Capacity and layouts for meetings and conferences
Choose a room based on your expected attendance. This page shows which of our 21 rooms suit different group sizes and explains the seven seating layouts.
Which room suits your group size?
Use the left-hand column to find rooms for your group size and compare capacities by layout. Adding tables reduces capacity: the same 51–57 m² rooms seat 54 in theatre style and 20 in classroom style.
| Number of delegates | Suitable rooms | Capacity by layout |
|---|---|---|
| 10–20 peopleManagement and board meetings | Lake Superior (25 m²) and the seven 51–57 m² rooms | Classroom 20 · U-shape 18 · Boardroom 16 · Hollow square 14–16. Lake Superior: boardroom 12. |
| 20–55 peopleDepartment meetings and presentations | Mount Elbert (57 m²), Matterhorn, Thames, Lake Garda, Volga, Rhine, Mount Rushmore | Theatre 52–54 · Banquet 40. For tables for everyone, choose the next room size. |
| 55–90 peopleEach divides in two with capacity from 18 people | Loire, Loch Ness, Mont Blanc, Lake Geneva (85 m² each) | Theatre 90 · Banquet 70 · Classroom 44 · Cabaret 36 · U-shape 24 |
| 90–230 peopleSmaller conferences and seminars | Everest 3 (211 m²), Everest 2 (230 m²) | Theatre 210–230 · Banquet 144–168 · Classroom 108–120 · Cabaret 84 |
| 230–325 peopleLarger seminars and dinners | Everest 1 (359 m²) | Theatre 325 · Banquet 264 · Classroom 168 · Cabaret 142 |
| 325–800 peopleDivides into three rooms accommodating from 210 people | Everest (787 m²) | Theatre 800 · Banquet 648 · Classroom 462 · Cabaret 288 · Hollow square 166 · U-shape 146 |
| Breaks and exhibitionsNatural light and large trees | Atrium (1,400 m²) | Banquet 400 · Also used for registration, exhibition stands and receptions |
See the area and capacity of each room in the full capacity table on the meeting rooms page.
What do the seven layouts mean?
Capacity depends as much on layout as floor area. Everest seats 800 in theatre style, 462 in classroom style and 146 in a U-shape: the same room, three capacities. Here is what the seven layouts mean and when they are used.
Rows of chairs facing the stage, without tables. This fits the most delegates per square metre and suits plenary sessions, talks and presentations. Everest seats 800.
Rows of tables and chairs facing the stage. Choose this when delegates need to write, use computers or have materials in front of them. Capacity is typically just over half of theatre style: Everest seats 462.
Round tables seating eight to ten guests each. Used for dinners, company parties, gala events and group work. Everest seats 648; the atrium, 400.
Round tables with one side left clear so everyone can see the stage. This layout combines presentations with group work and is our most common choice for one-day conferences. Everest seats 288.
Tables arranged in a U, open towards the screen. Encourages discussion and gives the presenter space in the centre. Uses more space per person: Everest seats 146, compared with 800 in theatre style.
One table with everyone seated around it. Used for board meetings, management meetings and confidential discussions. Lake Superior, at 25 m², is set up for 12 in boardroom style.
Tables in a closed square. Everyone can see each other, without a clear front to the room. Used for negotiations and workshops without a fixed presenter. Everest seats 166.
How do you choose a layout?
Choose based on what delegates will do. For listening, theatre style uses space most efficiently. Writing or computer work requires classroom tables and roughly twice the space per person. Cabaret or banquet suits group discussion, with each table forming a group. For everyone to see each other and discuss equally, choose U-shape or hollow square, with a much lower maximum capacity.
A typical conference uses several layouts in one day: theatre for morning plenary, smaller U-shape or hollow-square rooms for afternoon workshops, and banquet seating in the atrium or Everest in the evening. We rearrange between sessions. Include your programme in the enquiry so we can build changeovers into the schedule.
Tell us your delegate numbers and programme, and we will suggest a room and layout
Frequently asked questions about capacity and layouts
For 50 in theatre or banquet style, choose Loire, Loch Ness, Mont Blanc or Lake Geneva, each 85 m² with 90 theatre or 70 banquet seats. For 50 in classroom style, we use Everest 3, seating 108.
800 in theatre style in the 787 m² Everest. The same room seats 648 for dinner. The 1,400 m² atrium supports registration and breaks for the same event.
Theatre style uses rows of chairs without tables and accommodates the most delegates. Classroom style adds tables for writing and computers, reducing capacity by nearly half. In Everest, the difference is 800 versus 462.
Yes. Everest divides into three independent rooms accommodating from 210, while Loire, Loch Ness, Mont Blanc, Lake Geneva, Mount Elbert and Thames each divide in two with capacity from 18. The 21 rooms provide up to 28 spaces.
The 1,400 m² atrium, with natural light and large trees, connects the meeting rooms. It hosts registration, exhibition stands, coffee breaks, receptions and banquets for up to 400.
Yes. We rearrange between sessions, so the same room can host morning plenary and an evening banquet. Include the programme in your enquiry so we can schedule the changeover.
We can help you choose the room
Tell us your number of delegates and outline programme. Our Meetings & Events team will suggest a room, layout and schedule.