Conference News Supplements Binder2 | Page 5

5 Academic Venues Charting the change Mandy Jennings, executive director, Venues of Excellence, describes how academic venues have changed cademic institutions have been faced with reduced funding and a more competitive approach to attain student numbers that, in turn, has led university heads to explore alternative funding for their institutions. This, I believe, has driven the rise in academic venues over recent years, in both their quality and standard of service offered to conference and event planners. The initial approach to offer vacation-led conferencing has enticed larger educational institutions to create year-round event facilities, which they can market commercially while supplying the University with qualitative space for visitors and university-led activities during term time. On expectations A few years ago, when clients would visit an academic venue with a view to hosting an event, they had a preconception as to the standard and quality, sometimes associated with their times as a student. Once on campus, they realise that non-en-suite accommodation has been replaced with en-suite, flats or housing for students and the facilities to host meetings offer the latest technology and infrastructure supported by expert teams within the university - from AV technicians to caterers, event teams to leisure facilities. On trends There is a natural affiliation to some markets such as international Who are they? Venues of Excellence is a collection of exceptional venues delivering excellence in conferences, training and events. Prospective members from all over the UK must comply with criteria. www.conference-news.co.uk language schools, associations, charity, third sector and university related activities. Many universities can now offer both residential and non-residential facilities in addition to some venues realising their potential to capture private celebrations. What is significant is how academic venues tap into their onsite source of business, not just for the internal term time activities, but to work with key departments and academics to bid and win key Association and academic led conferences which showcases their university as a leader in the field. Within the Venues of Excellence consortium, we have academic venues that excel within the sports arena alongside venues who are leaders in medicine and pharmaceuticals.