13 Amenities Your Hotel Needs to Drive Corporate Event Bookings

The need for corporate event venues is on the rise, with meeting, convention, and event planners expecting an 11% increase in growth between now and 2026.  

Hotels can take advantage of this opportunity to attract corporate clients if they have the amenities that companies are looking for in an event venue. We took a look at some of Tripleseat’s most popular hotel customers to share some ideas of what you can do to update your venue and book more corporate events. Here are the 13 top amenities we found:

1. A modern library

The Arlo Soho in New York City is much fancier than any home office or library, and it provides the perfect atmosphere for meetings or a place where event attendees can catch up on work. The room’s glass-paneled doors let in natural light and some well-placed lamps and candles provide some coziness. It also comes with all of the audio/visual amenities companies need for a modern meeting, including a flat-screen TV and a boardroom table that has USB and power outlets that keep smartphone and laptop batteries at 100 percent.

2. A dark, cozy bar with mood lighting

Miami’s The Betsy hotel describes its B Bar as “vintage Miami glamour at its best.” The standout space has Art Deco terrazzo floors, a mirrored black ceiling, and walls of whimsical portraits of the most well-known musicians and bands across the world. This space is the spot to host the cocktail and networking part of any corporate event or conference.

3. A room with a cool vibe

Dream New York Downtown‘s Electric Room is the coolest speakeasy basement hangout and it’s perfect for private events. Guests can hang by the intimate bar, lounge on velvet chairs, and take a seat on leather sofas marked with the Union Jack flag. The gothic-style chandeliers, custom back-painted antique mirrors, and artwork by local artists complete the look.

4. A flexible space

Need a classroom setup? A board room? A theater arrangement for conference speakers? The mezzanine space at The Durham Hotel in North Carolina has it all covered – seven different seating configurations, plus audio/visual equipment, including a high-resolution LCD projector, a 9-foot by 12-foot screen, and built-in sound. Enjoy the natural light from their floor to ceiling windows, or close the blackout curtains to make it easier to focus on the screen or event speaker.

5. A ballroom that transforms

The ballroom at Hotel Ella in Austin, TX is 3,493 square feet of “neutral canvas.” Businesses can use the entire space for 250 seated attendees, or break it up into three smaller rooms. Or they can have their entire multi-session or multi-day conference there by booking the ballroom, front lawn with veranda, bar, and all 47 guest rooms and requesting in-house catering, audio/visual equipment, and an event coordinator.

6. A secret bar

What’s better than a secret room? A secret bar that you can access through a secret bookcase entrance! Casbah is the private room/secret bar of Hotel Figueroa‘s Bar Alta in Los Angeles. The hideaway holds 50 guests but it will look like more because the walls are covered in mirrors.

7. An idea lab

Yes, the Lorenzo Hotel in Dallas has all of the other traditional amenities for corporate events: a ballroom, boardroom, open floor plan room, and catering. But very few venues include an idea lab. The Lorenzo has two. Each of these rooms has a table that seats 12, ergonomic chairs, and a built-in technology hub.

8. An indoor/outdoor space

MADE Hotel in New York City has an indoor/outdoor lounge with an urban jungle feel. Their Good Behavior lounge on the 18th floor offers a stunning panoramic view of the city that never sleeps. Gathering areas on the terrace and in the indoor space are surrounded by gorgeous plants and an indoor bar keeps guests supplied with tiki-inspired cocktails.

9. A huge room that can handle corporate business and cocktails

The Johnston Room at NoMad in New York City is a spacious canvas that can be set up for just about any corporate event, but it’s also big enough to handle a large boardroom table plus an area for lounging and relaxing. Guests can also take advantage of an outdoor terrace.

10. A garden with a bar

The Ramble Hotel in Denver calls The Garden “the hidden gem of our hotel.” The seasonal space has a private bar, whitewashed brick, bistro lighting, and a mix of perennial vines and flowers.

11. A lounge with all the perks

Attendees of business events and conferences need a space to unwind and enjoy their surroundings. The rooftop of The Robey in Chicago has a Cabana Club that includes a pool, comfy chairs and couches, 180-degree views of the city, and special food and drink menus.

12. Green space with a food truck

Plenty of hotels in Brooklyn have amazing rooftops and spectacular views of the New York City skyline, but The William Vale in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood has one thing they don’t: their own park. Vale Park is a 15,000 square foot elevated outdoor promenade. Plus there’s the Mister Dips food truck, a 1974 retrofitted Airstream trailer that serves up burgers, fries, and dipped ice cream.

13. A ballroom that’s not boring

There are a lot of hotel ballrooms that are so blah and bland that they don’t stand out and they could really be any ballroom in any hotel in any city. The Main Hall at Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn is far from ordinary. The hotel and hall are housed by a former factory building and have the kind of features that Brooklyn has made famous: restored brick walls, original high wood ceilings, masonry walls, a marble-topped wood bar, large steel-framed factory windows.

A standout style will boost your business

However you choose to upgrade your hotel, make sure that the style and amenities reflect your brand, your neighborhood, and the needs of the companies that want to do business with you. Once you’ve created something that will help your venue stand out, don’t forget to show it off on your website and social media. Need help spreading the word? Use the advice in our events industry handbook, 4 Tips on How to Market Your Venue to Corporate Event Planners, to get on the preferred vendors list of corporate contacts.