking opportunities, collaborative activities, and more.
Conferences and summits are usually held in convention centers or banquet halls, and last a few hours or even a whole day. The event specialist creates and manages every detail of this typically large-scale event, like managing the guest list, coordinating with speakers and special invitees, decor, stage, as well as logistics like AV and more.
- Seminars
A seminar is a lecture-style gathering in which multiple speakers participate and deliver lectures. Businesses and corporations hold seminars to offer their employees training on a range of topics like marketing, sales, leadership, and more. Seminars are typically held at convention centers, community centers, conference rooms, or meeting halls.
A corporate event planner helps an organization find a secure and suitable venue, book anchors or speakers, handles vendors, and also handles on-site coordination.
- Product Launches
Product launches are events where companies announce new products or services in the marketplace. The event planner collaborates with the corporation and plans ahead to generate media coverage and build awareness for their new product, as well as drive immediate sales.
Corporate event managers also help companies with audience research so they reach the right customers. Product launches are often held at malls, auditoriums, or convention centers, lasting from a few days to weeks.
- Brand Activations
Brand activation is a brand marketing campaign that creates interactive experiences, allowing customers to directly engage with the brand’s product or service.
Through these activations and experiential experiences, companies bring a brand to life, engage with the target audience in a memorable way, and build a lasting connection with them.
Corporate event planners help companies present their brand in a creative and engaging way to an audience, while also conveying the brand’s core message in a distinctive manner. On the day of activation, event managers oversee the event execution and troubleshoot any issues in real-time, allowing brands to focus on building relationships with guests.
- Award Ceremonies
An award ceremony is a party event held to celebrate the achievements and accomplishments of employees or the company’s success. An award show is typically held in a banquet hall, an auditorium, or a convention center.
Event managers play a vital role in it, handling tasks like venue selection, vendor management, guest management, AV production, award or trophy selection, and more.
- Networking Events
Networking events are occasions where people gather, meet, and build professional bonds, allowing individuals to connect with professionals in their field. It also provides companies with opportunities to build connections with new clients, find new business partners, and investors for their business.
Networking conferences are often held at luxurious restaurants and hotel ballrooms. Event management companies handle everything from venue selection, guest list management, to planning and executing collaborative activities to foster networking among participants.
- Team-Building Events
Team-building events are collaborative activities designed to bring a group of employees together in order to strengthen their relationships and foster collaboration among them.
Most team-building activities take place outdoors, usually in natural settings, and are planned by an experienced event planner. Escape rooms, scavenger hunts, and the human knot are some of the popular team-building exercises often played to enhance team collaboration and communication.
- Gala Dinners
A gala dinner is a lavish gathering that involves live music, dance, or performances, and tasty meals & delicious dishes, commonly organized for businesses and companies to celebrate milestones.
A gala dinner is usually planned in elegant and fancy venues like a luxurious hotel, banquet venue, or restaurant. An event planner carefully plans everything needed for the celebration, including decor and lighting, catering, florists, entertainment, photographers, videographers, and more.
2) Social Event Planning
Social event planning involves organizing non-corporate events like personal celebrations or family gatherings.
The main focus of such events is to create memorable and enjoyable experiences for people like family members, friends, and colleagues that last forever.
A social event planner finds & secures venues, allocates funds for each component (venue, catering, decor, etc.), communicates with all vendors, and negotiates with them on budget, as well as manages the logistics.
The following are the events that are managed by social event planners:
- Weddings
Whether it is a traditional wedding, a destination wedding, or a ‘wedding weekend’ type of event, social event planners provide everything needed for the wedding and design the ceremony according to wedding traditions and cultural customs.
Some event planning companies specialize in wedding planning and handle everything from venue selection, budget management, hospitality & guest management, couple entry, and decor & designing to travel & logistics and managing various vendors like caterers, entertainers, photographers, DJs, and so on.
- Anniversaries
Anniversaries are a beautiful celebration for any couple, filled with unforgettable memories.
Seasoned anniversary party planners leave no stone unturned to make the event memorable, handling every aspect of the event, such as venue selection, budgeting, decor, entertainment, catering, and more.
- Engagements
Engagement ceremonies can be as extravagant or as simple as the couple wants, and event planners help deliver the event just right for them and their guests. They handle every aspect of the event, including venue booking, budgeting, catering, decoration, photographer, and more.
- Birthdays Party
A birthday party is a celebration that is often held with friends, family, and well-wishers. Professional event planners handle themed decoration, entertainers, guests, game shows, play area setup, and more.
With creative talent and meticulous planning, they transform venues into dreamscapes that match your vision.
Event planning companies also provide professional and engaging hosts to ensure that your event runs smoothly and your guests are entertained.
- Reunions
A reunion is a social gathering of people who have not met each other in a long time, including friends, family, co-workers, relatives, and others. Social event planners manage venue selection, decor, catering, and guest list. These events can also include elements like a photo booth, live music, dance performances, and collaborative activities to entertain the guests.
3) Music Concert Management
A music concert is a big show, a live music performance that involves tens of thousands of audience members. These events are typically held at sports stadiums or outdoor places like the “Wembley Stadium, London, UK”, “Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Colorado, USA”, “Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, USA”, and more.
For example, Live nation provides full-service event production and event services for private live concerts. Their in-house event team assists you with booking headlining artists, local bands, DJs, and more.
C3 Presents organizes large-scale music concerts and food and wine gatherings around the world. It offers full-service production and marketing capabilities. Their in-house creative, marketing, sponsorship, ticketing, and production teams create and deliver high-quality festival experiences that range from small and personal to massive and epic.
4) Sports Event Planning
Sports event management is the process of planning, organizing, and executing sports-related events and activities.
These events can range from local competitions to international tournaments across various sports like “The Australian Open”, “FIFA World Cup”, “The Olympics Games”, “Cricket World Cup”, “The US Super Bowl”, and “The US National Basketball Association (NBA)”.
Sports event planners manage and take care of player management, venue selection, safety protocols, logistics, marketing, and audience participation, as well as secure legal permission from authorities.
5) Virtual & Hybrid Event Management
A virtual event is a gathering that takes place in a digital setting through an online event platform. All parties involved, including speakers, host, attendees, and organizers, participate in the event remotely from different locations.
A hybrid event, on the other hand, brings together audiences from both online and in-person settings.
Video conferencing platforms like Airmeet specialize in hosting engaging virtual conferences, webinars, summits, meetings, town halls, expos, job fairs, L&D events, and product launches.
It mainly focuses on creating interactive and engaging experiences for attendees in a live virtual environment. Airmeet can be used by businesses of all sizes, from up-and-coming startups to global enterprises.
Final Thoughts
Since event planning is a big undertaking, you will need professional event planners to better manage and execute your event, so audiences get a smooth and memorable event experience, whether it is a small birthday party or a large conference.
From corporate event planner, and social event planner to music concert management, sports event planner, and virtual & hybrid event management, each event planning service handles everything – venue selection, vendor management, on-site co-ordination and more – allowing you and your guests to enjoy the event to the fullest.
Since professional event planners have years of experience in planning and organizing events, they ensure your guests get the best event experience.
FAQ
- Full-service event planning – This package is a one-stop solution, handles everything from start to finish, including initial event planning, budgeting, venue selection, vendor management, event promotion, and more
- Partial-service event planning – This service plan handles some stages of the event, like vendor & logistics management, event designing & styling, handling issues that arise on the day of the event, and more
- Event marketing and promotion management – This service plan involves focusing on creating a buzz around the event. For that, they develop event promotion strategies and perform activities like social media marketing, paid advertising, influencer collaboration, and so on.
Which event management company will suit you depends on the event you are planning. For example, if you are planning a celebration like a birthday party, anniversary, or even an engagement/wedding ceremony, then social event planning companies are the best fit. For seminars, workshops, product launches, expos, gala dinners, and other business events, corporate event planning companies are ideal.
