Top tips for your autumn conference or event

Top tips for your autumn conference or event
23rd September 2016 Event Essex
In Event Tips
University of Essex

Planning an autumn conference, event or training day?

Autumn can be the perfect time to host your event or conference, with the summer heat cooling off to a more bearable temperature and plenty of autumnal, picturesque locations to choose from. As the leaves start to turn various shades of orange and we welcome the new season, venues are getting underway with hosting a plethora of events from autumn conferences to away days and exhibitions to team meetings. Our experts have included their top tips below.

1. Choosing a venue

Autumn conference

It is important to tick the boxes of the main criteria for your autumn conference or event venue, including capacity, costing and facilities available. Once you have done this, you can then be creative with the location. Autumn can be a beautiful time of year, so if you are looking for that extra touch, try choosing a scenic venue to welcome your delegates or to impress your clients. Venues set in pretty woodlands or with charming grounds can look extra special during autumn with crisp, golden leaves and bright blue skies. Our venues are set within acres of parkland with tranquil lakes while only being a short drive away from a historic town and mainline train station.

2. Refreshments

autumn conference

Refreshments are important all year round, not just on hot summer days. For your autumn conference or event, think about providing hot drinks throughout the day to keep your delegates, clients or team refreshed and hydrated.  Hot drinks can also be particularly welcoming and, of course, warming on a chilly autumnal morning! If you are looking to take the stress out of planning your event, opt for a venue that has an in-house catering team who will be on hand to assist and will take the pressure off liaising with an external provider.

3.  Break it up

Autumn conference -The Essex Business School meeting space

As with summer events, sitting in a warm, toasty room for hours on end can cause a lack of concentration. Ensure you break up your autumn conference, event or training day to keep everyone focused and on track. Look for venues with gardens or foyers to provide an area for your delegates or team to have a short refreshment break and to stretch their legs between talks or meetings. Many venues can also provide breakout areas or rooms for practical tasks including icebreakers, brainstorming sessions, teamwork tasks, idea generating and so on.

We hope these tips have been useful and will help you with the organising of your autumn conference or event. If you have any tips to add to the list, please tweet us @EventEssex or comment below! If you would like to know more about our venues or would like a chat about what we can do, please feel free to contact us.