Warwick Conferences discovers five ways event bookers can create better experiences

Warwick Conferences has released a new set of guidelines to help event bookers meet and surpass both their managers’ and delegates’ expectations.

According to the Value of Expertise report, 99% of managers expect bookers to be experts on booking events. But 70% of bookers claim this is only a small part of their job.

Busy schedules, spinning too many plates and working in silos all increase the chance of communications breaking down. This means thi

ngs can be overlooked when booking an event. In fact, 93% of the bookers surveyed in the report admit to neglecting to investigate at least one key issue before choosing a venue.

Using data from the Value of Expertise report – an independent study into the relationship between expertise and success in meetings – Warwick Conferences has highlighted the crucial questions event bookers need to ask to create a successful event.

Read the five essential questions to ask before booking an event: (http://www.warwickconferences.com/about-us/news-and-blogs/five-essential-questions-ask-booking-event)

The top questions that all event bookers need to ask are:

1. How often do non-business guests frequent the venue?
2. Is the technology at the event reliable, easy-to-use and compatible with the managers’ laptops?
3. How much parking availability is there at the venue?
4. Is the Wi-Fi at the venue fast and free?
5. Will the venue provide catering for people with special dietary requirements?

These questions act as a basis for forming active partnerships with venues, to make event booking a collaborative experience. Miscommunication and mismatched expectations can be the root causes of a bad experience – not just for the delegates, but everyone involved in organising the event.

These new guidelines from Warwick Conferences show the power of partnerships and how bookers, managers and venues can work together to break down silos and create events their delegates remember for all the right reasons.

“Asking these five crucial questions at the early stages will alleviate pressure on bookers and help remove miscommunication from the booking processes,” says Rachael Bartlett, head of sales and marketing at Warwick Conferences.

“Collaboration is essential for event booking. If delegates’ and managers’ expectations are going to be met and surpassed, bookers need to think in terms of partnerships and not transactions when working with venues.

“If booking an event is only a small part of your day-to-day job, which indeed 70% of bookers stated, partnering with the right venue means you get help creating a great delegate experience every step of the way.”

Meeting Expectations is the first of four key themes covered in the Value of Expertise report. In the coming months, Warwick Conferences will be delving more into the other three themes:

• Respect: are businesses respecting their delegates and their training needs?
• Connectivity: what’s all the fuss about Wi-Fi?
• Money talks: are venues and bookers missing the mark when it comes to measuring success?

Warwick Conferences takes Gold at the M&IT Awards

Warwick Conferences is celebrating its 10th consecutive year of Meetings & Incentive Travel (M&IT) award success, after winning Gold for Best Academic Venue for the 20^th time in the awards 29 year history.

The collection of meeting venues – based at the University of Warwick – also picked up Bronze for Best UK Management Training Centre and were recognised as finalists in the Best UK Conference Centre and Best Conference and Banqueting Staff categories.

Warwick Conferences has enjoyed significant success at the M&IT Awards, which are voted for solely by event organisers and readers of M&IT magazine.

This year’s ceremony took place at Battersea Evolution and was attended by more than 1,000 meetings and events professionals to reward excellence in service.

Rachael Bartlett, head of sales and marketing at WarwickConferences, says: “We are delighted with our achievements at this year’s M&IT Awards, especially as these awards are voted for by our customers who have first-hand experience of our facilities. It is a huge honour for us to receive these awards, and we are exceptionally proud to have been recognised amongst the best in the industry by our customers.

“Our success is testament to the team’s fantastic attitude and ethos of always going above and beyond what is expected of them to ensure every customer has the best possible experience when holding an event with us. It is particularly rewarding to know that our customers recognise and appreciate this service.”

Later this year Warwick Conferences will open its new £5.3m dedicated meeting venue on the University of Warwick campus. The venue will offer 650 square metres of contemporary and highly flexible event space. 

Warwick Conferences new £5.3m venue on target for autumn opening

Warwick Conferences new £5.3m dedicated meeting venue on the University of Warwick campus in Coventry and Warwickshire is progressing on schedule with the first concrete pour of around 270 cubic metres (almost two double decker buses) taking place earlier this month.

Demand is looking strong for the new standalone facility, which sits adjacent to two of Warwick Conferences’ existing training and conference venues, with business leads reported as far ahead as December 2017.

Along with the new opening, Warwick Conferences has reviewed its strategy and the experience it delivers to ensure it continues to meet the needs of the industry. Conference, training and meeting needs are constantly evolving and it is not just about delivering four walls, a flip chart and some food, it is about delivering an experience. This involves providing the space to debate, engage, resolve, share, challenge and learn in a way which is individually tailored to the customer and their objectives.

Rachael Bartlett, head of sales and marketing at WarwickConferences, says: “We recently reviewed our strategy and how we deliver it to ensure that we continue to respond to the needs of the changing world. As part of this process, we are updating the way we look and our communications to better reflect who we are and what we can deliver to our customers.  Ultimately, it is business as usual, but better. The improvements across our brand and communications reinforce the ethos that at Warwick Conferences we take the time to understand our customer’s needs and objectives and respond by giving them a completely unique experience that is tailored to them.

“This year is set to be an extremely exciting one for Warwick Conferences with our new venue opening in the autumn. Work is progressing on schedule and we are already in a strong position in terms of enquiries for the new space. We look forward to continuing to break new ground with our training and conference solutions by delivering an experience where anything is possible.”

Multi-Million Investment Will See Warwick Conferences Open Fourth Venue in Coventry

Warwick Conferences has unveiled plans to invest £5.3 million in opening a fourth dedicated meeting venue on the University of Warwick campus in Coventry and Warwickshire.

The new venue – which will open in September 2016 – will offer 650 square metres of contemporary and highly flexible event space from a brand new standalone facility adjacent to two of Warwick Conferences’ existing training and conference venues.

With a single flat-floor space capacity of 350 seated, expansive ceiling height and reinforced flooring, the venue offers bookers a completely new option in Warwickshire and the West Midlands, and extends Warwick Conferences’ capability significantly.

Richard Harrison, head of conference centres at Warwick Conferences comments: “This is an important investment for both Warwick Conferences as a business and the region as a whole. Demand for high capacity, high quality, genuinely flexible event space is rising and there are few venues that can meet all these requirements in Central England currently – and even fewer that can do so without compromise.

It therefore should go without saying that we are thrilled to be making this announcement today. As a completely new development, our new venue will offer an uncompromised, contemporary and striking space that will give clients a complete blank canvas for their event. And, alongside our existing facilities, the new space will help to showcase our local area, bringing more business events and generating greater footfall to Coventry and Warwickshire.”

Designed to achieve a BREEAM Excellent rating, utilising highly sustainable construction standards, the new building will feature large expanses of glazing and exposed timber glulam structural elements. Surrounded by trees and landscaping, and in a lakefront location, the venue will also feature a striking full-length glass wall, opening onto a suspended deck that overlooks the water.

The new venue is available from September 2016.

For more information, visit www.warwickconferences.com.