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Offsite Meetings – Top 3 Benefits

August 28, 2019/in Meetings, Toronto, Video Conferencing /by John Vieira

Even having your own meeting space, booking an offsite meeting for your and your team can prove to be beneficial in ways beyond your expectation. These are the top 3 benefits of an offsite meeting:

Offsite Meeting Benefit 1 – Increased Attention

Booking a meeting in your own internal space can be seen as just “another meeting”. The usual groaning will come from your employees as they gather and spend time stressing and lamenting about all the other work they have to complete, and the time spent in more meetings. This isn’t to say that your employees won’t think it’s important to be there, they just wish they could be using their time in other ways.

An offsite meeting provides both a change of pace, and is a signifier that this meeting is of increased importance. It’s not just a usual meeting, you’ve expended the time and effort to find a great venue and you’ve spent the money to book it.

The simple fact that this meeting is being held offsite will inherently peak the interest of your employees. They’ll be more aware and chances are they’ll pay more attention to the matters discussed.

Offsite Meeting Benefit 2 – Available Technology

Your internal meeting space – if you have one – may be very well set up for you and your team to meet. But if you want to meet with external clients, or need to connect via video to someone else around the globe, then it may not be the best fit.

An offsite meeting room will have all the latest technology, to make sure that all your attendees, both those meeting locally and all others that dial in to a conference, will have the best experience.

Offsite Meeting Benefit 3 – Inspiration

The same change of pace that allows your employees to pay more attention to an offsite meeting, might just help their minds come up with new ideas. A new surrounding may help spark ideas that didn’t come to mind before, which is just what a meeting should be for.

Whether you are gathering your team for a brainstorming session to take advantage of your new surroundings, or just need a place for a few of you to dial in to clients from around the world, Toronto Meetings is the place for you. Experience all of the above benefits and more by booking an offsite meeting today!

Meetings Membership with Toronto Meetings

August 16, 2019/in Co working, Meetings, Toronto /by Toronto Meetings

With the fall approaching, it’s apt that businesses, and the people that drive them, start exploring avenues to maximize profits as we head closer to 2020.

At Toronto Meetings, we tend to look at September 1st as a second New Year ’s Day. The kids are back in school and the weather allows people to settle back into their thriving work schedules.

September is one of the more exciting months of the business year as people are ready to hit the ground running, and keep running until they break in mid-December.

Over the summer, our team has been brainstorming ideas so that we can serve our clients even better than we have been. After weeks of collaboration, deliberation and a little bit of frustration, we’ve come up with a plan that is going to assist businesses, of any size, make more money.

Please allow me to introduce the Toronto Meetings Membership. Relying on feedback from our current clients, as well as input from almost every member in our team, we’ve devised a membership package that works for a variety of different businesses and people.

For 45 dollars each month, you, and your company, are provided discounts on all meeting rooms at Toronto Meetings, a full-day of coworking each month, invitation to all social gatherings hosted on site, and a Customer Services Portal Account.

If you want to use our meeting rooms regularly, or even infrequently, this membership makes immediate sense. After a couple of hours in one of our smaller meeting rooms, like the Baltic room, you would already start to see a return on your monthly investment. Now imagine if you wish to book one of our larger spaces, like the Rainy Lake room, the discount you would receive would dwarf the 45 dollars you spent at the beginning of that month.

It might seem like we’re selling you a bit of a ‘loop-hole’ with this membership and, between me and you, that’s almost exactly what we’re doing.

The July/August Scoop is Out!

August 6, 2019/in Meetings, Toronto /by John Vieira

The Life & Times of the Travelling Salesman

July 25, 2019/in Meetings, Toronto /by Tyler Blackwell

For those of you who have made a living travelling from city to city, country to country, or continent to continent to put food on your family’s table, we respect you.

It’s not easy living out of a suitcase and eating hotel breakfasts for days and even weeks on end.

Sure, it may seem fun to others who only see the glitzy part of the travelling. After all, visiting different parts of the world, staying in hotels, and eating in restaurants all on the company dollar, is most people’s dream situation.

I’m here to bring attention to these individuals who put in the added effort for the greater good of the company and their families.

As the University of Texas – Dallas pointed out; there is a clear set of pros and cons in travelling for work.

Pro’s such as creating closer relationships with your coworkers and clients, visiting different cities of the world, and of course, the free food, all seem to be the perks that keep these employees going day after day.

However, the cons such as visiting cities that aren’t so beautiful, constantly trying to stay healthy (by avoiding getting sick), and losing the thrill of travelling on their personal time, seem to be the roadblocks that can become the deciding factor whether they continue with the go-go-go lifestyle.

I think one con that wasn’t touched on in this article is the lack of a stable workspace. It’s common for white-collar workers to thrive off of structured work schedules and environments. A place to call home while on the road can certainly benefit in boosting a travelling employee’s morale and production.

At Toronto Meetings, we have just the solution.

Our flexible Coworking provides the perfect amenities for any travelling employee to call home. A dedicated desk, internet connection, phone, and access to meeting rooms, will provide the structured environment they so dearly require.

For more information about our Coworking services, please contact our sales team at (416) 214 1840 or visit our website.

Videoconferencing Toronto Meetings Atlantic Room

VideoConference Rooms

June 25, 2019/in Meetings, Software, Toronto, Video Conferencing /by John Vieira

Wouldn’t it be great if every office had videoconferencing capabilities?

The fact of the matter is, almost no offices in downtown Toronto have videoconference rooms available for use by the hour. Some companies do have videoconference rooms available to them for internal use but rarely allow outsiders in.

At Toronto Meetings, we’ve outfitted our meeting rooms, and offices, with videoconference equipment so our clients can conference with business associates no matter where they’re located.

Whether it’s interviewing a potential new hire in London, talking over figures with someone in China, or even checking in with your child who’s on their year-abroad in Australia, Toronto Meetings has all your video-conference desires covered. With tech support at your disposal 24/7, we can help you establish your connection to make sure everything goes off without a hitch.

Available for the full-day, half-day, and even by the hour, our meeting rooms are the most desirable place to conduct your videoconference. Lake views in the background in our Toronto Bay room; city views from our Caspian or Baltic rooms, whichever you choose will have the person on the other end of the screen wishing they were in your chair.

The camera’s and microphones have voice recognition software that allows them to focus in on individuals in the room. If someone in the room begins a long speech, the camera will allow them to be the focal point of the screen. The camera is also smart enough to recognize when a conversation is taking place, so if two people begin talking at length it will focus on them both.

Our goal is to make the lives, and businesses, that call our floor home easier. Whether you’ve been on our floor for a decade or it’s your first time, we are here for you. Outfitting a room at your office, or workspace, with videoconferencing technology can set a company back upwards of $40,000.

So come see our available room and set up your meeting today!

You can never get a second chance at making a first impression

June 13, 2019/in Co working, Meetings, Toronto /by Toronto Meetings

Imagine yourself meeting a person for the first time. You are probably going to be impressed by their optimistic, professional, and respectful appearance. Imagine the difference in meeting someone who acknowledges your presence, shakes your hand, and remembers your name. Now imagine yourself meeting someone who fails to make eye contact with you and doesn’t bother to put their phone away when they talk to you. One of those people will earn your respect and a good first impression.

When you enter our office space at Toronto Meetings, you are welcomed by warm energy & calming tones. Implementing colour theory in our office is very important as colours have the profound effect of being able to direct & influence people’s mood. We have chosen natural wood, some beautiful flowers arrangements & green tones to bring the feeling of nature inside. You are greeted by positive & friendly people at reception. You are offered tea, coffee & a glass of water. You are provided with a place to sit where you can catch up on emails using our free WIFI, you can take your mind off your busy day by listening to some uplifting music or by reading some magazines including our very own magazine, The Scoop, which comes out bi-monthly.

When a person enters a warm & inviting space & is made to feel welcomed, positive emotions will follow them out of the office & throughout their day. This in turn will influence their decision to do business with that organization. “It’s the first impression that will either open the door or close it. It’s that important, so don’t mess it up.” – Nicholas Sparks, author.

Reception Areas

The overall aesthetic of your office’s reception space not only triggers the tone for the visit, but should embody the identity of your organization. Ask yourself how the client is going to envision their collaboration with your company when they first walk into the room; how can you build on the success of those first thoughts?

When you’re thinking about a redesign or a renovation to the reception area, consider both the overall energy and visual cues you’re creating, but also the small details that a curious visitor will notice when they begin looking around; both of these elements help to create one succinct, unified space that can create a great first impression.

Every office needs to send an effective message to prospective clients entering the office, and it doesn’t have to be done with massive changes to the space – in fact, sometimes even a subtle change like a tasteful accent wall can make all the difference to a new visitor. Reception spaces should reflect a professional sense of creativity, innovation, and impact – without going over the top. Remember, less is often more when it comes to office design.

Your Office Isn’t Just for You

Think back to the films and TV shows of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s – any office depicted in the media was often a grandiose space lavished in dark woods, a power desk, and a huge chair meant to elevate the grandeur of the CEO or partner. Not anymore.

Your office itself is all about the customer these days. Yes, you need a comfortable, attractive space to work, but your office design needs to place its emphasis on the client entering the space to join you. Client seating should be on the same playing field as yours, and your desk shouldn’t intimidate your client – make furniture selection a big part of your first impression checklist so your prospective client or customer feels as though they’re entering into a space that values their collaboration and opinion.

Offer a small table in between a pair of client chairs so they don’t have to place their purse or suitcase on the floor. Offer them a space to put their jacket, so to inspire a sense of belonging.

Lighting

Use of appropriate lighting is another way to boost the impact of a first office impression. Natural light is associated with elevated client and employee satisfaction, healthier states of mind, and overall happiness – so if your office reception space is a dark and small feeling space, that first impression will carry over to the way your clients will interpret your business.

On the contrary, opening windows and allowing natural light to flood the reception area will give off a certain sense of happiness, creativity, and open-ended ideas.

Colours & Materials

Colour theory is oh-so important in first impressions – particularly in an office setting. We’re huge advocates of implementing colour theory in all aspects of the office because colours have the profound effect of being able to direct and influence people’s moods. For example:

Green is the colour of balance; it can help the occupants of a conference room or a personnel management office to weigh the intricate advantages and disadvantages of an idea, or partnership.
Blue is an excellent hue for an office space that focuses on numbers – like an accountant, or investment house – because it slows the heart rate and reduces blood pressure.
Purple is known as the intellectuals colour, and could be of great use for the reception area of your office to help your prospective clients to feel as though they’ve entered into a space of great knowledge and experience.

Your use of material can also influence the first impression of someone in your office. If your brand is, for example, geared towards a millennial crowd and sells coffee shop equipment, using a contemporary blend of natural materials like recycled wood and stainless steel help to give your company a sense of identity and focus. By contrast, the HQ of a coffee-based business featuring carpeted floors wouldn’t have the same level of effect on a client.

So if you’re in the area, and want to come in and see the Toronto Meetings’ rooms and Office Space, feel free to come on by. We hope to see you soon!

The May and June Scoop is Out!

May 28, 2019/in Meetings, Toronto, Video Conferencing /by Toronto Meetings

Why a Toronto Office Space?

May 9, 2019/in Co working, Meetings, Toronto /by Toronto Meetings

There are two things to keep in mind while looking into expanding your business. Firstly, it must be understood where the target audience resides in terms of geographical location. For example, when one thinks of the business capital of the world, they may think New York. Though this is not the only place that you will find the market booming. Think outside the major cities in the U.S.A, China, England, etc. Think the apologetic neighbour of New York; Canada! The city you want to focus in on is the highest populated in all of this massive country, which is Toronto. Secondly, it must be understood that office space will become an absolute necessity. You will need to setup camp somewhere after all. Let’s start there and learn about the importance of expanding your business Northbound!

The process of expanding your business into a Toronto Office

Eventually, you will run out of space where you started your business. Let’s say for this example that you are located in New York. There is very limited real estate in cities like this. You will need to consider expanding to a second location. This is where Toronto office space comes into the conversation. Canada is a 1st world country with loads of potential. It is the second largest country that doesn’t even come close to cracking the top 10 highest populated countries. Perhaps the best part is the opportunity. Toronto is home to a booming market and due to its low population when compared to American cities, anyone has an opportunity to enter the market should they want to! Toronto office space will be the best investment of your career!

Preparing the move to a Toronto Office

You have decided to expand into the North! Toronto office space is the next destination! So what are your options? First, you need to figure out what it is that you require. Will you need a team space for upwards of 30 employees? Or is your business smaller. Perhaps you only require an office for 3 employees. Regardless, you will have to find someone who has the space for you to move in! A great location in the core of downtown Toronto would be Bay Street. You will find that most businesses in the area have earned a name for themselves. A successful business in Toronto will be located at Bay Street. This is your best option should you have the money. Don’t forget the stereotypical truth that Canadians are the most welcoming locals eh?

What options do you have?

You now need to find a way to locate yourself at Bay Street. Find yourself some office space from a business like Toronto Meetings. You will find you have many options in terms of group size. You will find that the business can accommodate your every need. Should you need external space for meetings, reception service, or even catering services, Toronto Meetings will have your back. We take care of the small things that may take up half of your work day. This way you can focus on your work and get the most out of your time. Start investing in Toronto office space and watch the money flow eh?

The Necessity of Business Meetings

April 16, 2019/in Meetings, Toronto, Virtual Office /by Toronto Meetings

Business meetings are one of the most important aspects of a business that is stable enough to say all of its employees are on the same page. Business meetings are a key factor in bringing the employees of a company up to date. This is to avoid any chance of miscommunication interfering with the process of the business in the future. Business meetings are also a good way to introduce employees to one another as well as their bosses. It is advantageous for employees to have relationships amongst each other so to strengthen the overall work ethic for the business.

Miscommunication

One thing that could prove detrimental to workplace operation is miscommunication. Everyone has been there at some point where they text someone on their phone and they get a response that sounds cold or emotionless. This could lead to a gap in communication and could lead to your coworker thinking you are upset with them or moody or something similar. The opposite is all the worse however. Imagine your boss seeing you text with all of these weird emoji’s. They may take it as a sign that you are unprofessional. It could take something as insignificant as this for your boss to be skeptical of your work ethic. This will most likely result in an uncomfortable relationship.

A Chance to Grow as a Company

Business meetings are an opportunity for those lower in the corporate chain to speak up about their ideas. Typically, the owner of a company has no interest in what Fred from Sarnia has to say; especially if it is a larger business with hundreds or even thousands of employees. The opportunity never presents itself, but a business meeting is the chance for Fred. Fred’s idea might benefit the business, but if the owner does not humour him, then there is no chance of the idea coming to fruition.

Throughout the meeting, there should be an opportunity given for those who have ideas to share. Perhaps one hour for anyone to present possible solutions to problems, potential partnerships, advertisement possibilities, etc. This is beneficial to the business as it is using its resources to the fullest; its employees. Fred could potentially have come up with the greatest idea in the past century. Fred just needed an outlet to share his idea. This business meeting held by his company was exactly what he needed to

Give Employees an Opportunity to Chat with Each Other

Employees do not want to feel like work is isolating them from the outside world. This will only make them feel anxious on a daily basis. Employees want to know that they are working alongside other people who can display some kind of emotion. If you feel as though you are working with robots, you will not feel particularly comfortable.

Business meetings provide an opportunity to show your true happy self to your fellow employees; rather than your half-awake grumpy mood. A gathering is a good excuse to get to know each other during the breaks in the meeting for example. Work will be a lot easier for employees if they know that they have friends or at least acquaintances to speak with daily. There isn’t much that is less motivating than sitting at a desk for 9 hours trying to avoid everyone because you are uneasy around unfamiliar people.

So now that you know the necessity of meetings, make sure to take a look at our available rooms and choose the one that suits you and your company the most. Book today!