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Stand-Out Spaces: What the Best Event Venues Do Differently
- Unica Party Rentals
- Aug 1
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 5
Written by: Dianna Candido
The Bay Area offers a wealth of options for event planners and venue owners. While it’s good to have a lot to choose from, it also means that venues need to stand out—but how? Planning an event may sound like a breeze with so many options available, but planners must sift through all of them to find an event venue that grabs attention and offers more than just a space to hold an event. Which means venue owners have to go all-in to make their space one-of-a-kind.
So how does an event venue stand out from the crowd? Read on to find out.
Stand Out to Book Out
At Unica, we help venues, caterers, event planners, and other industry professionals provide exceptional experiences to their clients. As industry professionals, we know what it takes for event venues to truly stand out. If you’re planning an event or if you manage a venue, take note…
Here are three key elements that help event venues stand out.
They offer something totally unique
Surprise! (Just kidding.) The most obvious way to stand out is to offer something no one else has. Event spaces with totally singular offerings are on a fast track to unique city.
It’s not just having a uniquely decorated spot that has venues being touted about across town — they’ve got something different. Event venues with that something special could have “themed out” event spaces, technological marvels, or live entertainment. They’ve gotten creative with their venue.
Other examples of unique elements could include:
A view that’s highly desirable or difficult to find
Historical relevance
Rare or novel architecture
Transformable spaces
Mult-sensory rooms
Anthropological endeavors from event profit
One venue that does this exceptionally well is the Exploratorium. We reached out and chatted with Katie Brauer, Sales & Business Development Manager of Museum Rentals.
The Exploratorium “boasts five unique gallery spaces that can be rented individually or bundled together,” she said, with “views of the San Francisco Bay, Bay Bridge, Treasure Island, Port of Oakland, and downtown city skyline.” It also has “700+ interactive, hands-on, engaging exhibits included in our rentals l,” so when clients book their space, they don’t just sign up for event space, they get engaging entertainment as well. . On display now through September 14 is their Adventures in AI exhibition, featuring artificial intelligence exhibits encouraging guests to explore the world around them.
Now THAT is something worth booking.
(Did you miss Adventures in AI? Check out their latest event calendar, where you can see what events are happening now at the Exploratorium.)
They make it easy to work with them
Another, not-so-flashy way to stand out? Ease.
The easier it is for clients to work with the venue, the more attractive the venue. If you book an event space, the last thing you want to do is endless amounts of research to help you decide what to do or what an event space has to offer. You also don’t want to have to go to five different people from the same venue to get things moving.
Venues stand out when they make it easy for clients to make informed decisions and move the process forward — without endless hoops to jump through or too many details that bog down progress.
At the Exploratorium, they double down on making it easy. “Each event is assigned a Logistics Lead who will help through the planning process. We connect with your vendors directly to help manage floor plans, load in/load out, event timelines, and trucking schedules,” says Brauer. They also offer add-ons that cut down on sourcing externally for every little detail: “Our venue also has a lot of items available to add on - LED lighting packages, sound systems, monitor graphics, basic furniture, and wifi, all to help make the Exploratorium as all-in as possible.
This sort of thing is exactly what we mean when we say “make it easy.”
Go Deeper than transactional
People like being a part of something bigger. One way to embrace that idea is by being open about the “why” behind the business and/or being transparent about philanthropic efforts.
If a venue happens to offer their space to non-profits or humanitarian organizations a couple times a year, or if they donate a certain amount of profit to efforts they believe in, these are the types of things that make a difference to potential customers. People want to know how money is being used, how the business they’re supporting is using their influence.
When customers see that events are something bigger than just a transaction, they’re more likely to seek out the venue.
At the Exploratorium, they’re making the effort and it shows. “When clients book events at the Exploratorium, those event dollars help support our mission to create inquiry-based experiences that transform learning. We support science museums around the world with exhibit development, we bring teachers to our museum annually to learn new and unique ways to teach science back home,” Brauer says. “We promote career development through our High School Explainer programs, and we have a 100,000 square foot museum open year-round to both global visitors and local field trip groups. Your event helps make all of this happen!”
Say less! We’re here for that kind of effort, and so are their customers. We all appreciate making a difference. This is one easy way the industry can.
Find the Perfect Venue
It feels like there are venues around every corner of the Bay Area, but the ones that rise to the top go beyond just offering a space. Whether it’s providing a one-of-a-kind experience, streamlining the planning process, or supporting a meaningful mission, truly standout venues give people something to remember—and talk about.
If you’re a venue owner, think beyond logistics and layout. And if you’re planning an event, look for more than location and square footage. Choose the place that brings your vision to life, inspires your guests, and aligns with your values.
Find out more about the Exploratorium or check out more tips and tools on our blog to inspire your next big event.
