Tuesday, October 6, 2009

The Cost Factor Of Conference Venues

By Michael Nielson

A formal gathering that is held for different purposes is called a conference. These can be related to studies, trade, news, or for any other purpose.

Choosing the venue for a conference is an essential decision to make. Many factors have to be kept under control, specially the cost factor. You must be well aware of how much you can spend on your conference. The other factors include the location and the capacity of the venue, so that it should accommodate the required number of people. Yet other factors, like food and decoration also hold importance in choosing the venue for your conference.

In the UK, many conferences are held each day. Conference management is now a prospering business and you can actually pay people to plan your conference and take care of all the details. There are numerous websites, which you can use to help plan the perfect conference.

These websites help you in choosing the right venue online, hence, saving you from the trouble of going yourself and looking for the right venue options. It has made viewing all the available venues anywhere along with their charges. You can even make bookings online. So, the whole process is simplified for your convenience.

The cost of a venue depends on several issues, the first of which is the location. Generally, conference venues in large metropolitan cities cost more. Of course, the size of a venue is also a major factor in determining its cost. If a person requires accommodation at the venue, it comes at an extra price. The food and catering services and the type of meal required are also cost determinants. Finally, the conference equipment such as multimedia or music arrangements will be included in the final cost.

It is a common practice though, to negotiate the charges of the venue. This can be done either when you visit the office yourself. In case you have made an online booking, the website will make sure to offer competitive prices after discussing with the owner.

As conference planning and management has become a full-blown business in the UK, The Association of British Professional Conference Organisers was established in 1981. Based on experience and credibility, the association grants membership to conference organisers across the UK, and aims at providing better services to clients. Another association working towards better conference standards is the Meetings Industry Association in the UK and Ireland. Selecting conference venues providers, which are members of MIA guarantees good service.

Selecting conference venues online have one problem. It is difficult for anyone to assess the actual condition of the venue virtually. The area and location are not completely clear until or unless one does not visit the place in person, which is a good idea by the way, before making the final payment. It is compulsory to confirm the reputation and credibility of the conference venue provider to make sure that he shall not compromise on quality by cutting down the costs. - 23815

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