POST EVENT REPORT
GENERAL MANAGER NETWORK DINNER
INNOVATION OF HOSPITALITY4TH DECEMBER 2012 6.00PM – 10:00PM
THYME AND TARAGON RESTAURANT
DECORATION TEAM
Team Leader: Elizabeth Stella Alverina Team Member:
o Julia Selinda
o Kelly Jacquenetta Soffian o Valentine Adriaan
o Chong Hui Sien (On the event day) o Faan Fathimah (On the event day)
From planning towards the event and on the event day itself, decoration team is one of the team that we think would be the busiest one. Since the beginning of the planning, we already divided our tasks to search for the theme, suitable décor, and how to cooperate with the decoration team from Master Students that have so many ideas that it always changes from time to time.
When we first knew the theme would be about innovation, we were very blur about what kind of idea should we think about, since we’re afraid the innovative ideas that we’re going to develop would not be suitable enough to match with General Manager’s taste, whereby usually all of it will have to be done perfectly and professionally. Thanks to the
Master Students Decoration Team (Ms. Vivian, Ms. Elaine, and Ms. Arie), we were able to plan our decoration ideas through out the planning time, although there were some problems here and there.
Below are the brief summary of our planning before the event, also stated with the date and members who are participating:
Date Participated Members
Description
21 Oct 2012 Elizabeth Stella Discuss the first idea for centerpiece the master students in the first meeting with all leaders and master students, distribute the info and meeting results to the group members.
First idea of centerpiece:
Other group members start to look for ideas for other decorations.
26 Oct 2012 Valentine Adriaan Elizabeth Stella
Cooperating with logistics and do measurement of the restaurant, as well as taking photos for references.
7 Nov 2012 All members Meeting with Ms. Vivian Wan from Master students in Ruemz Hotel and discuss about colors for flowers and possibilities of decorating the stage, also discussing about availability of table cloth, table runner, chair cover and doorknob cover that possible to use.
8 Nov 2012 Julia Selinda Valentine Adriaan
Approach Mr. Kumar for the information regarding table clothes etc. No answers obtained.
9 Nov 2012 Elizabeth Stella 2nd attempt approaching Mr. Kumar. Still no answers obtained.
Informed Master students about current situation as well as giving the menu and distribute restauranr layout photos to master students and group members.
19 Nov 2012 Valentine Adriaan Elizabeth Stella
Meeting with Mr. Kumar in his office. Information obtained:
Table cloth: Orange / White Table Runner: Black
Napkins: cream/purple/red/white
Meeting with Ms. Vivian Wan and discuss of the next steps. Obtained ideas of decorating buffet counter with flower arrangements and jars, as well as production of guests’ nametags.
Therefore, the main problem that arise during our planning were the budget amount that we have because it kept unconfirmed until the last meeting, where Dr. Christian told us that the budget is actually RM 1,500 and also the ideas of decorating components that kept undecided until the very last minute because Master Students team keep changing their mind about the ideas, as well as ideas that rose from our decoration team.
From the problems that arise during the planning process, we as the decoration team realized that one of the keys to overcome these problems is the initiative to ask to the Master Students and the initiative to make our own decision as a team. For example, for the napkin designs, we as a team thought about making something different, some designs that are unusual and unique as a part of innovation when the Master Students cannot decide which design of napkin we would like to go with. We believe that without the initiation, much problems will arise.
On the event day itself, we were very busy since the day before because all of our decorations stuff had to be prepared in last minute, since the main component (flower) will only come on the event day to keep its freshness. One day before our event, Hui Sien and Faan from Finance team helped us on the preparation. We did the making of the nametags as well as napkin designs. That day, Mr. Wai Mun said about making 3 different designs of napkins for each table so we went with bunny, dinner jacket, and fan design. Everyone seems delighted with the designs that we made so we thought it will be alright as we felt our work has lessen for the day of the event.
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However, on the event day, we as the decoration team had to face some last-minute things and changes. First off all, we actually had planned how our decoration should be several days before the event day, but suddenly there are some changes for centerpiece as Master Students suddenly don’t want to make the glass centerpiece and replace it with flower’s
bouquets. We were also never informed regarding the table numbers, so Julia had to rush and print the numbers to be stick on the card and put it in the bouquet. We also suddenly have crystals with ribbons to hang on ceiling, and although Master Students did help us to hang few crystals, the rest we have to asked for our friend to climb and hang the crystals one by one. And one of the most last-minute changes was that we have to change our napkin folding to just 2 designs each table, so we have to remove the bunny design of the napkin and have to fold again which wasting a lot of time.
The other thing is that we received the news that we have to write more nametags since there were last minute guests list. We also received the guest seating arrangement quite late on that day, so that we have to do our work faster and in hurry. Moreover, most of our decoration team is also in the escort team and have to be ready earlier on each spot, so we had a very limited time to finish up. Unfortunately, it makes us the decoration team could not finished our work on time, but thanks to the other team members and the Master Students tea, who helped us to do our tasks, we managed to finish the decoration although it was very last minute.
However, We as a team are actually very grateful that we are given an opportunity to help managing an important and classy event like this, as we know that this can be a very useful experience for us. We can really apply some of our knowledge to this event and learn to cooperate with other people, face those people who have different character one another. We also to be more discipline, finish what we have done in a certain time frame.
For us, one part that should be improved is the time management and connection with the Master Students team. We as a team not actually just in charged of the decoration that we have thought about, but we had to do the linens as well where we had to iron the table cloths, folding the napkin, as well as collecting all back when the event is finished. On the event day, after laying the table clothes, we found out that it is crumpled and we need to iron it, but all the cutlery and crockery already arranged on some table so we have to remove it again,
and it is a bit of wasting time. Ironing the table clothes were a bit hard work because altogether we had sixteen table clothes and it actually took a lot of time. But we managed to do it by getting the help from the team members. Therefore, we do think that our teamwork is quite good. By cooperating with each other as well as finance and logistic group, our decoration could finally finished on time and satisfy the eyes of guests and the master students. However we advice that next time, more cooperation and discussion with the Master Students should happened and each other have to always give confirmation of all things that are planned beforehand to avoid these last minute changes.
