Whether you are hosting a corporate party, wedding ceremony, or educational event, the right location is crucial to make your event memorable and successful.
The perfect event venue is like the canvas on which memories are painted – it sets the mood and creates a lively atmosphere for the entire occasion.
We get it – choosing the ideal venue is the most challenging part of event planning. However, it is also the most rewarding aspect. To help you make an informed decision, we’ve put together this blog, which is sure to give you the confidence to host your event at the best venue and make it a resounding success.
In this guide, we will explore 24 amazing types of venues that you can consider for your next event.
1) Banquet Halls
A banquet hall is a great venue for celebrations like weddings, birthday parties, anniversaries, baby showers, corporate parties, and business events. It offers a large-sized space that comes with additional services like decor, catering, a DJ, and better security.
Banquet halls are often located in a hotel, but there are also independent banquet venues. Depending on the size of the hall, they accommodate 100 to 500 people.
Remember, most banquet halls need to be booked at least 3 months in advance because these venues get booked quickly. During peak seasons, like around the wedding months (November to February), they get booked in no time. So, to make sure that your booking comes through during this time of the year, you will need to book the banquet hall at least 6 months in advance.
2) Convention Centers & Conference Halls
A convention center is a large auditorium and a flexible indoor space that easily accommodates thousands of attendees simultaneously. It offers ample parking space, catering (food and beverages), WIFI, and audio-visual equipment. A convention center features multiple exhibition halls, auditoriums, and a variety of private meeting rooms.
The following are the popular convention centers in the World:
- Hannover Messe – Hanover, Germany
- McCormick Place Convention Center – Chicago, United States
- The National Exhibition and Convention Center – Shanghai, China
- Messe Frankfurt – Frankfurt, Germany
- Crocus Expo – Moscow, Russia
- Fiera Milano – Milan, Italy
- Paris Expo Porte de Versailles – Paris, France
A convention center is an ideal venue for large-scale events, trade shows, product launches, workshops, seminars, and exhibitions.
3) Restaurants
Restaurants can be a great venue for a corporate dinner, corporate celebration, and weddings. You don’t need to find and hire a separate caterer for your event. The restaurant kitchen can handle it for you perfectly well!
Since they offer a variety of dining options, you can easily get the perfect menu that you want. You also don’t have to worry about decor, as high-end restaurants are designed to look appealing with good lighting and decor.
While restaurants are designed for regular dining, not large-scale events, most luxury restaurants can easily accommodate small-scale events, up to 100 guests.
However, it is wise to note that restaurants may not provide audiovisual equipment, like a sound system, projector, and microphone, that a dedicated event venue would. So, you may need to bring your own equipment or rent it for your event.
4) Hotels and Resorts
Hotels and resorts make for a great venue for corporate meetings, destination weddings, parties, as well as for family or friends reunions.
They are popular among vacationers, but can be used for any kind of intimate event, as they offer catering, overnight accommodations, meeting spaces, as well as swimming pools, fitness centers, spas, and play areas for kids’ entertainment.
Some hotels and resorts are even located right on the beach, allowing guests to enjoy stunning ocean views, like “Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun, Mexico, United States”, “Salinas Maceió All Inclusive Resort, Maceio, Brazil”, and “Ikos Aria, Kós, Greece”
5) Rooftop Venues
A rooftop venue allows guests to enjoy food and drinks with panoramic views of a city skyline. It provides an outdoor space and open-air ambience, which makes it ideal for networking events, small-scale corporate events, cocktail parties, engagements, and anniversary parties.
A rooftop venue can be a restaurant, bar, cafe, or garden, allowing guests to experience stunning outdoor views like “Astrea, Indianapolis Rooftop Bar” and “Sugar, Miami, United States”.
6) Movie Theaters or Auditoriums
Movie Theaters or auditoriums are used for film screenings or stage plays, but they can also be used for corporate events like conferences, seminars, award ceremonies, large-scale presentations, concerts, and live performances.
Theaters and auditoriums have enough seating capacity to comfortably accommodate a large number of participants. Plus, most of them also offer good food and beverage facilities.
Many movie theaters and auditoriums are located in shopping malls, heritage buildings, or have their own separate places, and are often well connected for people to get there by public transportation.
“Metropolitan Opera House, New York, USA”, “Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia”, “Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires, Argentina”, and “Gran Teatre Del Liceu, Barcelona,
7) Sports Venues
Sports venues are built to accommodate large crowds from 10,000 to 100,000 people, so they can be an amazing venue for product launches, expos, cultural celebrations, large-scale weddings, and concerts.
There are many renowned sports stadiums like “Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain”, “Wembley Stadium, London, England”, “Madison Square Garden, New York City, USA”, “Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne, Australia”, and “Old Trafford, Manchester, England”, which can easily accommodate big crowds and make for an ideal venue for your next large event.
8) Gardens or Parks
If you want to create a truly memorable experience for guests, then parks and gardens are a great venue. It gives ample space for seating, fresh air, and breathtaking views, creating a dynamic experience.
Plus, most event-friendly ones provide you with a different zone for dining, games, and other activities. Parks and gardens are ideal for intimate weddings, small corporate meetings, micro concerts, and other small-scale celebrations like “Brooklyn Botanic Garden, New York, USA” and “Kew Gardens, London, UK”.
9) Malls
A mall can be a complete venue for certain types of events, such as seminars, brand promotions, product launches, automobile expos, live concerts, charity fundraisers, and more.
At a mall, you don’t have to worry about food and drinks. Restaurants, cafes, and food outlets are located in most malls, from where you can order whatever you want. Dining alternatives are also available, but you must make reservations in advance.
They provide excellent parking facilities. You only need to manage the décor, chairs, and tech equipment yourself. For example, “Mall of America, Bloomington, USA” and “Aventura Mall, Florida, USA”.
10) Breweries and Wineries
Breweries and wineries are fantastic venues for weddings, corporate parties, and personal celebrations, such as engagements, anniversaries, or bridal showers. Wineries and breweries are often situated in scenic environments featuring rolling hills, lush vineyards, and stunning landscapes etc.
These venues often offer a variety of food options, as they come with full-service kitchens that serve a full restaurant menu. Additionally, they offer wine/beer tastings too, taking care of beverages for the event. The food they serve is often designed to pair well with the wine/beer options they have in-house.
These venues offer a unique and visually appealing backdrop. For example, “Orfila Vineyards & Winery, Escondido, CA”, and “Los Willows Wedding Estate, Fallbrook, CA, USA”.
11) Luxury Hotel Ballrooms
The grandeur of luxury ballrooms has captivated people for centuries. Such venues offer the space where opulent celebrations take place and grand dreams come alive. They offer in-house catering, A/V equipment, tables, chairs, linens, dedicated event planners, as well as dance floors to entertain the guests.
Luxury hotel ballrooms are ideal venues for grand wedding receptions, anniversaries, company milestone celebrations, conferences, and graduation parties. For example, “Villa Cora, Florence, Italy”, “Grand Hotel Kronenhof, the Alps, Switzerland”, and “The Pierre, A Taj Hotel, New York”
12) A Beach
If you want to engage your guests in nature’s beauty, a breathtaking beach is an amazing venue to consider. The vast ocean, the inherent beauty, and the rhythmic sound of the waves will create an incredible experience for your guests.
If you’re planning a daytime event, your guests are sure to capture bright, beautiful, and unforgettable candid photos. Beaches make for ideal venues for weddings, birthday parties, concerts, corporate events like team-building, and family reunions.
13) Private Residences
A “private residence” can be a house or condominium that is open to the public, allowing authorized people to host events, socialize and celebrate. These venues offer a homely feel and beautiful outdoor spaces where guests can relax during breaks. The unique character and charm of the residence, from its architecture to its decor, can add a special touch to the occasion.
Private residences are ideal for small-scale weddings, engagements, corporate dinner parties, birthday parties, and baby showers. Historic houses like “The Biltmore Estate in Ashville, North Carolina, USA”, modern penthouses like “Woolworth Tower, New York” and beachfront properties like “Hopkins, Belize” are great private residential areas to consider.
14) Museums and Art Galleries
Museums and art galleries are great venues for corporate galas, networking events, fundraisers, and private receptions. They offer a unique blend of elegance, history, and cultural significance, accommodating groups of various sizes.
Such venues already have a unique decor and charm, so you don’t need to spend as much on decorations. For example, “Musee d’Orsay, Paris, France”, “The Prado Museum, Madrid, Spain”, “The Louvre in Paris, France”, and “State Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia”.
15) Cruise Ships and Yachts
Cruise ships and yachts are marvelous locations for special events and occasions such as weddings, business gatherings, networking, and celebrations. They allow guests to enjoy a different event experience and make it feel like they are setting sail on a vacation.
Cruise ships and yachts offer great dining experiences for guests, breathtaking views, bars, a professional crew, entertainment, and even accommodation. Whether it’s a city skyline at sunset, a tranquil coastline, or the vast open ocean, it draws guests’ attention with incredible views like “Streets Of Monaco” and “Norwegian Sky”, “Carnival Victory”, and “Allure of the Seas”.
16) Community Centers
Community centers, also known as community halls, are a great place for business events, fundraisers, community gatherings, as well as seminars and educational workshops.
Compared to other event venues, they are much more affordable. For example, “Ewlands Community Centre, New Zealand” comes with amenities like a toy library, drop-in space, meeting rooms, performance area, food bank, and parking area.
17) Golf Courses
Golf courses may be an excellent location for events. It offers plenty of outdoor space, on-site dining, and lush greenery all around. Their aesthetic appeal is perfect for memorable photos and a peaceful and elegant mood for any gathering.
It is a perfect venue for corporate meetings, weddings, expos, community events, cocktail hours, and award ceremonies. For example, “Cypress Point Club, California, United States”, “Royal County Down, United Kingdom”, and “Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Victoria, Australia”.
18) Pavilion Tents
Pavilion tents are structures that are erected to host guests, often filled with lights, decorated with flowers, and could also offer private bedrooms, dining tables, chairs, and much outdoor space.
This is an amazing option to consider if you are hosting events like for anniversary dinners, small-scale corporate functions, graduation parties, and birthday celebrations. For example, “Wild Coast Tented Lodge, Sri Lanka”, “Camp Sarika, Amangiri, USA”, “Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle, Thailand”, and “Elytra Filament Pavilion, United Kingdom”.
19) Historical Venues
A historic site, also called a heritage site, is an official place where pieces of cultural and social history are preserved. These venues are filled with rich history, stunning architecture, and a unique atmosphere that will bring an amazing and memorable experience to your event.
Historical venues are ideal for engagements, wedding parties, gala dinners, and company holiday parties. For example, “Colosseum in Rome, Italy”, “the Palace of Versailles, in France”, “Wieliczka Salt Mine, in Poland”, and “the Gateway of India, in India”.
20) Colleges and Universities
Educational institutions such as colleges and universities already have large lecture halls, exhibition halls, auditoriums, and other event spaces available at hand, so they may be a great option for your next event.
Plus, they are equipped with smaller breakout rooms, seminar spaces, and large outdoor areas, making it a perfect venue for conferences, workshops, webinars, networking events, and cultural celebrations.
For example, “Harvard University, Cambridge”, “Stanford University, California”, and “Vanderbilt University, Nashville”, all within the United States.
21) Co-working Spaces
Co-working spaces are shared places in which employees from multiple companies share office spaces. These places offer amenities like high-speed Wi-Fi, comfortable seating arrangements, audiovisual equipment, breakout rooms, kitchenettes, and more.
Since co-working spaces offer flexible workspaces, a collaborative atmosphere, and numerous facilities, they can be a perfect venue option for corporate meetings, workshops, seminars, training sessions, and networking meetups.
For example, IWG (International Workplace Group) is the world’s largest coworking organization, offering flexible office spaces in over 3,000 locations across 100 countries. It provides a wide range of workspaces to meet varied demands, from budget-friendly offices to high-end executive rooms.
22) Farmhouses
Whether you’re hosting a wedding ceremony, a corporate party, or a family celebration, the rustic setting of a farmhouse may make your event unforgettable for you and your guests. Many farmhouses are large and spacious, easily accommodating a large number of guests.
Farmhouses take you away from the city to a peaceful and serene environment with greenery, open skies, and fresh air. Being connected to nature it also offers a stunning backdrop for photos for guests to cherish.
Farmhouses offer adequate amenities and facilities like swimming pools, beautiful garden areas, dedicated areas for playing sports or a bonfire, WIFI connection, catering options, and more. For example, “Deplar Farm, Iceland”, “Babylonstoren Simondium, South Africa”, “Blackberry Farm, United States”, and “Destiny Farmstay, Ooty, India”.
23) Luxurious Villas
Villas offer a beautiful and peaceful ambience with spacious rooms, swimming pools, sprawling lawns, and play areas, sometimes even home theaters. They also often come with luxurious and modern amenities, providing you with a completely private and exclusive event location.
Villas make for an amazing venue for weddings, birthday parties, corporate celebrations, and family functions. For example, ”The Great House, Barbados, West Indies”, “Villa Leopolda in France”, “Chalet Colombe, Gstaad, Switzerland”, and “Le Chalet, Lech, Austria”.
24) Virtual Venues
Virtual venues are a great place for hosting any kind of event, like virtual conferences, webinars, seminars, workshops, town halls, L&D events, and job fairs. Virtual events are often far more budget-friendly than in-person gatherings. It eliminates major expenses like venue cost, travel cost, catering charges, on-site staff fees, and more.
Virtual event platforms like Airmeet offer a convenient and easy solution to host events. It mainly focuses on creating highly interactive, engaging, and rich networking experiences in a virtual setting.
Airmeet allows you to host events in multiple formats, such as webinars, conferences, workshops, L&D events, job fairs, virtual sales kickoffs, and more. Additionally, it provides a range of features to facilitate interaction between you and your audience, including an interactive virtual stage, screen sharing, live chat, polls, and Q&A.
Airmeet offers additional features like branding and customization to reinforce your brand identity, like breakout rooms to engage the audience in a small group discussion, networking to enable them to network with other participants, and gamification to entertain the audience and create a more immersive environment for them.
Final Thoughts
Each venue comes with its own blend of classic grandeur, lavishness, and modern amenities. Choosing the best venue for your event depends on your specific needs, preferences, and budget.
Whether you are planning a corporate celebration or a dream wedding, a brand activation event, or a private celebration, each venue type listed here will provide your guests with a seamless and unforgettable experience.
FAQs
- First, define your event type, such as corporate meeting, personal celebration, webinar, and more
- Then, set your event budget
- Based on your budget, choose your event location, like a banquet hall, community center, or more
- Ensure that the chosen location can accommodate all your guests and is easily accessible to them
- Check amenities like catering services, a separate drink area, sufficient parking on-site, and more
- Check if the venue has reliable high-speed Wi-Fi, a projector, a screen, and a quality sound system
- Read online reviews and testimonials from previous clients about that venue
The below are venues that come at an affordable cost:
- Park or garden
- Private residencies
- Community centers
- Co-working spaces
- Convention centre
