As anyone who has been involved in business events will testify, they aren’t inexpensive by any stretch of the imagination. These types of events tend to cost a large proportion of an annual budget and as such, getting them right is the only outcome.
One of the key elements of getting such an event right is the venue itself. Sure, things can go wrong after you have made your selection, but it would be fair to say that things get significantly easier if you get your venue right from the start.
What defines a good venue though? Through this post, we will now take a look at some of the key things you should keep in mind if you are looking for a venue for your next event.
The location itself
It sounds almost too simple to be true, but one might be surprised at the amount of businesses who think that they have found the perfect venue in terms of the building, but it’s actually located in a completely unsuitable place.
This is one of those questions that is going to vary depending on your business. If you happen to be nationwide, a conference venue in the middle of the country is probably suitable. On the flip side, if you are localized to one area, hosting your event in the opposite side of the country is hardly begging for attendees.
Parking facilities
Following on from the last point, once your attendees have arrived at your event just how are they going to park?
If your event is based in the city center, you can almost get away with this. After all, most people accept that city center parking is difficult at the best of times, and understand that the majority of buildings don’t have their dedicated car parks. Nevertheless, if you do fall into this group, at least provide alternatives as well as the local transport routes which some people might be utilizing.
If you’re not in the city, make sure that the venue you have hired is allowing you use of their car park. If they don’t have a car park, question if it really is a suitable option, as this can frustrate people.
The layout
This is one of those other issues that is going to vary substantially by event. For example, if your event has various businesses with stands as well as speakers, you will probably need two rooms.
This also feeds into the size of your venue and this is why it’s crucial to identify the needs of your event first, before working backwards.
The service factor
This tends to be the issue which sets the good venues apart from the great ones. It also tends to be the issue which affects your budget the most. Nowadays, the services available from venues are aplenty. Some events will require a kitchen, while the services even go into smaller details such as providing chairs and tables.
You will also need to check this from a technological point of view. Particularly if you are relying on individuals speaking, you’ll need reasonably advanced audio-visual equipment to ensure that there are no hiccups when things go live.