Event Space Archives - Page 5 of 6 - Rostie & Associates Inc.

What type of meeting is it again?

May 30, 2014/0 Comments/in Event Planning, Event Space, Meeting Rooms, meetings, Toronto /by admin

Understanding the type of meeting that you are planning should help you make it even more effective. The type and purpose of getting this group of participants together will determine the timing, preparation and follow-up expected.

Amanda Schneider says

“Not all meetings should follow the same template. Using a variety of meeting techniques helps people focus, feel productive, and helps teams keep projects on track. Knowing your “meeting type” and following these best practices can keep you from wasting time and depleting your team’s motivation”

How does your meeting room arrangement affect participants?

May 28, 2014/0 Comments/in Event Planning, Event Space, Meeting Rooms, meetings, Toronto /by admin

Are you guilty of overlooking meeting room logistics. The layout of your meeting room is secondary only to the meeting agenda and info. Here are some results of a survey conducted on meeting room participants, to think about before your next meeting.

“Meeting participants gave the highest ratings to the speakers, the opportunity to ask questions, the responses to questions, and topics about how the company was doing, especially about recent successes.

The lowest rated items were the meeting room and all the logistics: Room was too small or too big; room temperature was too hot or too cold or too stuffy; the chairs were uncomfortable chairs; the audio was poor; sight lines were poor; the video screen was too small; there were no refreshments; the refreshments were unhealthy; there were too many apples and oranges and not enough cookies; there was no water; there weren’t enough diet sodas.”

Read the rest of the article by Liz Guthridge here…

Tips every startup can use

May 16, 2014/0 Comments/in Business, Co Working, Event Space, Marketing, Meeting Rooms, Office Space, Offices, Toronto, Virtual Office Toronto, workspace /by admin

FAST GROWTH IS A GOOD PROBLEM, BUT WITHOUT GUIDELINES AND STRUCTURE, CAN BE A DETRIMENT TO YOUR NEW STARTUP. HERE’S HOW ONE FOUNDER GREW HIS COMPANY, AND WHAT HE LEARNED IN THE PROCESS.

BY MATT EHRLICHMAN

Over the past eight months our company has tripled in size, expanding from 25 employees to 125. During this time we transitioned from working in the basement of my home to a 17,000-square-foot office in Seattle, outgrowing two other temporary spaces in the process.

Growing so rapidly in a short of period time isn’t easy, especially for a young startup, but it was a great experience and learning process. Here are six things we learned during this time of fast growth:

1. YOU ARE PROBABLY OVERLOOKING PARTS OF YOUR BUDGET

It’s crucial to sweat the details and have a very clear understanding of the cash flow curve for your new office. Without a plan, spending can quickly get out of hand.

Take into account both the “people” and the “property” costs surrounding a big move. You must have a clear employee target number and growth timeline. Factor in the costs required to get newcomers hired and up to speed as well.

Tips for fast and focused meetings in Toronto

May 16, 2014/0 Comments/in Business, Event Space, Meeting Rooms, Offices, Toronto, workspace /by admin

5 TIPS FOR FAST AND FOCUSED MEETINGS. NO MORE CROWDED ROOMS OR RAMBLING OPINIONS — MEETINGS CAN EASILY BE SPEEDY AND PRODUCTIVE WITH THESE FIVE TIPS.

By Sam Harrison

If you slowly feel your soul draining and your mind turning to mush right now–and if you’re reading this on your smartphone–there’s a very good chance you’re currently sitting in on a truly unproductive meeting.

Rather than getting bogged down in any more overcrowded and underproductive business meetings, try implementing these five tips, and start refining those daily tests of endurance.

1. CUT THE NUMBERS

When too many people cram into a meeting room, solutions gravitate toward the lowest common denominator. As film director Darren Aronofsky puts it, “Ten men in a room trying to come up with their favorite ice cream are going to agree on vanilla.”

Read the rest…

The recipe for winning at business event planning

May 15, 2014/0 Comments/in Business, Etiquette, Event Planning, Event Space, Events, Toronto /by admin

This excerpt is part of Entrepreneur.com’s Second-Quarter Startup Kit which explores the fundamentals of starting up in a wide range of industries.

In Start Your Own Event Planning Business, the staff at Entrepreneur Press and writer Cheryl Kimball explain how you can get started in the event planning industry, whether you want to work part- or full-time planning anything from a first-birthday party, bar mitzvah or wedding to political fundraisers and product launches. In this edited excerpt, the authors talk about the things that will help you succeed — and those that will make you fail — in the event planning industry.

Here are some of the pitfalls specific to the event planning industry:

Misunderstanding your client’s requirements. If your client wants a conservative business meeting and you deliver a Roaring Twenties theme party, you’re in trouble. Although this is an extreme example, remember that you need to know all your client’s requirements in detail before you can arrange a successful event.

Read the rest…

How to be more productive in the meeting room

May 15, 2014/0 Comments/in Business, Co Working, Event Space, Marketing, Meeting Rooms, Office Space, Offices, Toronto, Virtual Office Toronto /by admin

5 TIPS FOR MAKING MEETINGS MORE PRODUCTIVE – Lou Orfanos

Whether taking place over the phone, online or face-to-face, meetings are where deals are made, decisions agreed, and relationships with clients and colleagues strengthened.

Yet, despite offering many benefits, they can also be a big drain on workers’ time if they aren’t managed effectively or organised with a clear purpose.

A study by Epson and the Centre for Economics and Business Research suggests that less than half of the time Brits spend in meetings is actually productive. With the average worker in meetings for four hours a week, the impact of unproductive meetings can be substantial. In the UK, estimates suggest that unproductive meetings could be costing the economy as much as £26bn each year.

Here are five tips for having more productive meetings.

1. Be prepared

As any good businessman will tell you, preparation is the key to success and meetings are no different. Whether you’re attending a weekly catch-up or pitching to a big-name prospect, it’s important to have a back-up plan in place in case the session doesn’t go as expected. For instance, if you are due to give a presentation but your PC won’t turn on, it could be game over, but if your files are saved on a USB stick or stored in the cloud, you can simply switch to another machine.

When presenting, practice really does make perfect. It is well worth taking the time to rehearse what you want to say so that you can see how much time you will need to say it. If you keep running over or find yourself being repetitive, you can cut down on your slides or how long you spend on each item and prioritise the points that you want people to remember.

Meeting Room Special: Book One, Get One 50% off

May 14, 2014/0 Comments/in Business, Co Working, Cowork, coworking, Event Space, Events, Marketing, Meeting Rooms, meetings, Office Space, Offices, Toronto, toronto meetings, video conferencing /by admin

After a long and dreary winter, we are ready to celebrate SUMMER. We are excited to be offering a summer special for meeting room reservations.

Book your meeting online with one click!

During July and August, when you book one meeting room, you get the second one for 50% off. Simply book both your meetings at the same time and get 50% off the second one. Please note that the discount is applied to a second meeting reservation of equal or lesser value and does not include catering or AV requirements.

The Rostie Group is Toronto’s premier mid-sized meetings and conference centre and boutique provider of fully furnished personal and shared workspaces including virtual offices, team rooms, workstations, pro and coworking spaces as well as event spaces. Situated at Bay and Queen’s Quay in the city’s thriving south core, our experienced and professional staff are always on hand and dedicated to your business success.

Please feel free to contact our team if you would like to take advantage of this limited time offer or if you have any questions. We can be reached at 416-214-1840 or meetings@rostiegroup.com

It’s Not A Company Picnic, It’s A Business Event: Tips To Survive

May 12, 2014/0 Comments/in Business, Etiquette, Event Space, Events /by admin

BY Lisa Quast

The sun is finally shining brightly and you’ve just been told that your employer has scheduled a picnic for employees and their families. You’re thinking about hot dogs, apple pie, baseball and finally getting to relax with your colleagues.

Many people don’t think twice about how they should act at company events, such as a spring or summer picnic. News flash: It’s not just a company picnic – it’s a “business” event.

If you’ve never thought about it this way, then I’m sorry to be the one to break the news to you. But you need to know that anything company-sponsored means it’s a business event – and that means workplace etiquette applies.

How you act during these types of company events can help or hinder your career. To ensure your reputation remains untarnished after the company picnic, here are some helpful tips:

Read the rest of this ‘Forbes’ Article

National Day of Honour – Red Friday

May 9, 2014/0 Comments/in Event Space, Meeting Rooms, Toronto /by admin

The ninth of May has been officially declared ‘National Day of Honour’. It is an opportunity for Canadians to honour the valour, strength and sacrifices of all those who served in Afghanistan over the last 12 years, including more than 40,000 Canadian Armed Forces members who helped to combat terrorism, stabilize Afghanistan and rebuild the country’s capacity to provide its own security.

A service on Parliament Hill was held today to pay respect to the sacrifices of the wounded and fallen soldiers, as well as the extraordinary burden borne by families. All Canadians paid tribute to the legacy of these heroes by observing a national moment of silence.

At Rostie Group, we went out of our way to dress in red and commemorate this special occasion. All staff members were encouraged to participate and pay tribute on this important day. The Rostie Group has been in business for over 20 years and has worked with a large number of individuals that have connections to the service men and women who honour our country.

“Canada played a central role in Afghanistan for more than a decade. Project by project, kilometre by kilometre, Canadians helped give Afghanistan back to Afghans. With Canada’s help, thousands of members of the Afghan National Security Forces have been trained, hundreds of kilometres of roads have been built or repaired, dozens of schools have been restored, thousands of teachers trained, and millions of children have been vaccinated against diseases like polio. Their valour, sacrifices and remarkable accomplishments in the face of incredible odds will continue to inspire and guide us as Canada continues its development, aid and good governance work in Afghanistan.”

– Prime Minister Stephen Harper

For more information, the official programme for National Day of Honour can be viewed at: http://www.app.forces.gc.ca/ndoh-jndc/assets/documents/ndoh_programme_guide_en.pdf

Check out our new office tower that is opening in a few months!

May 7, 2014/in Co Working, Event Space, Meeting Rooms, Office Space, Toronto, video conferencing, Virtual Office Toronto /by admin

RBC WaterPark Place: http://t.co/rIyFNxUaqT

RBC WaterPark Place, at 933,000 SF and 30 storeys, is where the modern Toronto workplace is headed. The property offers an inspiring work experience, with the city’s only PATH connection to the waterfront, 360-degree lake and skyline views, intelligent amenities, and a vital and refreshing waterfront location. It is the third, and final, tower in the WaterPark Place complex. And as the city’s first LEED Platinum office tower, it is the evolution of efficient, sustainable building design. The project has been designed by WZMH and developed by Oxford Properties.