Prepping for VIPs

Earlier this week, The Hub got a visit from Representative Dave Camp, Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, and Senator Max Baucus. They're on tour for their Simpler Taxes initiative, and we were honored to host them.

So how DO you prepare for a visit from Congress and a bunch of press people? Here's how we did it.

Notify your peeps
All of them. Yes, all of them. We let our managers know, and relied on them to spread the word and ensure that our staff knew this was happening. The last thing you want is for anyone in your organization to be caught unawares. Aside from being unsightly, it's just not fair to your team members.

Choose your location wisely
We have three facilities in Philadelphia, but we chose our Cira Centre location for a few reasons: 1. It's located adjacent to a major train station, so transport wouldn't ever be a problem; 2. It's a crowning jewel in terms of meetings and events space--we're the first-ever privately-owned meeting space to be LEED certified. "Choose something you're proud of" is a no-brainer. It's the finding something that works for everyone that can be tricky, but the payoff is worth it.

Allow lots of wiggle room
For everything. For timing issues, for the number of people you're expecting, for every. possible. thing. That said, you can't prepare for everything, so...

Just roll with it
Especially when the former governor of Pennsylvania shows up. We love surprise visitors, and with the right prep, you will, too.

  Former Governor Ed Rendell with Hub co-founders Bill Decker and John New, and Rep. Dave Camp and Sen. Max Baucus (Photo: Lindsay McPherson)

What are *your* tips for prepping for a VIP visit? Share them below.