Research conducted amongst event planners underlines a demand for event venues to clarify internet connectivity.
Results from the survey, commissioned Etherlive, highlight that customers are not being provided with sufficient details regarding Wi-Fi, wired capability, bandwidth, network speed and pricing at venues when hiring an event space.
Of the 250 corporate and agency respondents, 91% believe that the bandwidth of venues’ dedicated conference networks should be readily made available. The reasons cited were that it would enable organisers to better understand the capabilities of the venue.
Further questions revealed that 73% of the respondents feel that a kitemark verifying adult content had been filtered from the venues’ connectivity and the network is encrypted ensuring private communication should become an industry standard. Feedback highlighted that a kitemark would reflect responsible business behaviour; however 9% felt that it would be an infringement of privacy.
36% of respondents did not feel confident in conference and events venues being able to adequately represent their IT systems and ability, stating that all too often front office staff were not specifically trained and that many venues did not see connectivity as a priority.
The research goes on to confirm that bandwidth should be included in the RFP process as it would facilitate an informed decision about the suitability of a venue.