1. Which Venue? – Beyond the
Beautiful Brochure and
Seductive Sales Tours…
Amanda Stacey,
Conference Centres of Excellence

2. About Us
21 Years of Recognising Excellence
A collection of over 30 unique venues Nationwide
with the highest professional standards in the meetings and event industry
Which Venue? Beyond the Brochure…

3. About Us
Free venue finding service with our experienced central sales team.
Which means we know why it’s vital to choose the right venue…
And how to make that choice…
Which Venue? Beyond the Brochure…

4. Venue Requirements
Checklist…
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Location
Capacity
Accessibility
Cost
Accommodation
Technology
Dining
Style
Which Venue? Beyond the Brochure…

5. Finding your Perfect Venue
“49% of delegates and managers think a poor venue
selection is a bad reflection on their host”
Which Venue? Beyond the Brochure…

6. Dining
What did you have for lunch?
44 minutes every day
Just over 5 hours a week
Nearly a day each month
Which Venue? Beyond the Brochure…

7. Dining
Disappointing Dining
• The biggest conflict between delegates and organisers
• Quality versus ‘appropriate’
“79% of delegates have been disappointed in catering over
the last 12 months”
• Make it memorable for the right reasons…
Which Venue? Beyond the Brochure…

8. People
Successful Service
“52% of delegates said just a single member of staff could ruin
a good customer experience during an event”
Meet the team – they’re on your side!
Which Venue? Beyond the Brochure…

9. Case Studies – Added Value
Hunt The Haggis
Stirling Management Centre
An Association of Film Makers
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Residential Weekend
Meeting Space for Tutorials
Access around the venue to film
Venue provides props…
And arranged a Haggis Hunt!
Which Venue? Beyond the Brochure…

10. Technology
“Over 1/3 of delegates have experienced
disruption due to technology problems”
Awkward…
• If you don’t understand your requirements
make sure you work with someone who does…
Which Venue? Beyond the Brochure…

11. Case Studies
Technology Take Over
Wyboston Lakes
An Educational Consortium
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Two Day Conference
28 Workshops, Keynote Speakers, Trade Exhibition
Wired internet access for 70 Exhibitors
50” & 42” plasma screens (provided as part of the venue’s on-site
equipment saving around £1,000)
• Secure network 100mb for uploading and 100mb downloading
• Numerous additional wireless hotspots to cater for
unprecedented number of attendees with smartphones, tablets &
laptops
Which Venue? Beyond the Brochure…

12. Top Tips
Be clear about your objectives…
“Someone’s sitting in the shade today
because someone planted a tree a long
time ago”
(Warren Buffett)
Which Venue? Beyond the Brochure…

13. Top Tips - Location
Added Value
• How close is your parking and is it free?
• Can your venue provide transfers to and from the airport?
• Local knowledge invaluable – make sure your event is not
clashing with other events in the area
Which Venue? Beyond the Brochure…

14. Top Tips - Capacity
Take a walk-through…
• Keep everything as close as possible – don’t lose your delegates!
• Consider a different layout for smaller room, lower rates
• Use foyer space for exhibition to reduce additional costs
Which Venue? Beyond the Brochure…

15. Top Tips - Accommodation
Sleeping Beauties
• Can you offer your delegates a range of room types, such as
family or connecting rooms?
• Is there a shuttle service to other hotels nearby?
• Don’t forget allocation of rooms if delegates
are paying for their own accommodation
Which Venue? Beyond the Brochure…

16. Top Tips - Accessibility
Facilities and Flexibility
• Many venues offer accessible rooms and facilities
• Flexibility for event specific solutions are just as important
Which Venue? Beyond the Brochure…

17. Case Studies
Careful Consideration
The Beardmore Hotel and Conference Centre
A Charitable Organisation for Physical Disability
• Annual Conference catering for families and
guests of all ages
• Set up additional TV/Wii room for teenagers
• Moved tea & coffee facilities for easier access
• Moved day to day items such as soap dispensers for ease of use
• Provided a specialist registration desk and furniture for
accessibility and comfort throughout the event
Which Venue? Beyond the Brochure…

18. Top Tips - Budgets
Comparing apples and oranges
• Ensure that your venue quotes are like-for-like
• Split your costs into essential and non-essential items
• Don’t assume – check exactly what is included… or not
Twice daily serving of tea, coffee, biscuits @ £2.95 per head
x 100 delegates adds £590 to final invoice
Which Venue? Beyond the Brochure…

19. Top Tips - Budgets
Cost Saving Flexibility
• Can you be flexible on dates?
Moving your event to a Monday or Friday
Can save up to 30%
• Don’t wait for last minute ‘deals’ as demand is
increasing and the best venues are being booked up
Recent industry research reports
Further increase in rates through 2014-2015
• Book multiple dates to freeze rates
Which Venue? Beyond the Brochure…

20. Summary
Today, you are the delegate…
Keep those shoes on for a while and reflect on your event
Think Food, Service and Technology…
Make it less
“Ooops”
and more
“Ooooh”
And work with your venue team to perfect the practicalities…
Make every event… excellent
Which Venue? Beyond the Brochure…

21. Any Questions?
Which Venue? Beyond the Brochure…

22. Useful Resources
www.warwickconferences.com/value-satisfaction
www.meetpie.com/BMEIS
PwC/ Conference Centres of Excellence Report
Email: marketing@cceonline.co.uk
Which Venue? Beyond the Brochure…

23. Thank you for listening
For more information, contact us at:
0845 230 1414
info:@cceonline.co.uk
www.cceonline.co.uk
2 Old College Court, 29 Priory Street, Ware, Hertfordshire, SG12 0DE