If location, location, location is the core component in landing good real estate then the same rule should apply to corporate event planners when choosing both the city and the venue to host a business event. Quite often planners focus on the reputation of a venue when selecting a hotel or convention center but if we redirect the focus on the experience that we can deliver to attendees we may be onto an entirely new level of event success.
By geographically choosing a location that is unique and inviting, you’re not only selecting the most appropriate place for a meeting or conference, but you’re also introducing everything the city has to offer as a new experience for those who attend.
So, what do we mean by a location that is unique?
Well if corporate event planners begin thinking outside the box a bit, rather than going with the typical hotel or convention center, they can elect to book a museum, a sports arena, a library, and from what we’ve learned…even zoos have been used in recent times to host business events.
To help you envision how to map out your next corporate function on an entirely different level, the remainder of this article will focus on what to look for when picking a venue that will help you take your corporate event to the next level.
Recreational Venues for Corporate Events
Here’s how we want you to think when you’re shopping around for a venue to host a corporate event. Not only should location, location, location be on your radar but also recreation, recreation, recreation. You want attendees to walk away from the time spent with stories to share with colleagues who didn’t attend (but will now surely attend the next one), and also pictures and videos that they’ll post online.
Put yourself in a tourist’s shoes all while thinking like an event pro. Where would you want to vacation? What type of facilities exist there that you could rent for a business event?
Here are some recreational venues to consider in your destination of choice:
- Sporting Arenas
- Museums
- Zoos
- Art Galleries
- Historical Sites
…and that’s just to name a few.
Offsite Venue Considerations
Since non-typical establishments have picked up on the opportunity that exists in being able to host corporate functions, they’ve begun to make sure they’re able to accommodate the bare necessities. Corporate event planners can’t get excited on their new find unless they’ve checked the locations ability to provide:
Transportation: Do they have shuttle busses that can transport guests from the airport to the venue, their hotels, local tourist sites?
Wi-Fi: Does this unique venue you chose have the bandwidth to accommodate the entire corporate event, or will you need to use a third-party provider?
Time of Year: What time of year did you choose to host this business function? What will the weather be like? Appealing or not so much? Remember that attendees will spend a lot of their leisure time exploring outside when they’re not attending workshops or visiting the exhibit hall, so it would be ideal that the weather is pleasing.
In a Nutshell
Deliver the unexpected to attendees and truly introduce them to a new and unique experience. Remember when you’re shopping around for an unordinary venue to host a corporate event, that it still needs to deliver the needed functionality for exhibitors, keynote speakers, and sponsors. It’s still a corporate event. However, by choosing an idyllic destination that includes appealing tourist attractions nearby, you’re guaranteeing an unforgettable corporate event to be talked about for years to come.
This year is packed with event conferences and expos worth your time and money. Looking for more information about the latest industry trends? Make sure to click here and read "The Latest in Event Design Trends."
