Choosing a Corporate Event Venue for a Conference That You Are Hosting

So, you made the decision to hold a Corporate Event or Conference? Then it’s now time to appoint an appropriate venue for your event. It can be difficult to make the decision when there are such a wide variety of venues to pick from across Greater London, from hotels and business centres to universities, stadiums and even stately homes. However, whatever the nature of your event, there are some common factors to think about when deciding your venue, most obviously; the budget! But also the location, facilities and the portrayed image of your elected venue on your business. Here are some points to consider to get you started:

Size
Firstly, think about how many delegates you are expecting on the day. It is vital to elect a venue which caters for a conference of your size and number of people. A half-empty conference hall will not portray a positive image of your company, however, similarly a conference venue in which people are squashed in indicates to attendees that it was badly planned and they are likely to be uncomfortable and irritated by this. It is therefore paramount to check with the venue exactly how many attendees their venue is designed to realistically cater for.

Location
Where would you like your conference to take place? A venue which is conveniently located in a city centre will be accessible for delegates who are travelling from both within the city and out-of-town, especially for those arriving by public transport. However, these locations are often more difficult for delegates looking to park a car close to the venue. Alternatively, conference venues can be found in business parks a short distance from the city centre or even out in the countryside. These are not necessarily harder to travel to but it is wise to think about choosing a conference venue that is near to a motorway or train station and is not too difficult to get to by other means.

Catering
Fancy a coffee and biscuits on arrival? Although you may assume that conference venues automatically provide refreshments throughout the day, it is important to make sure that this is the case, as you may in fact find that it is available but for an additional charge. Some venues will have onsite facilities which are able to provide both a hot and cold option for lunch whereas some may even outsource the catering to an external company. It is important that you consider the length of the conference and therefore the need for extra catering, such as breakfast and dinner for those travelling a long distance to attend the event.

Facilities
What facilities do you require? We have already discussed the catering facilities which may be required on the day but there are other facilities in addition to these which need consideration. It is vital to find out about the types of rooms available for use by the event during the day. You may need just a large conference hall, smaller seminar rooms or even a combination of the two to facilitate smaller break-away sessions for delegates, these may even need to be booked separately. There may also be a need for suitable access and cloakroom facilities for wheelchair users. It is therefore important to gain a clear understanding of the conference needs before approaching a venue.

Corporate image
Finally, but equally if not most importantly, it is imperative to pick a conference venue in London that portrays an image which is in line with your business identity, and this often takes more thought than first expected. If the aim of your business is to always be at the cutting edge of new technology, then an ultra-modern venue will clearly compliment this. However, a more creative industry business, such as design or advertising may opt for a more quirky and unexpected conference venue. Some businesses aim to impress their guests by hosting their conference in a venue with a wow factor by picking impressive or historical venues which exude elegance and sophistication.

Having considered these points you will be well on your way to choosing a suitable London conference venue for your event. Finally, be sure to choose a conference venue in London that will leave your guests feeling that they got their money’s worth!

I am presently representing Merchant Taylors, a conference venue London that is based in the City of London, between Liverpool Street Station and Bank Station. It is a historic events venue with absolutely loads of character that dates back many centuries. There are seven marvelous function rooms, making it the dream venue in London for events between 10-700 people.