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Courtesy Tubac Golf Resort & Spa
Volume 18
Issue 8
August 2017
Connecting to Wi-Fi
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Meeting planners have a lot to consider when planning their internet needs.
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Tee Up for Great Meetings Golf resorts offer ideal settings for corporate work and play.
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Meet Rochester, Minnesota Famous for its Mayo Clinic, this Midwest city is ideal for small meetings.
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Courtesy Rochester, MN CVB
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The Other Little Rock North Little Rock sits right across the Arkansas River from its namesake.
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This award-winning theater complex is the pride of southern Ohio.
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Texas Meeting Guide Cowboy culture and college towns give Texas a distinctive charm.
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On the cover: Cowboy boots are favorite souvenirs for meeting attendees visiting Texas. Photo by Robert Harding.
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September 26-28, 2017 By Dan Dickson
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ome early or stay late — meeting planners have a choice. Many who attend the annual Small Market Meetings Conference either come before it begins or stay on a while after it to take FAM tours of the host city. The 2017 Small Market Meetings Conference will be held September 26-28 in South Bend, Indiana. The conference will keep delegates busy due to a tight three-day schedule, but many planners want to check out South Bend in more detail to potentially book future business. A preconference FAM will take place Sunday, September 24, through Tuesday, September 26. After the conference, another FAM on Thursday, September 28, through Sunday, October 1, will feature tours of local conference facilities and attractions, as well as a University of Notre Dame home football game. FAM participants will get the chance to experience this fabled Midwest college town. Notre Dame’s many quads, historic buildings and athletic facilities make it a popular stop for South Bend visitors. The university offers excellent tours from knowledgeable guides, who will also include, if requested, the school’s impressive conference and dining facilities. Also on the tour will be stops at the Main Building, better known as the Golden Dome building; the spectacular Basilica of the Sacred Heart; and the Grotto behind it. “It is a very beautiful campus,” said Dick Tucker, a Notre Dame tour guide. “There’s a lot of history and interesting buildings.” Another potential visit could be to nearby St. Mary’s College and its fine meeting facilities. South Bend is a city of appealing museums. The Studebaker National Museum preserves the history of this famed automobile- and carriage-and-wagon-manufacturing company that traces its roots to the middle of the 19th century. Car lovers will gush at the display of cool, classic automobiles. The History Museum presents the region’s past, including the growth of the area’s manu-
August 2017
FAM Tours to Highlight South Bend Area Courtesy South Bend Mishawaka CVB
FAM trips at the Small Market Meetings conference will showcase the University of Notre Dame and other South Bend highlights. facturing sector over the past 150 years and the emergence of the University of Notre Dame as a worldwide center of higher learning. The museum is also the depository for memorabilia from the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, which played primarily during World War II and a few years after. The teams and players inspired the popular Penny Marshall-directed movie “A League of Their Own.” The museum’s artifacts also celebrate the 25th anniversary of the release of the film. “In the evening, guests could have a reception in the museum lobby,” said Marilyn Thompson, the museum’s marketing and community relations contact. “We can set up a bar, and people can mill around.”
Also available for a tour and just a short stroll from the museum is the 38-room James Oliver mansion. Oliver was a South Bend industrialist and inventor who perfected designs for farm plows and became a millionaire doing it. If a group met at the museum for an event, participants could easily walk to the Oliver mansion for abbreviated 15- to 20-minute tours, said Thompson. Meeting planners interested in attending the FAMs should contact Lindsay Ference, director of sales at Visit South Bend Mishawaka, by email at lference@visitsouthbend.com. Space is limited, and applicants must meet certain criteria.
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Wilmington, North Carolina, Promotes New Convention District
Courtesy Wilmington & Beaches CVB
Wilmington’s new Convention District includes Riverfront Park, above, and numerous riverfront hotels and restaurants.
WILMINGTON, NC — Wilmington is promoting a new Convention District located riverfront and within the city’s walkable River District, connected by a nearly twomile scenic Riverwalk. The Convention District is anchored by the Wilmington Convention Center (WCC), the largest convention center on North Carolina’s coast. A transformation of Wilmington’s riverfront has been underway and evolving since the opening of the WCC in 2010. The riverfront is now home to several new projects that further complement the district’s formation. The Embassy Suites Wilmington Riverfront Hotel, located adjacent to the WCC, is slated to open
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Industry News
this fall, and a new Hampton Inn Downtown just opened in April. Several prominent organizations have already committed to hosting their upcoming meetings in Wilmington as a result of the new lodging offerings. “Our new Convention District is going to make Wilmington a very appealing destination for larger regional and national groups, which is evidenced by the interest and bookings we have already received,” said Kim Hufham, president and CEO of the Wilmington and Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Additionally, the Convention District is located in the middle of our evolving River District, which combines the city’s historic
charm and rich past with modern design and new attractions. Our walkable downtown, easy access to more than 200 restaurants, shops and attractions, plus three nearby beaches, all come together to create a meeting location that feels like a vacation.” The Hampton Inn Downtown officially opened its doors in April. The property offers 92 guest rooms and suites, along with a 1,222 square-foot meeting room for up to 75 people. The Embassy Suites Wilmington Riverfront Hotel is scheduled to open this fall with 186 two-room guest suites, 162,866 square feet total, 6,600 square feet of meeting space, and a 4,003 square-foot roof top bar offering scenic views of the Cape Fear River. Additional new properties will include the Aloft Hotel, a 125-room property featuring a rooftop courtyard with a fire pit and bistro, as well as 7,000 square feet of meeting space and another yet-to-be-named downtown hotel. These properties will join the nearly 8,000 hotel rooms and suites currently available in the Wilmington area. The Hilton Wilmington Riverside is undergoing an $8.5 million renovation scheduled for completion in the spring of 2018. The project includes complete guestroom and guest bath renovations, the addition of a bridal suite, a refresh of the guest corridor, and complete renovations to all public areas of the property. All ballrooms and meeting spaces at the hotel will receive a complete rejuvenation. The CVB is rolling out a series of marketing assets for planners interested in bringing meetings and events to Wilmington’s new Convention District including a new website, Convention District Guide and SkyNav 3D Tours. The first of its kind in the country for the meeting planning industry, SkyNav will feature web-based aerial and ground 360 interactive tours of the Convention District and its offerings. Users are not required to download anything but can simply click for immediate access to high-quality panoramic views. Virtual reality windows will also enable iOS or Android devices to instantly go into VR mode without an app. Once in VR mode, planners can slide their mobile device into any VR headset to experience the area. For more information about Wilmington’s new Convention District, visit www.wilmingtonandbeaches.com/ groups-and-meetings/.
www.smallmarketmeetings.com
Kimpton Opens Nashville Hotel Near Vanderbilt
By Laure Joliet, courtesy Kimpton Aerston Hotel
A rooftop pool is one of several fancy touches at the new Kimpton Aerston Hotel. NASHVILLE, Tennessee — Kimpton Aerston Hotel, located at the corner of 21st Avenue and Broadway in Nashville, has opened this summer. It is the boutique hotel company’s first venture into Music City and part of an expansion in the Southeast. Many of new hotel’s 180 guest rooms, including 12 spacious suites, offer city and
Vanderbilt campus views and a reprieve from the bustle of downtown. On its eighth floor, Aertson Hotel has more than 6,500-square-feet of flexible meeting and event spaces to accommodate groups and parties of all sizes and occasions. The main attraction of the floor’s four meeting spaces is its 3,630-square-foot Patterson Ballroom, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a large wrap-around private outdoor terrace, providing unobstructed views of Music City. For those looking to take their meetings and events to an upper floor, Aertson Hotel’s 17th floor indoor event space and private outdoor terrace accommodate up to 150 guests and provide 270-degree panoramic views of downtown Nashville. All of the events at Aertson Hotel feature chef-driven creative catering menus from Henley’s executive chef RJ Cooper, who brings award-winning restaurant experience to private events and meetings. Guest amenities at Aertson Hotel include a mini bar with a hint of local flair; free Wi-Fi for Kimpton Karma Rewards members; com-
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TRIPLE PLAY
plimentary morning coffee and tea service in the living room; hosted nightly social hour featuring local blends; and health-minded wellness options, such as complimentary custom PUBLIC Bikes rentals, 24-hour access to the hotel’s expansive fitness center and an in-room Gaiam yoga mat for use during a guest’s stay. Unique to Aertson Hotel, the eighth floor also features an outdoor swimming pool and cabanas, and the adjacent Woodhouse Spa is available to guests. Just a few blocks from historic Music Row, Kimpton Aertson Hotel is the anchor of the new mixed-use complex Aertson Midtown, which has 350 high-end apartment residences and 35,000-square-feet of prime real estate that includes restaurants and shops. Located in Nashville’s Midtown neighborhood, directly adjacent to Vanderbilt University, the project was named for Jan Aertson, the patriarch of the Vanderbilt family. Jan Aertson came to America in 1706, changing his name to Vanderbilt to honor the Dutch village from which he came, De Bilt. www.kimptonhotels.com
Make your next meeting a home run! The Otesaga, located in the heart of historic Cooperstown, offers 30,000 square feet of distinctive meeting spaces, from stately conference halls to breakout rooms for lakeside collaboration. Charming accommodations, free wireless Internet, and fine dining options exemplify the gracious hospitality we’ve delivered since 1909.
800-348-6222 | OTESAGA.COM « 60 LAKE STREET | COOPERSTOWN, NY
August 2017
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These CVBs have staff dedicated to boutique events By Vickie Mitchell
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onvention and visitors bureaus organize their sales teams in different ways. Some assign staff to a specific market segment, such as corporate or SMERF; others assign sales managers to cover geographic regions. And a handful of CVBs assign a salesperson to focus on small meetings. Among those with a small-meetings specialist — sometimes called an executive or express meeting salesperson — are Arlington, Texas; Jacksonville, Florida; Memphis, Tennessee; and Oklahoma City. Putting a focus on small meetings ensures that a small group doesn’t get lost amid the larger, citywide conventions that sales staff are always eager to host. It also can bolster the local economy by booking meetings into small, limitedservice hotels that aren’t traditional convention properties. In Arlington, executive meeting specialist Lauren Wright handles groups that book 50 peak room nights or less. She is new to the job, and although her leads can come from any of the other sales managers on staff, most so far have come from the CVB’s association and government sales manager. Wright distributes a small group’s request for proposals (RFPs) through the bureau’s SimpleView system; proposals are then sent directly through that system to the meeting planner. After a proposal is signed, the group is turned over to the CVB’s convention services manager for assistance with other meeting-related needs. Visit Jacksonville shifted staffer Samantha Crouch from convention services to its new Meetings Express segment in early spring. She handles meetings of 150 room nights or fewer from start to finish. “I joke that I book them and cook them. I sell them, and then I service them,” she said. Bookings in Crouch’s first three months show that small meetings have growth potential. By mid-June, she had booked 35 small meetings amounting to 3,037 room nights, far exceeding her six-month goal of 26 meetings. Crouch works with all meeting segments, and her conversations with planners seem to always begin with an apology from the planner. “The planner will say, ‘I know this is a small one, but …,’” said Crouch. “No group is too small for our city. We are in no place to push business away; every group matters.”
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MeetingPoint
Having Crouch as a contact offers a number of advantages for planners. She does all the legwork, so they don’t spend hours combing through websites. With her help, planners who are volunteers, like a retiree charged with planning her family’s reunion, might discover that the reunion can afford a beachfront property if they choose the right dates and a limited-service hotel. Or, with Crouch’s assistance, a corporate group that only needs a boardroom might book a small inn or hotel in one of Jacksonville’s walkable neighborhoods instead of getting lost in a downtown convention hotel. Crouch begins by phoning the planner to discuss the meeting. If planners have an RFP, Crouch obtains it. If they don’t, she helps them create one by asking questions. After she has a clear understanding of the meeting, she sends information about neighborhoods in the sprawling metro area that would meet the group’s needs. Jacksonville is the country’s largest city in terms of square miles, so it can be difficult to get a quick grasp of its various neighborhoods without the help of an expert like Crouch. After planners choose which area they would like to meet in, Crouch sends their RFPs to appropriate hotels. She then collects proposals and emails them in a zip file to the planner. She always calls planners to alert them that the proposals have been sent. Her work doesn’t end when a contract is signed with a hotel. She can provide ideas for everything from off-site dinners and outings to speakers and meeting services. She also makes sure planners have welcome packets, brochures or other materials if they need them. Jacksonville has offered incentives to get planners to use the Express Meetings program and is now educating local businesses and associations about how they can use the program. Crouch also plans to target military reunions. Her goal, she said, is to make small meetings a department of its own by showing city leaders that “small meetings matter and are a big bulk of revenues.” 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
Making Wi-Fi Work
Tech pros offer tips for web access at small meetings By Savannah Osbourn
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i-Fi services are often taken for granted these days, but some meeting planners may not have considered the most effective ways to incorporate a wireless network into their meetings or events. To learn more about the subject, we spoke with two technology experts. Emily Tyner is the senior account manager at Slice Wireless Solutions in New York City; Ian Framson is the CEO and co-founder of Trade Show Internet, an independent internet service provider based in San Francisco that services trade shows, conferences and events. Here is what they had to say.
Establish Wi-Fi needs early in the planning.
It is crucial for planners to recognize the technological needs of their events in advance because if they find out last minute that they need extra equipment or services, they may end up facing higher charges.
August 2017
Courtesy Slice Wireless Solutions
Slice Wireless solutions provided Wi-Fi for the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival.
“Be realistic and plan ahead,” said Tyner. “You can save a lot of money just by talking about your needs in detail as early as possible and taking into account exactly what you’ll be doing.” If planners want reliable service, they need to incorporate those costs into their budgets ahead of time. Next, they need to consider how many people will be connected to the network during an event and whether they will be using it all at once. “An installed network may be able to manage 50 people, just not at the same time. People on a small budget tend to overlook things like that,” said Tyner. Framson mentioned how usage reports from previous events can help prevent any miscalculations about these numbers. “You can really get stuck if you underestimate the number of users,” he said. “And it’s hard for the provider to know if they’ve never done that kind of event before.”
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Above: HBO turned to Trade Show Internet to provide Wi-Fi for its popular Game of Thrones Exhibition in New York. Below left: An Uber conference relies heavily on Wi-Fi.
Consider how you plan on using the Wi-Fi service.
Planners should carefully evaluate how the network will be used. Are you just checking emails and using social media, or will you be streaming live feeds and downloading program material? “Streaming increases the bandwidth, sometimes by double, so that definitely needs to be one of the first conversations when talking with a Wi-Fi engineer,” said Tyner. If planners will be streaming footCourtesy Trade Show Internet age, they must consider the quality of video they will need, as well as whether it needs to be encrypted so that no one can pirate the material while it is downloading. In these cases, every detail is important, so it can help to make a list of all the features that are mission critical for the event, such as what Wi-Fi speed is necessary, what apps will be downloaded by attendees during the event and even what type of laptops the production staff plans on using. “Saying we’re going to be using four Macs and four PCs may seem like unnecessary minutia, but it can save money in the long run,” said Tyner. “Just like PCs and Macs work differently, so do Wi-Fi technologies, so it helps with troubleshooting in advance.”
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Managing Meetings
Before signing the contract, check for an exclusivity clause.
Before signing the contract with a venue such as a hotel or a convention center, planners should negotiate the removal of any exclusivity clause that would require them to use the venue’s existing Wi-Fi network. An in-house service may fail to meet the planner’s needs, so it is ideal to retain the option of turning to the free market. “It puts you at risk for being taken advantage of,” said Framson. “You may want to use the in-house vendor, but if you tie your hands up front, you give up full bargaining power.” He gave an example of a recent client who was able to service its event for half the price of what the in-house vendor wanted to charge because the planner had made sure the contract was open-ended in regard to choosing a provider.
Evaluate what parts of the floor plan will require coverage.
Another important question to consider is which constituents, whether they are attendees, staff, media or vendors, will require access to the network during the event and where they will need to use it. Many planners overlook the complete square footage of the area that needs coverage. “A meeting may be theater style, but you have to consider where the bathrooms will be in relation to that because that’s where everyone’s going to be sitting on their cell phones,” said Tyner. However, depending on the nature of the event, this kind of coverage may not be necessary. “You really have to assess the needs of the group to figure out what’s
www.smallmarketmeetings.com
appropriate,” said Framson. “In some cases, you can leave it up to the attendees to handle it.” Though Wi-Fi service may be optional at a community meeting or nonprofit banquet, a reliable connection is much more vital at a gaming event where 600 attendees will be downloading a mobile app and streaming live footage.
Prepare for potential setbacks.
One way to ensure that technology runs smoothly on the day of the event is to schedule a site survey so that the production staff knows for certain what kind of equipment to bring as well as where everything is located at the venue. “A lot of clients don’t want to pay for it, but the smart ones do,” said Tyner. Likewise, it is prudent to hire on-site tech support, instead of relying on hotel managers or other event staff to monitor the equipment. “Everyone thinks they don’t need insurance until they do,” said Tyner. She described how a backup issue as simple as stepping on a cable can cause hours of confusion without dedicated tech personnel on hand. For outdoor events, Framson recommended that planners remember to refuel their generators. “I’ve had people call and say the internet is down at their outdoor event, and the first thing I ask is whether the generator went out,” said Framson. “Often the answer is yes.”
Courtesy Trade Show Internet
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Go for the Golf
… and stay for the meetings By Savannah Osbourn
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any meeting groups are looking for more relaxing and scenic venues than the traditional boardroom environment, and golf resorts may be the perfect solution. Whether attendees are casual or avid players, the golf range provides a lush green backdrop to the event, and there are always other on-site amenities to enjoy, such as fine dining and swimming. To find a fresh setting for your next corporate retreat or board meeting, consider taking your group to one of these revitalizing golf retreats.
Inn at Bay Harbor Bay Harbor, Michigan
With waterfront views to rival any coastal destination, the Inn at Bay Harbor makes it easy to understand why the Great Lakes region is sometimes known as America’s third coast. Featuring 128 guest rooms and 6,600 square feet of meeting space, the resort provides an intimate
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Meeting Ideas
Courtesy Inn at Bay Harbor
The Inn at Bay Harbor offers golfers the opportunity to play alongside the shore of Lake Michigan. and picturesque setting for meetings and events, drawing many wedding groups each year. “We pride ourselves on very personal and warm service,” said Matt Alagna, director of group sales. Golfers will appreciate the distinct qualities of the resort’s three golf courses. The Preserve winds through a lush, wooded area. The Links overlooks the magnificent shoreline of Lake Michigan, making players feel like they are standing right on the oceanfront. Looming 40-foot stone cliffs line the course of the Quarry, which resides on a former rock quarry. For breakfast, groups will want to stop by the Sagamore Room for a taste of crab eggs Benedict or blueberry streusel pancakes. Later in the day, the Vintage Chophouse and Wine Bar features rich cuisine like truffle frites, planked Scottish salmon and juicy rib-eye steak. In addition to its picturesque scenery, the Bay Harbor’s temperate weather makes it an excellent summer retreat.
www.smallmarketmeetings.com
Courtesy Tubac Golf Resort
Tubac Golf Resort and Spa offers a 2,700-square-foot conference center surrounded by Arizona’s high desert. “From May through October, there’s no better place to be in the country, especially if you’re down in the South experiencing hot, hot summers,” said Alagna. According to Alagna, the nearby town of Petoskey is “one of the most charming towns you’ve ever seen in your life.” Groups can spend the evening strolling through Magnus Park along the water or visit the City Park Grill, once frequented by literary legend Ernest Hemingway. www.innatbayharbor.com
Tubac Golf Resort and Spa Tubac, Arizona
At the base of the Tumacàcori Mountains amid old-growth cottonwood and willow trees, Tubac Golf Resort and Spa sets the tone for a serene weekend getaway. With the Tucson International Airport just 35 miles away and Tubac Village directly adjacent, the resort offers the perfect balance of beautiful, high-desert landscape and easy access to
August 2017
nearby urban areas. “We’re 45 minutes from Tucson, so people wanting to get away from the city are really able to relax and take a breath and just be with their coworkers,” said Patti Todd, marketing and public relations director. The 500-acre property was originally used as a cattle ranch by Spanish settlers; then, in 1959, it was bought and developed into a golf course by Bing Crosby. Over the years, the Tubac Golf Resort has hosted distinguished guests such as John Wayne, President Gerald Ford and Mexican President Luis Echeverria. Today, the resort’s amenities include a 27-hole golf course, tennis courts, a brand-new lap pool and a luxurious full-service spa. Many remnants of the land’s ranching history are still apparent throughout the property. Golf players can expect to see cattle grazing along the Santa Cruz River near the course, and portions of the Stable Ranch Grille and Stables Bar once belonged to the original ranch stable. Meeting planners can take advantage of the 2,700-square-foot
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Courtesy Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort encompasses more than 2,400 acres on Florida’s Emerald Coast. Conference Center, which connects to several covered outdoor patios and offers a spectacular view of the lake. www.tubacgolfresort.com
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort Destin, Florida
Visitors will find no shortage of entertainment at the 2,400-acre Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Florida, which spans more than seven miles of sandy coastline. The enormous property comprises four championship golf courses, 19 swimming pools, 15 tennis courts, a fitness center, a spa and the Village of Baytowne Wharf. With over 65,000 square feet of available meeting space, the resort can accommodate groups of 10 to 1,600. After hours, planners can entertain attendees with activities such as beach bonfires, beach Olympics, sunset cruises and cocktail parties on the golf range. Groups may also enjoy team-building exercises such as paddleboarding on Choctawhatchee Bay and braving the ropes course at Baytown Adventure Zone. Just a short walk from the Grand Sandestin, visitors can explore the
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Meeting Ideas
26-acre pedestrian Village of Baytowne Wharf, which features awardwinning local eateries, specialty shops and the largest ice-skating rink in northeast Florida. The resort offers more than 20 dining venues, with local favorites like the Marlin Grill, the Sunset Bay Café, the Rum Runners dueling piano bar, and Moo La-La Ice Cream and Desserts. Active guests can rent a bike to enjoy the surrounding bike trails; others might prefer a quiet stroll around the lush salt marsh of Jolee Island, a five-acre nature park adjacent to the resort. www.sandestin.com
Grand Geneva Resort and Spa Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
With 62,000 square feet of function space, the Grand Geneva Resort and Spa gives meeting planners the flexibility to add an original flair to their event. Just an hour from Chicago O’Hare International Airport, the resort offers everything from traditional boardrooms to poolside luaus and luncheons on the driving range. One of the most scenic venues is the chalet overlooking the ski slopes, which features a full-service restaurant and can accommodate up to 500 guests.
www.smallmarketmeetings.com
Inspiration. Creativity. Heritage. Grand Geneva guests enjoy a terrace fire pit after hours.
Courtesy Grand Geneva Golf Resort
“If you’re looking for something really outside the box, we can do that,” said Brad Lyles, director of sales and marketing. The Grand Geneva recently added 29 new villas, which have become a popular choice for small meeting groups. The villas are nestled along a quiet area by the river, allowing guests more privacy as well as the added luxury of a full-service kitchen, a patio and fire pits. Many event organizers rent three or four of the villas for attendees and then set up a tent on the lawn behind the buildings for a collective gathering. Between meetings, groups can enjoy activities like golf, skiing, rock climbing and dancing. The Brute golf course is widely considered the best golf course in the state, covering over 7,000 yards of sweeping green hills, and the Highlands is a Scottish-inspired, link-style course. Visitors can choose from a wide range of dining options, such as Ristoranté Brissago, the Geneva Chophouse, Café Gelato, Links Bar and Grille, and Smokey’s Bar-B-Cue House. Those looking for some leisurely exercise can follow the beautiful walking path around Lake Geneva that passes many historic homes once owned by prestigious Chicago families. www.grandgeneva.com
August 2017
With over 90,000 square feet of flexible meeting space under one roof and a globally celebrated creative culture, Paducah’s amenities make it an inspiring destination for meetings and your next convention or trade show. Become one of our coming attractions. Book Paducah today!
PCVB-SmallMrktMeetings05-17.indd 1
www.paducah.travel/meetings 1-800-PADUCAH
4/19/17 3:17 PM
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Courtesy Lakeview Golf Resort
West Virginia’s Lakeview Golf resort offers spaces ideal for board meetings and executive retreats.
Lakeview Golf Resort and Spa Morgantown, West Virginia
Uncomplicated. Uncongested. Unspoiled.
Situated between San Francisco and Sacramento, Fairreld is just minutes from wine country. Book your next meeting, conference, tradeshow or social event in Fairreld, California.
Contact Christian at christian@VisitFairfieldCA.com /VisitFairreldCA
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Meeting Ideas
@fairreld4fun
/VisitFairreldCA
Based in the vibrant college town of Morgantown, West Virginia, the Lakeview Golf Resort and Spa offers meeting groups all the amenities of a firstrate resort, with numerous attractions nearby. Planners can use the resort’s 30,000 square feet of function space for board meetings and executive retreats. Considered one of the top public golf courses in the United States, the Lakeview Course encircles Cheat Lake as well as sprawling green hills. The 620-yard 18th hole is one of the most difficult par 5s players will encounter, and over the years, golf legends like Arnold Palmer and Sam Snead have taken on the challenge. The more modern Mountainview Course winds into the woods at the base of the Allegheny Mountains. In addition to golfing, groups will find plenty of other outlets for exercise in the 40,000-squarefoot fitness and sports center, which features racquetball, tennis, basketball, Group X Fitness classes and more. Later in the evening, visitors can stop by the Legends Sports Bar and Grille to watch the latest football or hockey game or to lounge on the Tiki deck overlooking the green. www.lakeviewresort.com
www.smallmarketmeetings.com
Courtesy Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort
Golfers will find four championship courses at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.
August 2017
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MAYO AND MORE By Dan Dickson
Heal th care drives the mee tin gs indus try in Roches ter, Minneso ta
The Mayo Civic Center has recently undergone an extensive renovation and expansion.
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Destination Showcase
www.smallmarketmeetings.com
“We are perfect for small to mid-sized meetings. We have a very comfortable downtown campus for that. It’s very connected through skyways and pedestrian subways.”
T
he Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, is a world-renowned new banquet production kitchen and sophisticated new production, nonprofit medical and research organization and is rated one audiovisual and wireless capabilities. of the best hospital systems in the country. It specializes in “We basically doubled the total space,” said Jones. “There is a little treating difficult medical cases. It is so good that more than 200,000 square feet of meeting and it has been ranked at or near the top of the U.S. exhibit space all together. Convenience is one of News and World Report’s list of “Best Hospitals” our most important factors. You don’t need a for the past 25 years. With dozens of facilities vehicle to get around to it all.” The space also and more than 36,000 employees working in the features a stunning prefunction space that metro area, Mayo Clinic dominates the econooverlooks the Zumbro River and downtown my in Rochester, Minnesota’s third-largest city. Rochester. Outside, Riverfront Plaza is a nice It’s no wonder, then, that the city’s convention multiuse gathering spot or outdoor reception and visitors bureau sees an endless stream of venue. health care-related conventions and meetings “We are able to accommodate some fairly taking place there. But CVB leaders want meetgood-sized groups, which is something we were ing planners to know that it has some new not able to do before,” said Andy Krogstad, the facilities ready to accommodate not only health managing director of the Mayo Civic Center. care meetings, but also professional gatherings “We can now handle a couple of groups of 1,000 of every type. people at the same time.” “From a product standpoint, we have a Taylor Arena is connected to the Mayo Civic dynamic spot for meetings and conventions,” Center campus and is used for concerts, family Mayo Civic Center said Brad Jones, executive director of the shows and sports events. It features festival Rochester, Minnesota, Convention and Visitors All photos courtesy Rochester, MN CVB seating for 7,200 and concert seating for 5,200. Bureau. “We are perfect for small to mid-sized The floor also has 25,000 square feet for various meetings. We have a very comfortable downuses. There is an exhibit hall with 25,000 square town campus for that. It’s very connected feet. The auditorium has 10,000 square feet of LOCATION through skyways and pedestrian subways.” flat floor with 2,000 fixed seats. Presentation Southeast corner of Minnesota The variety of meetings and events that come Hall features 1,200 sloped, fixed seats and is to Rochester run the gamut. “We get some amaoften used for general sessions, presentations ACCESS teur sports events, religious groups and events, and entertainment. Interstate 90; U.S. highways 14, 52, 63; association meetings, technology and innovaKrogstad knows that new facilities are not Rochester International Airport tion groups — basically, a good sampling of all enough. He believes that the customer service market segments,” said Jones. and hospitality that groups receive at the Mayo MAJOR MEETING SPACES Rochester, population 110,000, is in the southCenter are a cut above what they find at much Mayo Civic Center, Mayo Clinic campuses, east corner of Minnesota, about an hour south larger centers in bigger cities. Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center of Minneapolis and St. Paul, making it conve“Our staff and the people of Rochester treat HOTEL ROOMS nient to Wisconsin and Iowa. “We’re also on a everyone as if they reside right here,” he said. highway that connects us to North and South 5,900 citywide, with 2,100 near the conven- “When people leave, they often say they were tion center Dakota,” Jones said. “We’re only five hours from treated well, the staff was friendly, and everyChicago. We get a lot of tristate business.” one was so responsive to their needs. That’s OFFSITE VENUES something we pride ourselves on.” Mayo Clinic campuses, Historic Third Major Venue Renovation Jones couldn’t agree more. “We serve about 3 Street, Cascade Meadow Wetlands and A recently completed two-year expansion million visitors a year in Rochester, so our city Environmental Science Center and renovation has given new life — and plenty is really built on the foundation of hospitality,” CONTACT INFO of new space — to the city’s main convention he said. “We’re in that business. It’s our industry. Rochester, Minnesota, facility. The Mayo Civic Center boasts the largest We are used to hosting people from all over the Convention and Visitors Bureau ballroom in Minnesota, with a seating capacity world, so it’s natural for us to have a robust 800-634-8277 of 2,000 for banquets or 4,000 theater style; up convention campus.” www.rochestercvb.org/event-planners to 23 breakout rooms are available. There is a An unusual meeting venue being promoted
Rochester, Minnesota
August 2017
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Rochester visitors enjoy an evening at a popular downtown rooftop bar.
By Olive Juice Studios
by the CVB is the Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center. Abraham was the founder of Slim-Fast and gave the Mayo Clinic a gift so it could construct the center. “They have the capacity to do amazing off-campus meetings,” said Jones. “It has a general meetings area, and they have many interesting healthy-living components they weave into the meetings area, such as a demonstration kitchen where teams can do healthy cooking. They also offer seminars. It’s good for either a pre- or post-event gathering.”
the Rochester Marriott Mayo Clinic Area. It provides 202 recently renovated rooms and 10,000 square feet of meeting space. Another downtown option is the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Rochester Mayo Clinic Area. It, too, has just been renovated and features 212 rooms and 8,000 square feet of meeting space. As the city and its convention business are growing, a new downtown Hilton hotel is in the works. It will have 274 rooms and 14,000 square feet of meeting space and is due to open in late 2018.
Sleep and Meet
After Work Is Done
Rochester has nearly 5,900 hotel rooms citywide, a good inventory for a city its size. Of that number, 2,100 rooms are within walking distance of the convention center. Downtown Rochester offers the Kahler Grand Hotel, a genteel property built in 1921 but with all the modern conveniences visitors expect. It has 616 guest rooms and suites and 30,000 square feet of on-site meeting space, plus direct access to the Mayo Clinic by way of the skyway or an underground concourse. Adjacent to the Kahler Hotel is
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Destination Showcase
When meetings aren’t in session, visitors will find a variety of ways to enjoy the rooftops of Rochester. “There’s a phenomenon we’ve seen here lately: rooftop dining and usable rooftop space,” said the CVB’s Jones. “That means open-air dining that overlooks the city. It makes for a really neat environment.” Jones said the downtown area offers everything from eclectic dining to shopping to brew pubs and much more. One hot spot is Historic Third Street. There are many fun eateries in this old neighborhood in
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Trolley tours showcase Rochester highlights. Rochester, but three spots, in particular, are worth a try. Grand Rounds Brew Pub can be found inside a stately 150-year-old bank building and has many fine brews made on-site and imaginative cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients. The Tap House has rooftop dining, outdoor heaters for chilly nights and a big, cozy fireplace if you want to stay inside. And there’s The Loop, owned by a local group that attended a Rochester high school together. The food’s tasty, and there’s outdoor seating and live music or a DJ on select nights. Another fun thing to do in Rochester is visit the Rochester Arts Center. “It is in an incredible building with stunning architecture,” Jones said. “It’s on our Zumbro River waterfront. It hosts an array of traveling exhibits in the modern-art world, and it has meeting space as well. We like to do receptions there.” Assisi Heights Spirituality Center is on 100 hillside acres in the center of the city. It is home to the Sisters of St. Francis, who were instrumental in 1889 in starting St. Mary’s Hospital, which is now affiliated with the Mayo Clinic. The spiritual center has an ornate lobby with a
August 2017
slate floor, Italian-marble columns and hand-blown German stainedglass windows. Guided tours of this special place are available. The Cascade Meadow Wetlands and Environmental Science Center sits on 100 acres around Cascade Creek and features indoor and outdoor learning and event spaces. Meeting planners can also make use of walking trails, wetlands and a LEED Platinum-certified center for hosting college classes and different events. There’s meeting space, too. “People there study things like the wetlands and the prairie in our area, as well as wind and other alternative energies,” said Jones. “Our visitors tend to find all of that to be very interesting.” Finally, a fun and healthful way to explore Rochester in the spring, summer and fall months is to rent one of the bright orange bikes that are available through the city’s popular Nice Ride program. Rochester is on the move in many ways, and the CVB’s Jones believes the future is unlimited. “With our vast growth here, people are just now discovering us and are seeing why we are going to be a player in the future in the meetings industry.”
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The Other Little Rock By Savannah Osbourn
Above: The Metro Streetcar connects Little Rock and North Little Rock. Left: The Arkansas Travelers play at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock.
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, A R K A N S A S LOCATION Central Arkansas, across the Arkansas River from Little Rock ACCESS Clinton National Airport, I-30, I-40 MAJOR MEETING SPACES Wyndham Riverfront Hotel, Courtyard by Marriott, Hilton Garden Inn HOTEL ROOMS 2,600 OFF-SITE VENUES Edgemont House, The Joint, Diamond Bear Brewing Company, Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum CONTACT INFO North Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau 501-758-1424 www.northlittlerock.org
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Destination Showcase
J
ust across the Arkansas River from Little Rock, the capital of Arkansas, North Little Rock contains a thriving hub of art galleries, craft breweries and rich cuisine. Many of the city’s signature attractions can be found in the historic Argenta Arts and Entertainment District, the name stemming from the Spanish word for silver, “argenta,” for the silver mines that once characterized the community. Here, visitors can browse art galleries from renowned artists like impressionist painter Barry Thomas or sample unique brews from one of North Little Rock’s three microbreweries, most notably the award-winning Diamond Bear Brewing Company. The area features an eclectic food scene as well. The Riverfront Steakhouse is legendary for its mouthwatering prime beef, and Skinny J’s offers everything from crawfish tails to fried green tomatoes and pimento cheeseburgers. At Four Quarter Bar, guests can eat their fill of delectable dishes like smoked pulled pork nachos or garlic toast dipped in Creole sauce. “All these places are walkable,” said Scott Sudduth, sales and marketing director at North Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau. “If it’s a nice evening, attendees can just stroll up and down Main Street after a meeting and find a restaurant.” Another popular place to visit is the Old Mill, which contains the water-powered gristmill used in the opening scenes of the classic film “Gone With the Wind.” According to Sudduth, over 100,000 people visit each year to get a picture with the replica 1800s-era structure. For a creative team-building activity, some groups stop by the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub, a state-of-the-art “maker space” where aspiring artists can practice welding, woodworking, screen printing and more. Visitors can ride the city’s vintage River Rail Streetcar trolleys to surrounding attractions as well as downtown Little Rock and Clinton National Airport, which is less than 10 minutes away. “You feel like you’re in San Francisco when you’re on one of those trolleys,” said Sudduth.
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By Brian Nahlen; photos courtesy North Little Rock CVB
Wyndham Riverfront Hotel
The Joint
The 250-room Wyndham Riverfront Hotel is one of North Little Rock’s premier event venues, offering 14,500 square feet of flexible meeting space. Thanks to its central location in the historic Argenta District along the Arkansas River, the hotel provides easy access to nearby dining, shopping and other attractions. Complimentary parking and airport shuttle services are also available.
Locals and travelers alike flock to The Joint theater and coffeehouse for live entertainment five nights a week. The theater is headlined by a seasoned comedy trio known as The Main Thing that has appeared on “Saturday Night Live” and off-Broadway. After a performance, visitors can unwind with a cocktail, a craft beer or a locally roasted coffee blend on the cozy, lighted patio. Planners can rent the 20-seat coffeeshop or the 100-seat theater for private events.
Edgemont House
Diamond Bear Brewing Company
Edgemont House, recently renovated and opened to the public by acclaimed home and garden guru Chris Olsen, is one of North Little Rock’s newest event venues. With 6,000 square feet of space, the 1927 Spanish Colonial mansion provides a great setting for receptions or cocktail parties, accommodating anywhere from 25 to 250 guests. After a luncheon or dinner, attendees can stroll through the enclosed courtyard, portico, oak alley and formal gardens, where gardening seminars can be arranged.
Since opening in 2000, the Diamond Bear Brewing Company has quickly become a trademark brand in Arkansas; its name is derived from two of Arkansas’ nicknames, the Diamond State and the Bear State. Over the years, the company’s original brews have won gold medals at the Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup. Visitors can pair a cool glass of beer with savory menu options like slow-roasted beef brisket, vegetable pasta and Southern-style buffalo wings. For special events, planners can rent the 25-seat Tap Room or the 50-seat Barrel Room. Free tours are offered on weekends.
August 2017
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Tudor-Style Luxury By Kristy Alpert
B
ack in 1868, the path from the Lackawanna Railroad Station to the front steps of the Blackburn House was well worn from the weight of horse-drawn carriages transporting New York nobility to their seasonal digs in Summit, New Jersey. Bobbing top hats and dainty parasols shielded visitors from the summer sun as they arrived in high fashion for vacations amidst the city’s “salubrious climate and pure water supply.” The influx of visitors necessitated more accommodations in Summit, and in 1929, the site of the original Blackburn House was transformed into a luxurious hotel, built in the style of a classic Tudor mansion. The hotel later became known as the Grand Summit Hotel, and today, it offers a glimpse into its glamorous past with updated rooms and amenities that rival any chain hotel in the area. Where visitors once unloaded from their buggies and carriages, guests are now invited to sit back and enjoy the welcoming environment of the hotel’s glass-enclosed artisanal coffee shop and lounge — the Arts and Crafts Lobby Coffee
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Hospitality Showcase
All photos courtesy Grand Summit Hotel
Bar — before checking in. The Grand Summit Hotel offers 149 recently updated rooms and suites, each featuring in-room coffee makers with Starbucks Coffee, 32-inch flat-screen televisions with on-demand movies, complimentary bottled water on weekdays, and Aston and Cooper bathroom amenities. Guests are treated to a complimentary hot breakfast each morning in the HAT Tavern, as well as complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. Along with a seasonal outdoor pool, the hotel also has two celebrated on-site restaurants and more than 10,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, with multiple floor-plan options that can fit the style and size of each event. Since opening, the hotel has been in high demand by meeting groups seeking a unique place for corporate events and meetings, and in August 2014, the hotel’s meeting spaces were all extensively renovated. Today, the historic spaces are outfitted with fresh carpet, updated drapes and new banquet chairs that welcome small groups for memorable celebrations, corporate outings, meetings, receptions and more.
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Grand Summit Hotel Meeting Spaces With more than 10,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, the Grand Summit Hotel offers ample room for gathering with friends and colleagues. There are more than 17 meeting options available, among them the Grand Ballroom, for up to 500 guests, divisible into two separate rooms; the Crestview, for up to 150 guests, divisible into two separate rooms; the Atrium, for up to 150 guests; the Coach Room, for up to 50 guests; the Morris Suites, for up to 125 guests, divisible into five separate rooms that can be adjoined or sectioned off as needed; the Union Suites, for up to 100 guests, divisible into two separate rooms; and the Summit Boardroom, for up to 50 guests.
Location Summit, New Jersey Size 149 rooms Meeting Space More than 10,000 square feet Access 12 miles from Newark Liberty International Airport and within walking distance of the NJ Transit Train Station Contact Info 908-273-3000 www.grandsummit.com
Extras Every guest staying at the Grand Summit Hotel receives complimentary access to the hotel’s onsite fitness facility as well as complimentary day passes to Equinox gym, a five-minute drive from the hotel, and the Summit YMCA, which is within walking distance. The hotel also offers parking for a small fee per night with Tesla Destination Charging Stations available, as well as complimentary shuttle service to downtown Summit and the Summit Train Station. There is a shuttle service to and from Newark Liberty International Airport for $35 each way, and sedan service can be arranged for guests at additional cost.
August 2017
Catering Along with two on-site restaurants, the Grand Summit Hotel also offers a dedicated culinary crew to cater to special events and meetings held at the property. The team offers diverse menus and impressive displays, as well as a range of themed meals. Their wide-ranging selection of buffet dinners includes Classic, East Meets West and Latin Fusion, with meatball shop stations and sandwich grinder stations available as well. Plated dinners, quick snack breaks and other menus are also available, but many guests are eager to try out the unique burgers and sliders at the HAT Tavern. Alcohol is available.
Before and After Events Left: Grand Summit Hotel offers a variety of small meeting spaces. Right: Modern amenities complement the historic Blackburn House structure at Grand Summit Hotel. Opposite page: The Grand Ballroom offers an elegant setting for gala dinners.
Meeting guests and hotel guests alike can enjoy the historic and preserved spaces of the hotel, from the original interior lobby with chestnut woodwork and gold-leaf detailing to the original stone fireplace. But for off-site adventures, the hotel offers convenient access to Baltusrol Golf Club, Canoe Brook Country Club, The Mall at Short Hills and the Prudential Center. The hotel is in downtown Summit and is within walking distance of more than 37 bars and restaurants in the downtown area, as well as the train station, which offers quick access to New York City.
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Showtime at the Schuster
By Kristy Alpert
W
hen the first visitors entered through the auditorium doors of the brand-new Mead Theatre that March night in 2003, a collective gasp could be heard as everyone caught sight of the marvelous scene above. Nearly 70,000 people attended the open house to witness the dramatic rebirth of Dayton’s artistic community at the grand opening of the Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center. When the lights dimmed, all eyes were drawn to the grand dome ceiling instead of the stage as the dome lit up to display 780 fiber optic lights arranged in the exact star pattern that Orville and Wilber Wright saw on the night before their first flight on December 16, 1903. Now in its 14th season, the Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center has continued to pay homage to the creative vision that has always woven a vital thread in the fabric of Dayton, Ohio. The center was designed by celebrated architect Cesar Pelli, the man responsible for Cincinnati’s Aronoff Center for the Arts and the Petronas Twin Towers in Kavala Lumpur in Malaysia. The Schuster Center encompasses a performing-arts center and an office/condominium tower joined together by a glass-enclosed atrium known as the Wintergarden. Within the Schuster Center, guests will find the 2,300-seat Mead Theatre, the Mathile Theatre, and Citilites restaurant and bar. The entire space acts as a world-class facility where local, national, and international performing artists take to the stage to provide entertainment to the citizens of Dayton and beyond. Aside from being the home of the Dayton Opera, the Dayton
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Venue Showcase
By Ryan France; photos courtesy Schuster Performing Arts Center
Left: The Schuster Performing Arts Center is an architectural icon of downtown Dayton. Right: The Mathile Theatre at the Schuster Center is set for a colorful reception.
Philharmonic Orchestra, the Victoria Theatre Association and select Dayton Ballet productions, the center is a fantastic space for hosting meetings for 20 to 20,000 guests. The center has hosted silent auctions and cocktail receptions in the lobbies, galas in the Wintergarden and company meetings in the Donor Lounges and the Mathile Theatre. The dramatic spaces provide the perfect stage for hosting events and meetings, and with the dedicated meeting staff, every event at the Schuster Center is a show-stopping performance.
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Center
Meeting Spaces The Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center boasts four unique spaces for hosting meetings, receptions, events and more. All the spaces are wheelchair accessible and feature a variety of setup arrangements. The center’s flexible meeting spaces include the Schuster Center Wintergarden for up to
1,000 guests, the Schuster Center Mead Theatre Stage for up to 2,325 guests in the auditorium and 500 on the stage, the Schuster Center Donor Rooms for up to 150 guests combined and the Schuster Center Mathile Theatre for up to 250 guests. The spaces are also available for rent for private performances.
Catering Catering at the Schuster Center is handled by the culinary team from Citilites, the full-service restaurant and bar at the center, and features a range of menus, including dishes created by executive chef Matthew DeAngulo. Catering and banquet services are available to suit nearly every occasion, and the culinary team prepares wide-ranging menus
that include traditional favorites as well as specialty fare. The team works with local vendors and suppliers such as Hill Family Farms, Evans Bakery and Warped Wing Brewery, and their housemade soups, salad dressings and desserts are among some of the favorites for meeting groups and theatergoers alike. Alcohol is available.
Before and After Events
Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center
Aside from the convenience of being able to catch any number of award-winning performances held before or after events — the Victoria Theatre Association presents more than 300 performances each year — guests will have access to all of Dayton’s top entertainment options, as the Schuster center is in the heart of down-
town. The downtown area is buzzing with activity all hours of the day: quaint cafes for enjoying a morning cup of coffee, numerous parks for people watching during the day and famous jazz clubs open late for visitors looking to see where greats like Louis Armstrong once jammed.
LOCATION Dayton, Ohio
TYPE OF VENUE Off-site, theater
CAPACITY 2,325 guests
NEARBY ACCOMMODATIONS Dayton Grand Hotel
CONTACT INFO 937-228-7591 www.victoriatheatre.com
August 2017
Extras Meeting and event groups looking to catch a performance at the Benjamin and Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center while in town can purchase group tickets for a discounted price; group rates are available for groups of 10 to 20 people, depending on the show. Performance groups are also able to rent out the theater at the center
and will have access to dressing rooms that hold more than 100 performers, as well as wardrobe and styling rooms, a laundry area, a meet-and-greet media area and a performers lounge. Three separate loading docks make it possible to load and unload three trailers simultaneously.
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Texas’ True West By Rachel Carter
Courtesy Amarillo CVC
Amarillo visitors can take horseback rides along the rim of Palo Duro Canyon.
T
exas residents love their state, and so do visitors. Texas’ Wild West heritage has been romanticized, but it is real.
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These towns offer planners plenty of ways to experience the state’s Western history and heritage, from cowboys and cattle ranches to chuck-wagon dinners and campfire stories, railroads and trail rides.
Amarillo
The Spanish word for “yellow” is pronounced “amaree-yo,” but when you say “Ama-rill-oh,” everyone knows it’s the Texas city, and “they have an idea that it’s really the authentic Texas,” said Eric Miller, director of communications for the Amarillo Convention and Visitor Council. With 200,000 residents, Amarillo is the Texas panhandle’s largest city, owing much of its growth in the late 1800s to area cattle ranching and the freight railway service. Just outside of town, Cowgirls and Cowboys in the West offers a variety of tours and experiences, including horseback rides, a chuck-wagon dinner at Los Cedros Ranch, step-on guides and customizable tours
Texas Meeting Guide
that take groups to a Western-wear store, a saddle shop or a working cattle ranch. Palo Duro Canyon State Park is a 45-minute drive southeast of Amarillo, and it’s the second-largest canyon behind the Grand Canyon. There, groups can hike, mountain bike and ride horses on 30 miles of trails, watch birds, go geocaching and arrange for a ranger-led walk or talk. The Visitor Center sits on the canyon’s rim; groups can travel to the canyon floor by vehicle, where the Trading Post offers a café and gift shop. “Texas,” an outdoor musical drama, plays at the park’s amphitheater in the summer. Groups can also use the venue for meetings, or reserve the 169-person Mack Dick Group Pavilion or the 54-person Tasajillo Pavilion. No visit to Amarillo would be complete without a stop at the Big Texan Steak Ranch and Brewery, home to the 72-ounce steak challenge. Next door, the Big Texan’s motel has 54 Western-themed rooms. www.visitamarillo.com
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Courtesy McKinney CVB
McKinney
When the Texas town of McKinney was incorporated in 1913, it also became the official county seat and the de facto hub of agribusiness in the region, especially the cotton industry. Today, the historic Cotton Mill is an event venue that is chock full of authentic rustic-industrial touches, such as the “big, old scale in the floor where you would bring the wagons up with cotton to be weighed,” said Beth Shumate, communications manager for the McKinney Convention and Visitors Bureau. The brick building has several function spaces, including the event hall and the Dye Room, and can hold up to 600 people for events. Storybook Ranch is a re-created Old West main street often used as a set for commercials as well as a setting for corporate events. At the ranch, groups can gather in the saloon, the large covered outdoor pavilion or the two-story Opry House that can hold up to 250 people. Guests can also arrange for campfires, hayrides, horse rides or a dinner theater show. The county-owned Myers Park and Event Center offers nearly 160 acres of countryside and gardens dotted with several event venues. The open-air Pole Barn can seat up to 150, and groups of up to 250 can use the Landing reception hall. The amphitheater, which was built in 2014, can seat up to 300 in its terraced stone seating and up to 750 with added bleachers. www.visitmckinney.com
August 2017
San Angelo
The downtown historic district in San Angelo is “becoming more and more vibrant,” said Diann Bayes, vice president of the San Angelo Convention and Visitors Bureau. On Historic Concho Avenue, groups often visit Miss Hattie’s Bordello Museum, which looks much as it did during its heyday as a late-19th- and early-20th-century brothel until Texas Rangers shut it down in 1952. Next door, Miss Hattie’s Restaurant and Cathouse Lounge welcomes groups, and around the corner, M.L. Leddy’s Boots and Saddlery offers tours and demonstrations. Also downtown, the Cactus Hotel is “the fourth hotel Conrad Hilton ever built,” Bayes said. The historic building has been transformed from a hotel to an event venue with a ballroom that can hold about 150 guests for seated meals. The lobby and wraparound mezzanine work well for receptions. The Top of the Cactus is the top-floor party room where groups of 150 guests can enjoy scenic city views. Established in 1867, the Fort Concho National Historic Landmark features 23 original and restored structures. The Commissary is a restored meeting hall with a kitchen that can host seated meals for 150, and the adjoining Quartermaster can also be used for events. The historic Stables Block is the fort’s largest function space and can seat up to 600 people; Barracks Six can seat 125 for dinner. Groups can arrange for guided tours or a chuck-wagon dinner on the grounds. Fiddle Fire
Myers Park and Event Center in McKinney can host a variety of athletic events.
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Courtesy Fort Worth CVB
Daily cattle drives take place at the Fort Worth Stockyards.
Caterers does a chuck-wagon dinner while the owner plays fiddle music. www.sanangelo.org
Fort Worth
In the late 1800s, Fort Worth was the final refuge for cattle drovers on the Chisholm Trail. The outpost was the last stop on the line, which earned it the nickname Cowtown, a moniker the city still proudly wears. Visitors can soak up Fort Worth’s cow town culture by boot-scooting down to the Stockyards National Historic District, where they can take historic walking
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Texas Meeting Guide
tours, visit the Stockyards Museum and watch twicedaily cattle drives through the streets. At Billy Bob’s Texas, the “world’s largest honky-tonk,” groups can learn to two-step, eat some Texas barbecue and cheer on live bull riding. Guests can make their way through the 5,400-squarefoot Cowtown Cattlepen Maze at Stockyards Station, ride the Grapevine Vintage Railroad and watch a high-noon shootout show. Stockyards Station also offers several event spaces, among them the Stampede Room and the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, each of which can seat up to 650 guests; the Stockman’s Club, which can accommodate 250; and the Lone Star Room, for up to 125. Also in the district, River Ranch Stockyards hosts ranch-style events in a variety of spaces, including the Westfork Room, which can seat 850 for meals or host events for 1,200 with the adjoining lawn. The 120-acre Will Rogers Memorial Center was established in 1936 and today is home to event and exhibit venues, including the 2,856-seat Will Rogers Auditorium, 94,000 square feet of exhibit space and Round-Up Inn’s 18,000 square feet of ballroom and event space. www.fortworth.com
Kerrville
Kerrville sits in the heart of Texas Hill Country, where bluebonnets unfurl over the hills every spring. Just as beautiful — and maybe more surprising — are the herds of wild exotic animals that range the same hills around Kerrville, among them axis deer, sika deer, bison, boars, ibexes and kudus. Wild game was introduced to the region in the 1920s and 1930s, and groups can see exotic animals and take horseback trail rides at the Y.O. Ranch Headquarters, just outside of Kerrville. “It’s exactly a minisafari,” said Kelli Dunbar, director of sales for the Kerrville Convention and Visitors Bureau. During a two-hour bus tour, groups of 15 or more explore the ranch and get up close to a variety of animals before returning for a chuck-wagon lunch. The Lodge is a 100-year-old building dripping in wood and adorned with antlers where guests find a fireplace and a bar. In November, the ranch opened its new 16-room overnight lodging option called Old West Town. In Kerrville, the 190-room Y.O. Hotel and Conference Center is “100 percent Western theme,” from the saloon to the lobby to the 11,000-squarefoot conference center. The Museum of Western Art offers docent-led tours, and groups can reserve the museum for private events. Kerrville will welcome a new festival September 28-30, 2018. The Kerrville Cowboy Heritage Festival will feature a wagon train parade, a cowboy poetry contest, a chuck-wagon-cooking contest, a fiddler competition, a rodeo and lots of Western entertainment. www.kerrvilletexascvb.com
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Meet in
San Angelo The Bosque on the Concho River
Fort Concho National Historic Landmark
International Waterlily Collection
Plan a discovery for your next discover meeting. Experience Texas like never before. discover
ART HISTORY discover NATURE
877-655-4136 DiscoverSanAngelo.com
Cowboy College Towns By Rachel Carter Courtesy Victoria College
The Victoria College Conference and Education Center opened in 2015 with 15 meeting spaces.
I
n college towns, there’s always something going on. Universities are hubs of activities and attractions, and students supply plenty of youthful energy.
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Visitors need only to look to the college to find theatrical productions, live concerts and basketball games. Meanwhile, planners can reserve conference centers, student unions and auditoriums on campus. In these Texas college towns, people are just as loyal to their alma maters as they are to the Lone Star State.
Victoria
The University of Houston-Victoria and Victoria College share a campus in the city of Victoria. The Victoria College Conference and Education Center opened its doors in 2015 and, in the two years since, has had more than 74,000 attendees through its doors for 317 reservations by over 90 different individuals and organizations, said Tempi McLeod, manager of the Emerging Technology Complex, which comprises the center and the neighboring Industrial Training Center. “We’re using both facilities to accommodate different kinds of events,” McLeod said. An association of owners of Model A cars recently used the conference center for gatherings and the training center for car judging, demonstrations and workshops. The IACC-certified conference center has 15 meeting spaces ranging from boardrooms to the 6,800-squarefoot Meeting Hall, which can seat groups of 500 for banquets or be divided into four smaller rooms. The center also offers a variety of conference rooms and classrooms, including a tiered classroom with fixed
Texas Meeting Guide
seating for 120 people, as well as a full catering kitchen. The college also owns and operates the Leo J. Welder Center for the Performing Arts, which seats 476 people. Groups can also use the downtown center’s rehearsal hall and lobby. On the college’s main campus, planners can use the “beautiful quad area” or have receptions and dinners at the Museum of the Coastal Bend, McLeod said. www.victoriacollege.edu
College Station and Bryan
Texas A&M University “plays a huge role” in the sister cities of College Station and Bryan, said Madeleine Russell, marketing coordinator for Experience Bryan College Station. “Everything is super Aggie-centric.” And everyone is an Aggie, whether they went to A&M or not. On football Saturdays, “if you’re not going to the game, you’re probably in hibernation,” Russell said with a laugh. Experience Bryan College Station has a preferred access agreement with A&M that allows it “to go after larger groups that we possibly couldn’t fit into the hotel space,” said Mai Perez, the bureau’s convention business development director. The agreement allows the CVB to promote six school venues to planners and potentially waive up to 80 percent of the facility fees under certain criteria. Venues include the 14,000-square-foot Zone Club overlooking Kyle Field and the 27,000-square-foot
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Courtesy Experience BCS
Hall of Championships, also at the stadium, which offers guided group tours. The Memorial Student Center has a 15,300-squarefoot ballroom and more than 40 additional breakout spaces; Reed Arena has 12,989 seats, and Penberthy Recreational Sports Complex has an outdoor pavilion for 200. The Rudder Theatre and Event Complex has a 2,500-seat auditorium, a 750-seat theater and 19,000 square feet of meeting space. “There are some really wonderful things we can do with this preferred access agreement,” said Perez, who is working with a large event that was too big for the city’s largest meeting hotel and will use campus venues. Experience Bryan College Station is also looking to add two new venues to the agreement, Perez said. www.experiencebcs.com
Waco
Waco has a population of about 130,000 residents and about 15,000 students at Baylor University, so “they’re a pretty big portion of our whole community,” said Carla Pendergraft, director of marketing for the Waco Convention and Visitors Bureau. “They bring that younger vibe to Waco.” McLane Stadium sits on the shores of the Brazos River, and the stadium’s Baylor Club offers several event spaces for large groups and smaller breakout sessions. The ballroom has floor-to-ceiling windows that pro-
August 2017
vide views of downtown and can accommodate up to 500 guests for receptions or 380 for banquets. The President’s Suite, which “overlooks the stadium and sits practically over the river,” works well for 150-person receptions and has a balcony. Groups can also tour the riverside football stadium, where people tailgate and “sailgate” on the Brazos. The Bill Daniel Student Center has a dozen event rooms and function areas, the largest of which is the 3,250-square-foot Barfield Drawing Room. Campus guests can also take advantage of free admission to the Martin Museum of Art, and groups can visit the Mayborn Museum and use it for events. Two of Baylor’s most famous alumni are also driving huge tourism numbers in Waco: Chip and Joanna Gaines are the married duo behind HGTV’s smash hit “Fixer Upper” and the new Magnolia Market at the Silos. www.wacoheartoftexas.com
Texas A&M University is an integral part of College Station and the nearby town of Bryan.
Lubbock
In Lubbock, the energy from Texas Tech University (TTU) resonates through “the whole city; even if you didn’t go to Texas Tech, you know what’s going on,” said Amy Zientek, director of sales for Visit Lubbock. “The school helps give Lubbock a vibe. There’s an energy that goes along with the school, always.” Meeting attendees can always find activities and attractions through the university — performances, con-
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Courtesy Visit Lubbock
United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock can host a variety of meals, shows and events.
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certs, games, museums and more — and planners can book several on-campus venues. One of the most used is the 15,000-seat United Supermarkets Arena, which has hosted Promise Keepers, Beth Moore’s Living Proof Live and the statewide Texas FFA Convention, which drew 12,000 people. The arena also has event rooms and dedicated meeting space. The City Bank Conference Center has four rooms that can each accommodate 90 people for seated events or 120 for receptions, or the rooms can be joined to host receptions for up to 480 people. Club Red is also available for private events. Groups can gather in function space in Jones AT&T Stadium, which will put up logos or welcome messages on the Jumbotron. The university drumline and cheerleaders once met a group at the Overton Hotel and Conference Center, which has 20,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, and led them more than a block to the stadium. There, TTU’s Raider Red mascot met attendees on the field for photos. www.visitlubbock.org
Laredo
The city of Laredo, Texas, sits on the banks of the Rio Grande River and on the border with Mexico. Laredo is home to more than 250,000 residents and to students at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU), part of the Texas A&M University system. Groups can take advantage of several venues on the school’s 300-acre campus. The largest event room in the Student Center is a ballroom that can seat 450 for meals or be split into three smaller spaces. The university’s Western Hemispheric Trade Center has several auditoriums and conference rooms, as well as a ballroom that seats up to 190 people for banquets. The TAMIU Center for Fine and Performing Arts has several event spaces, including the 452-seat theater and a smaller black-box theater. The center’s recital hall accommodates over 800 guests, and another rehearsal hall has space for 100 people. The Lamar Bruni Vergara Planetarium opened in 2005 and has a new-generation digital projector, which allows audiences to see what only highpowered telescopes can see. The glass-pyramid planetarium accepts group reservations and is available for events. TAMIU also manages Casa Ortiz, an 1830 building in Historic Laredo that offers views over the Rio Grande River into Mexico and has a courtyard garden. Groups of up to 35 can use the house and meeting room for seminars or meals, or up to 75 guests can mingle in the courtyard for receptions. www.visitlaredo.com
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