Discover premier golf courses in Henderson, NV. Enjoy stunning views, well-maintained greens, and a challenging yet enjoyable experience for all skill levels. Perfect for a corporate retreat or a weekend getaway.
• 10 championship Golf Courses
• Minutes from the Las Vegas Strip
• Over 20 Hotels to Choose From
• Easy access to Harry Reid International Airport and the I-15
Planning a convention or meeting in New England? Western Mass offers big-city amenities without the big-city price tag. You’ll find that with the state-of-the-art 100,000+ sq. ft. MassMutual Convention Center and nearby iconic attractions like the Springfield Museums, The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum, the historic Springfield Armory, and MGM Springfield—we’re a perfect fit for every budget and style of convention or meeting.
Getting here is easy. Western Mass sits at the crossroads of New England, with Interstates 90 and 91 running through its heart and Bradley International Airport only 20 minutes away. Whether your attendees are traveling from Boston, New York City, or beyond, they’ll find accessibility as seamless as it gets. Plan your next event where value meets inspiration.
When you book your convention or conference before December 31, 2026, you qualify for three of six incentives that include parking vouchers, gift cards, and more.
2. Hike and bike trails pass through here.
3. Has the best facilities between Denver and Omaha.
6. 1,350 of these happen every year.
1. Downtown Hub for eats and drinks.
4. Historical monument on 1-80.
5. A campus of conference, events and hotels.
7. Every year 1 million of these migrate through 8. HS FB All-Star game.
(We’ll give you a hint: Kearney.)
(Planning your next event in Kearney is no gamble.)
The solution is simple, Kearney is a fantastic place for your next meeting. Where superior facilities, top-notch event staff, affordably, & ease for attendees come together to make your event a success!
Why? Because Kearney has the best facilities between Denver and Omaha, and experienced staff that make sure every event is a win!
If you’re looking for a host city for your next event, make sure you look at Kearney, Nebraska.
If you’re looking for a host city for your next event, make sure you look at Kearney, Nebraska.
Every year, Kearney hosts more than 1,350 events. From the Nebraska Shrine Bowl to conferences large and small, top-notch entertainment – heck, even a million Sandhill Cranes make sure to meet in Kearney every year. Why? Because Kearney has the best facilities between Denver and Omaha, experienced staff, and wonderful volunteers that make sure every event that comes to town is taken care of.
If you’re looking for a host city for your next event, make sure you look at Kearney, Nebraska.
WITH VICKIE MITCHELL
Like the guests they serve, hotels are constantly changing.
Guided by trends and consumer preferences, hotels regularly rethink and revise everything from check-in and décor to amenities and dining options. For meeting planners, checking out how well a potential conference hotel or resort is keeping up with the times can be a good move.
Here are a few trends driving hotels in 2025.
What to check out when you check in
An uptick in hotel renovations and upgrades is being driven by falling interest rates, a spike in sales of hotels and by the fact that many existing hotels are due for a redo. In a Hotel Dive story, Bruce Ford, a vice president with Lodging Econometrics, said “sales transactions nine times out of 10 lead to a renovation.” A good example is in Mesa, Arizona, where a 180-room Sheraton and a 129room Courtyard by Marriott near the Chicago Cubs spring training stadium were recently sold. New owners say the Sheraton will be renovated in 2026. Ford estimates that because hotels typically renovate every 10 to 15 years, between 300,000 and 400,000 hotel rooms will be renovated in 2025. With renovation so widespread, planners should ask if a hotel has any upcoming construction projects when they book properties for meetings and events.
Sure, the neutral decors so pervasive over the past decade are calming, but like vanilla ice cream, they can become a little ho-hum. Enter biophilia, a design trend inspired by nature. Designer Stacy Garcia told HotelManagement.com that as people seek comfort in the outdoors, hotels will echo fields and forests. You’ll see warmer colors — brilliant gold, emerald green, caramel — and natural materials like stone and wood. Another designer, Dan Mazzarini, told the publication that hotels also will add communal spaces beyond the hotel lobby, maybe even carving out conversation crannies on each floor. One hotel space that might be repurposed is the business center. Mazzarini believes new work styles will lead to its extinction. Other designers predict a move away from communal tables in lobbies and toward clusters of small tables and chairs. Designing flexible dining spaces and bars that are natural gatherings places are also goals.
Hotels and restaurants are noticing a big shift in the American lifestyle: We are cutting back on drinking. For example, at the Pasea Hotel and Spa in Huntington Beach, California, staff say there’s been a 25% increase in sales of nonalcoholic beverages from last year. Laura Nelson, author of “The Inclusive Meeting Planner” (published November 2024), has studied the move toward sober choices at professional events. She says that 34% of people say they are trying to drink less, and 24% say they don’t drink at all. There’s also a growing demand for local foods and experiences, driven largely by millennial and Gen Z guests. A worldwide director of culinary for Marriott International, Stephen Toevs, has suggested that “newstalgia,” the art of taking a traditional food and updating it in some way, can tie foods to their place in the world. Think humble baked potatoes or creamy mac and cheese, topped with locally sourced sausage.
The pandemic has taught hotels some lessons, like how to operate with less staff and still be efficient. And they’ll continue to find ways to automate more of their tasks, according to Bruce Ford. He told Hotel Dive he expects hoteliers will further simplify check-in with mobile keys or apps and improve energy efficiency with LED lighting and new cooling and heating systems. Other experts expect hotels to add more ways for guests to use smartphones to improve their stays — to adjust their room’s climate control, for example. Like everyone else in the world, hotels are exploring ways AI can be used for menial tasks that will allow staff to focus on more meaningful work like guest engagement. Forbes magazine reported on one out-of-the box tech option offered at the Shashi Hotel in Mountain View, California. The hotel’s new AI technology, aimed at bleisure guests, is called Living Room in a Box and allows guests to recreate the feeling of their own living room within their guest room.
Combining a business trip with a mini-vacation is nothing new, but as the pandemic has simmered down, this tendency has trended up so much that it’s spawned a new term: bleisure. Allied Market Research estimates that bleisure travel will more than double by 2032 to $731 billion. Hotels are taking note, and those that offer the tools business travelers need and the fun and relaxation a vacationing traveler seeks will be the winners. These travelers want in-room workspaces, fast connectivity, fitness centers, spas and local culture. Some hotels already fit the bill as Forbes pointed out in a recent article — Skytop Lodge in the Poconos has ample conference space set among 5,500 acres of outdoor scenery. And in Memphis, Big Cypress Lodge combines meeting spaces with the aquariums and outdoor gear of a companion Bass Pro Shops, as well as views from restaurants atop the 32-story pyramid that houses it all.
THE UNEXPECTED BUFFALO AD CAMPAIGN FEATURES THE UNEXPECTED BUFFALO AT THE WESTIN BUFFALO, WHICH HAS 115 GUEST ROOMS AND 7,300 SQUARE FEET OF MEETING SPACE.
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BY RACHEL CRICK
Buffalo blends business and leisure so subtly, attendees may think they’re on vacation.
This city of nearly 275,000 on the western side of New York is a waterfront gem with a buzzing arts, culture and culinary scene, which makes it a dream for travelers. For meeting and event planners, that appeal is bolstered by its versatile convention center, abundant hotel rooms and easy access.
The 2025 Small Market Meetings Conference will take place in Buffalo, September 16–18 at the 396-room Hyatt Regency Buffalo Hotel and Conference Center.
Here’s what planners can expect to learn when they converge on the city this year.
The Small Market Meetings Conference will allow meeting planners an up-close view of the city, complete with sightseeing tours that showcase its top attractions, which frequently double as meeting and event space.
“This was a very intentional initiative for Visit Buffalo Niagara to host Small Market Meetings,” said Visit Buffalo Niagara president and CEO Patrick Kaler. “We see this as a great opportunity to showcase an unknown or untapped city for meeting planners to consider.”
In the wake of updates to both its convention center and its renowned art museum, the city’s offerings for planners have only grown in recent years. Even more renovations and expansions are on the way for some of its hotels.
The Buffalo Niagara International Airport’s proximity is another perk for planners considering it as a meeting destination.
“We like to showcase how easy our destination is, that it has a great airport that’s only 15 minutes from the downtown core,” Kaler said. “It’s a very manageable city, very walkable and easy to get around, and a good value compared with other larger cities.”
And though Buffalo can be famously snowy, meeting planners shouldn’t worry about holding events there. In a city like Buffalo, snow is easily handled for winter events. Spring, summer and fall bring lovely weather with opportunities for outdoor recreation and events.
The Buffalo Convention Center completed a $6 million renovation in late 2023. The upgrades included cosmetic features, like new signage and customizable lighting panels, as well as functional upgrades, like heated sidewalks and a reconfigured entryway for improved pedestrian traffic flow.
The newly improved convention center contains 110,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including a 64,000-square-foot exhibit hall, divisible into two spaces; a 12,000 square-foot ballroom; and 21 breakout spaces.
“We have a new, modern, contemporary façade on the outside that’s provided a whole new welcoming experience,” Kaler said. “Plus, we renovated
the entire lobby area and have made that more functional for meeting planners.”
The convention center is connected to the Hyatt Regency Buffalo Hotel via skywalk for easy attendee access during the city’s colder weather. The Hyatt Regency offers more than 23,000 square feet of meeting space of its own and will be undergoing room renovations in late 2025.
The city features several other hotels within walking distance of the convention center. The Marriott Harbor has 205 rooms, while the Embassy Suites has 182. Both have about 6,000 square feet of meeting space. In total, more than 800 rooms can be found within a three-block radius of the center.
Several of Buffalo’s boutique hotels are great for smaller meetings or events.
“One is the Mansion on Delaware, which is a smaller property but very nice for board meetings,” Kaler said. “Then we have the Richardson Hotel, which was formerly the Hotel Henry, a hotel
complex that’s a former asylum, repurposed to be a boutique hotel.”
The city’s inventory of meeting hotels will increase in 2026 with the opening of the Statler Hotel, a historic property with event space that’s slated to add more than 200 hotel rooms right across the street from the convention center.
Some of Buffalo’s premier attractions double as one-of-akind event spaces for off-sites. The Buffalo AKG Art Museum is a great example. Expanded during a two-year period, the museum opened again in June 2023. The $200 million renovation allows the museum more space to display its impressive collection, which includes works from masters like Picasso, Monet and Renoir, among many others.
“The AKG has one of the top 20 contemporary art collections in the world,” Kaler said. “They’ve increased the space, and it’s a great place to have opening receptions or closing night functions.”
Another one of the city’s most popular attractions is the Martin House, designed by famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Its pavilion is a great place to host smaller events. For something a little less conventional, planners can take
their programs to an up-and-coming neighborhood that consists of repurposed grain silos. The industrial-chic Riverworks transformed the silos from ruins to a trendy hub for recreation and gathering along the river. It’s the site of casual hangouts and organized events and markets.
“It’s a great place year-round but especially in the summer,” Kaler said. “They have several different areas on that complex that can do opening receptions. There are lots of built-in activities, so it’s very easy for meeting planners to use the space.”
These built-in activities include urban ziplining, kayaking, rock climbing up a grain silo and enjoying the on-site brewery. There are also places throughout that can be used as event spaces, such as patios overlooking the river and the city.
Plenty of other venues for interesting off-sites can be found throughout the city, including Babeville, a Gothic Revival-style church in the city’s theater district that features a basement bar and an open-floor hall perfect for performances or receptions.
Meanwhile, the Ellicott Square Building, built in 1896, was once the world’s largest office building. Today, it’s been repurposed as a public space, and the central court lobby, which features a glass roof, can be rented for events.
Discover extraordinary architecture, a thriving arts and culinary scene, a buzzing waterfront and more in Buffalo, a sneaky cool meeting place where you and your colleagues are never more than a moment from what’s next. We look forward to welcoming you to the Small Market Meetings Conference, September 1618, 2025. See you soon!
Buffalo will excel when an event’s program leaves some downtime for attendees or their plus-ones.
Many people are unaware that Buffalo is the origin of buffalo chicken wings, but the city is known for these savory, spicy appetizers. Anyone curious to find the best wings in Buffalo can follow the Buffalo Wing Trail and decide for themselves. They’ll find classic sweet and savory flavors, as well as some truly unique sauces — raspberry chipotle wings, anyone?
Buffalo boasts plenty of other interesting delicacies. In addition to the wings, there are six other culinary trails in the city. But when it’s time for a meal on their own, delegates shouldn’t skip Buffalo’s high-end restaurants, including two that were James Beard Award finalists in 2024: Southern Junction, a barbecue-Indian fusion restaurant, and Waxlight Bar a Vin, a wine-focused restaurant.
Another one of Buffalo’s biggest draws is its proximity to the natural wonder Niagara Falls. Attendees can see the falls, stand in its path in the Cave of the Winds or take a boat ride up to the bottom of the falls onboard Maid of the Mist.
“Niagara Falls is 20 minutes away, so that’s a great opportunity for sightseeing pre- or post-experiences, and spousal tours as well during a convention,” Kaler said.
But perhaps one of the things attendees will enjoy most about Buffalo is the friendliness of its community.
“Buffalo’s known to be the city of good neighbors, so it’s a very welcoming community,” Kaler said. “One of the great things about Buffalo is when you hold your meeting here, you feel like you own the city. We can light up the city in the brand colors of an association. We work with local businesses and let them know you’re coming.”
visitbuffaloniagara.com
Scan the QR code to register for the 2025 Small Market Meetings Conference in Buffalo Niagara, New York.
DONNA KLEMPNOW
“Hospitality kind of accidentally turned out to be my passion when I was recruited to be a director of sales. I feel like once hospitality is in your blood, well, you either love it or it’s too much. I love it.”
DBY REBECCA TREON
onna Klempnow is her hometown’s biggest cheerleader. While some people fall in love with a new place and decide to make it home, Klempnow, the director of sales at the Rutherford County Convention and Visitors Bureau, loves promoting the place where she grew up.
“It’s just kind of fun that I was born here in Rutherford County, in Murfreesboro, and now it’s my job to promote it,” said Klempnow. “I was in the last graduating class at Central High School before they built the new schools. I went to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and to Middle Tennessee State University here in Murfreesboro, where I studied mass communications and business administration.”
While she was initially urged by her family to pursue a teaching degree, Klempnow quickly realized her real passion was sharing ideas and working with people.
“I was very interested in advertising,” she said. “I thought my career would be like ‘Suits.’ Hospitality kind of accidentally turned out to be my passion when I was recruited to be a director of sales. I feel like once hospitality is in your blood, well, you either love it or it’s too much. I love it.”
“I started off at AmeriSuites Nashville Opryland, and my claim to fame was that I sold rooms to Opryland for overflow — they always needed additional rooms. I loved it. I soaked it up and learned everything that I possibly could from that experience.”
Klempnow was a quick study and a hard
worker. She bounded up the ranks to become regional — and then national — director of sales. Soon, she was training new sales directors prior to hotels opening their doors.
Eventually, a friend tipped her off about a role opening up at the Rutherford County CVB.
“I was actually on vacation,” she said. “They were already interviewing, but they told me to go ahead and send in my resume. I got a call the next day to see if I could come in. I was the last person interviewed. Before I even got home, I had a job offer.”
Klempnow wanted to see the other side of the hospitality business to understand how everything worked together on the destination side. Klempnow has now been at the Rutherford County CVB (a tight-knit staff of just three people) for 12 years. She said she loves the variety — no two days are the same.
Most of all, Klempnow loves sharing that Rutherford County has something to attract everyone. The area is a hub for sporting events, offering amazing facilities for soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, equestrian events and tennis. The area is known for its Civil War history and has many historic mansions and plantations that are now museums. Rutherford County has a rich World War II aviation history. And of course, it’s home to Jack Daniels, along with numerous other moonshine distilleries — something the county is known for around the globe.
“I thrived growing up here as a child, and the area has only grown,” she said. “I’ve always loved history, but the older I get, I have just the most sincere appreciation of what I have in my own backyard. I just love it so much.”
NAME Donna Klempnow
TITLE
Director of Sales
ORGANIZATION
Rutherford County Convention and Visitors Bureau
LOCATION
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
BIRTHPLACE
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
EDUCATION
Mass communications and business administration, Middle Tennessee State University
CAREER HISTORY
• Director of sales, regional sales manager and national sales manager, AmeriSuites
• Director of sales, Rutherford County Convention and Visitors Bureau
• It’s important to understand the interests and needs of the event and attendees to have the right format, content and activities.
• Clear communication ensures everyone knows what to expect and when — keep everyone in the loop with regular updates.
• Use what you have — your local resources, sometimes the quirkier the better — to create an unforgettable experience your group will always remember.
Small Market Meetings is taking a trip to beautiful Salem, Oregon, and we want you to come with us!
Our friends at Travel Salem are arranging a site inspection tour of the area’s meeting facilities and off-site venues, and they’re inviting our meeting planner readers to attend. The trip will take place June 8–11 and will include sites in Salem and the nearby Willamette Valley.
You’ll join Mac Lacy, our publisher, and Kyle Anderson, our VP of sales and marketing, as they explore the area with our Salem hosts.
Highlights of the four-day tour will include these sites:
• Salem Convention Center — Get to know the many meeting possibilities in Salem’s premier downtown venue.
• Oregon State Fair and Expo Center — See the variety of spaces and configurations this large area offers for meetings.
• Willamette Heritage Center — Immerse yourself in regional history and discover quaint meeting spaces at this unique venue.
• Willamette Valley Vineyards — Sample the wines, fine foods and intimate meeting spaces of this signature Oregon winery.
Your hotel accommodations, meals, admissions and other expenses will be hosted by Travel Salem. Meeting planners selected to attend will also receive travel reimbursements of up to $400.
You can apply to attend this site insepction at smallmarketmeetings.com/salem-fam. Space is limited, and applications close April 18.
Don’t miss this opportunity to join us June 8–11 in Salem, Oregon!
Churchill Downs
Jillian Waitkus has been the director of ticket hospitality and event sales at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, for three years. Prior to her current role, she worked for the Lexington Legends and the Louisville Bats Baseball Club in marketing and events. She graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2016 with a Bachelor of Business Administration and marketing. She was recognized as one of BizBash’s Fresh Faces of 2024 and was a finalist in Louisville Tourism’s Rose Awards in 2021 for event services.
Can you explain the importance of having synergy within an event-planning team?
A:I have a unique perspective because I have seen it from both sides. When I worked with the ballparks, I was selling the events, then planning and executing them, and working with the execution side. That’s housekeeping, the broadcasting team, the A/V team — everyone who is making sure everything goes off without a hitch. That’s given me a little perspective to anticipate some potential challenges. Sometimes the planning team and execution team are two different teams that don’t report to the same person. That synergy you have with operations is the key to the success of your events and pulling off what you say you’re going to deliver. If you don’t have that synergy, you’re going to have a team that lacks direction and feels like they’re not respected or that the other team can’t be trusted.
QAre there any areas of the planning process where it can be easy to get out of alignment with your operations team?
A:There is misalignment at a lot of organizations because you lose sight of the greater goal. We want to deliver first-class customer service, so we’re going to do that by knowing we can confidently pull off an event. It starts from the beginning. If you don’t have your operations team involved from the beginning, you’re setting yourself up for a setback. From the time we get the inquiry, we’re having conversations with our entire team. We’re saying, “Here’s what they’re wanting, help me brainstorm options for them.” We have to take them on their first site visit with us because they can help us spot things we can’t see. We’re not necessarily the experts in the operations side, so it’s about keeping them involved from the jump. Even when there’s that stress and anxiety of the event day, you have to remember every detail counts. I’m a huge fan of overcommunicating.
Murrieta maximizes your meeting experience while minimizing the hassles found in more high-maintenance destinations. Everything is at your fingertips here — a splendid California wine country and a budding brewery culture. This is the place to gather again and enjoy the feeling of being face to face in a place designed for in-person interaction. From small intimate corporate venues to larger conference locations, Murrieta has everything you need to take your meeting to the next level.
A:A lot of that comes down to being able to set and manage expectations correctly. I want to make sure that my operations team knows I have their back, because there is no good in me landing a big event and us not being able to execute it. The most important thing is to make sure you have a team that feels like they’re being set up for success by the person leading the event. Foster an environment where they’re OK telling you no or pushing back so you guys can meet at the common goal. It’s about relationships at the end of the day, so what I do think people can focus on right now if they’re looking to break into the industry is working on those relationship-building skills. They’re already building relationships with clients and making memories for them. They should take those same basic concepts and work on developing those relationships with the internal teams, whether it’s someone at the venue, contracted vendors or any other stakeholders. It’s building that trust and respect with communication and collaboration.
Do you think this generation has any strengths or challenges when it comes to aligning with their operations teams?
A:One of the biggest teachers in this concept of alignment is just experience, and that’s the hard part. You’re going to learn from your mistakes and shortcomings. This is an industry where you can’t necessarily study this for years and come in and know all these operational workarounds and potential conflicts — it’s something you have to live through. But I think this generation is extremely adaptable, and they’re not afraid to have hard conversations. People feel compelled to share their opinions. That is going to be so necessary when it comes to getting aligned with the operations team or stakeholders. You’re going to have to have those hard conversations.
What role does leadership play in this process?
A:
I always like to say, “Lead where you’re at.” It doesn’t matter if you’re a volunteer, if you’re a seasonal helping hand, a full-time representative or if you are a director, like me. You’ve got to be able to identify chances to lead where you’re at by seeking those opportunities to step up and make an impact. That can be something so small. You may see someone that needs a helping hand, and you see an opportunity to step in. Volunteer to lead the charge on or be a part of something. Set a good example by making sure you’re doing all those key relationship-building actions we talked about. It’s about being respectable and building respect, communicating and making sure if there is miscommunication that you’re seeking it out to correct it. It’s about saying, “How can I fix this, how can I make it better?”
NAPLES, Florida — The Ritz-Carlton, Naples has received LEED Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for its Vanderbilt Tower.
As the world’s most widely used green building rating system, this LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification underscores the resort’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship, reinforcing its role as a leader in the hospitality industry.
The mixed-use tower added ocean-view guest rooms and suites, the Mediterranean restaurant, Sofra and The Ritz-Carlton brand’s largest Club Lounge in North America to the resort’s offerings.
“We are delighted to receive this prestigious certification after the time and care put into the resort’s transformation,” said Mark Ferland, area general manager for The Ritz-Carlton Resorts of Naples. “It was an honor to work closely with city officials and conservation organizations during the process to ensure our expansion reflected The Ritz-Carlton’s commitment to environmental sustainability and positive social impact, all while preserving the surrounding natural beauty and wildlife.”
The facility achieved LEED certification by implementing strategies and solutions in areas including sustainable site
development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. The state of Florida’s “Florida Green” initiative has also recognized the resort, awarding it a “Three Palm” designation for efforts including conservation communication and education, reuse and recycling measures, water conservation, energy efficiency and indoor air quality.
As part of ongoing sustainability efforts, the resort emphasizes green meetings and gatherings with carbon offset options for event planners, indoor air quality testing, waste reduction and water reduction measures.
The luxury resort offers 474 guest rooms and suites, each offering views of the Gulf of Mexico. The hotel’s Club Level – the Vanderbilt Tower – features exclusive services and amenities, including a private arrival experience and access to the Club Lounge’s dedicated cocktail bar. Resort amenities include eight bar and restaurant options, an ornate Lobby Bar, a 51,000-squarefoot Ritz-Carlton Spa and revamped adult and family pools.
The resort boasts 78,000 square feet of event and meeting space, including three unique ballrooms and more than 30 event spaces.
ritzcarlton.com
BIG SKY, Montana — Gravity Haus, the Colorado-based hotel and social club, has acquired the River Rock Lodge in Big Sky, expanding its membership and boutique lifestyle hotel portfolio to Montana’s most popular outdoor playground.
“We opened Gravity Haus Aspen in December, Jackson Hole last January and today we announce the Big Sky offering,” Jim Deters, CEO of Gravity Haus, said in a January 29 press release. “I feel like we are completing the ‘skier’s triple crown.’ We bring a very unique approach and product offering to these luxury destinations. We are a community-led company and are thrilled to integrate into the vibrant Big Sky Town Center and bring our ‘approachable luxury’ product to this world-class destination and outdoor community.”
Big Sky will be the ninth destination in Gravity Haus’ curated portfolio of experiential and adventure-centric hotels. Located in Big Sky Town Center, Gravity Haus Big Sky will feature 29 newly renovated guest rooms, a restaurant, a bar, a fitness center, coworking space and meeting space. Renovations are underway, and Gravity Haus Big Sky is expected to open this summer.
Big Sky, Montana, offers a mix of wilderness, community and year-round outdoor adventure. Known as a rugged playground in the mountains — and home to the third-largest ski resort in the country — Big Sky boasts nearby access to Yellowstone National Park, making it the ideal four-season destination.
gravityhaus.com
BOSSIER CITY, Louisiana — The Cordish Companies celebrated the grand opening of the new $270-plus million Live! Casino and Hotel Louisiana on February 13.
“This top-tier gaming and entertainment experience is unmatched by anything else in the four-state region,” said John J. Chaszar, executive vice president and general manager of Live! Casino and Hotel Louisiana. “Whether you’re a sports fan, a foodie, a gaming enthusiast or just seeking an unforgettable night out, you’ll find it all under one roof.”
The Event Center at Live! is a multi-use meeting, concert and event venue that will be Shreveport-Bossier’s newest home for some of the nation’s best touring acts, comedians and other entertainment acts. The grand opening celebration featured a lineup that includes Grammy-nominated artist Walker Hayes, R&B group The Commodores, comedian Matt Mathews and country music icon Clint Black.
Live! Casino and Hotel Louisiana features 549 luxury guest rooms across 12 floors. The property’s event center has 25,000 square feet of customizable space capable of accommodating up to 1,200 guests.
Guests and meeting attendees can also take advantage of the hotel’s 47,000-square-foot gaming space, which includes more than 1,000 slot machines and table games.
The lineup of premier dining and entertainment options includes Sports and Social, a premier sports bar and restaurant, and PBR Cowboy Bar, which brings an authentic country and western experience to the venue. Luk Fu is a vibrant Asianthemed restaurant featuring the traditional flavors of Southeast Asia, and The Prime Rib is known for fine dining and a sophisticated environment. Ridotto Grand Café, located adjacent to the hotel lobby, offers breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. louisiana.livecasinohotel.com
COLLEGE PARK, Maryland —
The Hotel at the University of Maryland is offering meeting planners a new “Meetings in a Museum” program. With more than 100 pieces of artwork on display throughout the hotel, planners can provide participants with information for a self-guided tour.
“We are offering our meeting guests the chance to engage in a thought-provoking yet relaxing opportunity that highlights our proximity to a highly rated university,” said Adriana Niepa, director of sales and marketing at The Hotel at the University of Maryland. “Our art collection features pieces in various mediums combining colors, textures and images to evoke feelings of peace and happiness. Meeting planners can utilize our in-house museum as a break or group activity for guests, allowing them to become a student of art while also learning from your event.”
Rhonda Dallas, curator of the collection and executive director and chief curator of the Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council, met David Hillman, the founder and former CEO of Southern Management Companies, which owns the hotel, at a chamber of commerce event
years ago, “and what started as a conversation turned into a full art exhibition,” she said.
“Mr. Hillman’s generosity created a space for local artists to showcase their talents,” Dallas added. “The museum converges contemporary aesthetics and unbounded expectations, allowing visitors to view art beyond traditional assumptions of abstract art and modernist photography. After Mr. Hillman’s passing, his wife and the current CEO of Southern Management Companies, Suzanne Hillman, has carried on his legacy, ensuring art is an integral part of The Hotel at the University of Maryland.”
The collection includes 104 pieces by 14 artists. Pieces are located throughout the bottom two floors of the hotel and in the health corridor, which features the spa, fitness facility and indoor pool.
The Hotel at the University of Maryland is a AAA four-diamond property that offers 297 guest rooms and suites and 43,000 square feet of flexible space in 18 unique meeting rooms. The Lobby Bar, Iron Rooster and GrillMarX feature upscale food and drinks. thehotelumd.com
BY RACHEL CRICK
If you don’t ask, the answer is always no.
That’s the attitude planners should take when it comes to working with a city’s convention and visitors bureau, or CVB. These local organizations are powerhouses of knowledge surrounding their destinations, and there’s a lot of potential in partnering with a CVB to pull off a great event. But with post-pandemic staffing changes, turnover and budget cuts for many CVBs across the country, planners should keep in mind that getting support from a CVB may look a little different than it used to.
From knowing which services to request to maintaining positive connections with these organizations, here’s what three expert planners had to say about making the most of their connections with CVBs.
Meeting planners understand that having solid connections in their networks can be the key to a meeting’s success. That’s why building good relationships with CVBs up front is so important. A personalized connection to one of these organizations often means they can tailor their suggestions and recommendations to better suit a planner’s program.
“Some of my go-to cities are because of my relationships with the CVB and the personal relationships that I formed with them,” said Tracey Bockhop, founder and CEO of Meet Meetings, an events and incentive planning company. “I know I could call on them, they’ll be 100% candid with me and they will home in on the locations I like, such as hotels. I’m not getting a blanket RFP.”
To form these strong connections, attending industry conferences or events is a great way to initiate conversations. Staying connected can help planners select their next host cities by keeping them in the know about a destination’s newest venues or attractions that could be a fit for a future event.
“When you meet somebody at a trade show, or at a convention or an industry event, be open to those relationships,” said Heather Herrig, president and chief event strategist of her planning company, Every Last Detail. “You may not have anything that is heading to that destination or that city, but you never know what could happen.”
Patrick Crosson, chief experience owner of PC Events and Experiences, echoed that need for
“Their knowledge about the area and the culture and how that destination works is super valuable.”
CHIEF EXPERIENCE OFFICER PC Events and Experiences Experience: 15 years
“It’s very important to use them correctly and have a good partnership with them. You have to ask the right questions.”
open-mindedness. “One thing we try to do is build a relationship before we necessarily have a specific need,” he said. “We like to bring in CVBs and different destinations just to talk to our team about what’s out there, what the city’s like, what they have to offer. Then the relationship is more of a relationship than a business transaction.”
To maximize the potential assistance a CVB can offer, planners should look at their programs first and determine specific needs they think the CVB can help with. If a program includes attendees’ spouses and some leisure time, asking for recommendations for downtime is crucial. But if it’s a quick board meeting with limited downtime, expecting the CVB to generate a list of leisure activities would be a waste of their time and resources.
“When you’re not as specific on what your needs are, sometimes you get pushed down in priority,” Crosson said.
Planners should also keep in mind that first-tier cities may have more going on that occupies their time and resources; meanwhile, smaller destinations may be more likely to treat planners and their events like a big fish in a small pond. Usually, planners can expect more individualized support.
Tracey Bockhop
CEO
Meet Meetings
Experience: 20+ years
In the months or even years leading up to an event, a destination’s CVB can offer immeasurable assistance to planners. But planners may only be able to take advantage of these services if they know what to ask for.
The site selection process is one component of planning where CVBs can be heavily relied on.
“I do like to involve the CVB in understanding what strong candidates there are in their marketplace for my program, what venues might be a good fit, what hotels might be a good fit,” said Herrig. “They have a lot of insight on that. They have a lot of perspective that’s not on paper.”
Herrig added they could also tell planners if their destination would or wouldn’t be a good fit due to weather, other events in the area being held at the same time, construction and many other factors that planners would have difficulty foreseeing.
Sometimes CVBs will take the extra step of hosting site visits for planners and their clients. They may accompany them on these site visits to further build that relationship and address any concerns or needs the planners have. And they may be able to act as a liaison and introduce planners to key suppliers.
Another area where CVBs can offer support is by giving planners access to information about their cities. CVBs often keep data on how many tourists come to their destination at any given time, which can help planners determine the logistics for their events.
“They know peak seasons and peak times for hotels,” Crosson said. “If your dates are flexible, you can ask them where within a month is a good time frame for an event, or if there’s a low season, where you can get a better value. That’s something a CVB or DMO can really help you with. It’s data you can’t get anywhere else.”
Another service leading up to the event that CVBs can assist with is event marketing initiatives. Whether it’s printing postcards to mail out, assisting with building an event app or page for visitors to download, or beginning a social media campaign to drive registration, many CVBs are willing to do this at no charge.
“Those marketing initiatives are usually right in line with campaigns that they’re running,” Herrig said. “So it kind of capitalizes on what they’re trying to share about the destination. And they can personalize it with your conference logo or your registration dates or your registration link.”
When it comes to the event itself, there are many services CVBs can provide to make sure everything goes off without a hitch.
They frequently assist with an on-site representative, either at the airport awaiting arrivals or at the registration desk. These representatives can welcome attendees to the city and field any questions that they may have, from restaurant recommendations to transportation to general information.
“It’s amazing to have somebody there who knows that, who’s able to answer those questions,” Herrig said. “They’re always got such a friendly smile and are professional and polished. So that’s a big help when stuff like that can happen on site.”
Some destinations have Certified Tourism Ambassador programs, which train volunteers to answer questions about their cities. This can be extremely helpful for citywide events or dine-arounds where attendees or their plus-ones may be expected to navigate the destination on their own. In general, CVBs can usually get volunteers to assist with a wide variety of a program’s needs.
“Their ambassadors or their volunteers really will actually help work some of the shifts for catering or wayfinding or registration, which really helps cut down on staffing costs,” said Crosson.
CVBs may also be able to partner with local business to arrange discounts for attendees, whether that’s a free appetizer at local restaurants for people wearing their conference badge or a voucher for a free trolley ride for their plus-ones to amuse themselves during the day. They may even offer planners rebates for booking a certain number of hotel rooms.
Ultimately, one of the most helpful things CVBs provide is the ability to enjoy their destination. In this way, it’s a mutually beneficial relationship.
“If the city is great to work with and you feel like your workload was taken off some and then your attendees really enjoy the city, then both you and they want to keep coming back,” Bockhop said.
“Using your CVB as a partner is an added value. It’s not something that’s going to cost you anything but some time, and that’s a good investment of that time.”
Heather Herrig
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXPERIENCE OFFICER
Every Last Detail
Experience: 20 years
These up-and-coming districts pack new appeal for meetings
BY RACHEL CRICK
It’s a rags to riches story — vacant lots and abandoned warehouses rise from the ashes to become trendy, thriving neighborhoods. Once-empty streets hum with people, and repurposed and historic venues sparkle with new life.
In every city, these up-and-coming neighborhoods are where meeting attendees want to be. Their rustic venues, plentiful entertainment and signature culture become the best imaginable backdrop for off-sites, receptions and even large events.
Here are five up-and-coming districts across the country planners should keep an eye on.
In the artsy city of Santa Fe, New Mexico, a historic railyard has been repurposed as a thriving hub for art, music and community gatherings. It’s the site of everything from weekly farmers markets to yoga classes and movie nights during the summer months. Artisan retail shops, restaurants, a brewery and plenty of green space have cemented the railyard as an important part of Santa Fe’s local culture. There’s also plenty of potential for meetings and events ranging from small celebrations to large special events.
Much of the railyard’s event space can be found north of its street Paseo de Peralta. These outdoor event spaces include the Railyard Plaza, great for performances, outdoor receptions and festivals, as well as a shaded area great for vendors. It offers easy access to the lively surroundings of the railyard, including its shops and restaurants. South of Paseo de Peralta are many of the railyard’s smaller spaces for gatherings, including outdoor picnic spots and the indoor Community Room, which has two garage doors that open onto the park to convert the room to an indoor-outdoor space.
Another appealing offering of the railyard is Sky Railway, which takes passengers for a round-trip train ride along the town’s historic railway. Groups of up to 200 can rent out the train for private events and enjoy live entertainment onboard.
railyardsantafe.com
Adjacent to the city’s historic Jewelry District, the Innovation and Design District in Providence, Rhode Island, was created when the stretch of Interstate 195 that ran through the city was relocated, leaving the land open for redevelopment. Since the highway came down in 2011, a pedestrian bridge, numerous shops, and several restaurants and residential buildings have been added, with many more projects underway.
At the center of this redevelopment is the Aloft Providence Downtown, a 175-room hotel with views of the Providence skyline and a rooftop bar
and lounge. It has over 3,100 square feet of meeting and event space, including a 2,275-square-foot Assembly Hall with a capacity of 225 attendees. The hotel is connected via courtyard to the Cambridge Innovation Center, which provides 7,200 square feet of venue, coworking and laboratory space. With seven universities, including prestigious Brown University, Providence is considered a regional hub for biotech and living sciences, hosting many academic and medical association meetings.
“That area in particular is becoming a biotech
“Heartside challenges planners to look at flexible meeting space and step outside the four walls of a convention center and standard meeting rooms.”
— Brandy Martin, Experience Grand Rapids
and life sciences hub,” said Tom Riel, senior vice president at the Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The Warren Alpert Medical School is in that district, and between that and the nursing lab that opened at Providence College, Providence is in high demand for medical groups.”
For evening off-site events or group meals, attendees can cross into the historic Jewelry District, which is also experiencing a resurgence. The city’s convention center, just a few walkable blocks from the Innovation and Design District, is currently undergoing a renovation that will be complete in late 2025.
goprovidence.com
GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA
Greenville, South Carolina, is growing, and for good reason. A surge of new inhabitants in recent years can be attributed to the town’s affordability, natural beauty and walkable downtown. Within that
charming downtown, the West End Historic District begins on Main Street at the Falls Park on the Reedy (the city’s signature, 30-acre urban park known for its stunning waterfall and a pedestrian bridge overlooking it) and stretches to Fluor Field, home to Greenville’s minor league baseball team. Development in the district began with the 2006 opening of Fluor Field, but it didn’t end there; restaurants, shops and venues
“[The Innovation and Design District] in particular is becoming a biotech and life sciences hub.... Providence is in high demand for medical groups.”
— Tom Riel, Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau
Providence’s Innovation and Design District, clockwise from left: A view from the Aloft Providence; 195 District Park; the Aloft Courtyard
have joined the stadium in Greenville’s list of offerings for meetings and events.
“It’s an up-and-coming area of downtown,” said Rebecca Mittleman, director of sales at Visit Greenville SC. “Our downtown ranges about 10 walkable city blocks, and that is an area that’s developing quite a bit.”
Fluor Field is a venue in and of itself, with their on-site events company West End Events planning events for its spaces, from its clubs to its concourses to even its field in the off season. Next door, Gather Greenville is a food hall consisting of shipping containers with different types of food in each container, great for social outings and group meals.
And across the street, Zen offers 12,000 square feet of stylish, sophisticated event space, as well as an outdoor Japanese garden. Adjacent to that is New Realm Brewing, located in a repurposed cigar factory and provides two floors of venue space, as well as an outdoor space with a big screen. It also offers a Brew Room for private dinners and small meetings.
visitgreenvillesc.com
Wyoming’s best meetings start in Wind River Country.
Located in western Wyoming, just beyond Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Teton Mountains, Wind River Country is the place to go to get away from the crowds.
Grand Rapids’ Heartside neighborhood had humble beginnings as a shantytown for Irish immigrants who helped build the railroads in this Michigan city. Later, it was a prominent shopping district but fell into disrepair in the 1970s and ’80s. Following the opening of the Van Andel Arena in 1996, it entered a period of rapid growth. Today, Heartside’s artsy venue spaces and abundant recreation can add a distinctive flair to meetings and events.
One of its most popular venues is Studio Park, a collection of retail space, restaurants, an outdoor piazza and a nine-screen theater. Groups of up to 300 can rent out the piazza for an outdoor event, such as a concert or movie showing. Studio Park also encompasses Canopy by Hilton Grand Rapids Downtown, a 155-room hotel with over 2,300 square feet of event space spread across four meeting rooms. The hotel partners with the nearby Rutledge for larger events.
Another popular choice, the Harris Building, dating to 1892, was refashioned as a venue in 2018. The historic charm of its exposed brick and natural hardwood floors makes it a beautiful backdrop for weddings and corporate events.
The Grand Rapids Downtown Market is one of the neighborhood’s most unconventional event spaces. The food hall features 19 food merchants, a
“West End Historic District is an up-and-coming area of downtown. Our downtown ranges about 10 walkable city blocks, and that is an area that’s developing quite a bit.”
— Rebecca Mittleman, Visit Greenville SC
commercial kitchen and several contemporary event spaces. It includes a greenhouse, a banquet room, a garden room and additional smaller meeting rooms, as well as catering and A/V.
“Heartside challenges planners to look at flexible meeting space and step outside the four walls of a convention center and standard meeting rooms,” said Brandy Martin, director of convention services at Experience Grand Rapids. experiencegr.com
Across the Spokane River from downtown Spokane, Washington, Kendall Yards is a thriving neighborhood frequented by locals. The area was once abandoned railroad yards until a developer saw potential in its gorgeous river views and began the rebuilding process. The neighborhood was designed with an
Meet Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, Baltimore, Howard County, Montgomery County, and Prince George’s County—each home to premier meeting sites such as Baltimore, Bethesda, BWI Airport, College Park, Columbia, Gaithersburg, National Harbor, Rockville, Silver Spring, and many more.
Whether you’re seeking a scenic retreat, a city adventure, or a waterfront experience, we’re excited to help you find the perfect destination for your meeting. Maryland — where every event is memorable, and even our crabs say, You’re Welcome.
emphasis on sustainability and art, and it has its share of venues for events of all kinds.
“Twenty years ago, this was not a place that people gathered,” said Kate Hudson, public relations manager of Visit Spokane. “Now you have this thriving community. And the best part is it’s right along the river, just north of downtown Spokane, so if you’re having a meeting at the convention center or staying at one of our convention hotels, you can walk to Kendall Yards from downtown.”
Some of Kendall Yards’ best venues coincide with its coolest hangout spots. The Nest, an outdoor event space, facilitates farmers markets on Wednesdays in the warmer months, but it’s also a great place for hosting concerts or outdoor movie nights. The adjacent welcome center is its indoor counterpart. Another popular Kendall Yards venue is Maryhill Winery, a winery, tasting room and bistro with stunning vistas of Spokane from its balcony. The winery does full buyouts for up to
185 guests, but there’s also a smaller, private space for rent that can host 48. My Fresh Basket, one of the neighborhood’s grocery stores, offers upstairs event space for everything from small meetings to cooking classes for up to 30. The nearby Wonder Building, formerly a Wonder Bread factory, offers 12,000 square feet for events, as well as a basement speakeasy and golf simulator.
kendallyards.com
“If
you’re having a meeting at the convention center or staying at one of our convention hotels, you can walk to Kendall Yards from downtown.”
— Kate Hudson, Visit Spokane
Columbus, GA was selected for Convention South’s 2024 Readers’ Choice Award—this dynamic city elevates your next meeting with vibrant culture, one-of-a-kind attractions, and unparalleled hospitality. A place that inspires collaboration and ignites creativity. Columbus offers unique meeting venues, new hotels, an inventive culinary scene, diverse museums, and incredible outdoor attractions. When it comes to your next meeting, we’ll help you plan every detail.
Plan your visit!
DBY ZACH CHOUTEAU
uluth, Minnesota, has a number of appealing assets for meeting planners to ponder. But its location along the northwest shores of mighty Lake Superior is certainly among its leading draws.
“It’s the water,” said Daniel Hartman, executive director of the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC). “Many places have fine convention centers, but we are the only one on Lake Superior. Add in our lively convention district with 1,000-foot freighters passing under the lift bridge, and you see why our conferences have greater attendance than anywhere in the state.”
Daniele Villa, president of sales and operations for Visit Duluth, echoed these sentiments while mentioning a few other temptations of Minnesota’s fifth-largest metropolis.
“Whether event planners are drawn to the shimmering waters of Lake Superior, the world-class events and attractions, or the outdoor adventures that await just outside the city, Duluth is a superior destination in any season,” he said. “With a rich history, vibrant cultural scene and unmatched natural beauty, it’s a place where adventure, relaxation and discovery come together — right outside our event venue’s walls.”
That event venue, DECC, is a magnet for meeting planners and attendees. DECC offers waterside vistas and spaces for groups of all sizes. Its nine flexible venues include two convention centers with ballrooms and 60,000 square feet of expo space. Planners can also consider several breakout rooms, an inviting executive boardroom and even a 2,000-person auditorium. Large rooms can be modified into intimate spaces or accommodate bigger groups. An on-site kitchen overseen by an executive chef makes dining events delicious and dependable.
Beyond this multifaceted facility, the city has additional appeal, including a fascinating past: Duluth once served as the busiest port in the U.S. It also has a thriving arts scene and excursions onto majestic Lake Superior. Back on land, attendees will enjoy exploring a lively 90-block waterfront district downtown, loaded with shops, dining spots and brew pubs. And intriguing off-site venues and unique group meal settings help make planners’ jobs a breeze when hosting Duluth events.
Duluth International Airport; Interstate 35; U.S. highways 2 and 53
Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC)
Planners creating memorable group dining affairs should definitely consider the Clyde Iron Works, set in Duluth’s Lincoln Park Craft District. The hip historic ironworks setting includes a bar and restaurant serving signature favorites from wood-fired ovens and grills, including numerous meats and Clyde’s hand-made Neapolitan-style pizzas. Scratch-made pasta noodles are another hit. Dining suites are available, and two attractive event spaces help make the iconic venue an unforgettable setting for attendees. For smaller parties seeking something lively and casual, Grandma’s Saloon and Grill serves up reliable pub favorites and provides sweeping views of Lake Superior from its seasonal alfresco dining deck.
Groups heading to the Great Lakes will savor a chance to get out on the water, and the Vista Fleet provides numerous options ranging from guided sightseeing tours of varying lengths to live music performances to floating corporate events with a pair of catering options. These customized outings can include the Vista Queen charter boat for dinner functions of up to 42, and the larger Vista Star can host receptions of up to 220 guests. For a less-structured group escape, Canal Park is a cozy business and entertainment district boasting eclectic shops, global cuisine and a seven-mile nature trail, all nestled on the lakeshore.
Attendees
Space
Technology • Break Rooms • Catering • Amenities
• Theater Set • Loading Docks • Event Management • Banquet Set • Prefunction • Classroom Set • Carpet • WiFi • Intuitive Floor Plans • Guest Rooms • Connectivity • Event Hosts • Drop-down Screen • Podium • Remote & Hybrid • Creative • Speakers • Centerpieces • Comfort Control • Accessibility • High Performance • In-house Sales • Guest Experience
• Breakfast • Room Set • Trade Shows • Big Space • Customized • Ballrooms • Conferences • Overhead Doors • Restrooms • Hospitality
Everything good you can imagine is happening here:
FOR PLANNERS:
» Full in-house Sales, Event Management, AV Technology, F&B, and Host services
» 225,000 sf of beautifully appointed space
» 18 versatile, fully appointed event spaces and intuitive floor plans
» 4 downtown full service hotels with garage parking
» Award winning service
» SAVE UP TO 15% vs. comparable cities!
FOR ATTENDEES:
» Walkable, safe, enjoyable downtown
» 60+ walk-to restaurants, pubs, cafes, coffee & dessert houses
» Boutique shopping; live entertainment; vibrant arts & attractions
» Riverfront parks, trails, and activities for all ages and abilities
» Easy Midwest drive-to destination; Easy by air via FWA grandwayne.com | 260.426.4100 | @GrandWayneCC
The Glensheen Mansion is a waterside wonder built in 1908 that will make guests feel like they’ve been transported to an elegant English manor. Its largest event space, the Winter Garden, is open year-round and can host up to 120 guests in an enchanting setting complete with brick walls and marble floors. The handsome Amusement Room can play home to functions ranging from 40 to 80 attendees, and outdoor seasonal options include a sprawling terrace space and private pebble beach. Another portal to the past for groups is at The Depot, a former train station built in 1908 with rental spaces, including a gallery, a boardroom, a classroom and a great hall.
Duluth provides plenty of options for attendees between meetings and events and probably none more popular than the Great Lakes Aquarium. The venue is broken into numerous sections, bringing to life the different ecosystems of the profoundly diverse Great Lakes and well beyond. Meeting attendees can rent portions of the aquarium for off-site events. For evening fun, attendees might consider the high-spirited Fond-Du-Luth Casino downtown. Another favorite spot, the 310 Pub, features 20 flat-screen TVs for sports viewing; shareable tavern fare like pizza and wings; and activities such as pool, shuffleboard, Skee-ball and ping-pong.
BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH
History runs deep in Texas.
Known for its wide-open spaces, petroleum industry and ranching heritage, the Lone Star State has more than its share of great stories to tell. Meeting groups can tap into Texas’ mighty past at these historic venues.
in the U.S. It is called atmospheric because the theater’s design and painted flourishes make the audience feel they are sitting in an open-air Spanish courtyard instead of an enclosed space.
The theater was restored to its original splendor in 2006 after sitting vacant for 30 years. The 2,050-seat Kendall Kidd Performance Hall is large enough to bring in large touring Broadway musicals. It also is a great place to host lectures, opening sessions of conferences and movie screenings.
The Philanthropy Theatre, above the main theater on the third level, can host groups of 200. The rooftop Alcantar Sky Garden is a beautiful outdoor space for receptions, mixers or icebreakers of up to 130 people. Arts Festival Plaza, located between the Plaza Theatre and the El Paso Museum of Art, is another outdoor event space for larger groups. elpasolive.com
Galveston
Tall Ship ELISSA is a square-rigged iron barque that was built in 1877. It was brought to the Galveston Historic Seaport by the Galveston Historical Foundation from a scrapyard in Piraeus Harbor, Greece, for restoration work in 1978. By 1982, the restoration was completed, and the ship was turned into a floating museum.
The ship is the top attraction at the seaport because it is one of only three vessels of its kind in the world that are still actively sailing. It welcomes more than 40,000 visitors annually and is considered the official tall ship of Texas. At the time it was built, the beautiful ship was used to ship cargo all over the world. It actually made port in Galveston twice in the late 1800s, so it has a connection to the waterfront it calls home.
Groups can incorporate the ship into their events. Many will rent out the pier and ship for banquets for up to 300 guests. The pier can accommodate 200, and the ship can host 100. There’s also a small room inside the seaport that can hold groups of up to 50. It has a window that overlooks the ship and the pier.
There are no kitchen facilities on board ELISSA, but catered food can be brought in, along with beer, white wine and cocktails. Red wine is not allowed because it would stain the wood if spilled. galvestonhistory.org
The Gage Hotel was purchased by J.P. Bryan, a descendant of Stephen Austin, in 1978. He has spent the past 40 years restoring it, and the town of Marathon, to its former glory. Meeting groups can tap into the history of the area by hosting events on its beautifully landscaped grounds. The 27-acre Gage Gardens offers a wrought-iron gazebo with an open dance court and a large firepit circled by banquette seating that can easily accommodate large groups for parties or weddings. The Captain Shepard House has a large private yard that can host parties or banquets for 60 guests.
The Ritchey Building can accommodate up to 250 in a restored, historic mercantile building. gagehotel.com
Lubbock
Built in 1937, Lubbock’s Cactus Theater served as a single-screen movie house from 1938 to 1958. Originally it featured 720 seats and a marquee with 750 feet of neon lighting. When it closed in 1958, it was stripped of its interior furnishings by Greer Iron Works. It wasn’t until 1993 that Lubbock music producer Don Caldwell purchased the theater in the hopes of turning it into a venue that would showcase West Texas performers.
As part of the renovation, the theater retained its balcony, sloped floor and stage. The projection booth was redesigned to hold spotlights and a state-of-the-art sound and light system. Nearly 400 seats were installed, along with a concession stand and bathrooms in the lobby.
The Catus reopened in 1995 as a live performance venue. In 2016, Lubbock businessman and music promoter Darryl Holland purchased the theater, which continues to bring in top talent, including national and regional touring acts. He installed a large retractable screen and a digital laser projection system to show movies. He also updated the sound and lighting. Groups can rent the theater for
private screenings, corporate getaways or business presentations.
The theater is unique in that it has an in-house band. If the theater isn’t booked with concerts or comedians, Holland will put on his own productions, such as “The British Invasion,” which features the music of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, or “A Tribute to Progressive Rock.” cactustheater.com
The building that is now the Grand Hotel in McKinney was built in 1885 and served as a mercantile until the 1920s. The second floor of the building was the Heard Opera House until a portion of it was destroyed by fire in 1910. In its heyday, the Opera House hosted John Philip Sousa’s band, which played “Stars and Stripes Forever.” After the fire, the property was purchased by Woolworths, which operated there until the 1970s.
The current owner, Rick Wells, and his partner purchased the building in the late 1990s. The original hotel with 14 rooms was built 17 years ago, and a hotel tower with 31 rooms was built two years later and connected to the historic building. A grand ballroom was created in the space once occupied by the Opera House, and Rick’s Chophouse, a four-star restaurant, was added on the ground floor of the hotel. The property is decorated with Southwestern flair, and all of the furniture and art are locally sourced, including lamps and iron tables in the guest rooms.
The hotel is centrally located with easy access to shops, restaurants and nightlife. Groups can rent out three private dining spaces on the property that total 4,100 square feet. The Grand Ballroom can accommodate 150 for a plated dinner or 170 for a cocktail reception. Rick’s 110 is a private dining and meeting space with its own entrance through the lobby. It can host 75 guests for dinner. The Wine Room and Library are ideal for smaller groups.
grandhotelmckinney.com
Built in 1937, Lubbock’s Cactus Theater served as a single-screen movie house from 1938 to 1958. Originally it featured 720 seats and a marquee with 750 feet of neon lighting.
BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH
The beautiful state of Texas is not only home to miles of Gulf Coast sand beaches and barrier islands but also several large lakes and rivers that make perfect waterfront meeting destinations. Here are four great waterfront locations that offer a perfect mix of outdoor adventure, history and state-of-the-art meeting venues.
thusiasts, offering a chance to see white pelicans, royal terns, black skimmers and whooping cranes. There are six birding sites along the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, each offering the opportunity to experience nature up close.
Mustang Island is one of the longest barrier islands along the Texas coast. It is surrounded by Corpus Christi Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, the Lydia Ann Ship Channel and Corpus Christi Ship Channel.
Meeting planners wanting to host events on the island can rent a beach home in the Cinnamon Shore community, where they can arrange recreational programming built around signature events, luxury pools, and food and beverages capabilities, including in-home shrimp boils, paella parties and private catering.
Port Aransas Civic Center can accommodate 1,100 for a meeting or event. It features an auditorium, a stage, a kitchen and restrooms. Sand Castle Resort Condominiums and Port Aransas Event Center feature 3,000 square feet of event space that can host groups of 10 to 300. Groups can rent out one- and two-bedroom waterfront condos.
For fun, groups can schedule a dolphin-watching cruise or set sail on board Red Dragon Pirate Cruises, a replica Spanish galleon with four masts and 10 cannons that are fired by computer, along with a full range of audio and visual effects. portaransas.org
Beaumont sits on the border between Louisiana and Texas, along the Neches River. The city is known for its Southern hospitality and its foodie culture. Meeting planners have their pick of three full-service hotels and convention centers, including the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites Beaumont Plaza, with 252 guest rooms and 22,000 square feet of meeting space.
The MCM Elegante Hotel and Conference Center offers 278 guest rooms with 40 suites and 20,000 square feet of event space, and the Holiday Inn Beaumont East Medical Center has 160 guest rooms and 4,695 square feet of meeting space.
Doggett Ford Park Entertainment Complex features a 34,000-square-foot arena with 8,500 seats, a VIP lounge and a party patio. The exhibit hall has 48,000 square feet of floor space, 11,000 square feet of pre-function space and nine meeting rooms. The pavilion can host groups of more than 14,000 and has covered seating for 6,200, and the midway and agricultural barns offer more rustic outdoor event spaces.
Groups can take a historic tour along the Neches River or spend some time in nature at Cattail Marsh Scenic Wetlands and Boardwalk, a 900-acre wetland filled with wildlife and nature trails. Groups can take swamp boat tours or interact with 450 American alligators, crocodiles, mammals and reptiles at Gator Country Adventure Park. Beaumont is home to the Fire Museum of Texas, the Texas Energy Museum and the Art Museum of Southeast Texas, all of which can accommodate meeting extensions. Spindletop Boomtown Museum also offers unique group excursions with a historic take on the start of America’s oil boom. beaumontcvb.com
Just north of Houston, the Woodlands is only 25 minutes from George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Because of its central location, it brings in both national and international events.
The Woodlands is a nature-focused destination with all of the upscale amenities groups require for conferences and events. There are 14 hotel properties within the township boundaries and several full-service hotels that offer meeting space.
The Woodlands Waterway Marriott offers 340 guest rooms and more than 75,000 square feet of event space. The property is in the heart of the Woodlands and sits on the Woodlands Waterway, a beautiful water feature that loops throughout the main tourism district. Groups can go kayaking or swan boating on the waterway, which connects to Lake Woodlands, a lovely spot to enjoy water activities.
The Westin at the Woodlands is across from the Marriott Westin property and offers more than 28,000 square feet of versatile meeting and event space. The Woodlands Resort has 402 guest rooms, 75,000 square feet of meeting space, two golf courses, Forest Oasis Waterpark and Lazy River, 21 tennis courts, 14 pickleball courts and five dining options. visitthewoodlands.com
In central Texas, San Marcos is known for the spring-fed San Marcos River. Groups traveling to the area for a conference or event should pay a visit to the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, which sits at the headwaters of the San Marcos River. The center is a great place for groups to host an out-of-boardroom experience, including glass-bottom boat rides on Spring Lake that give visitors a glimpse of the freshwater springs and the underwater ecosystem. Groups can also take snorkel and kayak tours on the lake.
Paddleboarding and kayaking along the river are popular activities because the water is crystal clear and only about four feet deep. Groups that want to experience the river at night can take a Crystal Kayak Glow Tour with Paddle SMTX. The boats have glass bottoms that are lit up at night, illuminating the river.
San Marcos is also the mermaid capital of Texas. Visitors to the city can explore the many mermaid statues around town, which were designed by local artists. There is also an annual Mermaid Festival in May.
The Central Texas Wing Museum gives visitors a chance to explore seven commemorative Air Force aircraft. The museum, which is at the airport, is in a large hangar that is ideal for events of 200 to 500 guests. The Embassy Suites is the main convention hotel in San Marcos, with 283 rooms and 78,000 square feet of event space. The largest space is 28,000 square feet, and there are several breakout rooms. visitsanmarcos.com
