subject: The Difference Between A Conference Centre And Venue [print this page] There is often a bit of confusion with regards to the difference between a conference centre and a conference venue. Some people think that they are one and the same thing, but they are not. There are a few distinct differences. This article is going to take a look at them.
The biggest differences are in the size of the facility and what the facility is dedicated to. A conference centre will have a lot more available for use in conferences. There will be more rooms and the facility will be able to host a number of conferences at one time. The entire place will be dedicated solely to the running of conferences. A conference venue can be a small room at a boutique spa or a guest lodge that can be used for conferences. The facility will not be dedicated to hosting conferences though, there will be other facilities available at the venue. There might be a restaurant or hotel rooms or a health spa of some kind.
These two things make big difference to the kind of conference that can be held at each location. It is more typical for business conferences that need to be able to accommodate large numbers of delegates to be held at conference centres. The rooms are typically larger and they will have sound systems in them capable of reaching the far corners of the room with large screens for presentations and possibly even a small stage of some kind. If the conference is designed to be small and intimate and possibly slightly more informal then the location of choice will generally be a conference venue of some kind.
Another deciding factor might be the need for accommodation for the guests. It is not typical for conference centres to have rooms to rent. This means that the guests will have to find accommodation elsewhere which can be a real bother. Since a conference venue will typically be at a hotel of guest lodge of some kind it is a lot easier to accommodate guests who arrive for a conference that will last longer than a single day.
There are a lot of things that you will need to consider when you arrange a conference, not least of which is where to host it. You will need to keep these differences in mind when you look at the various venue options open to you. It is never a good idea to put guests to your conference out. The more needs you can fulfil in a single venue the better. If you do not need accommodation but need a lot of seating room then a room at a conference centre is likely the best idea. If the guest list is smaller and you need to accommodate the guests for a day or two then you will want to make use of a conference venue.
There are significant differences between a conference venue and a conference centre. Make sure that you choose the right one when you next arrange a conference.
