SB20 World Championships venuesworld.com Yachting

Sailing to Lake Garda – SB20 Worlds 2015 Sailing Championships

/in /by

VenuesWorld will be sailing to Italy this July, to take part in the SB20 2015 World Sailing Championships!

The Italian Yacht Club, Circolo Vela Torbole on Lake Garda is the stunning location chosen for this year’s championship, following some of the most beautiful clubs in Europe in previous years.

The 2013 event in Hyeres, France brought high Mistral winds every day and exhilarating sailing conditions, however Lake Garda is unlikely to disappoint given its own top class reputation as a sailing venue.

SB20 Worlds 2015 - lake garda

venuesworld.com battling the waves

Competing at SB20 Worlds 2015

Well known leaders will be setting the pace again this year, such as Craig Burlton who won the Hyeres SB20 Worlds 2013 World Champions, and Jerry Hill winner of the 2010 Worlds also in Torbole. But we are feeling very confident that SB20 venuesworld.com will do us proud at this year’s championships! “The very consistent venuesworld.com held second place on 13 points with Dinghy Supplies now after charging up to third on 14 points.” (Afloat.ie) Watch this space!

SB20 Worlds 2015 - lake garda

the VenuesWorld yacht

What to expect in Lake Garda in July

July is the hottest time of year in Lake Garda with temperatures ranging from 19 to 30 degrees celsius according to holiday-weather.com. July is the ideal month for beach visits, and Lake Garda is surrounded by plenty of them. We recommend Garda Beach, and Toscalano.

If you are planning a trip to Lake Garda, we highly recommend you take the time to enjoy the delicious local cuisines and locally produced pinot grigio and cabarnet wines. We strongly recommend Ristorante Le Gemme di Artemisia in Torri del Benaco overlooking the lake itself.

If you have a few days to enjoy your time in Italy, we also recommend you visit some of the stunning surrounding cities such as the romantic town of Verona, where you can visit the famous Romeo and Juliet’s balcony.

Verona Italy

Verona, Italy

Conference Venues Lake Garda

Lake Garda offers a lot more than sailing and shopping weekends, it is also a fantastic location for corporate events and conference meetings.

Lake Garda hosts an impressive selection of convention centres catering for 200 people on average, and offering stunning panoramic views of the lakes. If you venture further out of the lake district, you can also find larger venues such as The Roman Arena, Verona’s open air opera theatre catering to 30,000k pax, or the Canevaworld Movieland Park in Lazise, which hosts up to 2000 people in their main meeting room.

lake garda - Riva Del Garda Congressi

Riva Del Garda Congressi

Contact our local venuesitaly.com offices in Italy to receive your Free venue finding proposal, and take advantage or our local expertise and supplier relationships.

lake garda

Zacchera Hotels

You can also read more about the MICE Industry (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions) and the SB20 World Championships by keeping an eye on our blog.

 

conference venues malta ship at sea

Conference Venues in Malta

/in /by

Here are a few reasons you might want to consider choosing the conference venues in Malta for your next corporate event or incentive travel.

Air Access to Malta

Malta has fantastic air access, with flights coming from over 94 destinations multiple times a day, daily flights to and from Dubai, and even a regular winter flight schedule for milder climates. Since the privatisation of the Malta International Airport in 2002, it has been ranked the fourth best airport in Europe, according to the 2014 Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards. Their VIP terminal is also well worth a look!

Stunning Conference Venues in Malta

English is widely spoken in Malta, and the currency used is Euro, making destination management, and communication with hotels and conference venues in Malta a sea-breeze.

The island is practically built for the business travel and tourism industry, with 14 luxury five star hotels accommodating more than 5,500 delegates in total. On top of that, there are over 40 four star hotels accommodating an additional 14,000 people.

Need help planning your corporate event? Take a look at our step-by-step guide to planning your next conference without the stress.

conference venues in malta gala dinner

The conference venues in Malta are clustered within close vicinity from each other, making it easier to book very large groups of delegates for big scale conference events and incentives. There is a wide variety of hotels and conference venues to choose from, from charming palazzos and converted farmhouses, where events range from wine tasting workshops to theatrical medieval banquets in historic castles.

Here are our recommended business travel essentials for your next business trip!

So when you are looking for a beautiful destination to host an event for up to 20,000 delegates…. Malta is your ideal choice for luxury, and comfort!

The Culture, Beauty, and People in Malta

Maltese culture and history goes back centuries, and combines various influences from Italian, British and French cultures, resulting in delicious dining, and the best in hospitality services. Unique to Maltese culture, is the wonderfully balanced lifestyle of working hard, and prioritising life enjoyment with family and friends. Take a page from their book, and spend your conference evenings enjoying  a glass of wine in the local restaurants by the sea.

conference venues in malta ship at sea

Here are some other destinations you might not have considered for your short lead conference event for Summer 2015!

Malta is the largest of the three Mediterranean islands making up the Republic of Malta. The island does not have any mountains or rivers,  and instead there are 137 kilometres of sandy beaches and rocky coves.

The climate offers all year round sunshine, from mild winters at 14c, to balmy summer days at 32c. The hottest months are from mid July to mid September, but the high temperatures are generally tempered by the cool sea breezes.

We at venuesmalta.com would be happy to find the ideal conference venue for you completely free of charge. Being a small archipelago of islands, no where is too far, adding yet another reason Malta is the ideal location for your next corporate event.

 

 

networking event venuesworld.com business card

Network Like a Boss – A guide to networking events

/in /by

Networking for your business is a vital element to success in your industry. Don’t miss out on valuable opportunities to meet new clients, and build alliances with potential partners and suppliers. Not everyone is a natural social butterfly, so here are a few simple steps to ensuring a successful industry mingle.

Before the networking event

Once you have registered for an industry networking event such as a conference or exhibition, make sure to plan your networking goals. There is often a list of registered guests and speakers available in the weeks before the event.

Announce that you will be attending the event

In the week or so before the event is to take place, make a brief announcement that you will be attending the event over your professional social media channels where suitable. This allows for other attendees and guests to potentially add you to their networking list, and being approached at a networking event is a lot easier than seeking out others.

networking event venuesworld.com business card

Start by noting those you have met before

This is a great opportunity to strengthen old ties, as well as offering you a snowball effect for further introductions. And of course this will reduce the likelihood of finding yourself in the awkward position of forgetting someone’s name.

Make a list of people you hope to meet

Take a look at the guests that will be attending the event as well as the companies they represent. Choose 4 or 5 people that you believe could have a positive impact on your business, whether it be a potential client, supplier, or mentor. Research what it is their company does, and their role within the organisation. Networking is not supposed to be a race to collect as many business cards as possible, instead focus on the real potential within the network. Set yourself a realistic networking goal or quota. This is particularly useful if you prefer to blend into the background at networking events. Remember this is your own KPI, so focus on quality over quantity!

Prepare your networking tool-kit

Preparation is very important for a successful networking event. Your networking tool-kit should include a plethora of up to date business cards, your name badge, a notepad and pen, company brochures, and of course your perfected elevator pitch to introduce yourself and your business services without being too sales-ey.

networking event venuesworld.com business card

During the networking event

There are a few things you can do to make networking a lot easier while at the event.

Arrive to the event early

First impressions are very important, and in business punctuality is a sign of professionalism and reliability. Not only that, but this also offers you the opportunity to gather your thoughts, find the best seats, and it is a lot easier to start conversations with people as small numbers arrive, than to join groups who are already mid-conversation.

 Announce your presence over social media

A lot of conference events make use of Twitter or other social media channels as an underlying social communicator, which are commonly projected for the audience to see above the stage.  Make use of this less intimidating platform, buy announcing your attendance at the event, and even tweeting other guests where relevant.

Put one step forward

As people start arriving, politely introduce yourself to the new guests. Most people are thankful for someone to break the ice for them. Soon enough a snowball introduction will start to roll, and the rest is plain sailing!

Use approachable body language

There are some basic body language principles when it comes to approachability; do not fold your arms, make sure to smile at others, and leave a gap in your socialising circle so that others feel they will be welcomed into the conversation. Direct eye contact throughout conversations shows you are interested, and promotes a stronger connection. Make sure not to have your hands full, as the handshake is a very important aspect of networking interactions.

Socialise, don’t sell!

Remember to be yourself, people are often wary of the hard sell of an over eager network schmoozers, and they are avoided like the plague. Relax, and enjoy the atmosphere. Get to know others by asking relevant questions, and listening with interest. When the time comes to share your elevator pitch, keep it short and sweet. If the opportunity arises, introduce your contacts to each other. This simple gesture shows your networking value and can make you come across as more likeable. And only when a connection has been made do you offer your business card.

waiters networking events

After the networking event

After leaving the networking event, you should have a nice collection of business cards from all the interesting people you have met. Now is the time to affirm your connections. Here are a few steps you can take to building on them.

Take note

Unless you have a fantastic memory, it is quite unlikely you will be able to remember all the conversations, names, and faces after a few weeks. For this reason, we recommend you take note of your experience very soon after the networking event, and take note of the people you met, some details about them and their organisation, and if they showed an interest in maintaining contact regarding a particular service or venture.

Follow up and connect

LinkedIn is a fantastic channel for maintaining contact after networking events. Connect with your contacts soon after the event, and ensure to include a personal message to discreetly remind them of you and the conversation you both had. This can also be done by email, but LinkedIn has the added benefit of offering extra information, as well as a profile photo to ensure you remember their face at your next meeting. Don’t be afraid to touch base again after a few weeks. This helps keep you and your brand at top of mind. Send them something of relevance and value, such as a referral that might benefit their business, or an article about a topic they showed interest in.

Go one step further with your networking

There are so many ways to step up your networking techniques. Take a step further, and maybe even play a different role at your next networking event!

Present a business stand

Present yourself and your business as an exhibitor or sponsor for a relevant industry event. Not only will your branding be included in all the marketing materials for the event, but you are also literally inviting people to come and network with you, via your display sign.

Volunteer as a guest speaker

Putting yourself forward as a guest speaker at an industry event offers you the opportunity to share your expertise with other professionals in your industry. This is a great way to secure your brand position as an expert authority in your field. Your name and business is promoted throughout the event, and guests are more likely to approach you directly to discuss the topics from your speech. Take a look at the AIPCO Conference 2015 for an example on how business experts come together to share their perspectives through public talks and panel discussions.

Organise a networking event of your own

The next step up is to organise a networking event of your own. This is a fantastic way to reconnect with clients and suppliers, previous contacts you met on other occasions, as well as potential clients. The first step to organising a conference or networking event is choosing the right location.

If you are considering organising a conference or networking event, contact us now for our Free Venue Finding Services.

linkedin networking events

Business Travel Essentials Brunton

Business Travel Essentials

/in /by

It is best to travel light when going on a short business trip. But travelling light should not mean unprepared! Here are a few compact and multi-purpose business travel essentials, gadgets, and products to take the weight off your shoulders…. in every sense!

 Battery Power & Connectivity

Battery power is at the top of the priority list when it comes to business travel essentials, but multiple cables and battery chargers can quickly fill up your hand luggage and a power outlet is not always available when on the move. The Birksun charging backpack solves this problem in a nutshell. All your devices can be charged in your bag as you travel, and the bag itself continues to charge via solar panels on the top of the bag. For the less sunny days, you can charge your backpack before your trip using the wall plug. Genius!

A universal adapter plug is a basic necessity for any business or leisure travel. Choose a light design that is light and easy to use, with multiple options to suit all destinations. We recommend keeping one in the side pocket of your carry bag to save you having to think about it every time you travel.

Going somewhere with limited internet access? Save yourself the frustration of the vintage dial up connection, and bring your own wireless / mifi router to solve your connectivity problems. The Huawei E5331 Modem offers pre-paid wifi when on the go, saving you the high cost of slow airport wifi.

Battery Charging Backpack

Backpack charges multiple devices while you travel

Location Based Apps

The Google Translation app (available for both iOS and Android) is free and extremely easy to use. Keep is on your home screen for quick and easy access when you need it most. You can even save the phrases you use the most, until you learn them off of course!

Make sure to keep your google map app IOS, google map Android, and city guide apps handy, since you now have so much battery power to keep you going!

Then of course there is the social Connect App on IOS which allows you to see who in your contacts are in your area. This is a great way to reconnect with old friends, arrange meetings with previous clients, and just add a social element to your last minute trip to a new city. The Connect app came in very handy at the AIPCO Conference 2015, making it a lot easier to find acquaintances at the AIPCO Conference 2015. 

Some of our recommended event destinations to watch for 2015

Expense Management

Save yourself hours of work by investing in a sleek receipt organiser wallet that allows you to neatly arrange your expenses by category and date. Or better yet, use an expense management app on your phone such as the Shoeboxed app for IOS / Shoeboxed app for Android, which allows you to take photos of your receipts while on the go, and export the report into an excel document after your trip.

Toiletries to Go

Airline restrictions on liquids in hand luggage can be a pain. Tubism have come up with a clever design for reusable, resealable, eco-friendly travel tubes that allow you to bring your favourite product anywhere you go. We particularly appreciate the resealable end, allowing easy cleaning and refilling before your next trip! Another must for your next business trip is a waterproof, hanging toiletry bag, ideal for bathrooms with limited storage space.

Clothes Solutions

No matter the efforts made to neatly fold your shirts into the suitcase, it is inevitable that your favourite shirt is covered in creases when you need it the most. Save yourself the stress by keeping a crease removal spray in your travel bag at all times to help reduce the damage. There are more preventative measures too, such as the Shirt Shuttle which offers a hard shell protection for your clothes.

Keep your luggage organised, and keep your unworn clothes fresh by using sealable laundry bags such as the Go Clean laundry bag set by Flight 001.

You can also invest in a high quality garment bag such as the Samsonite Lift2 UltraValet Garment Bag which offers a clever compartment system to allow your suits or dresses a flat crease free hanging storage space, as well as innovative pockets and zippers to secure smaller accessories and toiletries.

Business Travel Shirt Shuttle

Shirt Shuttle Crease Prevention

Inspector Gadgets for Business Travel

Invest in a multi-time-zone, or auto changing time-zone watch to save yourself any confusion when jet setting to multiple locations.

The Eviate luggage tag allows you to use GPS to know exactly where your bag is at all times!

Up your digital security while on the move with the Fido U2F Security key, which is virtually un-hackable. This device saves your passwords under another password, meaning you don’t have to re-type your logins each time, or save your passwords to your computer directly. So even if your bag is lost or stolen, you can see exactly where it is thanks to the Eviate tag, and now you can prevent any of your information being stolen from your laptop too.

We also recommend the Brunton Power Knife which is not actually a real knife, so it’s hand luggage friendly. In fact this device is shaped like a pocket knife, but instead of blades you have the most commonly used cable heads to suit your phone, USB, and tablet. A survival tool for the modern age!

If your next business trip is for an event you are organising, here is a helpful guide to running a successful conference event!

On behalf of VenuesWorld and the entire team, I’d like to thank you for joining us, and we are looking forward to seeing you again in the near future. Enjoy your trip!

For a Free Venue Proposal, request a call back today. 

Resized-IBXTY (1)

 

AIPCO MICE Conference 2015

AIPCO 2015 – Overview of the Tourism Industry in Ireland

/in /by

How the Tourism Industry in Ireland can remain competitive

We had the pleasure of visiting the stunning Powerscourt Hotel and Gardens for the annual AIPCO Conference 2015. Current AIPCO Chairperson Susan Nolan gave a warm welcome address as we were seated in the beautifully decorated Powerscourt ballroom. Padraig Gilligan (SoolNua) did a fantastic job of hosting the event, and encouraged the audience to interact via various tech channels, such as the live Tweet feed projected on the stage, as well as the audience polling system online. The day culminated in an unforgettable gala dinner where local produce and top class entertainment (SEA) combined to round off a perfect day.

Key speakers at the event included Tim Fenn (IHF), Helen O’Leary (SITE Ireland), Susan Nolan (AIPCO), Paul Gallagher (ITIC), Siobhan McManamy (Tourism Ireland), Miriam Kennedy (Fáilte Ireland), and Sue Uda (ITOA). International guests André Vietor (IAPCO) and Annamaria Ruffini (SITE International) also shared their honest perspectives on the MICE and tourism industry in Ireland through fresh eyes.

Tourism Industry in Ireland AIPCO 2015

AIPCO Ireland. Discussion Panel 2015. Tim Fenn (IHF), Helen O’Leary (SITE Ire), Susan Nolan (AIPCO), Paul Gallagher (ITIC), Siobhan McManamy (Tourism Ire), Miriam Kennedy (Failte Ire), and Sue Uda (ITOA). Photos by RogerKenny.ie.

MICE & Tourism Industry in Ireland Update

Incentive travel trends are increasing as the economy stabilises throughout Europe and Ireland. Corporations are recognising the importance of building and maintaining strong relationships with prospective and current clients by offering value through experience. Click here for some of our recommendations for event destinations in 2015.

The MICE and tourism industry in Ireland has grown by 50% in the past 30 years, and is expected to continue to grow steadily throughout 2016. In fact the MICE industry has now become a sellers’ market, and thanks to Tourism Ireland, a Meitheal style industry event will be coming to Ireland next September. This is fantastic news for the Irish MICE industry.

However, there is an increasing need for further capital investment in the tourism industry in Ireland, which is essential to ensure our message reaches the global market place in a consistent and relevant way. The Fáilte Ireland budget will be dropping by 17%, and the Tourism Ireland budget will also be dropping by 19% in 2016. The tourism industry in Ireland has a lot to offer the International MICE market, and it is vital that investment is prioritised in order to reach the level we know that Ireland can achieve.

Ireland’s Unique Selling Points

To summarise the in depth information shared at the AIPCO conference, here are a few key topics that were discussed regarding the success and opportunities for the MICE and tourism industry in Ireland, and recommendations on how Ireland can remain competitive in a global market place.

An Authentic Experience

There is nowhere else in the world like Ireland. The cultural, personable experience had with Irish people is hard to replicate anywhere else, and there are very few countries that can offer a rural, seaside, and capital city experience in one weekend.

Green is the Colour

‘Green is the colour’ that comes to mind when people think of Ireland. For such a small island, Ireland is known worldwide for St. Patrick’s day celebrations, when iconic monuments all over the world are lit up in green lights, and people come together dressed proudly in their green uniforms to celebrate the positivity and humour that comes with the Irish culture.

Irish Coast - Tourism Industry in Ireland AIPCO 2015

Warm Friendly People & Good Quality Services

Ask anyone what they love most about Ireland, and you can be pretty sure it’s the warm and friendly Irish people. It is engrained in Irish culture to be friendly, funny, and welcoming. Ireland may have limited capacity when it comes to multiple large scale events, but the service offered is of high quality, and served with a smile. The tourism industry in Ireland is known for top quality hospitality and dining experiences. At the end of the day, a friendly smile can make all the difference.

Good Value for Money

According to Tim Fenn (IHF) 92% of visitors to Ireland rate the country as ‘Good Value for Money’. Only 8% have found Ireland to be overpriced, compared to 40% in 2009. Ireland is in fact a cheaper destination than France, UK or Italy, however we are not competing with these destinations for MICE business, so a collaborative effort is essential to maintain our costs and ensure continued value to our customers.

Air Accessibility

As Ireland is a small Island one might expect transport to be an issue, but this cannot be further from the truth! Dublin is in fact the third most accessible city in Europe. Air access has improved drastically in the past few years, with 8,708 flight seat capacity in 2015, compared to only 1,400 seats in 2008! There is now 68% more seat capacity from North America than there were in 2012. This trend is set to continue as Ireland welcomes 7 new airlines to the Irish market in 2015, bringing even more small frequent flights all year round.

Final Recommendations from the AIPCO Conference 2015

And to finish off the conference on an energy kick, Kevin Kelly (motivational speaker and author of Do!) shook the room with interactive debates, a little physical exercise, and some insightful life hack message for us to take home.

Here are the key findings from our fantastic day at the AIPCO Conference 2015.

Invest in Infrastructure

The tourism industry in Ireland can learn a lot from Barcelona about promoting experiences outside the capital. Currently rural towns are being neglected, when the reality is they have the most authentic Irish charm, and they are only a short drive from the larger cities. Annamaria Ruffini (SITE International) recommends more focus on transport infrastructures to encourage direct routes between cities to encourage this.

Another issue that needs to be addressed is the number of hotel rooms in the Dublin city area. André Vietor (IAPCO) rightly pointed out the drastic need for investment to be put into the hotel sector, as the tourism industry continues to expand, and as the tourism budgets are due to be reduced in 2016.

Irish Dancing - Tourism Industry in Ireland AIPCO 2015

Expand the Offering

As mentioned before, the rural towns in Ireland are being forgotten when it comes to the MICE industry. One of the joys of travelling for business is having the opportunity to experience world cultures and enjoy cultural experiences. Annamaria encourages the MICE and tourism industry in Ireland to team up together and offer unique multidimensional experiences such as outdoor activities, trips to the coast, and traditional Irish culture evenings.

Another offering we have neglected to promote, is the delicious standard of local Irish produced food. Ireland have the highest standard in meat and dairy production, and all cities are in range of rural areas making fresh organic produce easily accessible. This factor is a vital selling point for people travelling to Ireland for business, and the message should be clearly stated.

Change the Stereotypes

Ireland is positively associated with warm people, a talent for organising the best parties, and green pastures. But unfortunately there are still some negative stereotypes we need to nip in the bud. For example Ireland is mistakenly thought to be an expensive destination due to outdated hearsay, and there is also the ongoing expectation of heavy drinking and mayhem amongst the Irish people. It is time for us to shake these out-dated stereotypes, and instead re-focus the message of good value, friendly people, and great parties (with or without a Guinness!). Interested in organising a conference for your industry? Here is a step-by-step guide organising a conference event, to help you with the process.

Green is the Colour for Eco-Friendly

Green is the colour of Ireland, as we all know. But Annamaria made a startlingly obvious connection between green and being ecologically friendly. As a small country, there is nothing stopping us from following in the footsteps of Denmark, and re-branding our colour green to have more than one positive association.

Video Marketing

Social media trends are showing an overwhelming trend towards video formats, yet not enough organisations are making use of this useful tool. Fáilte Ireland have a wonderful video campaign promoting Ireland, showing all that the tourism industry in Ireland has to offer in a few short minutes, while also evoking positive emotions through music and visual effects. Also here you can watch Roger Kenny’s AIPCO 2015 video. 

A Consistent Message

For the tourism industry in Ireland to succeed as a strong contestant in the MICE industry, it is vital that all organisations in the hospitality, events, tourist and MICE industries put themselves on the international platform, and represent Ireland at international expos, conferences, trade shows and events. It is time to team up in order to offer the best choices of services and experiences together. The message must be strong, consistent, and true to the promise.

Finally, we would like to thank Powerscourt for representing Irish hospitality and food at it’s finest, the AIPCO conference organising committee for hosting another memorable and insightful conference, all the sponsors who made the event possible, and to Roger Kenny for capturing all the best moments on camera. We look forward to next year!

All the imagery from the event was taken by the talented Roger Kenny (RogerKenny.ie), and you can view the AIPCO 2015 photo gallery here. 

Powerscourt Hotel - Tourism Industry Ireland AIPCO 2015

Powerscourt Hotel AIPCO Conference Ireland 2015 Photo by RogerKenny.ie

 

 

 

Gala Dinner venuesworld.com

Destination and Venue Availability Update 2015

/in /by

It’s that time of year again! As preparations are in full swing for the upcoming summer and autumn events, some of you might still be struggling to find the best destination venues, as they are quickly booking up.

Here at VenuesWorld, we have strong relationships with hotels and conference venues all across EMEA and Asia, thanks to our local offices in 36 destinations worldwide. After over a decade in the Global MICE industry, we can confidently recognise the gaps in the market, yet to be snatched up for the most prominent event dates.

Here are a few available gems we found across EMEA over the coming 6 months for your short lead events.

Venue Availability Gala Dinners

Gala Dinner venuesworld.com

EMEA Venue Availability – May to July 2015

As you would expect in Northern Europe, due to low cost air access, quality accommodation and the exquisite 5 star hotels, conference venues are booking up fast for May, June, and early July.

Luckily, we have the resources to quickly recognise gaps in the market, and have found some isolated 3 and 4 day availabilities for summer events of up to 300 delegates. Currently we have 4 and 5 star venues available in Berlin, Budapest, Istanbul, Madrid, Prague & Vienna. Contact us now to reserve your dates.

Cities such as Barcelona, Paris, London, Dublin, Nice, Vienna, Amsterdam, Lisbon & Rome continue to remain very tight for event spaces this summer. But our team are working hard to offer real-time information regarding late booking offers, before their availability is made public!

EMEA Venue Availability – August to October 2015

As you would expect weeks 3 and 4 of September, and weeks 1 and 2 of October are very busy across all major cities, with very few gaps for larger events. However, for those interested in late August events or indeed early September, now is the time to move in order to both secure your space and get a good level of value in the market.

Upon researching conference venues and hotels with availability in August to September 2015, we have found availability in some fantastic destination options, such as  Barcelona, Berlin, Rome, Dublin, Istanbul, Malta, Lisbon, the Algarve, Athens & Munich. Contact us now to reserve your dates.

BIG Movers

The two big movers over the last 3 months have been Athens and Istanbul for varying reasons. Athens is now firmly back on the market with global clients after two years in the doldrums, as a result of perceived lowering of service & staffing levels. Istanbul has gone through some security issues over the past 6 month period. However, you can rest assure that both destinations are now strongly back in the frame and are being heavily requested as part of many EMEA proposals.

All our teams across EMEA are available to you at all times for enquiries. Our venue finding services are local, flexible, honest and free of all costs and charges! So feel free to send over your enquiry, and we will get back to you right away.

Venue Availability Budapest

www.budapest.com

 

 

Conference Planning

Conference Planning – How to Choose the Ideal Location for your International Conference Event

/in /by

Conference planning can be daunting. So our team here at venuesworld.com are here to offer you a few tips and tricks to finding that ideal location. First, we recommend you break the project into bite size objectives. Here, we will focus on the first step of finding the ideal location for your corporate event. You and your team have narrowed down your location preferences to…… anywhere in the World, as long as it fits the budget, and offers an unforgettable experience. No pressure!!

Here are a few questions you need to ask yourself, before you embark on your quest for conference paradise.

1) Are there any specific limitations or requirements regarding this conference event?

Be sure to ask lots of questions so that you know what your key objectives are. A lot of time and energy can be wasted researching locations you know little about, that eventually won’t have the right air access, correct style of venue or capacity to host the many factors it takes to operate a successful conference. Clarify which aspects of the event should take priority, as the research process might involve trade-offs as you narrow down your search criteria.

2) Is there a set budget for the conference?

Not all event planners have a clear spending budget, and that’s fine. But do your best to clarify the absolute maximum spend so that you can break your budget range into two or three cost options. When you present these option to your team, you can then narrow down your selection based on package value and suitability. This is exactly what you want, reasons to narrow down your conference location search criteria.

Conference Planning

3) How many people do you expect to attend?

It can be very difficult to gauge the scale of the event at such an early stage, but your location research for a meeting of 25 people will differ drastically to a conference for 500 people. Start with an approximation, and tweak your research as more information becomes available to you.

4) Who is the conference event for?

International corporate conference events cost both money and time, so make sure your guests receive value from their participation. Depending on your objectives for the event, this might involve fun activities to encourage informal networking, trade shows to generate new clients, or a decadent gala dinner as a sign of appreciation for their ongoing business and loyalty. We can help you with this if you are feeling overwhelmed.

5) What are the travel implications?

The world is your oyster now, as airlines multiply their destinations and expand their reach. But do check your attendees won’t be effected by service strikes or weather warnings. The last thing you need is to upset your clients with long bus journeys, airport delays or overnight stopovers.

6) Are there any external factors that need to be considered before confirming your chosen location?

It is absolutely essential to research any social, economical or political issues in the area that might enfringe on your upcoming conference. An unexpected sandstorm or a local annual event could effect your conference experience, and the availability of accommodation in the area. Avoid event planner’s nightmares by researching in advance, and preparing a contincency plan where possible.

7) Time to choose your conference location!

You should now have a clear idea of what it is you hope to achieve from this conference event. Clarify how much you are willing to spend on the event, the size of the conference, and the context and style appropriate for your guests and industry. Research external factors and potential issues when analysing potential venue locations. Use this data to quickly filter down your options. There is no harm in keeping an eye on multiple venue options in your chosen location in case unexpected issues arise. And finally it is time to book your dates!

If you are feeling overwhelmed, you can always get in touch with us here at venuesworld.com. We are happy to source an appropriate venue to suit your event for free, anywhere in the world. We have local offices across 36 destinations globally. So you can be sure to get genuine advice and local expertise to ensure you get the most out of your conference event, without the stress!

Conference Planning

News Update August 2014

/in /by

VenuesWorld appoints Brian Hand as Head of Event Operations. Brian has been a key member of the events team for 2 years now and is a popular choice for this management role.

To find out more about Brian click here.

News Update June 2014

/in /by

VenuesWorld is onsite for the first ever Align APAC Summit. The event is taking place at the iconic Marina Bay Sands Hotel in Singapore. This is definitely going to be an event to remember!

Check out the event here:

News Update June 2014

/in /by

VenuesWorld just finished a great conference in the always inspiring destination of Venice.

Check out the event here: