Country house hotel in step with modern meetings

Jul 1 2005 By The Journal

Matfen Hall, the largest independent country house hotel in the North-East, has recently completed research into the changes to its corporate customers' requirements for business meetings and conferences.

So, is the business conference the same as it always has been, with delegates with pencils and paper, presenters with flipcharts and overheads? The answer is no, says David Hunter, director and general manager of Matfen Hall Hotel.

"The revolution that has brought the `paperless' office has also transformed the business meeting. Conferences and events have a new hi-tech edge to match the modern world of electronic information and instant communication. Overhead projectors have had their day."

The research was completed by the conference office who say that organisers now expect futuristic conference facilities within the traditional surroundings. Their key findings from this internal research are that:

* More and more delegates are using laptops to take notes as opposed to pens and paper.

* Overhead projectors and screens are no longer required - presenters have gone hi-tech and are looking for:

moverhead digital and data projectors

minteractive white boards

mremote wireless mice

mlapel microphones

mlight props

* Conferences are getting smaller. Many companies prefer to hold two identical meetings with smaller groups as they feel they are more focused.

* The layout of the meeting rooms has changed. In the past, classroom-style layout was the most popular, today it is either boardroom or cabaret style (a half moon of round tables).

* Alcohol-free working lunches are the norm with long lunches a thing of the past. Business continues over dinner with private dinners being taken as opposed to dinner in the restaurant.

* Long days are broken with outdoor pursuits and motivation activities and there is more working into the night as well as meetings at breakfast.

* More attention to healthy eating

* Over half now wear casual dress when they attend a conference.

To address these changes Matfen Hall has adapted to meet the changing demands of this market in many ways:

* They have purpose-built conference rooms with hi-tech equipment.

* They incorporate additional tea and coffee breaks as part of their delegate packages.

* The delegate packages include healthy menus

* Baskets of fruit are standard on conference tables.

* There is a dedicated private restaurant/dining room for up to 25 guests.

* There is a larger choice of outdoor pursuits.

* Conference organisers are offered yoga classes and holistic therapies.