Event planning industry in Goa is evolving, growing and in big demand

With no on and off season for celebrations in Goa, small as well as big event planners are taking a big leap with the help of event-related technologies and social media platforms

PRADNYA GAONKAR RANE | MAY 21, 2018, 02:26 AM IST



Hosting a birthday party for your kid? Is your sister’s wedding up on the cards? First thing, you would probably sit and jot down the things to do. While you do this, you also consider the time you have in hand to get all the arrangements done beginning with the decoration, lighting, caterers, music, other household needs and this probably adds on to the stress you are already going through. Then comes the main part of inviting relatives, guests and friends.

 Event planners have come to the rescue of many during these stressful situations. The services of event management companies are in surging demand these days. This attributes to a lot of factors. One of them is the perfection with which they plan your special day and earn you heaps of appreciation as well as name and fame. However, there are some people who still think why pay someone to get the task done. They are oblivious to the fact that it is a form of investment that will surely reap you multitude of benefits in the long run. When you are battling with loads of stress, hiring such services saves you from every type of dilemma.  

“Its has been six years I am associated with the event management industry. I have conducted all kinds of events right from social to corporates across the country. I was always keen and interested in venturing into this industry. The times then and now have changed drastically as the audience has started realizing the importance of event management and the need to have an event organizer. People now earn and spend on various occasions like birthdays, anniversaries and weddings. They expect the best and so hire an event organizer to get quality execution of the event,” says Pravas Dhuri of Outdo Media and Events.  

Before executing any occasion, the event planners first sit with their clients and have a personal interaction. This allows them to understand the needs, requirements and anticipations of the clients. Keeping all the essentials followed by the budget in mind, they plan everything accordingly. Being loaded with a plethora of responsibilities you can’t take care of every aspect. Getting hooked up with an event management company lessens your burden 10-fold. The experts efficiently handle catering, lodging and entertainment aspects. Everything is done in such a perfect manner that many a times there doesn’t even arise a need for supervision. Every minute detail is implemented keeping the theme of the event in mind. No matter you have fetes, cultural event or any kind of corporate event, they have the professional approach to take the strain out of organizing the event.  

With the marriage frills undergoing changes in colour and scale, the demand for professional event management companies and wedding planners is on the rise. While the rich are going in for concept and destination weddings where Goa is emerging to be amongst the top choices, the middle class prefer to assign the management of the event to specialized people. Tracing the growth of this industry, the demand for wedding and event management education is also on the rise. 

“Everyday is a new challenge. Clients want new decorations and themes. You have to keep up with the latest trend. So, parents send us pictures and we have to custom make it which is a challenge in itself,” says Pankaj Kudtarkar of Picture Perfect Events, Mapusa, which is also partnered by Priya Narvekar.  

Social media tends to be the focal point for information sharing for almost everything. When the social media made its debut, the event industry quickly picked it up as an opportunity to engage the participants not only as the event is happening live but at all points of the event process. While the event is happening, participants live poll, chat and tweet. This does not only focus on networking but also promotes participant engagement. Depending on the various ways social media is utilized for engaging event, it also drives the registration sales for their next event too. “Social media has created a major impact in terms of online promotions. People are getting to know of my services and are availing it as and when required. A lot of queries and leads are generated through platforms like social and digital media,” feels Pravas. 

Pankaj, who is in this industry for the past 10 years, is also not of a different opinion. “Every décor is posted on various social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter etc. Many get an opportunity to check the pictures and we get repeat décor clients. WhatsApp is an added advantage. We crack deals with voice answered video calling rather than having meetings with clients which is quiet convenient,” opines Pankaj. But has this led to replicating the ideas by another competitor in the industry. Pankaj is quick enough to answer this, “Yes, it does. But once we do it, copying doesn’t matter because only we can give that quality. And as clients have seen our work, word of mouth seals the deal”.  

Despite all these, we especially in Goa, don’t need a reason to celebrate. Any and every occasion becomes a celebration at some point or the other. With that comes the business for these event planners. “Earlier, I had witnessed the so called off season i.e monsoons. Now the scenario has changed. We get a lot of business especially during the rainy season in Goa. Goa is now popularly known as a monsoon destination having lush greenery, pleasant weather and unique festivals. A lot of parties are now being organized on occasions like ‘Sao Joao’, which is Goa’s most unique monsoon festival. During such events, we include a lot of activities like rain dance and pool parties which the 

audience enjoy and we get an overwhelming response,” informs Pravas who is all geared up for the coming monsoon season.

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