Hiring Key Services for Meetings and Events

 

By Beth Buehler

 

While dialing in a destination, accommodations and venues for your gatherings is a vital step, don’t forget about hiring key services for your meetings and events. While there are a variety of functions that can fall under the “key services” description, I’ll focus on things like event staffing, entertainment, event design, signage, audiovisual (AV), security and valet parking.

 

When hiring out services, make sure the suppliers being considered have solid experience working with the meetings and events industry. The following businesses are part of Destination Colorado Meetings, an association of more than 165 members that promotes gathering in Colorado and interfaces with planners organizing meetings and events through providing helpful information. There is a handy online RFP process through Destination Colorado Meetings that helps planners find suppliers based on their groups’ specific parameters.

 

Here’s a glimpse at what the state has to offer in terms of hiring key services for meetings and events.

Staffing Assistance

If you need extra hands during a convention, Dream Team Event Staff is the perfect solution. Based in Greenwood Village, Colorado, and with offices in Las Vegas and Dallas, Dream Team Event Staff has assisted with 1,000 conventions and events over the last decade. Not only has the company been the only preferred provider of convention staffing for VISIT DENVER since 2005, but Dream Team also serves additional popular meeting destinations such as Orlando, Nashville, New Orleans and more.

 

The company specializes in providing registration professionals, badge checkers, room monitors, greeters, ushers, booth assistants, ticket takers and sellers, packet and bag stuffers, administrative support, multilingual assistance, event leads and supervisors, and more. The Dream Team database contains the profiles of dedicated career convention and event professionals while sister company A Hire Power has hundreds of office professionals seeking temporary work while looking for permanent careers.

 

Event Technology & Design

How an event sounds and looks is at the heart of hiring key services for meetings and events. JSAV started out as a family-founded company in 1986 and added BAV in 2019, resulting in a company rebranded as INSPIRE. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, INSPIRE produces more than 2,500 events a year in the United States, Mexico and the Dominican Republic and has branch offices in Denver; Buffalo, New York; and Irving and San Antonio, Texas.

 

INSPIRE serves as the in-house technology partner for more than 100 hotels and convention centers and produces in-person, virtual and hybrid events through a talented workforce, advanced technology, and a dedicated focus on creative and individualized solutions. Event planning support, event technology, event design (projection, digital signage, social media walls, graphics, projection mapping, lighting, special effects, etc.) are among the services offered by INSPIRE.

 

Entertainment, Custom Looks & More

From corporate gatherings, association meetings and nonprofit events to weddings, mitzvahs and other special occasions, Denver’s Elite Entertainment creates experiences tailored to each group’s unique vision and needs. Expert DJs keep the party alive, photo booths preserve memories and quality lighting, draping and AV set the atmosphere. Work with Elite Entertainment to craft a stunning occasion.

 

Interaction Denver offers live entertainment that gets attendees engaged in the meeting or event as well as event lighting and decor that takes a gathering from marginal to magnificent. Emcees, DJs, specialty performers and musicians can be booked through Interaction Denver as well as casino nights, LED video screen production, videography, unique party favors and more.

 

HIVE Interactive’s expertise spans across high-energy entertainment shows like BUSTED, experiential learning programs, trade shows, and field marketing activations. Located in Golden, the business’s primary focus is to seamlessly blend human artistry with cutting-edge technology to create immersive experiences. Using in-house talent for facilitation, emcees, entertainers and improv performers, HIVE Interactive fosters connections, stimulates learning and helps clients leave a lasting impression. For example, BUSTED combines live music, comedic improv and audience participation to create a night of unforgettable fun.

Hiring key services for meetings and events also means bringing a creative team on board.  Rythm EFX Event Design & Production is Colorado’s go-to for unique custom fabrications and designs that make events stand out from the rest. Located in Denver, the company specializes in decor and production that is in sync with a client’s goals as well as the focus of a gathering. AV, backdrops and structures, decor, furniture, design, special effects and live camera operation are among the many services offered. Watch guest engagement and positive feedback increase with Rythm EFX on your side.

 

Meanwhile, Platinum Creations is a Denver-based sign, graphics, print and apparel company that combines high quality with visually attractive designs. Work with Platinum Creations on show displays, feather flags, directional signage, banners, flyers, brochures, shirts, jackets, hats and beyond to make a great impression.

 

Security, Parking & Transportation

Denver-based Johnson & Associates is a nationwide security management firm that provides professional security services specialized for meetings, conventions, trade shows and corporate events. The company offers services such as ingress and egress plans, credential process, magnetometer and metal detector implementation, traffic control, shuttle coordination and VIP transportation.

 

In addition, Johnson & Associates assists with security planning by visiting a group’s chosen venue(s) and reviewing existing plans to gather site security information, risk analysis data, client policies and training methods. A thorough assessment is made to determine if in-house security, contract security or public law enforcement is the most effective service for a client’s meeting or event. For on-site event security management, Johnson & Associates utilizes its team members and a network of security partners to fill roles such as project managers, security hosts and badge checkers and to handle tasks like equipment security and VIP access control.

In the vehicle realm, Jay’s Valet has been operating in Colorado for nearly 40 years and is a leading provider of valet parking and luxury transportation services. The company specializes in offering valet parking for private events, corporate functions and commercial accounts. Private transportation services extend to airport transfers to Denver International Airport and Centennial Airport, nights out on the town, special occasions, corporate travel and more. Additional services include meet and greet, parking lot management, traffic direction and coat checks.

 

Hiring key services for meetings and events shouldn’t be left to the last minute. Seek out these partners and integrate them into your planning team early on. You will be pleased with the results!

 

Top Photo: Courtesy Inspire

 

Colorado native Beth Buehler has been editor of Colorado Meetings + Events magazine for 19 years, helped launch Mountain Meetings magazine, and was on the team that introduced Southwest Meetings + Events. She has planned numerous meetings and events and enjoys exploring Colorado.