Top Reasons To Have Your Business Meeting at a Hotel

When you’re planning a business meeting, the location is one of the first things you have to decide. While you may be tempted to use a company building, you’re better off looking to a third party for a business meeting venue, especially if you anticipate visitors from another enterprise.

So, what types of venues should you consider? While there are many options, none check all the boxes like a hotel. In fact, here are 11 reasons you should choose a hotel as your event location.

1. Great Customer Service

As part of the hospitality industry, hotels place a great emphasis on customer service. From room service staff to maids, you can expect friendly and helpful individuals wherever you go. If you have an issue, all you have to do is pick up the phone and call the front desk for resolution.

Additionally, some hotels have a liaison who can assist with planning. They may even have a team who can help coordinate setup, catering, and other meeting aspects.

2. On-Site Catering

Many hotels have their own restaurants, and even those without an on-site eatery have a kitchen for room service orders. Having a kitchen on-hand can be a huge convenience, especially if your event occurs over several days, as you can arrange for catering.

Being able to rely on the hotel for catering means you have one point of contact, eliminating the hassle of coordinating with a third-party vendor for food. The hotel may also have special packages or menus for the occasion.

Additionally, having food on-site may appeal to guests, especially if they’re from out of town and not familiar with the area. It means less travel and time spent searching for a bite to eat.

3. Environmentally Friendly Options

Many hotels are shifting to more environmentally friendly amenities:

• Locally sourced food
• Low-flow toilets
• Solar power
• Energy-efficient lighting

These changes mean a smaller carbon footprint for your event, which reflects positively on your company.

In fact, having an environmentally friendly event is increasingly important in the professional world. Potential partners may pass up business opportunities if they feel your enterprise isn’t committed to environmentalism, as consumers are primarily concerned with corporations’ social responsibility. By choosing a hotel that offers these amenities, you’re connecting your brand to environments and signaling to both consumers and potential partners that your values align with theirs.

4. Accessible Location

Hotels are built with a location in mind, which means they’re usually close to transportation, the airport, shopping, and restaurants. They’re often in visually appealing places and centrally located to accommodate as many travelers as possible. These are all points in your favor when it comes to booking a location.

Additionally, some hotels have partnerships with local businesses — for example, certain restaurants may offer a discount. These little perks can appeal to visitors and influence their decisions to attend a meeting in the future.

Guests 

5. Impressive Presentation Technology

When your event includes presentations, you need the latest audio-visual technology at your beck and call. To accommodate speakers, many hotel meeting rooms come with a variety of equipment:

• Projectors
• Speakers
• Microphones
• Outlets

You may also be able to secure a conference phone or utilize high-speed internet for guests who can only join by phone or video. If you discuss these possibilities with hotel staff ahead of time, many places can provide the necessary equipment.

6. Online Booking Process

One of the most complicated aspects of organizing an event is providing guests with a way to reserve lodgings. If you’re working directly with a hotel, it cuts down on confusion and hassle as attendees don’t have to look for accommodations — they just have to contact the hotel to book rooms.

Every hotel worth its salt has an online booking process, allowing guests to make a reservation no matter where they are in the world. Since your company is bringing in so much business, you may also be able to work with the hotel to offer a discount or group rate to those who book before a certain date.

7. Variety of Meeting Spaces

Many events have a variety of activities on the agenda, such as large conferences and breakout sessions. These require different spaces with varying sizes, furniture, and technology. Most hotels have several meeting rooms, allowing you to hold all activities on-site.

Additionally, many hotels also have spaces for informal congregating, such as a lounge. These flexible areas provide opportunities for networking, which many guests may appreciate.

8. New Environment

One of the best things about holding meetings at a hotel is the new environment. While the office is valuable as a headquarters, sometimes a new space can prompt creativity and productivity. If you’re creating an event with the intent to generate new ideas, choosing a hotel as your location can boost your chance of success.

Additionally, a new environment can shake up how employees relate to each other. Individuals who typically sit on opposite sides of the office now have the opportunity to talk to each other and work together on projects.

9. Great Deals

Deals on rooms aren’t the only incentives hotels can offer. If you choose a resort for your meeting, your guests may find a multitude of amenities available:

• Spas
• Bars
• Swimming pools
• Health club facilities

Some hotels offer discounts or even free amenities for guests who are part of an event. Providing these amenities may contribute to a positive overall experience by helping attendees relax during their downtime. When looking for a meeting location, make sure you discuss these options to get the best deals for your visitors.

10. Accessible Equipment

Technology isn’t the only thing you’ll need for a successful business meeting — tables, chairs, and desks may be necessary, depending on your plans. Hotels that regularly host conventions should have these on-hand for you to use in booked rooms.

This is another area where good customer service becomes evident; your liaison should coordinate with staff to have areas set up according to your itinerary. This is a significant convenience, as you don’t have to worry about setting up the hotel meeting rooms yourself.

11. Privacy

Finally, choosing a hotel provides a degree of privacy. Often, sensitive information, such as trade secrets, may be discussed at these gatherings, necessitating that only authorized attendees have access to meeting areas. At a hotel, you’re assured that the rooms you’ve reserved for your business meeting are off-limits to other guests. Additionally, you can host invite-only dinners and parties to facilitate networking in a more casual but still private environment.

Your choice of business meeting venue has a significant impact on the atmosphere of your event and who can attend. Since so many decisions depend on the meeting’s location, you must find the perfect venue early in your planning. Fortunately, Ellicott Development has a variety of hotels to choose from. Each boasts excellent amenities and helpful staff, ensuring that you and guests enjoy your stay. To learn more about our hotels or inquire about reservations, visit our main hotel page.