Why Choose a Conference Center for your Next Corporate Training Program?

By R.L. Fielding

Long gone are the days when a person stayed at one job for the majority of his or her life. Today, recent studies suggest that the average American worker will have up to 10 different jobs throughout the course of a career.

With so many new faces beginning different jobs each year, and with more than 25 percent of the current working U.S. population reaching retirement age by 2010, companies are hiring and most importantly, looking to train new staff quickly and efficiently.

In order to ensure that companies retain the level of productivity they need to succeed in business, many are educating their new hires, and even current employees, via high-tech corporate training programs.

The conference planning industry is booming as many businesses are saying good-bye to standard, in-office training sessions and taking their teams to full service, amenity-filled conference centers.

There are many different reasons why managers and businesses are choosing to take their group to full-service conference centers, including:

Versatile Meeting Facilities

Conference centers offer services that can't be matched by companies trying to train their employees in-house.

Corporate conference centers pride themselves on their flexibility and wide range of options, as well as their commitment to a superior training experience. Some options might include meeting spaces that can accommodate both small and large groups, many different rooms and room configurations, indoor and outdoor recreation and fitness facilities, IT/AV support, on-site conference planning managers, high-class lodging arrangements for out-of-town business people and even customized meeting plans.

In addition, many conference centers cater only to businesses rather than splitting their time and resources between businesses and leisure only guests. By catering strictly to business clientele, these conference centers are further able to provide groups with a distraction-free environment that fosters concentration and productivity during meetings.

Professional Meeting Planners

Most of the larger conference centers offer assistance from professional, on-site conference planning managers to help produce a highly productive training session.

On-site conference planning managers consult with clients to discuss their group's needs, including: meeting spaces, room setups, technology and media needs, food and catering options, transportation options and even team building activities. These experienced professionals work with groups to ensure they have adequate supplies and support services. On-site conference planning managers can also help identify key speakers, as well as help draft meeting agendas.

Productivity-Enhancing Technology

Conference centers can also boost productivity by providing the latest technology. By offering trainers and trainees easy access to high speed Internet, they can open up a world of possibilities, such as super high speed T3 lines that can handle full-motion, real-time video, and very large databases that can be manipulated over a busy network.

Many high-tech meeting rooms will also supply a variety of audio/visual equipment, including wireless laptops for each participant, shareware, voice and keyboard chat, online quizzes, polls and more. Conference facilities may also offer live online demos and "webinars," a type of live web seminar, that's interactive between the presenter and audience.

Most of the larger conference centers also retain expert technical support personnel for on-the-spot dilemmas. Anyone who has ever tried to fix a faulty overhead projector during a meeting will appreciate a conference center that can handle tech issues quickly and efficiently.

Convenient Accommodations & Amenities

Larger conference centers offer full lodging accommodations to make their guests feel at home and comfortable after a long day of meetings. Many offer standard, executive and suite guest quarters to suit travelers.

Some conference centers also offer a variety of amenities to the traveling business person. On-site gift shops, hair salons, dry cleaning services, free cyber cafes, shoeshine and repair, automated teller machines, mail services and much more can make guests feel right at home.

Comprehensive Dining & Catering Options

For those business men or women who enjoy a quick breakfast or for those who prefer large, four course dinners, conference center dining can cater to all kinds of tastes.
Conference center catering teams are experienced in serving a variety of meals, such as a buffet to allow teams to mingle or a family-style dinner, which gives smaller groups the opportunity to get to know one another over a more intimate setting.

Café-like dining, most commonly open late-night, accommodates those in search of a snack. Some centers even offer on-site pubs where guests can catch a baseball or football game on television while enjoying a quick hamburger.

Recreational Options

What better way to unwind after a long day of meetings than a hike or a shopping excursion? Conference centers offer a variety of amenities for those in search of a break from business, including 24-hour fitness centers, outdoor sports facilities for golf or biking, and game rooms. For those not into sports, other weekend activities may be available, such as a shopping shuttle that brings guests to local area malls and movie theatres.

Customized Meeting Solutions

Managers looking to add a little extra flair to their training program will be glad to learn that some conference centers have an events and media team that can turn any meeting into a unique experience. By utilizing set design and staging, lighting and special effects, video projection, audio support and music, graphic design and animation, live Webcasts, vendor fairs, video editing, duplication and much more, they can help transform a standard program into a memorable affair.

For example, the Chicago area chapter of Meeting Professionals International (MPI-CAC) partnered with Q Center in St. Charles, Illinois to create a customized program for the group's annual educational conference. Under the general theme of "Learn, Share, Lead," the Q Center team designed an exciting and educational experience for the conference attendees.

Throughout the conference, Q Center encouraged audience participation by incorporating live web-casting, electronic voting and other advanced meeting technology. Highlights of the MPI-CAC conference included a "video wall" created with windows and 14 projectors, scenic elements customized with the MPI logo, a breakfast inspired by the film Breakfast at Tiffany's and gift boxes of signature cookies at departure.

Make a Conference Center Your Campus

It's clear that for corporations looking to deliver an effective, efficient and memorable training program, hosting it at a conference center is an ideal solution. Through their comprehensive services and facilities, they not only make the process easier for the company holding the training, but also help to create a more productive, engaging experience for those participating.

About Q Center

This article was provided by Q Center, which is dedicated to providing premier learning and conference facilities equipped for total productivity and supported by a quality-focused conference planning team. Q Center has the facilities and technology to create virtually unlimited meeting scenarios. More than ordinary conference facilities, Q Center is a conference complex. Located in the western suburbs of Chicago, Q Center is conveniently accessible to both of Chicago's major airports and to the many organizations with headquarters and major offices in Chicago. Visit http://www.qcenter.com for more information.

This article is copyrighted by Q Center. It may not be reproduced in whole or in part and may not be posted on other websites, without the express written permission of the author, who may be contacted via email at qcenter@digitalbrandexpressions.com.