Training and conference centres around the country are set up specifically for companies or organisations that want to provide their staff and clients with the best facilities possible for direct training or conferencing purposes. As with most things in life, you do get what you pay for in this area. So what should you be looking for in a quality training or conference centre? Below are some of the main features that should stand out to you. If you can, try and visit the location in person to get a feel for not only the place, but also all the facilities and staff.
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With any dedicated facility, there should be welcoming staff that are not only knowledgeable in their specific areas, but also welcoming and make you feel at home as soon as you get there. This could mean the difference between a memorable stay that is positive or negative.
Video conferencing
Conferencing, training or any type of events, will need some sort of video conferencing facilities. In today’s age, it is not only video and audio that is needed, but seamless ways to transfer information and work with the people you are conferencing with as if they were in the same room as you. It’s okay to see the specs on paper and all the facilities a location will offer, but ideally try and visit the location before your event to make sure they have what they say they have and staff are on hand to maintain anything should it go wrong.
Training rooms
Dedicated training rooms are very important for any type of event. The reason for hiring a dedicated training or conference centre, is so that the training rooms you have are properly kitted out with the latest equipment and have staff on site to maintain equipment and help you in any way they can. Dedicated training rooms should have the latest, most up-to-date facilities, with the option of being able to provide you with any other equipment you will need for the duration of your event.
On-site accommodation
This area is especially important if your staff or clients have to travel a long way. Not all dedicated centres will have accommodation on site. But if you can find a centre that has accommodation on site, it will make for a more pleasant stay for all parties concerned if they can just wake up in the morning and walk downstairs to their events.
The most luxurious of conference and training centres will have a specific focus on customer satisfaction, making sure their every need is catered for. If everybody had the choice, they would all take up the most luxurious of conference and training centres, simply because the level of customer care will make sure all clients and staff feel they have been properly looked after for the duration of their stay. This can be just as important as the training business sessions they take part in while they are there.
We recommend that you make a list of all the criteria you want from a specific location, then see if you can visit the location in person to get a feel for the environment and if it suits your needs. Not every location will be ideal, but the best will provide everything you need, both on a customer care level and technical level.
The author has worked as a consultant for training and conferencing facilties for many years and thoroughly recommends – edintrain.com.