3 Academic Venues
The science of academic venue success
Marketing consortium Venuemasters states the case for a new term of making your meeting a success in academic surroundings
cademic venues have always held a unique position in the meetings industry , and Venuemasters marketing consortium continues to help them and has a new website for event organisers to get the best out of them . the not-for-profit consortium has helped UK universities share the cost and knowhow of marketing their facilities to event organisers for over 35 years . “ We represent venues across the country in some fantastic locations , both metropolitan as well as rural locations ,” says Venuemasters ’ marketing manager Natalie Williamson ( pictured right ). She notes that academic venues offer a range of facilities , from hundreds of meeting rooms that include tiered lecture theatres , to sports halls and pitches and even Olympicsized swimming pools . All that , Williamson adds , “ is complemented by thousands of single study style bedrooms , plus a choice of hotel standard accommodation , and not forgetting some award-winning catering ”. Venuemasters provides a free venue finding service and value for money is clearly a big draw , with day delegate rates from £ 18 ensuring there is something to suit all budgets . Venuemasters also provides networking opportunities and recently hosted a one-day conference to provide venues with a chance to reflect on the current Brexit situation and consider ways to maintain their competitive edge . Simon Hughes from Business Visits and Events Partnership ( BVEP ) presented the association ’ s latest research about the impact of Brexit on the industry and Steve Crawford from College Court in Leicester shared some of his experiences to explain how academic venues have used change to create opportunities . Venuemasters ’ plans for 2017-18 were also presented and include some key operational changes over the next 12 months . The first developments will be introduced
from April 2017 , with details promised later . The company announced two new board directors at its AGM recently : Steve Crawford and Emma Woodcock , senior business development manager at Keele University . Crawford said : “ The growth in commercial activities can have a real tangible benefit to the students , capital investment and overall standing of our universities internationally . It also creates job opportunities and boosts the income of the University and city .” Woodcock added that she was passionate about academic venues and the range and quality of facilities they have to offer , “ and the positive contribution we can make into investing back into our venues .” She added there were “ real and exciting opportunities ahead ”.
More details about Venuemasters : www . venuemasters . com or call 0114 245 3423 . www . conference-news . co . uk