Top Tips for Holding A Successful Conference – Weetwood Hall Hotel
At some stage in our career most of us will have had to attend a conference or worst still, hold one.
And the thought of holding a conference in front of business colleagues can be a daunting task, especially if the previous ones you have been to have been pretty dull and unprepared.
Well fret no further, as we at Weetwood Hall Leeds Hotel have come up with some top tips to help you deal with the pressures of a conference, and how we can help you in making sure that yours is a successful one.
1. Plan Early and consider your guests
It is a good idea to set a date and a place for a large conference about a year in advance as hotels, conference centres, halls etc are booked out on a regular basis for weddings, functions and other conferences, which may often leave you in the lurch in finding a place to stay.
On top of this, if you have guests travelling from afar, make sure that you choose a conference centre close by to a hotel, or better still choose a conference centre which has hotel rooms too.
At Weetwood Hall Hotel in Leeds they have the largest and most flexible conference centre and hotel in the North of England. There are 106 en-suite bedrooms, 14 of which are located in the original Manor House.
Amenities include, Satellite/Freeview flat-screen televisions with 19 TV/radio channels including Sky Sports and two sub-titled channels, direct dial telephone, work desk, trouser press and iron, hairdryer and beverage tray with mineral water and chocolate.
At Weetwood accommodation in Leeds there is a dedicated team who will help you book your conference room accommodating to suit all your needs and requirements.
2. Set a theme for the conference
Start promoting your theme from the beginning. Include it on the registration forms. Mention it in all the confirmation letters. This will set a sense of excitement for the conference and set the tone for the rest of the day.
At Weetwood Hall, the team are offering fresh summer incentives to spice up your conference. You can choose one of their summer themes to ‘warm up’ the atmosphere at your conference.
On offer they have, Croquet on the glade with a summer punch drink, ice lollies, barbeques or an oriental buffet on offer for you and your guests.
3. Plan a variety of events
People learn and work in different ways and participants may get more out of a conference if you tailor their experience to their own needs. Plan lecture sessions, discussions, workshops and social events. Be sure to allow the guests’ time to relax throughout the day.
At Weetwood there are five self-serve refreshment breakout areas one of which is dedicated to Fair Trade along with complimentary Internet/E-mail stations. Wireless broadband and ADSL is also available throughout.
4. Ensure that all your technical equipment is ready to go
You will want to do an audio and visual run through the night before the conference. Make sure that all of the microphones, computers and other devices are functioning. Have backup systems available. There should be technical support people on site to repair any problems.
At Weetwood Hall all of the conference and syndicate rooms have ADSL broadband connectivity, telephones and flipcharts as standard. The Lawnswood, Headingley, Cookridge, Bramley and Kirkstall Suites all have an extensive range of in-built technical equipment including:
· Ceiling mounted data projector
· Wall mounted screen
· Lectern with laptop input
· Touch screen control
· DVD/VHS/CD player
· PA system (not required in Kirkstall)
· Hearing induction loop
· Voice enhanced microphones
· Wi-Fi
Conference rooms such as the "Wood" rooms and Office Syndicate also have data projectors, audio systems, screen and laptop input as standard.
Portable equipment includes:
· Data projectors
· Plasma screens
· Flipcharts
· TV/video units
· OHP
· White boards
· Screens
· 35mm projectors
· Video camera
· PA system
· Laptops
· Digital document scanner
· Video links
· Document camera
5. Prepare well for the conference
It is important that you spend plenty of time preparing and planning for your conference in order for it to be a success and keep your guests’ exciting and engrossed in what you are saying.
At Weetwood a dedicated ‘Trainers Room’ has been built for and organisers can relax, work and prepare for their presentations. The room includes a flip chart, PC, Internet access, Microsoft Office software, colour printer and a document shredder. The addition of lounge seating, television, refreshments and newspapers provides a place to relax as well as work.
6. Keep your guests entertained and raving about your conference
Get your guests raving about your conference and what a day you put on for them. Get creative and start thinking about what you could involve in their day to make it memorable and the talk of the town. At Weetwood Hall, Leeds, you and your guests can take part in a range of different activities such as Intimate Dinner Parties, Championship Golf Courses, Complimentary access to a health and fitness club, or The Manor House for a Private Event, all adding that little bit extra to your conference, Weetwood Hall is also a hotel near headingly stadium.
For further information on the conference facilities available at Weetwood Hall, or to book a meeting or conference room, contact the Conference and Events team on 0113 230 6000 or visit www.weetwood.co.uk
For further information and images please contact:
For further information contact:
Katja Pandza,
Sales & Marketing Executive
Tel direct line: 0113 388 5790 Katja.pandza@weetwood.co.uk
Notes to Editors:
- Set within 9 acres of parkland estate, Weetwood Hall is the largest and most flexible four-star conference centre and hotel in the North of England.
- The hotel offers 106 en-suite bedrooms, including 12 luxury Manor House bedrooms and 2 feature four poster bedrooms individually decorated to reflect the traditional style of the house.
- The venue boasts a dedicated conference centre with 18 primary conference rooms and 19 syndicate rooms, along with some of the most up to date technology available. The largest conference room can seat up to 200 people theatre style and 120 people cabaret style with the capability of a video link to another room seating 160 (theatre style).
- Conference Leeds is the official conference bureau for Leeds and West Yorkshire. Its remit includes Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield, Wakefield and Calderdale which covers 230 venues along with a multitude of meetings industry support companies.
Weetwood Hall – a place for team players
Part of the Weetwood estate includes the Weetwood Playing Fields which are also owned by the University of Leeds and have some of the most up to date sporting facilities in the region.
Peter Chubb, General Manager of Weetwood Hall hotel in Leeds says “the portfolio of sport and physical activity adds an exciting and innovative dimension to what is available at Weetwood Hall for teams, clubs, associations and sporting organisations”.
The location of the playing fields adjacent to leeds hotel Weetwood Hall is ideal as it provides the services of the hotel to unwind after strenuous exertion and the conference centre when you need to combine work in the classroom with training on the pitch, without any transport concerns.
Facilities include a county standard cricket pitch; the square is maintained by Yorkshire County Cricket Club, Tiger Turf and sand dressed hockey pitches, state of the art 3G artificial football pitch, county standard rugby pitch and over 100 acres available for an extensive range of sporting activity.
The Weetwood Playing Fields is home to England Hockey (North) and is also one of only six MCC Cricketing Centres of Excellence in England and Wales.
Dr. Sue Jacklin who is the Assistant Director of Sport & Physical Activity at the University of Leeds said “this partnership allows athletes and coaches to hone physical fitness, develop technical and tactical expertise, review strategy and have the opportunity to relax and unwind, all on one site”.
This may be of particular interest for clubs who have fixtures in Leeds, sporting associations who regularly meet and especially for performance excellence camps that are looking for combined residential and sporting facilities. Weetwood hall is also popular as a wedding venue in Leeds with its impressive 17th Century Manor House, refined decor and beautiful grounds is an ideal location to hold your wedding reception to make your special day perfect.
Ends
For further information contact:
Katja Pandza, Sales & Marketing Executive
Tel direct line: 0113 388 5790 Katja.pandza@weetwood.co.uk
Information for editors:
Weetwood Hall website www.weetwood.co.uk/sport
Picture 1: Weetwood Hall Conference Centre & Hotel
Picture 2: Weetwood playing field Cricket
Picture 3: Weetwood playing fields
Barton Grange Hotel Preston – Top tips to planning your perfect summer wedding
Planning your big day can often be a stressful and demanding time, with so much to pay out, book, arrange and organise. From inviting the guests, to choosing the dress, there is so much to think about that often small tasks can slip your mind and crop up just days before the big day.
To ensure that you have your checklist at hand, Barton Grange Hotel in Preston have come up with some top ten tips to make sure your wedding day runs smoothly and you have everything in place.
The award-winning Preston hotel have the staff and expertise in ensuring that your day is made special, from the flowers at the reception to the food on the table and know what hiccups can occur during a wedding day, and how to avoid them.
1. Finish the dress from top-to-toe
Make sure that you have your wedding dress steamed and pressed before the day, so you are not walking down the isle in a wrinkled dress. At the Barton Grange Hotel, you can leave your evening clothing (of you choose to get changed) in your beautiful luxury wedding bedroom suite, so you don’t have to worry about getting your belongings from A to B throughout the day.
2. Finalising the details of the ceremony.
Make sure that you finalise the details, including the church and venue and verify any last minute scheduling to ensure you get a good nights sleep before the big day. At Barton Grange Hotel, the wedding venue, Preston is also licensed for Wedding Ceremonies. If guests wish to marry at the hotel, they should contact the Ceremonies Officer in Preston, and give notice to the Superintendent Registrar of the District in which you live. The team at Barton Grange Hotel can create a beautiful setting for your ceremony in one of the luxury suites, with rooms accommodating for 30-300 people.
3. Choose your flowers
Meet with your florist to discuss the colours of your flowers making sure that you match them to your theme or colour scheme. A good tip is to give her a swatch of the fabric to match the colour of the linens, decorations or dresses. At Barton Grange Hotel you can make use of our wedding services such as our chair covers from £3.75 per chair, as well as floral vases from £15 per vase.
4. Arrive at your wedding in style
Make sure that you and your partner arrive at the wedding reception in style and allow Barton Grange Hotel to do the hard work for you. Walk down the red carpet on arrival, and add those little treats to welcome your guests such as a champagne reception and our staff on call ready to direct your guests to the main room.
5. Feast like a king and queen
Filling up your guests is the trick to a fun-filled happy ceremony. And the chefs at Barton Grange cook an impressive range of menus and always receive glowing compliments. And you can personalise your celebrations to suit your guests. Whether you want a carvery buffet to die for, pie and peas all round or our usual silver service, Barton Grange Hotel can offer a wide range of menus to cater for your needs and requirements.
6. Finish it off with your personal touches
Dressing the venue is a personal part of the wedding, and your finishing touches count. At Barton Grange Hotel, we have two banqueting rooms, meticulously dressed with fine table linens, alongside your own personal touches to create a truly impressive setting. Whether you are looking for a more intimate celebration in The Grange Room or a larger Wedding banquet in the Barton Suite, our approach is always to give you a good wedding celebration that is delivered with warmth, genuine friendliness and good humour.
7. Sleep soundly after your romantic day
After the day is over, and your guests retire to bed, make sure that they book their accommodation at the Preston hotel. The recent refurbishments at the hotel create an irresistible blend of warmth, and stylish contemporary look, retaining its traditional charm. Special accommodation rates are given for guests staying at the wedding venue Preston and if you celebrate your wedding at the Barton Grange Hotel, the bride and groom will stay in the Executive Room on the night of your wedding.
Notes to Editors
Barton Grange was built in 1900, as a country residence for Mr. John Healey, a Justice of the Peace and local cotton mill owner.
In 1925 Levi Collison, described in the deeds as “a country gentleman from St. Annes on Sea”, purchased the house. He was still living here in 1940 when the house was requisitioned by the War Office as a mess for officers of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force. Several years ago a guest staying in the hotel explained that he had been the requisitioning officer and that Mr. Collison had chased him away with a shotgun and he had to return with a police officer!
In 1945 Edward and Ada Topping were running a market gardening business in New Longton, west of Preston. Ada was looking for a large house to run as a bed and breakfast whilst Edward continued market gardening from the grounds. Barton Grange appeared to be tailor-made and they successfully purchased it at auction for £6,450. Unfortunately it was not de-requisitioned until 1950, by which time “it was in a dreadful state”.
Nonetheless, Ada set about transforming it and opened for business on the 16th July 1951 with 6 bedrooms. Trade increased steadily, new bedrooms were added in the 1950s and ‘60s and the ballroom in 1960. Significant expansion in the 1970s added 30 more rooms and a new restaurant and bar. The latest major changes occurred in 1996/7 when the entire property was re-designed and refurbished.
During these works, plans from 1901 were discovered; for a Walled Garden to the south of the house. This garden was re-created in faithful detail, had a roof put on it and became The Walled Garden Bistro. The hotel now has 51 bedrooms, a leisure centre, 2 restaurants and conference and banqueting facilities for 300 but the original house is still at its heart. (You can see the lintel announcing “1900” as you enter this room - through the original front doors)
In 1958, Edward Topping Junior (“Eddie”), returning from his National Service, started Barton Grange Landscapes, operating from the grounds of Barton Grange. In the 1970s Eddie also established a wholesale plant growing division, supplying garden centres up and down the country. Both divisions, located in various places around the county, are still going strong, now under the direction of Eddie’s eldest son Peter.
In 1963 Eddie started the North West’s first garden centre in the grounds of the hotel. This too started out in a very small way, little more than a cabin, but it soon became well established and very widely known. In 1990 Eddie’s youngest son, Guy, returned from Australia to expand the garden centre division with a new centre in Bolton. In March 2008, having outgrown this site, Guy moved the garden centre here two miles north, straight up the A6 to Brock. It now occupies a fantastic, 50 acre site with the Lancaster Canal running around it and the River Brock running through it and includes a farm shop and narrow boat marina as well as Willows Restaurant and The Riverside Café. Eddie also ran the hotel for 20 years from his mother’s retirement in the mid 1970’s before handing over to his other little boy!
Striking gold – Weetwood Hall achieves esteemed accreditation
23rd April 2009
Weetwood Hall Hotel and Conference Centre is the first venue in the North of England to be awarded with the prestigious Gold accreditation from the Meetings Industry Association (MIA).
The Gold Accredited in Meetings (AIM) certification, which has been achieved with support from Conference Leeds symbolises the levels of service, the range of facilities and quality of the offer at Weetwood Hall and it was presented after a day of rigorous assessment focusing specifically on its facilities, services and processes earlier this year.
Peter Chubb, General Manager of Weetwood Hall is thrilled with the accreditation: ‘We are delighted that we have been awarded with the Gold accreditation from the MIA for our conference facilities. This is a fantastic achievement for Weetwood Hall which recognises the high standard of our wide-ranging services and facilities which businesses and organisations can expect from us.’
‘Weetwood Hall is not only the first venue hotel in Leeds and West Yorkshire to achieve this accreditation, but in the North of England putting us at the forefront of conferencing venues and destinations. My congratulations go out to everyone involved within the Weetwood Hall team’.
Nicola Lockwood, Manager of Conference Leeds commented: ‘We want buyers to know that our region celebrates and supports quality venues. We want them to feel confident when they book their event in Leeds and West Yorkshire, because they know that we are a region that is committed to delivering conferencing excellence’.
Simon Bullough, Membership Development Director from the MIA who awarded Weetwood Hall with the gold accreditation said: ‘The AIM accreditation is all about recognising excellence and giving consumers the assurance that a venue is of good quality. Weetwood Hall is a superb location for conferences, events and meeting rooms and undoubtedly deserved the gold accreditation. They have set the standard high for other conference centres across the UK and they should be very proud of their achievement’.
Axel Muller, Director of the International Medieval Congress who regularly uses the conference facilities at Weetwood Hall said of the venue: ‘Weetwood Hall is the ideal home for us; the setting of the site is perfect, calm and relaxing, yet professional and productive. The facilities operate seamlessly and smoothly which turns the environment in to a pleasantly creative and constructive workplace. Without exception all of Weetwood Hall’s staff are very friendly and helpful and take a real pride in delivering the best customer focussed service. And of course it helps to have an excellent and well stocked “real ale” pub close by for post lecture networking”.
For further information on the conference facilities available at Weetwood Hall, or to book a meeting or conference room, contact the Conference and Events team on 0113 230 6000 or visit www.weetwood.co.uk.
For further information and images please contact:
Caroline Hill
Sales Manager
0113 388 5798
Notes to Editors:
- Set within 9 acres of parkland estate, Weetwood Hall is the largest and most flexible four-star conference centre and hotel in the North of England.
- The hotel offers 106 en-suite bedrooms, including 12 luxury Manor House bedrooms and 2 feature four poster bedrooms individually decorated to reflect the traditional style of the house and offer the perfect accommodation in Leeds.
- The venue boasts a dedicated conference venue with 18 primary conference rooms and 19 syndicate rooms, along with some of the most up to date technology available. The largest conference room can seat up to 200 people theatre style and 120 people cabaret style with the capability of a video link to another room seating 160 (theatre style).
- Conference Leeds is the official conference bureau for Leeds and West Yorkshire. Its remit includes Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield, Wakefield and Calderdale which covers 230 venues along with a multitude of meetings industry support companies.
Vantage Trade Shows
Vantage Trade Shows
Chandigarh, March 7,2009 : Vantage Trade Fairs (P) Limited presents the most informative trade show directory with listing of worldwide trade fairs, shows, exhibitions, expo, events, seminars and conferences, which would help to achieve results and provide valuable resources in order to set the foundation for many strategic marketing initiatives.
Our web portal is having wide range of information on trade shows across the globe with detailed information on event profile, organizer, exhibitor profile, visitor profile, venue and dates so that your can plan your participation well in advance.
This unique portal is user friendly and citing your event on it would inflate your popularity. The special feature of our portal is availability of downloadable show forms. This makes the process of listing not only convenient for you but saves time as well. We are connected globally through various business events of all developed countries to developing countries. This widely used web directory is regularly updated on latest information about premier shows from all major countries of the world.
An assortment of B2B shows, right from the developed countries like U.K, U.S.A. to emerging & potential markets such as China, Bahrain, Russia, Syria, Poland, etc. is scheduled here. Our web Trade portal will not only assist in augmenting participation in your shows but also be providing a basis for an extremely beneficial interaction resulting in boosting up of your trade.
For more details, log on to http://www.vantagetradeshows.com
Contact Info: Mr. Rohit Madan
Vantage Trade Shows
23/21A, IInd Floor, East Patel Nagar
New Delhi-110 008 INDIA
Phone: +91-11-30580444, 30580777
Email:vantagemedifest@gmail.com
Website: http://www.vantagetradeshows.com
*Use the info above to contact persons regarding this press release*
A suite to suit all at Weetwood Hall
A suite to suit all at Weetwood Hall
Weetwood Hall Hotel in Leeds has completed an extensive programme of refurbishment to its largest conference suite, to accommodate for up to a maximum of 200 delegates when hosting a conference or seminar.
The venue’s, Lawnswood Suite has received the new look to offer flexibility to cater for a variety of styles of larger conferences or seminars, making Weetwood Hall an ideal conference centre in Leeds. Whether a theatre-style or cabaret layout is the choice, Weetwood Hall is dedicated to offering their reliable services to accommodate to their clients’ wishes and requests.
The Lawnswood Suite is also be equipped with a raised presentation stage, fixed with a 1.5mx2.5m wide screen, allowing clients to present videos, pictures and presentations when hosting their conference or seminar.
Furnished with a DVD, VHS, three laptop connections, one auxiliary connection, ceiling mounted data projector and iMAC computer connection, the conference room is equipped to suit all needs on a technological and digital basis.
To enhance the viewing capacity, the suite is encompassed with plasma screens along the length of the room, as well as a video broadcast facility set up to link to another conference room, seating up to 150 delegates in a similar theatre style.
The stereo sound system has been improved to accommodate for eight voice enhanced radio/wired microphones, including an upgraded hearing induction loop for the hearing impaired.
The suite is also furnished with ADSL connectivity and Wi-Fi for all internet needs and requirements.
Ideal for larger conferences, Weetwood Hall Hotel in Leeds offers an extensive number of seminar and syndicate rooms, a dedicated business reception, team of conference porters and a trainer’s room for organisers to have access to the Internet or edit/amend their presentation.
Weetwood Hall pride themselves on offering extensive services to meet the requirements of guests on a professional and social basis. Facilities and furnishings encompassing the Lawnswood Suite have been adapted to ensure guests feel relaxed and refreshed during conferences and seminars.
The Lawnswood Suite is carefully situated to capture the natural daylight, creating an atmosphere that’s comforting, refreshing and cooling for delegates to enjoy their conference.
Situated on the ground floor, the suite has full access onto the patio, allowing those much needed breaks to be met with ease and refreshment at all stages of the conference.
The Lawnswood Suite sits adjacent to a breakout area, perfect for delegates to meet and network. Capturing the natural daylight, the breakout room includes a registration desk and cloakroom to welcome guests, ADSL connectivity and Wi-Fi, self service refreshments and beverages, including Fair Trade products and floor space for exhibition displays.
Guests can visit the Woodlands Restaurant located on the ground floor, seating up to 200 people, for a two course lunch during their stay.
Offering extensive free parking and situated just four miles from Leeds City Centre and Leeds/Bradford International Airport, with easy access to motorways, Weetwood Hall is dedicated to providing excellent service and facilities across all sectors to ensure the comfort and satisfaction of guests.
Accommodating for all types of large conferences and events, including residential conferences, day meetings, exhibitions or events, there is no limit to the dedication to Weetwood Hall’s customer service.
Caroline Hill, Sales Manager at Weetwood Hall said, “Our customers have found the new Lawnswood suite very user friendly and particularly like the new AV equipment, the acoustics and the choice of wired and wireless microphones.
“We will continue to listen to our customer’s feedback and react accordingly”
These extra complementary facilities prove why Weetwood Hall is the largest and most flexible conference centre and hotel in the North of England.
Weetwood Hall
Otley Road, Leeds, LS16 5PS
West Yorkshire
Tel: 0113 230 6000