The Wedding Bells Are Ringing – So What’s Your Meeting ID?

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2020 was going to be the best year yet.

Your invitations were sent out, you purchased the dress, you lined up the perfect photographer and have a great DJ booked.  This is going to be the best day of your life.

Fast forward to March and wow how things have changed.

Brides-to-be all over the world have been thrown a curve ball that not even Alanis Morissette could have predicted in her famous song Ironic.

So where do you go from here?  After all, you’ve spent countless hours planning for the day that would signify the start of the rest of your lives.

With the current COVID-19 pandemic halting all gatherings over 5 people, couples are left with a tough decision – cancel, reschedule, or improvise?

Cancelling surely isn’t an option when you ask most and rescheduling will be quite tough given the large number of people in the same position as you.

That only leaves one option.  Improvise.

If the pandemic has taught us one thing, it’s to think outside of the box and many are utilizing technology to fill the void where human interaction used to play such a large part.

So why not say your “I Do’s” virtually?

This new trend seems to be taking over as couples can now be married via the popular video meeting app Zoom.  This April 2020 article from The Verge shows how happy couples worldwide have utilized the internet to tie the knot with all of their guests in attendance, well sort of.

Although your loved ones will not be there to walk you down the aisle, they won’t be left missing out on the festivities.

So what do you need to make your wedding day a “virtual wedding day”?

It’s simple. You need a venue that can provide you with a large enough space and the reliable technology required to host your big day.

That’s where we come in.

At The Rostie Group, our wide array of spaces are fully equipped to make your special day a success.  With state of the art video meeting technology and reliable connections, we’ll be sure to take care of everything, leaving you time to concentrate on those important vows.

For more information about saying yes to your big day at The Rostie Group, please visit www.rostiegroup.com or call (416) 214-1840.

Video Conferencing – The Essentials of Looking Good

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Even if you are admittedly “old-school” and prefer face-to-face communication, chances are that you will one day have to turn to video conferencing to stay in touch with colleagues and clients.

You may think video conferencing doesn’t demand the same level of polish you would bring to an in-person interview or client meeting, but the visual impact is still very much the same.

We have come up with six top tips to help you make the best impression during a video-conference.

  1. Light it up : Lights and angles are just as essential in video conferencing as they are for photo shoots and selfies. As a general rule, avoid fluorescent lights as they can be harsh and cast unflattering shadows. Place your primary light source behind the camera, this way your light and your camera are both pointing in the same direction.
  2. Choose a neutral background: Whether you are conducting your video conference at home or in a formal office, make sure your background is always professional. Less is more. In other words, you may be fond of all those family pictures hanging on the wall but the person on the other side of the camera may find them distracting.
  3. Dressing for your videoconference: Choose solid, bold colors. Simple jewelry is best. Ladies, avoid earrings that dangle or any accessories that makes noise when you move. For most video conference calls, you can wear whatever you want from the waist down -unless you think you might need to stand up for some reason, though I feel if you’re going to rock a power suit on top, pj or tracksuit bottoms wont help you feel your at your most professional or empowered best.
  4. Maintain good eye contact: You will look like a complete novice if you are not looking directly at the camera during the video conference, always imagine the person is in the room with you. You wouldn’t keep looking at the floor or out the window if it was an actual face to face meeting would you?
  5. Get the best audio visual: If you do a lot of video conferences, consider investing in an external webcam with high definition capabilities. Depending on your surroundings, you may want to use a headset during your call. However, a video chat without headphones looks more natural, and in my opinion more professional.
  6. Keep your notes nearby: A top tip I once read was, if you ever need to look at some notes during your video conference, jot them down and tape them next to your camera so you’re not shuffling with pieces of paper during the meeting. It helps you stay on track also in case you get a little nervous and forget what you were going to say.

Even if you feel nervous about video conferencing, remember that practice makes perfect. Once you get the hang of being in front of the camera, you will have mastered yet another invaluable business skill-the art of the video conference.

And you can start right now by booking one of our meeting rooms. They are all equipped with full video conferencing equipment so you can start practicing for the big day!

classrooms can be virtual

Classrooms… But Make them Virtual

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Over the past couple of weeks, self-isolation and social distancing have become the standard for people around the world. Contrary to initial thoughts, this practice is looking more like the ‘new-norm’ rather than a momentary solution. It’s important that we all take the advice of our leaders and follow instructions to protect those around us from sickness.

It’s especially important that businesses who are able to encourage their employees to work from home moving forward. With a multitude of different platforms to choose from, employees can connect to each other seamlessly from devices that they may have. At Toronto Meetings, we organize and conduct videoconferences for various clients on a daily basis, as well as for our own staff while we work from home.

While many business meetings can transition to phone calls, or simple gatherings via face time, it’s important to remember how much information is conveyed via body language, and facial expressions, that not having it available is like losing one of your senses.

That’s where we come in…

Over the last few weeks we’ve helped a handful of our clients’ set-up and run ‘Virtual Classrooms’ through the training rooms in our centre, allowing attendants to log into their session remotely. There is no need for business to shut-down completely while we’re all staying home, now is the time to adapt to current situations and react responsibly.

In our rooms, you have access to two 80-inch LCD television screens at the front of the room, and two at the rear. Your instructor can project from a variety of different sources directly to the classroom, shifting easily between powerpoint, doc-cam, or many other mediums.

Do you use GoToMeeting, Skype, Webex or Zoom? Not to worry, our new Polycom Studio Video Bars support all major platforms. Your instructor is the only person that actually needs to be present! We’re more than happy to look after everything on our end, as we usually do, so you just have to show up ready to present!

So if you’re ready to continue your classes virtually with no interruptions, check out our available rooms here, and book today!

Interview at a Business Centre

Business Centres for Interviews

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If you’re a third party recruiter working from a home office you may not have the ideal meeting space to conduct an interview – professional setting, quiet, confidential and comfortable. Or perhaps you are in Human Resources and are working a highly confidential search and are anxious about bringing candidates into the office. What are your options? A coffee shop? Home office? Never ideal – do you really want to bring strangers into your home or have the people at the next table over-hearing your conversation?

I have interviewed candidates in a coffee shop and the noise, interruptions and lack of privacy aside it just doesn’t set the right professional tone.

In my opinion, a business centre is the only way to go. Whether you want to rent a shared work space, your own office or make use of meeting space as needed, it just makes sense.

Everything you need is provided so you can just walk in, open up your laptop and be ready to go!

Your candidates will have a great first impression after being greeted by a friendly and professional receptionist, offered a beverage (saving you making the coffee!) and a seat while they wait. No more searching faces and tables to make sure you find the right person in the café – and hoping you can get a seat in a quieter corner!

The same professionalism and amenities apply even when you’re conducting a video interview.

With Toronto Meetings, you can easily plug into our 65 inch screens equipped with Polycom video conference cameras which automatically tracks new speakers so you don’t need to stay fixed to your chair.

All of our rooms have been designed with acoustics in mind so there is no need for microphones as sound will clearly carry throughout the space and that space only. People in the next meeting room will not over-hear your conversation.

Our technology is cross compatible with any platform you prefer such as Skype, Zoom, Webex, etc.

Next time you need to arrange an interview, give us a call!

Offsite Meeting Toronto Meetings

Offsite Meetings – Top 3 Benefits

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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! 

Videoconferencing Toronto Meetings Atlantic Room

VideoConference Rooms

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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!