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Shopping for the right conference centre for your next function is much
like shopping for a car. You know the look you are going for, the
features that you have to have, the little extras that would be pretty
sweet and the pitfalls that are deal breakers. Just as buying a car is
more than shelling out a few bucks for four wheels and a motor, finding
a conference centre is much more than renting a meeting room. There is
so much more to consider.
Space
Take a head count and get an idea of how many
attendees you will have. What kind of space does the facility have? Do
they have one tiny conference room forcing you to attempt to cram 25
bodies into a space meant for 12? Are there additional rooms for break
out meetings or workshops? Or will people have to stand outside or in
the foyer? Think about the things that you need your conference centre
to have and think about what you will do if it doesn't and you have to
go to plan B. If plan B is uncomfortable, unprofessional or just not
what you had in mind, keep looking. The Sunshine Coast boasts some of
the finest conference facilities around, all you have to do is look.
Seating
If you are holding a conference or seminar, the
last thing you want your attendees to do is be forced to stand while
they are there. This is particularly true if the event will last
several hours. Alas, this could be the case if you don't find out about
seating prior to booking. Make sure that your conference centre has
ample seating in a spacious room so that your attendees are comfortable
and can focus on your event, not be worried about fidgeting as they
shift from foot to foot because they were forced to stand for hours on
end.
Visual Aids
Memory experts say that we remember much more
when we can visualise it. That is why so many speakers use visual aids
for their seminars and conferences. But it can be a pain lugging your
projector, screen, flip charts, dry erase boards and any number of
other items that are standard fare for these events. It is very helpful
if the conference centre that you choose has these items on hand.
Catering
People need to eat - and they like it. In fact,
they generally are much more receptive to new ideas and strategies when
their stomachs aren't growling. However, turning a number of people out
on an unfamiliar (or familiar) city for a one hour lunch break may not
be feasible - or wise. Someone will inevitably return late or someone
will get lost and you just don't want that type of disruption. If your
conference centre offers in-house catering, that could be a huge plus
for you because you could break for lunch without breaking stride. No
one would have to leave the facility and you could resume at the
scheduled time.
Accommodation
If your seminar or event will span more than
one day, you will need to find a place for your attendees to sleep.
Some facilities have on site lodging while others may be situated near
several hotels. The Sunshine Coast is a beautiful location and the
hotels are outstanding. Just know what you are going to need before you
book. When choosing accommodation, you want to make sure that your
hotel offers a shuttle service to and from the conference centre, or
that there is transportation for your attendees. If you can find a
venue that has on site lodging or accommodation is within walking
distance, that would be the way to go.
Location
Is the conference centre
well situated so that it is near restaurants, shopping and those
breathtaking beaches that are a hallmark of the Sunshine Coast? It is
not likely that your attendees will spend their every waking hour
completely enthralled with your event - and they shouldn't be. They
will need some downtime and they best way to accomplish that is to make
sure that they are near some forms of entertainment such as shopping
and beaches.
Finding a conference centre on the Sunshine Coast does
not have to be difficult. It can be easily done with a solid game plan
and good sense of what you want and what you can't tolerate.
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