Maximising Your Venue Space: A Guide to Venue Flexibility

What do we mean by venue flexibility?

But first, what do we actually mean when we talk about venue flexibility?

By definition, venue flexibility as a term is used to describe the capacity and ability of a venue to adapt and accommodate various event layouts, formats, and the needs of an organiser.

Basically, a flexible venue should be able to be reconfigured to suit everything from a professional conference to a consumer event (and much more in between). It should also be adaptable, and able to work with you to ensure the success of your event.

For example, consider our very own ACC Liverpool conference and Event Space, which has:

●      An auditorium, which is capable of holding up to 1,350 seated attendees. Or, this rotating event space can be used to create two 250-seat lecture rooms, or even closed off entirely for a smaller main auditorium.

●      The Galleria, which contains several organiser offices and a boardroom facility (perfect for your central operations hub on the day). The skylight ceilings mean this space is flooded with natural light, making it an amazing backdrop to impress attendees as they register, or to host drinks receptions and networking events.

●      A multifunctional Hall 2, which can be sub-divided as needed for everything from gala dinners and professional conference floors, to breakout rooms and more intimate meeting areas.

But that’s aot all. As one of the most unique spaces in Europe, when you work with us you don’t just get access to one venue. Each of our three sister venues can offer you a tonne of flexible features that mean the space fits you, rather than you having to fit yourself into the space. Depending on your needs, you can connect to the arena floor for large-scale exhibitions or events, or spill over into the Exhibition Centre for even more flexible spaces.

The benefits of a flexible event space

With all this in mind, let’s take a closer look at some of the more specific reasons why you should prioritise venue flexibility, and what benefits you can get when you choose a flexible event space.

●      Grow and change with your event: your event plan will tend to shift and change throughout each stage; for example, you may have more attendees to accommodate, you might want to adapt the room layout as your plans evolve, and you may even introduce new activities that will change how a venue space needs to work for you. A flexible venue space can grow and adapt to your needs, even if your plans change from an initial consultation.

●      Transition with your event plans: depending on the type of event you are hosting, the right flexible venue will be able to accommodate your needs. From smaller meeting rooms for meetings, to large conference spaces for professional events, the right venue will suit your style and preferences. It should also be able to transition to what you need, especially on multi-day events that may offer various activities.

●      Adapt to your budget: flexible venues are often able to offer you more for your money. Customisable room configurations can help you maximise the space available within your budget, and allow you to allocate your budget wisely.

●      Improve guest experience: having flexible spaces can help your guests feel comfortable at your event. Smaller, split-off areas can encourage more meaningful mingling and networking, whilst larger spaces are open to fun and interactive activities.

●      Allow for contingency plans: we’ve said it throughout, but flexible venues are adaptable. Having the space for alternative plans, such as additional indoor space in case the weather affects your outdoor event, or secondary support in case of technical mishaps, can all help your event run effectively on the day (no matter what spanner life may try to throw in the works).

●      Support hybrid functionality: having a flexible venue, with excellent audiovisual capabilities, is essential if you’re planning on hosting Hybrid and Online Events. Being able to offer screen recording, live interactions from online participants, and other services to both in-person and remote attendees can massively help improve attendee experience.

Flexible venues: what to look for

To maximise your venue space and prioritise flexibility, you need to know what to look for. When you’re considering a venue, make sure to look out for:

●      Adaptable room configuration: can rooms be adapted, or layouts changed to create bigger or smaller areas? Are there a selection of room types, like meeting rooms, conference halls, or enclosed auditoriums? Does the venue have room to grow with you over the years?

●      Adaptable zoning: does the venue support zoning for your event? Can you section areas of your event according to activity?

●      Customisable settings: are there flexible seating options, like gala tables or set-ups for lectures and/or keynote speakers? Can you adapt the lighting or audiovisual effects when needed? Does the venue offer settings for hybrid or online events and activities?

●      Existing equipment: does the venue have dividers and partitions available for use? What do you need to bring vs what does a venue already have?

●      Catering: are there a range of catering options and flexibility to suit your event? For example, are there food counters, can your attendees get drinks or snacks throughout the day? Are there options for sit-down dinners?

●      Customisable branding: can the venue offer you flexible branding opportunities before and during your event?

●      Amenities: does a venue have flexibility with regards to specific amenities? For example, are there quiet spaces? Can you offer religious accommodations and areas for prayer?

●      Event packages: are you able to build in a layer of flexibility within a package? Is there room for growth, or to condense an event with smaller participation?

●      Venue support: does the venue offer dedicated support to help you understand what their site can offer? Are you simply hiring the venue, or are they offering a partner to team up and work with collaboratively?

Asking these questions when you’re considering an event, and during the planning stages, is key to helping you maximise your available venue space.

At ACC Liverpool, we have an incredible Events Management team who are on-hand to support you during the entire events process. From learning how to use our flexible event spaces, to offering on-site assistance during your event, we’ve got you covered. Get in touch today to find out more about how we can help you maximise our venue space to fit your needs.

Make the most of your event space with ACC Liverpool

When you choose ACC Liverpool, you’re not just getting access to our amazing conference space. Our flexible, interconnected events campus means that we can offer you everything from intimate meeting rooms to an entire arena to meet the needs of your event.

If this sounds scary, don’t worry. Our amazing Event Management team is the perfect partner to help you; we can get involved from the beginning, offering advice and guidance so you can make the most of our event space.

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