Blog, Event

Atea; One Place – Confessions of a Project Manager

Mennesker, fest, festival, event
16
Nov

We at Oslofjord love events – the bigger the better! That’s why there is great joy and enthusiasm among our employees now that we can finally have big events again. We recently had Atea visit with 7,000 of their employees and here you can read about the project manager’s confessions.

When large event productions are about to get underway, there is a huge machinery that must function optimally so that guests have the best experience. It is no secret that a large event requires a lot of planning, and a lot of flexibility.

Martha Benedicte Skogholm is a project manager at Oslofjord Convention Center and has worked with us for more than three years. We have had a chat with her to hear what it is like to be a project manager for such an event.

What is the first thing you do when you are assigned a new event and the final date is set?
“The first thing we do is arrange a client meeting where we go into more detail about what the client wants for their event. That is when the actual concept development begins, and it is a very exciting phase!”

How long does it take to plan an event of this size?
“For this size, we should have 6-8 months, especially considering the concept development. There are many elements that need to be planned carefully to get a good flow so that the guest experience is the best possible.”
 
Which part of the process do you find most exciting?
“The most exciting thing in the planning phase is seeing how the event develops, from an idea to a complete event with its own food concepts, rig, entertainment and everything that goes with it. Suddenly you see how the different components become something big that will delight the guests.”
 
What do you think is most exciting during the event itself?
“During the event, things are happening all the time and you really have to keep up with the changes! Sometimes something comes up along the way and then it’s incredibly fun to see how quickly we can solve it together internally! It’s also always really nice to see that all the guests are having a good time.”
 
What are you most afraid of that won’t work optimally when you gather so many people?
“You always have in the back of your mind that something could happen to, for example, the hotel door system, or that something could happen to the sound and lighting system, but we have good people on hand and fortunately major incidents happen very rarely. It’s also a moment of excitement in itself if the experience lives up to expectations, so it’s really fun when the result is as good as during Atea’s event.”
 

Things happen

You always have to be prepared for something unforeseen to happen. It could be human error, or the technology that suddenly decides not to play along. During a break in the program on Saturday, there was a bit of pressure at the coffee outlet in the Arena, fortunately the F&B department was quick to come up with good solutions. They came running with extra coffee and set up the outdoor areas so that we could take advantage of the nice weather. It was bustling with life and the guests enjoyed themselves together in the sun.

What was it like to be at work this weekend?
“It was really cool to see how everyone at Oslofjord contributed to making this a success for the customer. Everyone was contributing, we got to see employees from all departments in action and everyone had fun along the way. It’s fun to work with such a close-knit group!”
 
What was the coolest thing for you as a project manager about this particular project?
“Atea as a customer! Here, it was assumed that it would be a real party around the clock. They had planned so much fun for the participants, from the time they got up until they went to bed at night. They really focused on what would create a better culture in their company.”
 
What was the first thing you did when this was over?
“I went home, got myself a glass of something good to drink, and slept for 14 hours.”

Hosting a community

It is during events like this, where people come together and stay together for a longer period of time, that the feeling of community really flourishes. Friendships are built, strengthened and renewed, but also the feeling of a common direction and a common goal gives increased motivation to embark on the future together. That is why we at Oslofjord love our job: because we can host large and small communities!