This post, originally published in August of 2021, references a cost comparison chart that has been updated with current figures.
Get Out of That Hotel!
Maximizing the True Value in Meeting Offsite
It’s the classic question, as posed by The Clash, “Should I stay or should I go?” This is the question meeting planners face whenever they’re looking for meeting space in conjunction with a hotel stay. Do I keep my attendees immersed within the walls of our hotel room and reduce the amount of moving around during the day, or do I take them out to a more creative meeting space? You know what we think here at Catalyst Ranch, but there’s a reason.
Now don’t get me wrong, here at Catalyst Ranch we love our trusted hotel partners. An important part of the process of a successful meeting is retiring for the evening to a place of comfort and luxury to rest and reflect on the day’s accomplishments and start fresh again the next day. It’s also clear why a hotel’s ability to offer meeting space for rock bottom rates right where your attendees are staying is appealing (Though not always the deal you might think it is). But are price and convenience what’s really important to you, your team, and your meeting’s purpose?
You want the best outcome to your meeting. Thoughtfully procured results that elevate your business or the environment your employees do business in. These results cannot be taken for granted. At this stage you have already made the decision to bring everyone offsite. This is already a huge investment in the outcome of your meeting and you’ll have also carefully selected who will be attending. Now you want to keep them engaged but there are impediments to this. The surroundings are chic and conveniently located to everyone’s rooms and now that room is a convenient destination between speakers and sessions to slip away for side meetings, phone calls, or a nap. You also run the risk of losing these attendees you’ve gone to the trouble of bringing here. For those who remain steadfast, the homogenous environment can become a drawback, no matter how nice it is. Work/life balance is an important ingredient to getting the best out of everyone and when you choose a self-contained venue in which to meet, you then run the risk of removing the “Off” button. That important time to decompress is lost and your attendees may burn out on the content of the meeting.
As part of my consulting company, I’ve facilitated several product inventing & innovation sessions at Catalyst Ranch. It’s hands-down the best such facility in Chicago, possibly in the country.
The rooms are well-designed to get you as far removed from your sterile office environment as possible. You can get your hands on anything you might need to run a successful meeting, and the SiriusXM radio in the room is a nice touch. You also won’t be wanting for food, and the catered breakfast and lunch is never less than very good.
But what really puts Catalyst over the top is the staff. Before your meeting, they’re easy to work with; during the meeting, the Ranch Hands are unfailingly courteous, positive and smiling, and their response to almost any request you throw at them will be along the lines of, “Yes we can” or “We’ll find a way.” Really just a terrific crew.
It can be a little pricey relative to other locations, but once everything is factored in, it’s well worth it. I’m more than comfortable giving them my continued business.
Matthew, Meeting Organizer
You want each day of your meeting to be a clean slate where your attendees arrive fresh, reinvigorated, and ready to engage again. By making the effort to have your attendees take a short walk or ride to a meeting venue, instead of just an elevator ride to a banquet hall, you give them that chance to reset their minds. Strolling or taking a short ride through a gorgeous city like Chicago can also be inspirational and end up being the spark that is needed to start the day with increased energy and creativity. Then, finally, when they arrive at your meeting venue the change in location will produce a shift in focus directly to the tasks at hand for the day. You can’t go wrong!
Out of the box thinking is what we always want when we plan a meeting. We want to thinking about new products, put ourselves in the shoes of our customers, think more like each other in order to become a more cohesive team. Making the decision to meet offsite is already stepping outside of one box. Don’t stick yourselves inside of another.
To learn more about Catalyst Ranch please visit our website https://catalystranch.com/ or call 312-207-1710 to schedule a tour!
Lyndon Stewart is the Managing Director at Catalyst Ranch.
Contact us at (312) 207-1710 or lyndon@catalystranch.com.
Catalyst Ranch is a unique meeting and events space located in Chicago’s West Loop since 2002, offering Space to Imagine More and solutions for all your in-person, virtual and hybrid gathering needs.
