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MADDEN’S ON GULL LAKE EXTENDS SEASON

The popular summer destination Madden’s on Gull Lake is proving to be a meeting hot spot year-round with its extended season perfect for winter retreats and holiday parties.

During the spring, summer and fall, Madden’s offers 280 guest rooms and 42,000 square feet of meeting space for groups of all sizes. After mid-October, Madden’s becomes a cozy venue for smaller groups requiring up to 40 guest rooms, meeting space, food and beverage service, a pool and lakeside spa.

“The space is dedicated to one group; your group will have exclusive use of the Wilson Bay Lodge facility, dining, and guest rooms and receive our undivided attention and service,” says Marketing Director Kathy Reichenbach. “By removing the distractions of a city conference Madden’s is a serene setting for accomplishing your group goals and building your team.”

A winter retreat at Madden’s includes inroom woodburning fireplaces, breakfasts, dining space for up to 200, nightly bonfires with s’mores, a lobby bar, Wi-Fi, conference services, A/V, an indoor swimming pool, hot tub and sauna, and an event manager to help coordinate on-site.

Snowshoeing, cross country skiing, ice fishing, ice skating and ax throwing are also available for team-building activities.

Tee Up … Even During Winter Months

Thr3 Jack is bringing the game of golf to Minneapolis’ North Loop for yearround tee time. Founded by siblings Bo Massopust and Lucy Robb, Thr3 Jack is the North Loop’s first indoor golf venue and restaurant.

“It’s interactive, encourages participation, allows for competition, and offers an opportunity to teach and learn from and with each other,” says co-founder Lucy Robb.

In addition to its 90-seat dining room and 40-seat patio, Thr3 Jack has six stateof-the-art golf simulators designed for year-round use by golfers of all skill levels. These simulator rooms are also available to rent for screenings, private parties and special events.

Additionally, there is a private dining room with flexible seating options to accommodate groups of up to 20 people.

“Our food and drinks are craveable, from-scratch New American dishes, along with a selection of craft cocktails designed by Jesse Held of Earl Giles, local beers, and a wine list designed by Bill Summerville,” Robb says.

The restaurant boasts nearly 10,000 square feet with a 1,200-square-foot patio. The bar seats approximately 28 people.

Rosedale Center Opens New Food Hall POTLUCK

Named after the Minnesota tradition of gathering family and friends, POTLUCK joined Rosedale Center this past fall as its newest food hall craze. Guests can choose from local favorites like Grand Ole Creamery, Smack Shack and Nordic Waffles. Also, the popular Minnesota State Fair vendor Burger Dive has its first retail location at POTLUCK.

“Food halls are dominating the conversation in retail and mixed-use development,” says Lisa Crain, senior general manager of Rosedale Center. “In response to the market and our 14 million shoppers annually, we are proud to offer this phenomenal collection of the top chefs, best food, and newest concepts to the market.”

POTLUCK also offers Obachan Noodles & Chicken, Chickpea, southern-style restaurant Betty & Earl’s, among others.

The Metropolitan Ballroom & Clubroom Renovation

Located just outside of downtown Minneapolis, Golden Valley’s Metropolitan Ballroom & Clubroom reopened in October 2019 after a comprehensive décor refresh. The D’Amico Catering venue began operating in 1996 and boasts 8,975 square feet of space that can be booked in its entirety or in any combination of five subsections.

“The Metropolitan has long been a memorable venue for Minneapolis corporate events, fundraisers, and weddings,” says D’Amico & Partners co-owner and founding partner Richard D’Amico. “My design inspiration for this project was every classic Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dance scene, with a little bit of Busby Berkeley thrown in for good measure. The result is a stunningly bright and fresh homage to the classic 1930s elegance with a clean, modern spin.”

The décor updates include new flooring, vintage modern light fixtures, a new light installation above the dance floor and more.

“We look forward to debuting The Metropolitan’s elevated, stylish new look, and hosting all types of events in this vibrant West Metro space,” says D’Amico.

SUSTAINABILITY MILESTONE

This past October, Xcel Energy Center and Saint Paul RiverCentre celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the launch of its unprecedented campus-wide sustainability program. Additionally, the facilities were also awarded LEED Platinum Certification. Xcel Energy Center is the first and only NHL building in the United States to be certified LEED Platinum for Building Operations and Maintenance, and Saint Paul RiverCentre is now one of only three convention centers in the United States to possess this same certification.

On Oct. 5, 2009, Xcel Energy Center and Saint Paul RiverCentre formalized their goal to become a regional leader in sustainability by rolling out "50-50 in 2"—a collaborative effort to reduce the amount of trash generated across the campus by 50 percent while increasing the amount recycled to 50 percent within two years. By the two-year mark, the facilities had decreased the amount of trash generated by 59 percent and increased the recycling rate to 53 percent.

In the 10 years that followed the launch of "50-50 in 2," several other sustainability initiatives and goals concerning energy, water, purchasing, air quality, community and transportation were implemented. ENERGY: Xcel Energy Center and Saint Paul RiverCentre are the No. 4 purchaser of Windsource energy in Minnesota. WATER: Since 2015, staff have removed over 12,000 pounds of trash from the Mississippi River banks as part of their AdoptA-River commitment. PURCHASING: 82 percent of the venues' office product purchases meet sustainable criteria. AIR QUALITY: Over 200 readings were taken throughout the building in 2018, verifying that it has excellent indoor air quality. COMMUNITY: After all food shows, a facility GREEN TEAM works side-by-side with event exhibitors to properly collect leftover food either for compost or donation to the local community food shelves. TRANSPORTATION: 40 percent of Xcel Energy Center and Saint Paul RiverCentre staff commute to work by bus, bike, carpool or an efficient vehicle. "Over the past 10 years our sustainability program has grown to become part of our culture," says Jim Ibister, Saint Paul RiverCentre general manager and Minnesota Wild VP of facility administration. "I am incredibly proud of our organization's continued commitment to sustainability and dedication to have a lasting impact on the communities we serve."

Since 2009, Xcel Energy Center and Saint Paul RiverCentre have:

• Recycled over 4,050 tons of material. • Composted over 2,665 tons (and donated 312 tons of leftover food). • Generated over 12 million kWh of renewable energy on site, between District Energy's solar thermal panels and the photovoltaic panels on the parking ramp. • Purchased over 19 million kWh of wind power through Xcel Energy's

Windsource program. • Upgraded over 8,600 lights to more efficient technology. xcelenergycenter.com/sustainability

AWARDS »

New Director of Sales and Marketing at Radisson Blu Mall of America

Radisson Blu Mall of America has appointed Gary O’Driscoll to director of sales and marketing. O’Driscoll brings nearly two decades of experience in the hospitality industry to his new role, and he has overseen hotels throughout Illinois and Texas.

“Gary has a proven track record of success and has consistently surpassed his properties’ sales goals year-over-year. His fresh perspective and leadership will be a great addition to our talented marketing and sales teams,” says Harry Gorstayn, general manager of Radisson Blu Mall of America.

In his new role, O’Driscoll is responsible for leading all sales and marketing efforts throughout the 500-room hotel. Prior to joining Radisson Blu Mall of America, he oversaw several properties in Texas as director of sales and marketing, including Wyndham Riverwalk San Antonio, Hilton San Antonio Airport, and Crowne Plaza Dallas near Galleria-Addison. Before moving to Texas in 2014, O’Driscoll oversaw marketing and sales for several properties in Illinois, including Hyatt Regency Deerfield and Chicago Marriott Southwest at Burr Ridge. He began his career in hotel sales in 2002 as a reservation sales manager for Wyndham Northwest Chicago.

An Illinois native, O’Driscoll graduated from Western Illinois University with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology. He’s also received several accolades for his work in sales, including Aimbridge Hospitality’s Sales Manager of the Year, and he’s a four-time recipient of the company’s Presidential Award for achieving the highest market share growth.

F&B

Radisson Blu Minneapolis Downtown recently welcomed

Robert Foster as executive chef. With more than 20 years of experience as a chef in the Minneapolis area—nine years at Joseph Catering, 13 years at Jack’s Café and nearly three years at Radisson Blu Mall of America—Foster brings a deep understanding and great passion for hospitality to the company. In just a short amount of time, Foster has reinvented the hotel’s breakfast and evening offerings in the Business Class Lounge and forged new local partnerships with Red Lake Nation and Kramarczuk Sausage Company.

“I believe that every day is an opportunity to celebrate, and our menu is an opportunity to reflect that belief by creating inclusive menus that all of our guests can enjoy,” says Foster.

Foster will also oversee the menu and operations for the hotel’s restaurant, FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar. When he’s not cooking at Radisson Blu, Foster enjoys spending time outdoors, canoeing, bicycling and cooking for family and friends.

Peter Botcher is the new executive chef of The Marquette Lounge, previously known as Jacques’ Restaurant, at The Marquette Hotel. Botcher will oversee all culinary outlets, including The Marquette Lounge, hotel in-room dining, and The Marquette Hotel’s extensive banquet and catering offerings, including Windows on Minnesota located on the 50th floor of the IDS building. The Marquette Hotel is now managed by Wischermann Partners, Inc., which also manages Hotel Ivy and The Westin Edina Galleria locally.

“Our team made it a priority to seek out local partners and source local ingredients that everyone could easily connect with and find joy in sharing as a group,” says Botcher. The Marquette Lounge offers breakfast, lunch, power hour and dinner.

Botcher has 18 years of culinary experience. Before joining The Marquette, he was executive chef at Second Bar + Kitchen in Austin, Texas, and Butcher & the Boar in Minneapolis. He spent time training in Napa, California, and worked for chefs Steven Brown and Vincent Francoual.

Ty Rushmeyer and Andrea Graham

MEET MINNEAPOLIS HOSPITALITY HERO AWARD

Ty Rushmeyer, a tour coordinator at Surly Brewing Company, has been named the Hospitality Hero award winner for the second quarter of 2019 by Meet Minneapolis, Convention and Visitors Association.

Andrea Graham, senior brand experience manager at Surly Brewing Company, nominated Rushmeyer for his diligent work to curate the educational and immersive tour experience for Surly's guests. He has cultivated a team of highly engaging and informed tour guides to tell the Surly story.

Graham also noted that when Rushmeyer sees a need, he fills it. For example, in spring 2019, Rushmeyer created an American Sign Language (ASL) guided tour program that happens monthly at Surly. It provides the ASL community with a brewery tour experience specifically curated to their needs and interests.

“Ty uses Surly's tour program to celebrate our brand, our local brewing industry and our hospitality partners. His team provides guests with suggestions of other local breweries to visit, restaurants to check out and local hotels for travelling groups who plan to spend the night,” Graham says. “Minneapolis is at the heart of Surly's program, and it shows throughout every tour experience.”

GIVING BACK »

Meet Minneapolis Participates in ESPA’s National Celebrate Services Week

The Meet Minneapolis Destination Services team, together with Minneapolis Convention Center and hotel services counterparts throughout the city, hosted a breakfast during ESPA’S National Celebrate Services Week. In partnership with House of Charity, the event included an opportunity to give back to the community.

On any given night, approximately 1,400 individuals in Hennepin County experience homelessness. The goal of House of Charity’s initiatives is to reduce this number and provide housing and services to those in need. An executive from the organization spoke to the group to share insights into how people can help support this go, and during our two-hour event, attendees made 11 blankets.

“We wanted our event to assist with the positive impact this charitable organization is making in Minneapolis and the region,” says Kathy McCarthy, director of public relations and communications for Meet Minneapolis, Convention & Visitors Association. “The House of Charity’s greatest donation need was for more fleece tie blankets. With winter fast approaching, we knew creating these warm blankets would be a fun, impactful and interactive team-building activity—and provide an important benefit to some of the most vulnerable individuals within our community.”

Hyland Hills Chalet

for Weddings, Corporate Events & Reunions

• Reservations April through September • Hillside provides additional ceremony & activity opportunities • Approved catering list