A conference is a great way to bring together like minds and creates a situation where the whole is greater than its component parts.
It might be an up-and-coming business hoping to show off its ideas and build contacts or a group looking to showcase a major project. Whatever it's design, a conference needs to inspire and that is why the venue is so important.
On a purely practical level, certain boxes must be ticked.
What capacity does the venue hold and can it accommodate both large and small groups? Trying to squeeze your conference audience into a too-small room will be no more appealing than a few delegates feeling self-conscious in a too-large venue.
What about technology? A conference venue will need a good Wi-fi connection and equipment such as screens and lighting for speakers to clearly illustrate their ideas.
Parking and accommodation are also considerations. A venue must be accessible and offer delegates who have travelled a long way a chance to stay.
Finally, the food. Good dining will leave a good lasting impression … in the same way a soggy sandwich will leave a long-standing (and not pleasant) taste in the mouth.
Organising a conference takes a lot of work but it is a valuable chance to shine a spotlight on a project so everything must be right.
A sterile conference venue, which is little more than a room, will do little to impress your delegates but a setting that inspires will reap rewards.
It is little wonder, then, that St Osyth Priory is such a popular choice for conferences.
The Priory combines the magnificence of historic buildings, with 21st century facilities. Its 16 listed buildings have 900 years of architectural history but careful restoration work means it is perfect for a modern conference.
Darcy House was one of the first buildings on the estate to be restored and it is now home to two stunning function suites, each able to host 110 seated guests.
The priory also has a number of versatile spaces which can be adapted to accommodate smaller more intimate meetings.
It is situated just 12 miles from Colchester, Britain’s first and newest city, with good road links.
The priory estate is also a registered park and garden county wildlife site featuring historic lakes and woodland – a wonderful setting for blue sky thinking.
And as anyone who has attended a conference will know, the important thoughts, the conversations and the decisions are often made outside the conference room.
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