An event venue accessible by public transport? Shuttle bus, car or bike at InnStyle

You've shortlisted InnStyle, and the atmosphere by the Maarsseveense Plassen appeals to you. The programme you have in mind is a perfect fit for this setting. But before you go ahead with booking, you want one practical question answered: is this event venue easy for all your guests to get to?

For most guests, getting to a venue outside the city is no problem, as they drive themselves or share a lift with a colleague. But there is almost always a small group who rely on public transport. And sometimes that group is not so small: at organisations with a strict public transport policy, such as many government bodies, this applies to everyone. In that case, access to this event venue by public transport could well be the deciding factor in whether or not your day will be held here.

I'm Nancy, and I've been an account manager at InnStyle for over three years now. During that time, I've helped hundreds of event managers organise their business events, and the question of accessibility almost always comes up, usually early in the process and often even in the initial request for a quote. Our team of event producers and I are happy to take care of these logistical questions for you, so you can focus on the content and your guests.

In this article, I'll take you through the ways to get to InnStyle, whether by car or by bike. And I'll show you how we make public transport work for you, as it can often be a little trickier in this area.

Getting here by car: close to the A2 and A27

Let's start with our strongest points. InnStyle is a stone's throw from both the A2 and the A27, so most guests reach us within a few minutes of leaving the motorway. For event managers expecting guests from all over the Netherlands (or further afield), this is often one of the first ways in which InnStyle stands out. Everyone can get here relatively easily, wherever they are travelling from.

1000 free parking spaces

And once you arrive, there's plenty of space. We have 1000 free parking spaces right on our grounds, so you won't have to search for a space, and no separate parking charge will be added to your invoice. For large groups, this often makes the difference between guests arriving relaxed and a chaotic start to your event.

Getting here by bike

For guests who live near Utrecht, or who simply enjoy cycling, InnStyle is also easy to reach by bike. Our location by the Maarsseveense Plassen means the last few kilometres often take you through a peaceful, green area, making for a pleasant start to a business day rather than a ride through the busy city.

Is InnStyle an event venue you can reach by public transport?

Yes, InnStyle is accessible by public transport, although it does require a little more planning than travelling by car or bike. There is no longer a regular bus service stopping outside, but a demand-responsive bus service or our own shuttle bus will still get your guests here easily.

Imagine this: your guest gets off the train at Utrecht Centraal, checks her phone for the connecting bus to InnStyle, and discovers that the regular service stopped running long ago. Instead, she finds a demand-responsive bus service that she should have booked in advance. Now she is standing at the station, wondering whether to call a taxi, and will end up arriving late for your event.

I would rather flag this scenario up in advance, so you and your guests do not run into it yourselves. It is a tricky situation, but one we have a solution for.

Once a regular bus service, now a demand-responsive bus

A few years ago, a regular bus service still stopped right outside InnStyle. Convenient, predictable and with no action needed on your part. That service has since been replaced by a demand-responsive bus: a system that requires you to book in advance, meaning you cannot simply expect a bus to turn up outside at a set time.

We would have preferred things to be different too. A regular bus service stopping outside makes life easier for you and your guests, but unfortunately that decision is not ours to make. Because we believe guests without a car should also be able to arrive comfortably, we do our best to make their public transport journey as comfortable as possible.

For an individual guest who plans ahead, booking the demand-responsive bus is manageable. But for a group of dozens (or hundreds) of guests who want to arrive and leave at the same time, a demand-responsive bus is simply not a realistic solution. We understand that, which is why we do not leave it there.

The solution: our own shuttle bus

At InnStyle, we arrange a dedicated shuttle bus for groups who would like to travel by public transport. We work closely with a regular bus operator, with whom we have had reliable arrangements in place for some time. The result: your guests step off the train and are then taken directly to InnStyle, without having to book a demand-responsive bus themselves or wonder whether they will arrive on time.

The costs depend on the number of guests, the timing and the type of bus required, so we always request a tailored quote from the transport operator. If, for example, you would like to transport a small group by shuttle bus, we arrange an eight-person bus that runs back and forth from Maarssen or Utrecht Overvecht. In most cases, this bus can make two return trips in an hour, and the hourly rate is €131,25. A large coach is also an option, but the pricing and logistics are different.

Which stations can you be picked up from?

The shuttle bus can pick up guests from various locations, depending on where your group is travelling from, but the most popular choices are:

• Utrecht Overvecht
• Maarssen Station
• Other locations, by arrangement

''We always consider what makes the most sense for your particular group and travel route.''

How we arrange the shuttle bus for you

The best part is: you don't have to do a thing yourself. As soon as public transport access becomes a factor in your event, we'll work on it together. As an account manager, I discuss with an event producer how many guests are coming and which station they'd like to travel from. Based on that, we book the bus and agree on the timing. You then simply receive a transport plan that works.

I've experienced this first-hand at a large business event for a financial services provider, where a substantial number of guests travelled by public transport. The shuttle bus picked the group up from the station and dropped everyone off right outside the venue, exactly on time, without the event manager having to give it another thought. That's how transport for an event should work, because we all know that a successful event starts long before guests reach the entrance.

When public transport access is particularly important

Companies with a public transport-only travel policy

For most events, public transport access is a minor practical consideration rather than a major obstacle. But there are organisations, such as government bodies and some large companies, where travelling by car simply isn't allowed. In those situations, public transport access can determine the entire choice of event venue.

In precisely these cases, it's good to know that we have experience with this: our shuttle bus service was created specifically for situations like these. As long as you let us know early enough that your whole group is coming by public transport, we'll help with the planning and make sure everything runs just as smoothly as it does for guests arriving by car.

In short: getting here needn't be a concern

Easy access by car is a major advantage at InnStyle, and where public transport falls short, we bridge the gap for you with our own shuttle bus.

You're probably asking this question before you even book, and rightly so: you want to be sure that the colleague who always travels by train, or an entire group from an employer with a public transport-only policy, can get to your event without any hassle.

As an account manager at InnStyle, I've already arranged this for hundreds of event managers, and I'd be happy to help you find the best solution for your group.

Still unsure whether this is feasible for your event too? Send us an enquiry, and we'll work together to find the best transport arrangements, so you can focus on what really matters: an unforgettable event for your guests.

Are you also working on the other building blocks of your event, alongside transport? Take a look at our checklist for organising a business event, so you don't overlook anything.