2. EVENT VENUES
• Every event is held anywhere – a specific space and place.
• Events can be held in almost any place imaginable, from purpose-built facilities to
unique or off-premise sites.
• Selecting and developing the event’s site encompasses a series of issues. Site
selection is both a science and an art – part investigation and part intuition. The
professional event coordinator will select a site based on the purpose, role, goals,
and objectives of an event, as well as capabilities, desirability, and safety of the
venue or location.
3. SITE SPECIFICATION AND SOURCING
• Site selection is, in essence, a procurement issue. This means that the purchaser
needs to know what features this “product” should or must have.
• The event site might be predetermined, or the professional event coordinator might
be charged with searching out and securing a venue from literally a world of
possibilities.
4. ESTABLISHING EVENT
SPECIFICATIONS
• The site selection process starts with the needs assessment, which will identify the
requirements of the event host or client, the needs and desires of the audience or attendees,
and the specifications associated with the event elements.
• Several factors affect the search for potential sites or venues:
• Availability – dates, duration, move-in/move-out
• Location – geographic location, accessibility, proximity, surrounding environment
• Facility Type – purpose specific or purpose built, indoor/outdoor, uniqueness
• Rates – rental fees, cost for site development, F&B prices and surcharges
• Attendance – occupancy capacity, anticipated behaviors, ancillary activities before, during
and after the event
• Function Type – educational, spectator, ceremonial, social, political, etc.
• Event Elements – room dimensions, spatial requirements, activities, access logistics, storage,
and administrative functions
• Style or Personality – conservative, adventurous, youthful, mature, rustic, luxurious, unique,
traditional, theme-specific, etc.
5. DEVELOPING SELECTION CRITERIA
• The site specifications become the basis for the selection criteria, which facilitates
the ability to evaluate available options and make the best purchase decisions
regarding the suitability of a potential site or venue.
6. SELECTION CRITERIA
• Location – can be determined by internal policies (mandated rotation),
attractiveness of attractions available at a destination, environmental factors,
proximity, accessibility, public transportation, and parking areas.
• Cost – rates to rent the facility, cost of getting and staying for the attendees.
• Space – depending on the type and scope of the event, you might need sleeping
rooms, function rooms, administrative space, storage, exhibit space, hospitality
suites, staff and volunteer lounges, green rooms, dressing rooms, media lounges,
and other types of space.
7. SELECTION CRITERIA
• Facilities – the features and attributes include appearance, furnishings, equipment,
amenities, public areas, décor, services available, cleanliness, maintenance and
upkeep, elevators, kitchen facilities, public toilet, recreational facilities, loading
docks, safety and security features, electrical and heating, ventilation, and air-
conditioning.
• Personnel – the level of service is important as the physical property itself; may
already be included in the venue or may hire an outsider.
8. SITE SOURCING
• Once the specifications and selection criteria have been developed, the search
begins. Now you must describe all these requirements in a Request For Proposal
and distribute it to potential event venues so that they can respond with their ability
and offer to accommodate your event.
• Research potential sites by reviewing sites used by similar types and scopes of
events in your location. Research methods include contacting local convention and
visitors bureaus or tourism authorities, talking to colleagues and suppliers and
searching the internet.
9. TYPES OF VENUES
• Traditional Event Venues
• Purpose-built venues – venues designed to host conferences and exhibitions, exhibition
halls, conference and convention centers, as well as hotels.
• Academic venues – universities and colleges, auditoriums, theaters, gymnasiums, and
even classroom.
• Civic venues – cultural centers, retreat houses, country clubs
• Attractions – either man-made or natural – resorts, theme parks, landscape, seascape,
beaches, and other geographical features.
• Concert Halls, Theaters, and Cultural Centers
11. MAJOR VENUES IN THE PHILIPPINES
1. ASEANA City
2. Blue Leaf Filipinas
3. Cebu Int’l Convention Center
4. Circuit Makati
5. City of Dreams
6. Fontana Leisure Parks Convention Center
7. Kia Theater
8. Mall of Asia Arena
9. Marriott Grand Ballroom
10. Megatrade Hall (SM Megamall)
11. Newport Performing Arts Theater
12. Philippine Arena
13. PICC
14. Plaza del Norte Convention Center
15. Samsung Hall
16. SMART Araneta Coliseum
17. SMX Convention Center Davao
18. SMX Convention Center – MOA
19. Solaire Resort and Casino
20. World Trade Center
12. TRENDS
• Unusual Venues
• Aside from budgetary constraints, there is an increasing move towards using alternative
event locations.
• Emerging Destinations
• Emerging destinations - China, Vietnam, Middle East, North Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin
America; while China, Korea, Taiwan, India, Malaysia – emerging origin markets
• Accessibility Options
• Persons with Disability (PWD), Republic Act 7277 (Magna Carta for Disabled Persons)
• Global Destination Sustainability (GDS) Index
• Evaluates the sustainability performance of cities and bureaus, in four key areas: city
environmental strategy and infrastructure, city sustainability performance, industry supplier
support, and convention bureau strategy and inititives.
