Special conferences rates from QMH
QMH UK Limited operate 18 hotels in the UK including 12 Holiday Inn, 3 Crowne Plaza and 3 Best Western hotels, so whatever you’re looking for you can be rest assured that you will find what you need with a QMH hotel. Our hotels always offer an unique experience whether you are staying on business or leisure. You will find contemporary and comfortable bedrooms, a superb choice of dining options, first class conference meeting and event rooms and health and fitness facilities throughout our hotels.
QMH are delighted to offer Venue Plus special rates over the summer period, with DDR rates from £29 and 24hour rates from £99.
Contact David and the team at Venue Plus for more details and to make a booking – 0844 567 6405
Summer conference venues & event offers
The Belfry Hotel in Sutton Coldfield has provided us with special conference rates for meetings and events if booked before 23rd July 2010 – So hurry!
Any bookings confirmed before then will be applicable until 31st December, subject to availability and the rates are:
24 Hour Rate – £135.00 inc vat
Day Delegate Rate – £35.00 inc vat
We realise it is now the summer holiday season, but the world cup has now finished and it is time to start planning ahead and take advantage of some great offers in the conference market place. So if you are planning any events whether a sales conference, training courses, product launch or social event, then let us know and we will do the venue research for free.
Volcanic Ash affects events
I have just read that the airspace lockdowns triggered by volcanic ash from Iceland led to the cancellation or deferment of two thirds of events planned during the affected days.
So why go abroad to talk? This is made even worse by the strike at British Airways – So what is wrong with GB Ltd?
We will sort out any event or conference for you in this country and it is FREE and you won’t need travel insurance either.
So give us a call and we will do the venue finding – No hassle, No fee!
Christmas Parties
Now is the time to start planning and talking about your staff Christmas Party – How about getting a budget sorted out now and reward your staff and clients with a real night out and it won’t cost and arm and a leg – In fact it is a good investment – you might find your staff are willing to pitch in as well!
Team Building Events
I have found a great company that organises Team Building Events based in Chester called Your Great Escape. They specialise in many activities one of which is abseiling down the walls of Peckforton Castle or you may prefer to do something a little different like Duck Herding or Falconry or Shooting with the magnificent view of Beeston Castle in the background. They also do other thought prevoking activities which are excellent for team building perhaps after a conference or meeting.
Call 01948 667897 or email info@yourgreatescape.co.uk for details.
Election Fever
Whoever wins the election, lets hope that they sort out the economy, so that we can all get on with our business.
We all need to explore the best way to fully utilise our resources – The most important one being human resources and as such we need to encourage them to perform through example and training.
A company has recently come to us to organise a series of training courses, as they in expansion mode, as such we have found venues from Brighton to Chester and managed to negotiate some great delegate rates all within their budget.
So don’t be put off by the election – call us to organise your events, meetings and conferences all free of charge, to motivate and train your staff and we will take the hasle out of event planning and venue finding.
How to complain
When you have had a bad experience at your conference or event, then don’t hesitate to tell the venue about it, preferably when you are there, not afterwards.
- Complain as soon as possible.
- Talk to the right person, the more senior the better – The Conference Manager or Event Organiser.
- Identify the problem clearly and show them what did or did not happen and what impact it had on the success of the event and the delegates.
- Explain what you want done to rectify the problem.
- Take notes of any meetings or discussions with members of staff.
- Ask the venue how they are going to resolve the problem and what compensation they are going to offer.
- Make sure what has been agreed is carried out.
- Get all the details of who is in charge – The General Manager – Where Head Office is and when you will expect a reply to all the concerns raised.
At the same time give praise when praise is due………..
Have a good one.
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Just completed 2,050 Conferences and Events
Phew!! Having just reached the 2,050 threshold mark for the number of conferences and events Venue Plus has organised over the years – It is time for a little celebration – Right that’s enough, back to work!!
I have no idea how many delegates that represents – a bit daunting really and indeed how much our clients have spent with venues over that period – it must have helped the economy somewhere and indeed the taxman.
Anyway, everybody lets get going, keep your head down and lets get this country moving again, before depression sets in. All we need is some sunshine and soon.
So, if you need any free help on conference planning and organising your event, however large or small, then don’t call 118 118, but our number – 0844 567 6405.
Top Tips from Venue Plus for Cost Effective Conferences…
1. Greater opportunity to negotiate low prices and achieve added value – we are constantly given special rates.
2. Be flexible with your conference or meeting dates, as Mondays & Fridays are usually cheaper and easier to negotiate.
3. Plan ahead as far as possible, as there will be more venue options for you and a better delegate rate.
4. Look at the possible location for an event, as travelling time for your delegates is important and the further away the higher the travel cost, also a residential conference could become a day conference.
5. Look at your audio visual requirements – Do you really need all that kit to get your message across and why not use the inhouse supplier as already there and knows the conference rooms. I also find that if negotiations are tight, then I try and get AV equipment included – It all helps!
6. Look at all the extras – Do you need bottled water @ £5 a bottle, I think some venues are even producing their own bottle water. Also look at the wine list in more detail, as you would in a restaurant. What is wrong with the house wine – ask them if you can taste it before the event or dinner.
7. Do you need a three course lunch and then go through the grave yard session for your meeting – Why not try a smaller, lighter treat and ask the chef to produce something different & then talk about it, rather than the usual hot and cold buffet. Also reduce the confirmed numbers at the contract stage, otherwise you will be charged for no shows.
8. After the shortlist of venues has been provided and you don’t have time to inspect them, then call us and we will go through all the detail and visit the conference co-ordinators and advise you on their suitablity to your particular brief, so you can make the right decision to suit your objectives.
9. Use the internet or your website to promote your event – therefore use less paper and the telephone.
10. Call us and let us do what we are good at – Free venue finding, teambuilding activities, corporate events and conferences, event management…….
£150 Annual Tax Allowance
It’s not too late to organise your Christmas Party and as I have just read in the paper, businesses have an annual tax allowance of £150, which can be put against entertainment or basically looking after your staff.
So really you can’t loose and I don’t think everybody knows about this, as a client of ours has just cancelled their Christmas party, but still had to pay 45% of the costs, so really they lost out financially, but I do understand the internal politics of a company, redundancy issues etc.
Anyway, if you need help with your corporate event or party, then let us know.
