Corporate event FAQs: costs, planning and ideas

As a rough guide, allow CHF 120 to 350 per head, depending on how ambitious it is, the venue, the catering and the programme. An event for around 80 guests usually lands somewhere between CHF 12,000 and 28,000. After a short brief we can give you a much firmer figure.

Agencies charge a project fee, a percentage of the budget or a day rate, depending on the scope. We agree our fee up front and show it as its own line, so you always know what you are paying for. More on how we work on our event agency page.

Guest numbers, the venue, the standard of catering, the technology and entertainment, and how long the event runs. The date matters too: venues and suppliers cost more and are harder to find in peak season. Getting the priorities right together is how you get the most out of the budget.

The usual suspects are set-up and breakdown time, on-site staff, cleaning, power, insurance, transport, storage and music licensing or permit fees. Corkage and minimum spends at the caterer add up quickly as well. We put all of it in the budget from day one, so there are no nasty surprises at the end.

A good rule of thumb is around 10 per cent of the total budget. It covers late additions to the guest list, a change in the weather at an outdoor event or a last-minute idea you simply have to have. We show it openly in the budget.

It starts with the brief: the objective, the audience, the occasion, the budget and a preferred date. From there we develop the concept, with venue, running order and programme, then plan the technology, catering and logistics and run the event on the day. Our corporate event management page walks you through it.

That depends on the size and complexity. For a mid-sized corporate event we would allow three to six months. Smaller events can move faster, large formats take longer. Give us your preferred date and we will tell you honestly whether it is realistic.

An event agency looks after the concept, planning and delivery of an event, from the first idea through venue, technology, catering and running order to managing everything on the day. We coordinate every supplier, so you can focus on your guests. And because we think in terms of live communication, we make sure your message actually lands.

As soon as the event matters strategically, your team lacks the time or contacts, or several suppliers need to be coordinated. We bring the experience and the network, which usually costs less than building them in-house. For small, simple events you may not need us, and we will tell you so.

We start with a briefing meeting and follow up with a concept and a rough budget. Once you are happy with the direction, we move into detailed planning, keep you updated through a named contact and run the event on the day. Afterwards we sit down together to look at what worked and what we would do differently.

The occasion and objective, the audience and guest numbers, a preferred date, a budget range and any requirements around brand, venue or content. The clearer the brief, the sharper our proposal. If some of it is still open, that is perfectly normal: we will work it out together.

Every outdoor event we plan has a wet-weather option, be it a marquee, an indoor alternative or a flexible programme. We agree early on who makes the call between plan A and plan B, and by when. Nobody ends up standing in the rain wondering what happens next.

Our team does. Someone keeps a close eye on the running order, coordinates the suppliers and stays calm when things do not go to plan. That leaves you free to be the host rather than the stage manager, which is one of the biggest reasons to hire an agency in the first place.

Plenty: staff parties, summer parties and company anniversaries, product launches, roadshows and sales kick-offs, gala dinners, conferences and awards nights. The right format depends on your objective, audience and message, not the other way round, and finding it is part of the concept work.

The event is the occasion itself: the party, the conference, the launch. Live communication is the thinking behind it, using the event to bring a message to life and reach people face to face. For us, every event serves that purpose rather than being an end in itself.

A good launch builds anticipation, reveals the product at exactly the right moment and makes its benefits tangible, through storytelling, staging, media and often one real wow moment. The staging has to suit the brand without upstaging the product.

Elegance, a clear shape to the evening and moments people remember, from the arrival and the pace of the courses to the entertainment in between. Food, space, music and staging all have to work as one.

The best kick-offs mix content with experience: a strong keynote, hands-on workshops, a shared moment around the year’s goals and an evening that brings people together. The energy comes when the team understands the why and actually looks forward to the year ahead. See how we do it on our sales kick-off page.

Switzerland gives you a lot to play with: a boat trip with drinks on Lake Zurich, a challenge at a mountain hut or a city rally through the old town. What suits you depends on the team, the season and what you want to achieve. Send us a brief and we will suggest a few team building ideas.

Popular choices are a festive dinner with a show, a fondue night in a chalet, a Christmas market tour with mulled wine or a proper black-tie gala. It can be cosy or it can be a big night out, depending on the team. Our corporate Christmas party page has options from a small team dinner to a party for hundreds.

Incentives work when they feel like an experience rather than a bonus: a trip with a special programme, an exclusive evening or a shared adventure in the mountains. It has to feel like a genuine thank you, never an obligation. We design incentives people talk about for years.

The quickest way is a short brief: the occasion, guest numbers, the atmosphere you are after and your budget. We know the venues and will shortlist and enquire on your behalf. More on our event agency in Zurich page.

Very much so, it is one of our strengths. In Davos, St. Moritz and across the Engadin we plan conferences, incentives and celebrations with real Alpine character, including travel and accommodation. Just tell us the mood you have in mind.

Yes. Our offices in Zurich, Rapperswil-Jona, Davos and St. Moritz cover much of German-speaking Switzerland and the mountain resorts, and we bring our network wherever else in the country your event takes place.

Regularly. Our home ground is Switzerland, above all Zurich, Lake Zurich and the Alps, which makes us a natural partner for international companies bringing guests here. Our team works in English as well as German.