When Drottninggatan 11 opens its new conference center, the goal is clear: guests will get more than a traditional meeting experience here. We spoke to Conference Manager Dennis Coenen and Site Manager James Thompson to hear their vision and thoughts behind the venture - a meeting place in central Boden that wants to combine business benefits with experiences.
" The idea of the conference is that it should be versatile. The rooms are furnished and designed to be used in different ways for dinners, wine tastings, birthday parties and even dance floors. It is simply also an event space" explains Dennis
Food is a central part of the overall experience. Here they want to go beyond the classic conference sandwich.
"We don't want to serve these boring, standardized options. For example, we allow guests to create their own popcorn flavor at our popcorn bar - why not licorice popcorn?" James says with a smile.
The rooms have a warm and inviting feel, far from sterile white walls. There are three conference rooms: the Prince, the Queen and the King, with space for different types of meetings. A flexible rolling wall allows the Prince and Queen to be combined, providing space for up to 55 guests. In total, the facility can accommodate between 60 and 70 people.
"We want people to leave with an experience, not just a conference day. That's why we've also created a private lounge area and focused on activities and personal service," says James.
Demand is increasing and DG11 & Drottninggatan11 are investing
Demand for meeting places in Boden is increasing, not least from international companies and tourists.
"We believe this will be an important contribution to the development of the city. This is not just a place for white collar guests, we welcome everyone." says James.
Taking a risk is always a risk, but the team at 11 Drottninggatan is determined to keep taking risks. They hope that others will be inspired to take on similar initiatives.
"Of course it's scary and can go badly. But we want to try it, and so far it has gone well. We hope that our venture can inspire others to dare. Just as we are important for Boden's city center trade, they are important for us and our guests. Together we are stronger, and Boden is already good at that, but there is always room for improvement." Says James.
Hotel beds and future investments
In parallel with the conference initiative, Drottninggatan 11 is seeing a clear increase in business visitors, while weekends still have lower occupancy. To attract more guests during their leisure time, the hotel is working on weekend packages that combine food and activities and wants to collaborate more with the hospitality industry.
"Guests need things to do to want to come here for pleasure. We also hope to start some kind of collaboration where guests can book activities on site." Narrator Dennis
The plans go further than that. The vision is to build more hotel rooms and to add a gym and spa, an investment that would mean a real boost for Boden.
"This is something we really believe can enhance the city's appeal and create an even more complete experience for both business and leisure visitors" says James.
"For us, it's important to take care of the people of Boden too, those who are always here. Everyone should feel welcome just as they are and hospitality permeates everything we do. At the same time, we want to get more people moving around the city center, so we keep prices low so that it's easy to have an after-work or treat yourself to a hotel night." Says James.
But it is also flexible and open to all kinds of experiences. You can book private dinners, birthday parties or other events, and create memories together. The idea is to make both residents and guests feel at home, and to make every visit more than just a meal or a meeting. It's this combination of hospitality, community and opportunity that makes Boden so special, and which James and Dennis hope will inspire more people to venture out and develop together.
"If you are curious about booking your own conference or event, just get in touch. We are always open to inquiries and are happy to tailor the experience to the guests' needs. Our goal is to solve it in the best way for each customer" concludes Dennis.
If you want to read more about the new conference or book click on the link: https://drottninggatan11.se/konferens/
Photo & text: Alvina Pettersson
