Small Market Meetings December 2021

EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS | MEETINGS AT AEROSPACE MUSEUMS | JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI DECEMBER 2021

s e h c n a R uest MEET NEW YORK’S

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G N I T E E M R U M A K E YO

MOUNT MAGAZINE STATE PARK

C I T S E J MA

MO UNT MAGAZI NE STATE PAR K

P E T IT J

Pick up your FREE PASSPORT at the nearest state park today.

Take your meeting to new heights at one of our six Arkansas State Park lodges. Offering first-class accommodations in the most scenic parts of our state, your private event or corporate retreat will truly feel like vacation.

Discover the possibilities at LodgesofArkansas.com

E A N STA T E PA R K

ROOM TO

INSPIRE

Welcome to Colorado Springs, where our wide-open spaces and stunning natural scenery are the inspirational backdrop to your next meeting.

Hold a spectacular event at The Broadmoor’s new 125,000 sq. ft. Bartolin Hall. You’ll enjoy higher attendance, and attendees will enjoy riding the reimagined Broadmoor Pikes Peak and Manitou Cog Railway to the new Pikes Peak Summit Visitor Center at 14,115’ elevation. Let us help you create a successful and memorable attendee experience. Here you’ll find room to inspire, innovate, connect and re-energize.

Learn more at VisitCOS.com/meet

ON THE COVER: A city resident enjoys spending time with horses during an event at a guest ranch in upstate New York.

INSIDE VOLUME 22 | ISSUE 11

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MANAGING Event Photos and Videos

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IDEAS Meetings at Casinos

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courtesy Visit Henderson

CITY Jefferson City, Missouri

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TOWN Albany, Georgia

D E PA R T M E N T S

6 INSIGHTS 10AaronPROFILE Travel Gear Del Mar Upgrades

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12 ONSITE Aiken,

MEETING GUIDE New York

South Carolina

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 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) 253-0503. 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.

TO ADVERTISE CALL KYLE ANDERSON 866-356-5128

kyle@smallmarketmeetings.com

Mac T. Lacy Publisher/Partner

Brian Jewell VP & Managing Editor

Kelly Tyner VP, Sales & Marketing

Donia Simmons Creative Director

Herbert Sparrow Executive Editor/Partner

Ashley Ricks Graphic Designer

Kyle Anderson Director, Advertising Sales

Christine Clough Copy Editor

Sarah Sechrist Controller/Office Manager

Rena Baer Proofreader

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

We finally get to use the giant scissors.

(We’re also opening a brand new conference center.)

Kearney, where the Heartland gathers.

When you have the best meeting and event facilities between Omaha and Denver, there’s only one thing to do...get even bigger and better. The region-leading Younes Campus has added an additional conference center and a brand-spanking-new hotel to go with it. Every year Kearney hosts more than 1,350 events (we all agree 2020 doesn’t count). Everything from large conferences to regional sporting events, as well as hundreds of smaller professional and educational meetings, all host their events in Kearney.

If you’re looking for a host city for your next event, make sure you look at Kearney.

WheretheHear tlandGathers.com

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308 -2 37-3 178

INSIGHTS WITH VICKIE MITCHELL

GEARING UP

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fter two years of little to no travel, even the most seasoned road warriors may feel a little rusty. This holiday season, add a few items to your wish list that will enhance your future travel experiences. Or, if Santa is being a little Scroogey, take yourself on a shopping trip and stock up on new travel gear and gadgets that will make your 2022 trips smoother in some way. Here are a few ideas.

Treat yourself to these new travel essentials

Be Prepared, Be Practical

Up, Up and Away

Packing light not your thing? Well, it might be a good time to learn. Upheavals in air travel are likely to continue as staffing runs short and airlines offer fewer flights.

In a November interview, Washington Post travel reporter Natalie Compton shared her “big tip” for future air travel.

“If you can,” she said, “don’t check a bag.” A high-quality, lightweight (4-to-5-pound) roll-aboard bag that is as large as possible but still qualifies as a carry-on might become your best friend, especially as you maximize its limited space with compression bags, packing cubes and other handy packing tools like Matador FlatPak toiletry bottles.

TSA approved, they’re not bottles at all, but waterproof pouches topped with a clever loop to hang in the shower.

The company claims FlatPaks are five times lighter and take up three times less space than traditional TSA-approved toiletry bottles.

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Key chains are good anchors for handy gadgets. Need to open a box or cut a tough price tag off a new shirt?

You’ll be glad you bought one of the mini-multitools. Packed with small but effective scissors, clippers, tweezers, screwdrivers and other tools, many versions are OK’d by TSA. Out at night in the city walking home from a group dinner on a dark street, you’ll be thankful for the powerful but tiny LED flashlight and the whistle attached to your keychain. Nothing gets attention like an ear-piercing whistle blast; it will bring help and might even send an attacker running. REI and other outfitters sell plastic versions that hikers use when they get lost, or you can order a nice metal one from the American Whistle Corp. in Columbus, Ohio, the only U.S. maker of metal whistles.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

On the Road Again

If your conferences are staying closer to home base, you’ll be traveling more by car. To gear up for those road trips, consider installing a smartphone mount. It’s a critical safety feature, especially if you are driving to unfamiliar locales without a copilot. Sturdy holders that attach to the dash or hook into an air vent cost around $25 and hold a smartphone steady with a magnetic strip or tension arms. Spend another $20 and get a model that will charge the phone wirelessly. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has said that when a smartphone is mounted at dash level, operating it is more like controlling a car radio and is definitely safer than holding it in your hand and glancing at the screen. For times when cell service evaporates or the GPS seems confused, a road atlas is a fine backup plan. Rand McNally seems to rule the road in this category with several versions, including a large-scale atlas with maps that are 35% larger.

Reaching an Accord With Cords

Don’t Forget To Pack Some Fun

Travel can be a challenge, but it shouldn’t feel like a chore, so pack a few things to keep it fun. A reusable shopping bag that is strong and fits into its own golf ball-size pouch is perfect for stops at a farmers market or a bakery. Baggu and Chico are great brands — I carry a purple Chico bag that’s still perfect 10 years after I bought it at Powell’s Books on a business trip to Portland, Oregon. Compression socks keep your veins happy on long flights, and their colorful designs — polka dots, penguins, tie-dye, stripes, sunflowers, leopard spots — bring smiles. Speaking of colorful fun, Fujifilm’s line of instant cameras, the modern take on what used to be called Polaroids, come in lilac, baby blue and other Easter egg shades. Polaroid and Kodak also make these instant cameras, which sell for around $50 and let you come home from a trip with photos in hand to stick on your desk or share with friends and family.

December 2021

If your work bag or satchel looks like a scene from “Snakes on a Plane,” it might be time to corral your cords and other tech gear. Ask Santa to drop some Bobino cord wraps in your stocking. These simple rubber devices — they look like a modified figure 8 — come in varied sizes so that cords of varied sizes can be wrapped around them.

Costing less than $5, they are a cheap, simple solution to technology tangles. For a more comprehensive solution, invest in a cable organizer, the equivalent of a Dopp kit for chargers, power cords, flash drives, ear buds and other small tech equipment. And, while you are getting organized, get a holder for your vaccination card. There are many styles, some with a focus on fashion and style and others that put practicality first with built-in key rings and lanyards. For international travelers, many passport holders now include a slot for vaccination cards.

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SNAPSHOT

Survey Says: Meeting Attendees Want More than Business

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o meeting attendees occasionally make plans to spend a little extra time in a cool destination once their conference is over?

Do they ever bring a spouse or even a family to a great destination for some rest and relaxation when their business is finished? It seems they do, and we decided to ask some of our meeting planners about whether they see taking advantage of personal travel opportunities trending with their delegations.

In a nutshell, we wanted to know if meeting delegates are taking the opportunity to become travelers for a day or two once they are already in a great city. And equally important, are meeting planners prioritizing an off-site event or events that showcase a city to give their delegates a few hours to feel like a traveler?

With the help of our survey sponsor, Eugene Cascades and Coast Meetings, we got a quick read on these and other questions about our readership and their delegates.

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When asked if and how often they included spouse programs or activities for families for their clients’ meetings, 45% of planners answered that they included those extracurricular activities quite often or somewhat often. Only 18% answered that their meetings never included any options for delegates’ spouses or families.

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When asked how readers would characterize their delegates’ tendencies for adding a day or two of personal time to a meeting in a popular destination, the results were even more impressive: 81% of planners answered that their delegates either frequently or occasionally added a day or two of personal time to unwind in a cool destination. Fewer than 5% said that their delegates never added vacation time to their business schedule during a meeting or conference.

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Almost half of our respondents said they try to include at least one off-site reception, meal or event that showcases a local destination at their larger meetings, and more than three out of four (76%) said they did that at least sometimes for those meetings. Fewer than 10% of respondents never offer an off-site event or meal as part of their planning services.

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Almost two-thirds (63%) of respondents said they “always” or “usually” start with the local CVB for their meeting planning. Only 14% of respondents never start their meeting planning with the local CVB.

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As America’s only meeting magazine that is dedicated solely to smaller destinations, we also asked if these planners were considering using smaller cities to try and lower meeting costs for their clients and delegates. More than half (52%) said they were doing that, and only 12% answered that they would not consider smaller destinations for cost-cutting purposes in their planning for 2022.

9% NEVER

5% NEVER WHICH OF THESE REGIONS ARE YOU CONSIDERING FOR YOUR MEETINGS? (TOTAL DOES NOT ADD TO 100%)

14%

RARELY

34%

47%

OCCASIONALLY

FREQUENTLY

58% WEST 58% SOUTHWEST 52% MIDWEST

14%

RARELY

30%

SOMETIMES

47%

I TRY TO FOR ALL LARGE MEETINGS

55% NORTHEAST HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE YOUR DELEGATES' TENDENCIES FOR ADDING A DAY OR TWO OF PERSONAL TRAVEL WHEN MEETING IN A POPULAR DESTINATION?

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58% SOUTHEAST

FOR YOUR LARGER MEETINGS, HOW OFTEN DO YOU PLAN AN OFF-SITE RECEPTION, MEAL OR EVENT THAT SHOWCASES THE LOCAL DESTINATION?

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

MEETING LEADERS

“There has to be a value for participants because they could be doing something else with their time. I want my events to be spectacular.”

AARON DEL MAR

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BY REBECCA TREON

aron Del Mar, CEO of Adrenaline Special Events, wants you to have the hap-hap-happiest holiday outside of “Christmas Vacation” by running the Santa Hustle, a road race that’s not about being ultra-competitive or getting your best 5K time, but about having fun while being healthy and giving to charity. Participants don Santa hats and beards, and there are stations for candy, cookies and cocoa along the racecourse. There are also in-person carolers, Christmas-themed selfie stops with inflatable decor and even live reindeer. Hosted in a dozen cities from coast to coast, it’s more than a race with a holiday theme; it’s an event that people look forward to all year long.

“I’m all about building traditions — after the second year of you doing the Santa Hustle, I’m part of your family,” Del Mar said.

“The Christmas season doesn’t start until you’ve done the race. I took my love of athletics and having fun and turned it into people having an amazing experience.”

It’s an understatement to say that coordinating events that draw thousands of runners is a huge undertaking, but Del Mar is used to facing challenges that would seem insurmountable to some.

His record-breaking high school wrestling wins earned him a scholarship to Indiana University in Bloomington, where he ditched wrestling when he discovered judo, becoming a three-time Judo All-American and a member of the 2000 University World Judo Team.

After training at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, he also did MMA-style combat, participating in 13 cage

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fights, which he said jokingly was preparation for running for political office.

“Believe it or not, politics is a contact sport,” he said. “Judo and MMA have uniquely trained me to be in politics. You have to have the mindset of ‘never give up, never surrender.’”

The father of six, Del Mar is active in politics in his hometown of Palatine, Illinois, where he serves as highway commissioner, although he began his political career in 2009 when he was elected the youngest and first minority councilman.

At his day job, Del Mar is the CEO of two companies: Adrenaline Special Events, a management company that specializes in producing athletic events like the Santa Hustle, the Halloween Hustle and the American Pickleball Tour, and U.S. Casino Rentals, a marketing firm that specializes in corporate party planning. Both produce expos and unique corporate parties whose motto, “turning events into experiences,” focuses on a participant-forward edge.

If Del Mar’s roster of accomplishments reads like a checklist for successful people, that’s because it is.

As a leader, he spends time attending other events to learn best practices of what works well and what doesn't. In business, he builds friendships first and then leverages those relationships with the mantra “If I help you get to wherever you want to go, I believe you take me with you,” meaning that a cooperative relationship will build both people up and benefit both parties.

“My biggest fear is mediocrity,” he said. “I choose to work, I’m passionate about what I do, and the harder I work, the luckier I get.”

EXECUTIVE PROFILE NAME Aaron Del Mar TITLE CEO ORGANIZATION Adrenaline Special Events LOCATION Palatine, Illinois BIRTHPLACE Chicago EDUCATION Bachelor’s degree from Indiana University CAREER HISTORY Del Mar is a leader in various ventures, including: • Chicago Casino and Poker Rentals, 2004—present • Santa Hustle Race Series, 2009—present • Adrenaline Special Events, 2016—present

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

TIPS FROM

AARON DEL MAR • When dealing with hostile and uncooperative people, no matter how much I dislike their personal style, I try never to be unkind or discourteous.

I always give them an opportunity to be right even when they are wrong.

• Hire the best team you can and get the heck out of their way. If you can't trust them to do the job, you shouldn't have hired them. I hire slow and fire fast.

AARON DEL MAR ENJOYS DINNER WITH FAMILY MEMBERS AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT.

Now Open

plan a well

December 2021

crafted experience

In Kentucky, we consider this center a small batch location full of the unique flavor and service your guests are searching for. The new Shelbyville Conference & Welcome Center is open for business and ready to welcome attendees.

VISITSHELBYKY.COM | 219 7th Street | SHELBYVILLE, KY | 502.633.6388

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WITH SMALL MARKET MEETINGS

ONSITE AIKEN Small Market Meetings readers discovered a hidden gem in charming Aiken, South Carolina

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www.smallmarketmeetings.com

A CANOPY OF LIVE OAKS WELCOMES MEETING DELEGATES TO CHARMING AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA.

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iken, South Carolina, may be the only historic town in America that can claim its charm continues where its dirt roads begin. Aiken’s cherished dirt roads are the pathways that delineate its world-class horse district.

Many of Aiken’s polo fields, stables, training centers and tracks are found in this horse district, just off its busy thoroughfares. During its “Winter Colony” era, dating to the 1870s, wealthy Northeastern industrialists discovered Aiken and built exquisite mansions they deemed “cottages”. They found Aiken’s moderate winter climate and sandy soil to be ideally suited for breeding and training horses, as well as enjoying polo matches.

In October, Visit Aiken hosted six meeting planner readers of Small Market Meetings on a four-day site inspection tour. Attendees discovered the area's horse heritage, viewed meeting facilities and explored activities for their delegates. The planners stayed in the city’s distinguished hotel, The Willcox; had breakfast on a dirt road at The Track Kitchen; enjoyed a trolley tour to view the city’s heralded architecture; and took a sunrise walk through Hitchcock Woods.

THE ALLEY AND THE TROLLEY One evening, the group split up to enjoy The Alley, Aiken’s downtown promenade filled with retail shops, bars and restaurants. The Alley is Aiken’s hot spot for fresh-air evenings and outdoor concerts.

The planners took a trolley tour from the Aiken Visitors Center and Train Museum for a lively introduction to the city’s lore. Royals, presidents and politicians have all contributed to its local color, and several “cottages” are now inns or venues for special events. During their stay, the planners visited venues including the Rye Patch, USC Aiken’s Ruth Patrick Science Center, the Amentum Center for Performing Arts, the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum, and the Aiken County Museum.

AIKEN OUTDOORS The National Wild Turkey Federation outside Aiken features a nationally known shooting complex. The planners opted for sporting clays and took turns trying to hit “quail” and “rabbit” targets at two different trail locations. Afterward, they enjoyed lunch compliments of Blue Collard Catering.

Several planners also opted to meet one morning for a sunrise walk at Hitchcock Woods, the largest privately owned urban forest in the country. Superintendent Bennett Tucker joined the group for breakfast at La Parisienne to share the story of how this local treasure is managed.

December 2021

All photos courtesy Visit Aiken SC, unless noted

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IN AIKEN

ELEGANT CARRIAGE HOUSE INN

The Willcox The historic upscale Willcox hotel was built in 1898 in downtown Aiken. With on-site event planners, it is fantastic for board meetings and corporate retreats. A full buyout of the hotel is available.

| Most of the 28 individually appointed guest rooms and suites have fireplaces, four-poster beds and soaking tubs, and the suites have antique furniture.

MEETING SPACES | The 460-square-foot Hunt Room can accommodate up to 32 guests. The 770-squarefoot Library can accommodate up to 56 people. The Roosevelt Suite can be used for small meetings of up to 15.

Meetings can combine the Hunt Room and the Library with space around the pool.

The Willcox also manages Crossways and Longleaf.

Crossways, located on five acres, is the oldest home in Aiken. With 5,165 square feet, it can accommodate up to 300 guests. Longleaf is a 1,200-acre former Thoroughbred horse farm 30 minutes from downtown Aiken that can be used for corporate retreats and meetings.

DINING | The Willcox has an elegant restaurant and a lobby bar and provides off-site catering for meetings.

RECREATION | A seasonal saltwater pool has a deck and sun lounges. There is a gym, a spa and a salon, and loaner bicycles are available.

MORE INFO THEWILLCOX.COM THE LOBBY BARLANDMARK AT RESIDENCE INN/SPRINGHILL THE WILLCOX, AN AIKEN SUITES BY MARRIOTT

By Mac Lacy

ROOMS

Carriage House Inn Built in the 1870s in the heart of downtown Aiken as a family home, the Carriage House Inn has gone through several iterations over the years, including as the production set of a Disney movie. It was converted to a guest house in 1999 and has been expanded several times since then.

| The boutique Carriage House has 37 individually designed rooms and suites in three buildings.

ROOMS

| The Carriage House can host board meetings, corporate luncheons and dinners.

MEETING SPACES

DINING | The Carriage House serves a complimentary hot breakfast and freshly baked chocolate-chip cookies and is within walking distance of many downtown restaurants.

| Hike nearby Hitchcock Woods, tour Hopeland Gardens or watch world-class polo.

RECREATION

MORE INFO AIKENCARRIAGEHOUSE.COM

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www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Holiday Inn Express and Suites

ACTIVITIES ACTIVITIES

• AIKEN TROLLEY TOUR — This two-hour guided Meetings insites Clearwater come with abundant tour of historic and points of interest related to activity options.

From the soft white the city’s Winter Colony era leaves from thebeaches Aiken to major attractions, Visitors Center and Train meeting Museum.planners Riders seeenthe joyed these recreation experiences duringand home that heiress Evalyn Walsh McLean rented hear stories how she often the Hope their siteof inspection tourmisplaced in Clearwater.

Diamond and had guests help her search for it. They also see theActivities Old Aiken its steps, • Beach —Post TheOffice entireand shoreline ofwhere Clearfrequent guest Fred Astaire danced water Beach is owned by the city for anddelighted open to the onlookers. public, and a city concessionaire offers umbrella and cabana rentals. Meeting planners can work • WHISKEY AND ENTERTAINMENT with their EVENT host properties to arrange beach activiCOMPLEX — This facility opportunities. adjacent to JC’s beachchamSeafood ties and team-building restaurant ber.comincludes an indoor reception area, but the real fun is out back. A regulation 18 -hole miniature golf course in a grove the of trees, andofregulation-size • Pier 60sits Park— Near center Clearwater batting cages delegates a terrific opportunity Beach, Pieroffer 60 extends 1,000 feet into the gulf to enjoy an afternoon of team building or relaxation.

Twoand makes an excellent spot for walking, birding hour, bookings areoffers available. andhalf-day fishing.and Thefull-day surrounding park games, inflatables and other fun to keep family members • HITCHCOCK WOODS — This privately owned entertained during a meeting. myclearwater.com urban forest is the largest in the United States.

Donated the city in 1939 family, • SugartoSand Festival —by Forthe 17 Hitchcock days in April, Clearthis 2,100-acre preserve water Beachforest hostsand the grassland Pier 60 Sugar Sandoffers Festival, numerous trails of forthe walking, running and horseback a celebration area’s fine sands and amazing riding.

Hitchcock hosts major each year, sunsets.

VisitorsWoods can explore dozensevents of sand sculpincluding the Aiken Horse Show in the spring and the tures created by world-renowned sand artists.

Festival in the Woods each fall. sugarsandfestival.com

The Holiday Inn Express and Suites is Aiken’s newest hotel and is conveniently located three miles from downtown Aiken and 30 minutes from Augusta Regional Airport.

ROOMS | There are 95 guest rooms with free highspeed internet and work desks.

| The Hyatt’s 30,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space includes two ballrooms that accommodate more than 200 guests each, six breakouts and the Sky Terrace, an outdoor space on the 16th floor.

MEETING SPACES

DINING | A complimentary full breakfast buffet is available in the morning.

RECREATION | The hotel has an outdoor pool and a large fitness center. It is near the shops and theaters at Aiken Mall.

MORE INFO IHG.COM

By Mac Lacy

SPORTING CLAYS NEAR AIKEN

December 2021

• NATIONAL WILD TURKEY CENTER— This $12 • Clearwater Marine Aquarium — Made famous million to theTale,” National Turkey by thefacility movieis“Ahome Dolphin’s the Wild Clearwater Federation.

It encompasses 300 acres, andand its guests Marine Aquarium is an animal rescue rehapurchase 2.5 center millionwhere clay targets Meeting bilitation guestsannually. can see famous delegates cansuch arrange todolphins shoot skeet, trap shoot or take residents as the Hope and Winter. four-wheel vehicles out on the sporting clay trails to A major expansion opening next year will bring shoot “quail” “rabbit” clay targets.

A catered more than or 6,000 square feet of meeting and box event lunch or full meal in the center’s covered pavilion space. seewinter.com makes a great end to a visit.

• Spectrum Field — Clearwater’s resident ball• THE —toSpend a couple of hours parkALLEY is home two professional teams:inthe minor downtown Aiken’s entertainment outdoor league Clearwater Threshers in district summerfor and the market shopping and a meal.

Choose from several major league Philadelphia Phillies during spring busy bars and restaurants, enjoy lotssuites of outdoor training.

Groups can rentand hospitality and seating this popular downtown artery. otheralong large spaces for games.

Catering and In barthe evening, your be able to grab seats for services are delegates available.may milb.com/clearwater a free live concert.

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IN AIKEN

Courtesy Visit Aiken SC

Rose Hill Estate

419 HAYNE IN DOWNTOWN AIKEN

ACCOMMODATIONS AT 419 HAYNE

Rose Hill’s 10,000-square-foot Main House with its distinctive Dutch Colonial shingle style was built in 1898 over the remains of the original antebellum house. The walled estate covers a city block in downtown Aiken and has been restored to its Winter Colony elegance.

ROOMS | There are six newly renovated guest rooms and suites in the historic Main House, and the one-bedroom Cottage is in the Rose Hill gardens.

| Rose Hill is a full-service event venue with various indoor and outdoor event spaces and on-site catering.

ACCOMMODATIONS AT 419 HAYNE

419 Hayne Small groups enjoy luxurious rooms at this newly completed four-room accommodation. Built to afford its guests walkable access to downtown, it features distinctly different decor in each suite, with each providing a sleeping room, adjoining living space and a wet bar.

By Kelly Tyner

By Kelly Tyner

MEETING SPACES

DINING | There are two restaurants — the Stables and Sheffield’s — and complimentary breakfast is served.

| There are lawn games, and local, regional and national artists perform live music nightly.

Outdoor seating features fire pits and a beer garden.

RECREATION

MORE INFO ROSEHILLINAIKEN.COM

ROOMS | There are four rooms with queen beds that all open to a common lobby area, offering four couples or eight friends the opportunity to share the entire complex with complete privacy. The rooms feature fine art and contemporary decor.

| Walkable downtown access is a major appeal of this property. Guests can enjoy all of Aiken’s downtown sites, restaurants and retail offerings with a short walk or easy drive.

MORE INFO 419HAYNE.COM

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ROSE HILL ESTATE

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

By Jacqueline Aleace Photography

HIGHLIGHTS

Rye Patch Estate House The Rye Patch is a 10-acre estate adjacent to Hopeland Gardens, which was the center of Aiken social life in the early-to-mid-20th century. It was donated to the city of Aiken in 1982 after the death of owner Dorothy Knox Goodyear Rogers.

| The Rye Patch can host indoor and outdoor receptions. Its library, sunroom and dining room can seat 60 table style and 75 theater style, and there is space for 150 for a reception. The Guest Cottage at Rye Patch, tucked beneath oak trees, is great for small business meetings.

MEETING SPACES

HISTORIC RYE PATCH

A SUNRISE HIKE IN HITCHCOCK WOODS

MORE INFO

By Kelly Tyner

WEDDING-SPOT.COM

Amentum Center for Performing Arts The 21-year-old Amentum Center for the Performing Arts, owned and operated by the city of Aiken, is home to the Aiken Community Theatre and Aiken Performing Arts.

MEETING SPACES

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The 17,000-square-foot, stateof-the-art Amentum Center is available for meetings and in-person and video conferences. It can accommodate 300 people in its auditorium, 95 in the first-floor lobby, 134 in the second-floor lobby, 31 on the balcony and 219 on its stage. A workshop, rehearsal hall and technical support are available.

FINE DINING IN AIKEN

POLO, A LOCAL TRADITION

DINING | Newberry Hall, across the street, can provide catering.

AIKENCOMMUNITYTHEATRE.ORG

December 2021

By Kelly Tyner

MORE INFO THE AIKEN TROLLEY

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IN AIKEN

USC AIKEN’S CONVOCATION CENTER

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Shortly after the Small Market Meetings site inspection tour, the Aiken Municipal Development Commission announced plans to develop a new hotel and conference center.

The commission will purchase seven parcels of land, including one that is the site of a defunct hotel, to create the new hospitality and meeting facilities. Plans call for a premium or boutique 100-room hotel, as well as a 25,000-square-foot facility with full food and beverage service. The developers also hope to build a parking garage at the site to service the hotel and meeting facility.

Construction on the site is expected to begin in late 2022 or early 2023.

USC Aiken The University of South Carolina Aiken, a part of the University of South Carolina system, is a highly regarded public university with more than 3,500 students. Marking its 60th year, it offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in more than 50 areas of study.

MEETING SPACES | The Convocation Center has a capacity of 3,500 to 4,100 patrons with a VIP room for up to 200 and other rentable meeting spaces. The Etherredge Center has a 687-seat proscenium theater and the 100-seat O’Connell Theatre. The Business and Education Center has several meeting facilities and can accommodate up to 597 theater style, 400 classroom style and 456 for banquets.

Groups can schedule tours of the university's 453-acre campus.

AN AIKEN TROLLEY TOUR

| USC Aiken Catering by Aramark provides a menu of freshly prepared quality meals for all occasions, including customized options.

DINING

GASTON LIVERY STABLES

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Photos by Kelly Tyner

THOROUGHBRED RACING HALL OF FAME

MORE INFO USCA.EDU

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

RESTAURANTS

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1. TRACK KITCHEN — This beloved breakfast restaurant is an institution with horse owners, trainers and riders in Aiken. Situated on one of Aiken’s dirt roads in the horse district, the restaurant offers breakfast cooked to order from a menu that includes eggs, French toast, bacon, sausage, fried potatoes and coffee that diners pour for themselves into any of a delightfully diverse collection of mugs.

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2. JC’S SEAFOOD — Meeting groups can dine in a casual atmosphere in the Bait Shack private dining pavilion at JC’s Seafood, known locally for its fresh seafood. Seafood specialties can be ordered a la carte or enjoyed as a “low-country boil” featuring shrimp, sausage, potatoes and corn on the cob with a selection of cookies for dessert.

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3. WHISKEY ALLEY — This popular restaurant and bar holds a prominent place in the Alley, Aiken’s downtown entertainment district. Choose from shareable plates featuring items like charred broccolini, charcuterie plates, roasted beet salad, fish and chips, and other popular entrees. Sit inside or dine al fresco to enjoy the street scenes in the Alley.

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4. LA PARISIENNE FRENCH RESTAURANT AND BAKERY — This recent addition to the local scene is a two-minute walk from The Willcox and offers fresh-baked French pastries, beignets, croissants and other treats. Full breakfasts, including omelets, are available, and lunch offerings include French hot sandwiches like croissant au jambon (ham) or French brie croissant (ham, brie and tomatoes).

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5. STABLES AT ROSE HILL — Live music, an adjacent bar and historic stable-inspired surroundings highlight a dinner at this local favorite on the Rose Hill property. Consider the frito misto appetizer featuring shrimp and calamari, and follow that up with braised short rib served with whipped potatoes and collard greens. Arrive early and walk Rose Hill’s landscaped grounds to view its formal gardens and cherished chapel.

RELAXING AT ROSE HILL

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If you are interested in hosting a FAM for readers of Small Market Meetings, call Kyle Anderson at 866.356.5128

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JOIN US FOR A SITE INSPECTION IN SALEM, OREGON, IN MAY

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re you looking for a distinctive, peaceful SITE INSPECTION PARTICIPANTS WILL VISIT THE SALEM CONVENTION destination in the PaCENTER AND EXPLORE WINERIES AND OTHER SCENIC AREAS IN THE cific Northwest for NEARBY WILLAMETTE VALLEY. meetings, conventions, incentive programs and executive events? Discover picturesque Salem, Oregon, when you join Small Market Meetings for a site inspection next spring.

Nestled in Oregon’s lush Willamette Valley and surrounded by rolling hills, vineyards and gardens, Salem offers scenery, history, wineries and ideal meeting facilities for groups. You can discover the area’s charm and event venues yourself when you join the staff of Small Market Meetings in Salem in May. Travel Salem is inviting up to 10 of our meeting planner readers to enjoy a four-day site inspection trip, May 24-27. Qualified meetKYLE ANDERSON BRIAN JEWELL ing planners will be guests of the Travel Salem staff and will enjoy visiting accommodations, small meeting venues and attractions around the city.

If you are selected to attend, the Travel Salem will reimburse your airfare up to $400.

“Join Small Market Meetings’ Photos courtesy Travel Salem managing editor, Brian Jewell, and Kyle Anderson, our director of advertising sales, for this fun and educational site inspection trip to experience Salem and the Willamette Valley, as APPLICANTS WILL COMPLETE A BRIEF COMPANY PROFILE well as its distinctive meeting venues,” said publisher Mac ONLINE THAT WILL BE USED BY TRAVEL SALEM TO SELECT Lacy. “Brian and Kyle will accompany our Salem hosts on this trip and will be sharing their travel experiences with evATTENDEES. REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS MARCH 1. eryone in attendance.”

TO SUBMIT YOUR PROFILE, GO TO All accommodations, sightseeing, transportation and SMALLMARKETMEETINGS.COM/SALEM-FAM. meals are included once participants arrive in Salem. This IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, CALL KYLE AT 888-253-0455. readership event and site inspection tour is limited to 10 qualified meeting planners.

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MANAGING

Worth a Thousand Words

SET YOUR SIGHTS ON IMPROVING EVENT PHOTOS AND VIDEOS

“P

BY RACHEL CARTER

ics or it didn’t happen,” as the kids say. In today’s Facebook-Instagram-Snapchat-TikTok world, documenting every event and capturing every moment has never been more important. And the same is true for meetings and conferences, trade shows and conventions. But while cameras can now be found in every pocket and purse, it’s still important for meeting planners to find professional photographers and videographers who can tell their organization’s story and deliver a narrative that serves their purposes, whether that’s sales, marketing, entertainment or education.

“It’s a really important line item to plan for and should be part of your overall marketing strategy,” said Nann Philips, founder and principal of Scurry Street Meeting Management in the Dallas metro area.

Here’s what Philips and two other experts had to say on how to improve photography and videography at your next event.

On the importance of hiring an event videographer: “Videography isn’t a luxury; it is a necessity.”

BUDGET-OGRAPHY When it comes to budgeting for an event photographer or videographer, the first step is “to include it in the budget,” Philips said with a laugh. “So many times it is an afterthought.” For a regional meeting of about 300 to 400 people, she has no qualms spending $3,000 to $5,000 on photography — plus travel, which is key and shouldn’t be a deal-breaker.

Although there’s no formula for how much to spend, planners should allocate roughly 1% to 3% of their event budget to photography, said Bob Christie, owner and founder of Orlando-based Christie’s Photographic Solutions, which specializes in corporate event photography and has seven offices nationwide.

Kelby Dolan, an Indianapolis-based videographer and owner of Dolan Videography, works with a lot of associations and has his clients develop a “good, better, best” budget model. He then walks them through what each level looks like, such as hiring a second videographer for “best,” while “better” means prioritizing production work over other bells and whistles. Sometimes, if an organization is just starting to include video, it means starting at “good,” then demonstrating return on investment before moving up to “better” or “best” in a few years.

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Kelby Dolan OWNER/VIDEOGRAPHER

Dolan Videography Experience: Eight years

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WORKING WITH PHOTOGRAPHERS Ideally, an organization would work with the same person consistently over a period, Philips said. That allows the photographer or videographer to develop a relationship with the organization, its leaders, planners and vendors, and gain an understanding about its brand personality. Some corporate events want very formal photos; other events want fun, dynamic, energy-filled moments. Years ago, Philips worked for a corporate organization that used the same photographer for all its events and flew her around the world. Doing that allows the photographer to develop rapport with C-level executives and celebrities, who then feel more comfortable, and planners can trust the photographer to act appropriately and practice discretion.

But if you’re starting from scratch or need to hire someone local for an event, word-of-mouth recommendations are paramount. Christie said planners should get referrals from trusted sources, such as other meeting planners, hotel catering/convention services and audiovisual partners. No matter what, don’t leave it to the last minute to start looking.

“Then you’re stuck with who’s available rather than someone who’s talented,” Christie said.

With referrals in hand, planners should make sure the photographer or videographer has experience shooting meetings or conferences, because it’s much different than shooting wed-

dings. Also pore over portfolios to gauge if the person’s aesthetic fits well with the organization’s brand and needs.

Planners should make sure the photographer understands what to shoot and what not to shoot and knows how the organization intends to use the media assets, whether that’s for marketing, education, training or entertainment purposes. Go over the agenda and determine which speakers and sessions the photographer or videographer should shoot.

“They need to understand what the story is they’re going to tell,” Christie said.

Planners should also make sure the contract covers who owns the images and has rights to use them.

CROWDSOURCING AND SOCIAL MEDIA Social media has changed the game, but it hasn’t replaced professional photography — and it shouldn’t. Crowdsourcing photos and videos from event attendees is fun and has its place, but it also tends to deliver a lot of selfies and similar pictures, not the kind of media an organization needs and can use for years.

“You can get some beautiful images, but let that be a nice surprise — don’t rely on it,” Philips said.

One benefit of crowdsourcing is receiving immediate content, but someone needs to filter through that content to ensure it’s appropriate before posting, “and that’s a lot of work,” said

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MANAGING

Dolan, who is also director of communications for a fraternity. In that role, he appoints a handful of “ambassadors” — perhaps members or interns — to gather photos and videos during events. That kind of “selective crowdsourcing” means his ambassadors can get waivers, edit images and use the right vernacular and tagging when posting to social media.

Christie’s Photographic Solutions is rolling out face recognition software that has “been a social media rocket ship,” Christie said. Attendees can opt in at registration, like at a sponsor-based station. Then, when Christie’s photographers shoot an event, anytime the software picks up a photo of an attendee who signed up for the program, it sends the picture directly to them via text, which can also be branded.

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VIDEO IN DEMAND

On using photography/videography to market events: “As we return to in-person meetings, I think we’ll see more of it because people will be craving and wanting to know what that in-person experience is like. It’s like selling a house: You want to be able to picture yourself in it.”

Demand for video has been on the rise for years, and the pandemic pushed it even higher.

“I believe this whole transition with virtual/digital events has raised people’s expectations of what will be available to them, whether or not they attend in person,” Philips said. In-person attendees now fully expect to have access to any content that is being captured, even after the event.

Sometimes that simply means sharing slides and audio, but there is “constant greater demand for footage of speaker sessions,” Dolan said. “People will watch video whenever they want; live sessions don’t matter as much as collecting it and having it available to someone.”

When it’s not a live feed, most associations want their speakers edited down for time and interest. People will watch a four-minute video over a 40-minute presentation. If you need to gather video from speakers or presenters, don’t do it via Zoom.

Have them use a smartphone to record themselves, then send in the footage to ensure higher, more consistent quality, Dolan said. He has also seen an uptick in demand for event montages that capture the essence of the event or give people FOMO, fear of missing out, on future events.

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MANAGING

On capturing an organization’s narrative: “Photography, in general, should always be about understanding your subject’s story. Whether it’s a bride or a corporation, you’ve got to try to understand the story they’re trying to tell and show it accordingly.”

Bob Christie PRESIDENT

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By Lindsey Janies, courtesy Visit Lake Charles

SOLID BETS These gaming destinations are perennially popular for meetings

C

BY RACHEL CARTER

asino resorts are like tiny cities because the properties pretty much have it all: restaurants and cafes, bars and lounges, spas and shops, concert venues and pool complexes, golf courses and, of course, gaming. And casino properties often boast plentiful meeting space so planners can spread out but also keep their attendees together. Gaming destinations work well for conventions and conferences because they offer world-class cuisine, high-end spas, top-tier golf courses, high-octane nightlife and the allure of courting Lady Luck.

Here are some destinations around the country that are known for their gaming resorts and that prove popular for meetings and events.

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LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA

Lake Charles, Louisiana, is home to three casino resorts, including one that’s moving onto land and reopening after a major rebrand. The Isle of Capri closed in 2020 because of the pandemic and damage from Hurricane Laura, said Taylor Beard Stanley, senior sales manager for Visit Lake Charles. Caesars Entertainment now plans to bring the casino ashore and rebrand it as a Horseshoe Casino that will boast more than 60,000 square feet of casino space, a redesigned hotel tower and renovated meeting space when it opens in fall 2022.

The Golden Nugget offers more than 30,000 square feet of meeting space, including the 18,000-squarefoot Grand Event Center. Groups can also arrange private dinners at several restaurants and events at the outdoor concert venue. The 1,100-room property offers an 18-hole golf course, a spa and a 2-acre pool area. The casino has over 1,600 slot machines, 87 table games and seven live-action poker tables.

The neighboring L’Auberge Casino Resort offers more than 26,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 14,000-square-foot ballroom that opens onto the 10,000-square-foot Event Center Terrace. The resort is also refreshing its nearly 1,000 hotel rooms.

Above: The Isle of Capri and Golden Nugget casinos sit side by side in Lake Charles.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Some planners arrange group blackjack lessons or give away chips as door prizes, and sports betting also just became legal, so both casinos recently opened sportsbooks.

Photos courtesy Coastal Mississippi

December 2021

Some planners arrange group blackjack lessons or give away chips as door prizes, and sports betting also just became legal, so both casinos recently opened sportsbooks, Stanley said.

Both the Golden Nugget and the L’Auberge have beaches and marinas. Planners can arrange private dinner cruises and private fishing charters.

“The fun thing about that is that if you go out and catch a great fish, you can come back and the restaurant will cook it for you,” Stanley said. visitlakecharles.org

COASTAL MISSISSIPPI

The Mississippi Gulf Coast stretches 62 miles between the Louisiana and Alabama state lines, and it could easily be dubbed the Mississippi Gold Coast.

“The glitz and glamor that’s associated with our gaming properties puts you at another level,” said Karen Conner, director of marketing and sales at Coastal Mississippi.

The coast boasts 12 casinos, many of them in Biloxi, that offer 24-hour gaming and entertainment, fine dining and resort amenities like spas and golf

Coastal Mississippi scenes, clockwise from left: The 1,088room IP Casino Resort; playing slots at one of the area’s 12 casinos; Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast

29

IDEAS

courses. Of the dozen casinos, four offer event space that works well for meetings and conferences.

The region’s largest property is the Beau Rivage in Biloxi, an MGM property that has nearly 1,800 guest rooms and 50,000 square feet of meeting space. The Beau Rivage is about to start a renovation of all sleeping rooms.

The IP Casino Resort Spa is a Boyd property that offers 1,088 rooms and 65,000 square feet of meeting space, and the Golden Nugget has 721 guest rooms and 22,000 square feet of meeting space.

The 300-plus-room Hollywood Casino is the smallest of the meeting properties but still offers 14,000 square feet of function space.

Also in Biloxi, the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center has 400,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space and an 8,200-seat arena, and the complex sits directly across the street from the beach. gulfcoast.org

“The glitz and glamor that’s associated with our gaming properties puts you at another level.”

— Karen Conner, Coastal Mississippi

Courtesy Rhythm City Casino

Quad Cities experiences, clockwise from left: A table game at Isle Casino; Ruthie’s Steaks and Seafood at Rhythm City Casino Resort; the Rhythm City gaming floor

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Courtesy Isle Casino

Courtesy Rhythm City Casino

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QUAD CITIES, IOWA/ILLINOIS

Four cities, three casinos, one massive river: In 2016, all the Quad Cities casinos that straddle the Iowa-Illinois state line moved off the Mississippi River and onto land. The dramatic shift saw the casinos pour millions into brand-new hotels and land-based gaming resorts, which meant more amenities and event space for meeting planners.

“We were really the first in the U.S. to kick off this whole riverboat gaming experience,” said Dave Herrell, president and CEO of Visit Quad Cities. “That was something we started, and now that’s transitioned to a land-based experience.”

The area is going through another big transition as Iowa’s largest hotel, the Isle Casino Hotel, transforms to a Caesars property. The 509-room hotel property sits on the banks of the river and offers over 40,000 square feet of event space between the Isle and the connected Quad-Cities Waterfront Convention Center. The other Iowa-side casino, the Rhythm City Casino Resort, has 106 guest rooms and 16,000 square feet of meeting space.

The former Jumer’s Casino in Rock Island, the only casino on the Illinois side, began a propertywide rebrand in September as Bally’s Quad Cities Casino and Hotel. The 205-guest-room Bally’s has a 7,400-squarefoot event center.

“There’s a lot of capital investment going into those three,” Herrell said. Caesars is investing in upgrades, while sports wagering, legalized by both states in 2019, will offer new gaming experiences. visitquadcities.com

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HENDERSON, NEVADA

Las Vegas is arguably the most famous gaming destination in the world. And right next door is its sister city of Henderson, Nevada, a smaller, quieter burg southeast of Sin City that offers its own elegant casino resorts and shuttles that run guests to the Strip.

“The Las Vegas Strip is so close, but you get to keep your group together for networking purposes,” said Ed Kirby, national sales executive with Visit Henderson.

The M Resort is on the Strip, but it has a Henderson address. The resort boasts 390 guest rooms and nearly 90,000 square feet of meeting and event space.

In addition to 92,000 square feet of gaming, the M offers several restaurants, a spa and a 100,000-squarefoot pool area with two infinity-edge pools.

The Green Valley Ranch Resort sprawls over several acres just about 10 miles from the Strip. The property completed a remodel about three years ago that redid the lobby — including a new lobby bar — updated all 65,000 square feet of meeting space and refreshed the 495 guest rooms. Guests can dine at the resort’s eight restaurants or mingle at a number of bars and lounges.

Henderson scenes, clockwise from left: A meeting space at Green Valley Ranch resort; a golf course on Lake Las Vegas; a garden hideaway at Hilton Lake Las Vegas

Photos courtesy Visit Henderson

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December 2021

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IDEAS

WESTIN LAKE LAS VEGAS IN HENDERSON

Meeting attendees will also find nine golf courses in the area, 180 miles of trails and water sports like paddleboarding, kayaking and an inflatable obstacle course on Henderson’s Lake Las Vegas. visithendersonnv.com

NORTHERN INDIANA

Courtesy Visit Henderson

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Two casinos in northern Indiana offer meeting spaces — or will soon — and are located close to the region’s other popular attractions, like Amish country, Indiana Dunes National Park and the University of Notre Dame.

In South Bend, the Four Winds Casino opened in January 2018 just minutes away from Notre Dame and a short drive from Amish country. The casino offers gaming, live music, bars and restaurants, including a steakhouse and a buffet. An expansion of the 4-year-old casino already underway includes a new 23-story hotel tower with 317 rooms. The project will also add a spa, a convention area, meeting space, a ballroom, a lounge, a bar and grille and a

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rooftop swimming pool. Construction is expected to be completed in early 2023.

Thirty miles west of South Bend, Michigan City sits on the shores of Lake Michigan, just barely below the Michigan state border and only a short drive to Indiana Dunes National Park. There, the recently renovated Blue Chip offers four event spaces, ranging from the 20,000-square-foot Stardust Event Center — which can be used for concerts or conferences — to a 3,400-square-foot ballroom. The casino expanded its meeting space in October 2019 with the 11,000-square-foot Fremont Ballroom and 3,800 square feet of prefunction space. Guests can stay in either the 22-story Spa Blu Tower, with over 300 guest rooms, or the Blue Chip Tower, with 486 guest rooms. In addition to the 24-hour casino, the resort offers restaurants, entertainment and Spa Blu. indianascoolnorth.com

Scenes from Blue Chip Casino in Northern Indiana, clockwise from left: After-meeting entertainment; the casino entrance at dusk; the view from a slot machine

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The recently renovated Blue Chip offers four event spaces, ranging from the 20,000-square-foot Stardust Event Center — which can be used for concerts or conferences — to a 3,400-square-foot ballroom.

Photos courtesy N. Indiana TDC

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

IDEAS

Courtesy U.S. Space and Rocket Center

WHEELS UP! Air and space museums add inspiration to events

T

BY RACHEL CRICK

he skies and stars have always captivated our minds and awakened our imaginations. To bring that same energy into meetings and conferences, meeting planners should consider air and space museums as venues.

These museums around the country provide exciting, educational backdrops to meetings and allow attendees to learn about some of the most fascinating and mysterious topics in modern science and technology. Whether they focus on the history of air travel or the farthest reaches of outer space, these museums give meeting planners the chance to incorporate a sense of wonder, excitement and innovation inherent to exploring the final frontier.

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U.S. SPACE AND ROCKET CENTER

HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA The U.S. Space and Rocket Center opened in 1970 in Huntsville, Alabama. It was in this once unassuming town that some of the first American rockets were developed and history was made in the race to explore space. Now, this museum boasts one of the largest collections of space and rocket memorabilia in the world. The museum includes a range of exhibits centered on America’s efforts to explore space, both past and present. The museum is home to “lots of history here but also lots of work in the future of space exploration,” said Patricia Ammons, senior director of communications at the center.

Meeting attendees can enjoy admission to the museum, where they can see the its impressive Saturn V rocket, a National Historic Landmark, as well as a moon rock and the original Apollo 16 capsule that went to the moon. The museum features interactive exhibits such as the “Science on Orbit” exhibit, which operates as a model for the International Space Station, and a world-class planetarium that lets meeting attendees see the stars in high definition.

Above: Groups can meet beneath a historic Saturn V rocket at Huntsville’s U.S. Space and Rocket Center.

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The U.S. Space and Rocket Center boasts one of the largest collections of space and rocket memorabilia in the world.

The museum includes a range of exhibits centered on America’s efforts to explore space, both past and present.

Due to the center’s popular Space Camp in the summer, planners will have the best success booking meetings in the spring, fall and winter months. For daytime meetings, an on-site education training facility offers an auditorium that seats 128 and a classroom that seats 70. The museum is available to rent out after hours for everything from team-building exercises to dinners. The museum can rent its National Geographic Theater, which seats 300, and the Saturn V Hall offers standing room for up to 1,000 attendees. The center’s in-house catering can provide plated dinners for up to 800. rocketcenter.com

TELLUS SCIENCE MUSEUM

CARTERSVILLE, GEORGIA The Tellus Science Museum opened in 2009 as an expansion of the Weinman Mineral Museum. The 120,000-square-foot museum features four permanent exhibits and several rotating exhibits that explore

Photos courtesy Tellus Science Museum

December 2021

Tellus Science Museum scenes, clockwise from left: A private meeting room; dinner with a dinosaur; a lobby banquet

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IDEAS

A BANQUET AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE U.S. AIR FORCE IN DAYTON

Courtesy NMUSAF

various aspects of the natural sciences, such as fossils and minerals. The museum also offers plenty to those interested in learning about the solar system, such as the planetarium and an observatory with a 20-inch-diameter telescope. Interactive exhibits allow guests of all ages to get their hands dirty, whether they’re mining for gems, panning for fossils or peeking at the stars.

“We want to inspire people and ignite a spark about science,” said Shelly Redd, director of marketing for the museum.

The museum is available to be rented after hours. Planners can choose from a variety of spaces: a great hall, one of the museum’s exhibit galleries, a theater seating 220 and a banquet room. Meeting attendees can explore the museum and enjoy its interactive exhibits or watch a planetarium show.

In-house catering and bar service are offered for events with fewer than 100 attendees; the museum also offers an approved catering list for events with as many as 700 attendees. tellusmuseum.org

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The 120,000-squarefoot Tellus Science Museum features four permanent exhibits and several rotating exhibits that explore various aspects of the natural sciences, such as fossils and minerals.

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NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE U.S. AIR FORCE

DAYTON, OHIO The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is the world’s largest military aviation museum and is dedicated to educating the public about the role of the U.S. Air Force in the country’s national defense.

The museum first opened in 1923, but the facility has changed location and undergone many renovations in its long history. Its current location opened in 2016 and is known for its efficient and environmentally friendly design. The museum’s exhibits teach about the Air Force’s contribution to aviation research and technology, space and national defense. Many artifacts, such as vintage aircrafts and missiles from U.S. military history, are on display, making the museum a gem for history and aviation enthusiasts alike.

The museum offers 10 different spaces to accommodate meetings of various sizes, from a boardroom

HISTORIC AIRCRAFT AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE U.S. AIR FORCE Courtesy NMUSAF

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that seats 30 to a hall that seats up to 1,200. Classrooms, theaters and individual galleries are also available for presentations, team-building exercises and trainings. The museum offers facility rentals during the day and after hours, depending on the meeting space, and can coordinate additional activities for the meeting attendees, such as scavenger hunts, movie screenings, museum tours and simulators. The museum offers an approved list of caterers that can provide a variety of foods and beverages, depending on the style of meeting. afmuseum.com

COSMOSPHERE

HUTCHINSON, KANSAS The Cosmosphere opened in 1980 as a space and science center dedicated to displaying and honoring the history of space exploration. Inspiration for the museum came from one of the first public planetariums in the Midwest. Today, the museum has one of

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the largest collections of Russian space artifacts outside of Moscow. Some of its most famous artifacts include flown capsules from the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo missions, as well as some personal effects of astronauts. The lobby boasts a vintage spy plane known as an SR-71 for museum guests to see during their visit. The museum is the only Smithsonian affiliate in Kansas.

“We are a truly unique Midwestern destination,” said Maria Kelson, public relations and volunteer coordinator at the Cosmosphere.

Planners seeking an interactive space for their meeting attendees need look no further than the Cosmosphere. Activities uniquely tailored to group needs, such as space camp for adults and simulated missions, make exciting and educational team-building exercises. Shows and events in the dome theater or planetarium are offered at discounted rates. Meeting spaces in the museum range from a boardroom that seats 18 to larger spaces

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Some of Cosmosphere's most famous artifacts include flown capsules from the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo missions, as well as some personal effects of astronauts. The lobby boasts a vintage spy plane known as an SR-71 for museum guests to see during their visit.

group Bison Ranch Tours

Cosmosphere scenes, clockwise from left: An “Everything Under the Stars” celebration; a Grand Lobby presentation; a space-themed facility rental

Gillette, Wyoming's CAM-PLEX Multi-Event Facilities can facilitate any size meeting, conference, convention, rally . . . or herd.

After the meetings . . . group coal mine tours

Photos courtesy Cosmosphere

haunted & historical

walking tours

70+ restaurants

just an hour from

devils tower

craft brewery & meadery

DAILY jet service TO AND FROM DENVER

Plan your most unique event ever at

December 2021

43

IDEAS

such as the banquet room, which seats about 150.

Planners can reserve individual rooms, or they can rent the whole facility after hours. The Cosmosphere can cater beverages and snacks and will also provide a list of local vendors for meals. cosmo.org

BOEING FUTURE OF FLIGHT MUSEUM

LAKE STICKNEY, WASHINGTON The Boeing Future of Flight Museum is one of the largest private aviation museums in the world and is dedicated to educating museum guests about the history of aviation and Boeing, specifically. The museum, which opened in 2005, offers five exhibit galleries for guests to explore and features hundreds of aircrafts and Boeing products. Designed to encourage excitement about the STEM field, the museum educates guests about the history and production of air travel technology and even allows glimpses of the future of this exciting industry.

Boeing Future of Flight Museum scenes, clockwise from left: A dinner set-up in the Space Gallery; dining with aircraft in the Great Gallery; a historic aircraft pavilion

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Activities at the Cosmosphere are uniquely tailored to group needs, such as space camp for adults and simulated missions, make exciting and educational team-building exercises.

Groups can enjoy shows and events in the dome theater or planetarium.

Photos courtesy Boeing Future of Flight Museum

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

IDEAS

“All of our rooms have views of our airfield and offer experiences you wouldn’t get in a normal meeting space,” said Cindy Messey, private events manager at the museum. “It’s more about the atmosphere and kind of helping inspire people.”

The museum offers 14 spaces that can be rented out for meetings of varied sizes; these include the exhibit galleries, which can be rented out after hours. Other spaces are conference rooms of assorted sizes for smaller meetings, a theater that seats up to 272, the museum’s sky deck and two large banquet spaces. Free admission to the museum on the day of the meeting is offered to attendees, and the museum’s education department can modify activities for groups of all sizes for team-building exercises and breakouts. The museum has an exclusive on-site caterer for meetings of all types. boeingfutureofflight.com

PUT MEANING

“All of our rooms have views of our airfield and offer experiences you wouldn’t get in a normal meeting space. It’s more about the atmosphere and kind of helping inspire people.”

— Cindy Messey, Boeing Future of Flight Museum

Travel with Purpose Across North America.

As travelers, we all want rich, authentic, and meaningful travel experiences. As travel professionals, we want to ensure we use travel as a force for good. Through the

ON THE MAP.

Meaningful Travel Map of North America, visitors can connect to locally owned social and environmental impact experiences and opportunities, unique and hands-on cultural experiences, products, and services.

www.meaningfultravelplatform.org/main/map Pictured: Take a cooking class with The League of Kitchens, to build cross-cultural connection and access to traditional cuisine.

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www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Meet at the crossroads of south Georgia

t hin k tifto nga .c o m Tifton is a small town that makes a big impact on meetings! Our easy-to-get-to location, first class facilities and unique attractions makes us an appealing alternative for conventions and meetings of all sizes and types. Just off I-75, Tifton offers a wide array of unique meeting facilities, countless historic sites, authentic downtown charm, southern cuisine, and affordable lodging.

University of Georgia, Tifton Campus Conference Center With over 95,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space, we will skillfully manage your event from 20 to 2,000 attendees.

Unique Meeting Venues From the Georgia Museum of Agriculture to an array of memorable locations, you’ll find a one-of-a-kind space for your group.

229.382.8700

n o g n i z i l ip ta

Ca

MISSOURI

Groups meeting in Jefferson City can tour the 1917 Missouri State Capitol and on-site history museum.

All photos courtesy Jefferson City CVB

CITY

Jefferson City offers history and accessibility for meeting groups

I

BY ROBIN ROENKER

n the heart of Missouri, Jefferson City shines as the Show-Me State’s capital city. Here meeting attendees can tour the picturesque state Capitol, dive into Missouri history or enjoy a tour of a historic — and supposedly haunted — decommissioned penitentiary.

Situated along the Missouri River, downtown “Jeff City,” as it’s known by locals, boasts an array of unique specialty shops and restaurants, offering groups a great spot to unwind after a meeting day.

The city also features plenty of options for outdoor enthusiasts and arts and culture lovers.

“We’re a pretty wide city east to west, but everything feels like only a 10-minute drive,” said Alexandra Bobbitt, communications manager for the Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“We’re a very accessible city.”

JEFFERSON CITY AT A GLANCE

LOCATION: Central Missouri ACCESS: Kansas City International Airport or St. Louis Lambert International Airport; Interstate 70 HOTEL ROOMS: 1,387 CONTACT INFO: Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau 800-769-4183 visitjeffersoncity.com MEETING HOTELS

Capital Plaza Hotel and Convention Center GUEST ROOMS: 255 MEETING SPACE: 25,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 12,000-square-foot ballroom that can seat 1,425; 20 total meeting rooms DoubleTree by Hilton GUEST ROOMS: 151 MEETING SPACE: 8,152 square feet of meeting space, including the 3,500-square-foot Magnolia ballroom, which can accommodate 100 guests; six meeting rooms Courtyard by Marriott GUEST ROOMS: 121 MEETING SPACE: 6,425 square feet of meeting space that can accommodate groups of up to 150; A/B Meeting Room, which has 2,928 square feet; four event rooms WHO’S MEETING IN JEFFERSON CITY

Missouri Lawyers Swear-In Ceremony ATTENDEES: 900 to 1,000 attendees Missouri Elks Association ATTENDEES: 300 Post Mark Collectors Club ATTENDEES: 40 to 50 attendees

December 2021

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Destination Highlights

N

o visit to Jefferson City would be complete without a tour of Missouri’s stately Capitol, which was completed in 1917. Inside, groups can tour the building’s impressive architecture and explore the state’s rich history via exhibits at the on-site Missouri State Museum.

“It’s beautiful inside,” said Bobbitt. “It’s not only the center of state government, but it’s also a museum of public art.”

Exhibits at the museum give insight on Missouri’s natural and cultural history, including Jefferson City’s role as a busy commerce hub during the days of riverboat shipping.

Nearby, the Missouri Governor’s Mansion, which was built in 1872 and stands as one of the oldest governor’s homes in the U.S., also offers guided tours. Guests can enjoy a walk back in time as they explore the first floor of the historic mansion and its pristine gardens and grounds.

Missouri’s first lady has been known to surprise guests and join the tours from time to time.

“It is one of the few executive residences in the U.S. that is open to the public,” Bobbitt said.

For insight into a different side of Jefferson City’s history, groups of 25 or more can book private tours at the Missouri State Penitentiary, which operated from 1836 until its decommissioning in 2004. Public tours are also available for individuals and smaller groups. Once dubbed “the bloodiest 47 acres in America” by Time magazine because of an array of assaults on its grounds in the 1960s, the notorious penitentiary now offers history tours, photography tours, and ghost and paranormal tours so attendees can focus on the aspect of the now-empty prison that intrigues them most.

DISTINCTIVE VENUES

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Capital Plaza at dusk

DESTINATION HIGHLIGHTS

Missouri Governor’s Mansion

Distinctive Venues

B

eyond the many hotel meeting options, groups can schedule meetings at an array of unique venues in Jefferson City. For example, the Special Olympics Missouri Training for Life Campus, a 16-acre facility that serves athletes with intellectual disabilities, makes its property available for rental. The training center’s state-of-the-art meeting space can be used as one large venue or can be divided into three breakout rooms. Its gym is also available for special occasions rentals. Audiovisual service is provided.

“The multimedia center can only hold up to 40 people, but the facility itself is one of a kind,” said Bobbitt.

Groups can also reserve space at the Center for Soy Innovation, which opened in March 2020 and can comfortably accommodate meetings of up to 60 attendees. The modern, inviting facility includes interactive exhibits that highlight the importance and potential of the Missouri soy industry. Because of the facility’s focus, agriculture-related groups receive priority booking.

For groups looking for an industrial-chic facility for their next gathering, the Millbottom Event Center on West Mill Street offers open spaces that are suitable for weddings, corporate events and meetings. Able to accommodate up to 1,200 people, the spot is an especially popular destination for July 4, since it offers captivating views of Jefferson City’s downtown fireworks display.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Major Meeting Spaces

AFTER HOURS

Missouri State Penitentiary Museum

T

he area’s largest meeting venue can be found at the Capital Plaza Hotel and Convention Center, conveniently located near Jefferson City’s downtown Capitol. The hotel boasts 25,000 square feet of meeting space, 20 meeting rooms and 255 guest rooms. Here, the 12,000-squarefoot ballroom can accommodate up to 1,425 guests in theater-style seating or 900 for round-table dining. Five smaller dedicated breakout rooms comfortably fit groups of 150 or fewer. The facility offers full-service catering, state-of-the-art audiovisual and tech support, and an experienced meeting planning team to help groups create their ideal meeting experience.

The DoubleTree by Hilton, near Jefferson City’s popular High Street, home to many unique local downtown shops and restaurants, can accommodate both midsize and smaller groups in its 8,152 square feet of meeting space and 151 guest rooms. Groups can choose from six meeting rooms here, including a large conference room that can accommodate 500 guests and five smaller rooms for groups of 100 or fewer. The hotel offers audiovisual support, catering and expert meeting planning assistance.

Opened in December 2020, Jefferson City’s new Courtyard by Marriott features 121 guest rooms and 6,425 square feet of meeting space, including a 2,829-square-foot meeting room that can accommodate groups of up to 150. Its four event rooms include access to audiovisual equipment and high-speed internet access.

The Holiday Inn and Suites Jefferson City features 1,933 square feet of meeting space broken into three dedicated meeting rooms. Its largest room can comfortably serve 228 attendees. Audiovisual equipment and business essentials, including teleconferencing equipment, whiteboards and LCD projectors, are available in each room.

MAJOR MEETING SPACES

December 2021

Courtyard by Marriott

After the Meeting

T

here’s no shortage of fun to explore after meetings in Jefferson City. Outdoor lovers will want to visit Katy Trail State Park, the longest converted rail-trail in the country. The trail, a wonderful spot for hiking or biking, stretches 225 miles between St. Charles and Clinton, and includes a trailhead in Jefferson City.

The Runge Conservation Nature Center in Jefferson City is another great spot to get outdoors, thanks to its five hiking trails; together, they make a 2.4-mile loop through samples of natural habitats found in Missouri, including woodlands, prairies, glades and streams.

Art aficionados can happily while away a few hours at the Jefferson City Museum of Modern Art, home to both rotating and permanent exhibitions of contemporary art. Meanwhile, live entertainment is easy to find most nights at the Mission, a popular live music venue on East High Street in operation since 2009.

When hunger strikes, Jefferson City offers an array of local dining options, such as longtime favorites Madison’s Café, Arris’ Pizza and, for dessert, Central Dairy, which has been serving up ice cream in downtown for decades.

High Street, in the city’s downtown, is home to an array of unique shops, from comic-book stores and art galleries to high-end boutiques.

Visitors can stop in at Capital City Cork and Board on High Street to end their shopping spree on a fun note. This board game shop offers more than 150 games to play while enjoying a small bite or a drink from the rotating cocktail, beer and wine list. Bar Vino on West High Street is another great spot to grab a glass of white or red for a post-meeting or post-shopping nightcap.

For a memorable adventure, visitors who are brave enough can book a fivehour or eight-hour overnight paranormal tour at the Missouri Penitentiary.

Attendees will roam the halls of the empty former prison looking for signs of lingering spirits. Ghost hunting equipment can be checked out on-site. Tickets are $75 to $100 per person and only available to guests 18 and older.

“Even on days when the penitentiary is not offering a tour, visitors can enjoy the museum across the street in the Colonel Marmaduke House, which served as the warden’s residence,” said Bobbitt. “If you love history, or if you love the paranormal, it’s got lots of great artifacts and memorabilia from the prison.”

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TOWN

a i g r Geo

A SOUTHWEST

SONG

BY JILL GLEESON

A

s comfortable and cozy as a song from its most celebrated native son, Albany perches prettily on the banks of the Flint River in southwest Georgia. Its waterside locale means there are plenty of outdoor activities available to visitors and residents alike, but just as impressive is Albany’s array of cultural institutions.

Probably best known as the birthplace of musical legend Ray Charles, this delightful burg of 73,000 proudly offers meeting attendees more to do than many cities twice its size. And it all comes presented with the kind of genuine friendliness that the South does best.

“We have all of the attractions and amenities that you would find in a big city,” said Rashelle Minix, executive director of the Albany Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We’re just a little slower paced. But we do have an aquarium, we have a zoo, we have a science discovery center, we have a symphony that has a full season, so we have just about everything. And we roll out the red carpet of Southern hospitality so that everyone leaves here wanting to come back.”

That hospitality includes helping meeting planners execute a “progressive reception” that includes a stop at the Albany Welcome Center, home to the CVB’s office. After a charcuterie and wine reception there, the evening typically continues with dinner at Flint RiverQuarium, and dessert and coffee at the Thronateeska Heritage Center and the Wetherbee Planetarium and Science Museum.

“We try really hard to make meeting groups happy,” said Minix. “We pull out all the stops.”

All photos courtesy Albany CVB

INSIDE ALBANY’S HILTON GARDEN INN

By Scantner Photography

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www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Albany Civic Center

Boasting an arena that seats more than 10,000, the Albany Civic Center is a great venue for larger conventions, but that’s not the only type of meeting it’s well equipped to host.

“With 6,000 square feet of unique meeting space, the Albany Civic Center has the perfect place to make your moment shine,” said Josh Small, general manager of the Flint River Entertainment Complex. “It’s a perfect fit for any organization’s next off-site strategic-planning meeting, team-building retreat, training seminar and more.”

The Civic Center offers four meeting rooms that can be combined to hold 256 banquet style, 192 classroom style and 800 for a reception. On-site catering is available, along with audiovisual amenities that include a sound system, a projector and a screen.

LOCATED JUST OUTSIDE ALBANY, MERRY ACRES INN OFFERS A CHARMING LOCATION FOR PARTIES OF UP TO 250 GUESTS.

ALBANY GEORGIA

“We have all of the attractions and amenities that you would find in a big city; we’re just a little slower paced.”

— Rashelle Minix, Albany Convention and Visitors Bureau

A MINIATURE RAY CHARLES STATUE AT THE ALBANY WELCOME CENTER

LOCATION

Southwest Georgia

ACCESS

Approximately 30 minutes off Interstate 75; Southwest Georgia Regional Airport

MAJOR MEETING SPACES

Hilton Garden Inn and Conference Center, Merry Acres Inn and Event Center, Albany Civic Center

HOTEL ROOMS

233 rooms in convention district

OFF-SITE VENUES

Creekside Education Center at Chehaw Park and Zoo, Flint RiverQuarium, Pretoria Fields Brewery, Thronateeska Heritage Center and Discovery Science Center

CONTACT INFO

Albany Convention and Visitors Bureau 229-317-4760 visitalbanyga.com

December 2021

53

TOWN

Albany

ALBANY WELCOME CENTER

Major Meeting Hotels The city’s major meeting hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn Albany, is conveniently located steps from the Albany Civic Center and across the street from Ray Charles Plaza, home to an impressive, full-size sculpture of the soul music giant. The property offers 122 guest rooms and 13,000 square feet of exhibit space. There is room to seat up to 500 banquet style, or 600 for a reception, and on-site catering is available.

For planners that would like to set up outside downtown, the charming Merry Acres Inn and Event Center is tucked away about three miles from the welcome center. Mercedes Sprinter vans are available to shuttle guests to and from the hotel and the center of the city, and there is on-site catering available for banquets of up to 250 and receptions for as many as 450. Merry Acres features 110 guest rooms, seven meeting rooms and 5,000 square feet of exhibit space.

Unique Venue While Albany is blessed with a wide range of unusual venues, there is none quite like Chehaw Park and Zoo. “The zoo is home to over 234 specimens representing over 73 different species and offers the perfect activity for guests to break away from the corporate grind,” said Morgan Burnette, the institution’s director. “They can enjoy natural, outdoor exhibits, including cheetahs, black rhinos, meerkats, black bears and alligators.”

The Creekside Center, the zoo’s 5,000-square-foot meeting venue, can be split in half or can seat a total of 200 theater, banquet and classroom style, or it can host 350 reception style. On-site catering and audiovisual amenities are available.

RESTART YOUR MARKETING TO MEETING PLANNERS IN 2022 WITH THE FIRST ISSUES OF THE YEAR JANUARY Booking Better Speakers Meetings Resorts The Heartlands

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CONTACT KYLE ANDERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION ON DISCOUNTS OF PRINT & DIGITAL PACKAGES GTL-ADVERTISING.COM 866.356.5128 KYLE@SMALLMARKETMEETINGS.COM

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www.smallmarketmeetings.com

MARYLAND THEATRE JAMES GRAY CIVIC CENTER

ENJOYING AN ALBANY MICROBREWERY

CHEEHAW PARK

By H3 Photography

After-Meeting Attractions

By Kayla Day

Group members who would like to stretch their limbs in the off-hours will find plenty of ways to do so just steps from their meeting. Getting out on the bucolic Flint River is a must, with local outfitters Up the Creek and Kayak Attack both renting kayaks and canoes. If pedaling sounds more attractive than paddling, the welcome center rents bikes for attendees to take on the city’s paved path. Afterward, independent brewery Pretoria Fields awaits, with a fine selection of beers and hard seltzers. Meeting rooms are also available on-site.

Meet with us in Albany, GA...

Discover something different. A meeting destination that's a little quieter, a bit more friendly and flexible - and a lot more affordable!

Take a detour from the unexpected.

Over 25 Unique & Traditional Venues Over 1,200 hotel guest rooms 200 plus restaurants Free planning services with our staff

www.visitalbanyga.com

December 2021

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HOTEL

Striking Gold in Deadwood

C

BY KRISTY ALPERT

olonel George Custer and his expedition first confirmed the presence of gold in South Dakota’s Black Hills in 1874. The elusive treasure hidden among the pine-covered hills and in the sparkling streams and rivers attracted people from all over, and it was those same stunning backdrops and that same abundant space for gathering that inspired many of those travelers, among them notable figures like Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane, to set up roots and establish the town of Deadwood just two years after that fateful discovery.

Today, the entire town is a National Historic Landmark; there, Wild West re-enactments, gaming halls and world-class breweries and wineries keep the spirit of the Wild West alive and fun. The town is riddled with hidden gems, like the Chubby Chipmunk’s handdipped chocolates and Berg Jewelry and Gifts’ golden bangles. A bit farther out of town, meeting groups can find one of Deadwood’s most treasured establishments. The Lodge at Deadwood marries a modern approach with an authentically Western sensibility, offering Tesla charging stations alongside trolley drop-off/pickup points.

There are 140 rooms and suites spread throughout the hotel that connect seamlessly to two award-winning on-site restaurants, an indoor water park and a Las Vegas-style casino. The casino is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is home to the largest table games area in town as well as more than 280 slot machines.

Family-friendly fun is what the lodge does best, and the staff is eager to ensure that each guest is treated with Black Hills hospitality. Seven dedicated meeting spaces create the backdrop for memorable events and celebrations. Guests are encouraged to explore the Greater Deadwood area by trolley or soak in the million-dollar views before ending the day cozied up in front of a roaring fireplace. Visitors can enjoy a drink with new friends or just relax with co-workers and allow the charm of this cozy South Dakota lodge to do the rest.

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Photos courtesy The Lodge at Deadwood

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

M E E T I N G S PAC E S

THE LODGE AT DEADWOOD’S DECOR BLENDS SEAMLESSLY WITH THE RUGGED BEAUTY OF THE BLACK HILLS.

The Lodge at Deadwood has a full-service convention center on-site that can service a meeting with as few as 10 guests or as many as 1,400 guests. The Pine Crest Ballroom is the largest space for events; its 14-foot ceilings bring a dramatic touch to the expansive space for up to 1,400 guests, and dividers are available to split the room into four different sections: A, B, C and D, each with a maximum capacity of 250 guests. Four smaller rooms — the Cody, the Russell, the Bullock and the Roosevelt — are located off the ballroom floor and can accommodate up to 50 guests each, and the boardroom can accommodate meetings of up to 10 guests.

C AT E R I N G The lodge’s full-service catering department crafts custom menus and creative dining options for guests looking to serve something delicious to their meetings and events. Breakfast buffets are reminiscent of an Old West meal, with scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon and an option of pancakes, biscuits or caramel rolls. Snack breaks are available throughout the day, and lunches can be served plated or buffet style. The lodge’s grand displays of hors d’oeuvres are legendary, with artisan dips or smoked salmon.

Dinners are an event, and favorite entrees include bacon-wrapped pork chops and lodge roast beef. Alcohol is available.

EXTRAS

HOTEL FACTS THE DEADWOOD GRILLE

LOCATION

Deadwood, South Dakota

Groups have access to complimentary wireless high-speed internet throughout their time at the lodge, as well as audiovisual equipment and automated wall screens. The Pine Crest Ballroom features garage doors that make staging a breeze. Airport shuttles make it easy for guests to get to the property, where they’re greeted with 24-hour food service and a bounty of entertainment options. The lodge is home to Deadwood’s largest gaming floor with slots, blackjack tables, sports betting and craps. The property also features two restaurants on-site: Oggie’s sports bar and the Deadwood Grille, which offers casual fine dining for guests and visitors.

SIZE

140 guest rooms and suites

BEFORE AND AFTER

MEETING SPACE

More than 20,000 square feet

ACCESS

Located one hour from Rapid City Regional Airport

CONTACT INFO

877-393-5634 deadwoodlodge.com

December 2021

There are many things to do in the area in guests’ free time, whether that’s before or after meetings. Taking to the trails on a lengthy day hike is a favorite for many guests, and fishing in the Black Hills is a timeless experience. There’s a golf course just five minutes from the lodge, and all-terrain vehicle rentals are available just off the property. In the winter, a fresh snow can become the base for snowmobiling or ski adventures at the Terry Peak Ski Area. History buffs will enjoy downtown Deadwood, or they can venture out for an hourlong drive to explore Mount Rushmore.

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VENUE

BRIDGEPORT’S DISCOVERY SCIENCE CENTER AND PLANETARIUM OFFERS A STEM-RICH ENVIRONMENT FOR EVENTS.

A PLACE FOR DISCOVERY

I

n 1958, the Sacred Heart University Discovery Science Center and Planetarium was merely a dream, a dream that included creating hands-on experiences and exhibits that would encourage questions and problem-solving in young learners. The dream became a reality in 1962 when the center opened as the Museum of Art, Science and Industry, better known at the time by the acronym MASI. Over the years, the center turned its focus toward the sciences, adding award-winning science programming to its offerings. Although it continued to showcase local artists through a series of on-site galleries, the center quickly became known for its creative and interactive offerings in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM).

The center closed its doors during the pandemic, offering virtual activities for guests, while it underwent a massive renovation and rebranding, and the center became an extension of the Sacred Heart University located down the road from the museum. The state-funded upgrade allowed the museum to focus its attention wholly on programming and the exhibits offered throughout, and it also brought on the addition of a new digital full-dome planetarium that features a 33-foot-diameter dome and a dual-projector 4K laser projection sys-

58

BY KRISTY ALPERT

tem. The center reopened to the public in September, debuting its manicured landscaping, advanced technology and lightning-fast internet speeds to a group of eager meeting guests excited to gather within these inspiring halls.

The center is available for meetings, events and celebrations of all kinds; groups can rent any of the onsite dedicated meeting rooms or even book the gallery space outside the Henry B. duPont III Planetarium.

Guests can explore the center by day or during events, taking part in the hands-on activities, interactive exhibits and daily programming that’s available to all visitors, before gathering for cocktails with co-workers among a 4-foot sphere with the company name or logo projected on it and then heading in for a private planetarium show with custom music. All three floors of the center are available for meeting guests. A variety of STEM exhibits keep things exciting for guests of all ages throughout their time at the center.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

M E E T I N G S PA C E S The meeting spaces at the Sacred Heart University Discovery Science Center and Planetarium range from a dining court in a two-story glass room for up to 75 guests to a 4K theater for up to 70 guests that’s fantastic for presentations.

The STEAM Gallery, for up to 75 guests, showcases artwork throughout the year and can be combined with the dining court for a maximum capacity of be-

tween 150 and 200 guests. On the lower level, which holds up to 50 guests and is located just outside the planetarium, a 4-foot sphere offers a variety of options for custom projections that range from the Death Star from “Star Wars” to custom logos. There are also five classrooms that hold up to 30 guests each for smaller groups or breakout sessions.

C AT E R I N G

The Sacred Heart University Discovery Science Center and Planetarium partners directly with local favorite Fortuna’s Catering to stun guests with delicious food that ranges from simple fare to gala-worthy spreads. Baked brie tarts with seasonal jam and bacon-wrapped dates are popular appetizers, and roast-

ed grape-and-cider pork loin and almond-crusted scrod regularly wow dinner guests. Menus range from brunch to breakout session snacks, and alcohol is allowed as long as it is after the center’s open hours and the caterer or person in charge of the bar has a valid license to serve alcohol.

A METEOROLOGY EXHIBIT Photos courtesy Discovery Science Center

V E N U E FA C T S

DISCOVERY SCIENCE CENTER AND PLANETARIUM LOCATION

EXTRAS

Each event held within the Sacred Heart University Discovery Science Center and Planetarium is unique: Even the most minute details can be customized.

Groups can select music to accompany their evening celebrations or pop their custom logos on a 4-foot sphere for a special touch that always wows guests.

The center’s events team can help plan mediated activities for team building for both adults and children. Options include the Escape Room, where guests have to figure out STEM clues to escape from the shuttle room, and the Great Rocket Challenge, where groups compete to design and build their own rockets.

Bridgeport, Connecticut

TYPE OF VENUE

Off-site, science center

CAPACITY

More than 200 guests

ASTRONOMY ART ON DISPLAY AT THE SCIENCE CENTER

December 2021

NEARBY ACCOMMODATIONS Inn at Fairfield Beach

CONTACT INFO 203-416-3521 shudiscovery.org

BEFORE AND AFTER

The entire center is open for meeting guests during events. All three floors are filled with STEAM activities to delight and entertain guests. Guests can try building a rocket or a paper airplane and then launch their creations with powered launchers upstairs in “Science of Flight.” Or they can get hands-on with

a topography sand box, where they can create canyons and rivers with toy shovels and make it rain in “The Earth and Us” gallery. A favorite for many guests is to create a universe or a black hole or even trigger the big bang on the stellar playground in the “Hall of Space.”

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PINE RIDGE DUDE RANCH OFFERS A RUSTIC MOUNTAIN SITE FOR MEETINGS ABOUT TWO HOUR’S DRIVE FROM NEW YORK CITY.

New York Guest Ranches

Meetdieng Gui

Courtesy Pine Ridge Dude Ranch

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

W

hen you think of dude ranches and trail rides, you may picture destinations in the American West. But New York state is home to some of the oldest dude and guest ranches in the country. Meeting groups that want to get away from it all should look no further than this selection of guest ranches that offer a natural respite from hectic lives and that are within driving distance of some of the state’s most popular urban centers. Attendees can learn how to ride horses or just enjoy a cowboy sing-along around a crackling campfire.

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PINE RIDGE DUDE RANCH

Kerhonkson About a two-hour drive from New York City, the Pine Ridge Dude Ranch sits between the Shawangunk Mountains on one side and the Catskills on the other. The property recently underwent a $3 million renovation that spruced up its 100-plus guest rooms, and it wouldn’t be a dude ranch without a stable full of premium horses.

There are 60 horses on property, including quarter horses, Thoroughbreds, Appaloosas, Paints, Percherons, Clydesdales, Haflingers, Icelandics, Morgans and Arabians. All-inclusive guests get one free horseback ride per person, and trail rides include relaxing walk-only rides, walks, trots and canter rides with experienced wranglers.

The trail rides wander through the woods and around the ranch’s private lake. For guests who are not comfortable getting on horseback, the ranch offers carriage rides that follow the same trail as the horses.

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The ranch has indoor and outdoor pools with waterslides, a 20-foot climbing wall, archery, fishing, a petting zoo, a bounce pillow, paddleboats, mini golf, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, bocce ball and other games. There is entertainment every night, as well as numerous team-building exercises from which to choose, among them scavenger hunts, archery, water balloon battles, rock climbing and derby races. In pure dude-ranch fashion, guests can join in a campfire sing-along as they roast marshmallows and make s’mores.

The ranch has plenty of meeting spaces for small to midsize groups, including rooms that can hold 40, 80 and 200 people theater style, and the stone patio makes an excellent location for a cocktail reception. pineridgeduderanch.com

ROCKING HORSE RANCH RESORT

Highland Nestled in the middle of the Hudson Valley, 90 minutes outside New York City, Rocking Horse Ranch has been a family-owned business since its founding in 1958. The son of the original owners took over the property in 2002 and has expanded and updated the 500-acre ranch.

The all-inclusive 113-room resort makes it easy for meeting groups to host their events, feed their attendees and plan extracurricular activities for them because all meals and equipment rentals are included in the price.

With 115 horses, it isn’t hard to plan a group trail ride, and the property is so large it has plenty of trails to follow. Attendees who want to bring their families along will be happy to know that entertainment on-site caters to all ages. In the summer, there is an outdoor water park with a large pool, a kids’ pool and two large waterslides next to the resort’s private lake. There is also an oversized indoor/outdoor hot tub. The lake has canoes, paddleboats, kayaks and a banana boat for the more adventurous guests, along with laser tag, a shooting gallery and archery range, an arcade, a climbing wall, miniature golf and mountain tubing.

In the winter, the resort offers snowtubing, skiing and ice skating. All the necessary equipment is included. Family-friendly entertainment features performances by magicians, comedians and musicians. The staff also plans group activities like bingo, Family Feud and Name That Tune.

The property has flexible group meeting spaces that can host events of 20 to 250 people, with breakout rooms available. The resort’s largest space is the Silverado Saloon, which can hold 250 people seated. The resort’s activities team can create a custom schedule for meeting attendees with team-building activities and competitions. rockinghorseranch.com

A FAMILY TRAIL RIDE AT ROCKING HORSE RANCH RESORT

THE ROCKING HORSE RANCH RESORT ENTRANCE

Photos courtesy Rocking Horse Ranch Resort

December 2021

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Meetieng Guid

1000 ACRES RANCH

A ROPING DEMONSTRATION AT 1000 ACRES RANCH

Courtesy 1000 Acres Ranch

ROARING BROOK RANCH RESORT

Stony Creek The 1000 Acres Ranch has been around since 1942. On the banks of the Hudson River in Stony Creek, which is known as the Biggest Little Town in New York State, it sits in the southwest corner of Adirondack Park. The ranch gives guests the ultimate dude ranch experience, with miles of reclaimed trails to explore along streams, lakes, rivers and mountains.

Beginning riders can take lessons or participate in easy walk-only rides, while more experienced riders can wade across the Hudson River as they traverse more rugged trails through the park. Cattle sorting is a horseback-riding opportunity not found anywhere else in the state. Guests learn how to sort cattle by moving them around obstacles and sorting them by color or number into the proper pens.

For more leisurely activities, the ranch offers a trail ride with a stopover for lunch in Stony Creek.

If horseback riding isn’t your thing, the ranch features two outdoor and one indoor swimming pool, hiking trails, movies in the theater, basketball, volleyball, badminton, bocce ball, horseshoes, cornhole, fishing, campfires and more. For an additional fee, guests can kayak or tube down the Hudson River, get a massage, play billiards, participate in a paint-and-sip event or visit the arcade. For team building, the ranch offers scavenger hunts, land navigation hikes, raft building and other competitions, like pingpong or darts.

Accommodations include lodge rooms and small cabins, and the ranch has some beautiful rustic indoor spaces that can accommodate smaller corporate events, receptions, church groups, reunions and weddings of up to 75 people. There are indoor, uncovered outdoor and covered outdoor spaces available for groups. Guests enjoy three meals a day included with their lodge fee.

Meeting attendees who want to get off property have numerous options. The ranch is about 30 miles from Glens Falls and Saratoga Springs and about 20 miles from Lake George and the Gore Mountain Ski Area.

1000acres.com

ROARING BROOK RANCH RESORT

Lake George About two miles from the center of Lake George Village and eight miles from Prospect Mountain, the newly renovated Roaring Brook Ranch Resort is an excellent destination for groups of up to 700. Roaring Brook got its start as a dude ranch and evolved into a tennis resort. With the addition of a 17,000-square-foot conference center, Roaring Brook has become not only a vacation destination but an attractive destination for corporate meetings, conferences, banquets, reunions and weddings.

The resort has plenty of activities to keep meeting attendees happy in their down time, including indoor and outdoor pools, hiking trails, tennis, volleyball and basketball courts, pingpong, pool tables and horseshoes. On Saturday nights, guests can watch a movie together, and every evening there is a bonfire where guests can roast marshmallows and make s’mores.

Courtesy Roaring Brook Ranch Resort

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Meetieng Guid Horseback riding at the resort is seasonal, from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Guests ages 10 and up can participate in rides that fit their skill levels. The ranch has miles of scenic trails that meander under the watchful eye of Prospect Mountain, and experienced horse wranglers are always on hand to help guests pick the right horse for their size and ability. For younger children, the ranch offers pony rides and an equestrian experience.

There are three restaurants on-site, including Kebab Chi, which offers guests a plethora of grilled foods, drinks and music served under the stars on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Oak Tree Café serves breakfast, and the Paddock Restaurant serves dinner on the weekends.

The resort is a terrific location for executive meetings, team building, seminars and corporate retreats, with plenty of flexible indoor spaces from which to choose; there is also a beautiful outdoor space with stunning views of the mountain for a reception or event. The staff at the resort will design the best experience for its meeting groups based on their unique goals and needs, including team-building adventures to keep the group engaged. If wellness is your group’s forte, they can participate in yoga, Reiki or massage. roaringbrookranch.com

ESTATE AT FLY CREEK

A ROARING BROOK EQUESTRIAN EXPERIENCE Courtesy Roaring Brook Ranch Resort

Fly Creek Estate at Fly Creek is situated on 335 acres about seven miles from the Village of Cooperstown, home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, and 10 miles from Cooperstown Dreams Park.

It has a 5-acre spring-fed pond on property that is great for kayaking and paddleboarding, as well as trails for hiking or horseback riding.

The 9,000-square-foot vacation home has eight bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, two kitchens, a bar bistro, a formal living room, a media room, an indoor pool and a steam room. Groups can also take advantage of the regulation-size tennis and basketball courts.

The home can lodge 22 guests at a time and has plenty of space for small retreats, meetings or executive get-togethers.

To rent the entire house, groups must book a three-day minimum stay. The property is a 10-minute drive from Otsego Lake, where visitors can swim or rent boats during the summer months.

In the winter, the property links up with 75 miles of snowmobile trails. There are also plenty of places to hunt, fish and mountain bike.

The area has a wine trail and a brewery trail that just opened last year, where guests can visit a variety of local establishments for a sip of locally made wines and beers. Travelers can also book a rail bike trip through Rail Explorers, which offers a 12-mile scenic tour along the Susquehanna River that takes guests past farms and forests. The rail bikes offer electric pedal assist for an easier journey. estateatflycreek.com

ESTATE AT FLY CREEK Courtesy Estate at Fly Creek

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WHERE

People AND

e r u t a N PHOTO: Anmol Bohra

MEET.

Don’t just organize a meeting. Plan an experience.

Take your meeting location to the next level with a gathering in Ithaca, NY. Contact Lisa to learn more: Lisa@Visitithaca.com | IthacaMeetings.com

2022 SMALL MARKET MEETINGS INDUSTRY DIRECTORY ARKANSAS

GEORGIA

ILLINOIS

LOUISIANA

LouisianaNorthshore.com

ARKANSAS STATE PARKS 1 Capitol Mall Little Rock, AR 72201 501-682-1191 ASP Staff parks.info@arkansas.gov arkansasstateparks.com/ accommodations/lodges

Take your meeting to new heights at one of our six Arkansas State Park lodges. Offering first-class accommodations in the most scenic parts of our state, your private event or corporate retreat will truly feel like vacation. Discover the possibilities at LodgesofArkansas.com .

ARKANSAS

OAKLAWN RACING CASINO RESORT 2705 Central Ave. Hot Springs, AR 71901 501-623-4411 Doug Kacena dkacena@oaklawn.com oaklawn.com

Experience a new level of excitement at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort. See live championship Thoroughbred racing every December through May. Plus, take in the high energy of the casino. Nestled in the heart of beautiful Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas, Oaklawn has all you need for the ultimate escape.

COLORADO

ALBANY CVB

112 N. Front St. Albany, GA 31701 229-317-4760 Rashelle Minix rminix@visitalbanyga.com visitalbanyga.com

VISIT SPRINGFIELD

109 N. 7th St. Springfield, IL 62701 800-545-7300 Amy Beadle amy.beadle@springfield.il.us visitspringfieldillinois.com

Albany, GA boasts 26 hotels, flexible meeting space plus four conference centers to accommodate groups 20 to 2,500, unique venues and historic sites creating the perfect location for meetings and groups. With numerous group-friendly restaurants, nightlife and entertainment opportunities, attendees will have fun after the meeting adjourns.

Springfield boasts over 325,000 sq. ft. of flexible space and 4,000 hotel rooms. Visit Springfield offers services to help take stress off our valued planners. Included are, hotel proposal solicitation and coordination of site inspections, pre-meeting promotional materials, attendee bags, name badge service, and tourism ambassadors to help attendees enjoy their downtime.

GEORGIA

KANSAS

ST. TAMMANY PARISH TOURIST COMMISSION/ LOUISIANA NORTHSHORE

68099 Hwy 59 Mandeville, LA 70471 800-634-9443 Zondra Jones zondra@louisiananorthshore.com louisiananorthshore.com/incentive St. Tammany Parish is conveniently located at the convergence of three major interstates I-10, I-12 and I-59. Our full-service team is ready to assist the planning of your next meeting with complimentary services and personalized assistance with group rates, site inspections, group activity planning, and more.

MINNESOTA

TIFTON TOURISM

VISIT MANHATTAN

WORTHINGTON AREA CVB

When you think groups and meetings, THINK TIFTON. We offer meeting planners the perfect mix of work and play whether you plan to be here for a day, a weekend or more. So whatever your group’s interest and purpose, we can help you get down to business and have fun in Tifton.

Oh, MANhattan!The #1 walkable meeting destination in Kansas. The ideal choice for your next meeting. Manhattan offers exceptional meeting venues with nearly 1,300 sleeping rooms. Hometown to Kansas State University and nearby Ft. Riley. The gateway to the Flint Hills, Oh, MANhattan - we can’t wait to meet!

Worthington has something for everyone! Check out our museums with art, history, car memorabilia, lake, parks, trails, unique shopping, restaurants, festivals and more!

When you visit Worthington for your meeting or convention, take in what Worthington has to offer.

ILLINOIS

KENTUCKY

MONTANA

148 Ridge Ave. S. Tifton, GA 31794 229-382-8700 Angela Elder spearmanagency@friendlycity.net tiftontourism.com

501 Poyntz Ave. Manhattan, KS 66502 785-776-8829 Visit Manhattan cvb@manhattan.org visitmanhattanks.org

1121 Third Ave. Worthington, MN 56187 507-372-2919 Kaila Hurlburt khurlburt@worthingtonmnchamber.com worthingtonmnchamber.com

VISIT COLORADO SPRINGS

ROCKFORD AREA CVB

SHELBYKY TOURISM

DISCOVER KALISPELL

Take your meetings to new heights in Colorado Springs.

Fall in love with COS, Colorado's Small Airport, and choose a destination that is as inspiring as your keynote speakers.

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic is a spectacular offsite venue for a unique experience in Olympic City USA.

Located an hour away from Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, Rockford is convenient to major Midwestern cities but without the hassle of traffic, parking or extra costs. Consider hosting your next meeting in our welcoming and inviting city and experience the best our region has to offer.

Shelbyville, Kentucky is a group travel’s hidden gem. A charming small-town community known for scenic rolling hills, horse farms, and bourbon distilleries, ShelbyKY has everything a group needs. From modern facilities to comfortable accommodations, abundant activities to delicious food, Shelbyville will surpass your every expectation.

With combined hotel meeting space of more than 20,000 sq. ft. plus individual venues that offer up to 59,000 sq. ft., the small city of Kalispell rises to the occasion for meetings and conventions of all sizes and varieties. But meetings here aren’t typical. Group tours, team building activities, and cocktail hours in jaw-dropping outings, are just the introduction to the magic of Montana.

515 S. Cascade Ave. Colorado Springs, CO 80903 719-685-7632 Kathy Reak, Vice President of Sales kathy@visitcos.com visitcos.com

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102 N. Main St. Rockford, IL 61101 815-963-8111 Kara Davis kdavis@gorockford.com gorockford.com

219 7th St. Shelbyville, KY 40065 502-633-6388 Chenelle McGee coordinator@visitshelbyky.com visitshelbyky.com

15 Depot Park Kalispell, MT 59901 406-758-2820 Dawn Jackson dawn@discoverkalispell.com discoverkalispell.com

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2022 SMALL MARKET MEETINGS INDUSTRY DIRECTORY NEBRASKA

NEW YORK

OREGON

TEXAS

KEARNEY VISITORS BUREAU

LAKE GEORGE REGIONAL CVB

SALEM CONVENTION CENTER

DESTINATION EL PASO

Kearney has the best meeting and event facilities between Omaha and Denver. Located just off I-80, the Younes Campus offers premier meeting facilities, access to 5 restaurants, 3 shopping locations, and a new Crowne Plaza hotel. Dedicated staff and small-town hospitality, that’s why the Heartland gathers in Kearney.

It doesn’t take a large city to know how to make a meeting or event memorable. With over 200,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space, the Lake George Area offers all of the luxuries and amenities of a large city without sacrificing the beauty and charm of a small destination. We take pride in our unique venues, rich history, Upstate New York culture, and convenient places and spaces for you.

Salem Convention Center is in the heart of the Willamette Valley in Salem, Oregon. This 30,000 sq. ft. venue with adjoining 193 room Grand Hotel is the perfect location, size, and service for all your meeting needs. Two airports within 50 miles, over 40 wineries, shops, and restaurants just out our door and free parking for all.

El Paso’s experiencing unprecedented growth! You’ll be stunned when you see what’s new. The return of our vintage streetcars. An art-filled city square. An award-winning Triple-A ballpark and USL soccer stadium. New shops. New restaurants. Plus, new state-of-the-art hotels are here, doubling our number of rooms within walking distance of our convention center!

NEW YORK

NEW YORK

OREGON

WISCONSIN

PO Box 607 Kearney, NE 68847 308-237-3178 Sarah Focke sfocke@visitkearney.org meetinkearney.com

2176 Rte. 9 Lake George, NY 12845 518-668-5755 Meg Bell lgrcvb@lakegeorgechamber.com meetlakegeorge.com

200 Commercial St. S.E. Salem, OR 97401 503-589-1700 Chrissie Bertsch chrissie@salemconventioncenter.org salemconventioncenter.org

One Civic Center Plaza El Paso, TX 79901 915-534-0692 Brooke Underwood bunderwood@destinationelpaso.com visitelpaso.com

DISCOVER ALBANY

VISIT ITHACA

TRAVEL SALEM

WAUKESHA PEWAUKEE CVB

Hosting meetings since 1609, you could say that it is part of our heritage. Albany is easily accessible by plane, train, or automobile and is a short jaunt from Boston, New York City and Montreal. Today, the past makes itself present in the architecture, attractions and businesses that greet visitors and residents alike.

Having a Meeting? We have a Destination. The stunning natural beauty of the Finger Lakes with Ithaca at the center make us the “Natural” choice for your “Gorges” meeting.

Reward your attendees with meetings that are part of an experience. Meet differently, meet outside the box, Retreat to Ithaca.

Travel Salem is a full service Destination Marketing Organization to assist you with all of your convention planning needs. Located in Oregon’s beautiful Willamette Valley, Salem offers everything from our 30,000 sq. ft. convention center to unique space in award winning wineries and historic venues. Salem has something for everyone, come see why epic comebacks start here!

Waukesha Pewaukee is conveniently located between Milwaukee and Madison (right off I-94) in the heart of southeastern Wisconsin’s Lake Country. Meeting planners will find more than 100,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space, 1,300 guestrooms with complimentary parking and many options for post-meeting activities to keep attendees entertained during their stay.

NEW YORK

OHIO

TENNESSEE

WYOMING

25 Quackenbush Sq. Albany, NY 12207 518-434-1217 Jay Cloutier, Director of Sales jcloutier@albany.org albany.org

DISCOVER LONG ISLAND

330 Motor Pkwy, Ste. 203 Hauppauge, NY 11788 631-951-3900 Liz Boylan lboylan@discoverlongisland.com discoverlongisland.com Just outside of New York City, Long Island offers an ideal space for meetings of any size with its urban appeal, charming villages, beach vibes and ample outdoor amenities.

December 2021

904 E. Shore Dr. Ithaca, NY 14850 607-272-1313 or 570-954-9443 Lisa Conarton lisa@visitithaca.com visitithaca.com

VISIT GREATER LIMA

144 S. Main St., Ste. 101 Lima, OH 45801 419-222-6075 Sharree Brenneman-Reehling sbrenneman@visitgreaterlima.com visitgreaterlima.com No matter what type of event, we offer a wide range of services to assist you. We are happy to offer our expertise to make your event the best it can be. Located conveniently in Northwest Ohio with easy access to major state routes and I-75, Lima/Allen County is ready to welcome you. Big or small, we’re here to make your next event both memorable and successful.

388 State St. Salem, Oregon 97301 503-581-4325 ext.128 Debbie McCune dmccune@travelsalem.com travelsalem.com

PIGEON FORGE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM 135 Jake Thomas Blvd.

Pigeon Forge, TN 37863 865-453-8574 Mike Gwinn mike.gwinn@cityofpigeonforge.com pigeonforgemeeting.com

Pigeon Forge is tucked in at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. Beautiful scenery is the perfect backdrop for any meeting or event, and the Smokies provide amazing views for every season.

N14 W23755 Stone Ridge Dr., Ste. 225 Waukesha, WI 53188 262-542-0330 Tammy Tritz meet@visitwaukesha.org visitwaukesha.og/meetings

CAMPBELL COUNTY CVB

314 S. Gillette Ave. Gillette, WY 82716 307-686-0040 Jessica Seders, Executive Director jessica@visitgillettewright.com visitgillettewright.com With adaptable venues, committed staff, dining, shopping and top hotel chains, Gillette and Wright are the perfect Wyoming destinations for your meetings and conventions.

The CAM-PLEX Multi-Event Facilities was designed to be dynamic and adaptive, whether you’re expecting a crowd, hosting small meetings, feeding the masses, or serving hors d’oeuvres.

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Located at the crossroads of the northeast, Albany is easily accessible by plane, train, or automobile and is a short jaunt from major metropolitan areas such as Boston, New York City, and Montreal.

Albany has implemented numerous precautions to combat the spread of COVID-19 and help visitors feel safe to explore our destination.

There are a variety of convention, special event, sports, and creative venues for your next event. Including the Capital Complex made up of four different venues: The Albany Capital Center, The Empire State Plaza Convention Center, The Egg Performing Arts Center and Albany County’s Arena.

Connected via enclosed walkways, these venues combine to make up the largest meeting space in Upstate New York at 159,000 square feet.

Visit albany.org and learn how we can make your next meeting

beyond conventional!

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