Optimize your layout

You can't control the conversations — but you can control the conditions they happen in. A good venue removes friction. A bad one introduces problems that no amount of planning can fix.

• Leave enough space between tables — if it's too loud, people will simply leave
• 53% of meetings have exactly 2 attendees, 47% have 3+ — plan table size accordingly
• Europeans often prefer sitting beside each other rather than across — account for wider tables
• Consider where your attendees are from and what those attendees are accustomed to

Prevent noise

One person talking is a bee you can barely hear. A room of 300 people on hard floors is deafening.

• Pick a place with carpet — this dampens the noise significantly
• Avoid glass water bottles — the clinking multiplies across hundreds of tables
• Screeching chairs on hard floors ruin focus in nearby meetings
• If there are too many noise sources (glass bottles, hard chairs, hard floors) nobody can hear anything

Check hotel quality

Good sleep equals better meetings. Period.

• Check the bed quality of the hotel before booking
• What are the reviews of the guest rooms? Are they loud?
• Are the rooms considered to be decently sized?
• Your attendees need a good night's sleep to increase the outcome of your show

Create serendipity through venue choice

• Pick a gorgeous resort with things to do inside or nearby for extra networking
• A pool, a great restaurant, outdoor space — these create natural opportunities for connections that no schedule can manufacture
• The best meetings at your hosted buyer event might not be on anyone's schedule