Blog by Simona Negretto, head of conferences & events UK & Ireland at Vue Entertainment.
There’s no doubt that businesses are working harder to reach their targets. So, venues really need to deliver when it counts for training, workshops or sales meetings to inspire the team.
A traditional conference centre does exactly what it says on the tin. Built for purpose, tried and tested. You know what you will get. But is that enough to motivate and inspire your delegates?
What happens when you think outside the box? We learn when we do something different. So, this is the perfect time to do so when staff learning and development are key to deliver outstanding results.
Recently hospitality business, The Big Table Group, who run some of the country’s most recognisable restaurant brands, surprised their employees by booking the recently refurbished Vue Printworks in Manchester for the leisure division’s annual update.
Jo Kerby, executive assistant said: “This was very much leftfield thinking as we usually go to a conference centre. However, we wanted to be in Manchester and Vue Printworks offered something unique for our teams. Plus, it is in the perfect location for two of our restaurants: Frankie & Benny’s and Chiquito. We took the plunge after our senior staff spoke to the events team and reassured them that they had the capability to deliver our event.”
The event consisted of the senior leadership delivering a business update to all the general managers throughout the UK. It also served as a thank you to everyone with performance accolades and awards given out at the end.
Kerby was delighted with the result, as were all the attendees. She continued: “No-one could have prepared for the impact the Big Screen had on the presentations and the sound. It made everything so impressive, larger than life and brilliant. It was so good that my boss suggested we have drinks in the bar immediately afterwards before going on to one of our restaurants. The events team were glad to accommodate us and gave us our own area at one end of the bar.”
Kerby finished by saying,: “I hadn’t put a cinema setting and conference together. In my mind, it doesn’t seem like a natural fit, but the reality is that it works so well. The cinema was the perfect sized space and the equipment was faultless. Tables on the recliner seats were useful and gladly used by the delegates to take notes. The events team were professional and unfazed by our spontaneous drinks request. I’ve already recommended it to other brands in the group. We will absolutely be back!”
Another client, Mitchells & Butlers, is one of the country’s largest operators of restaurants, bars and pubs. They look after brands including All Bar One, Brown’s and Miller & Carter Steakhouse. Their business is no stranger to using Vue venues and they returned for a third time last year with this year already in the planning stage.
Using a roadshow format allowed their senior leadership team to reach business managers and deliver priority messages directly, regardless of operating multiple brands and locations. These sessions are key, as they give leaders the opportunity to engage and speak directly with their frontline management teams and share key messaging to ensure everyone is clear on business performance and priorities.
Debbie Timms, PA to CEO Philip Urban, said: “We have used the same city locations in five areas: Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh, London and Bristol and it has worked so well for our business. The cinema screen and sound really help to elevate important presentations, and our delegates have fed back that the cinema experience allows them to relax in a comfortable yet professional environment to take those messages onboard. It’s a hit – even down to the popcorn served on their seats.”
As Mitchells & Butlers use multiple venues, they also take advantage of a multiple venue discount. Vue has a variety of screen room sizes catering for 24 people to 531 in 93 locations in the UK and Ireland.
Flexibility is offered with locations and time and a variety of external catering options are available for breakfast and lunch. Plus, with inbuilt tables on new recliner seats, cinemas are steadily stealing the march on delivering fine conferences, training and workshops, giving organisers the game-changing factor they’re after.
