HM 321 Event Terminology (S-Z)

Second Tier City

A city where the space of the convention centre, the hotels, or the air lift, make the city more appropriate for smaller meetings and events.

Serpentine

Curved, S-shaped tables that when placed together make a snake form.

Service Bar

A counter from which alcoholic beverages are served that is located outside of a function room, usually in an area not visible to guests.

Service Charge

1) A mandatory and automatic amount added to food and beverage charges, usually used to defray the cost of labor and service equipment. Generally calculated as a percentage of charges. 2) A fee charged to a client by a travel agent in addition to the commissions paid to them by their principals.

Sightlines

The actual or virtual lines in the venue or on printed or digital layout that describe what parts of a set or decorative object are visible from a given audience or guest point of view. Used to determine what must be decoratively treated or masked.

Site Inspection

In-person, on-site review and evaluation of a venue or location for an event.

Slippage

Reduction in the number of rooms used from the original reserved block.

Soft Opening

Time when a property is open for business, prior to the grand opening. All services/facilities may not be complete or available.

SOP

N/A

Special Events Company

A company that produces events which include a variety of creative elements including décor, special effects, theatrical acts or other entertainment. It may produce stand-alone events or functions within a larger programme, such as a gala dinner during a convention.

Sponsorship

1) Financial, material or in-kind support for an event, usually in exchange for recognition. 2) Paid opportunity for an entity or an exhibitor to increase its visibility at the event.

Square Set-Up

Seating arrangement in which double- or triple-wide tables are set up with chairs placed around all sides.

Supplier

Purveyor, provider, vendor, contractor offering facilities, products and/or services.

Surcharge

Charge over and above established rates, such as an energy surcharge.

Tax Exempt Certificate

Document needed from customer to verify tax exemption status in the locale where the event is held.

Technical Rehearsal

Run-through of technical aspects of an event such as lighting, sound, special effects, etc.

Theater Set-Up

N/A

Trade Show

An exhibition of products and/or services held for members of a common or related industry. Not open to the general public.

Traffic Flow

1) Movement of people through an area. 2) A supposed or directed path that attendees will take through an exhibition.

T-Shape Set-Up

Series of tables set up in the shape of the letter T with chairs set all around except at the head table.

Turnkey Exhibit

A system whereby the exhibit manager turns responsibility of the display over to an exhibit house. In essence, the exhibitor simply 'turns the key' upon arrival at the event and opens the booth/stand.

Usability

N/A

U-Shape Set-Up

Series of tables set up in the shape of the letter U with chairs set around one or both sides.

Vegan

A person who does not eat or use animal products or by-products for food, clothing, cosmetic or other purposes.

Vegetarian

A person who does not eat meat, poultry, fish or shellfish. Ovo-vegetarian: A person who does not eat meat, poultry, fish, or shellfish, but does consume eggs. Lacto-ovo vegetarian: A person who does not eat meat, poultry, fish, or shellfish, but does consume dairy products and eggs.

Venue

1) Site or destination of meeting, event or show 2) Location of performance such as hall, ballroom, auditorium, etc.

V-Shape Set-Up

Seating arrangement in which chairs or tables and chairs are arranged in rows slanted in a V shape and separated by a centre aisle. They face the head table or speaker.

Walk-Through

1) Review of event details. 2) Site inspection. 3) Inspection of function room prior to function. 4) Inspection of exhibit floor prior to opening of the event.

White Noise

Random noise whose various frequency components all share the same energy density characteristics, producing the same voltage at any particular discrete frequency over a period of time. This causes a frequency response trend that rises the same number of decibels as the percentage of frequency increase.

White Tie

Formal dress requiring white tie and tails for men and formal evening dress for women.

Zero-Based Budgeting

The process of building a budget without benefit of a previous year's budget.