I have held 2 events at the Guinness Storehouse and have got great feedback each time ” the staff are easy to work with and are professionals”. Last week I attended Bizcamp there – I worked with Keith on finding the venue. Most of the stress of the day is taken away for the organiser if the venue are on top of things, provide excellent service and serve a decent cup of coffee! This is the case with The Guinness Storehouse – Happy Arthur Guinness Day!
The Review -
Location – Dublin City, at the site where Guinness is brewed – about a 15 minute walk down the keys from Dublin City Centre, 10 mins by Luas or a quick taxi ride. It is also very close to Heuston Train Station and on the Luas line which makes it so accessible.
What is it perfect for? If you are looking for a venue that is a little bit different, this is the one. You enter via the Visitors Centre which has a very touristy feel to it, this I like as I can pretend that I am on holidays. You can just skip through the line to pay to get in if you are attending a conference. There is plenty of signage to direct delegates to the conference floors.
Main room at the Guinness Storehouse, great for an event or conference
The main Aural suite is on the 3rd floor. This will accommodate about 300 people seated. Lots of room outside for tea/coffee area. You can feel and hear the buzz of the visitors centre, the building is a large atrium, built in the shape of a Pint of Guinness in the centre so you can feel the atmosphere from the whole venue.
Smaller meetings – Break out rooms – up on the next floor – in the business centre area. There are 5 rooms here that will hold up to 70 people.
Food - prepared by Campbell Catering – tasty and flexible with a choice of menus for every budget.
For that Special Event - there are 3 other venue spaces available for evening parties. During the day they are open to the public but a great private party venue for evening entertainment – choices are -
Gravity Bar
Panoramic views of Dublin, a great Venue
Brewery Bar
Great Party Venue
Source Bar
Party Venue Option/Drinks Reception
To avail of the discounted negotiated rates that FindaConferenceVenue have, do get in touch. ciara (at) findaconferencevenue.com. 353 ()) 21 4928941.
We are the experts on hotels and venues in Ireland and will do the legwork involved in finding a hotel or venue. It is a free service to the Meeting Organiser.
Ireland can now compete even more with the world’s serious Conference Destinations by offering a tax relief to companies booking a conference in Ireland – yeah! 13.5% VAT can be claimed back on accommodation – this is both to individuals attending a conference and to companies arranging a conference in Ireland. This is great news as it really does help to make Ireland even more competitive as a destination for Conferences in Ireland.
Interestingly – Concentives are becoming verrrrrrry popular – they are a mix of a conference and incentive – companies only have to book a conference room (must be fore 50 people or more) for a morning and then have a jolly lined up (I mean a meaningful experience showcasing Ireland) for the rest of the trip.
Tax Back Internationalare the company that are processing these claims – they are very helpful and knowledgeble on the ins and outs of it. There are offices world wide as well as Dublin and Cork!
Irish companies can claim VAT back through their normal VAT returns.
Every little helps!! For more tips on how to save money when organising a conference read the following posts…
Radisson SAS have rebranded and are now Radisson Blu! I have rates negotiated with all the hotels in Ireland. There are some fantastic hotels in the brand, I consistently get great feedback from clients who use the Radisson Blu Royal in Dublin City Centre. It is a great Dublin Conference Hotel and I find the team excellent to work with.
With the below delegate rates there are no hidden surprises. I request most quotes now in day delegate format so that you know exactly how much an event is going to cost. My clients prefer it for budget reasons and it is much easier to compare costs across the board too. Of course, using a venue finder, I do all the leg work in comparing prices, and putting it all in the one easy to read format. I also know where to negotiate with hotels and where the most room for negotiation is. Check out the conference and meeting deals below – they all help in arranging a Conference or Event on a shoe string budget!
Day Delegate Rate from €29.00 per person
to include:
1 x tea/coffee break
Lunch – soup / sandwich / tea/ coffee
Main meeting room hire
LCD Projector, screen and flipchart
Jugs of iced water , pads , pens
Free Wi-Fi Access
Minimum numbers apply in all hotels
Main meeting room hire
Lunch – soup/sandwich/tea/coffee
Tea/coffee break
LCD Projector, screen and flipchart
Free Wi-Fi Access
Jugs of iced water, pens and pads
Minimum number apply in all hotels.
24 Hour Delegate Rate from €159.00 per person
to include:
Day Delegate Rate (see above)
Overnight accommodation incl. breakfast
2 course dinner with tea/coffee
Free Wi-Fi Access
Minimum number of 10 delegates alpply in all hotels.
15 meeting rooms including boardrooms and a video conferencing suite, which can host a small meeting for 12, a large theatre-style event for 400 or a sit-down dinner for 300!
To put the conference product in place you will to need to action the following:
Conference Budget: This needs to be drawn up and must contain a revenue and expenditure section together with an actual column. Always include a contingency figure, say 10% of the estimated total.
Programme: Clearly identify you objectives so that both you and your speaker know what the conference is aiming to achieve and delegate expectations are met.
Marketing and PR plan: You need to identify how are going to reach your target audience. Website will need to be designed or updated.
Event Schedule: This is used to plot all the various activities that are talking place throughout the conference.
Step Four – Products and suppliers
Once you have produced you conference budget you can confirm your suppliers and product requirements:
Venue Finder: Professional venue finders, who are experts on venues and offer an independent opinion are always a safe bet to use to ensure you select the right venue. Your reputation is on the line if you chose the wrong venue!
Accommodation: This may need to be placed on provisional hold if the conference venue cannot provide or has insufficient space.
Audio Visual equipment and production: This is something either the venue can provide or you can source in-house. Alternatively obtain up to quotes from conference / AV companies.
Catering, entertainment, transport, delegate bags etc: Make sure you have thought of everything at this stage so that there are no surprises in the budget later on.
Marketing and PR plan: You need to identify how are going to reach your target audience. Website will need to be designed or updated.
Event Schedule: This is used to plot all the various activities that are talking place throughout the conference.
Step Three – Producing the Conference
To put the conference product in place you will to need to action the following:
Conference Budget: This needs to be drawn up and must contain a revenue and expenditure section together with an actual column. Always include a contingency figure, say 10% of the estimated total.
Programme: Clearly identify you objectives so that both you and your speaker know what the conference is aiming to achieve and delegate expectations are met.
Marketing and PR plan: You need to identify how are going to reach your target audience. Website will need to be designed or updated.
Event Schedule: This is used to plot all the various activities that are talking place throughout the conference.
Great meeting room, just outside Dublin. Convenient to the airport also.
Step Four – Products and suppliers
Once you have produced you conference budget you can confirm your suppliers and product requirements:
Venue Finder: Professional venue finders, who are experts on venues and offer an independent opinion are always a safe bet to use to ensure you select the right venue. Your reputation is on the line if you chose the wrong venue!
Accommodation: This may need to be placed on provisional hold if the conference venue cannot provide or has insufficient space. Ensure there are enough gurestrooms for delegates or that there are excellently priced hotels within easy reach of the conference. You don’t want your delegates arriving late as they were stuck in traffic. Again, consult a venue finder on these.
Audio Visual equipment and production: This is something either the venue can provide or you can source in-house. Alternatively obtain up to quotes from conference / AV companies. Ensure you get references, as getting the AV right on the day is essential!!
Catering, entertainment, transport, delegate bags etc: Make sure you have thought of everything at this stage so that there are no surprises in the budget later on.
Marketing and PR plan: You need to identify how are going to reach your target audience. Website will need to be designed or updated.
Event Schedule: This is used to plot all the various activities that are talking place throughout the conference.
Last minute to dos to ensure a successful Conference
For Association Conferences Organisers and Corporate Events Organisers …
20 easy tips
• Do final arrangement checks with venue contact who will be working the day of your conference
• Get name and mobile no or set up walkie-talkie system with your venue onsite contact
• Set up conference office – ensure front desk at hotel knows where it is and what your phone no is
• Set up sponsors and exhibitors – take photos for future event sales
• Provide adequate signage (where permitted by the venue)
• Make arrangements for telephone lines, faxes and Internet access
• Provision of photocopy machines and other necessary equipment
• Supply of flowers for registration, dinner tables and conference room
• Provision of table menus, table plans, and places cards
• Provision for luggage storage, cloak room, first aid facilities on site
Clarion Hotel Cork City Centre
And 10 more…..
• Arrange rooms for audio-visual set up and speakers rehearsals
• Briefing of chairman and speakers. Collect presentations
• Conference reporting, hearing loops and other delegate aids
• Handling question and answer session from the audience
• Briefing of staff and volunteers
• Provision of general information files on conference desk
• Handling of delegate queries and messages through-out the event
• Provision of secretarial and administrative assistance
• If parking is free for attendees, ensure supply of paid for tickets
• Hand out evaluation forms and ensure method of collection is clear
Well I did it… it was a personal major feat. I have never pushed myself sooooooooooooooo far out of my comfort zone before and I have never had to pull together all of the power from within, that is what it took, but ohhhhhhhhh what a feeling!
Hot stuff -
Strong…… sooo…….. proud…….. exhilarated……….. free……. fulfilled……… did I say delighted with myself??? These are all words that can describe how I felt on the night and indeed how I still feel.
relaxing after walking the fire line...
Brian Moore from Peak Potential is a fantastic facilitator, motivator and trainer. I put together the event for BNI (Business Network International); I am the event coordinator for the group and wanted to do something that would make a difference. Well I found it.
The event involved an intense 2 hours of training – from breaking arrows (putting it up against a wall with the point to your neck, walking towards the wall and breaking the arrow, busting through an inch think board to bending an 8mm steel bar with your neck!! All in a day’s work. The focus was on visualising the end result – your goal and how you would feel after achieving it. Brian thought us techniques of blocking out any negative thoughts, focusing on the positive and on the goal!
Photo taken by Roger Overall. Ruth Gaffney breaking through an inch thick board..
I must have chanted “yes I can” about 500 times that night, but it did work. I was so psyched up; I could have run up a mountain that night, but chose to walk across 20 feet of burning amber instead. My feet actually felt cold and I felt like I was walking on snow. This was a fantastic event that I would highly recommend.
Venue – the Ambassador Hotel, St Luke’s Cross, Cork. – Highly recommended. Very flexible to work with and nothing was a problem. We had a bowl of delicious stew afterwards that was almost as good as my mother’s- a very close second.
For more photos on the night check out the photo blog of Roger Overall
I stayed overnight at the Clarion Hotel recently and had a great experience, it is very much accommodates the business traveller and is a great Conference venue and Meeting hotel in Dublin City Centre.
What I loved –
*Lolly pops and water on each conference table
* Natural light through-out
*Power shower
*Personal wake-up call – that was bang on time.
* High Powered Hair dryer
First impressions and location — The Clarion Hotel is a great Dublin business hotel, it is located in the IFSC and convenient to the O2 Music Venue and close to the Dublin Convention Centre opening in 2010. It is also -
• within walking distance to the heart of Dublin City Centre
• will have a Luas line on its door step next year
• the fact that it has its own car park is a big advantage, I do feel however that signage from the car park to the hotel could be improved as the car park elevator does not lead directly to the hotel lobby.
The atmosphere is business like and professional, all staff were attentive to my needs, in particular Joe who escorted me to my car and carried my bags. He has been in the hotel industry for over 10 years and is a true hospitality professional.
Conference and Event Space -
There is a choice of up to 3 roomsfor groups of up to about 80-110, with plenty of break out space –
all rooms are airy with lots of natural light
the needs of the meeting organiser have also been thought of with registration facilities outside each and a meeting tool kit in each room
Free Broadband facilities
ceiling mounted projection system which can display, laptop, DVD and VHS display and of course climate control
For me theColumbia room in the basement was my favourite with plenty of space out side the room for tea/coffee facilities.No rooms are far from the restaurant/bar area which makes networking at tea/coffee break time easy to do.Overall there are10 rooms ranging in size from 4 to110 theatre style.
Accommodation –
The Video says it all really. If you are a light sleeper, request an “internal” room, not over looking the Quays as early morning traffic may disturb you. It didn’t wake me up but I am not a light sleeper! I had a great nights sleep, beds and duvets were very comfortable.
Great size gym with exercise classes and a lap pool
This Dublin City Centre business hotel is well equipped with a large gym and swimming pooland I particularly like the fact that there are exercise classes that guests can join each evening.You can also avail of a choice of newspaper delivered to your door in the morning.
Overall I found the hotel to be well thought through for business, conferences, meetings and events and I met a guest who stays there every week so that is always a great reference.Joe was very accommodating and assisted me to my car with my baggage and refused to accept a tip.I very much liked the genuineness of his guest service.
Check out other independent hotel reviews I have done -
I am arranging a Fire Walk for Business Network International this coming Friday in Cork, March 20th. It is designed to eliminate all the negative thoughts out there right now and turn your negative energy into positive energy. Think about it, if you can overcome your fear of burning your feet, you can do anything! Just what you need to go out there and get new business in this recession I say.
How to get involved – sign up on line or email me – ciara < at> find a conference venue <dot> com. If you email me your number I can call you to answer any questions you may have. You can also contact me by filling out the contact us form on my website.
Details -
When – this Friday, March 20th at 5pm - We will be serving food afterwards and we are all staying for a few drinks. I am sure we will need to quench our thirst….
Cost- 90 euro – this is substantially reduced from €300 per person
The Ambassador Hotel is a great venue for this, it will take place out in the car park where there are panoramic views of Cork City. We will also have a private bar afterwards. It is a great opportunity to meet like minded people, network and look for business opportunities.
Quotes from others who have done this -
“I was so excited that I had overcome my fears”
– Kate Deegan
“A fantastic confidence boost and great fear eliminator”
– David Woodford
“It was the best experience I’ve ever had”
- Mary Lynch
Brian Moore of Peak Potential is the facilitator – he will have a team of professionals trained to carry this out. Brian is doing this training with top companies in Ireland to help keep staff motivated and ahead of the competition.
If you like this as a team building idea – check out the following
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