Tips for improving your venue-planning from BMA House

The choice of venue can make or break an event and organisers often find themselves under a lot of pressure to get it spot on. Sales and Marketing Manager at BMA House Rowan Bennett has some top venue-planning tips that’ll ensure you don’t go far off track.

When booking, consider holding your meeting or conference on a quiet day. The most popular time to hold an event is midweek, so most venues will offer a better deal if you buck the trend and choose a Monday or Friday.

On your site visit, check out the venue’s wifi. If you’re hoping for a social media buzz surrounding your event you need a reliable connection. Venues are increasingly receiving complaints from delegates about slow internet, so ensure your chosen venue is on top of this common problem.

Discuss social media with the venue, as both parties can benefit from an online conversation around the event. Decide on the hashtag for the day early and work together to promote it, supporting one another’s campaigns.

Ask to meet the chef or some of the catering team. Staff who are creative and passionate about food will stand out a mile off. Similarly, be sure to taste the coffee. Never underestimate the importance of quality hot drinks for busy delegates.

After the event, take time to reflect on meetings you’ve organised over the past year to see how you can improve. If you’ve gathered feedback, analyse it to see what did and didn’t work. If you don’t usually collect comments, now is the time to start.

BMA House is a Grade II-listed historic venue located in Bloomsbury offering 23 contemporary spaces with integrated conference and meetings facilities. To find out more, visit bmahouse.org.uk