When you are planning your event, it is a good idea to get into the habit of confirming attendees as soon as you have received the booking.

You will need to make two types of confirmation.

1. Telephone the person who booked the attendee. These are the people who tend to also pay the bill, so it is a good idea to let them know you have received their booking forms.
2. Send out a confirmation letter or email with the confirmation letter attached - to the attendee.

Once attendees have been confirmed, invoices can be raised (assuming payment has not been received online via your secure website booking form, or by cheque). Send out receipts - these tend to go to the person who made the booking as opposed to the attendee.

If you are sending confirmation letters out for an event that is several weeks or in some cases - months away, then it is a very good idea to send an event reminder approximately one week before the event. These can be sent electronically via e-mail and can remind attendees of:

• What time the event starts.
• How long the event lasts
• Where the event will be held (maps)
• Parking
• Other transport options
• What is included and what the attendee will need to bring (if anything).

This shows a level of customer service that surpasses most organisations expectations and because you have taken the time to remind attendees, will find you have less "no shows" on the day.