There are all sorts of things you need to consider when planning an event. Everything from the guest list and itinerary to the location and logistics needs to be looked at in detail, and plans need to be put in place as soon as possible to ensure everything runs smoothly.
When planning a corporate event you have to be especially meticulous with your plans because you will need to coordinate the needs of the business as well as the event and all that’s involved. With so much to think about it is best to get the essentials out of the way as quickly and efficiently as possible.
After you have defined the objectives of the event you will need to choose what type of event meets those objectives, be it a structured team building eventor a more relaxed family fun day. Once these things are decided and the date, time and general location have been confirmed you need to select a venue.
There are all sorts of venues available, with something to suit every purpose, but the venue you ultimately choose will be subject to certain deciding factors such as; whether it works with your budget, whether it holds the number of people you need it to and whether it creates the right impression and atmosphere for the event.
Of course, all this can seem a little overwhelming because finding the right venue is a big responsibility and an important decision. To give you hand with this important decision, here are three of the best Irish venues for corporate fun days and team building sessions.
Lough Erne Golf Resort, Fermanagh
Surrounded by all the natural beauty of the Emerald Isle, Lough Erne Golf Resort is a stunning yet whimsical addition to Northern Ireland’s landscape. The resort’s architecture is reminiscent of a fairy tale castle, but don’t be fooled – it is a state of the art modern venue with all the mod cons and facilities you could need for an event. In fact, the resort is so world-class it was even used to host the 2013 G8 Summit.
The resort is ideal for all sorts of indoor team building activities, with a variety of different rooms offering something for everyone. Whether you need somewhere cosy for a close-knit team building session or a large-scale corporate event with all the bells and whistles, there will be more than enough choice thanks to the 6 conference rooms and 600 acre peninsula Lough Erne offers. The event rooms can hold between 12 and 400 people whilst the vast outdoor area is perfect for outdoor pursuits and events.
Specifically for business events the resort provides excellent services and facilities such as parking, complimentary Wi-Fi, a business centre and full use of AV equipment and resort facilities. So if you want a venue that has a certain “wow” factor and purposefully caters to business events, the Lough Erne Golf Resort is the venue for you. See more information here.
Hastings SlieveDonard Resort, Belfast
The SlieveDonard Resort is one of Northern Ireland’s most popular residential conference venues, thanks to its scenic setting in the Mountains of Mourne and its convenient proximity to Belfast which is only 30 miles away.
The hotel itself is set in a six acre private estate which also houses one of the world’s best golf courses and sits just a stone’s throw away from the beach. The Victorian building has been well looked after and has finishing touches, like the wrought iron border fence, that complete the nostalgic look and feel of the place.
There’s plenty to do at the SlieveDonard, with golfing, fishing, horse riding, trekking and a whole host of other outdoor activities on offer. Of course, if you prefer the great indoors you can make the most of the spa and find a quiet corner of your own in this sprawling hotel.
As for events, the 16 conferencing and banqueting suites offer plenty of room and variety for any kind of event. Whilst all the rooms are flexible enough to suit any purpose, the Grand Ballroom is by far the crown jewel of this venue. Self-contained and able to accommodate 825 people, it is a magnificent place to hold an event. There is also a purpose-built, ten room Centenary Conference Centre at the resort which offers a private location for your corporate event, as well as a range of state-of-the-art facilities.
With so many conferencing rooms, banqueting halls and a ballroom, not to mention acres of outdoor space and high quality facilities, the SlieveDonard Resort is the ideal venue for corporate events in Northern Ireland. To see more on the resort, click here.
Hastings Stormont Hotel, Belfast
With superior business facilities and services and a superb location, the Stormont Hotel near Belfast is one of the best known and most popular venues for events of all kinds.
Clean, contemporary and luxurious in its design the hotel looks impressive against its backdrop of suburban Belfast and its location adjacent to both Stormont Castle and Stormont Estate makes the Stormont Hotel an attractive location for events of all shapes and sizes.
The hotel is also an incredibly convenient venue thanks to isits excellent transport links. Not only is it three miles from Belfast city centre and Belfast airport, it is also just fifteen minutes from Belfast Port and Central Railway Station which makes it a hugely accessible venue without restricting you to city centre locations.
The Stormont boasts sixteen conferencing rooms and banqueting suites including the purpose-designed Confex Meeting and Exhibition Centre. All of the rooms are state of the art and their flexible designs ensure they will attend to you, whatever your requirement.
So if you are planning a corporate event and looking for a hotel that is an experienced events venue offering everything from a ballroom to a cosy meeting room, the Stormont Hotel is the ideal venue for you. Find out more about the Stormont Hotel here.
Of course, these are just three of Northern Ireland’s top event venues. If you feel you need to look around more then rest assured there are plenty more on offer. Alternatively, if you feel you would benefit from a bit of guidance then enlist the services of a professional events management company who will be able to share their experience and their venue portfolios with you. Once you have a venue in mind, you will be surprised how quickly the rest of the event comes together.