Small Market Meetings April 2018 by The Group Travel Leader, Inc.

s g n i t e e M

on t he

CAROLINA COAST

Hotel Meeting Packages Eugene, Oregon Perdido Beach Resort A

Courtesy Kimpton Cardinal Hotel

Volume 19

Issue 4

April 2018

Hotel Meeting Packages

Learn how to bundle rooms, meeting space and meals for convenience and savings.

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Faith Meeting Destinations These often-overlooked cities are ideal destinations for religious group gatherings.

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Meet Eugene This western Oregon city is surrounded by evergreen forests and waterfalls.

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Courtesy Visit LEX

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Perdido Beach Resort Mix business with pleasure at this venue on the Alabama Gulf Coast.

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Carolinas Meeting Guide Explore meeting opportunities in the coastal cities and historic venues of the Carolinas.

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Courtesy Butler Co. VB

On the cover: The sun sets over a marina in beautiful Beaufort, South Carolina. Photo by Werner Bertsch

SMALL MARKET MEETINGS is published monthly by Pioneer Publishing, Inc., 301 E. High St., Lexington, KY 40507, and is distributed free of charge to qualified meeting planners who plan meetings in small and medium size towns and cities. All other meeting industry suppliers, including hotels, conference centers, convention centers, destinations, transportation companies, restaurants and other meeting industry-related companies may subscribe by sending a check for $39 for one year to: Small Market Meetings, Circulation Department, 301 East High St., Lexington, KY 40507. Phone (866) 356-5128 (toll-free) or (859) 225-1452. Fax: (859) 253-0499. Copyright SMALL MARKET MEETINGS, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of editorial or graphic content in any manner without the written consent of the publisher is prohibited.

For Sales Call

West Chester, Ohio Halfway between Cincinnati and Dayton, this destination offers access to both.

26 28

Kyle Anderson 866-356-5128

kyle@smallmarketmeetings.com

Mac T. Lacy Publisher/Partner maclacy@grouptravelleader.com

Brian Jewell Editor brian@smallmarketmeetings.com

Herbert Sparrow Executive Editor/Partner hsparrow@grouptravelleader.com

David Brown Art Director production@smallmarketmeetings.com

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Stacey Bowman Savannah Osbourn Account Manager Staff writer sales@smallmarketmeetings.com Christine Clough Copy editor Kyle Anderson Account Manager Rena Baer kyle@smallmarketmeetings.com Proofreader

The Resort at Longboat Key Club Extraordinary meetings require an exceptional location. 223 luxury suites, 45 holes of golf, tennis, 8 onsite restaurants & lounges, spa, ﬁtness center, marina, 12,000 sq. ft of ﬂexible meeting space. 941-387-1605 | LongboatKeyClub.com

EXPERIENCE A NEW

PERSPECTIVE

Zota Beach Resort With over 2,700 square feet of ﬂexible Gulf-front event space, Zota Beach Resort is an ideal choice for meetings of up to 150 guests.

S A R A S O TA C O U N T Y M E E T I N G S !

941-387-1605 | ZotaBeachResort.com

Lido Beach Resort Plan your perfect meeting at our beautiful beachfront location oﬀering 223 rooms, 6,400 sq. ft. of meeting space, onsite casual and ﬁne dining and just minutes to shopping at St. Armand’s Circle and Sarasota’s cultural attractions. 941-387-1605 | LidoBeachResort.com

Sarasota | Vibrant downtown districts, thriving arts and culture scene, unique event venues, Zagat-rated dine-around options and white-sand beaches. All together—inspiration

Orlando Tampa

for tomorrow’s unforgettable meeting! Contact Visit Sarasota County for exclusive meeting incentives.

Miami

SarasotaMeetings.com | 941-955-0991 ext. 105

Meetings Leaders — Joe Vezzoso September 26-28 By Rachel Carter

oe Vezzoso grew up in construction — his father owned a construction company — and he had no intention of getting into the hospitality industry at age 39. But in 1985, when a gentleman he knew Joe Vezzoso was renovating and rehabbing the River House Hotel in Vezzoso’s hometown of Evansville, Indiana, he asked Vezzoso to stay on as general manager. “I said, ‘Mr. Morris, I don’t know anything about running a hotel,’ and he said, ‘I don’t either; we’ll learn together.’ And the rest is history,” Vezzoso said. That’s how, at nearly 40 years old and after years of working in construction, Vezzoso began a three-decade career in the hospitality and meetings industry that led him to his current role as vice president of sales for French Lick Resort in southern Indiana. Vezzoso was born and raised in Evansville, where he also attended the University of Southern Indiana before joining his father’s commercial construction company, which built office complexes, schools and stadiums. After managing the 91-room boutique River House Hotel, Vezzoso moved on to Indiana’s first casino, now Tropicana Evansville, where he served as director of sales and marketing. From there, he went to work for the Executive Inns of Evansville and Owensboro, Kentucky, as vice president and general manager for both properties. And his time there included one of his proudest achievements. The Evansville Executive Inn had closed, taking with it the community’s largest meeting venue. So when Vezzoso helped the new owner bring the 470-room hotel and 120,000-square-foot conference center back online, “it brought that group business back to Evansville and got the community back in

Conference Report

Joe Vezzoso poses with guests during an LPGA golf event at French Lick Resort. the meetings business.” The Owensboro Executive Inn was a bit different. It had never closed, but the new owner did revitalize the massive property, which had 600 guest rooms and about 180,000 square feet of meeting and convention space. “Owensboro became a major convention hotel in the state of Kentucky,” he said. Vezzoso is entering his 11th year with the French Lick Resort, which includes the historic French Lick Springs Hotel and West Baden Springs Hotel, as well as a casino, two spas, three 18-hole golf courses and a meeting and event center that recently underwent a $20 million expansion. The French Lick hotel dates to 1845, and the West Baden hotel was built in 1902. The hotels, both designated historic landmarks, are about a mile apart, and the resort’s restored 1924 trolley runs between the properties. “These two majestic, historic hotels are located in two very small communities,” Vezzoso said. French Lick has about 1,900 resi-

Photos courtesy French Lick Resort

dents. West Baden Springs’ population is about 500. And the resort employs 1,700 people. “Both of these communities now have embraced tourism, and they understand going forward that tourism is going to be their economic development tool in the area,” he said. At the resort’s 105,000-square-foot event center, organizers will find the newest of the resort’s three ballrooms and its largest single space: the 22,600-square-foot Hoosier Ballroom, which can also be split into three smaller rooms. Two other ballrooms have 12,700 and 6,700 square feet, respectively, and planners can also use the divisible 2,000-square-foot Taggart Room or eight breakout rooms. Attached to the Event Center, the Exhibition Hall has 32,000 square feet and drive-in capability for expos and trade shows. The resort is constantly investing in capital improvements to the tune of about $10 million a year, whether that’s updating guest rooms, adding amenities or expanding meeting space. Crews are now converting a former indoor

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Executive Profile NAME

Joseph J. Vezzoso Jr.

TITLE

Vice President of Sales

ORGANIZATION French Lick Resort

LOCATION

French Lick, Indiana

BORN

Evansville, Indiana

EDUCATION

University of Southern Indiana

CAREER HISTORY

Various hotel sales and operations positions since 1985

FAMILY

Wife, Melody, and one daughter

HOBBIES

Family activities and travel

Tips from Joe Vezzoso • Pay attention to the details. • Build great working relationships with the operations staffs at facilities you use. • Don’t leave anything to chance.

basketball gym to an exhibition center that will have about 28,000 usable square feet, a project that will be done by October. The resort also plans to add about 60 new guest rooms in a new building at the French Lick hotel. Construction could start this year and be complete in early 2019. Another project slated to begin in April will restore a building at West Baden Springs Hotel to use for weddings and upscale meetings, Vezzoso said. While staying at the resort, meeting attendees can visit the stables for horseback rides, take carriage rides, test their aim at the clay ranges, play rounds of golf, play hands of blackjack, hike on five miles of trails, rent surrey bikes and participate in many other individual and group activities. “We’re a true resort,” Vezzoso said. Since the start of his second career nearly 33 years ago, Vezzoso has seen many changes in the meetings industry — the use of technology first and foremost — “but, at the end of the day, it’s still all about the relationships you build and having the trust with folks to do the job correctly.”

April 2018

The Sheraton Redding at the Sundial Bridge Celebrates Grand Opening

Courtesy Sheraton Redding Hotel

The new Sheraton Redding features 130 guest rooms.

REDDING, California — The Sheraton Redding Hotel at the Sundial Bridge has opened its doors. The 130-room hotel is nestled within the grounds of the 300-acre Turtle Bay Exploration Park and next to the Sundial Bridge, one of the world’s largest working sundials. The Sheraton Redding’s unique setting is unlike any other in northern California. The hotel offers leisure guests a natural playground suitable for families and outdoor adventurers. The property features 80,000

Industry News

square feet of indoor/outdoor function space on the grounds of Turtle Bay Exploration Park excellent for hosting business meetings, corporate retreats and special events. The LEED-certified property offers inviting accommodations, smart connectivity, resortstyle comfort, thoughtful amenities, wellplanned meeting and event spaces, and unparalleled access to the Shasta Cascade region’s many awe-inspiring sites and outdoor activities. “The idea for the Sheraton Redding at the Sundial Bridge was born of necessity,” said Mike Warren, president and CEO of Turtle Bay Exploration Park. “We needed to find a way for the park to become more self-sufficient from a funding standpoint. The addition of the hotel is a real success story. All hotel profits benefit Turtle Bay Exploration Park and its programs. “The park is a tremendous asset to the local community. Many individuals and organizations came together to help bring the hotel to fruition. The hotel stands as a testament to the strength and commitment of our community.”

The $20 million construction project took two years to complete following several years of planning. The property is owned by Sheraton Sundial Redding, a corporation started by the Turtle Bay Exploration Park specifically to support the hotel project. The Mid-Century Modern building was designed by Trilogy Architecture and built by Gifford Construction, both based in Redding. The sleek and comfortable design echoes the natural beauty of the adjacent Turtle Bay Exploration Park. The lobby area features artwork created by California artists and is accented by natural wood, rich textures and subtle metallic elements. The hotel’s meeting spaces include the 4,000-square-foot ballroom, which can be divided into smaller breakout rooms, and the versatile outdoor space can be used for receptions, exhibits, special events and weddings. The Mosaic Restaurant, named for the magnificent tiles under the nearby Sundial Bridge, offers Italian-inspired cuisine with a California wine country twist. www.sheratonredding.com

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Renovated Waikiki Beach Hotel to Open This Summer HONOLULU, Hawaii — Following a $35 million renovation, the Queen Kapi’olani Hotel will relaunch this summer. At Kapi’olani Park, the Queen Kapi’olani’s unique location, where Diamond Head meets Waikiki, is steps from the surf breaks of Waikiki Beach and the bustling shopping and nightlife of Waikiki. The Queen Kapi’olani was built in the mid1960s during Waikiki’s Golden Age as one of Honolulu’s grand full-service hotels, and its reimagining embraces its heritage with a retro-chic aesthetic while incorporating modern enhancements that meet the needs of today’s travelers. At 19 stories, the hotel offers 315 guest rooms, a large open-air lobby that fronts Kapi’olani Park, a state-of-the-art fitness center and an 8,000-square-foot thirdfloor lanai (outdoor deck) and pool. This unusual space, referred to as the hotel’s outdoor living room, features a new restaurant, a bar and lounge and a pool. With Diamond Head as the backdrop, the third-floor lanai offers stunning panoramic views of the surf break at Waikiki Beach, the lush green lands of Kapi’olani Park and Diamond Head.

April 2018

Courtesy Queen Kapi’olani Hotel

Meeting space at the newly renovated Queen Kapi’olani Hotel in features scenic views of Diamond Head.

“We are thrilled to restore the Queen Kapi’olani Hotel to its former glory and to share this authentic Waikiki experience with new and returning visitors,” said Jeff Perkins, general manager. “Through our new rooms, renovated lobby and pool deck, and exceptional dining experiences, the Queen Kapi’olani

will reclaim its renowned place in the hearts of both locals and global travelers.” A destination for conferences, weddings and groups of all types, the hotel offers the Le’ahi Room, Le’ahi Lanai and Le’ahi prefunction spaces, which together provide over 5,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space that captures the same aloha sensibilities. In addition, the unveiling introduces a new culinary concept: Deck. The Queen Kapi’olani partnered with Plan Do See to create the fun yet relaxed restaurant, which serves cuisine inspired by local fresh catch and produce in a sharable style, as well as an array of craft cocktails. Finally, in keeping with the Queen Kapi’olani’s community-oriented legacy, popular local artists were commissioned to create exclusive pieces that accent the lobby and common areas. The Queen Kapi’olani Hotel, Waikiki Beach is open during renovation, with its completed transformation to be unveiled this summer. www.queenkapiolani.com

Best Practices for Beginners A meetings industry veteran shares wisdom from years of experience By Vickie Mitchell

yan Lewis isn’t a professional speaker, but he has spent the past 10 years planning meetings for the National Association of Free Will Baptists, including its annual conference for 6,000. Lewis is a certified meeting professional (CMP) and is well versed in the best practices of meeting planning, which is why he was tapped to deliver a onehour course on that subject, aimed at newcomers to meeting planning, at the Religious Conference Management Association’s recent Emerge conference in Omaha, Nebraska. Lewis’ class was one of eight offered through RCMA’s new certified faith-based meeting planner (CFMP) program. The certification is not tied to the CMP or other industry certifications but is designed somewhat for those who are thrust into meeting planning by their church or denomination — the ushers, pastors, deacons, women’s conference leaders — who have zero experience. “They can say, ‘I may be new to this, but I can take these seminars and then have some experience and education under my belt,’” said Lewis. Many of the session’s attendees had been planning meetings for five years or less. Lewis’ presentation also was videotaped so other RCMA members can watch it later, take the postsession test and earn credit toward the CFMP. To keep his one-hour session succinct, Lewis broke planning into five processes: selling, selecting, signing, specifics and surveying. The first two processes are covered here; next month’s column will cover the remaining three. Experienced planners who attended the session didn’t hear anything new, Lewis said. But they were reminded of the fundamentals. “I am not an innovator, but I know the things that can make a successful meeting,” he said.

Selling

The inexperienced meeting planner sometimes assumes that “everyone would want to hold my meeting,” said Lewis. But given that hotels today typically have more business than they need, Lewis pointed out, meeting planners must be able to demonstrate their meeting’s value. Including a thorough event history with the request for proposal is the best way to do so. “If you want to sell your meeting, they need to know what you have done [in the past],” Lewis said. Lewis is blessed in this respect. His predecessors were amaz-

MeetingPoint

ing recordkeepers, and as a result, he can give meeting venues 25 years of conference history. Of course, many organizations haven’t done as good a job at recordkeeping as Lewis. But even then, information about past conferences is available with a few phone calls or emails. Planners can build their own database of meeting history by asking previous conference venues for that information, Lewis said. “You have to do the legwork to make your meeting appealing to a salesperson,” Lewis said. “CVBs are happy to supply information about the economic impact your group had or the calculator that they use to determine it.” At his first pre-conference meeting, Lewis hands over a multipage summary of the past 20 years of meetings. It not only supplies important numbers, such as room pickup and food-and-beverage expenditures, “it is the proof that we have fulfilled our commitments to these places,” he said.

Selecting

Although site selection can begin on paper, it must conclude with a site visit. Planners cannot rely on a salesperson’s assessment of a meeting venue’s possibilities, Lewis said. “I need to put my eyes on the place. My eyes and brain know the puzzle I have to put together.” Experiencing a site firsthand allows planners to quickly discern whether basics such as parking, transportation, meeting space and a hotel’s style are workable. For example, in Lewis’ case, hotels with a predominance of king guest rooms don’t work well because his attendees often share rooms. In evaluating a conference site, meeting planners must also consider geography, knowing where their attendees are coming from and how far they will travel; labor situations; and other meetings that will be held there during their conference dates. Instead of accepting free travel from hosts during site inspections, Lewis’ organization always pays for the travel expenses on these. This helps ensure that Lewis and the association remain impartial during their decision-making. For more information, contact Lewis at ryan@nafwb.org. Vickie Mitchell is the former editor of Small Market Meetings. If you have ideas for future columns, contact her at vickie@smallmarketmeetings.com.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

The Complete Package

Hotels bundle rooms, meeting space and meals for convenience and savings Courtesy Cheyenne Mountain Resort

By Savannah Osbourn

Groups meeting at Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado can take advantage of included teambuilding activities in the surrounding Rocky Mountains.

nstead of booking meeting space and hotel rooms separately, many event planners take advantage of complete meetings packages (CMPs) offered by certain hotels and resorts. Not to be confused with the certified meeting professional designation, a CMP typically includes hotel rooms, food services and event space within one preset price bundle, thus removing the headache of estimating expenses. To learn more about some of the different kinds of meeting packages available, we spoke with representatives from several hotel properties.

“There’s some cookie-cutter options out there, but if they’re missing something you need, just ask for customization, like ‘Yeah, it includes that, but I need AV or a private lunch.’ Make sure you get the most out of your time in a facility,” said Charles Burton, general manager at the resort. The biggest advantage of using a CMP is that it removes the possibility of unforeseen costs by including all the necessary services under one master bill. “From a budget standpoint, it makes it really convenient for the planner because they know exactly what they’re spending,” said Burton. Another benefit of a CMP is that the hotel manages most of the planning logistics, so planners simply have to outline their primary objectives. Many hotels employ their own on-site meeting planners, audiovisual (AV) departments and culinary teams to handle event preparations. “We want to make sure you don’t have to worry about anything other than the content of the meeting,” said Burton. According to Burton, many groups book their packages at least 60 to 90 days before the event and begin ironing out the details with the hotel planning staff shortly after signing the contract.

Overnight Packages

The CMP at Brasstown Valley Resort in Young Harris, Georgia, requires a reservation of eight or more rooms for at least one night. The price package includes general session and breakout rooms, a Southernstyle breakfast buffet, continuous refreshments throughout the day, a catered or restaurant lunch, and a catered or restaurant dinner. For added value, planners can opt for the resort’s View From the Top Package, which encompasses the full benefits of the complete meetings package plus a customizable team-building activity such as a golf outing, a local vineyard tour or a murder-mystery game. This supplementary component requires a reservation of eight or more rooms for two or more nights. Though some packages may not include everything a planner needs, the planner can sometimes work with the hotel to adapt some features of the package.

April 2018

Day Packages

Some hotels, like the Kimpton Cardinal in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, offer day packages for meeting groups that focus primarily on meal services. The hotel features three different day packages: a

Courtesy Brasstown Valley Resort

The meeting package at Brasstown Valley Resort in Georgia includes meals and conference rooms with the booking of at least eight hotel rooms.

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Managing Meetings

basic package, a health-conscious package and a hearty-buffet package, which each include breakfast, lunch, break refreshments and all-day beverage service. “The package takes the guesswork out of it and gives you some very basic but popular items,” said Liza Edgerton, director of sales and marketing at the hotel. “Menus can be overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to put together something that you don’t do every day.” Typically, break refreshments are priced according to consumption, so when it comes to planners on a budget, it is invaluable to know the price point of each group in advance. Though the Kimpton Cardinal’s meeting packages are designed for single-day events with 12 or more guests, it is possible to adapt the packages for multiday events. “If someone comes to us and says, ‘We want this for four days,’ we can customize it for longer meetings so they’re not eating the same menu every day,” said Edgerton. Since the Kimpton’s packages mainly cover meal services, the hotel’s planning team can usually coordinate the event within a short window of a week to a month, although groups with overnight stays will need to make contact four to six months in advance. The same package is available at several other Kimpton properties, including the Kimpton Sawyer in Sacramento, California.

Team-Building Packages

Surrounded by Colorado’s rich, mountainous landscape, Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs strives to inspire and challenge meeting groups through a unique selection of team-building experiences. “Getting people together as a team to problem-solve and work together as a team goes a long way,” said Tom Walker, director of sales at the resort. “There’s so much to learn outside the four walls of the meeting space.” As an IACC-certified conference center, the resort guarantees meeting groups a top-quality

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

DE E P R A C FERENCE

Courtesy Kimpton Sawyer Hotel

The Revival Bar at Kimpton Sawyer Hotel in Sacramento can be used for private events as part of complete meeting packages. bundle of guest accommodations, flexible event space, unlimited break refreshments and lavish buffet meals three times per day. In addition, groups can customize the package with a variety of creative teambuilding activities, from Giant Jenga to Glow Golf and Build-a-Canoe. “We have a group that does the Build-a-Canoe package every year,” said Walker. “The teams are provided a number of materials — swimming noodles, cardboard, aluminum cans — and then they do what they can to build a boat that can carry at least one person.” Another popular package is the Amazing Race challenge, during which attendees divide into teams and then race to solve clues at various points across the property. “We can build the clues into a decided theme. It could be questions about the area or questions about the company itself, such as a new product that the company is rolling out,” said Walker. Planners must book 10 or more rooms to qualify for Cheyenne Mountain Resort’s CMP. Once the contract has been signed, the resort assigns the group a dedicated planning professional to handle event preparations. “All of the culinary needs, AV needs — everything is taken care of by us. It’s truly a turnkey experience when you take advantage of a resort like us,” said Walker. “We find that when people come for a meeting, many times they come back again with their family because of the great experience they had.”

April 2018

CON

DIEM

The status quo doesn’t get to be extraordinary. But you do. Centrally located and insanely affordable, Nebraska’s capital has the venue selection, entertainment value, small-town hospitality, and big-city amenities that planners and attendees come home raving about.

Plan for more at

lincoln.org/meet.

Destination: Inspiration

These cities are great fits for faith-based meetings By Savannah Osbourn

ome cities across the United States hold a long-standing reputation for hosting religious conferences and events, but recently, the religious meetings market has begun to experience a shift. As the popularity of certain locations has increased, so have the rates, forcing faith-based organizers to seek more affordable alternatives. Here are five cities that have emerged as promising destinations for the religious sector.

Lexington, Kentucky

Nestled in the heart of the Bluegrass State, Lexington is surrounded by some of the country’s most prestigious and beautiful horse farms, earning the title Horse Capital of the World. Thanks to interstates 64 and 75, the city is accessible within a day’s drive of two-thirds of the U.S. population, making it a convenient crossroads for travelers. “This is just a really good hotel, restaurant, hospitality community,” said Doug Barger, destination sales manager at Visit Lex. “The people here are so friendly and welcoming, and that goes a long way. When we have site inspections, we get a lot of compliments from planners, saying, ‘We don’t see you guys competing with each other; you work together.’” Lexington is also known for its diverse restaurant scene and family atmosphere. After meeting in the Lexington Convention Center, attendees can explore the colorful downtown area to grab a bite to eat, relax by one of the city fountains or browse a local art gallery. “It’s such a nice downtown,” said Barger. “We have a feel that reli-

Meeting Ideas

Courtesy Visit LEX

Groups meeting in Lexington often enjoy tours of surrounding horse farms during free time.

gious planners just really like. They want vibe, but not too much vibe.” Lexington offers two major downtown hotel properties for meeting groups, with a third projected to open in 2019. In the center of downtown, the Hyatt Regency connects directly to Rupp Arena as well as the Lexington Convention Center, offering a combined total of 130,000 square feet of meeting space. Groups can enjoy various amenities at this elegant venue, including free parking, Wi-Fi and airport shuttle services. Just a mile and a half from downtown, the award-winning Campbell House Lexington is a lovely boutique hotel with 24,000 square feet of meeting space. Nearby attractions include the Kentucky Horse Park; Old Friends, a retirement farm for thoroughbred horses; Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, home of the country’s largest private collection of original 19thcentury buildings; and the Ark Encounter, a 510-foot timber replica of Noah’s Ark about an hour’s drive north of town. www.visitlex.com

St. Cloud, Minnesota

An hour from Minnesota’s Twin Cities, St. Cloud provides a charming riverfront setting for religious meetings and conventions. Meeting groups of all sizes can take advantage of the River’s Edge Convention Center on the Mississippi River. This state-of-the-art center was extensively renovated five years ago; 35,000 square feet of continuous exhibit floor was added for a total of 150,000 square feet of space.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Courtesy St. Cloud Area CVB

A St. Cloud visitor kayaks on Lake George. In addition, the facility and two connecting hotels are within walking distance of nearly 45 restaurants and shops. “When people visit here, they can basically park their car, walk to the center and then walk around to the attractions,” said Nikki Fisher, convention and meetings sales manager at the St. Cloud Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. After hours, visitors can wander through the city at their leisure or coordinate a guided tour through the St. Cloud Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Occasionally, the mayor of St. Cloud or someone from the Heritage Preservation Commission will conduct a city tour showcasing notable landmarks such as the Cathedral of St. Mary and other historic buildings. “What we like to do is plan a tour based around some of the churches in St. Cloud, since we have so many in the area,” said Fisher. Groups can also visit St. John’s Abbey and University to tour the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library, which displays a rare collection of religious art and manuscripts dating back to the Middle Ages. The highlight of the museum is an illuminated Bible that was handwritten by a team of 21st-century artists. www.visitstcloud.com

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

For those in search of a true Southern getaway, Louisiana’s capital city of Baton Rouge presents a vibrant spread of antebellum homes, world-

April 2018

class museums and hook-to-plate seafood restaurants. The city serves as an excellent hub-and-spoke destination for many areas along the Gulf Coast, drawing religious groups from Texas, Mississippi and Alabama. Because of the many youth athletic teams that pass through the region, Baton Rouge is accustomed to hosting families and youth groups. Downtown hotels frequently accommodate groups that require double or quad occupancy, and there are many affordable restaurants that welcome groups, including local favorites like Mike Anderson’s Seafood, Ralph and Kacoo’s, Drusilla Seafood Restaurant and Juban’s Restaurant. “The affordability factor is really important to the religious market segment,” said Karron Alford, director of marketing and technology at Visit Baton Rouge. “Baton Rouge really excels in making sure we have those options available.” The city is mounting an $18.1 million renovation of the Raising Cane’s River Center, an exquisite event complex on the Mississippi riverfront that encompasses a 70,000-square-foot Exhibition Hall, a 10,000-seat arena and a performing-arts theater. It is estimated that the project will be complete in late 2019 or early 2020. Visiting attendees will appreciate Baton Rouge’s convenient layout, which places nearly 1,000 hotel rooms within walking distance of the convention center. This proximity enables attendees to take full advantage of hotel amenities such as complimentary parking, breakfast and airport shuttle services.

Courtesy Visit Baton Rouge

The Old State Capitol in Baton Rouge makes an inspiring meeting venue for small groups.

Meeting Ideas

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Beyond the meeting facilities, the city offers a wide range of attractions for families; highlights include the castlelike Old Louisiana State Capitol, the Blue Bayou and Dixie Landing water park, the Baton Rouge Zoo and the Knock Knock Children’s Museum. There are also several historic estates in the surrounding region, like Myrtles Plantation and Houmas House Plantation. www.visitbatonrouge.com

Visalia, California

Known as the Gateway to the Sequoias, Visalia, California, resides in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range alongside the worldrenowned Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks. The town is equidistant from principal destinations such as San Francisco, Los Angeles and Sacramento, providing easy access to major airports and attractions. “Visalia is certainly a growing area,” said Suzanne Bianco, tourism and marketing manager at the Visalia Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Our location in the middle of the state makes it easy and cost effective for groups to meet here.” Religious groups will find everything they need for their meetings or events in this vibrant, mountainside community without the traffic and expenses of California’s bigger cities. Just a block from downtown, the Visalia Convention Center features 114,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, a 3,000-seat arena and complimentary parking. The convention center adjoins the recently renovated Visalia Marriott Hotel, which can host up to 4,000 guests in its 61,099-square-foot event space. The Wyndham Visalia Hotel is another anchor location in the city for meeting groups, with 22,000 square feet of meeting space.

Courtesy Visalia CVB

Students tour a farm near Visalia.

of meeting space Experience Lied Lodge & Conference Center — less than an hour south of Omaha.

D • • • •

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April 2018

Courtesy Visit Omaha

The Old Market District is the hub of Omaha’s entertainment scene. In Visalia’s enchanting downtown district, also known as the Jewel of the Valley, travelers can explore over 50 restaurants, boutiques and shops, with dining options from casual farm-to-table fare such as Café 225 to more upscale venues like the famous Vintage Press Restaurante. For an original off-site venue or activity, groups can also stop by McKellar Farms, a working citrus farm that offers guided tours as well as beautiful event space in a renovated barn. Many meeting attendees prefer to extend their stays in the city a few extra days to visit the stunning national parks nearby. One of the most notable natural landmarks is the General Sherman Tree, which is the largest tree on earth at a height of 275 feet and a base diameter of 36 feet. www.visitvisalia.org

Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha, Nebraska, is a relatively young convention destination, but its reputation as a prime location for religious events is rapidly growing. In January, Omaha hosted the annual Religious Conference Management Association (RCMA) event, drawing over 250 religious planners to the city, many that professed strong interest in returning with their groups. “One thing we hear over and over is what a

Meeting Ideas

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

& Plan on meeting here

MEET, EXPLORE, CONNECT GREATER ONTARIO, CALIFORNIA

Courtesy Visit Omaha

Omaha’s Josyln Art Museum features a stunning installation by glass artist Dale Chihuly.

genuine hospitality community we have,” said Cathy Keller, vice president of sales and services at the Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Once you’re in Omaha, you are totally embraced by the city, so attendees are very, very comfortable.” Despite being the largest city in Nebraska, Omaha provides an intimate, family-type environment with many restaurants, hotels and attractions within 15 minutes of the convention center. “We’re really easy to get to, whether you’re flying or driving in, and that’s of great value to the religious market,” said Keller. “All of our hotels in the downtown area offer complimentary shuttles to and from the airport.” The CenturyLink Center Omaha convention center features 346,000 square feet of meeting space with an attached arena. The center is adjacent to the Hilton Omaha and the brand-new Omaha Marriott Downtown at the Capitol District. The total number of downtown hotel rooms is 3,000, making the city “attractive to the religious market, because if they want different price points and want to be spread out across different hotels, they can do that,” Keller said. One of the most popular sections of the city is the historic Old Market District, where attendees can browse over 30 unusual boutiques, restaurants and art galleries along cobblestone streets. “During RCMA, they were down there every day,” said Keller. RCMA also hosted its opening reception at the impressive Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, which boasts a two-story desert dome as well as America’s largest indoor rain forest. www.visitomaha.com

April 2018

A breathtaking contemporary state of the art venue with more than 225,000 square feet of flexible column-free exhibit, meeting and function space, the Ontario Convention Center is ideal for conventions, trade shows, exhibits and meetings. Located just 2 miles from Ontario International Airport with access to a variety of hotel and dining options within walking distance, the center is frequently used by filmmakers as an on-site location for movies and commercials. • 225,000 total square feet with a 70,000 square foot column free exhibition hall • Full range of technology services • Award winning Executive Chef and service excellence • Over 6,000 hotel rooms available in Greater Ontario • Complimentary hotel parking and shuttle service For meeting needs of all sizes – from a conference room to a citywide convention utilizing the Ontario Convention Center – or for a special exposition or sporting event, the Greater Ontario Convention & Visitors Bureau will provide the necessary destination support tools to execute a successful experience.

For more information on planning your next adventure, visit GOcvb.org 800.455.5755

OF WINERIES AND WATERFALLS By Zach Chouteau

Make the most of the Oregon Coast in Eugene

Eugeneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art offers a number of picturesque meeting spaces. By Colin Morton

Destination Showcase

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

“The property has an ever-growing menu of these experiences, another favorite being cocktail classes using local spirits with a seasonal flair, and we have plans for several new additions in 2018.”

ugene, Oregon, is an ideal place to get your attendees away from that comprises two large halls — one with a permanent stage — a glass it all without leaving it all behind. The small city offers a superb atrium and four dividable meeting rooms. Full catering services, Wi-Fi natural setting where visitors can escape the urban hustle and and 2,500 parking spaces are also on hand to make an event go bustle; but there’s no need to rough it in this likable locale bursting smoothly. The venue is based at the County Fairgrounds a few blocks with appealing accommodations and other vital venues. from downtown and is even home to an ice center known as the Rink It’s little wonder that planners and attendees are catching on to this Exchange, where groups can enjoy an ice skating excursion or take in compelling college town, home to the University of Oregon and tucked a Eugene Generals hockey match. into the green and gorgeous Willamette Valley in the west-central A more intimate but equally compelling option awaits at Venue 252, realms of the state. a sleek recent entry into the Eugene meetings “People are far more educated about our menu. It can accommodate up to 770 guests for community than they’ve been in the past a seated affair or up to 1,285 for a reception when they reach out,” said Juanita Metzler, and makes foodie affairs a snap with the convention sales manager for Travel Lane acclaimed on-site caterer Market Catering. The County/Eugene, Cascades and Coast. “We realurban-industrial events hub provides five disly appreciate they’ve done their due diligence.” tinctive spaces to choose from, including a There are still a number of Eugene elements formidable grand hall that can host up to 800 that surprise first-time planners and attendees for a standing reception and includes a spawhen they visit, according to Metzler. Among cious balcony that can serve as a VIP area or a these is the city’s status as a high-tech haven, spot for some deejay disc spinning. with Eugene dubbed Silicon Shire and home to Hotel Hubs a robust technology industry. Another secret is Eugene has a healthy reservoir of lodging Eugene’s accessibility, with a top-tier airport choices for planners to ponder, but two stand that offers daily flights from San Francisco; out when it comes to hosting medium-to-large Oakland and San Jose, California; and other events. major Western cities, with Alaska Air as a The Hilton Eugene provides 30,000 square major carrier. feet of meeting and exhibit space right down“These are full jets, not just little commuter Inn at 5th town, with a focus on sustainability that planes,” she said. “And we’re not your little includes charging stations for electronic vehigarage-door airport. There are wonderful resBy Angie Riley, all photos courtesy Visit Lane County cles, bike rentals and substantial food comtaurants and shopping, plus it’s only 15 minposting. Its location is another boon to groups, utes from downtown.” neighboring the Hult Center for the Performing Metzler said there is massive anticipation Arts and within easy proximity to the Fifth and excitement building over the 2020 openLOCATION Street Public Market, the Saturday Market, ing of the billion-dollar Phil and Penny Knight West-Central Oregon Amtrak and many boutique shops and top Campus for Accelerating Scientific Research, ACCESS restaurants. expected to help morph the region into a specEugene Airport Meanwhile, the Valley River Inn shows off tacular hub of innovation. Metzler said the 15,000 square feet of meeting space that campus and its world-class facilities should MAJOR MEETING SPACES includes a trio of ballrooms. The property is become a major host of events and conferHilton Eugene, Valley River Inn, Lane Events also home to the popular Sweet Waters restauences, particularly within the medical and Center, Venue 252 rant, where groups can enjoy farm-fresh flatech industries. HOTEL ROOMS vors in an elegant dining room or on the al Approximately 4,500, including Springfield Convening in Style fresco patio with its invigorating views of the OFFSITE VENUES Of course, easy access wouldn’t matter to Willamette River. King Estate, Schnitzer Museum of Art, Hop groups without quality meeting venues, and Sophisticated groups will savor a stay at the Valley Brewing Company Eugene has that base covered as well. boutique Inn at the 5th, an upscale oasis that CONTACT INFO Any conversation in that regard must begin is Eugene’s only AAA Four Diamond hotel. The Eugene Cascades and Coast/Visit Lane County with mention of the Lane Events Center, which property recently created several new meeting 541-484-5307 features a 75,000-square-foot exposition space packages that run the gamut from an Oregon www.eugenecascadescoast.org

Eugene, Oregon

April 2018

“We love to do events there. There are ever-changing exhibits, great catering from campus with wine and cocktails, and some superb spaces for a small dance or party.” Wine Class with an acclaimed local sommelier to a group jog with general manager J.B. Carney, an avid runner who loves sharing personal insights on the city with guests. “The property has an ever-growing menu of these experiences, another favorite being cocktail classes using local spirits with a seasonal flair, and we have plans for several new additions in 2018,” Carney said. For on-site functions, Inn at the 5th offers the Maple Room, with 1,400 square feet that can be set to accommodate events of up to 80 people, as well as the intimate Back Room, with space for up to eight to meet privately.

Inspiring Off-Sites

Eugene is also home to numerous off-site options for hosting memorable meetings and receptions away from the host hotel or conference room. The range of possibilities includes classy, casual and culturally stimulating, giving planners the chance to find the right match for their group. Regal and remarkable, the sprawling King Estate covers 1,033 acres surrounding a stunning European-style winery with panoramic vistas of the countryside. An award-winning restaurant showcases fine dining daily, indoors and out, with chef de cuisine Andrew Francisco’s menu, which emphasizes estate and locally grown organic ingredients that seamlessly pair with King Estate wines. One of Oregon’s leading wineries, the estate is especially well regarded for pinot gris and pinot noir. For a less-formal affair, consider the Hop Valley Brewing Company, a production brewery with a spacious tasting room and patio. Its private spaces can accommodate 10 to 100 guests and more than two dozen brews are on tap for thirsty attendees. Hop Valley also operates a restaurant in nearby Springfield, with elevated pub grub taking old standbys like mozzarella sticks and hot wings to new heights. The Hult Center for the Performing Arts, in the heart of downtown, is home to a wide range of performances, from stupendous Broadway

Destination Showcase

shows to intimate dance recitals. Groups can come for a show or to host a function of their own, with snazzy settings that include a high-ceilinged lobby that can host up to 400 for a standing reception. For some additional compelling culture, planners can consider the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at the University of Oregon, with several tasteful spaces for special events and meetings. “We love to do events there,” said Visit Lane County’s Metzler. “There are ever-changing exhibits, great catering from campus with wine and cocktails, and some superb spaces for a small dance or party.” Elsewhere on campus, Metzler highly recommends the Ford Alumni Center for off-sites, particularly its high-ceilinged glass ballroom with generous views of the University of Oregon’s lush foliage and rolling knolls. The ballroom can host up to 300 theater-style or up to about 225 for a seated banquet.

Free-Time Forays

When attendees are faced with some free time in Eugene, the great outdoors are calling, in particular a wealth of waterfalls that make for breathtaking visits without taking your breath away. “There are 20 waterfalls within a short drive of downtown,” said Metzler, who added that most of them are “an easy walk, with no huffing or puffing.” She particularly recommends Fall Creek Falls, where visitors can drive right to the top of it for a “spectacular” view, and Proxy Falls, reached by way of an easy one-mile trek, no hiking boots needed. Metzler also encourages a downtime detour to Eugene’s trending Whiteaker neighborhood, also known as the Whit. “The Whit is a hot new neighborhood with breweries, wine-tasting rooms and wonderful restaurants,” she said. A short stroll northwest of downtown, the locale is a great place for attendees to let their hair down and have fun in cool and casual settings. Local favorite Sam Bond’s Garage was hailed not long ago as one of the best bars in the nation by

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

By Ben Schorzman

The sun sets over downtown Eugene. Esquire. Papa’s Soul Food Kitchen and BBQ, a hopping blues joint, is just across the street. For something completely different, attendees can visit the Cascades Raptor Center on Fox Hollow Road, with a sprawling forested setting that is home to 50 birds of prey in large aviaries. “We’ve got programs that we can do for groups, or personal tours for groups of no more than four people,” said executive director Louise Shimmel. “We have an amphitheater and a covered program space. And we do programs where we bring a bird or birds off-site to a classroom or other meeting space.” Meeting attendees will also want to save some time to savor the

bounty of the surrounding area at some of Eugene’s great local restaurants. “We were farm-to-table in Eugene before it was even a fad,” Metzler said. “It’s just our lifestyle. You can get just about anything fresh here, and that’s what we grew up with here.” Among Metzler’s top suggestions are the Excelsior Inn, an upscale Italian restaurant that even has its own farm on the outskirts of town; Grit Kitchen, which highlights colorful fare forged from the best ingredients of local farmers; Marche, a French establishment with outdoor dining spaces surrounded by herbs and edible flowers; and Rye on 3rd, a casually classy haven of eclectic cuisine and handcrafted cocktails.

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April 2018

Go West Chester By Savannah Osbourn

Photos courtesy Butler Co. VB

Above: The Savannah Center features 44,000 square feet of meeting space. Left: The Voice of America Broadcasting Museum is open for visitors to West Chester.

W E S T C H E S T E R T O W N S H I P, O H I O LOCATION Cincinnati Metropolitan Area ACCESS Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, Dayton International Airport, Interstate 75 MAJOR MEETING SPACES Savannah Center, Holiday Inn Cincinnati North, Cincinnati Marriott North HOTEL ROOMS 2,500 OFF-SITE VENUES Muhlhauser Barn, Ronald Reagan Lodge, Jungle Jim’s International Market, Jag’s Steak and Seafood CONTACT INFO Butler County Visitors Bureau 513-860-4194 www.gettothebc.com

Destination Showcase

est Chester Township is one of 13 townships in Butler County, Ohio, just outside downtown Cincinnati. The county provides a convenient midway point between Dayton and Cincinnati for meeting groups, who can take advantage of the affordable rates in town while enjoying major attractions nearby. Both the Dayton International Airport and the Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky International Airport are within a 45-minute drive. “A lot of people think of it as an extension of Cincinnati, but it still has its own distinct culture,” said Margaret O’Gorman, tourism development manager at the Butler County Visitors Bureau. In addition to the township’s accessibility, many meeting planners appreciate the level of attention and consideration they receive when working with representatives from the Butler County Visitors Bureau. “In West Chester, groups get to be the center of attention, whereas in a larger city, they might be overwhelmed or overlooked,” said O’Gorman. “From a meetings perspective, it’s great, because they’re with the same person throughout the event.” Many of the county’s top developments have emerged during the past 10 years thanks to increased traffic from Interstate 75, which was widened along the route from West Chester to Middletown in 2010. Two years ago, West Chester opened the first Topgolf location in the state, a multilevel golfing and entertainment facility that features a wide range of competitive games. Meeting groups can hone their teambuilding skills at one of the local Escape Room attractions or visit Main Event Entertainment for an engaging mix of activities like bowling, laser tag and indoor ropes courses. For a more educational after-hours experience, travelers can delve into the history of broadcasting at the Voice of America Museum or witness the world’s largest indoor model-train display at Entertrainment Junction. Butler County is also home to Ohio’s Donut Trail, a series of 12 mom-and-pop doughnut shops that each carry their own unique flavors. “A lot of groups incorporate the trail into their event, like having a doughnuts-anddraughts food tasting at opening receptions,” said O’Gorman. “We had one team who did a scavenger hunt.”

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Courtesy Holtman’s Donuts

Holtman’s Donuts is one of 12 Butler County bakeries on the Ohio Donut Trail.

Savannah Center

Muhlhauser Barn

The Savannah Center is one of the region’s premier meeting facilities, accommodating anywhere between 10 and 1,700 guests with 44,000 square feet of flexible exhibit space. Outside the center, groups can enjoy a beautiful gazebo, two gardens and a five-acre lake that is used to heat and cool the entire building using geothermal technology. There are also various catering options available from the on-site catering team led by award-winning executive chef Henry Warman. Parking and internet services are complimentary.

Built during the 1800s, the Muhlhauser Barn is a charming timber frame structure that originally served as part of the MuhlhauserWindish Brewing Company. After falling into disuse, it was later reopened as a public event venue by the Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty and the Muhlhauser Family. The 220-seat barn features a large stone fireplace, an open loft area and a lovely outdoor gazebo that overlooks a pond and a fountain. It is available to rent from April to early November through the West Chester Township.

Ronald Reagan Lodge

Jungle Jim’s International Market

Nestled in the heart of West Chester, the Voice of America MetroPark spans 435 acres of paved nature trails and scenic lakeside views. Meeting planners can take advantage of this serene setting at the Ronald Reagan Lodge, a spacious event venue adjacent to the lake that provides three different function rooms, an outdoor patio, a dance floor, a full-service kitchen and a 1,100-square-foot gazebo and hosts up to 250 guests. The lodge serves as a popular destination for wedding receptions, corporate meetings, luncheons and galas.

One of Ohio’s most iconic attractions, Jungle Jim’s International Market boasts six and a half acres of international foods from over 70 countries. Many meeting groups organize off-site events at the full-service Oscar Event Center above the market, which seats up to 525 guests banquet style. After a reception or cocktail party, attendees can pick up some unusual souvenirs from the eclectic supermarket downstairs, which includes a greenhouse, a coffee bar, a cheese shop and a craft-beer tasting station.

April 2018

Perdido Beach Resort By Kristy Alpert

n Spanish, “perdido” means “lost.” Yet it’s with no sense of irony that guests staying at the Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach, Alabama, frequently call it the best-kept secret along the Gulf Shore. The resort is the largest privately owned and operated hotel in the area, but the mix of tenured staff and enthusiastic workers makes this grandiose resort feel like a small town with loads of charm and friendly faces at each corner. The Perdido Beach Resort opened in the summer of 1987 in Orange Beach, just a short drive from both Gulf Shores, Alabama, and Pensacola, Florida; the resort features 344 spacious guest rooms spread throughout the two towers that meet at the base to form this property. Rooms feature private balconies that look out on either the beach or the pool; options include executive suites, two-bedroom suites and a club level with access to a private-club-level lounge. But the grand views of the beach aren’t reserved for the top floors; even the lobby

Hospitality Showcase

All photos courtesy Perdido Beach Resort

level offers stunning panoramic views of the beach so guests can get a glimpse of the sandy shores before even checking in. The resort has a Mediterranean feel, with breezy hallways and a soothing color palette that guides visitors through the property’s four on-site restaurants. Along with an indoor and outdoor pool, a fitness center, hot tubs and more, the resort boasts the largest convention center on the Alabama Gulf Coast. The layout includes 45,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and banquet facilities, including 9,000 square feet of exhibition space and 14,500 square feet of outdoor meeting space spread throughout two separate beachfront venues. The resort specializes in full-service event planning and has become a regular venue for countless clients coming back each year for business meetings, networking conferences and even family reunions. This Gulf Coast gem offers a relaxing place to play, meet and stay with tons of options for eating and entertaining.

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Meeting Space The meeting spaces at the Perdido Beach Resort range from an expansive indoor ballroom to a covered pavilion on a private bayside dock on Cotton Bayou. The 8,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom, which can hold up to 1,050 guests, can be broken into eight separate sections and features high ceilings and crystal chandeliers, with one of the highest integrated sound systems on the coast. On the lobby level, the resort offers the Sand Castle room for up to 265 guests, the Sand Dollar room for up to 105 guests and a boardroom for up to 18 guests. On the beach level, planners can access the Grand Reef and Paradise Reef rooms, which can accommodate up to 800 and 115 guests, respectively. Outdoor venues include the Beach Deck for up to 1,000 guests, Paradise Point for up to 650 guests and, of course, the beach and the bayside dock.

Perdido Beach Resort Location Orange Beach, Alabama Size 344 rooms Meeting Space More than 45,000 square feet Access The hotel is two miles from the Florida line, 29 miles from the Pensacola airport and 72 miles from the Mobile airport. Contact Info 800-634-8001 www.perdidobeachresort.com

After Events The resort’s beachfront location takes the pressure off planning before and after activities for meeting guests, as there is never a dull moment on the Gulf Shores. On property, guests can access two volleyball courts, a fitness facility, a stunning outdoor pool and water sports like paddleboarding, kayaking, sailing and wave runners. Guests of the resort can take advantage of numerous children’s beach activities, a marshland education experience, and splash-pool movie nights and evening outdoor music at the Perdido Beach Resort’s bar and grill. The resort’s concierge can also assist in booking dolphin cruises or deep-sea-fishing excursions or recommend the top golfing and parasailing locations in the area.

April 2018

Catering The Perdido Beach Resort offers four on-site restaurants and a variety of catering options. The event management department often works with planners to create custom menus, but it also includes a range of suggested and preset menus that help fuel guests throughout the day. Breakfast options include healthful items like seasonal berries and energy bars, but the resort’s cheddar cheese grits and Southern-style biscuits with sawmill gravy give guests a Southern start to the day. Multiple break and menu-enhancement options are available throughout the day, and lunch and dinner menus include creative options like a “build-your-own-sandwich bar” for lunch and “the ultimate-raw-bar display” for reception-style dinners. Alcohol is available when purchased on property.

Extras Left: Perdido Beach Resort’s catering department offers classic dishes, such as oysters Rockefeller. Right: The resort can arrange various activities for meeting groups, such as bonfires and meals on the beach. Opposite page: The sun rises over Perdido Beach Resort in Alabama.

Unlike many other hospitality venues, the Perdido Beach Resort does not charge for extras like guest room Wi-Fi, on-site and valet parking, or reservation processing; and resort fees and cleaning fees are never added to room rates. Within the venues, meeting groups can take advantage of the resort’s expansive audio and visual equipment offerings and plentiful breakout rooms for smaller meetings. The meetingsand-events team is eager to assist in any planning before and after events for groups looking to add anything from team-building exercises to activities for children.

The Carolinas: Coasts and More By Rachel Carter

Courtesy Charleston Area CVB

A boardwalk leads over sand dunes to a beach near Charleston.

Meeting planners can book beachfront resorts and hipwrecks ocean-view venues, take attendees on dolphin cruises and sea tur- or shrimp boat outings and even charter boats to ferry tles, golf guests to an uninhabited island for a private beach bonfire, oyster roast and low-country boil. courses galore and multicourse Charleston, South Carolina meals, tall-ship English settlers founded Charleston, South Carolina, cruises and kaya- in 1670 on the Atlantic Coast, and the seaport city still greets visitors with historic charm and lots of water at king tours: The every turn. coastal cities of Many of the buildings and houses in the renowned the Carolinas are Charleston Historic District have been repurposed into hotels, inns and restaurants, so “it’s like being in a living surrounded by museum,” said Chris Hendrix, director of sales for the water, not only Charleston Area CVB. the Atlantic The city’s two largest event venues are the Charleston Ocean but also Area Convention Center complex, about 10 minutes major rivers, salt from the historic district, and the Charleston Gaillard Center, in the heart of downtown. marshes, tidal The 179-room Hotel Bennett, slated to open this sumcreeks and the mer, is the largest new hotel construction in the historic district in several years. The full-service hotel’s Intracoastal 12,000 square feet of event space will include a flexible Waterway.

Carolinas Meeting Guide

6,700-square-foot ballroom, a rooftop pool deck and a rooftop meeting room. The Kiawah Island Golf Resort just announced major expansion plans ramping up to hosting the 2021 PGA Championship. The resort will build a 40,000-squarefoot conference center that will be complete in June 2019. A new luxury, 150-room oceanfront hotel with an oceanfront restaurant and a rooftop bar is slated to open in late 2020. “It will be a phenomenal addition to their portfolio,” which includes the Sanctuary Hotel, Kiawah’s beachfront luxury hotel, Hendrix said. Groups can incorporate water in many ways, both cultural and culinary, among them dinner cruises, ecotours and kayaking trips that lead past historic plantation homes. Planners can charter private boats to an uninhabited barrier island for an oyster roast or a lowcountry boil. Aboard the Schooner Pride tall ship, up to 49 passengers can enjoy a leisure cruise or participate in team building, competing to raise and set the sails and steer to the finish point. www.charlestoncvb.com

Wilmington, North Carolina

People love to be around water, and with a down-

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By Peter Doran, courtesy Wilmington and Beaches CVB

Carolina Beach is one of numerous scenic communities in the Wilmington area. town riverfront district and three barrier island beaches, Wilmington, North Carolina, “can offer that to them almost anywhere they go,” said John Sneed, vice president of sales and services for Wilmington and Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau. The recently extended Riverwalk on Cape Fear River “blends seamlessly” with the historic downtown, Sneed said. The new 186-room Embassy Suites by Hilton that opened in January on the Riverwalk’s northern end connects to the Wilmington Convention Center but also has its own meeting space that includes a flexible 3,000-square-foot Riverfront Ballroom and three flexible meeting rooms. The Embassy Suite’s rooftop bar will open this spring. A new Aloft Hotel in downtown, also with a rooftop bar, is slated to break ground this year and open in late 2019. On the Riverwalk, the city is also developing the new North Waterfront Park, with an amphitheater that, when complete next year, will likely be available for event rentals. On the Atlantic side, three barrier island beaches offer a laid-back, coastal vibe. Wrightsville Beach is home to many of the area’s resort hotels. All Shell Island Resort’s 169 guest suites front the ocean, and the hotel

April 2018

has 6,000 square feet of conference space, including an oceanfront ballroom. The Blockade Runner Beach Resort straddles a narrow swath of island, so it fronts both the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic, where groups can go kayaking or paddleboarding and take scenic boat tours. The resort’s largest meeting room is the 2,800-square-foot Lee Ballroom. The Holiday Inn Resort has 8,000 square feet of meeting space and two terraces for sunrises and sunsets. Kure Beach has a small-town feel and few facilities, but Carolina Beach delivers a vintage vibe along with meeting venues. Marriott’s Courtyard Carolina Beach Oceanfront hotel has a 3,200-square-foot ballroom and connects via boardwalk to a 100-room Hampton Inn and Suites. www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com

Outer Banks, North Carolina

The Outer Banks is a long strand of barrier islands that separate the North Carolina mainland from the Atlantic Ocean. With water on either side of the thin strip of land, the region offers plenty of sea, surf and sand, and much more. A good 80 percent of the Outer Banks’ lodging

square feet of meeting space, and its on-site restaurant is one of the few where guests can step off the dining deck and onto the sand. The top floor of Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head boasts the 3,500-square-foot Oceanview Hall and a 1,600-square-foot, covered wraparound deck. Jennette’s will also organize mini fishing tournaments and catchand-cook fishing classes for groups, Tuell said. Groups can take hang-gliding lessons over massive dunes at Jockey’s Ridge State Park, visit the sea turtle hospital at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, tour the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum in Hatteras and sample Kill Devil Rum at Outer Banks Distilling’s tasting room. www.outerbanks.org

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Courtesy Outer Banks Visitors Bureau

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is an Outer Banks landmark. accommodations are found in its vacation homes, said Aaron Tuell, public relations manager for the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau. Some vacation properties are practically their own hotels with as many as 16 bedrooms, double kitchens, elevators, swimming pools and in-home movie theaters. The region’s largest hotel is the 180-room Hilton Garden Inn, with 5,800 square feet of event space, including a ballroom that can seat 250 for meals. The hotel also turned the old Kitty Hawk pier into the 2,200-square-foot Pier House, which can hold up to 150 people for events. At Sanderling Resort in Duck, guests can watch the sun set over Currituck Sound from the 4,500-squarefoot, climate-controlled Soundside Pavilion. On the ocean side, the 1,500-square-foot Event House has a large deck that leads down to a fire pit, and groups of 180 can reserve the event lawn. The Sea Ranch Resort in Kill Devil Hills has 2,000

Carolinas Meeting Guide

On South Carolina’s Hilton Head Island, the beaches are public, and most of the major resorts front the Atlantic Ocean on the island’s eastern edge. Hilton Head resorts “are really dedicated to ensuring products and offerings are updated and fresh,” said Charlie Clark, vice president of communications at the Hilton Head IslandBluffton Chamber of Commerce. The 5,000-acre oceanfront Sea Pines Resort put millions of dollars into its 20,000 square feet of indoor event space. The newer Sea Pines Beach Club is a twostory beachfront venue with nearly 2,000 square feet of function space, including the Atlantic Room with a covered outdoor deck. The Harbour Town Clubhouse and its 10,000 square feet of function space overlooks the ninth hole of the resort’s famed Harbour Town Golf Links. Sea Pines’ Plantation Golf Club has more than 6,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, including the Magnolia Room, with floor-to-ceiling windows delivering golf views. In January, the beachfront Hilton Head Marriott Resort and Spa in Palmetto Dunes Resort unveiled a renovation that reworked the lobby, refreshed its 46,000 square feet of meeting space and added the new Blue Restaurant and Lounge. The 15,000-square-foot Basshead Oceanfront Deck can seat 800 for dinner. Though Hilton Head is still widely known for its golf courses, it’s increasingly becoming known for its cuisine, Clark said. Groups can arrange oyster roasts and lowcountry boils on the beach or go out on a shrimp boat to catch dinner. At the Skull Creek Dockside Restaurant, groups of 150 can use the entire second floor that overlooks Skull Creek and has an outdoor deck “with one of the best sunsets on the island,” she said. www.hiltonheadisland.org

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

One of the biggest draws in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is its classic, all-American boardwalk, and development along that boardwalk is booming. Construction is underway at the new Hilton Ocean 16

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hotel, which is slated to open in 2019 with 330 oceanfront guest units. The hotel will connect by boardwalk to the new 55,000-square-foot Oceanfront Beach Club Entertainment Complex, which will feature several new restaurants, retail stores and a live-music venue. The Marriott Resort and Spa at Grande Dunes wrapped up a $14 million renovation of its 405 guest rooms last year and has 45,000 square feet of on-site meeting space in 15 meeting rooms. Plans are underway to demolish two beachfront Breakers Resort hotels to make way for a new 17-story Residence Inn Marriott, a project that would include public space and two mixeduse areas with retail, restaurants and entertainment. South Bay Inn and Suites will be another new oceanfront resort that will have 242 guest rooms, a full-service restaurant and bar, and an indoor water park when it opens this summer. The city’s largest meeting venue is the 250,000-squarefoot Myrtle Beach Convention Center, which connects to the 400-guest-room Sheraton. The Embassy Suites at Kingston Plantation is another major conference hotel, with 70,000 square feet of event space, 29 meeting rooms and two on-site restaurants. Groups can golf at nearly 100 different courses or get on the water, either the Atlantic Ocean or the Intracoastal Waterway, for any number of water activities and boat cruises. www.visitmyrtlebeach.com

Courtesy Myrtle Beach Area CVB

Several beachfront hotels in Myrtle Beach offer meeting space.

Inspiring meetings start with inspiring settings Meet Wilmington

Bring a new view to your next meeting. With welcoming weather year-round and plenty to do, Wilmington is more than a great spot for meetings — it’s a destination. You’ll find the largest convention center on the NC coast set along our Riverwalk, while beaches beckon nearby. From our walkable River District to three island beaches, see where the water takes you.

NCCoastalMeetingsGroups.com | 800.650.9064

April 2018

Historic Haunts in the Carolinas By Rachel Carter By Jason Williams, courtesy Historic Salisbury Station

The Spanish Mission-style Historic Salisbury Station was built as a train depot in 1908.

Planners can tap into that by booking historic meetore ing sites, which serve as both venues for events and than experiences for attendees. In the history-rich Carolinas, ever, organizers can reserve historic train stations, former firehouses, massive cotton mills, old cigar warehouses people are hunand even a famous artist’s summer retreat. gry for history. They want to Historic Salisbury Station know the story of Salisbury, North Carolina The Salisbury Railway Passenger Station in Salisbury, a place and conNorth Carolina, opened in 1908 as a mainline stop nect with a desti- between Washington, D.C., and Atlanta. At its height in nation. 1911, up to 44 trains a day passed by the station, but

after serving commuters for more than 70 years, it closed to passenger service in 1979. In 1985, after the station had sat vacant for five years, the Historic Salisbury Foundation, a nonprofit that preserves the community’s historic buildings, bought it from the North Carolina Railroad Company. The group stabilized the building and made it weather-tight, then waited. “We bought it to save it, and the intention was to turn around and sell it,” said Karen Hobson, Historic Salisbury Foundation executive director. But nobody stepped forward with an acceptable plan to restore and reuse the depot, which received landmark status on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. “So we decided to raise money and restore it ourselves,” she said.

Carolinas Meeting Guide

The foundation raised money and did the work in phases, investing about $3.1 million and reopening the station in 1993 as an event venue. The Spanish Mission-style station has a classic facade and a central tower, stucco walls and a red-tile roof. Visitors enter through arched doors to the 3,440-squarefoot Grand Waiting Room, where the original patterned ceramic floor is underfoot, and a barrel-vaulted ceiling and iron chandeliers are overhead. The central ticket booth can be used for registration and is often used as the bar, she said. To one side, two identical parlor rooms each offer 384 square feet for breakout space. On the other end of the hall is a catering kitchen and a boardroom. Two sets of double doors open to the station’s other main function space: a sprawling, covered concourse where passengers once boarded trains. The 12,500-square-foot concourse is often used for cocktail hours or additional dinner seating, and because it’s already covered, “it gives some flexibility to use the outdoor space.” www.historicsalisbury.org

Newberry Firehouse Conference Center Newberry, South Carolina

The firehouse in Newberry, South Carolina, was built in the 1890s, but the Works Progress Administration expanded and renovated it in an Art Deco style in the 1930s. The building was decommissioned in the 1980s. In 2005, a $2.3 million renovation was launched to transform the two-story, cream-colored building into a

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Courtesy Historic Brooktown Inn

A brick-paved courtyard connects two former cotton mills at Historic Brooktown In in Winston-Salem. state-of-the-art conference and event center. The Newberry Firehouse Conference Center opened in 2007 with a ceremonial fire-hose uncoupling in place of a ribbon cutting. People choose the conference center for its location, said facility manager Suzanne Elston, not only for its proximity to larger cities like Columbia, Spartanburg and Greenville, but also its location across the street from a 73-room Hampton Inn and behind the restored 1881 Newberry Opera House, with 426 seats. “They find us because of where we’re located, but after that it is the uniqueness of the building and the history of it that attracts people,” she said. The renovation maintained much of the building’s historic detail. On the ground floor, the original firehouse doors anchor the lobby, which sits in front of the center’s largest space, a 1,680-square-foot function room. Upstairs, in the former sleeping quarters, are a boardroom, a small lobby and four conference rooms, including two that can be combined into a 730-squarefoot space. Though the building still has the original fire pole, guests can’t give it a go; the pole had to be moved during renovations, so it no longer works. The staff also gives groups tours of the building. A highlight is in the basement, where the city jail used to be: In a former jail cell, a prisoner scratched his name; the year, 1974; and what he was in for, armed robbery. www.newberryfirehouse.com

April 2018

Westglow Resort and Spa Blowing Rock, North Carolina

The centerpiece of Westglow Resort and Spa in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, is the gleaming-white, Greek Revival-style manor house famed writer and artist Elliott Daingerfield built in 1917 as a summer home. In 1991, it became a health and wellness retreat. Then, in 2005, following a multimillion-dollar renovation, it transitioned to a full-service resort and spa. Today, the Mansion at Westglow is still the crown jewel of the 42-acre estate in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The resort has 11 separate guest accommodations, and six of those are bedrooms on the second floor of the manor house, said Jen Williams, Westglow’s guest services director/weddings and special events coordinator. The Lodge at Westglow has three separate suites, and two homes — the Daingerfield House and the Fleur de Lis Lodge — each have four bedrooms. The Mansion’s largest space is outside: The courtyard, which must be tented, can accommodate banquets for up to 200 guests. The largest indoor space is the Blue Ridge Room, where 50 seated guests can mingle by the fireplace and take in views of Grandfather Mountain. The room is “great when used with the West Portico,” i.e., the Mansion’s front porch. French doors open onto the porch, where another 50 seated attendees or 100 reception guests can watch the sun set over the mountains. Smaller spaces include a library, a sunroom, a dining room and a conference room. Rowland’s Restaurant

High Spirits took over the building and renovated it in 2013, reopening it as a 7,700-square-foot event venue that now does over 200 events a year. One “really cool experience” was hosting a CNN Town Hall with Anderson Cooper, she said. The 2,400-square-foot Main Hall is a wide-open space with brick walls, arched windows, concrete floors, exposed rafters and a 35-foot-high, wood-clad ceiling. The Cellar offers another 2,700 square feet that can seat 250 guests for meals. The warehouse can do indoor events for up to 500 people but can accommodate up to 1,200 guests using its outdoor spaces. The 1,700-square-foot deck works well for cocktail hours, and the grass lawn can be used for events or parking. The warehouse is in downtown Greenville’s historic West End district. It’s right across the street from the 5,700-seat Fluor Field baseball stadium and within walking distance of several downtown hotels. The venue is also only three blocks from one of Greenville’s most iconic attractions: the curved and cantilevered Liberty Bridge that lightly straddles Falls Park on the Reedy River, a multitiered waterfall that winds through and spills over giant red boulders. www.oldcigarwarehouse.com

Historic Brookstown Inn Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Courtesy NFCC

The 1890s Newberry Firehouse now serves as a state-of-the-art conference center. may also be available for buyouts, she said. The resort’s mountain location means “we have a hiking program that is quite extensive,” Williams said. Guided three- and five-mile hikes depart every morning and are free for overnight guests. Groups can also arrange privately guided sightseeing or birdwatching hikes, schedule private yoga classes or have the wellness director lead a stress-management consultation. www.westglowresortandspa.com

Old Cigar Warehouse Greenville, South Carolina

Like many historic buildings, The Old Cigar Warehouse in downtown Greenville, South Carolina, had many lives before its current incarnation. The industrial brick building was constructed in 1882. In the 1910s, it was used as a warehouse to store cigars and cotton. In the ’20s, it was a grocery distribution center. Shortly after that, it was a dance studio and a practice hall for a gospel choir. And then? “We don’t really know what happened to it for a couple decades,” said Tammy Johnson, CEO and selfprofessed “chief gin slinger” of High Spirits Hospitality, which owns the venue. After a stint as a rock climbing gym in the 1990s,

Carolinas Meeting Guide

The massive brick buildings of the Brookstown Mill have been many things since being constructed as the Salem Manufacturing cotton mill in 1837. The building went from cotton mill to flour mill, was used by a tobacco company, became warehouse space and now houses the Historic Brookstown Inn. In the 1970s, the building was facing demolition, but community members rallied to save it and spearheaded a rehabilitation project. The Historic Brookstown Inn opened its doors in 1984 with 41 rooms in the original Salem Manufacturing mill building. In 1991, the owners remodeled a second cotton mill next door: the Arista Cotton Mill that was built in 1880. The adaptive reuse of the two cotton mills, built nearly 50 years apart, brought the inn’s total number of guest rooms to 70. The project also brought the two buildings together, connecting them via brick-paved courtyards where industrial-chic touches abound. No two of the inn’s rooms are alike. Each emphasizes the buildings’ character with exposed brick walls, original wood beams, soaring ceilings and giant windows. Thirty of the rooms are multilevel. In the lobby, guests walk across refinished historic pine floors. The hotel’s 2,500-square-foot grand ballroom can seat 150 for banquets or be split into three smaller spaces. The courtyards — the Upper Courtyard is 2,600 square feet and the Lower Courtyard is 875 square feet — are frequently used for receptions and other social events. www.brookstowninn.com

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