Recently, the Belgian events agency Upgraded chose De Groote Sociëteit in Maastricht to host a private evening party for one of its clients. In collaboration with Event Management Group, an evening was organised featuring a reception, dinner, carefully selected wines, and, later in the evening, music and cocktails.
Upgraded is a Belgian events agency that organises, amongst other things, corporate events, meetings and incentive trips. For this evening, the agency was looking for a unique venue that would suit the private nature of the event and offer the flexibility to change the setting throughout the evening. The choice fell on De Groote Sociëteit on the Vrijthof. Its location in the heart of Maastricht, the character of the building and the various function rooms made it possible to hold the reception, dinner and party in separate areas within the same venue.
The guests were welcomed with a glass of sparkling wine and a savoury lolly. This was followed by a three-course sit-down dinner, with a wine pairing for each course. After dinner, the evening took a different turn. Cocktails were served and the client’s own playlist provided the musical backdrop for the rest of the evening.
The layout of De Groote Sociëteit is well suited to events comprising various programme elements. The venue has several rooms, meaning that the reception, dinner and party can each take place in their own separate setting without the guests having to move between venues in between.
Upgraded choice De Groote Sociëteit, part of Event Management Group (EMG), was responsible for the venue and organisation of this event on behalf of their client. EMG organised and co-ordinated the production at the venue, including liaising with and managing the contractors involved. ES&C catered the dinner on behalf of EMG.
This way of working together is quite common. An events agency provides the client’s requirements, programme and concept. EMG then adapts these to the venue, and the organisation is further developed and implemented within De Groote Sociëteit.
The team at De Groote Sociëteit is familiar with the venue and the possibilities offered by the various rooms, and handles the practical organisation within the venue. This involves coordinating, amongst other things, the layout, scheduling, catering, technical aspects and execution. The event agency thus maintains its own role in relation to the client, whilst EMG is responsible for the execution of the event at the venue.
De Groote Sociëteit is part of Event Management Group (EMG), an organisation with various event venues in the southern Netherlands and Belgium. Within EMG, expertise is shared in the fields of event organisation, hospitality and the practical delivery of events. Each venue retains its own character and its own team.
For De Groote Sociëteit, this means that events are organised and delivered from the venue itself, backed by the expertise and resources of the wider EMG organisation. This is particularly valuable for corporate events and collaborations with event agencies, where various suppliers and parties may be involved and close coordination is required in advance regarding, amongst other things, planning, catering, technical support and execution.
The ‘Upgraded’ evening demonstrates how De Groote Sociëteit can be used to host a private event comprising various elements. The three rooms together can accommodate groups of up to 275 guests and, depending on the programme, can be used separately or in combination.
Thanks in part to these advantages and its location on the Vrijthof in Maastricht, De Groote Sociëteit is in high demand for corporate dinners, client events, receptions and parties, amongst other things.
Are you organising an event at De Groote Sociëteit, or are you an events agency looking for a venue in Maastricht? Please get in touch to discuss the options!
