Choosing the perfect venue to host an important company conference can be quite a challenge. And for businesses bringing together delegates from all over the UK, the easiest city to reach is London. It is the hub for railways, roads and air travel, and most public transport operators in the UK offer direct services to the capital. Additionally, if you have delegates travelling from all corners of the country you will need to book accommodation for most of them. Many larger hotels that offer conference facilities also offer a special delegate rate for overnight accommodation as part of the venue deal. This makes booking a combined hotel and venue package a better value proposition than opting for a cheaper non-hotel venue.

But with over 2,300 hotels and conference venues in London, where do you start? Well, firstly you\'ll need a venue that is easy to reach by public transport and close to major railway stations or the London Underground. Hotel facilities are also a very important consideration, due to the fact that should the majority of your delegates require at least an overnight stay then you will want them to emerge refreshed in the morning ready to enjoy the conference. However, many cheaper hotels in London are quite utilitarian, cramped or noisy - conditions that are not ideal for a good night’s rest. To provide your delegates with quality sleep, you are going to have to plump for a quality hotel.

The best conference venues will provide business facilities and equipment that rival your own office. But how many times have you sat at a conference and watched someone’s presentation delayed when an important piece of equipment malfunctions? As the organiser you must have a high degree of confidence in the venue that you\'ve entrusted to host your conference, and most venues can provide state-of-the-art equipment, with a technician on hand to iron out any technical problems that might arise.

Finally, most delegates will have a spot of free time, either before or after the conference; so you need to provide something for them to do when they are not required. For those who don’t want to venture further than the confines of the hotel, make sure it’s got plenty of facilities, such as a swimming pool, spa or sauna, as well as great dining options. Of course, you won’t be able to please everyone all the time, but you normally can’t go wrong by booking your conference at a quality hotel in an area that is packed with restaurants, bars and shopping facilities. The latter in particular is a popular activity for conference delegates with free time. So hiring conference rooms in Knightsbridge, Oxford Street or any other popular London shopping location is sure to be a good idea.