Meeting Spaces &
The importance of having
yours professionally photographed
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Group sales can be the backbone of any property—bringing room blocks, conferences, multiple day rentals and annual returning business. While typically not the most exciting thing to photograph at a hotel or resort, the imagery depicting ballrooms, breakout spaces, conference rooms and reception areas are extremely important.
“To truly sell an experience, it is imperative for planners and decision makers to envision their program. We want them to visualize the functionality, as well as the range of event possibilities,” says Pierre Stone, Director of Conferences and Catering at The Broadmoor, “Showcasing our distinctive venues with high quality imagery is key to engaging prospective clients and selling a successful experience.”
Show off the inventory
In addition to showing the vacant spaces in their best light, it often is helpful for clients to see the spaces activated, especially if there are in-house offerings such as specialty lighting, house linens, and any other upsell products the property can provide. Capturing staged areas is a great way to show examples of what can be and what is also available.
One room, several options
Showing various setups can help clients envision the space for their own needs; whether showing classroom style setups, rounds for a wedding or social event, or fireside chat setup in a large ballroom. Imagery can help guide the client to booking the space. Help them activate the empty space in front of them with beautiful imagery showing the potential.
“If you can show a before and after image of a space, it is super helpful to assist the client in visualizing the space for their event,” John Tobey of JOHN TOBEY EVENTS explains. “Even seasoned clients sometimes need a nudge in the right direction to close the deal on a space and imagery can really help assist in that process. Having professional imagery of all available spaces is pivotal in initial planning on venue selection.”
Partnership
Properties also hire photographers to come in right before an event to capture an activated space and can often partner with either the client or décor company for imagery licensing and split of the photography/video production fees for some world-class imagery that is beneficial for both the property and event planning company or client themselves.
Envision yourself here
With attendees potentially spending hours or days in spaces, photography can help show what the experience will be like from the room itself to amenities like water and coffee stations, pads and pens, and what the space looks like with the air wall up vs down that isn’t on the property tour, enabling group salespeople more tools to have clients sign on the dotted line.
“The event space is the entire entity of your meeting or event. Without quality images we would not be able to capture what makes our spaces unique and call out to their individuality. As sales manager we want to captivate as soon as possible,” clarifies Colin Bennett, Area Director of Sales & Marketing for Sage Hospitality Group.
Show off your team
The smiling ladies and gentlemen of your sales team, culinary team and events staff can be a deciding factor for group sales; the experience the client will have when they have their event at your property. Show it off with professional, polished imagery.
Don’t expect your event photographer to take marketing images
Event photographers are there to capture their client’s event, not necessarily the space itself. Licensing for commercial use and sales also becomes problematic. Hiring a commercial photographer to capture separate imagery allows time, finesse, and commercial lighting to be implemented that is to the parameters of the property to sell the space.
Contact us for your meeting and event space photo shoot today.
hello@chadchisholmcreative.com 303.249.4112