How receptive was staff to your request to view facility? Were they pleasant and courteous? Did facility manager greet you with a handshake and a smile upon your arrival at venue?

Sometimes catering or banquet halls have an adjoining restaurant. This is a perfect opportunity to sample facility's cuisine. Observe attitude of wait staff towards their customers. Do they seem pleasant and attentive? Are their uniforms neatly pressed? How often do they come back to check on your table? This is a fairly reliable indicator of service that you will receive on day of your event.

If facility does not have an adjoining restaurant, you are perfectly within your rights to request a small sample tasting. Most facility managers should be happy to oblige.

Amenities & Special Features

Amenities may include any number of items such as a built in sound system, in house audiovisual equipment, valet parking, complementary floral arrangements, a mystery dinner theater or any special perk that sets that venue apart from others. It may be helpful for you to make a list of these features, so that you can compare various sites that you have inspected.

No facility is perfect. If you look hard enough, you are bound to find some small flaw in service or in maintenance of building. Use following checklists as a guide for evaluating facility as a whole. Don't drive yourself crazy looking for every rip and tear! Only you can decide what type of venue is right for your event. If you are fortunate enough to find a venue that meets all of your requirements and fits within your budget, you've hit goldmine! However, this may not always be case and some form of compromise may be required. For instance, you may choose one venue over another because it is more conveniently located for your guests, although you may have felt that other site was more elegant. Only you can determine what factors will come into play when making your final decision.

Just remember basics. The following should never be compromised:

1. Cleanliness and proper maintenance of facility both inside and outside. 2. Convenience and accessibility of location. 3. Attentive and courteous service. 4. Quality and presentation of catering.

Andrea has over ten years of experience in the hospitality and events industry. She is the founder of Eleganza Meetings, Events & Conferences Inc., a full service agency offering meeting, event and conference planning resources.

Be specific! Being too vague in your plan of action can leave you sputtering along. It is very important that your plan be detailed. You need “how” and “when” of your business plan.

Implementing your plan of action: Now that you have a written set of goals and a detailed plan of action, last key element is implementing your plan. After all, what good are your goals and plan of action without acting on them?

For most, this is hardest part. In my mind, it can be even more so in home business sector. If you work for some one else, you probably have that constant “some one is watching over you to make sure you get all your tasks done on time.

In home business field, it can be very easy to procrastinate. Yes, we have all done it. Some more than others though. This is where you divide men from boys. While many of “boys” are preparing to find perfect time to get ready to get started, “men” are already in action.

We know that there is no “perfect” time to get started. If you are waiting for this, do yourself a favor and give up. It is never going to come. To be successful, you are just going to have to do it. And do it now!

In conclusion, let me say that although these three key elements are all very easily done, doing them does not guarantee success. There is another intangible, YOU! Add your own personality to your business and let it grow.

Here’s to you and your success. Today, not tomorrow!