How to Choose the Best Corporate Event Venue

Your company will inevitably need to use at least one off-site venue in the course of a single year. However, that doesn’t mean finding the right venue needs to be tricky or time-consuming. It just requires knowing what type of event you’re planning to have—and what to look for in a good corporate event venue.

Choosing the Right Venue for Different Types of Corporate Events

There are multiple different types of company events you may need to plan for, including executive and leadership team meetings with fewer than 10 people and company-wide retreats with 300 or more attendees. Here are some of the most common events we see at our venues in West Michigan, and some of the unique needs that might come with them.

Departmental Training Sessions

Sometimes, the best way to help your department retain information about new processes or initiatives is to take the team off-site. A corporate event center with rooms for different capacities ensures that you can accomplish a full day (or two) of specialized training so your team can focus with minimal distractions.

Company In-Service Days

For companies with hundreds of employees across multiple departments, opportunities to get everyone working in the same place are rare. However, choosing a corporate event venue with a capacity for hundreds of employees allows you to do just that. This way, you can review the state of the state and destroy the dreaded inter-department silos in style.

Fundraiser Galas

Setting up an unforgettable fundraising event is the key to securing funding and attracting donors, so it’s important to provide easy access with parking, a good audio/visual setup, and refreshments that will keep your donors engaged with your event throughout the night.

Retirement Parties

After years of taking abuse and sass from your other employees, Kevin from accounting is finally retiring after 30 years of service! Celebrate his success in style with a high-class venue that helps you take care of all the details of the retirement party ahead of time. Whether it’s an all-out bash in the Lakeshore Ballroom at the Muskegon Country Club or the Cottage at Ravines Golf Club in Saugatuck for a more intimate approach, we can help you celebrate the next chapter of your teammate’s life in style.

Holiday Parties

Nothing quite like popping a few bottles of champagne with your team and seeing who has the worst (or best) taste in holiday sweaters! Holiday parties typically bring the entire company together under one roof, so it’s essential to choose a unique venue for your corporate event that will make a memorable impression on your employees. This has the added benefit of showing your employees just how much you appreciate their work throughout the year, improving company morale and productivity. We also offer venues with rooms of all sizes, such as the FireRock Room for intimate events with 60 people or fewer or the exquisite, 350-person Diamond Ballroom at StoneWater Country Club.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Company Event Venue

Your Event Budget

The name of the game here is your number of attendees—the number of mouths you have to feed and seats you’ll need to fill determine the exact budget your event will need. From there, you can determine how much you’re willing to spend per person on food and drinks, plus any other amenities you might need. That’s not even including your A/V equipment needs or any decorations you might need to buy. That’s why it’s important to choose a corporate event space that provides all these things you’ll need. RedWater makes that easy. We provide a comprehensive event experience with practically every amenity you might need at our venues across West Michigan.

Size & Layout Accommodations

Whether you have four people or 400 attending your event, it’s critical to make sure you can comfortably seat them all in the space you choose. You might also need to consider separate spaces for breakout sessions or panels. Luckily, RedWater has event spaces that are perfect for both small, intimate gatherings and all-company events.

Location, Location, Location

Where your event is located can make or break your event—after all, nobody likes being stuck inside what we like to call a “conference cube” all day. Choose a location with beautiful scenery and views to improve the experience for your attendees overall. This also turns your corporate event from another lame conference to something that feels more like a company retreat. We offer event spaces in stunning surrounds all over West Michigan, from the lakeshores in Muskegon and Holland to beautiful vistas around Grand Rapids and beyond.

A/V Needs

Chances are, you’re not a Broadway singer or a medieval town crier. Therefore, you’ll need reliable A/V equipment for your training or team-building event and should check your venue ahead of time to ensure they have everything you need—including high-speed internet and the hookups you’ll need for any presentations. Whether you’re having an offsite department training day or a stakeholder meeting, RedWater Events’ corporate conference centers come complete with the technology you need to make a statement.

Food & Beverages

Finding a venue for corporate events that provides catering in-house takes one more thing to worry about off your plate. In addition to ensuring you have a full, gourmet menu no matter what type of event you have, this saves you from having to worry about planning or transporting the food. RedWater offers a whole range of catering options, including delivery for on-site lunch events. Our menu has options for everything from breakfast with a chicken and waffles buffet to hot and cold appetizers like antipasti and cocktail shrimp skewers, so there’s something available for everyone. No matter what you choose, the menu at your event will be the talk of the office the following week!

Entertainment

Letting loose during your corporate event breaks up the monotony and allows your team to get even more done between sessions. Whether you want to add a few games and activities to the mix or you want to add LiveGolf to the mix with our simulators in Macatawa, we can help you turn your event into one to remember.

Setup and Teardown

Planning your corporate event is practically a full-time job in its own right. The staff at RedWater makes the process a bit easier though—we’ll take care of setting up and tearing down your space so you have one less thing to worry about. Let us handle your table arrangements, buffet station setup, and any other considerations you might require so you can focus on engaging with your guests.

Event Staff

The staff at your event venue can elevate the celebration in ways you wouldn’t expect. At RedWater, our staff members are passionate about creating experiences that allow your company to grow and bond, all in luxurious comfort. From providing timely planning assistance to delivering unmatched meal service, we’re happy to provide you with every consideration we can. That way, your event can be unforgettable in all the best ways.

Find Corporate Event Venues Near You

No matter what type of business event you’re hosting, it’s always a good idea to throw it outside the office. Your employees will appreciate the change of scenery, and it will make the setup and teardown process seamless. Find a company event venue near you to get started.