birthday assignment

New Assignment

Assignment Number: ID23534-1523

Assignment Type: Assess and recommend. Use internet and phone. Work from home. Finish in under twelve hours.

Introduction

One of our VIP clients will soon arrive in the U.S. on business from Russia. She will be bringing her seven year old daughter with her.

While stateside, the daughter will be celebrating her eighth birthday.

The client hopes to throw her daughter a great birthday party despite being away from home. Because the daughter's birthday will occur on the day before they depart for home, the client is willing to layover for a day anywhere in the U.S. to make this celebration

a special one. We need you to help us investigate party venues and activities geared toward children.

Client Statistics

The birthday girl is seven, about to turn eight. Her interests include drawing with pastel chalks, singing, playing with dolls and

watching Masha and the Bear (a Russian cartoon about a girl who is friends with a circus bear). She will probably not enjoy a typical

American celebration with pizza and video games. Her mother describes her as curious, creative and very shy.

Client Desires

A Unique Venue for the Right Price

Rather than finding extravagant venues, you should look for something unique—something special to your area. Try to find a

venue that can accommodate six people for $1,000 or less. And just because you have $1,000 to work with, you need not spend it all. Remember the emphasis is on originality, rather than luxury.

Activities should require NO change of clothes. This means NO swimming!

Since the client will be flying in for a one-night layover, try to find something within fifty miles of your nearest international

airport. Although it is not strictly necessary, try and find out if the airport offers direct flights to Russia, specifically Moscow or St. Petersburg. Bonus points for finding Mom a traditional Russian restaurant for dinner as well.

Task Description

Assess birthday party venues in your area. Select the best five that match our criteria.

 Evaluate venues primarily on their uniqueness. As long as it's under $1,000, cost doesn't matter.

 Recommend a venue based on how well you think it fits the daughter's interests.

 List all five venues you considered in order of preference starting with the best.

Report

Record your findings in a MS Word file. For each venue or activity, provide, in this order: venue name, address, phone number,

name of any contact you made, venue type, services and activities offered, approximate per person costs and hours. Please include photographs if possible. List the advantages and disadvantages of each venue and explain your recommendation.

We will verify all information, so please provide accurate data. Do not include web links in your report!

Email your report to your manager. Emails must be under 10 MB. Split anything larger into multiple emails.

Format your report according to this sample report on venues in Austin, TX.

Sample Report

#1 Beary Cute Stuffables

Address

 None (Home-based in Round Rock,

TX)

 Provides service to the Austin area at

your own location.

Phone Number

 (512) 501-0045

Contact

 Rita Aceves

Venue Type

 Crafts

Services







Cost







Hosts parties where children make

their own stuffed bears

Each child will complete a bear

during the festivities.

Provides costumes for children

$30 hosting fee

Party packages ranging from $10 to

$25 per child with a minimum of six

children

If less than six children will attend,

the minimum charge will be six times

the per-person charge for the selected package.

 Adults may also make a bear for the

same price as children.

Hours

 Any, subject to availability

Uniqueness Factor (1-10)

 10

Interest Match (1-10)

 10

Advantages

 Well suited to creative children

 Typically hosts smaller parties, which

suit shy children

 Low cost

Disadvantages

 No physical venue

Recommendation

I am recommending Beary Cute Stuffables

since it is highly original and perfectly suited

to the interests of the birthday girl. If she's

creative, plays with dolls and watches Masha and the Bear, she's sure to love this birthday

party. She can pretend she's Masha!

Accommodations

Unfortunately, this service does not offer its

own venue. However, as the cultural and event capital of Texas, Austin has a great

number of condos and homes for rent on a nightly basis starting at under $100/night.

Consider this two story, two bedroom home,

which rents for $85/night subject to

availability. Since they'll be needing a place to

stay anyway, they could probably provide their own venue.

I'm told the best way to book these homes is

through a travel agent at least two-weeks prior to arrival.

Downtown Hotels

If they'd prefer a hotel, the Austin Four

Seasons is a 4.5 star hotel downtown. The hotel rents city-view suites large enough to host a six-person party, starting at $399 per night (1 adult, 1 child) subject to availability. Call (512) 478-4500 to reserve a room.

A

The Russian House of Austin

307 E 5th St

Austin, TX 78701

(512) 428-5442

Mom will love this fine dining establishment, which offers traditional Russian cuisine. The

"House" offers its own organic-infused vodka.

A

Aa

#2 Cafй Monet

Address

 4477 S Lamar Blvd

WestGate Shopping Center

Austin, TX 78745

Phone Number

 (512) 892-3200

Contact

 None

Venue Type

 Crafts

Services







Cost



A paint-your-own pottery and mosaic

studio

Hosts birthday parties and provides

all art supplies and instruction

Offers a "story time" event. The

children are read a story and then

invited to create art based on it.

$25 room fee





Hours





Has packages starting with the

Monet Package at $13 per painter

with a minimum of eight painters (or

8 times the per-painter cost of the

selected package)

Most expensive package for children

is the Van Gogh package at $18 per painter.

Sundays and Mondays: 12-6pm

Tuesday and Wednesday: 11-8pm

Thursday through Saturday: 11-9pm

Uniqueness Factor (1-10)

 9

Interest Match (1-10)

 9

Advantages

 Well suited to creative children

 Low cost

Disadvantages

 "Story time" might be complicated by

a language barrier.

#3 Thinkery: The Austin

Children's Museum

Address

 4477 S Lamar Blvd

WestGate Shopping Center

Austin, TX 78745

Phone Number

 (512) 472-2499

Contact

 Sarah

Venue Type

 Educational

Services





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



Cost





Hours

Hosts themed birthday parties. The

themes in the daughter's age group

are as follows:

o Dino-Mite Party

o Space Adventure o Cool Concoctions

o SmART Maker

All parties include 90 minutes in a

party room

Includes a party educator to lead

activities

Provides all decorations, party favors

and cake

Offers unlimited free play for children

after the party

Numerous exhibits including

o Innovator's Workshop

o Spark Shop

o Light Lab

o En Mi Familia

o Currents

o Many More

Parties on Wednesday $190

Parties on Friday $240

Parties on Saturday & Sunday $295

Only hosts parties at the following times:

 Wednesday 6:00-7:30 pm

 Friday 3:00-4:30 pm

 Saturday & Sunday 10:00-11:30 am  Saturday & Sunday 12:30-2:00 pm

 Saturday & Sunday 3:00-4:30 pm

Uniqueness Factor (1-10)

 6

Interest Match (1-10)

 8

Advantages

 Well suited to curious children

 Best value for items received

Disadvantages

 Few times available for parties

#4 Spicewood Farms

Address

 6607 Spicewood Springs Rd.

Austin, TX 78759

Phone Number

 (512) 343-6220

Contact

 Mike

Venue Type

 Active/educational

Services

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Cost







Hosts birthday parties amid the

stables at Spicewood Farms

Offers educational lessons

o The nature of horses o Hands-on grooming

Provides an hour of riding for the

children

Games:

o Horseshoe toss o Rope the steer

o More!

Tex's Temporary Tattoos available on

request

Mini-party $175 for up to six children

Standard party: $350 for up to

twenty children

Deluxe party $450 for up to twenty

children. Party includes:

o Cake and beverages

o Decorations

o Twelve "Super Goody Bags"



Hours



Painted pony add-on: $85. Can be

added to any party package. Enables

the children to paint a pony as the American Indians did.

Any, subject to availability

Uniqueness Factor (1-10)

 8

Interest Match (1-10)

 4

Advantages

 An especially Texan birthday party

Disadvantages

 More expensive for better packages

 Depending on how the clients come

dressed, this activity might require a change of clothes.

#5 Pigtails and Crewcuts

Address

 1890 Ranch Shopping Center

Cedar Park, TX 78613

Phone Number

 (512) 259-4353

Contact

 Sandra

Venue Type

 Fashion

Services

 A salon that hosts dress up and spa

parties for children

 Provides themed parties including:

o Let's Luau

o Darling Divas

o Sweetheart Spa

o Dolly and Me Have Tea

 Two of the following services are

provided to attendees:

o Up-dos, Braids

o Colored hair gel

o Face painting

o Make up

o Nail polish



Cost



Hours



One of the following activities can be

chosen:

o Treasure Hunt

o Hula Hoop contest

o Karaoke

o Fashion Show

o Tea Party

Custom quote must be given for each

party according to chosen options

Any, subject to availability

Uniqueness Factor (1-10)

 9

Interest Match (1-10)

 3

Advantages

 Many customization options—even

allowing you to create custom activities.

Disadvantages

 Hidden pricing

 Poor fit