--- title: How to Choose the Right Conference Venue description: Discover essential factors to evaluate when selecting a conference venue, from cost and location to facilities and delegate comfort. image: https://www.exordo.com/hubfs/New%20Image%20Batches/conference-venue-auditorium-seating.webp --- [Ex Ordo](https://www.exordo.com/) - Product - #### [Review Our abstract management software is built for painless peer review.](https://www.exordo.com/product/peer-review-software) - #### [Register We designed our registration system for research conferences, not rock concerts.](https://www.exordo.com/product/conference-registration) - #### [Virtual Gather your tribe with a virtual or hybrid conference that's designed for discovery.](https://www.exordo.com/product/virtual-conference-platform) We've built the best software in the world for [managing a research conference](https://www.exordo.com/product/conference-management) - Customers - #### [WDA Case Study How Wildlife Disease Association built a long-term partnership with Ex Ordo.](https://www.exordo.com/case-study/wildlife-disease-association) - #### [ASEM Case Study How the American Society for Engineering Management moved to a hybrid format.](https://www.exordo.com/case-study/american-society-for-engineering-management) - #### [Customer Stories We understand the value of a second opinion. 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Use these 10 questions to help you whittle down your options. Organising a successful scholarly event or conference requires meticulous planning and a well-coordinated effort from organising teams. Conference organisers are tasked with numerous responsibilities, from scheduling speakers to managing event logistics, but one of the most crucial decisions they make is selecting the perfect venue. The conference venue not only sets the tone for the event but also plays a vital role in ensuring that everything runs smoothly, from accessibility for attendees to accommodating technology and catering needs. Scholarly events, in particular, require venues that can handle unique requirements like breakout rooms for specialised sessions, technological capabilities for virtual presentations, and accessibility to accommodate international and local attendees. Choosing a conference venue can make or break the conference experience. A well-chosen venue enhances networking opportunities, ensures comfort, and creates a professional atmosphere that reflects the academic rigour of the event. Conference organisers often work closely with venue managers to ensure that all logistical details are covered, from providing suitable spaces for keynote speeches and panel discussions to ensuring ample accommodation and dining options for attendees. These teams are also responsible for balancing the budget constraints of the event with the venue’s offerings, which can often be a delicate negotiation process. When you’re choosing a conference venue, a checklist can help you wade through the options out there. We all know that finding the right venue for your conference can make all the difference especially with it being one of your [key costs](https://www.exordo.com/budget-template). Ask the following 10 questions on your venue visits to make sure you haven’t missed anything important. ### 1. How accessible is the location? Your delegates should be able to reach the location with as little fuss as possible – whether they’re coming by air, rail or car. If your delegate base is international, make sure the venue is located within easy reach of airports.  If you’re organising a multi-day conference, it’s also a good idea to [check if there are restaurants](https://www.tripadvisor.ie/), cafes and bars nearby where your delegates can network pre- or post-conference. You should also confirm whether there is ample parking available at the venue for any delegates who are driving.  If you’re using a [conference mobile app](https://www.exordo.com/product/mobile-conference-app) try one with an intuitive map that will help guide delegates around your venue.  ### **2. How accessible is the conference venue?** Don’t be won over by looks alone. For example, a historic building may have atmosphere aplenty, but if it hasn’t been adapted for [accessibility](https://www.exordo.com/blog/accessible-conference-design-10-things-to-consider/), you’ll be leaving some delegates high and dry. Make sure the venue is fully accessible and has [induction loop facilities](https://www.ampetronic.com/info-centre/hearing-loop-basics/) for delegates with hearing impairments.  It’s important to know who your delegates are, have a chat with previous [conference organisers](https://www.exordo.com/blog/organising-conference-tips/) and find out the needs and wants that delegates had in previous years. And take time to reach out to organisers of events previously held in your venue of choice. They can give you a sense of any difficulties delegates might have with the accessibility of the conference venue.  ### **3. What’s the venue set up like?** Rooms must be suitable for your numbers and needs – and have a bit of flex to boot. Check how much flexibility there is on numbers, and what the maximum capacity of each room is. And ask whether you can use [breakout spaces](https://www.exordo.com/blog/examples-of-conference-breakout-sessions/) and if there’s a quiet space where delegates can have some downtime.  Consider the decor of the venue? If you’re organising a gala dinner, should you source a different venue for it? If the ambience within the venue doesn’t match your [desired approach](https://holidappy.com/party-planning/theme-ideas-for-a-gala-dinner-event), you’ll be creating more work decorating it.  ### **4. What accommodation is available?** If the conference venue offers [accommodation for your delegates](https://congrex.com/destination-management/5-tips-how-to-organise-conference-accommodation-across-the-globe/), check what’s available and at what rates. Does your venue does provide lodging? Feature them as an official partner for the event and negotiate a special rate for delegates.  If the venue doesn’t provide accommodation on site, see if there’s a suitable hotel nearby. When there is no conference venue within walking distance, organise a shuttle bus service with the hotel. Ideally, you would find a hotel with suitable lodging and the capabilities needed for the conference space. [![Download our guide: The No-Panic Guide to Organising Successful Scholarly Events](https://www.exordo.com/hs-fs/hubfs/New%20Image%20Batches/no-panic-guide-scholarly-events-banner.webp?width=588&height=309&name=no-panic-guide-scholarly-events-banner.webp)](https://www.exordo.com/no-panic-scholarly-event-guide) ### **5. What’s the cost? (And what are the hidden costs?)** OK, 2 questions here. When it comes to choosing a conference venue, cost is going to be one of the deciding factors. Everyone dreams of finding the perfect venue on the right dates at an affordable price, but it isn’t always the most realistic goal. When it comes to the overall cost, talk through what is and isn’t open to discussion – and be [prepared to negotiate.](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/blog/negotiate-deals-with-venues-ds00/)  Depending on the type of conference you’re organising, you could negotiate a multi-year deal with the venue. But as well as the cost of venue hire, look for hidden costs like charges for using outside suppliers, parking fees or wi-fi costs. And remember: read the fine print. From meeting delegates’ increasingly varied dietary requests, to covering fees for utilities like water and waste, there are whole categories of venue costs that can feel frustratingly hard to pin down.  And, because these hidden costs can vary – sometimes substantially – from one venue to the next, this makes it tricky to draw true comparisons between the venues on your conference shortlist. “When it comes to comparing venues, you’re trying to compare apples and pears,” says Holger Omlor, head of events at the [European Association for International Education](https://www.eaie.org/) (EAIE). Before joining the association, Holger spent a decade as a [professional conference organiser](https://www.exordo.com/blog/benefits-professional-conference-organiser/), where one returning task of his was comparing local venue costs. “When you get to know the venues, you know that this venue is making their money off the rentals, that venue is making their money off the AV, there it’s the rentals, and so on… There aren’t huge surprises.” But when you don’t have the advantage of detailed knowledge about each venue, it’s a different kettle of fish. ### **6. How are the lighting and acoustics?** Lighting and acoustics are often overlooked when it comes to choosing a conference venue, but they’ll have a huge impact on delegates’ experience. See if you can schedule your venue visit when an event with a similar setup to yours is taking place. This will give you an idea of the set-up capabilities. You’ll get to see the rooms in action, and you may get some ideas for setup too. Ensure these are organised in time in order for your conference to run as seamlessly as possible.  ### **7. What incentives will the venue throw in?** Discounted rates on delegate rooms? Complimentary accommodation for members of your organizing committee? Talk through what incentives the venue can offer to secure your business. And check if they’ll be willing to throw in an extra service if your costs reach a certain amount.  Small perks like an airport shuttle or free coffee and tea can add up to big savings for your organising committee. And if you’re flexible on dates you can use that to negotiate a deal, perhaps the conference venue has dates it needs to fill and they’ll offer you a discount or incentive to take them.  ### **8. What else is going on at the venue?** Ask about what else will be going on at the venue during the dates you’re [looking to book.](https://www.speakerscorner.co.uk/blog/seven-tips-for-booking-an-event-venue) This will impact how busy the common areas are, and may have an effect on where you can display sponsor or [conference branding.](https://www.exordo.com/blog/our-conference-branding-picks-for-2018/) The theme needed in a large venue for a wedding is very different than that needed for a conference. Make sure to get a floor plan of the venue, walk through it and ensure your branding is clear in the venue. This will help your delegates stay on the right track and not get lost in your venue.   ### **9. What facilities do they offer?** Prepare a checklist of the facilities you need (like AV, stages, microphones etc), and see which the venue can offer. And check if they’ll have a technician on hand to support you throughout the event. Does the venue have a method for collecting on-the-day feedback or are you better using a [mobile app](https://www.exordo.com/blog/guide-to-mobile-conference-apps/) to do this?  It’s also important to ensure that your venue provides a set-up and clean-up crew otherwise you may need to organise a team to take care of this. It’s necessary to get an understanding of the staffing available too, is there enough waiting staff, concierge support and security provided? Make sure the venue has appropriate facilities for any sponsor areas or exhibition halls for outside vendors. Don’t forget to check if they [offer Wi-Fi](https://smallbiztrends.com/2017/07/wifi-for-events-and-conferences.html) and if there are enough phone charging stations.  ### **10. How does the conference catering work?** Not all venues can match the preferences of your guests, so whether you go with a caterer or not, make sure they can accommodate food allergies and restricted diets. Are there vegan and vegetarian meal choices on the menu? What about last-minute delegate requests? Talk through whether the venue has a minimum food and beverage spend, and whether they’ll charge by person or by what you order. And what happens if you spend less than the minimum spend? It’s also worth discussing what happens if your delegate numbers change significantly closer to the date.  ### Download No Panic Guide to Organising Scholarly Events ## Read more articles ### [![Uncovering hidden venue costs](https://www.exordo.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/hidden-venue-costs-1.jpg?width=1200&height=800&name=hidden-venue-costs-1.jpg) Uncovering hidden venue costs](https://www.exordo.com/blog/uncovering-hidden-venue-costs) 05 August 2024 With all the hidden venue costs out there, calculating the real price in advance isn’t easy. But one association is managing to do just this. [![Avatar of Dee McCurry](https://www.exordo.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Dee%20-%20Grey-1.jpg?width=24&height=24&name=Dee%20-%20Grey-1.jpg) Dee McCurry](https://www.exordo.com/blog/author/dee-mccurry) 5 mins read ### [![Craft Effective Conference Sponsorship Packages](https://www.exordo.com/hs-fs/hubfs/New%20Image%20Batches/speaker-addressing-large-conference-audience.webp?width=1200&height=800&name=speaker-addressing-large-conference-audience.webp) Craft Effective Conference Sponsorship Packages](https://www.exordo.com/blog/conference-sponsorship-packages-101) 07 October 2025 What every conference sponsorship package needs, plus 10 package ideas to offer sponsors and bring in more support for your event. [Conference Organising](https://www.exordo.com/blog/tag/conference-organising) [![Avatar of Brian Campbell](https://www.exordo.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Brian-Headshot%20(2).jpg?width=24&height=24&name=Brian-Headshot%20(2).jpg) Brian Campbell](https://www.exordo.com/blog/author/brian-campbell) 5 mins read ### [![Hybrid Conference: Pros & Cons Explained](https://www.exordo.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Brand%20imagery/Virtual%20event%20planning%20(1).jpg?width=1200&height=800&name=Virtual%20event%20planning%20(1).jpg) Hybrid Conference: Pros & Cons Explained](https://www.exordo.com/blog/pros-and-cons-hybrid-conference) 25 February 2026 Is a hybrid conference right for you? Learn key pros & cons, budgeting tips, and success factors before planning your next event—read the guide. 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