Adults learn differently than children. Our learning environment should include ergonomic chairs, excellent lighting, peaceful tranquility and a variety of healthy food and beverages throughout the day to keep our blood sugar steady and brains alert.
So it’s important that you keep this in mind when planning an educational focused event. Pay close attention to how different properties, be it a hotel or a conference center, cater to the specific needs of your adult learner attendees.
And what are those key differences between the learning environments in a hotel verses a conference center you might be asking? Well…
Have you ever attended or hosted a meeting at a lovely hotel where a family is also enjoying their vacation . . . with their screaming toddler in the lobby?
Have you ever been asked to quickly wrap up your meeting because the hotel needs to “flip” the room for a party/charity event/wedding that evening?
Or vice versa, have you noticed the confetti stuck in the carpet of your meeting room left over from the night before.
Hey, we love adorable toddlers, charity events, weddings and a great party (rock on!) but sometimes you really need to just focus and make the most of limited face-to-face time. This is why conference centers were created. When your company has some serious training to conduct, a meeting full of intense content or an agenda that requires flawless state of the art audio visual like teleconferencing, you could consider a conference center venue.
Luckily, the Triangle boasts three fantastic options:
The R. David Thomas Executive Conference Center
R. David Thomas Executive Conference Center at Duke University Fuqua School of Business
Rizzo Conference Center at University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School
North Carolina Biotechnology Center Hamner Conference Center
North Carolina Biotechnology Center Hamner Conference Center – Board 0f Directors Room
Why so many concentrated in such a small area? Conference centers are often found near universities due to the intense meetings they attract: technology, scientific, medical or MBA training.
The International Association of Conference Centers sets high standards for certified conference centers which you can read in detail here. But in a nutshell, these conference centers typically sell what is called an all-inclusive “Complete Meeting Package”. Instead of a hotel charging a meeting room rental, audio visual, breakfast, am/pm breaks, lunch, and dinner – a conference center is set up to offer all of this plus a business center and personal conference coordinator for one flat rate per person.
A typical continuous break service included in the complete meeting package includes water, tea, juice, soda, coffee, fresh fruit and healthy snacks.
A great meeting needs all these things so instead of a meeting planner crossing their fingers that the speaker doesn’t need additional AV which blows the budget and the attendees don’t drink too many sodas on consumption, the atmosphere is streamlined and focused on the meeting’s strategic objectives being met.
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Looking for additional meeting planning inspiration? In addition to our comprehensive meetings management services, Sterling Events Group can support you with airport meet and greets/ground transfers, on-site registration management and desk staff, unique spouse tours and locally inspired group activities, plus group luncheon and dinner management. Contact us today to learn more!