Creating an Alternative

What’s America’s favorite food? Pizza

What’s the new fad in America? Dieting

Hmm…clearly the two of those don’t go well together.

Pizza Hut came up with a solution to this problem. They realized Americans were looking for lower-fat, lower-calorie options and therefore came up with a new pizza called Fit ‘N Delicious.

I’m sure everyone is dying to know how this pizza is less fat. Well it’s simple; they have half the cheese, lean meats and fresh vegetables on the Thin ‘N Crispy crust. And for the fat and calorie counters out there, these pizzas only have 3.5 to 5 grams of fat.

Pizza Hut became the first national pizza chain to introduce a great-tasting pizza with less fat. With the help of OgilvyPR, they established a credible source, nutrionist, Jackie Newgent R.D. and secured the cover story on the “Money” section of USA Today.

This campaign run by Pizza Hut and OgilvyPR is great. Why not give Americans what they want? I know how much I love pizza but I also know how bad it is for me. I would feel so much better knowing it has less fat than regular pizza. Also, establishing a well-known nutritionist as their source is fantastic because right there the pizza is given credibility.

For a link to a case study done by OgilvyPR go to http://www.ogilvypr.com/case-studies/pizza-hut.cfm

Thanks Leslie Slama

A few weeks ago, I met with Exxon Mobil’s Global Event Manager, Leslie Slama. First them me start off by saying, Exxon Mobil’s headquarters in Las Colinas is a sight to see! XOM is known for being one of the most conservative companies in the nation; this would explain my chic business attire strategically planned for the afternoon.

After signing in and receiving my very own visitors badge for the day, Leslie’s assistant Elise, escorted me quietly through the building to a conference room. The table could fit at least 20 people but there were only two chairs placed directly across from each other. I noticed a pen, notepad and an ice-cold Fiji water bottle in front of me. XOM really goes all out don’t they?

Leslie and I talked for an hour about the event planning business. After telling her about my previous experience in entertainment event planning out in Los Angeles, I asked about corporate event planning.

Leslie described her work at XOM as heavy but also very steady at the same time. “Any event planning business outside of the corporate world is going to be less stable,” Slama said. She explained the main difference between entertainment and corporate event planning; it doesn’t entail a broad variety of events. Leslie spends a lot of time traveling as XOM’s Global Event Planner but loves every minute of it.

Leslie provided me with some great tips to becoming a solid event planner. Every event planner must be meticulously detailed and creative. It is imperative that they visualize every function and are prepared to handle stressful situations.

Her best advice for me was to do anything and everything for 10 years. After providing me with a contact at the Four Seasons, she informed me that hotels are fabulous training grounds because you learn customer service and that is KEY to a successful event!