Do I need a ticket to attend a REACH event?

 

Yes!

 

Our event hosts and sponsors allocate staff, F&B, and venue space specifically for REACH events. To be responsible partners, we communicate expectations (including guest count) to ensure these resources are properly managed within budget and scope.

 

It’s good practice, and as many of us are event planners, too, we trust you’ll appreciate this point!

 

Who can get a ticket to a REACH event?

 

REACH tickets are available to REACH members in good standing. Our events serve as a gathering and networking opportunity for our members as well as a chance for our event hosts to get in front of decision makers and showcase their space and services

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REACH events are almost exclusively for REACH members. We build our community around several missions and goals, including being around like-minded people in our profession who “get it.” There is an expectation of confidentiality and informality at our events, and we strive to ensure our members-only events are a special, value-add component of our networking model. On occasion, we extend the courtesy of attendance to select non-members.

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REACH leadership may extend exclusive invitations to partners (such as vendor representatives, recruiters, etc.), or accommodate a REACH member’s request to invite a qualified colleague, such as an event planner. (No need to ask about your fellow EA being a non-member invite–encourage them to apply for REACH membership directly!)

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How do I invite a non-member to a REACH event?

 

To invite a non-member to a REACH event, the REACH member must:

 

1. First purchase their own ticket to the event (requests from REACH members who have not purchased a ticket for the event will not be considered).

2. Email regionalEAcocktailhour@gmail.com to inquire about space and availability to invite a non-member. Email requests should include the non-member’s full name, job title, email address, phone number, and your working relationship. REACH will make every effort to review requests promptly but requests proper notice and time to receive and review requests.

3. Await review and approval by REACH. REACH reserves the right to limit whether non-members may attend events, which non-members may attend events, as well as the number of non-members permitted at any event. Regardless of REACH’s approval of a member’s request to invite a non-member, the REACH member’s original ticket purchase will be governed by the Refund Policy.

4. Redeem 15 RLPs to include the non-member guest (see below for additional detail)

5. Provide an email address for payment for the REACH Across ticket and ensure payment is processed before the event.

6. Accompany the non-member to the event.

 

REACH members are automatically enrolled in our loyalty program and receive REACH Loyalty Points (“RLPs”) when purchasing event tickets or subscribing to an RLP plan.

 

In cases where non-members are permitted and approved, the hosting REACH member is typically limited to one non-member guest at an event.

 

REACH events used to be free. Why aren’t they any more?

 

In part, because membership is! ​When REACH was founded in 2012, we were able to organize informal gatherings thanks to the generosity of our event sponsors, and REACH members simply had to RSVP. It was a great launching point for us, but it’s not a sustainable model!

 

As attendance fluctuated, we found that a low-cost ticket model improves planning, ensures member commitment, and maintains the quality of our events.

 

Our hosts have also needed to revise their partnership model, and being able to cover costs in a small way enables our REACH members to continue benefiting from and expanding our network with preferred vendors and special partners.

 

REACH operates with minimal costs, including website maintenance, staff gratuity, food and beverage, and occasional venue rental fees. Ticket sales cover these in a meaningful way and allow us to keep membership and our virtual networking via our website and forum free.

 

Can my ticket be refunded or transferred if I’m unable to attend an event?

 

Tickets are non-transferrable in all instances and are typically non-refundable in cases an attendee can no longer attend an event.

 

In select cases, REACH may offer partial refunds or credit toward a future event for ticket holders who attend the event, based on the tier of ticket purchased. These options ensure we’re still  covering our operational costs and planning for our events accordingly while also giving members the chance to get some money back or reinvest their refund option for a future event.

 

Be sure to review ticket descriptions and policies for each event when purchasing your ticket for more details.

 

What are the different ticket tiers? Why are they different prices?

 

REACH uses a tiered ticketing system to encourage early commitment and allow flexibility as the event date approaches. Regardless of tier, all tickets provide the same access, including food, beverages, and networking opportunities.

 

Typically, only one tier of ticket is available for purchase at a time. When a sale period closes for one tier of ticket, the next tier opens (and the price increases and/or the refund optionality decreases)

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REACH Beyond Tickets

REACH Beyond tickets are the first tier of tickets available for purchase as soon as an event is announced and remain available for anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks (depending on how far out the event is). These tickets will always be the most affordable and the best value. This allows us to get a good planning sense early on to share with our partner.

 

REACH Up Tickets

REACH Up tickets are the second tier of tickets available for purchase. They are typically available for purchase as soon as the REACH Beyond tier closes and until 5pm on the Friday before the event. These tickets will often be slightly higher in price than REACH Beyond tickets, and given we are getting closer to the event, allows us to adjust count with our partners more easily for staffing, F&B planning, and space accommodations.

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REACH Out Tickets

REACH Out tickets are the third tier of tickets available for purchase. They are typically available for purchase as soon as the REACH Up tier closes and until the start of the event. We want to give all of our REACH members as much time to join as possible! But these tickets will be the most expensive of the three tiers and cover the costs associated with final adjustments made with our partners.

 

REACH Across Tickets

REACH Across tickets are only for non-member guests who attend an event (vendors, sponsors, partners, recruiters, REACH-member colleagues, etc.). REACH Across tickets are set at or above the price of a REACH Out ticket for an event, regardless of the time of purchase, and are available only on an as-approved-by-REACH basis. Non-members must present their purchased REACH Across ticket for entry to an event.

 

What happens if I purchase a ticket but can’t attend the event?

 

No-shows can impact our planning and venue partnerships. If you are unable to attend, please notify us as early as possible.

 

If you are unable to attend and have a confirmed non-member guest scheduled to join you, please email us at regionalEAcocktailhour@gmail.com for prior approval for the guest to attend the event unaccompanied.

 

Repeated no-shows may impact REACH membership standing

 

Is there a limit on event capacity?

 

Typically no (although we’d love membership to be so large that we need to plan for bigger and better spaces!). In some cases, space may be limited based on venue size and partnership agreements, and we encourage early ticket purchases to secure your spot, but we have not encountered such a situation yet.