Why Meeting Rooms Still Matter

Meeting rooms remain a vital – if not essential – component of contemporary business life. The way we operate has evolved significantly. The rigid 9-to-5 has given way to flexible working arrangements, dress codes have become increasingly relaxed, and many businesses no longer utilise a full-time office, preferring adaptable workspace solutions instead.

But while software like Teams and Zoom can keep us in touch, most acknowledge that face-to-face meetings bring something additional. Brainstorming concepts, developing initial plans, or discussing the finer details all benefit from the energy that can only exist in an in-person meeting. But where can you conduct that meeting?

Why select a private meeting room?

We provide rooms suitable for meetings and training sessions, complete with the essential facilities for a successful outcome.

Guaranteed privacy

All our meeting rooms are private, ensuring your discussions remain confidential. While there are numerous public spaces where people can meet, the risk of being overheard can inhibit conversation and may even create business risks.

Professional image

Our rooms all feature quality furniture and equipment, stylish décor, and are maintained to the highest standards. Even if you are not meeting clients, a professional environment helps you conduct productive meetings.

Enhanced productivity and focused team meetings

Utilising one of our meeting rooms can significantly boost the productivity of your meetings. With fewer distractions and no risk of interruption, it becomes a space dedicated to your meeting’s objective, whether that involves brainstorming a hundred concepts or agreeing on just one.

Adaptable spaces for your requirements

Our rooms can be configured to suit your needs. The same space might see dozens gathered around the table for a board meeting one day, but be arranged classroom style the following day for a training session. Each room features complimentary Wi-Fi and telephone access, and can be equipped with additional facilities, such as flipboards and whiteboards, or refreshments when an energy boost is needed.

An economical and convenient solution

Rather than paying for a meeting room that sits empty, or worse still, gets overused, you only pay for what you need with a Wrest Park meeting room, allowing you to simply arrive at a clean, ready-to-use meeting room. We are ideally positioned in Central Bedfordshire with outstanding transport links. However, if you need a meeting elsewhere, please do not forget to check our other facilities.

The meeting and conference rooms we provide

Wrest Park features dedicated meeting spaces, as well as breakout areas throughout our business centres. Suitable for meetings with between 2 and 60 attendees, they all provide different layouts and facilities. We handle furniture and equipment arrangements, ensuring everything is in place so you can begin straight away.

Our boardroom-style rooms can accommodate up to 12 people, allowing everyone to sit around the same table. Our larger conference rooms can seat even more people with a classroom-style layout, making them perfect for briefing or training sessions. We can also provide larger horseshoe-style layouts, which can be excellent for more formal conference-style meetings.

We have also considered those who are unable to attend the meeting. Although face-to-face meetings bring benefits, it is not always possible to get every person in the room. However, hybrid meetings often suffer because those attending remotely can be overlooked or struggle to follow proceedings. We can supply the audio-visual equipment, along with fast internet, if you need a room for a hybrid meeting. This ensures even those joining from the opposite side of the world have a video conferencing experience that is almost as good as being present in the room.

And because our rooms are dedicated meeting spaces, we have considered factors such as acoustics and comfort. You can spend a full day in one of our meeting room chairs without straining to hear participants at the opposite end of the room, or finding yourself fidgeting uncomfortably during the remaining hours.

Most importantly, our meeting rooms are adaptable. They can be hired for as little as an hour, with multi-day bookings available for longer conferences. Because we have several meeting rooms across our campus, we can often accommodate even last-minute bookings, so when you simply need a space for people to gather, Wrest Park is an ideal choice.

How to optimise your meeting room

Everyone recognises the sinking feeling of a should-have-been-an-email meeting. Excellent meetings do not just happen, but with some effort, you can optimise the value of your room and host a meeting that delivers results.

Ensure you need a meeting

Always question whether you need a meeting. Consider whether alternatives, like email, chat platforms, or virtual meetings, might be better. It might seem counterintuitive for us to say it, but we are not simply here to rent rooms.

We recognise the value and energy a successful meeting creates, and we want to help that happen with every booking.

Maintain your agenda

A clear, focused agenda keeps meetings on track. Concentrate on the tasks at hand and eliminate anything that could easily be covered in an email.

Encourage everyone to contribute

The most effective meetings bring out excellent ideas from everyone involved. Wherever possible, structure the conversation to invite opinions and input from all attendees. A well-facilitated session ensures everyone departs feeling heard and engaged.

Location can be as important as purpose

Consider your attendees. How will they travel to the meeting? What can they do during breaks? How do they continue the conversations afterwards?

Look for venues like ours, with well-connected locations, outstanding facilities, and external options attendees can utilise.

Think about the Ps of meetings

There are variations of these, but we prefer these 5 Ps of meetings:

Purpose: consider why you are having your meeting. People: ensure you have the right people at the meeting for that purpose.
Process: how your meeting operates affects its effectiveness; everything, from how attendees are involved to how breaks are structured, can be significant.
Preparation: confirm that everything is ready before the meeting starts; ensure that everyone has the necessary data and information, and that all equipment in the venue is tested and functioning properly.
Payoff: plan a meeting with the outcome in mind; people should be able to leave knowing they have accomplished something, and with the next steps they have to take.

And if you need an additional tip, we recommend a sixth P, which, we have found, can make a significant difference: pizza!

The Wrest Park advantage

Our meeting spaces offer something truly special within the historic parkland setting of Central Bedfordshire. Located just 45 minutes from London with excellent M1 and A1 connections, we combine accessibility with inspiration. The heritage charm of Wrest Park estate creates a unique atmosphere that encourages fresh thinking and meaningful collaboration. With over 400 parking spaces, EV charging facilities, and our on-site Avenue Kitchen café, every practical need is covered. At the same time, your team enjoys an environment that naturally enhances productivity and creativity.

Planning considerations

Booking flexibility suits most requirements, though advance notice helps secure your preferred space during busy periods. Our multiple meeting rooms across the campus typically accommodate urgent requests, but planning ahead ensures optimal room selection. Consider practical elements, such as attendee travel times, parking needs, and break requirements, when scheduling. Technical setup discussions beforehand help us prepare specialised equipment or room configurations to match your specific meeting format and objectives.

Book a meeting room

When you need a meeting and know that conducting it face-to-face is the optimal approach, choosing a convenient, well-equipped, and professional space is the best strategy. From regular meetings to one-off gatherings, our range of meeting spaces will have something that suits you perfectly.

Contact us today to book a tour and explore the spaces we have available, and discover how they could benefit you. Then you can start booking your first meeting in a space that is designed for your success.

Why Meeting Rooms Still Matter