Choosing A Large Corporate Venue That Ticks All the Boxes

There’s nothing quite like the pressure of hosting a large corporate event, with multiple stakeholders to impress, to keep event planners on their toes. Whether it’s the company AGM, annual conference, awards night, charity fundraiser or staff Christmas party – the first step is choosing the right venue.

We caught up recently with the team at ivy Ballroom one of Merivale’s premier venues in Sydney, to find out how they help their clients tick the all-important planning boxes when it comes to hosting large corporate events.

1. Find a Large Venue where you can make a BIG Impact

If you’re hosting a large corporate event, make sure the venue you choose has enough room to make a BIG impact and accommodate all elements required. By this we mean, ensure there’s space for production and styling. This may include large presentation screens, a catwalk or stages for multiple performances. It could also mean having a wall-to-wall dessert bar!

ivy Ballroom is 509sqm of clear span space (i.e. no pillars!), with a stylish black and white colour palette. This gives event planners a fantastic canvas to get creative and design an event that can make a BIG impact.

While big spaces like this can accommodate up to 400 guests banquet style or 1000 guests for a cocktail party, it also provides event organisers the space to make big impressions for smaller groups.

One such event the team recalls fondly was a client dinner with full table mapping along 2 long tables for only 100 guests. Everything from the introduction, name cards, education on the food & beverage experience and farewell was projected onto the tables – the guests were blown away! The team had two rehearsals to ensure all service timings matched the projection – it truly was a night to remember.

2. CBD or See You Later…

When the majority of the guests are corporate executives or staff, finding a venue within close proximity of the office is a must. Organisers tend to prefer finding a venue in the CBD where guests can easily make their own way to the venue, rather than having to budget for transport. Corporate guests tend to prefer this as well, as it means they can get to and from the event without disrupting too much of their work day.

ivy Ballroom is located smack bang in the middle of Sydney CBD, across the road from Wynyard Station, and a short walk from Martin Place station. There’s bus drop-off and the new light rail on the door step too. Oh, and if you must – there’s plenty of parking stations nearby.

3. Choose a Venue without Pillars!

When you have an important presentation, whether it be a company AGM, conference or awards ceremony, ensuring that everyone can see the action is considered basic 101 floor plan design.

And you guessed it, (well, we did say it earlier), ivy Ballroom is pillar free! And, that’s a big box ticked when planning a large corporate event.

4. Serve the Very Best Food & Beverage…

The average corporate guest, like most guests these days, are astute food and wine connoisseurs. Event catering can no longer be an afterthought and must take a leading role in the event plan. To tick that box, we recommend working with a team that knows a thing or two about creating menus that make a lasting impression.

With an impressive list of establishments under the Merivale banner, Nick Grundy, who oversees the entire Kitchen team and creative food process for Events at ivy Ballroom can collaborate with the entire executive chef team at Merivale to create a menu that will have everyone talking.

For example, some of Merivale’s most sought-after talent – Jordan Toft and Danielle Alvarez – have created custom menus for clients in the room, a true point of difference when booking an event space. They have also crafted canapes menus in collaboration with their key restaurants & bars like Ms.G’s, Mr. Wong, Est., Bar Topa, Totti’s, Palmer & Co. and more…

As far as choosing the wine, don’t sweat it – with a team of 25 sommeliers available to assist, that box gets a big tick too!

5. Find a Venue with Style that Allows for Creativity too…

There are two types of corporate events; those with limited-to-no styling budget, so they need a venue that comes dressed to impress and; those that want to go all out with styling and production to create a unique environment.

ivy Ballroom can tick both of these boxes.

The stylish black and white interiors with candlelit backdrops are perfect for corporate events that want to plug in and play.

However, if you’re looking to create a bespoke theme or custom stage, their in-house styling and production team are there to help.

Every year the team like to create an alternate way for their clients to use the space. Last year they created 20 boxes that could be suspended over tables and staging. Clients could then fill the boxes with florals, greenery or candles to create the ultimate ceiling installation that was purpose built for the venue. This helped their clients achieve a BIG impact.

Final note…

If you’re planning a large corporate event in Sydney, then ivy Ballroom is a must-see venue on your site visit list. There is plenty to love about the venue, including its central location, stylish interiors and access to their creative production team and five-star chefs.

Want to see how an important corporate event at ivy Ballroom can come together? Check out this fabulous showreel of their Dom Perignon Lumiere Dinner….