Selecting a Dog Show Venue: 10 things you need to know

Press Release:

By Angela Reagan, Director of Sales and Marketing, Holiday Inn Roberts Centre & Royal Canin Ring.

Choosing a dog show venue can be extremely daunting, especially if you have never been a show chair. There are a number of considerations and logistics involved, and the variety of indoor and outdoor canine activities can be overwhelming. Events often include:

• Conformation

• Canine agility

• Lure coursing

• Tracking

• Flying disc

• Dock dogs

• Seminars/symposiums/trainings

• Sporting events

• Grooming competitions

With so much at stake, here are 10 factors to keep in mind when selecting a venue for a dog event.

Flexible show space

Make sure the venue is large enough to accommodate the multiple competition events that may be happening at once. Inquire about the location of prep areas, as handlers will want to be close to the show rings as possible to ensure their animals are show ready.

The space should offer indoor show rings with good visibility for both large and small breeds of dogs as well as outdoor space to host canine agility courses such as jumps, tunnels, weave poles, and ramps. Outdoor courses that can accommodate obedience/rally, tracking, herding, lure competitions, dock diving, and scent work allow for additional flexibility.

Best in class dog show amenities

If you are planning agility, obedience, rally, or tracking courses for your event, make sure all of the tools necessary for your courses are at the venue. Outdoor events, such as lure coursing also need to be easily set up and ready for your participants. Confirm that on-site staff will be available to help set up and tear down for events including conformation, agility, and obedience as well as tracking, herding, and lure coursing.

Here are things to look for in a venue as you are planning these courses for your event:

• Unobstructed, flexible space (indoor and outdoor)

• Bathing facilities with hot water

• Convenient loading/unloading dock

• Obedience and Agility equipment on site

• Examination tables for judging

• Ring gating

• Photo area and backdrops

• Space for storage, office equipment, and on-site sound system

• Meeting spaces for judges or club gatherings

• Electricity that is easily accessible for grooming needs in convenient locations

• Ring signage

• Adjustable carpet for events, including red carpet

Expert show staff

Look for an event staff with vast experience that knows how to organize and host dog shows specifically. Also, ask them how many shows they’ve hosted and organized. Even the smallest dog show needs a flexible staff that can handle any event need or want. Ask for examples of experience with resolving unexpected issues that arose during a dog event.

Professional event marketing capabilities

The venue should include marketing promotions, such as print and social media marketing, as part of the package to help promote the event on your behalf. Also ask about their ability to receive customized exhibitor bags, personalized signage and prizes.

Venue pricing

When looking at any dog show venue, affordability is a key part of the planning process. Look for a dedicated event staff that works directly with each client and meets their specific needs to keep costs reasonable for an exceptional value.

Location

Look for a location situated on a major, easily accessible highway to make travel easier. While venues in a large city may be cost-prohibitive or not offer all of the amenities desired specifically for dog shows, attendees will still want a location that offers a variety of food, shops, and entertainment available to access throughout the event.

Convenient and pet-friendly accommodations

In addition to being pet-friendly, make sure the facility is used to accommodating multiple animals at once. Throughout the event, participants will want to rest in their rooms while still being able to access anything they might need during their stay. Look for a venue that can support these needs.

On-site parking and RV accommodations

It is ideal to offer attendees free on-site parking. Many prefer to travel with own accommodations in the form of a camper or RV, so the venue needs to have adequate parking available, preferably spaces designed with standard electric RV hookups.

On-site foodservice

On-site foodservice avoids the need to spend hours setting up and providing meals. Look for a venue with a conveniently located restaurant that serves three meals per day, and options for delivery.

Positive reviews

Before booking any dog or cat show, check the reviews of the facility. Check Google, Yelp, and other social media reviews to see what people are saying in general about the venue. While an isolated negative review is not an immediate cause for concern, if you see a trend of poor service, ask the venue about it before booking your event.

An event space that has all of the necessities for your event in one place can help ensure you can accommodate competitors from around the world if desired. Take the time to conduct research and ask the right questions to ensure you connect with professional planners who can help ensure your event in Best In Show.

Angela Reagan, Director of Sales and Marketing, Holiday Inn Roberts Centre & Royal Canin Ring. The Royal Canin Ring indoor venue has more than 80,000 square feet of flexible space and Eukanuba Field is a scalable, five-acre outdoor park. More information is available by visiting RobertsCentre.com/conference-center.

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Posted by admin on Nov 19 2019. Filed under Featured, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.