The lobby of the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego is 150 yards long. Asking someone you’ve never met to meet you in the Hyatt lobby when it’s buzzing with people is like playing Where’s Waldo without knowing what Waldo looks like.
I asked ten strangers to meet me in the lobby of the hotel at 7:15 before a group dinner. At 7:35, after scrawling “group dinner” on a dopey paper sign and weaving my way through the lobby, I left with six of the guests in tow. The other four are probably still in the lobby, asking themselves what kind of jackass would give them these instructions.
When you host an event, be specific as possible in your communication with your guests. Hosting a group diner? Tell the group to meet you in front of the concierge desk to the left of the front doors at 7:15. Not just “in the lobby.” Running a focus group? Don’t tell attendees that the session will be held in the Del Mar room. Make sure they know the session is in the South Tower of the hotel, on the 3rd floor, in the Del Mar Room.
We put too much work into our events to have them fail because we give incomplete instructions. The more specific you are, the higher likelihood that attendees will show up and that your event will run smoothly.
Biz Bits 