Finding a Location Part 1

This is where producing a great event starts. Finding the best event venue for your event takes some time and is critical to the overall success of your event, meeting or team building.

After you have identified the type of event you are planning and its purpose, several other factors come into play as you find the venue itself. Conducting a site inspection before contracting any venue is critical unless you are using an event planner you trust and/or you are familiar with the venue or done an event there in the past.

The following series will help you understand the process a professional planner uses in locating the perfect spot for a great event.

Step One

Identify dates. The first step is to check the calendar because timing will influence many decisions.

Questions to consider:

- When are your guests most likely available to attend based on their schedules?
- What venues have appropriate and available space for those times?
- When is the best time for your management team to hold the event?
- Scope out different locations. Once the date(s) is narrowed, it's important to identify the locations where to hold the event. A hotel is usually the most popular event space where organization's hold meetings and events, it's not the only option. This is a time to be creative in your thinking. 

Consider the following:

- Based on the theme of your meeting, what 3 best locations come to mind?
- Where would your guests prefer to attend this meeting?
- Other than a hotel, what unexpected locations could increase the RSVP rate?

Ref: About.com