event terms p through r

PMCA

professional convention management association, PCMA is a member of the Events Industry Council.

peak night

Referring to the night during an event when the largest number rooms are held in the room block or occupied by those in attendance

per diem

Per day. Daily allowance for food, lodging and, in some cases, incidentals and ground transportation expenses

pipe and drape

Light-weight aluminum tubing and drapery used to separate exhibit booths/stands, staging areas, and other similar locations.

place card

Card placed on the banquet table, inscribed with the name of the person designated to sit at that place.

plated buffet

Selection of preplated foods and entrees set on a buffet table. Can also be set on a roll-in cart.

plated service

Foods arranged on individual plates in the kitchen and then served to guests seated at a table

plus plus

Addition of taxes and service charges to a price when not included, designated by + +

post con meeting

Meeting at the primary facility at which an event occurred just after it has ended. Attendees generally include the primary event organiser, representatives of the event organiser/host organisation, department heads at the facility, other facility staff as appropriate, and contractors

pre con meeting

A meeting at the primary facility at which an event will take place just prior to the event beginning. Attendees generally include the primary event organiser, representatives of the event organiser/host organisation, department heads at the facility, other facility staff as appropriate, and contractors

post event report

The industry preferred term for a report of the details and activities of an event. A collection of post event reports over time will provide a comprehensive history for an event

prefunction space

Area adjacent to the main event location. Often used for receptions prior to a meal or coffee breaks during an event

pre-set service

Placing plated foods on banquet tables prior to seating guests.

qualitative data

Descriptive information that is a record of what is observed, presented in narrative by the respondent. Also referred to as “soft data.”

Quantitative Data

Information that is represented numerically so as to assign ranks or scores, or determine averages and frequencies. Also called "hard data."

quarter round

Wedge shaped table with one rounded edge.

rack rate

Facility’s standard, pre-established guest room rates.

rain date

An alternate event date contracted to use in case of inclement weather

rear projection

Image presentation where the screen is between the viewer and the projector. Often used with a FRONT PROJECTION which is translucent to images being projected from the rear and can be viewed from the front.

reasonable accommodation

Any provision that aids the participation of a person with a disability, as long as it does not create a hazard to others, a major disruption in business or an undue financial or administrative burden

request for proposals

A document that stipulates what services the organisation wants from an outside contractor and requests a bid to perform such services

return on investment

A financial ratio indicating the degree of profitablity. Calculated as NET MONETARY BENEFITS/ Meeting Costs x 100. Meeting costs may also be referred to as expenses.

rider

Additional clause in a contract stipulating special requirements.

rigging

1) The process of attaching the cable on a crane to a piece of machinery or equipment. 2) The process for hanging materials or signs. 3) The structure to which hanging materials are attached.

risk management

The ongoing process of assesing the risks that may threaten attendees, the meeting or event itself, the organiser, or partner-suppliers, and applying the appropriate measures to manage the probability of occurrence and consequences of such risks.

room block

Total number of sleeping rooms that are utilised and attributable to one event.

room pick up

The number of sleeping rooms actually used by event attendees and exhibitors

rooming list

A list, whether printed or electronic, by which an event organiser and/or their designates (e.g. a housing bureau) delivers multiple reservations to a hotel or other housing facility. Often the information contained in a rooming list is originally gathered through attendees’ completed housing forms

rounded hollow square

A HOLLOW SQUARE SET-UP with corners replaced by SERPENTINE or QUARTER-ROUND tables

roundtable

A group of experts who meet on an equal basis to review and discuss specialised, professional matters, either in closed session or, more frequently, before an audience.

run through

A complete rehearsal including all elements of the event production, such as presentations, performances, music or entertainment, lighting, audio-visual and technical aspects

russian service

The food is fully prepared in the kitchen. All courses are served either from platters or an Escoffier dish. Tureens are used for soup and special bowls for salad. The server places the proper plate in front of the guest. After the plates are placed, the server returns with a tray of food and, moving counter-clockwise around the table, serves the food from the guest’s left with the right hand. With this style of service, the server controls the amount served to each guest