by Zanita Careem

Advertising is something that creates a certain illusion and image, and public relation is something that manages crowd control of different categories of people. In this interview Chris Wijekoon and Azad Hassan share thier professional insight into advertising and public relations .

Leadership by definition lies in the action of leading to reach a goal. For both of us what define a great leader is someone who leads by example and successful leaders are known by the influence and impact they have on many not on one said Chris and Azad, the two veterans in the field of advertising and event management.

We learnt by experience that communication isn’t merely a supporting component for business to succeed; it is the key factor for success for every leader, for every business and even in our personal life competition is what make us to excel in our career. Both of them are extremely passionate about thier role and responsibilities.

Well organised, articulate, positive and full. of positive energy. Chris and Azad . are the running thread that keeps the bond between all PR players and firms alive We are both directors of this organisation ‘Planning Paradise’ Both of us have an understanding of dynamics of industry and business. We work relentlessly to built the agency, through hard work and commitment to give a professional dimension to PR campaigns organised by the ‘The Planning Paradise’.

What made you to start an event management agency?

We both are professional with many years of experience and come from two very different professions. Azad holds a Masters in Business Administration and Chris comes from a professional background holding an ACIS (UK) qualifications. Over a period of time, we observed how events were organised and observed how many were successful.

Tell us about the campaigns and events you have worked on.

When ” Planning Paradise” ventured out in a post-COVID arena, the norms were strictly adhered. We , our team has covered milestone birthday parties, exclusive private dinners and cocktails, the ABBA Ladies Night as well as karaoke and sing-along gatherings. However, during pre-covid our team handled corporate events in collaboration with some of the leading corporates in the country. We always strictly adhered to safety measures and followed government regulations.

We always created a memorable impression and left an indelible mark on the minds of our clients. This is especially important in many events, attendees were first time visitors . We always looked into minor details and created a unique ambience. Even when outdoor events, are organised we are always ready with tents and canopies on standby. The venue is a reflection of the event as a whole. We always make a grand statement and get people talking.

How do you integrate social media with event management?

The aim of incorporating social media into our event management was to create an awareness among clients across the country At present our team is running a Facebook page and also an Instagram account, and we do update our followers with what we have done and what we plan to do. We also plan to open a linkedin page in the near future,

Earning trust and establishing valuable relationships and building branding awareness are necessary to run our business smoothly. A PR event is all about building publicity.

How does ‘Planning Paradise’ is different from other event management companies?

Our team endeavours to go above and beyond in our request for client satisfaction and happiness, making our company stand out from others.. Our team gives priority to our customers’ ideas . Our aim is to make customers happy and give them the edge to decide what they want.

The promotion of events doesn’t begin and end at an event. For example recently we organised an Abba night . Those attended had a great experience. gets everybody in good spirit . Most people who attends our events uploads images on instagram using our event hashtag.

What are the trends in

event management?

With reference to the American Express 2021 Global Meetings and Event Forecast, hybrid events take precedence over others in the future globally.

In the new normal we are slowly adapting to organise open-air events which will be COVID- friendly. . We have to keep in mind that life goes on within the parameters of health guidelines.

What are your key factors of success?

At “The Planning Paradise”, we follow the axiom customer is King! and work as a flexible team. We always work within the personalized budgets of our individual clients. The world as we know has been changed by the epidemic that has reached every corner of the globe. The way we think, live and work will now have to be modified to the new normal.

We have varied professional backgrounds, so we in our events have genuinely brought joy or value so far.

Attention, activity, are some of our key words. The ‘Planning Paradise’ is flexible young and creative Our secret is consistency on all events we organised . We work as a team. We stand behind each other and supports one another.

planningparadisesl@gmail.com