Entertaining for C-Suite executives can be an arduous but rewarding task if you get it right. If you’re new to event planning or just want some refresher tips on how to provide the very best for the upper echelons of your clients’ or partners’ business, read on.
Know your exec: If you’re going to host an event for a C-Suite Executive you’d better be prepared to know what they do (and don’t) love. They’re busy people, and inviting them to an event that caters to things that they actually enjoy is going to increase your chances of scoring time on their calendar.
Keep it private: If you want to capitalize on the face time you get with an executive, it’s probably best to keep it private—nothing is going to kill the vibe faster than having to share an event space with other parties, regardless of how hip the event is.
Gamble on a cool space, not a cool event: Unless you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that axe throwing is going to be a slam dunk, you’re better off gambling on a cool space than a cool activity where executives are concerned. A stylish, private space is always guaranteed to provide the perfect backdrop for networking or rubbing elbows.
If you’re having trouble thinking of an venue that fits our criteria, or rethinking your current event because of them (it’s okay, we won’t tell), we’ve curated some rock solid picks for you below.
Private dinner at Tree Studios, Chicago: Located in Chicago’s Loop-adjacent River North neighborhood, Tree Studios serves as a space for Chicago artists and art-related businesses, and houses a beautifully decorated private dining space within. Wow a C-Suite client with a private dining experience with passed appetizers and a four-course dinner menu with paired wine or beer.
Chef’s table dinner at Black Barn, NYC: A chef’s table dinner at Black Barn is impressive, since the chef’s table you’ll sit at will be Chef John Doherty, a 23-year veteran of the Waldorf Astoria who has cooked for the most U.S. Presidents in history. The sleekly designed space and rustic fare make it perfect to impress a high-profile client and get some serious face time.
Private reception and three-course dinner at NoPa, D.C.: Featuring not one but three private spaces designed by James Beard Award-nominated restaurant designer, Martin Vahtra, Ashok Bajaj’s eighth D.C. restaurant has ambiance in spades. A private reception elides seamlessly into a three-course dinner with paired wine—perfect for entertaining a C-Suite Executive.
DolceVita Safari, San Francisco: A black shuttle will be waiting for your group at 1 Market Street to whisk them away on a half-day adventure to wine country in Sonoma. After touring Durell Vineyard, your guests will be invited to enjoy wine, and a cheese and charcuterie plate in the shadow of Sonoma mountains before retiring to a rustic barn to sample more wine and play bocce ball. At the end of the day, your guests will be transported back to the hustle and bustle of San Francisco.
Dinner and museum tour at the History Colorado Center, Denver: Treat your guests to breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains in The Centennial State’s history museum. A 40 x 60 foot terrazzo tile map of Colorado is just one of the curiosities that awaits guests as they enjoy a tour of the museum after dark. Once all the guests arrive, they’ll be escorted to a private space where they’ll be served a three-course dinner with wine pairings.
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Check out our full list of experiences that are perfect for C-Suite entertaining.
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