Inspiration Hub

There are few things that annoy me more than boring venues. We have all been to – and no doubt hosted – events in boring venues. You know the ones; dark, dreary and devoid of atmosphere. But things are changing. It’s no surprise that an increasing number of event planners are looking to take their events to “unique venues”.

Of the top ten clubs in the world… only two have official Spotify accounts. That’s surprising, given that the music streaming giant has over 60 million subscribers and 140 million active users. If you want to define the feel of your venue, create shareable content, and reach highly engaged music lovers, why wouldn’t you start where fans expect to discover their next favorite artist?

From sourcing the right venue to choosing the best mobile event app to the speaker to the connections built - of the many different things that event professionals are tasked with, what exactly makes great events, great? 

Meeting planners surveyed for STR’s DestinationMAP said it was a dead heat between the Windy City and "The Theme Park Capital of the World" when it came to their top choice for North American meeting destinations, with 67 percent each voting for Chicago and Orlando. Washington, D.C., was a close third at 66 percent, followed by San Diego and Las Vegas. 

Meetings are to exhibitions as cheeses are to wines: complementary stimuli that enhance the participant experience. With countless exhibitions incorporating education and entertainment as part of the proceedings, exhibition organizers must also consider meeting venues as auxiliary spaces in which to hold supporting events. 

From the outside, the barrel room at the Gallo of Sonoma winery looks like an enormous bunker. Inside, it’s expansive, dim, and cool, with thousands of barrels of wine extending into the middle distance. About three years ago, I walked into the space as part of a corporate group and took a seat at the edge of the room, at a table topped with unlabeled bottles of red wine. Winery staff members led us through a tasting of each varietal — from zinfandel to cabernet sauvignon — before encouraging us to mix our own blends, which soon had us jibing and laughing. Eventually, these bottles were corked and labeled, so we could take them home.

The story surrounding the Fyre Festival shined a light on the growth of the festival space, its influence and how marketers should approach a partnership.

Identifying the factors that determine what makes the right venue is one of the most important tasks for every event professional. As the number of potential attendees increases, the type of the event and the location are all significant issues to factor in, so the choice of your event venue should be first and foremost aligned with the goals you want to achieve.

Our recent survey of more than 180 meeting planners from around the world for the IACC Meeting Room of the Future  report delivered many interesting insights. We heard from people who are new to event planning as well as long-timers, and many provided candid comments.  Some of their remarks were anticipated, but some certainly surprised us. So what do meeting planners say venues need to do to appeal to the changing nature of today’s meetings? Here are ten of my insights into the most essential elements of sought-out venues.

When you’re planning an event, where you host it is a big consideration. From the time you start exploring your venue options, to the time you complete a site visit, there’s a lot to think about to ensure your venue is supporting an excellent delegate and event experience. As you consider your venue options, take time to connect with the venue’s team. Think about what it takes to create a great delegate experience, and ask your venue how they can help you build that solution. Ask tough questions, ensure they’re ready to sweat the details, and challenge them to demonstrate why their venue is the right fit for your event.

Conference organizers must think like designers. Then they can design, create and plan learning spaces that foster participants' learning experiences.

How do you impress destination-marketing executives with a takeaway that speaks to a destination?

Looking for a Room with a View? Historic Homes Make Memorable Event Venues. America’s Gilded Age estates can host your board meetings, product launches, and parties.

Don't host another boring corporate event. To attract attendees and set apart your company's brand, you need a memorable corporate event theme. 

Deciding on a city to host a global meeting can be a challenging decision when everyone’s travel preferences differ. From choosing a fine hotel to deciding…

From economic growth to innovation & sharing of expertise knowledge, meetings and events have a significant impact on their host cities. Read more here.

After visiting multiple venues in multiple locations, it can be easy to forget what questions you need to ask to ensure that you get all the information you need to make an informed decision. Here are a few things to keep in mind while you tour each venue. This list is by no means exhaustive, but it is a good place to start if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed.