Published: 12 July, 2012
ADVERTISING FEATURE

If you’re planning to host a business conference or meeting in London this summer, the choice of potential spaces at your disposal can be a little overwhelming. In such a vast city, possible sites can have both advantages and drawbacks, all of which are not always easily visible at first glance.

When choosing a place to hold your meetings, there are a few essential things to consider, all of which will help ensure that you’ve made the right choice for your business.

City centre

One major thing to consider is the size of your business and where your delegates will be arriving from. If they are all regular London residents then it’s important that you choose a central location. This will ensure that minimum time is spent travelling to your desired venue.

With many Londoners choosing the Underground as their desired method of transport, choosing a central location means that each attendee will be able to reach the area easily, without the need to get into their car and spend hours in motorway traffic.

Outskirts

If you have a very large business, with members of staff travelling into the city by car or through one of London’s airports, then a location next to a main transport hub is essential. These are often a lot larger in size and can offer a much more competitive price than smaller conference centres.

They also often provide dedicated media communications packages meaning that officials and senior mangers that are unable to attend the meeting can do so via video communication. Many centres will also have a dedicated team of staff and caterers to ensure that everything goes smoothly.

Accommodation

Accommodation within Central London can be expensive and if you are looking to keep overheads down, without sacrificing quality, then it is best to look further afield.

London offers many hotels which are close to major motorways, airports and rail stations and also feature their own dedicated conference facilities. Many of these are available at a fraction of the price of centrally located hotels and provide guests with amenities such as gyms, saunas and swimming pools to help them wind down after the meeting, and approach the second day with a fresh head, away from the hectic downtown bustle.

Creativity

Helping keep the atmosphere and appearance of your chosen conference centre in line with your brand will ensure that the full potential for creativity is unlocked. Small business that place a strong emphasis on fun and quirkiness will find that many smaller central London locations in areas such as Fitzrovia and Soho will provide this.

Likewise, if it is productivity that is most prized then a more corporate-focused space is the logical conclusion. These are often found in areas outside of the city such as Heathrow, the Docklands and Canary Wharf. Accommodation is always located close by and transport into the city centre is rapid.