Only T-Shirts, a large mall chain of retail stores wants to hold an awards ceremony to motivate staff and recognize their accomplishments. Your corporate contact who works for Only T-Shirts Corporate Headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio wants the attendees to leave feeling motivated to increase their individual store sales. The budget is undefined as are many details about the event. You need to plan the awards dinner and get approval from your corporate contact. The dinner ceremony will be held at a large, upscale restaurant in downtown Cleveland.

Your mission is to plan the dinner ceremony. Some components include availability of the restaurant, menu planning, swag, awards, the presenter, entertainment, transportation and parking, beverages, sponsorship (if appropriate), VIP treatment, seating chart, and invitations.

Donna wants to motivate her staff to achieve high sales resorts. What awards can be given along with the trophies to motivate the staff? Give some specific examples and how they would tie in with the evening, be motivational for all retail managers and store staff.

Sandra has a busy restaurant with high prices. She doesn’t need this business but is accepting the reservation because she is a neighbor and friend of Donna. Holding a presentation ceremony will be difficult in a busy restaurant. What suggestions do you have for relationship building, contract negotiation, and event set-up that will balance your event needs along with Sandra’s needs?

Responses to each question should be approximately 200- 300 words in length.