Event planners continued to source and book actively throughout 2024, with more than £456 million in confirmed bookings made through the Venue Directory platform. To recognise the venues most frequently selected by planners during this period, we introduced our first-ever Top 50 Meeting Venues List. 

The rankings reflect data from third-party agencies and event organisers across the UK. Criteria included confirmed bookings, enquiry volume, response times, conversion rates, and a proprietary destination score. In this blog, we take a closer look at the top five.

Venue Directory's Top Five Meeting Venues

1. Holiday Inn Manchester City Centre

Holiday Inn Manchester City Centre took the number one spot in our inaugural list. Located 200 metres from Manchester Piccadilly Station, the hotel offers convenient access for delegates travelling by rail. 

Holiday Inn Manchester City Centre includes 12 meeting spaces, with capacities of up to 110. Each room is equipped with integrated audiovisual features, including BOSE sound systems, Barco ClickShare wireless presentation tools and either wall-mounted displays or projection screens. Its breakout areas provide direct access to a canal-side terrace.

The venue holds a GOLD Venue Verdict accreditation and has been consistently recognised within the Holiday Inn brand portfolio.

Quick stats:

• Total meeting space: 544 sq. m
• Meeting rooms: 12
• Maximum seating capacity: 110
• Guest rooms: 298

Key amenities: 1GB Wi-Fi, projectors, flipcharts, on-site dining and fitness suite

Discover top meeting venues in Manchester

2. Holiday Inn High Wycombe M40 Jct 4

Second on the list, Holiday Inn High Wycombe M40 Jct 4 stands out for its road connectivity and ease of access. Positioned just off Junction 4 of the M40, with direct links to the M25, M4, and Heathrow Airport, it’s well suited to serve both regional and national events.

The property includes seven meeting rooms for up to 120 people. Rooms are used for training, seminars, exhibitions, receptions, networking and board meetings. High-speed internet and integrated AV are available in all spaces, and the venue's amenities include contactless check-in, clutter-free layouts and visible wayfinding to support a smooth attendee experience.

Holiday Inn High Wycombe M40 Jct 4 also offers different meeting packages, including the Summer Day Delegate Package and Christmas Afternoon Tea, for intimate meetings. It also has outdoor spaces for team activities, including a courtyard garden suited for up to 30 delegates and a one-acre enclosed grass area that can accommodate up to 80 people. 

Quick stats:

• Total meeting space: 310 sq. m
• Meeting rooms: 7
• Guest rooms: 112

Key amenities: AV equipment, buffet lunches, complimentary parking and hydration stations

Discover top meeting venues in High Wycombe

3. Engineers House Conference Venue

Engineers House ranked third on the list and was the highest-performing dedicated conference venue. Unlike hotels that balance events with guest accommodation, this AIM-accredited venue focuses exclusively on daytime events.

Planners use Engineers House for networking, exams, barbeque, summary party, board meetings, seminars, teambuilding events and workshops. The Grade II listed building is in Bristol’s Clifton Down and has 25 meeting rooms, many of which overlook landscaped gardens. 

The property combines 19th-century architecture with modern AV infrastructure and appeals to organisers looking for both professionalism and character. It also offers extensive grounds with ample seating that delegates can use during breaktimes and lunchtimes. There are 50 offsite and 160 on-site car parking spaces available.

Quick stats:

• Max seating capacity: 70
• Meeting rooms: 34

Key amenities: High-speed Wi-Fi, bespoke catering, outdoor spaces and lounges

Fun fact: Engineers House was built in 1831 by Charles Dyer and was the home of Charles Pinney, who was the Mayor of Bristol during the Bristol City Riots.

Discover top meeting venues in Bristol

4. Holiday Inn Express Bristol – Filton

The second Bristol venue to appear in the top five, Holiday Inn Express Bristol – Filton ranked fourth overall. It is situated near the M4, M5, and M32 motorways and close to Bristol Parkway Station, offering practical accessibility for regional business meetings.

The venue features a meeting room suitable for smaller gatherings such as training sessions, team meetings and interviews. It offers complimentary Wi-Fi, breakfast included with all stays, and access to an on-site café and bar. On-site parking is also available, though limited.

Quick stats:

• Meeting rooms: Suitable for small groups
• Guest rooms: 157 

Key amenities: Free Wi-Fi, complimentary breakfast and Express Cafe & Bar

5. Holiday Inn Express Birmingham NEC

Rounding out the top five is Holiday Inn Express Birmingham NEC. The hotel benefits from proximity to major event infrastructure, including the National Exhibition Centre and the Birmingham International Airport.

Holiday Inn Express Birmingham NEC includes seven meeting rooms with capacities of up to 70, all equipped with wireless internet and standard AV. The spaces are typically used for training, product launches, roadshows, breakfast meetings and seminars. 

In addition to meeting space, the hotel offers comfortable overnight accommodations, an Express Start™ Breakfast, and a dinner menu available in the evenings. 

Quick stats:

• Meeting rooms: 7
• Guest rooms: 179
• Maximum seating capacity: 70

Key amenities: LCD projectors, flipcharts, Wi-Fi, parking and dinner menu

Conclusion

There you have it, the top five meeting venues on this year’s inaugural list. Rounding up the top ten are Best Western Premier Mount Pleasant Hotel in Doncaster (#6), Crowne Plaza Gerrards Cross in Beaconsfield (#7), Best Western Chilworth Manor Southampton Hotel in Southampton (#8), DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester - Piccadilly (#9) and The Park Royal - Warrington -Cheshire in Warrington (#10).

Together, they offer a snapshot of booking patterns across regions, property types, and brands and reflect the breadth of demand for MICE business seen across our platform. Take a look at the complete list of TOP 50 meeting venues here.

About the author

Diana Tamboly is Field Marketing Manager for Cvent's Hospitality Cloud business in Europe. In her role, she's responsible for setting and delivering the strategic marketing direction for Venue Directory, a Cvent company.