Article Written By: Kathryn Dawson
The first thing to consider when arranging a conference venue is how people will be travelling to it. If they will mostly be driving then you will need plenty of parking available on site ideally. If a large number of people are flying in then holding the conference near to an airport is a very good idea. Likewise with the trains - a nearby station is vital if delegates are arriving by train. It is very important that you are able to book the right size of room when organising a conference. Getting this wrong can be disastrous. Having a room that is too small will make everyone cramped and hot and very uncomfortable. In fact they won't be able to wait to leave. Having a room that is too large on the other hand is almost as bad because it takes away the atmosphere and prevents communication from flowing well. Ensure that you are looking at conference venues with the right size of room for your needs. You will need to provide the attendees with access to tea, coffee and biscuits at the very least, but lunch probably too. Make sure there is the possibility of arranging lunch for your conference. If the facility cannot provide the food themselves, ensure there is an outside caterer available who can. Be aware that there may well be special diets amongst those who are coming. Plan for this by discussing it initially with the conference venue staff and ensuring any information about special diets is obtained as early on as possible. If the conference you are organising is going to last more than a day then accommodation will need to be found. This should be as close to the site of the conference as possible. There may be further requirements needed too such as an evening meal, perhaps a golf course or even a gym. Find out what is going to be required early on so you can make preparations early and find the perfect location. Technical equipment may be required at the conference so make sure you ask about this when making your initial enquiries. Is there a projector available for example or sound equipment? The best way you can make sure you find the most suitable location is to prepare a list of questions to ask when you make an initial enquiry. Those outlined above should be included on the list if appropriate and there may be many more besides. When you speak to a member of staff on site you can fire off these questions. If you are happy with the responses and feel their facility may be appropriate you can book yourself in for a visit.Making a personal visit before hand is a good idea just so you can check everything is as it should be. Your quiet and peaceful location could in fact be hidden behind roadworks for example so seeing for yourself is vital. Some have business accommodation while others don't, so you need to do your homework to ensure you get exactly what you need. Plan early so you get the prefect function venue.
This Article Has Been Published on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 and Read 136 Times