Academic Venues
Let us educate you Ahead of the Academic Venue Showcase in October, Natalie Williamson, General Manager at Venuemasters explains why the UK’s educational institutions make the perfect locations for corporate events Let’s get some things straight to start with. Academic venues are great places. They harbour a multitude of historical facts, features, people and events. They are known across the world as brand ambassadors for the cities, towns and regions they represent. They’re exactly what they say they are – places where people meet to discuss, agree, disagree, confer and debate. Essentially, they are meeting spots. So, why are they great places to host events? Historical hubs and technical teaching spaces Most academic venues can offer something different from the standard hotel meeting space. For the most part, universities have been around for many years and while they boast state-of-theart conference facilities and all the latest AV that goes with that, many of these facilities may be located in the most architecturally stunning historic buildings or set within acres of beautiful parkland.
Coping with 1,000 students and staff wanting to get online means academic venues have to provide superfast wifi above and beyond the standard of other meeting spaces. Getting the best value for your budget One of the most important factors when planning events and conferences is going to be the budget. Many academic venues can offer a flexible approach to pricing and how they quote, which some branded hotels are often unable to do. Many still provide exceptional value, with day delegate rates as low as £18 per person. The kudos of academia For organisers looking at universities, colleges, or training venues, this is a real opportunity to link with teachers and researchers at all levels to add to an event. For example, a HR conference could benefit from a keynote speech from an expert in management training, or a sustainability event might want to tap into some ecological, global warming, or green technology research.
Sleeping and eating Academic venues are no longer niche propositions and over the last few years they have raised their profile, now sitting comfortably alongside conventional event spaces, and they don’t compromise on standards. For example, many venues now boast chefs that have won prestigious culinary awards once seldom found outside of five-star hotels. People shouldn’t assume all schools offer just student rooms; almost all rooms have ensuite bathrooms or showers and superb catering facilities that can feed any number of delegates. Add to all that the fact that Venuemasters can boast access to a total of 49,200 bedrooms around the country. Expertise on hand The conference management teams at our venues live and breathe events. Many of the team members have been there for a number of years and have probably seen it all. You will benefit from continuity, friendliness and an altogether more personal service, with a dedicated event manager.
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