Marquees for Corporate Events: What to Consider When Planning a Business Function

Anyone planning a corporate event will know that there can be a lot of extra complexities to add to the equation. 

When arranging these types of occasions, not only are there often more people to host, but there are also usually more complex requirements for the space, layout and its facilities. This may include staging, entertainment areas, presentation booths, and even multiple of these at once!

That’s why, when planning corporate events, planners are often stuck feeling restricted by the availability, layout and facilities of a traditional venue.

A marquee offers a far more flexible alternative, allowing you complete flexibility around the location, date, format and layout of your event. 

What’s more, unlike traditional venues, there’s no need to compete for availability!

So, whether you’re organising a product launch, awards evening, conference or client hospitality event, the Buster Marquees team have shared their top tips for ensuring a well-run marquee event.

Start by defining your event’s purpose 

First, establish exactly what you want the event to achieve.

Defining the purpose early is key, as it shapes every other decision you’ll make for the event. 

For instance, this will directly influence the layout, seating, catering, entertainment, presentation facilities and atmosphere of the event. So, by firming this early, you can use it to inform the next decisions on your list. 

Set a realistic budget

Next, you’ll need to establish your budget. 

Again, it’s important that you confirm this right at the beginning of your planning (rather than trying to work out the costs as you go along). It’ll mean you can prioritise properly and make sure you don’t run the risk of the final event features being sub-standard. 

The key cost points that you’ll need to set a budget for include: 

• The marquee itself 
• Flooring
• Furniture
• Lighting
• Heating, power and utilities 
• Catering 
• Any audio-visual equipment 

When you work with a professional marquee supplier like Buster Marquees, the team will be able to advise you on each of these points, including recommended suppliers, your available options, and general costs. 

If your budget is limited, prioritise the elements that will have the biggest impact on your event, or are the most important to achieving the event’s purpose.

Choose the right site and marquee size

You can then decide which is the right site to host your event.

One of the biggest benefits of using a marquee is that it gives you far more flexibility surrounding your event location. 

In addition to general atmosphere and aesthetics, you’ll need to consider: 

• Whether it’s large enough to cater your number of attendees
• Whether there’s enough leftover room for any outdoor areas / activities you’re planning
• How far the site is from all of your guests
• Access (for both guests and suppliers) 
• Parking (if needed) 
• The condition of the ground
• Whether there is enough space for the marquee plus equipment

Then, when choosing the marquee size, you’ll need to think about both attendee numbers and the facilities, equipment and layout of the event plan. 

Ensure there’s enough space for seating, catering areas, bars, stages, presentation equipment and any activity areas, as well as enough space for your guests to move about comfortably.

Tick off the fit-out essentials

It’s the fit-out essentials that separate a good event from a great one. 

While the marquee provides the structure, carefully planning the fit-out ensures a sleek, modern and professional corporate environment.

The main essentials for a marquee fit-out are: 

• Flooring
• Lighting
• Heating
• Power/AV for presentations or livestreaming

You’ll also want to think about branding opportunities, such as signage, colour schemes and entrance displays. These are a great way to give the event a professional, on-brand feel.

Utilise the flexible catering options

Unlike most traditional venues, marquee hire doesn’t tie you to a fixed catering supplier. This is a great advantage over fixed-venue options. 

You won’t be tied to a preferred supplier list, and can choose a caterer that suits your event, preferences, and the atmosphere you want to create. This could be anything from a formal meal or bespoke catering from a local business, to a relaxed buffet or food trucks – or even a combination of all these, if you’re planning a full-day event! 

Plan your corporate event with confidence

At Buster Marquees, we offer bespoke and flexible marquee hire services, to suit all professional event types. 

Our corporate marquee hire services include dedicated support throughout the planning process, helping you consider all the factors and practical requirements we’ve outlined above. 

We even offer free site consultations, to help you understand what’s possible and provide valuable suggestions. 

With our assistance, you can ensure your event goes off without a hitch! To find out more, don’t hesitate to get in touch.