Meetings + Events
The power of gathering people
The power of gathering people
Find out how many people will fit in your room or what size room you need for your number of attendees.
Step 1
Choose a Room Layout type:
Step 2
Enter one of the following to determine the other:
Room Size:
sq.ft.
Capacity:
NOTE: This is a starting guideline only. Accuracy for your particular event cannot be guaranteed.
Metro Toronto Convention Centre Appoints Kathy M. Haley as President & Chief Executive Officer
The world’s first national convention bureau celebrated its 60th anniversary at IBTM
Air Canada Named World's Leading Airline to North America at World Travel Awards
by Wendy Helfenbaum
Your conference agenda may be packed with A-list speakers, but as more events welcome international audiences, you’ll also need skilled interpreters, translators and technology solutions so everyone is literally on the same page.
DETERMINE YOUR NEEDS
During pre-registration, ask attendees what language they’re most comfortable using. Then, evaluate what you need: Do you require simultaneous interpreting in real time, or someone onsite to translate PowerPoint presentations for daily news digests? Real-time interpreters work in a soundproof booth, and you’ll also need wireless equipment to transmit the feed to participants. Need to translate several languages? You’ll need a separate interpreter’s feed for each. Is your meeting highly technical? You’re best served with interpreters that have experience in your industry sector.
DO SOME PREP
For translators, provide content as early as possible, and offer technical terminology that may be challenging to translate. "Put translation in right at the beginning of your plan,” suggests Mark Jessup, a Barrie, Ont.-based translator and director of translators at the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario (ATIO). Consider your printing deadlines and figure a 10,000- word document takes five days to translate.
Provide accredited interpreters with the full program and teleprompter text if available, adds Caroline Napier, a Toronto-based conference interpreter and ATIO’s director of conference interpreters.
"Most professional conference interpreters have training at the master’s level, and can quickly grasp the vocabulary to constantly adapt to various situations and be able to encapsulate a message,” she says. In Canada, expect to pay between $700-800 and up per day for a qualified interpreter.
And don’t skimp on AV, because you want attendees to hear clearly.
SAVE MONEY WITH INNOVATIVE ALTERNATIVES
Language interpretation and real-time captioning include all participants in your events, but these services can be expensive and logistically challenging, says Kirk Hendrickson, COO for wordly Inc. in Los Altos, California. The company’s AI app provides simultaneous translation without an interpreter or any specialized equipment.
“Wordly can be set up in minutes without sound booths and headsets. Attendees can see and hear the translation on their devices, and wordly provides access to 16 languages simultaneously for the cost of a single language,” says Hendrickson.
Worldwide Tech Connections (WWTC) recently brought its new remote technology to Canada. It delivers real-time interpretation of more than 78 languages using software as a service (SaaS) solutions.
“We provide software to facilitate remote simultaneous interpretation, meaning no more soundproof booths in the meeting room taking up space,” says Roberta Dexter Robidoux, business development specialist, Canada with WWTC. “Planners can sell more registrations in the space they save and reduce their carbon footprint by not having equipment and interpreters travel.”
WWTC also offers automated translation that can be displayed on screens and devices or listed via text-to- speech technology.
“Planners love this option when multiple languages are required for their group, as well as the captions for those with hearing issues. Audio visual companies love it because they no longer have to ship, build and manage soundproof booths or equipment to accommodate interpretation,” says Robidoux.
However, she doesn’t see software replacing interpreters, but rather enabling them to take on more work because they don’t have to travel.
other articles in this section
Five Cool Things at…the Destinations International Annual Conference
Tips for the Accidental Meeting Planner
How Destination Vancouver is Building a Social Procurement Strategy
The Dilemma: The Rising Cost of Events
Event Profile: Raising funds and spirits
Green Business = Good Business
Case Study: Testing event restrictions
Case Study: Virtual Awards Show
Case Study: A hybrid event for meeting planners
Case Study: Canadian Event Industry Awards
Case Study: 100-person virtual mentoring event
Event spotlight: ConferenceDirect meets at Caesars Forum Las Vegas
By the Numbers: October 2020 Edition
Grab the Mic, Grow Your Business
Should you give interns a turn?
Back to Business: Insights from the MTCC
Back to Business: Insights from byPeterandPauls Hospitality Group
Back to Business: Insights from Industry Associations
Must-haves for the New Reality
Back to Business: Insights from White Oaks Resort & Spa
Back to Business: Insights from Casa Loma Escape Series
Back to Business: Insights from JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka
The new reality for... Speakers
The new reality for... Caterers
The new reality for... Team Building
CanSPEP Connext Conference Kit
How to turn delegates into social media brand ambassadors
The new reality for… CONVENTION CENTRES
Your Event Contract Questions Answered
There's No 'i'solation in Team
New Direction in a Time of Need