Today we’d like to introduce you to Denise Lawson.
Denise, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I got started in my teenage years to be honest. My family is quite large and there were times my family would ask me to help decorate for whatever the event we were preparing for. Not to mention, I had friends that would call me to assist them with their events. My gift and talents were pulled out in the church for our onsite and off-site events as well.
I decided to get into the hospitality industry to learn more about the Event Planning and Catering side of it. More importantly, my decision to get into the hospitality industry was to gain knowledge on the sales side of it. Often times the church would hold conferences at hotels and was going into the conferences in the red. I knew if I could get on the inside, I would be able to show them how to get the quality service but a discount. Therefore, having them pay for their conferences prior to the start date of their conferences.
Once I started working within the hospitality industry, I learned how to put conferences/events together from meeting room set up to menu selection. I would also work part-time in Banquets department as banquet server, which taught me how to set tables for white glove services to buffet stations layout.
My first hotel was Hyatt Regency New Orleans as a Sales Administrative Assistant, and within 6-7 months, I was promoted as Executive Administrative Assistant to the Regional Food & Beverage Director. From there, I moved over to Aramark Sports & Entertainment (Ernest N Morial Convention Center) where the events and conferences were from 5,000 attendees to as many as 50,000 attendees.
With the experience birth my creativity for event design and set-up.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Becoming an entrepreneur is never a smooth road. There are road blocks that you encounter whether it being finances, dealing with individuals and/or businesses with lack of integrity. Lack of support of family and friends, but you will face obstacles and challenges in the early stage of business.
Some of the struggles I have faced were lack of finances, dealing with divorce, and just life events.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with KourturEvents Planning & Consulting – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I created KouturEvents from experience and knowledge of being in the industry. Being apart of the hospitality industry has allowed me to be one of the most diverse individuals with knowledge and experience in both sales and operations. KouturEvents is capable of negotiating contractual terms and agreements for guestroom blocks prior to signing with venue. We are also able to assist in negotiating contractual terms for one-day events being breakfast, luncheons, anniversary celebrations, weddings and so much more.
My specialty is church conferences, weddings, corporate events as well as birthday celebrations, contractual negotiations, creative set-up designs and placement, event budgeting.
I am most proud of having the knowledge and experience that has afforded me the opportunities to work with amazing people. More importantly to continue to grow as an individual and company.
I believe what sets me apart from others is my experience and knowledge. Not to mention, I have worked in multiple markets across the US over the past five years. I have learned the trends and what will work and what’s not working in the industry overall.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
My plans for the future is to be one of the most premiere Event Planners across the United States. My future plans is to build a state of the art event center.
My immediate plans are to officially launch the website of KouturEvents Planning & Consulting, build partnerships with companies in and outside of the Atlanta market.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 678.340.6008
- Email: denise.m.lawson@outlook.com
- Instagram: urglamsquad678
- Facebook: urglamsquad678
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