In the past, meeting spaces in academic venues were often overlooked by planners. Well, not anymore. commercially savvy academic venues have invested millions to hold their own in a competitive marketplace. Planners are now increasingly using these esteemed settings to curate exceptional meeting experiences.
What is an Academic Venue?
An academic venue is a conference location that plays a vital role in educating and inspiring delegates from a wide variety institutions. Types of academic venues include:
- Campus located residential and non-residential conference venues
- City located non-residential conference venues
- Venue facilities located in places of historical, scientific and cultural importance
Conference venues aligned to universities currently steal the crown for the most popular meeting locations for corporate clients. This is largely due to their sizeable campuses and diverse meeting spaces that can cater for both small, intimate events or large-scale events.
The Slate building at Warwick Conferences. Warwick Conferences was recently awarded silver for Best Academic Venue at the 2019 M&IT Awards.
Why Choose an Academic Venue?
Universities invest heavily in their amenities to ensure they attract (and keep) new students. Corporate clients can rest assured their guests will experience top-notch facilities in inspiring campus surroundings.
With endless options at planners’ fingertips, let’s explore the 9 key reasons why academic venues are proving so popular:
1. Prestige
Well-respected academic institutions harness considerable prestige. This often appeals to planners looking attract a high calibre clientele to their conferences.
UCLA Meyer and Renee Luskin Conference Center located at the center of the UCLA campus offers state-of-the-art facilities.
2. Location and accessibility
Academic venues are centrally located and provide vibrant campus settings — often featuring, meeting spots, flower gardens and water features.
- Largely situated on or near to university campuses, academic venues are well served by frequent public transport and shuttle buses to local amenities.
- Academic venues are usually surrounded by rich history including museums, artworks and sculptures. Guests can absorb this culture at their leisure.
- Rural locations often provide outdoor activities and much needed peace and solitude.
Royce Hall – UCLA’s best known landmark.
The Zen Deck at UCLA’s Lake Arrowhead Conference Center.
“The campus vibe brings great energy and enthusiasm to any meeting environment.”
– Nancy Lindemer, IACC’s President of the Americas
3. Superior learning environments
Academic venues can heighten interaction and audience engagement.
Here’s how:
- They help to spark creativity and increase dialogue between attendees due to their world-class approach to learning and innovation.
- Guests can benefit from the creative powers of some of the industry’s brightest minds and leading research studies.
- University lecturers are regularly hired as highly skilled, results-driven meeting facilitators.
“Large corporations often work with our lecturers and students on real-life research and case studies. Companies looking to up skill their employees approach us to create bespoke programs to develop their employees.”
– Issy de Castro, MGSM’s Hotel & Campus Manager at Sydney’s Macquarie University
Image courtesy of Pixabay.
4. Diverse meeting spaces
Many commercial venues can’t compete with the distraction-free and unique learning inspired settings provided by academic venues. Whether a conference is for 50 or 1,500 people, academic venues can flex accordingly.
Conference Park at the University of Warwick encourages planners to build their “ideal event” with a range of tailor-made, electric meeting spaces.
- Adaptable meeting spaces at academic venues include:
- State-of the-art auditoriums and lecture halls.
- Creatively designed meeting spaces with lounge-style furnishings.
- Energising breakout areas abounding in natural light and colour.
- Sumptuous banqueting halls.
A dedicated learning space at Sydney’s MGSM Executive Conference Centre at Macquarie University.
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A lecture theatre with the wow factor in the Oculus building – Warwick Conferences.
5. State-of-the art-technology
Planners and guests alike (especially millennials) now expect cutting-edge technology as standard. Used to catering for tech-savvy students, academic venues provide the very latest technology solutions including superior AV equipment and innovative touch screen devices.
IT support is readily available to avoid any glitches and provide planners with peace of mind.
AT&T Hotel and Conference Center at the University of Texas provides the very latest in communications and technology, including wireless access in all meeting spaces.
6. Exceptional catering
Universities attract many overseas students with various dietary needs. Therefore, menus at academic venues feature multiple options including gluten-free, dairy-free and vegetarian dishes.
You can choose from a vast array of dining areas. From formal dinners in banqueting suites to alfresco lunches on terraces and buffet-style “food stations”, there are op-tions to suit planners’ every need.
The Thomas Executive Conference Center on Duke University’s campus in North Carolina provides many culinary delights — from French toast and homemade grano-la for breakfast, to bourbon braised beef and lobster for dinner.
“The fact that the meeting planner isn’t saddled with making menu selections is the icing on the cake!”
– Joel Grodensky, JB Duke Hotel at the Thomas Executive Conference Center (Duke University, North Carolina)
JB Duke Hotel at the Thomas Executive Conference Center (Duke University, North Carolina) — one of the USA’s top campuses for its high quality dining options.
Al-fresco dining on the terrace — at UCLA’s campus.
The quality of catering at academic venues often rivals that of high-end restaurants (image courtesy of UCLA).
7. Quality accommodation
The standard of accommodation at many academic venues could rival that of bou-tique hotels. Outdated halls of residence have been revamped and stunning new accommodation built.
Conference venues in academic settings can provide accommodation to suit all budgets and needs. Options include:
- Luxurious executive-style guest rooms featuring all the mod-cons.
- Cleverly designed “micro” rooms within Halls of Residence – ideal when catering for many delegates.
- Unique chalet-style accommodation with wood-burning fireplaces, hot tubs and stunning views.
Just one of the 250 contemporary guest rooms offered by the Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Centre.
8. Access to recreational activities
University campuses often provide on-site access to a number of additional resources ranging from impressive libraries to state-of-the-art fitness and outdoor recreational centers to theater productions and museums.
- Beautiful campus grounds
- Extensive on-site recreational activities
- Free parking spaces
UCLA’s Lake Arrowhead Conference Center not only features a stunning setting, but beautiful outdoor recreational activities.
9. Corporate social responsibility
Choosing an academic venue also helps companies to give back. The revenue generated from conferences is often reinvested into education and research.
Recycling and waste-reducing measures are key elements of the IACC Green-star certification program, which provides guidance to member venues about sustainable practices. (Photo courtesy of Lacey Williams – Unsplash)
10. Cost effective
Academic venues provide exceptional value. Many offer all-inclusive packages, with no hidden costs, helping to simplify planners’ budgets and achieve better ROI.
Options include:
- Day rate deals covering room hire and buffet-style refreshments.
- Bespoke packages tailored to planners’ needs.
- All-inclusive packages including facilitated learning sessions, accommodation, meals and transport.
With the multitude of benefits that academic venues offer, it’s clear why they’re proving to be highly sought-after conference locations.
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