Conferences have long-since evolved since the early days of a fairly monotonous speaker addressing a large group of people on one topic. Conferences have really established their place in the corporate, education and philanthropic sectors at both national and international level with event organisers…
Looking to step outside the box with your next conference? Delegates are wanting more out of the conferences they attend, and they are more likely to remember a great one. We understand that coming up with fresh conference ideas can be tough but sometimes just picking a memorable venue and location…
If you’ve planned a conference or business event before you’ll understand the complexity of finding the perfect venue to suit your needs. If it’s your first time, then you’re probably feeling overwhelmed by the whole process. Venue finding can be one of the most frustrating and time-consuming parts…
Planning a conference, regardless of its size, is a challenging task. We know, because we’ve helped hundreds of clients do their conference planning for many years now. Regardless if it’s your first time planning a conference, or if you’ve done it many times before, you’ll always want it to be a success,…
Need a meeting overseas with colleagues or want a sales conference & incentive in the sun? As specialist international conference organisers, we have the venue solutions. Our experienced event team manages overseas conferences and finds international conference venues all over the world. We are constantly…
A debrief is essential to determine what worked well and what areas need improvement. Conference presenters and delegates can provide you with valuable feedback which can be used to make the next conference even better. Bear in mind though that you’ll never be able to please everyone. You have some…
A major consideration for any conference is choosing a suitable speaker who can engage the audience, as this impacts the outcome of the event. Here’s a list of tips: Ask a previous speaker for a referral. Get company recommendations or contact the Industry Association. Determine your expectations so…
Documenting your conference specifications is important because it forces you to think about the resources your group needs to meet the conference objectives. In the long run, it will save you time as having your requirements down on paper will come in handy when you’re dealing directly with a venue…
Financial planning is essential and it’s important to have a working budget. You’ll first need to work out what the budget is required to cover and don’t forget items such as facilitators’ fees and overseas travel costs. As conferences are dynamic events, it can be a challenge to determine contingency…
If all this sounds like an overwhelming responsibility, that’s because it is. Tens, or sometimes hundreds, of thousands of dollars are spent on a conference. Making the event a success reflects well on the organiser but the opposite is also true. Conference planning is a step-by-step process: Goal…
Although hotels, resorts, conference centres and motels tend to have different names to describe their rooms, the typical industry standard descriptions are: Single Room A room for single occupancy with one bed, normally a queen or king Double Room A room for two occupants sleeping in the same bed Twin…
Attending a conference opens up a world of opportunity for growth, learning and fellowship. Why not plan ahead to maximise the benefits? Set Goals Take the time to write down a number of goals before heading off to the conference, e.g. hone specific skills, questions you want to be answered, people…
The comfort of a conference room can make or break a conference. Delegates expect comfortable chairs in a room at the right temperature so assessing the room is extremely important. Here’s a checklist to ensure you tick all the boxes: Does the room allow for different configurations? Is there plenty…
We’ve come a long way since the blackboard and white chalk presentations. Some presenters still prefer an overhead projector and a flip chart. However, the trend today is to use powerful mixed media presentations via a laptop and a data projector. Most venues have in-house audiovisual technicians who…
Effective communication depends on the style or configuration of the room and will also depend on the number of delegates as well as the presenter’s preferred style. Remember that certain room configurations have limitations. Which Conference Room Configuration is right for you? Boardroom, U-shape and…
So you've been asked to organise a conference. It might be your first time or maybe you’ve done it many times before but the reality is, you want it to be a success without creating too much stress. Conference planning involves: Goal setting Venue selection Budgeting Conference management Financial…
Inspecting a venue is an important part of the decision-making process in choosing a suitable location for your conference, even if you’re using a venue finding company. Before you go, you’ll need a clear understanding of your conference objectives, attendee demographics, program design, meeting formats…