Choosing Where to Host a Business Conference

Planning a business conference is quite the undertaking. You have to consider who will be there, what events will take place and — perhaps most importantly — where it will be. The conference location is the backdrop that everyone will experience for the duration of the event. It needs to support networking and talks given by keynote speakers while also creating an atmosphere in which all attendees can relax, enjoy themselves and build camaraderie.

Cities across California excel in all of these areas and more. From Anaheim to Sacramento and Lemoore, a range of high-quality venues can make your conference one to remember for everyone involved. While many organizers choose hotels or convention centers, casino resorts have become a very attractive option for organizers and attendees in recent years.

In this article, we will discuss what to look for in a venue and examine the best places to hold a business conference in California.

What to Look for in a Business Conference Venue

A proper business conference venue must accommodate the basic needs of all attendees while facilitating conference events and recreation during downtime. To ensure the venue you choose is suitable, look for venues that offer the following.

1. Accessibility and Transportation Options 

The venue should be accessible for all attendees. Accessible parking, wheelchair ramps, automatic doors, elevators, accessible restrooms and other accommodations ensure everyone can navigate the conference with ease and comfort. An ideal venue will also offer easy highway access to make transportation simple. 

2. On-Site Amenities

Lodging, dining and meeting spaces allow attendees to take care of their everyday needs and socialize in more casual settings when they aren’t actively participating in conference activities. Amenities like these can make the conference more welcoming, enjoyable and memorable.

3. Suitable Settings for Networking and Other Events

The venue must be able to support large-scale conference activities. Often, this means large rooms with hundreds of available seats, but it can also mean smaller locations with tables and booths available for attendees and guests. The scale and equipment available at the venue should meet your conference’s needs.

4. Opportunities for Recreation, Team-Building and Relaxation

The venue should also offer opportunities for fun and community. Whether it’s bars, pools, restaurants or casinos, your attendees deserve to enjoy themselves when they aren’t attending events. Playing cards with co-workers or getting dinner with a new friend are great ways for attendees to strengthen relationships and get more out of the conference.

5. Cost Transparency

The venue you choose for your event should be clear about pricing. Business conferences can be expensive, and attendees deserve to get as much bang for their buck as possible, so only partner with venues willing to be up-front about costs. 

6. Health, Safety and Flexibility

A business conference should be a safe, supportive environment for all attendees, so partner with venues that are willing to work with you to meet your event’s needs. The venue should understand that plans may change and that the attendees’ health and safety are important. If the venue is not safe and does not provide healthy lodging or other amenities, it may be time to look elsewhere. Additionally, if the venue cannot adapt to your plans, it may not be for you.

Consider the Event’s Specific Needs

You should also consider your event’s specific needs so you can invest in a venue that provides for them. You can assess these needs and identify practical options by:

• Assessing accommodations: The conference venue should be able to accommodate disabilities and dietary restrictions. This helps create a supportive and inclusive event that caters to all attendees. 
• Evaluating venue packages and amenities: The offerings at a given venue can vary based on the package you choose. Some may include catering, Wi-Fi access and extended access to large convention halls, for instance. The first priority should always be ensuring that attendees and presenters have access to the amenities they need. If a given venue does not provide the necessary amenities or keeps them isolated in an otherwise impractical package, you may need to look elsewhere.
• Identifying conference dates that will minimize costs and support conference activities: Conference venues often have busy seasons that can increase prices and force the conference into a more structured flow. Before committing to a venue, look for one that is in its off-season, or consider planning the conference for a later date with lower prices and freer scheduling.

The Best Cities for Conferences in California

California offers many excellent venues for conferences. The top convention cities in California include:

• San Diego
• Anaheim
• Sacramento
• Fresno
• Lemoore

Despite its smaller size, Lemoore is one of the best cities for small conferences and large gatherings in the entire state. Venues in larger cities often need to be scheduled months in advance, and you may still face tight, inflexible schedules and limited opportunities for recreation and team-building outside the conference itself. Lemoore is an excellent option for companies throughout California’s Central Valley. With its central location between Fresno and Bakersfield, it’s easy to get to and excellent for multiday conferences, networking mixers or awards dinners. It is also home to Tachi Palace Casino Resort, a premier destination for business conferences.

Casino Resort Conference Destinations

Hotels and convention centers have often been go-to convention places in California. In recent years, however, many organizers have started to focus more on experience-driven venues that give attendees as much to do during their downtime as they do during the conference.

Choosing to host the conference at a casino resort like Tachi Palace can turn apathy about the event into excitement. Tachi Palace provides an excellent venue for workshops and product showcases while giving attendees a way to relieve stress after a long day of business. From taking a trip to the spa to playing a round of Blackjack in the casino, everyone can find something to enjoy in their off hours, even if it’s just grabbing dinner at a delicious restaurant and calling it a night in a luxurious hotel room.

Host an Exceptional Conference at Tachi Palace

If you want to transform your conference from an obligation to an experience, Tachi Palace is the place for you. Our facilities are perfect for networking mixers and multiday conferences. We can accommodate groups as large as 260 people, and with our multilevel slot floor and impressive array of table games, everyone will have plenty of space to explore. Our dining and lodging options are just as robust, and our massage spa is sure to provide the relaxation attendees need most.

To learn about our event spaces and amenities, fill out our contact form or give us a call.