There are many good pointers to follow when planning a successful event, however there is a handful which are invaluable:

Be clear on the Why
Understand what the client is trying to accomplish by hosting the event; what they hope to achieve and what the measureable objectives of the event are.

Understand the Who
Know who the stakeholders are as the messaging to internal and external stakeholders is usually different.

Have a clear event concept
Define the details of the event: What format will the event take? How will it unfold? And spend time establishing what the risks are to the event’s success.
Allow sufficient time for the event planning, contingency planning and risk management.

Choose the right venue
Use a venue that is best suited to the overall event concept and event objectives.

Ensure that the event upholds the client’s brand and philosophy
Get to know the client, become part of the team. A good event should speak to the client’s DNA and reflect the company’s values.

Budget
Financial controls and regular status reports ensure that the event runs successfully on time and on budget. Achieving this instils the confidence and trust of the client.

Roles and Responsibilities
Don’t hang on to every aspect of the project, rather delegate. Include suppliers and industry partners to ensure that the best people do the jobs. This way you increase the know-how on the event.

Consider needs
Aside from ensuring that there is sufficient catering at the event, there are some other critical needs that must be met, such as secure parking, ease of access, smoking areas, disabled facilities. In this way you ensure that everyone is accommodated and included.

Event Delivery
Seamless event delivery hinges on meticulous planning, consummate team work and ensuring that the expectations are being met each step of the way.

Post Event Wrap Up
Post event measurement is critical if the success of the event is to be evaluated, whatever that success is: brand awareness, increased sales, media coverage, improved relationships, increased membership and so on. Some of these are easy to quantify. Others will require a more comprehensive post event assessment. By defining the return on the investment or on the objectives of the event at the outset (each client will have different needs), one is more able to accurately measure the success of that event.