Training is essential for your employees’ professional growth and the contributions they can make to the business. Though the best training techniques may prove ineffective if you don’t offer a venue equipped with the staff and resources to carry out a successful training program.

Choosing the right venue — and closely attending to details such as learning environment, amenities and technology — will help guarantee a successful learning experience for your employees.

Use this checklist of what to consider when choosing a venue for your employee training program:

Onsite vs off-site. Generally speaking, an off-site location for training is a better choice, eliminating work-related distractions. Many workplaces are well-suited for getting business done, but not conducive to learning.

If you determine off-site training makes the most sense, hotels are often the “natural” first choice to consider. Though look carefully at what any given hotel has to offer. They may offer only an a-la-carte training venue model. This means additional costs for staff assistance, technical support, help with travel accommodations, Internet access, etc. You don’t want to get nickel and dimed with added resources, which can strain the limits of your training budget.

Location. Focus on a venue that’s easily accessible by foot or vehicle. If participants are arriving by car, be sure to clearly communicate the venue’s parking policy. Will employees be coming from out of town? Are there hotels nearby for those needing overnight accommodations? A location near the airport or public transportation may make the most sense.

Room layout. The number of participants may influence the size and layout of the rooms chosen. While the average class size increases with the size of the organization, roughly 80 percent of companies with 1,000 or more employees will typically include between 11 and 50 participants. A training room should therefore have sufficient space for attendees to engage in learning activities.

Atmosphere. Acoustics are obviously an important consideration; if participants can’t hear what the leader (or other participants) are saying, the training effort will yield poor results. The same principle applies to lighting, so employees aren’t trying to learn in the dark.

Amenities. As noted, there’s much more to the training venue than its physical space. Employees will work and learn best in an environment where all the essential amenities are provided, including:

• Tables, desks, chairs
• Computer work stations
• Wall space for hanging flip charts
• Continental breakfast
• Catered lunches
• Full access to complimentary, healthy snacks and beverages
• Personalized concierge services
• Plenty of comfortable space for breaks
• Reliable administrative services (easy registration, distribution of materials)

Taking care of amenities means participants can stay focused on learning throughout the training sessions.

Technology. Regardless of the content involved in your training program, the latest technology is needed to ensure an optimal learning experience for all involved. This starts with the use of advanced computer hardware (including remote user-access capabilities), as well as resources for video, virtual training and e-learning programs.

Make sure the venue you choose can support key training technology, including:

• Wi-Fi connections (high-speed broadband)
• Computers and/or laptops, tablets and other mobile devices
• Digital projection systems
• Printers
• Online security
• Backup and storage capabilities

The success of your corporate training program depends on an environment that’s comfortable, accessible and conducive to learning. By carefully selecting the right venue — and ensuring that the right amenities and technology are included — you can move ahead with your training objectives and provide the best possible learning experience for your employees.