While meetings should be filled with productive content and discussions, consider sprinkling in time for relaxation. This will break up the meetings formality and foster team building. To infuse relaxation into your event, choose a location that has built-in amenities for moments of zen and connectivity.

For example: San Ramon Valley has basketball courts and hiking trails on property to encourage physical activity. Pickwick Gardens is attached to an indoor ice skating rink and a bowling alley which can be used for team building activities.

Check out our properties page to find a venue near you that offers onsite amenities for relaxation during your meeting agenda.

 

We are half way through the summer months and our venues are in the midst of booking Fall meetings. Here are a few tips to consider when planning your meeting for September through December.

Consider Dates
Pull out physical calendar to discover what dates will result in low attendance. Important dates to consider include Labor Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, local voting dates, and December holidays. These dates need to be avoided as people take vacation dates and observe holidays frequently during the fall months. Also pull out your local calendar for school holidays, fall breaks, or early release dates that will result in parents needing additional time off.

Technology for Check In
Make the ease of check in for your events flawless with the addition of electronic tablets. You can check people in as well as take payment for walk ups of your meeting. Our Sodexo properties feature wifi so make sure you grab the login code to stay connected.

Stay on track
For round table discussions, help facilitate keeping the meeting on track. Ensure the discussion points accomplish the events agenda and do not stray too far from the subject at hand. Staying on topic will ensure attendees remain engaged with the content and ultimately

The Rotary Club 7570 held their meeting at The Millennium Centre in Tennessee. This meeting honored the District Governor Elect- Richard Ray.

The Conference Center at Waltham Woods hosted the 17th Annual Educational Exchange. The key takeaways from the conference consisted of financial tips for retirement and investing. The day kicked off with the CEO giving a warm welcome followed by breakout sessions throughout the Conference Center. Thank you to Sentinel Benefits & Financial Group for hosting your event at a Sodexo Conferencing property.

Check out the event spotlight from this week at Chase Center on the Riverfront. The Conference Center was used for the Bisnow State of the Market event. The event consisted of panel discussions as well as networking opportunities for attendees.

How are you evaluating the meetings that you host? Create a short survey for attendees to complete that incorporate the following elements.

Ask open ended questions

Leave room for attendees to express their highs and lows of your event. Asking them their favorite take away from their favorite speaker not only allows you to know the content that they value, but also which speakers were worth the investment. If there are common answers among attendees, consider having a workshop that focuses just on the key take away that was given. This will help you identify learning objectives that attendees hope to gain while at your meeting.

Use a consistent scale

Have attendees rate items on a scale of 1-5. Limit the questions and categories so that the survey can be answered quickly before departing the meeting.

Offer online surveys

As a follow up after the conference, send the survey as an electronic link so that attendees can answer the survey when they return to their offices. You can also offer an incentive such as a chance to win a gift card, so that there is an increased likelihood of them filling out the survey.

Best of luck as you gather your survey results.

I booked my meeting- now what?

Congratulations on booking your meeting at a Sodexo Conferencing venue. The staff at each of our locations are meeting specialist and will work with you to ensure an easy process before, during, and after your event. You will be able to seek advice from our professional team to set up your Day Meeting Package which will include food, beverage, meeting space, technology, and ergonomic chairs. You can worry about the attendee list and schedule of events and we will take care of the rest. Haven't booked your venue or looking for the contact information for the meeting location near you? Check out the Properties page. Our highly qualified staff looks forward to working with your event team.

May has been filled with ceremonies and graduations at our facilities. Thank you to every organization and school that has chosen to celebrate their special honorees at a Sodexo Conferencing meeting location.

We understand that your attendees come for the event programming and want to be wowed by the food and beverage experience. That is why we take pride in providing one-of-a-kind dining experiences at each of our Sodexo Conferencing Properties. We offer world class cuisine that is hand crafted by award winning chefs at each of our properties. Our chefs prepare breakfast, lunch, and catered dinners that will leave your guests with a remarkable experience unlike any other venue. Learn more about our chefs and their signature dishes by visiting our Dining page.

Make your awards banquet memorable. Here are a few ideas to make a lasting impression on the honorees of your event.

1) Slide Show.

Incorporate pictures of the people being honored. Show pictures of them in action doing the activity that has earned them the award.

2) Location.

Choose a location that is centrally located to where the award winners volunteer, serve, or perform. This will ensure a large attendance from both those wanting to honor the award winner(s) as well as team mates or family members of the honoree. Choose a location that is large enough to accommodate the banquet tables in addition to a stage for the presentation.

3) Photo Worthy Event.

From the decor at the entrance to the stage, incorporate items that are cohesive with the school or organization for the honorees. This could happen in the form of school colors, brand colors of a company, or a signature color that represents the mission of the organization that the award winners spent hours serving.