Dial events

Want to make your event more fun?

That'll be a yes! From learning to make chocolate to polo lessons, there are plenty of ways to spice up your event for delegates who've seen it all before...

There's nothing worse than 'same old, same old' with events. So, if you want to offer delegates a fun, inspiring and challenging event that they won't forget in a hurry Expotel can find you any number of events with a twist.

“Providing entertainment or the opportunity to learn a new skill in this way can really add the wow factor to an event – and certainly provide a talking point afterwards,” says Expotel’s commercial marketing’s Laura Ogilvie.

“Here’s a taste of what’s on offer. Simply speak to the Expotel team about what sort of activity you’d like and where you’d like to go, and they will do the rest.”

Fab food

If you want something that’s creative, fun and appeals to the gourmands in your delegate group, combine your conference or meeting with something foodie.

The Filini restaurant at the Radisson Blu hotel in Birmingham offers pizza-making classes, where you get to spin some dough, sprinkle some toppings and then sample your efforts afterwards (£25 per person, including a glass of wine on arrival and one with dinner). Mamma mia!

And, to finish, why not try the chocolate-making lessons offered through the Macdonald Portal Hotel Golf & Spa near Chester (£10 per person added to your delegate package)? Sweet-toothed delegates will love it!

In the drink

Continuing the food-and-drink theme, delegates can master the art of cocktail-making at the Carbon Bar in The Cumberland, a Guoman hotel near Marble Arch in London (£75 per person). Here, budding mixologists get the chance to whip up eight cocktails, as well as learn about the history of cocktails.

Those who love their bubbles should try their hand at sabrage, the noble art of severing a champagne bottle with a sabre. Red Carnation’s Milestone Hotel in Kensington, London (£85, exclusive of a service charge), offers lessons.

Murder in mind

To add a little intrigue to your event, try a murder-mystery evening, where guests can have a go at guessing whodunnit during a three-course dinner given a dastardly twist using professional actors. London’s Park Plaza hotel offers monthly joiner nights (£59.50 per person), while Classic British Hotels’ Felbridge Hotel and Spa in West Sussex offers events twice a year (£45 per person) – book now through Expotel for its 20th March event.

Bowl ’em over

Bring out your delegates’ competitive streak with a ten-pin bowling session at QHotels’ Hellidon Lakes Golf & Spa Hotel in Northamptonshire (£25 per lane per hour), perfect as an after-dinner activity or for a spot of staff team-building. Or why not give their golf simulator a go (£13 per hour), with a longest-drive or nearest-the-pin competition?

Horsing around

A couple of equine-themed activities are also available at the Macdonald Portal Hotel in Cheshire. Make like a royal and enjoy a polo lesson (£60 per person) at a nearby club or think big and help to prepare a shire horse for a show (£10 per person). After all, there aren’t many times in your life when you get to plait a horse’s mane, and it’ll certainly be something to tell them back at the office!

This feature was written by DialExpotel for Expotel, the UK’s leading hotel, travel and venue booking agency. To find out more about Expotel or any of the activities mentioned, call 0844 793 7300.

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