"Ok, let's meet at the coffee shop for our business meeting..." There are situations in which informal business meetings are beneficial. For example, a relaxing surroundings can remove stress from applicants during general interview process. Similarly, the proposals for investments somehow are easier to chew in the pleasant and friendly atmosphere. However, business event is generally a serious undertaking. The idea is to:
For this reason, most business events are not casual coffee meetings. Thus, the venue and the setup is important to give the topic the utmost importance.
Brian Dickinson has done a highly scientific study about business events.
It is a philosophy of engineering principles which define and regulate business event.
Readers, responsible for businesses are encouraged to study the material.
However, here we are going to look at business events on their surface.
There are many reasons to run a business event.
In most cases it is a serious undertaking which aims to congratulate (at best), improve or restructure (at worst) a business model.
Business events are not confined to private businesses.
When City Councils mess up they are obliged to call the meetings with their community.
The serious and professional aspects of the business events does not mean you have to make the function inside the office.
Neither it means that executives should hold the program in the expensive hotel.
The business events methodology is responsible to provide a cohesive set of methods which recommend a set of models.
This means that you can enjoy the venue, provided that you concentrate on the discussed topic.
Therefore, business events do not have to be expensive but well thought.
It is always easier to provide "don't-s" rather then "do-s".
So let start at less appropriate venues.
There is a strong tendency for companies to choose expensive hotel venues for their business events.
Executives are notorious culprits for these choices.
The idea of the business event is to improve relations with the customers.
This means you need to improve productivity and/or service.
The business event is not to spoil the staff but to stimulate organisations to come up with good ideas.
Unless, the customers are also invited to such a function, business will hardly benefit with such extravaganza.
If you invite businesses to participate in meetings to promote their products, you mostly expect them to pay for the function.
Again, high-end venues will impose high prices and reduce the popularity of such events.
On the other hand, packing people into halls is also annoying.
So you need a balance.
The best venues are those, which run at no more than $30 per entry.
High income organisation can afford higher fees but the general business community is not that rich.
Venues, such as bread and breakfast, wineries, country clubs offer deals for as little as $20 per person.
The cost includes buffet meals (with option to eat as much as you can).
For a group of 20-30 people this is enough.
However, for larger groups you may need a separate conference room.
Conference rooms are not cheap.
They can cost about $1K to hire one.
Conference rooms are ideal for product launches and other aspects which require some level of secrecy from the public.
For this reason you should look for the cost effective, yet comfortable conference locations.
Most business events are charged per head. The cost of hiring larger facilities will have a pre-defined value. Business events which are within $30 mark per head are appropriate. Those which cost $10 may not meet the standards and those over $70 are an unnecessary luxury. Remember, business events are not to impress. The surroundings and the atmosphere must facilitate not indulge the meeting.