Make More of Your Space: How Creative Meeting Setups Foster Possibilities
Necessity is the mother of invention. This has never held truer than in today’s climate. The ever-changing demands for safety and versatility around in-person meetings has been a challenge for meeting planners as we respond daily to new requirements and considerations. At Catalyst Ranch we take this as a challenge to apply our long-tested methods as well as rethinking what is possible in order to continue building the best meetings possible.
Catalyst Ranch has long touted that “Room to Roam” is an important part of an in-person meeting and why they’re more effective in our space (See all 10 of our reasons here). This has become even more important as the ability to spread out within a meeting space not only creates an environment for free thinking, but also peace of mind for those who want the distance. Even at higher capacities you don’t need to keep everyone crammed together. Being able to do casual sit downs in breakouts and move about allows for a literal breath of fresh air. We’ve always believed it’s counter-intuitive to be packed like sardines into a meeting space and we’re only more affirmed in that thinking now. We’re proud to say we crafted our floor plans specifically with this in mind.
Gathering together a larger group might be a challenge when taking into consideration everyone’s level of comfort. This is where the hybrid meeting concept comes in handy. We’re all well versed in the utility of virtual meetings combined with in-person. However, this doesn’t just need to be people sitting at home on a Zoom call watching a presentation. Catalyst Ranch has been in the advantageous situation of having multiple spacious rooms that can accommodate our guests, each with the ability to be connected virtually so that you don’t have to limit your headcount to just who can fit in one room. Get creative and imagine presenters coming in from multiple rooms, or moving attendees between spaces for different parts of a session. It all just takes a little imagination.
Thinking beyond just what can be fit within four walls opens you up not just to higher headcounts but more space to expand your mind. We’ve all read about studies that show if you work at a desk you should try to get up for 15 minutes AT LEAST every hour. That’s why here at Catalyst Ranch we believe staunchly in building several breakout activities into any meeting and using all of the space in the room as much as possible so people can get up and move. That’s why we give you so much space! When you keep moving your brain stays agile and the shift keeps the flow of your meeting feeling dynamic.
The concept is simple but can’t be taken for granted. The return to in-person gatherings has reminded us all how much that personal touch makes a difference and we can’t move backwards. Still, we have to recognize how we must take steps to ensure we get the most out of our meeting while still keeping safe. Moving beyond self-imposed limits is the best way to get the best of both worlds.
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.
