All About Venues

Venue /ˈvɛnjuː/ A venue is the place where something happens, especially an organized event such as a wedding, concert, conference, private party, or sports competition.

Choosing The Right Venue

Choosing the right venue for an event is crucial and here is why:

1. Atmosphere and Ambiance: The venue sets the tone for the entire event.
2. Capacity and Amenities: Ensure the venue comfortably accommodates the expected number of guests and offers necessary facilities.
3. Location: Consider accessibility for attendees and proximity to transport hubs.
4. Image and Branding: The venue reflects the event's image and can enhance its perceived quality.
5. Logistics and Layout: A well-designed venue layout facilitates event activities.
6. Budget Consideration: Ensure the venue cost aligns with the event budget.
7. Technical Requirements: Choose a venue equipped with necessary technical capabilities.
8. Catering and Food Services: Consider the venue's catering options or policies regarding external vendors.
9. Event Regulations and Permits: Ensure the venue can accommodate necessary permits or regulations.
10. Flexibility and Support: Responsive venue staff can handle last-minute changes effectively.

Venue Types

A venue may be classified as indoor, outdoor, or a combination (indoor with an outdoor section); let's call this the venue 'category.' There are different types of venues to choose from:

• Ballrooms: Sometimes referred to as Event Halls, ballrooms are spacious, elegant rooms are ideal for grand events like weddings, galas, and formal gatherings. They often have high ceilings and grand décor. Many ballrooms are provided as an "empty canvas" for customers to style and customize to their liking.
• Restaurants and Bars: Intimate settings suitable for smaller events like cocktail parties, birthday celebrations, or corporate dinners. Some upscale restaurants offer private dining rooms for events.
• Outdoor Venues: Gardens, parks, rooftops, and beaches provide natural or scenic settings for weddings, parties, and outdoor events, offering a unique ambiance. It goes without saying, that outdoor venues are weather-dependent and require careful planning. Moreover, special permissions are needed from the municipality to organize events in public spaces, like parks. Expect many restrictions.



The Lawn Outdoor Venue, Address Beach Resort

• Art Galleries and Museums: Unique venues that provide a cultural backdrop for events like receptions, product launches, or themed parties.
• Theaters and Auditoriums: Ideal for performances, lectures, film screenings, and presentations, these venues usually have tiered seating and audio-visual equipment.
• Stadiums and Arenas: Used for sporting events, concerts, and large-scale entertainment, these venues offer seating for thousands and often have premium suites for VIP experiences.
• Conference and Exhibition Centers: Large-scale venues designed to host trade shows, conventions, exhibitions, and large conferences. They offer expansive spaces and facilities to accommodate a significant number of attendees.



Conference and Exhibition, Grand Hyatt

• Cruise Ships and Yachts: Perfect for exclusive events, parties, and weddings, offering a unique experience on water with varying capacities and amenities.
• Villas: Many upscale villas are made available by their owners for private events. The event may be held inside, outside (garden), or both. Although some villas are large, events held in a private villa are typically small.
• Hotel Suites: Some hotels allow small scale events to be held in their suites. This is different from just booking the suite; you would need to rent as an event venue.
• Islands: Yes, you can rent an entire island for your event. Islands vary in size, setup, and rental conditions. The logistics associated with hosting an event on an island can be quite challenging.
• Other: Other types of venues include meeting rooms, boardrooms, warehouses, historic and cultural sites, golf courses, and sport clubs.

The Space Venue, Dubai

Venue Capacity & Layout

The venue Capacity (sometimes seating capacity), refers to the number of people who can be seated (or accomodated) in a venue. The capacity depends on the event function and the venue layout or setup. The following are the most common venues layouts:

• Banquet: Generally used for meals and sessions involving small group discussions. A 5^ft round table seats eight people comfortably. A 6^ft round table seats 10 people comfortably.
• Reception: A reception, or 'cocktail' setup is a stand-up social function where beverages and light foods are served. Foods may be presented on small buffet tables or passed by servers. A reception may precede a banquet or a dinner.
• Theater: Appropriate for large sessions and short lectures that do not require extensive note-taking. This is a convenient setup to use before breaking into discussion or role-playing groups because chairs can be moved.
• Classroom: The most desirable setup for medium to large-size lectures. Requires a relatively large room. Tables provide attendees with space for spreading out materials and taking notes.
• H-Shape (Hollow Square): Appropriate for interactive discussions and note-taking sessions for fewer than 25 people. Many hotels have elegant boardrooms for 10 to 20 people, equipped with full audiovisual capabilities, a writing board, cork board and a flip chart.
• U-Shape: Appropriate for smaller groups (usually less than 40 people). These are best for interaction with a leader seated at the head of the setup. Audiovisual is usually best set up at the open end of the seating.