Liverpool’s Crowne Plaza puts the corporate away day in a whole new light, says YBnews’ Tony McDonough, adding “without the biscuits I could not have got through it”.

Every now again there comes a day in all of our lives when a little rain must fall. For anyone working in the corporate world that day will inevitably involve a flipchart.

Game-changing goals

The company away day is when we often get to dress down – which is ace – and when we have to talk utter dross for about seven hours – not so ace.

We throw ideas across the table, we set game-changing goals and formulate transitional efficiencies to deliver maximum impact.

At the end of a series of tortuous workshops and break-out groups with people who make our skin crawl we are meant to emerge with a clear set of centralised win-win solutions.

It is about as fun as a wet Tuesday in Newport Pagnall.

Right location

However, some enjoyment can be had from the day if the location is right.

The Crowne Plaza Hotel has been a prominent fixture on Liverpool’s waterfront for what seems like forever.

The hotel actually opened in 1998 and, despite the number of high-end rivals that have arrived in the city centre since, it still holds its own as a premier venue.

When the British Open Golf Championship came to Royal Birkdale in 2008 legendary American golfer Tom Watson stayed at the Crowne Plaza and told general manager Stephen Roberts it was the best hotel he’d ever stayed in.

He may say that to every hotel manager he meets on his travels… but we’ll take it.

Top facilities

The hotel doesn’t just offer the usual bland meeting rooms for corporate events – it houses a fully-equipped business centre with smartly decor.

When we walked into the space that would house our day-long away day we all gave a little gasp – it was like walking into the most swish of corporate boardrooms.

A dedicated member of staff is on hand to make sure everything is in place to help your day to go as smoothly as possible – and there was breakfast to boot!

Fast wi-fi, an easy-to-use visual display system, a flipchart (obviously), stationery, tea, coffee, pastries and what seemed like an endless supply of biscuits.

A delicious lunch was delivered right on the time we arranged and after we had eaten we took a stroll outside to enjoy Liverpool’s world class waterfront.

Professional team

Booking a space in the centre couldn’t be easier. The dedicated business centre team promises that, within two hours, they will respond to your request with space, rate and date availability.

The company away day is still not my favourite activity but if there really must be one then the Crowne Plaza Liverpool is hard to beat.

We even came up with some centralised win-win solutions.