How do you make a welcome address speech?

"A good welcome speech unites and sets the tone for an event."

The focus is always the audience and your goal is to make them look forward to whatever is coming next. You are uniting and bringing them together in the common purpose at the heart of the occasion.

To strike the right tone in the language you use consider the audience and the event.

Is it fun?

Is it serious?

Think about that common interest everybody shares. This will give you clues to guide your language choice. What's right? Is it formal language, informal or somewhere in between? Is this a 'gidday, howzitgoin' or a 'good morning, how lovely to see you' event?

The essential elements to cover in your welcome speech are:

• to specifically acknowledge any important guests
• to generally welcome all the guests, stating the name of the event and host and thank them for coming
• to give a brief introduction of the host
• to give a brief introduction of the occasion
• to give any especial welcomes to the important guests
• to introduce the next speaker if appropriate
• to conclude having made everybody feel at ease, eagerly anticipating what is to come

These form your basic welcome speechtemplate.

source:http://www.write-out-loud.com/welcome-speech.html