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Shopping for the right conference centre for your next function is much like shopping for a car. You know the look you are going for, the features that you have to have, the little extras that would be pretty sweet and the pitfalls that are deal breakers. Just as buying a car is more than shelling out a few bucks for four wheels and a motor, finding a conference centre is much more than renting a meeting room. There is so much more to consider.
Space
Take a head count and get an idea of how many attendees you will have. What kind of space does the facility have? Do they have one tiny conference room forcing you to attempt to cram 25 bodies into a space meant for 12? Are there additional rooms for break out meetings or workshops? Or will people have to stand outside or in the foyer? Think about the things that you need your conference centre to have and think about what you will do if it doesn't and you have to go to plan B. If plan B is uncomfortable, unprofessional or just not what you had in mind, keep looking. The Sunshine Coast boasts some of the finest conference facilities around, all you have to do is look.
Seating
If you are holding a conference or seminar, the last thing you want your attendees to do is be forced to stand while they are there. This is particularly true if the event will last several hours. Alas, this could be the case if you don't find out about seating prior to booking. Make sure that your conference centre has ample seating in a spacious room so that your attendees are comfortable and can focus on your event, not be worried about fidgeting as they shift from foot to foot because they were forced to stand for hours on end.
Visual Aids
Memory experts say that we remember much more when we can visualise it. That is why so many speakers use visual aids for their seminars and conferences. But it can be a pain lugging your projector, screen, flip charts, dry erase boards and any number of other items that are standard fare for these events. It is very helpful if the conference centre that you choose has these items on hand.
Catering
People need to eat - and they like it. In fact, they generally are much more receptive to new ideas and strategies when their stomachs aren't growling. However, turning a number of people out on an unfamiliar (or familiar) city for a one hour lunch break may not be feasible - or wise. Someone will inevitably return late or someone will get lost and you just don't want that type of disruption. If your conference centre offers in-house catering, that could be a huge plus for you because you could break for lunch without breaking stride. No one would have to leave the facility and you could resume at the scheduled time.
Accommodation
If your seminar or event will span more than one day, you will need to find a place for your attendees to sleep. Some facilities have on site lodging while others may be situated near several hotels. The Sunshine Coast is a beautiful location and the hotels are outstanding. Just know what you are going to need before you book. When choosing accommodation, you want to make sure that your hotel offers a shuttle service to and from the conference centre, or that there is transportation for your attendees. If you can find a venue that has on site lodging or accommodation is within walking distance, that would be the way to go.
Location
Is the conference centre well situated so that it is near restaurants, shopping and those breathtaking beaches that are a hallmark of the Sunshine Coast? It is not likely that your attendees will spend their every waking hour completely enthralled with your event - and they shouldn't be. They will need some downtime and they best way to accomplish that is to make sure that they are near some forms of entertainment such as shopping and beaches.
Finding a conference centre on the Sunshine Coast does not have to be difficult. It can be easily done with a solid game plan and good sense of what you want and what you can't tolerate.
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