San Francisco’s Best Hotels

/in /by

Whether it’s the Californian sun, the iconic Golden Gate Bridge or even the intrigue of Alcatraz that brings you to San Francisco, choosing where to stay from the vast array of hotels may seem tricky …

From trendy Union Square to the creative Mission District, this vibrant city has many diverse neighbourhoods with something to suit everyone. But how do first-timers know where to pick? The Effective Travel Solutions team think Hyatt Fisherman’s Wharf is one of San Francisco’s best hotels!

Located just a block from famous Fisherman’s Wharf (some of the best & freshest seafood in town!) and a short stroll from famous Pier 39 (great for souvenir shoppers), Hyatt is the perfect base from which to explore the city.

Boasting 316 guestrooms, complimentary WiFi and 19,000 square feet of function space, Hyatt Fisherman’s Wharf is one of San Francisco’s best hotels for groups and events too.

Incentive groups can enjoy a ride on the old Powell & Mason cable car line which begins just behind Hyatt Fisherman’s Wharf hotel or take a trip west to the vast and breathtaking Golden Gate Park. With the wine regions of Sonoma and Napa Valley just a short trip over the Golden Gate Bridge too!

Conference groups could use Hyatt’s extensive, modern meeting space and conclude with a unique Gala Dinner experience on the unforgettable Alcatraz Island – complete with prison bus transfers – find out more about a dinner Effective Event Solutions held in the old federal prison and check out the photos on facebook.

For more information about San Francisco or to enquire about holding your next meeting at Hyatt Fisherman’s Wharf, drop us a line Sales@EffectiveTravelSolutions.com

Unique Team Building Activity at The Crystal Maze

/in /by

Our favourite nineties game-show is set to be revived! Early 2016 sees the launch of a unique team building activity at The Crystal Maze.

You may have heard about the crowd funding campaign that began in summer 2015, the plan to create a full scale replica of the famous show featuring all four interactive zones (Aztec, Medieval, Industrial and Futuristic) for teams to compete.

With overhwelming support the crowdfunding goal was achieved and the team have spent the later half of 2015 finalizing details, the location is secured (30,000 square ft venue between Kings Cross and Angel, North London) and Team Building packages just launched!

Teams of up to 8 participants will be able to compete in challenges just like the original TV show, testing skill, mental and physical ability before arriving at the legendary Crystal Dome (pictured artist impression) for the grand finale.

The experience can cater for groups from 32 up to 128 guests and also boasts a bar and viewing area for spectators.

The maze has almost sold out for 2016 so be sure to get in quick if you’re interested in this unique team building activity at The Crystal Maze from £125 + VAT (subject to group size), 9am-2.30pm.

Contact us for more Team Building ideas across the UK via Sales@EffectiveEventSolutions.com

Image provided by Crystal Maze Events

New London Venue Opening: The Victorian Bath House

/in /by

Cast off the January blues; London’s latest venue opening is so full of opulent splendor you will immediately forget the miserable grey skies outside.

The hottest New London venue opening: the Victorian Bath House is nestled between the high rises of London’s Liverpool street. From the secluded courtyard through to the Grade II listed interior, every detail has been lovingly restored (they even managed to find the original Victorian tile making company to produce the very same tile!).

Tessellating tiles, sumptuous velvet curtains and original crimson pillars make this a very unique new London venue indeed. Not to mention an original bath at one end of the room, best used as a giant champagne bucket in our opinion!

The new London venue opening: the Victorian Bath House can hold up to 150 guests for an intimate reception or small groups for lavish private dinners or launch events.

For more information on this or other fantastic venues in London suitable for your events, contact us on Sales@EffectiveEventSolutions.com

 

London’s Best Hotels | Metropolitan by COMO

/in /by

The Effective Event Solutions team work with some of London’s best hotels to ensure our clients are getting the best venues, best service and best value for money.

Metropolitan by COMO has an enviable location on London’s luxury Park Lane and boasts 144 rooms and suites as well as long stay apartments. What makes the hotel different from the other luxury properties in the city’s famous Mayfair area, is it’s attention to detail and undeniably chic, contemporary design.

This summer the hotel will be ‘reborn’ after a significant renovation, including bright and airy new bedroom designs (pictured). Originally opened in 1997 the hotel was one of the first in the UK’s capital to embrace contemporary design. The philosophy was to strip back the non-essential elements of a traditional English Hotel to create something cool but accessible, sophisticated and warm, which they certainly achieved!

Working with Linzi Coppick of Forme Partnership the Metrolpolitan by COMO has revitalised the internal spaces with fresh palettes of natural hues and textures to compliment the neighbouring Hyde Park, whilst retaining the timeless soul and ethos of the Metropolitan by COMO.

The wonderful new bedrooms will feature bespoke king-size beds with luxurious 400-thread count Egyptian cotton sheets, complimentary WiFi, Loewe interactive TVs with extensive on-demand music and over 70 channels, Nespresso machines and relaxing rainfall showers.

With floor to ceiling windows offering views of Hyde Park or Mayfair and international multi-region plug sockets, the hotel is set to impressive the most discerning travellers. Which is perfect for high end groups and VIP meetings and events.

Meeting space at Metropolitan by COMO can seat up to 80. After a successful day in the boardroom your guests can network in the Met Bar which is open until 2am with DJ’s playing every Thursday, Friday and Saturday, making this one of London’s best hotels.

And if you have any spare time between meetings, the dedicated yoga channels in every room or the COMO Shambhala Urban Escape will ease away your stresses!

For more information or a FREE proposal tailored to your event needs please contact us on Sales@EffectiveEventSolutions.com or fill out our simple contact form here.

 

Are you searching for historical event venues?

/in /by

Well look no further, The Effective Event Solutions team have fallen in love with Leeds Castle and we think you will too.

Historical event venues are often tricky in terms of what type of events are permited, and many do not offer overnight accommodation. It is certainly a rare experience to stay in one of England’s oldest properties and Leeds Castle works brilliantly for exclusive events. The castle’s colourful history spans several centuries:

Leeds Castle has been a Norman stronghold; the private property of six of England’s medieval queens; a palace used by Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon; a Jacobean country house; a Georgian mansion; an elegant early 20th century retreat for the influential and famous; and in the 21st century, it has become one of the most visited historic buildings in Britain.

During the 1930s it was modernised by then owner Lady Baillie, retaining all it’s medieval and tudor glory whilst adding a few modern home-comforts such as heating!

The accommodation comprises of 42 rooms across the original castle and the 16th Century Maiden’s Tower. 20 sumptuous bedrooms in the main castle include 8 state bedrooms with four poster beds and original art deco bathrooms; guaranteed to wow your VIPs.

The event spaces at Leeds Castle:

 

The Castle Dining Room

Ideal for meetings, seminars, presentations and conferences, this room is flooded with natural daylight and has capacity for up to 30 on a boardroom table or up to 80 in theatre style.

The Library

Adjoining to the Castle Dining Room, The Library can be used as a breakout or reception room in conjunction.

The Boardroom

Boasting views across the moat and golf course, the Boardroom is located on the first floor of the castle. It’s regency mahogany table can seat up to 16 guests.

The Maiden’s Tower

A flexible space for up to 50 u-shape or 100 theatre style, the Maiden’s Tower is entirely separate from the Castle’s day visitor route so it works perfectly as a self-contained event area. 5 of the venue’s bedrooms are within this tower also.

Henry VIII’s Banqueting Hall

With sweeping views of the moat, an ebony floor and magnificent fire place, this original banqueting hall retains a traditional Tudor feel. Seating up to 80 guests on two long banquet tables, this is the perfect place for a grand gala dinner or medieval banquet.

Banqueting at Leeds Castle is only available to clients on an exclusive-use basis.

During the summer months (April to September) Knight’s Glamping offers a camping holiday with a luxury twist. Medieval style striped tents boasting four poster beds, log burning stove and sheepskin rugs are set-up close to the Maze in the castle’s 500 acre grounds.

And if your event is just a luxurious lunch or decadent dinner then Leeds Castle have great private dining packages starting from just £65 per person (for 40-100 guests buffet lunch in the Maiden’s Tower)

We should probably also mention that Leeds Castle is actually located in Kent, not far from Maidstone despite it’s name!

For more ideas of historic venues for your next event please contact us on Sales@EffectiveEventSolutions.com

Iconic London Venues – Imperial War Museum

/in /by

Along with city icons such as the Shangri-La ballroom at The Shard or a private capsule on The London Eye, our capital’s museums and galleries are also available for events.

The Venue Finding team here at Effective Event Solutions know all about the event spaces at London’s greatest museum venues, and our Event Logistics managers are well used to the quick time frame needed to set-up an evening event after closing time.

The Imperial War Museum (IWM) has recently undergone refurbishment and offers a wonderful range of event spaces, some in-keeping with the impressive, traditional style of the building’s exterior and some with a more modern look and feel.

IWM London has the ability to accommodate everything from a meeting for 10 in the boardroom, to a fabulous dinner for 270 seated below a Battle of Britain Spitfire, suspended from the ceiling.

Without a doubt our favourite space at IWM is the Atrium, it has a ceiling height of 25m and an impressive display of large exhibits. This is the largest event space on offer, hosting 200 for a seated presentation, 340 for a standing reception of 270 for seated dinner.

The museum also boasts another inspiring space offering a different view of the Atrium’s exhibits: The Roof Terrace is a contemporarry space suspended from the barrel vaulted glass roof of IWM and could hold 150 guests for seated meal or 240 for a standing reception.

The board rooms (spaces range from 10 boardroom to 80 theatre style) and the cinema (up to 200 moveable seats) can be hired in the daytime, alongside the running of the museum as they are closed off from the main space. The other wonderful event areas at IWM are available from 7pm- midnight.

And if you’re not overly keen on war memorabilia and exhibits the venue could still work as the cinema and roof terrace are not based around the IWM theming/story. They are just great spaces which can accommodate so many types of events.

For more information or to inquire about booking this venue please contact us via email or use this handy contact form.

What’s the best Las Vegas hotel for groups and events?

/in , /by

Las Vegas is the perfect place for a bit of escapism; as the Lonely Planet says, where else can you “spend the night partying in ancient Rome, wake up in Paris, watch an erupting volcano at sunset and get married in a pink Cadillac at midnight.”

But with a plethora of astounding hotels to chose from, where do you start? The Effective Travel Solutions team have been running incentive programmes and group travel trips to the so called ‘Sin City’ for years and know all of the best places to stay: from the opulent Bellagio to the enormous suites at the Venetian.

We were delighted to hear about the recent opening of the new SLS Las Vegas (which stands for Seriously Luxurious Style!) in late 2014. Boasting three distinctive Towers; ‘World’, ‘Story’ and the all-suite ‘Lux’ Tower, the property provides a range of options for groups and events.

For Large Events

The World Tower offers over 1,000 contemporary rooms for large groups, designed with business travellers in mind. Of the SLS hotel’s three towers this is the most ‘functional’ for corporate groups.

For Boutique Style

The Story Tower combines chic minimalist design with the intimate feel of a boutique hotel. 108 rooms plus 14 suites make this perfect for medium and small groups that want to feel like the hotel is all theirs during their stay.

For High-End Luxury Groups

The Lux Tower is an all-suite haven of luxury, designed with classic French features the 289 suites are pure indulgence for VIP groups and Chic Events.

Seven different restaurants, serving everything from Japanese to wood-oven pizzas, makes it nice and easy to offer variety to event delegates, without having to provide transport out to a different location every evening.

The three club options along with casino access will keep guests entertained after a long, productive conference or meeting!

30,000 sq ft of dedicated meeting space offers a stylish and sophisticated alternative to the nearby Las Vegas Convention Centre. The Congo ballroom can seat up to 740 for a theatre style conference or 520 as a seated banquet, additional breakout rooms are suitable for smaller meetings from 10 boardroom up to 180 theatre style.

If you’d like additional ideas and information about holding your next event in Las Vegas, contact our Event & Travel Managers via the contact form or email.

New on the Block – The Beaumont Hotel

/in /by

 At Effective Event Solutions we work with a huge range of hotels (from New York high flyers, to Scandi cool design hotels) so we always keep an eye out for ‘The Next Big Thing’ … The Beaumont opened it’s doors in the autumn of 2014, welcoming guests into sumptuous art deco surroundings.

Just a few months since opening, the hotel has certainly proved it’s luxury credentials with rave reviews on tripadvisor and a thumbs up from The Telegraph newspaper. So what makes it so special?

The Beaumont is Jeremy King and Chris Corbin’s first hotel, adding to their enviable portfolio of arguably London’s finest restaurants. Evoking the elegance and personalised hospitality of pre-war Mayfair, it is grand in style and yet intimate in feel. With 73 rooms, including 23 suites. The hotel includes a classic Grill Room, an American Bar, a separate Residents’ Bar & Lounge, a Boardroom, and a Gymnasium and Spa with Hamam.

By far the stand out element of this new hotel is ROOM; a suite in the form of an inhabitable sculpture by Antony Gormley. Clearly visible from the exterior, the juxtaposition of a three storey high cuboid figure against the Art Deco, Grade II listed facade of the hotel is in itself fascinating.

The inside of ROOM by Antony Gormley is a dark fumed oak-clad bedroom in a one-bedroom suite, accessed up seven steps through a black curtain from a strongly contrasting, pure white marble bathroom, is just as important as its exterior: a giant crouching cuboid figure based on the artist’s body.

For meetings and events, this new hotel in London has The Lotos Room, a boardroom/private dining room space seating up to 16.

Contact our Event Management team for more information and ideas for your next event or incentive trip. Sales@EffectiveEventSolutions.com

New York | Event Space Times Square

/in , /by

Early next year The Knickerbocker Hotel will re-launch itself. With an iconic location at 6 Times Square this luxury property is going to be brilliant for group incentives and events.

The 7,500 square foot rooftop lounge and bar can hold up to 250 guests within it’s indoor and outdoor space. With panoramic views of Manhattan’s famous skyline this is the perfect place to hold your next NYC event – or better still watch the New Year’s eve ball drop!

At the crossroads of uptown and downtown the Knickerbocker is also ideal for incentive groups. First opened in 1906, the hotel’s most recent make-over means it is just a vibrant and dynamic as the city itself.

Featuring 330 stylish bedrooms (including a selection of suites), state of the art fitness facilities and a restaurant / bar by Charlie Palmer the soon to be re-born Knickerbocker is the place to see and be seen.

The meeting space boasts integrated technology, natural daylight and Time Square views. Events for up to 250 can easily be accommodated in style, event space Times Square doesn’t get much better than this!

Nothing says ‘New York’ better than holding an event near the iconic Times Square, if you’re interested in more event ideas for this amazing city, contact our team on Sales@EffectiveEventSolutions.com

London venue made famous by Michael Bublé

/in /by

Whilst getting ourselves in the festive mood (by playing cheesy Christmas songs in the office – naturally) we were excited to notice that the back-drop for Michael Bublé and Idina Menzel’s new video is none other than The Banking Hall!

Bublé and Menzel’s rendition of the classic ‘Baby it’s cold outside’ features two adorable mini-mes singing and dancing around one of our favourite London venues. Watch them in action here.

Banking Hall is a recent addition to the city’s event ‘portfolio’, formerly Lloyd’s bank, the grade II listed main hall was designed in the 1930s and retains it’s Art Deco inspired style to this day. Huge marble columns line the sides of the room and provide real ‘wow-factor’ for everything from corporate conferences to Christmas parties.

The mezzanine level ‘counting room’ has views over the Bank of England to one side and a birds eye view of the main hall to the other.

From 150 to 800 guests, whatever event you are planning, Banking Hall is the perfect venue to impress your guests.

If you’re interested in finding out more or holding your next event at this venue please contact our team on Sales@EffectiveEventSolutions.com for a FREE proposal.