10-Step Major Event Strategy Roadmap
A major event strategy isn’t one big plan — it’s a clear set of choices made step by step.
This roadmap breaks strategy into ten parts, each with practical tools and templates. Use one step when you need it — or build the full chain to keep people, plans, and money aligned from start to finish.
10 Strategic Steps for Major Events Organisers:
Step 1. Vision → Where we’re going?
Step 2. Mission → What drives us forward every day?
Step 3. Strategic Objectives → What we need to achieve to reach the vision?
Step 4. Values → How we behave while doing the work — the culture that carries the strategy?
Step 5. Critical Success Factors (CSFs)→ What must go right for each objective?
Step 6. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) → How we know we’re succeeding?
Step 7. Zero Point → Where we are starting from?
Step 8. Program & Project Framework→ How we turn strategy into action ?
Step 9. Business Model & Revenue Strategy→ How the event generates value and income?
Step 10. Brand Platform (Brand Strategy) → How we’re seen, felt, and remembered?
-
The vision describes the future we want to create.
It’s not about what we do — it’s about what changes in people’s lives, in the city, and in culture because we did it right. It’s our event’s desired destination.
-
Mission = What we do every day to move toward that future
It should describe:
What you do
Why you do it
Who it’s for
It’s the campfire that motivates the event organisation and team — clear, repeatable, and honest.
-
Strategic Objectives are the key achievements you need to reach to make your vision real.
They're not tasks or projects —they’re outcomes that move the whole system forward.
You can think of each one as a step or pillar in the bridge from your zero point (starting point) to your vision (desired future).
-
Values are not slogans.
They are the principles that shape how we act, how we decide, and how we work together — from the committee table to the volunteer break room.
They help people move in the same direction, especially when there’s no manual.
That’s why values matter.
-
CSFs are the key enablers for each Strategic Objective —
the few essential things that must go right in order for that objective to be achieved.
They connect strategy to operations:
👉 If we don’t hit these, we don’t deliver on the strategy. Just simple it is.
-
KPI = the tool to track if each CSF is working
When we have:
A Vision = where we’re going
A Mission = how we move
Strategic Objectives = what must be achieved
CSFs = what must go right under each objective
Values = what guides our thinking and doing
We add:
KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) = how we know if those things are actually happening
-
Simply.
To measure progress, we need to know where we’re starting. The zero point is the baseline. It’s based on facts, not guesses.
-
Goal: Bridge the gap between strategic intent and actual delivery by linking every program and project directly to the major event strategy.
This step connects:
Strategic Objectives
Critical Success Factors (CSFs)
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Zero Point baselines
to the concrete programs, projects, and sub-projects that will deliver the event.
-
Answers to this important question:
How the event generates value and income (ticketing, upsell, sponsorship, public funding, services, licensing, etc.)?
-
A brand platform defines the foundation of how an event is perceived — visually, emotionally, and strategically. It’s not just the logo or colors. It’s the core idea behind:
What we represent
How we speak
What experiences we create
And how we want to be remembered
Practical Guides and Templates for Major Event Strategy
-
Major Event Vision Guide
Define a clear, shared vision for your event. Use a proven framework, prompts, and a fillable template to set direction and get everyone aligned. → Learn more
-
Major Event Mission Workbook
Write a mission that drives daily choices. This workbook gives you structure, real examples, and prompts for a mission that connects people to purpose.→ Learn more
-
Strategic Objectives Building Guide
Turn your vision into clear, measurable goals. This tool breaks down big ideas into strategic objectives you can actually plan and deliver. → Learn more
-
Event Organisation Values Guide
Define the values that shape how your team works and behaves. Use this playbook to set culture rules everyone understands and uses daily.
-
Critical Success Factors Set Up Guide
Identify what must go right for each objective. This guide helps you pin down success factors and keep teams focused on the essentials.
-
Program & Project Planning Guide
Turn strategy into practical work. Create a framework and templates for programs, projects and sub-projects — so the big picture connects to daily delivery.
-
Event Business Model & Revenue Planner
Plan how your event makes money and creates value. Includes worksheets to test income streams, costs, and funding options.
-
Brand Platform Guide for Major Events
Define how your event is seen, felt, and remembered. Use frameworks and prompts to shape a brand that matches your goals.
Support for Building your Major Event Strategy
With over 20+ years helping host cities and organisers shape strategies for major events like the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, and the IMGA Winter World Masters Games, I make sure your plan is clear, realistic, and used in practice — not left on a slide.
Here’s how I help you build and use your strategy:
✅ The Full 10-Step Strategy Roadmap Template everything in one Notion workspace or bundle, ready to copy and adapt.
✅ Individual Guides — vision, mission, objectives, and more — each with frameworks, checklists, and editable templates.
✅ 24-Hour Hackathon — build or sharpen your major event strategy in one focused day with my support.
✅ 1:1 Consulting & Reviews — get help to tackle a specific piece, check your plan, or build the roadmap with your team.