Before you ask, you need to ask

After reading the article “And for the lady?” (MW last week), I thought, surely it is common sense, if you are spending money on an event – whether it is for client entertaining or staff thankyous – to ask guests for their views and preferences. I know you can’t please everyone all of the time, but with forward planning at least the event will be much easier. Having invested a large amount of money, you will get a higher attendance on the day, and a day to remember.

Concerning spa days, I find it hard to believe that anyone can find them sexist, but I do believe that I would feel uncomfortable lying by the pool waiting for my massage while chatting to a male client, and presumably the client would feel the same.

The worst client entertainment event I have ever seen was an archery day. The targets were fake animals and, being an animal-lover, I was truly offended and even contacted the venue that was co-hosting it to voice my complaint – needless to say, neither the company nor the hotel chain is on our database.

Even hardened event organisers can be offended, so the solution is to ask the intended guests before the invitation is sent out.

Zilla Houghton

Co-founder

Fortesqueue’s

Dorking, Surrey