Small Market Meetings February 2022

CONTINGENCY PLANNING | YOUTH SPORTS DESTINATIONS | BOISE, IDAHO

t n o r f r e t s a g W Meetin

FEBRUARY 2022

IN AMERICA’S SOUTH

CONTINGENCY PLANNING | YOUTH SPORTS DESTINATIONS | BOISE, IDAHO

t n o r f r e t s a g W Meetin

FEBRUARY 2022

IN AMERICA’S SOUTH

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

experience A GREATER CONNECTION There’s a special type of magic that happens when you gather people in the ideal space at the right time. What it generates is a feeling of togetherness and connectivity that inspires the best work, and the happiest people. Greater Ontario takes that magic and makes it soar with the perfect setting where you can get down to business, and moments later, you can set free on any adventure of your choosing. It’s all here for you, right now.

Are you ready to get connected?

ON THE COVER: A group holds a poolside sunset event at Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa in Bonita Springs, Florida. Courtesy the Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel

INSIDE VOLUME 22 | ISSUE 2

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MANAGING Contingency Planning

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IDEAS Youth Sports Destinations

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CITY Boise, Idaho

D E PA R T M E N T S

INSIGHTS 6Techniques for Reconnecting

8GetSUMMIT to Know

Fort Worth

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12 PROFILE Constance

MEETING GUIDE The South

Smith

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.

Courtesy Visit Omaha

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TOWN Leavenworth, Kansas

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

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Herbert Sparrow Executive Editor/Partner

Ashley Ricks Graphic Designer

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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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INSIGHTS WITH VICKIE MITCHELL

RECOMMIT TO RECONNECTING

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ere’s hoping 2022 is a time for reconnecting. After two years of upheaval, disruption and limited in-person interaction, being able to get together with peers and co-workers will be more important than ever, so think about planning activities and events that make conversations and connection not only easier also more fun. Here are five ways to bring groups back together to share ideas and challenges, dreams and disappointments with one another again.

Try these techniques for building meaningful relationships at events

Get out to invigorate

Apparently, few of us get outdoors enough — by one estimate, most Americans spend 90% of their time indoors — and that can be especially true at meetings. As you bring people together, take them outdoors. A dose of fresh air and sunshine can ease stress, anxiety, depression, generally get the brain and body working better and, in the process, make us more likely to interact. One easy option is a scavenger hunt; many CVBs have a template or even an app available for starters. Or devise your own, choosing a walkable route downtown or an attraction like a zoo or botanical garden, and then supply clues and riddles. Have teams snap group photos as they introduce themselves to a police officer or stop at a coffee shop and squeeze together on a couch a la “Friends.” Maybe even have them sing the show’s theme song. Add a do-good element, and arm teams with a garbage bag and gloves so they can pick up trash along their route. Tons of scavenger hunt ideas are available online to spark ideas and imaginations.

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www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Inspired questions elevate table talk

Meals can be missed opportunities for making new connections because even at a round table, it’s hard to talk to everyone. Plus, we all tend to sit with people we know when we can. Break up the cliques in some simple fashion, and then supply tables with four or five thought-provoking, entertaining questions. Here’s a good one: “Tell us something surprising about yourself that not everyone knows.” I ask this question a lot, and it always opens the door to great conversations, like the time a school board member told me about her metal-detecting hobby. Another good one for association or business gatherings: “Recommend a recent book that you’ve read, and explain what it taught you.” For religious gatherings: “Did your family have a favorite prayer or ritual for special occasions? Tell us about it.” Come up with four or five, and then watch as everyone at the table becomes engaged and conversations flourish.

Good causes build camaraderie

Nothing builds camaraderie like banding together to do good for others. And in every city, nonprofit organizations need help.

Although there are a sizable number of websites geared at connecting those who want to help with those who need help — VolunteerMatch might be the best known — convention and visitors bureaus are often the best source for meeting planners. Their convention services teams are typically tied in with area nonprofits and know which need help and which are the best fits for a convention group’s abilities and schedule. Volunteering comes in all forms, and it doesn’t always require leaving the conference venue. Groups can pack food boxes or care kits for the homeless, help tend community gardens, help paint a mural, collect litter, plant trees, organize clothes for clothing banks or serve meals at shelters.

Virtual is still a reality

Virtual meetings lack a lot of the virtues of in-person meetings, but we’ve learned that Zoom and other platforms have their place. Going forward, they won’t always be the first choice, but they’ve demonstrated such value that planners should give thought to how to creatively employ them. Might Zoom be the way to keep association boards or sales teams connected beyond their in-person meetings, perhaps with “special,” more socially oriented events? A ton of companies have emerged through the pandemic that provide custom virtual experiences, from making mixed drinks, building bridges with Legos, trying to survive being stranded at the North Pole, stepping back to school days with show and tell, hosting a book club or solving a murder mystery.

February 2022

Create space, then step back

Sometimes, encouraging connection requires only providing the space and tools to allow people to build bonds in an organic way, no orchestration and direction required. For example, hotel and convention center preconference areas can become living rooms and rec rooms.

Put out a few items that will draw people in, like jigsaw puzzles, decks of cards or Trivial Pursuit games. In Fort Wayne, Indiana, the convention center has created oversized games like Rubik’s Cubes for attendees to play with. Put video screens to work showing pictures from past conferences, or if your audience has a predominance of pet lovers, display submitted photos of people’s dogs, cats, guinea pigs and turtles. Have venue staff or other impartial judges pick some winners, and as prizes, make donations to local animal shelters in the pet’s honor. For more active engagement, have basketball freethrow or golf-putting contests, or put out some cornhole games and watch the bean bags — and the banter — fly.

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SMALL MARKET

MEETINGS SUMMIT

‘WHERE THE

s n i g ’ e B t s e W E

BY DAN DICKSON

very morning and afternoon, a herd of Texas longhorns is driven by cowhands in Fort Worth, Texas.

That might not surprise anyone, but what do they think when this happens right on East Exchange Avenue in the Stockyards National Historic District of this modern city? Now that grabs people’s attention.

That is just one of the many attractions in this interesting northeast Texas city, part of what they call the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Throughout its history, Fort Worth has been known as the place “where the West begins.” The popular new TV drama “1883” has Fort Worth as the launch point for wagonloads of pioneers traveling to the Oregon Trail and across the American wilderness.

But Fort Worth is not just a cow town stuck in the past. This is where cowboy meets culture. It is a trendy, contemporary city of 875,000 that also proudly embraces its deep Western heritage.

This Texas city can be an appealing option for planners searching for a distinctive meeting destination. Fort Worth will host the next Small Market Meetings Summit May 2-3 at the beautiful Dallas/Fort Worth Marriott Hotel and Golf Club at Champions Circle.

“Visit Fort Worth, the local convention and visitors bureau, has been attending various conferences staged by [Summit organizers] the Group Travel Family for a while so when we had the chance to host one, we were excited,” said Stefanie Schafner, national sales manager for this CVB. “We will now be the site for the second-ever Small Market Meetings Summit. It will be at the Champions Circle resort, with its impressive 18-hole golf course that has Big Shot features and many amenities.”

The property has been completely renovated in recent years with freshened guest rooms, new meeting rooms and restaurants, and a lot more. The resort sits directly across the street from the famous Texas Motor Speedway, with its exciting NASCAR and IndyCar races. The track partners well with the hotel, and large or small groups are welcome to enjoy both.

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www.smallmarketmeetings.com

The resort hotel is just 17 miles from the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. A cheap $2.50 will get you aboard TexRail for a fast trip from the airport into the heart of downtown Fort Worth.

MEET AND SLEEP

The Fort Worth Convention Center is in the city’s downtown district. It has a total of 250,000 square feet of exhibit space, with a 28,000-square-foot ballroom, about 40 breakout rooms and casual gathering spaces.

Plans are in the works to expand the center, and an announcement about that is coming soon, said Schafner.

Adjacent to the convention center is the Omni Fort Worth, a hotel with a whopping 614 sleeping rooms and 68,000 square feet of meeting space. Another major hotel in the downtown area is the Worthington Renaissance Fort Worth, with 504 rooms and 57,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. One more major hotel to mention is the Sheraton Fort Worth Hotel Downtown, with 429 sleeping rooms and 22,000 square feet of space in which to meet.

For a change of pace, planners might want to consider using the recently opened Kimpton Harper Hotel. It is an upscale high-rise hotel in a 1921 building in the Sundance Square district, a wonderful place for dining, entertainment and shopping. The large inviting plaza is great for relaxing and people-watching.

The city’s first full-service hotel is a special one. The Hotel Drover is dedicated to the many cowboys who for AUTHENTIC WESTERN EXPERIENCES ABOUND IN FORT WORTH, INCLUDING THE decades drove cattle across the Plains and into the Fort OPTION TO TAKE HORSEBACK RIDING TOURS NEAR DOWNTOWN. Worth stockyards. The Hotel Drover is an Autograph Collection property with 200 guest rooms. It is in the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District.

FORT WORTH’S DAILY “In our 1-mile-wide downtown core you have CATTLE DRIVE nearly all of the major hotel brands that you would want,” said Schafner. Also, Visit Fort Worth likes to brag that its downtown is a safe, walkable area, so meeting attendees should bring comfortable shoes.

Some planners skip convention centers and hotels for their meetings and instead look for other venues. Dickies Arena has up to 14,000 seats for concerts, basketball, hockey, rodeos and family shows but can also be scaled down for smaller gatherings. Many of the city’s interesting museums rent out spaces for meetings. Another alternative meeting site is the 112-acre Whiskey Ranch, a distillery on a historic golf course at Glen Garden Country Club. Groups can tour the distillery and rent the event barn on the site. This is also where two popular alcoholic drinks are made: TX Whiskey and TX Bourbon.

All photos courtesy Visit Fort Worth

February 2022

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A FORT WORTH COWBOY

WESTERN FUN

LINE DANCING AT BILLY BOB’S TEXAS

PATIO DINING IN FORT WORTH

In addition to the twice-daily cattle drive, the only one of its kind in the world, there are plenty of other Western and historical attractions for visitors to enjoy.

A rodeo is an exciting thing for visitors to see. Cowboys and cowgirls and the bulls and broncs will be in fine form at the annual Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, held at Dickies Arena. Then there is the weekly Stockyards Championship Rodeo. Riding and roping are just some of the skills on display in this highly competitive sport, held in the historic Cowtown Coliseum.

Old West history lovers might like to stroll through the Stockyards Museum or the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame. Another exhibit in Fort Worth focuses on a Western movie icon. “John Wayne: An American Experience” gives visitors an intimate look at the life of the movie star known for his many Western films. Photos, videos, film props and costumes are just some of the many items on exhibit there.

Another historic district near downtown Fort Worth is Hell’s Half Acre, which in the late 1800s was a rough and wild sector filled with cowboys, saloons, dance halls, bordellos, gambling houses and gunfights. Part of the original district remains today, and visitors can read a historic marker that lays out the history of this bad-to-the-bone neighborhood.

When it is time for food and drink and a do-si-do on the dance floor, Billy Bob’s Texas, billed as the world’s largest honky-tonk, is an excellent pick. Over the years, some of the greatest country music artists in the world have performed on that stage. Another place to go is the restored Mule Alley, with its legendary horse and mule barns.

This beautifully restored district is full of restaurants, entertainment venues, shops and creative workplaces.

Shopping is a great pastime while visiting a new city, and Fort Worth offers great selections of authentic Western wear at shops such as Stockyards Station, Maverick Fine Western Wear and M.L. Leddy’s, to name a few.

Schafner is looking forward to showing off Fort Worth to meeting attendees who want to explore during a meeting’s off-hours.

“We get to share our city,” she said. “We hear a lot about how great Texas is and the various cities here, but when you come to Fort Worth, you feel the personality and the Western flair that we are so good at providing.”

CITY LIFE

By Austin James

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Fort Worth also offers a blend of culture, city sophistication and family fun. Bass Performance Hall is a jewel in the city and an outstanding venue for music, dance and Broadway shows. It is home to four resident companies: the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, the Texas Ballet Theater, the Fort Worth Opera and the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and Cliburn Concerts.

Fort Worth’s museums will expand visitors’ minds and spirits. Just west of downtown is the Cultural District, where museums fill a parklike setting and span the entire history of art, from priceless antiquities to modern pieces.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

“HIGH DESERT PRINCESS” AT THE COWGIRL HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM

INSIDE THE COWGIRL HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM

NIGHTFALL IN DOWNTOWN FORT WORTH

“Fort Worth is a city that will stand out while creating many memories for visitors. You will feel like you’re a local after you’ve been around town for a while because we are friendly and offer real Southern hospitality.”

— Stefanie Schafner, Visit Fort Worth

TO REGISTER FOR THE 2022 SMALL MARKET SUMMIT IN FORT WORTH, TEXAS, MAY 2-3, GO TO: SMMCONF.COM/SUMMIT

February 2022

The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History provides extraordinary learning experiences for all. Kids have a place of their own to explore at the Fort Worth Children’s Museum.

The Fort Worth Zoo is highly rated and provides people with an entire day of fun. The section called “Texas Wild!” highlights the unique wildlife of Texas and is very much hands-on. The four ape species of the world are featured in the primate area. And folks can say they viewed some of the most endangered reptiles and amphibians on the planet.

There is also a petting zoo for milder close-up encounters with animals.

Fort Worth Botanical Gardens is simply beautiful, and peaceful too. It offers 2,500 species of plants and 23 specialty gardens on its grounds. The Japanese Garden has pools filled with koi and beautifully maintained plants and an eye-catching waterfall. The conservatory has tropical foliage, and there is a European-inspired rose garden that looks and smells heavenly. The elevated walkway through a forest has 13 interactive educational stations.

“Fort Worth is a city that will stand out while creating many memories for visitors,” Schafner concluded. “You will feel like you’re a local after you’ve been around town for a while because we are friendly and offer real Southern hospitality.”

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MEETING LEADERS

“It’s how people know who you are — leadership is all about your relationships, and your employees will make or break you.”

CONSTANCE SMITH

C

BY REBECCA TREON

onstance Smith, commercial administrative assistant and marketing coordinator for the Houston office of the Old Republic National Title Company, is a modern-day Renaissance woman.

Smith grew up in Georgia and earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Kennesaw State University, after which she worked as an editor and freelance writer. She’s currently working on her MBA and accreditation as a certified meeting professional. She is also expecting her first child while working as Old Republic’s meeting coordinator.

Her work as a meeting planner came as a surprise.

“Meeting planning was not even remotely close to any part of my job,” said Smith.

“My background was not in event planning at all — I had been an administrative assistant, and I was hired at Old Republic to help the company integrate into using a new software system. When my current position came open, I told my supervisor I was interested in it, even though I didn’t have much experience in marketing and event planning.

He said, ‘If you want it, it’s yours,’ and within 24 hours, I was in a completely new role.”

Smith works exclusively for Old Republic, planning her division’s events for groups of 20 to 1,000. Smith works with hotel event planners and other sponsors of the events to coordinate their parts of conferences. Her events can run from a few hours to several days.

“I usually handle everything for everyone: From the moment they get off that plane un-

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til the moment they get back on, it’s me,” said Smith. “It could be an intimate dinner for a customer and their employees, or it could be a cocktail reception that we host at a conference, so it’s a big range.”

Smith took a nontraditional approach to landing her job. Instead of following a hospitality program in college, working in hotels and joining a tourism board, she homed in on working with a company she was interested in being a part of.

“I moved to Houston because I had an opportunity to work with Old Republic, which is a huge international company. I wasn’t necessarily really interested in the job I had at first, but I knew if I could get my foot in the door, I could do well,” said Smith. “That was my plan, and the position I was hired for wasn’t permanent, and I knew I’d move into something because everyone knew me.”

Smith prides herself on planning events that are unique and memorable for attendees, even if that means doing something new and different. For her first event in her new role, she brought a group of 30 from around the country to the Houston Rodeo, an event many people had never attended.

“A lot of people who come to our annual meeting are from California or New York, and a lot of them were reluctant; but we got a box suite, it was catered, we saw Luke Combs in concert,” said Smith. “There were people who were adamant that they’d need an Uber back to the hotel after a half-hour, but they were the ones who ended up buying cowboy hats and boots and totally immersed themselves. So many people said afterward they

never would have done anything like that and that it was just a fantastic experience.”

Smith advises those who think they may want to follow the event planner path to watch webinars online and look for resources to learn as much as they can about the industry, saying different perspectives of how people plan events will help them be more well-rounded. Her other tip is to be vigilant about organization — whether it’s a three-ring binder or an iPad — to keep things moving smoothly. She also suggests thinking about everything that could potentially go wrong in order to have a backup plan.

“Our events are a big ordeal,” she said. “I don’t sleep at all for a few days to make sure everything is ready and situated. But it’s totally worth it, even if I’m exhausted — it’s my favorite part of the job.”

TIPS FROM

CONSTANCE SMITH • Always be prepared and organized.

• Always have a plan B, C and D in your back pocket.

• Be the go-to person everyone needs.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

CONSTANCE SMITH POSES WITH HER HUSBAND, CHRIS, ON A TRIP TO LAKE JACOBSON, TEXAS.

EXECUTIVE PROFILE NAME Constance Smith TITLE Commercial Administrative Assistant and Marketing Coordinator ORGANIZATION Old Republic National Commercial Title Services LOCATION Houston, Texas BIRTHPLACE Rome, Georgia

MEET WITH YOUR PEEPS

EDUCATION Bachelor’s degree in English from Kennesaw State University; currently working on MBA from University of Maryland CAREER HISTORY Began working for Old Republic in November 2016; began event planning and marketing career with Old Republic in November 2018

February 2022

IN LINCOLN, NEBRASKA

LIN C O LN .O R G/SMM

It’s worth meeting about.

Plan stress-free events to share ideas and shape the future.

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MANAGING

Just In Case

SMART CONTINGENCY PLANNING CAN HELP AVERT MEETINGS DISASTERS

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BY RACHEL CRICK

ucceeding in meetings means being ready when things don’t go according to plan.

Contingency planning, preparing for circumstances that may compromise your meeting or event, is a crucial part of a meeting planner’s job. These circumstances can include everything from the mundane, such as weather events and technology failures, to the extraordinary, such as medical emergencies, civil unrest and, yes, global pandemics.

The past two years have presented many new obstacles to meeting planners, such as supply line issues and gathering restrictions. While it’s impossible to predict every scenario that may derail your event, there are some strategies meeting professionals can use to prepare for the unexpected and plan successful meetings in spite of obstacles.

Here are some best practices in contingency planning from experienced event professionals.

“Every part of meeting planning is like project management. There are so many moving parts, so many areas where you have to identify risk.”

ALL ABOUT BACKUPS You can’t foresee every obstacle to a smooth-running meeting, but you can prepare for some common events, such as bad weather and speaker absences. If it’s a problem you can anticipate, you should have a backup plan for it.

“The best thing you can do is have a really good system of backups,” said Heather Herrig, founder, president and chief event strategist of Every Last Detail, a full-service event-planning firm. Herrig suggests evaluating every level of the event and having an alternative, from backup venues to backup vendors.

For example, in the case of the weather, a rainy day may call for a backup venue for the meeting, but a major weather event may call for a backup date. If a speaker can’t make it, there should be a backup in place for the program’s content. Backup vendors and suppliers can save your meeting if there’s an issue with your planned food, entertainment or any other aspect of the meeting. Herrig even makes sure she’s provided alternate travel routes in case of traffic jams or construction.

Though most contingencies will likely stem

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Mazda Miles CHIEF EVENT STRATEGIST Perfection Events Experience: 20-plus years

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

On successful contingency planning: “You can spend a lot of time planning and hope that things don't go wrong, but to have thought about it is key.”

Laura MacIsaac DIRECTOR OF SALES

Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center Experience: 24 years

February 2022

from external factors, it’s also smart to make sure you and your team have backups for each other in the case of illness, emergencies or other unforeseen circumstances. Herrig makes sure her team gets a copy of her client files and even has a strategy for distributing her meeting plans if something should happen to her.

Having a backup for everything you can conceive of means you’ll encounter fewer problems and experience significantly less stress even if you have to go from plan A to plan B.

MEET EXPECTATIONS, BUT BE FLEXIBLE When unexpected events occur, you often have to adjust your event plans. When thinking about contingency plans, you should strive to maintain the major objectives of the meeting whether the change is in venue or in speaker. After all, this is what defines the success of a meeting and keeps clients happy.

“One of the main things is ensuring that you’re able to execute the event that you envision and deliver the value you expect to,” said Mazda Miles, chief event strategist at Perfection Events, a Philadelphia-based meeting- and event-planning company.

Since changes to a meeting or event can rack up expenses quickly, one of most clients’ biggest concerns to consider is the budget. Other concerns may include the meeting’s key information, themes and attendance. To ensure your meeting’s success in the face of difficulties, Miles recommends beginning the planning with a strategic conversation with the client about the meeting’s goals and objectives, then planning the meeting in a way that gives you a little flexibility should things go wrong.

“As things change, we have to have considerations around how those decisions create other options to ensure we can still gain the objective even if we make a change,” said Miles.

Herrig also recommends staying flexible when faced with contingencies because slight changes aren’t the end of the world as long as the main objectives of the meeting are met. Though having to change caterers or move your event indoors may not be what you originally envisioned, if it’s managed well, it’s usually not a big deal for your clients or the meeting attendees.

“Be prepared to be creative, operating in the moment and finding solutions,” Herrig said.

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MANAGING

MAKE IT A TEAM EFFORT

group Bison Ranch Tours

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

Preparing for every uncertainty can feel overwhelming.

Something that eases this burden and increases your chances for success when things don’t go according to plan contributes to a strong support system. This support system can be internal, such as assembling your own team of planning professionals to share responsibilities and help you pull off your meeting.

“Contingency starts in communication early on and making sure you're not the only one who knows what's happening,” said Herrig.

Meeting venues and suppliers are also a crucial part of your support team, so it’s important to choose ones you trust and maintain a good relationship with them. According to Laura MacIsaac, direct of sales at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, many convention centers and hotels already have plans in place to tackle issues such as medical emergencies, severe weather and technology malfunctions, and this can make all the difference.

“Having a supplier partner who is well versed in these things and can help you navigate these circumstances is going to be key,” said MacIsaac.

She recommends asking venues and suppliers upfront about their own contingency plans and what they can guarantee. If they don’t have detailed answers for you, they may end up being a hindrance rather than a help if things go awry. Whether it’s a mild nuisance, such as malfunctioning audiovisual equipment or a major problem like a medical emergency, the last thing you need is the added burden of inexperienced or unhelpful suppliers. To avoid this, you can usually write certain contingency plans into contracts with venues and vendors. For example, many outdoor venues also promise indoor space in the event of bad weather.

PLANNING IN A PANDEMIC

After the meetings . . . group coal mine tours

haunted & historical

walking tours

70+ restaurants

just an hour from

devils tower

craft brewery & meadery

DAILY jet service TO AND FROM DENVER

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a special set of challenges for meeting and event planners. The most direct effects include cancellations due to illness, gathering restrictions and venue closures, but the pandemic has also created supply chain issues, shortages and inflation, all of which can affect your meeting.

“In this day and age, absolutely all bets are off,” said Herrig.

Although contingency planning has always involved assessing risk, today that risk is heightened, and there are fewer guarantees that your meeting will take place the way you plan. To mitigate all this uncertainty, meeting planners need to prioritize contingency planning like never before and much earlier in the planning.

Plan your most unique event ever at

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www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Host an Uplifting Meeting Let us introduce you to unique experiences that will wow your attendees. From Florida’s hottest resort meeting destination, Streamsong Resort, to rustling up a corporate cattle drive at the largest dude ranch in the eastern US, Central Florida exceeds your expectations. Once adjourned, your attendees will enjoy everything else Central Florida has to offer, including our incredible eats, epic outdoor adventures, and nearby access to top Florida attractions.

Start planning your next major event today at MeetCentralFlorida.com

February 2022

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MANAGING

This may involve considering hosting meetings and events virtually or in a hybrid format, both of which can present technological and budgetary concerns. Social distancing and other public health and safety regulations can call for changes in venue space or attendance. Planners need to think about the best format for hosting their meeting given the pandemic and what steps to take they can take if the meeting needs to change formats or be postponed.

“Everybody who is planning an event right now needs to have evaluated every scenario in the spectrum,” said Miles.

Contingency planning in the time of the pandemic has proven to be more of a process than something concrete. It’s an exercise in preparedness, creativity and flexibility, and you will need to deal with the challenges that come.

“You have to be doing contingency planning throughout,” said Miles.

Furthermore, it’s proof that while you can’t predict every obstacle to your meeting plan, you can still overcome them and land on your feet.

Heather Herrig PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EVENTS STRATEGIST Every Last Detail Experience: 30 years

On contingency planning in uncertain times: “You just have to have that mindset of being flexible, being open and just creative if you need to be.”

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www.smallmarketmeetings.com

CUSTOM CONTENT

A little bit of this. A little bit of that.

BY VICKIE MITCHELL

D

ubuque’s always benefited from being on the Mississippi River.

But 20 years ago, Iowa’s oldest city further capitalized on its location by reimagining its riverfront. In doing so, it triggered downtown revitalization that has made the city a more appealing meeting place.

RIVERSIDE REVITILIZATION

Development of the Port of Dubuque got things rolling. Today, this riverfront district is convention central, home to the Grand River Center, attached 193-room Grand Harbor Resort and Waterpark and entertainment and off-site venues including the Diamond Jo Casino, the Smithsonian-affiliated National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, authentic paddle wheelers and a winery tasting room.

“What has been done in the Port of Dubuque, has put Dubuque top of mind for many planners, you don’t find a space like this to many other places in the country.” said Julie Kronlage, vice president of sales for Travel Dubuque.

In addition to a 30,000-square-foot exhibit hall, 12,000-square-foot ballroom and six meeting rooms, the Grand River Center offers the dramatic all-glass River Room, perched above the river, with all-around views. The conference center has stayed at the forefront, winning multiple meeting awards, thanks to consistent upkeep and improvements like an upgrade of its fiber option network, which made it possible for each of 800 attendees at a recent conference to use up to three devices.

MORE TO LOVE

The Port’s success also sparked revitalization nearby in the Old Main District, where owners have invested $33 million into the Hotel Julien Dubuque 12 years ago. A natural for smaller meetings and elegant events, the historic hotel has 133 luxury rooms, a spa, a restaurant and lounge, and 14,000 square feet of meeting space with century-old architectural details.

The city’s energy is now aimed at the Millwork District, where brick warehouses are becoming apartments, coffee shops, boutiques, bars, restaurants and breweries, including Backpocket Taproom, which has added pinball, skeeball and other vintage arcade games. Travel Dubuque will often support meetings by sponsoring a night at the arcade.

Ongoing revitalization has meant there’s always something new to explore in Dubuque. “Planners say, ‘Even though we were here last year or a couple of years ago, we did something different at this meeting, which is refreshing,’” said Kronlage.

One way Travel Dubuque keeps people learning and exploring the community is through its scavenger hunt app, which gets attendees out on foot or by car for great team-building activities.

DREAMS AND COFFEE

Not all of Dubuque’s attractions are downtown. Its well known off-site venue, the Field of Dreams movie site, is 45 miles west. Tents and a 5,000-square-foot event center are options for events at the field, which is bordered from July until late fall harvest by cornstalks, just as it was in the movie that made it famous.

More than a century ago, Dubuque rivaled Chicago in size, and though the Windy City far surpasses it today, Dubuque offers advantages that the larger city doesn’t. The riverfront is one. Coffee is another. In Chicago, a gallon of coffee can cost $150 at an upscale, downtown hotel. In Dubuque, the cost is $23 or less. And that, for many a budget-wise meeting planner, is a big reason to choose Dubuque.

MEETDUBUQUE Julie Kronlage 563-581-4724 jkronlage@traveldubuque.com meetdubuque.com

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IDEAS

Courtesy Round Rock CVB

GAME STOPS These destinations are ideal for youth sports events

BY REBECCA TREON

Y

outh sports are not the low-key affairs they used to be.

These days, teams compete at an elite level, traveling across states for games, competitions and tournaments. And it’s not only the teams — their parents and other family members are along for the ride, too.

When they’re not competing, teams and their parents will want to unwind with great family activities. The following destinations offer world-class sporting facilities plus plenty of things to do during downtime, making them a good choice for hosting youth sports events.

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ROUND ROCK, TEXAS

Known as the Sports Capital of Texas, Round Rock is the ultimate destination for amateur, youth and recreational sports. Less than a half-hour from Austin, the Round Rock Sports Center and the Round Rock Multipurpose Complex attract visitors from around the globe. The sports center hosts a plethora of indoor sporting events, from basketball to cheer, table tennis to martial arts — and even Quidditch. The 82,800-squarefoot facility includes almost 50,000 square feet of flexible play space with several configurations possible. Its total capacity is just over 3,000, with a spectator capacity of 1,400, and includes state-of-the-art technology and amenities like 500 parking spaces, locker rooms, LCD scoreboards and concessions.

“We’ve had national competitions that will come back every year that are very prestigious, and we’re honored to be the host of, like, the National Collegiate Table Tennis Championships and the IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championships,” said Nancy Yawn, director of the Round Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“The sports facility team is made up of industry experts who make sure everything runs smoothly — they’ll take care of every last detail.”

Above: Dell Diamond, home of the minor league Round Rock Express, is one of many venues around the city available for youth sports tournaments.

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The Round Rock Multipurpose Complex is on 68 acres, consisting of 10 multipurpose fields. goroundrock.com

LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK

Set in the heart of the tristate area, Long Island, New York, makes an obvious choice for youth league sporting events: It’s easy to reach from JFK and LaGuardia airports on a short ride on the Long Island Rail Road or a ferry from Connecticut. Local convention and visitors bureau Discover Long Island is the

“Myrtle Beach has a mix of world-class sports tourism venues, affordable housing options and endless activities and restaurants for families to enjoy when they’re not competing.

— Jonathan Paris, Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau

key to planning any event because it handles everything including site visits and volunteer coordination.

“We have premier golf courses, top-notch stadiums, a dynamic landscape of public parks with dozens of multipurpose athletic fields and fantastic family attractions that make us an unparalleled destination for youth sports,” said Kirsten Reynolds, president and CEO of Discover Long Island. “Our indoor and outdoor sporting facilities host anywhere from 50 to 10,000 patrons: We have the brand-new USB Arena, home of the New York Islanders, and we host the Belmont Stakes, U.S. Open, and will host the 2025 Ryder Cup.” The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum can seat up to 14,500 for basketball, MMA and boxing and also hosts hockey. The Nassau County Aquatic Center is an 80,000-square-foot facility with lap lanes, springboards and a dive tank. The Mitchel Athletic Complex is a 49-acre sports complex for baseball, softball, lacrosse, soccer, track and football that seats 10,000 and has full amenities. Twin Rinks has two NHL-size indoor rinks in its 145,000-square-foot space, including an outdoor rink plus locker and hospitality rooms. discoverlongisland.com

Courtesy Round Rock CVB

Courtesy Discover Long Island

February 2022

Courtesy Discover Long Island

Clockwise from left: A tennis event at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Long Island; Round Rock’s Forest Creek Golf Club; a Long Island equestrian event

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IDEAS

MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA

When most people think of Myrtle Beach, they have visions of seaside vacations and hitting the links, but the area has become a hive for youth sports activities. Offering a mix of indoor and outdoor venues, hosting sports from football to dance, the venues can accommodate thousands of spectators and offer a full range of amenities.

“Myrtle Beach is such a great destination for youth sports,” said Jonathan Paris, executive director of sports tourism for the Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We have a mix of world-class sports tourism venues, affordable housing options and endless activities and restaurants for families to enjoy when they’re not competing. It’s been a major focus for our destination for the past 10-plus years, with some of the best venues in the country.”

The Grand Park Athletic Complex is the city’s main outdoor diamond complex, with nine lighted turf diamonds, hosting youth and adult softball, baseball, football and soccer. The John T. Rhodes Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach sports scenes, clockwise from left: A youth softball tournament at Grand Park Athletic Complex; the Grand Park Athletic Complex from above; Myrtle Beach Sports Center

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Sports Center is the main indoor sports tourism venue in the area, featuring 100,000 square feet of space for eight basketball or 16 volleyball courts and hosts basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, cornhole, wrestling, cheer, dance and handball. Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium is home to a FieldTurf football/soccer/lacrosse field with an eight-lane NCAA Certified lighted track.

Myrtle Beach has over 100,000 total hotel accommodations for groups, with an array of hotels and resorts to condos. The city has a wide range of 1,200 restaurants, from seafood buffets to fine dining, offering myriad options. For recreation, the area is home to 60 miles of sandy beaches and 80 traditional golf courses. Broadway at the Beach and Barefoot Landing offer boardwalk shopping and arcades. visitmyrtlebeach.com

OMAHA, NEBRASKA

The roster of sporting events held in Omaha, Nebraska, is impressive, from the NCAA Men’s College World Series to the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials,

Photos courtesy Myrtle Beach Area CVB

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

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IDEAS

among many others. One reason Omaha is such a popular choice is its convenient central location, along with ample amenities teams need for every event to run smoothly.

“I think we do well with youth sports because we’re not just centrally located, but we’re a really friendly city,” said Mark Rath, director of sports at Visit Omaha. “We support our events here well — we don’t have pro sports here, so fans go to the tournaments that come to town. Our office is a onestop-shop, and our organizers are involved right from the get-go to find teams hotels and places to eat, or whatever they need.”

CHI Health Center Omaha, the city’s convention center and arena, is 346,000 square feet and has seating for more than 18,000. It has been used for the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and the FEI World Cup Horse Jumping Championships, among other events. Other area venues include Baxter Are-

Omaha sports, clockwise from left: FEI World Cup Horse Jumping Championships at CHI Health Center; volleyball at Baxter Arena; a youth basketball tournament

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na at the University of Nebraska Omaha, with seating for 7,500 and space for hockey, basketball and volleyball, and Creighton University’s Wayne and Eileen Ryan Athletic Center and D.J. Sokol Arena, with the capacity for 78,000-plus people.

Omaha’s outdoor facilities are on a par with their indoor ones, with TD Ameritrade Park leading the pack. The 24,000-seat baseball stadium is considered to be one of the top non-MLB stadiums in the country. Home of minor league team the Omaha Storm Chasers, Werner Park has a capacity for over 9,000 attendees. The Dill Softball Complex has five fields and is suitable for youth leagues; the Kelley Field Softball Complex has eight fields. Morrison Stadium is a 7,500-seat soccer arena at Creighton University; the University of Nebraska Omaha is home to the Al F. Caniglia Field, seating 9,500 soccer fans. Tranquility Field features 15 soccer fields, plus a playground and baseball and tennis facilities. visitomaha.com

Photos courtesy Visit Omaha

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

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IDEAS

ONTARIO, CALIFORNIA

YOUTH SOCCER IN ONTARIO

By Austin James, courtesy Greater Ontario CVB

Just an hour from Los Angeles in Southern California, Ontario and its sister city, Rancho Cucamonga, are easy to reach by road — they’re at the crossroads of three major thoroughfares — or via the Ontario International Airport. The area has 37 venues for volleyball, martial arts, football, basketball, baseball, soccer, hockey and even rock climbing, fishing and archery.

“Our goal is to make sure that events go off without a hitch — our team has relationships with venues and hotels, and we can provide recommendations on everything from where to have a team dinner to where to go to have fun between events,” said Sue Oxarart, director of marketing and communications at the Greater Ontario Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We have the gorgeous Southern California weather we’re famous for, plus we’re close to beaches or mountains, even Disneyland.”

Let the Rio Grande River serve as your meeting backdrop. This is just one option when hosting a meeting in Laredo.

Give the Laredo CVB a call at 800.361.3360 to begin planning your next company event.

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IDEAS

The Toyota Arena is a multipurpose indoor arena with seating for more than 11,000 for sports like ice hockey and skating, basketball, and boxing. The Rancho Cucamonga Epicenter Sports Complex is home to the area’s minor league team, the Quakes, and has seating for 6,000. The multiuse complex has baseball and soccer fields. The Ontario Convention Center has more than 225,000 square feet of configurable space.

Ontario Soccer Park is 20 acres with seven fields. gocvb.org

ELIZABETHTOWN, KENTUCKY

At the juncture of Interstate 65 and U.S. 62, Elizabethtown, Kentucky, just south of Louisville, Kentucky, is a convenient destination for youth sports enthusiasts across the region. Several years ago, the construction of a sports complex made it a hotbed of recreation, adding another element to the town’s attractions.

“Sports are a very big deal here — we don’t have a beach or an amusement park, but we built ourselves

an outdoor sports complex that’s tailored to youth sports,” said Janna Clark, executive director of the Elizabethtown Tourism and Convention Bureau.

The Elizabethtown Sports Park sits on 150 acres with three turfed quads — 12 diamonds — for baseball and softball, plus two championship-style turf fields for soccer, lacrosse and football. The park has three pavilions plus one accessible field with spectator seating, all focused on the needs of youth teams.

For indoor sporting events, the Bluegrass Sportsplex features a multiuse turf field, three full-size basketball courts that convert to five volleyball courts, six batting cages and amenities like party rooms and concessions.

Planners at the Elizabethtown CVB provide the full realm of services, from registering for the event to booking hotels as a team to letting guests know about the best activities for teams to do between games, even where to go if they forgot an important piece of gear. touretown.com

SmallMarketMeetings December.qxp_Layout 1 11/17/20 3:01 PM Page 1

Manhattan MEET IN

Our conference center expansion

continues to make Manhattan the

#1

walkable meeting destination in Kansas

Oh Manhattan !

VISITMANHATTANKS.ORG

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Unique, historic and traditional venue options

Photo courtesy of Bodacious Shops of Block 42

Janesville, Wisconsin’s Great Outside is the ideal destination to hold your next meeting, convention or retreat. In addition to a selection of venues, Janesville also offers a variety of hotels, restaurants and attractions, including many affordable options that provide you with great value. Janesville is easily accessible - right off of I-39/90.

February 2022 janesvillecvb.com · (800) 487-2757 · 

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FRESH AIR IN

e s i o B

Beautiful mountain surroundings add a scenic appeal to meetings in Boise.

All photos courtesy Boise CVB

CITY

This Idaho city offers inviting mountain scenery

B

BY KATHERINE TANDY BROWN

oise is a breath of fresh air — literally.

Located in western Idaho, the city boasts stunning views of the foothills of the Boise Mountains. The 102-milelong Boise River runs directly through it, 200-plus miles of hiking and biking trails are accessible from downtown, and a 25-mile greenbelt hugs the waterway’s banks, all beckoning folks outdoors. The Boise, Payette and Snake rivers converge here, and the cottonwoods lining their banks give Boise its nickname, the City of Trees.

It’s no wonder the state motto is “es perpetua,” Latin for “may it last forever.”

BOISE AT A GLANCE LOCATION: Southwestern Idaho ACCESS: Boise Airport, interstates 84 and 184 HOTEL ROOMS: 9,000 CONTACT INFO: Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau 800-635-5240 boise.org BOISE CENTRE BUILT: 1990, expanded in 2017 EXHIBIT SPACE: 86,000 square feet OTHER MEETING SPACES: 31 meeting rooms MEETING HOTELS Grove Hotel GUEST ROOMS: 250 MEETING SPACE: 17,229 square feet Riverside Hotel GUEST ROOMS: 303 MEETING SPACE: 21,275 square feet WHO’S MEETING IN BOISE Northwest Credit Union Association ATTENDEES: 350 Clearwater Analytics ATTENDEES: 700 Idaho Education Technology Association ATTENDEES: 1,200

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Destination Highlights

DISTINCTIVE VENUES

The Grove Hotel

“W

hat surprises visitors is the mixture of urban amenities and outdoor activities that surround Boise,” said Carrie Westergard, executive director of the Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau.

A compact, walkable downtown offers culture and entertainment — the Boise Philharmonic, Opera Idaho, Ballet Idaho, the Boise Art Museum, the Idaho Historical Museum and an architectural historic district — all within steps of its prominent convention facility, the Boise Centre. New entertainment venues include a gastropub, Base Camp Pong + Axe, where corporate groups can throw axes, play ping pong, sip specialty drinks and chow down at a made-from-scratch buffet.

This college town is home to the Boise State University campus and to Idaho’s Capitol, the only one in the U.S. heated by geothermal water from underneath the building. More than 100 shops plus restaurants, microbreweries, wine tasting rooms and a lively nightlife scene have instilled Boise with a hip new vibe.

“A group of 400 can own the city,” Westergard said. “They might get lost in a bigger one, but Boise’s small enough that we can make sure people know they’re in town through signage, an airport welcome and PR/marketing support.”

As a balance to the city’s urban appeal, its topographical features allow visitors to speed down black diamond ski trails, splash through rapids on whitewater adventures and hike mountain trails bedecked with spring wildflowers.

“Boise is that now-and-next cool city that’s a real draw for planners and their attendees,” said Ali Ribordy, director of sales for the Boise Center.

Fly fishing in Boise

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DESTINATION HIGHLIGHTS

Distinctive Venues

S

earching for a better life in America, many Basques left Spain in the post-California Gold Rush 1890s and headed cross-country as far as western Idaho, where they became shepherds, built community and hosted friends who resettled from the old country.

Today, Boise has more Basques per capita than any other city in America. Boise’s Basque Block, including the Basque Museum and Cultural Center, is a cultural district smack in the neighborhood of Grove Centre, Grove Plaza and Restaurant Row. Tara McElhose-Eiguren, who with her husband, Tony, owns the Block, is known for her group cooking classes that offer wine tasting, paella and, of course, Basque history.

“If a planner rents the entire Block, its streets are roped off and turned into a huge dining room, with bar, for from 40 to 900 guests,” said Tony.

“They’re treated to Basque dancers in full costume, a meat and seafood buffet and Basque wine.”

For meetings groups, teambuilding — all about taking risks and stepping outside one’s comfort zone — is on the menu at Jack’s Urban Meeting Place, known locally as JUMP0, a nonprofit, interactive creative center and community gathering place. One offering for groups of 10 or more is competition in cooking classes that encourage creativity and collaboration.

Attached to the Grove Hotel, the Idaho Central Arena has bowl seating for 5,000 — up to 6,000 for concerts — and 34 luxury corporate suites to observe big events in luxury, and the Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial provides a contemplative spot with an outdoor classroom amid miniscule rushing waterfalls.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

You’ll love our meeting spaces.

And what’s

just a few

steps from them.

Boise has flexible meeting spaces for events of every size and style. Our venues are surrounded by award-winning restaurants, a scenic river, mountain trails and culture like you wouldn’t believe.

Visit boise.org/plan-your-meeting February 2022

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Major Meeting Spaces

D

uring a $47.5 million expansion five years ago, the Boise Centre added 36,000 square feet to its existing 50,000 for a current total of 86,000 that accommodates groups of up to 2,000. Its 24,426-squarefoot Grand Ballroom can accommodate 1,670 for a banquet, and it can be divided into three sections. Its in-house catering team focuses on local produce, meats, cheeses, craft brews and wines. The facility’s location is excellent.

“The center is in the middle of downtown Boise, where attendees are surrounded by opportunities for authentic experiences,” Ribordy said.

The center’s covered outdoor terrace overlooks a local landmark — Grove Plaza — a happening space that hosts events for up to several thousand people. With views of the foothills and downtown, groups can enjoy a plaza reception with a band, a bar and a fire pit.

This year, the new Warehouse Food Hall, with 20-plus independent restaurants and retail outlets, will open across the street.

Winner of a 2021 TripAdvisor Travelers Choice Award, the Grove Hotel, Boise’s convention hotel, is next door to the center. Accommodating meetings of up to 300, this AAA Four-Diamond property features a 6,845-square-foot ballroom, a restaurant with an open kitchen for chef-watching and an outdoor terrace with a city view and a fireplace.

On the fifth floor, the hotel’s state-of-the-art spa has a jacuzzi with a view, a lap pool, yoga classes and massage therapy.

A mile away, the Riverside Hotel boasts more than 21,000 square feet of meeting space and over 4,000 square feet of outdoor event space, all in a resort-style atmosphere with water views. Its Waters Edge Terrace accommodates 330.

Make a Plan. Make it Boise.

Centrally located in the heart of vibrant downtown Boise, the recently expanded Boise Centre has a variety of customizable meeting spaces, modern amenities, exceptional culinary services and a friendly and dedicated staff ready to make your next event an unforgettable experience. Explore Idaho’s premier convention center for yourself.

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After the Meeting

I

daho is known for its whitewater. And Cascade Kayak and Raft can get groups of 18 to 418 out on either a screaming rapids ride or a gentle float on the Payette River, depending on the majority’s preference, for teambuilding, spouse tours or pure family fun. For landlubbers, this multigenerational outfitter also has a 17-element ropes challenge course and zip lines.

After working up a sweat, guests can chill outdoors with area microbrews, specialty wines and a catered meal.

Voted one of USA Today’s Top 10 Best Wine Tours in the Country, Snake River Wine Tours takes groups of up to 14 along the Sunnyslope Wine Trail, the “Heart of Idaho Wine Country,” only 40 miles from Boise. Wine enthusiasts visit up to four wineries in an afternoon, learning the hows of production and history of each while taking in gorgeous Snake River Valley vistas.

Only 16 miles from the city, the Bogus Basin Mountain Resort shines in the wintertime with skiing, snowboarding, tubing and snowshoeing. Come summer, when temperatures are 10 degrees cooler on the mountain than in Boise, activities include scenic chairlift rides, mountain biking and speeding downhill on a mountain coaster.

Two lodges offer event spaces for up to 120, with additional outdoor gathering space in summer.

• Centralized, downtown location • Only seven minutes from Boise airport • Over 25 direct flights to and from Boise • Closely surrounded by more than 100 restaurants • Over 1,300 hotel rooms within walking distance • Close to outdoor recreation, including The Boise Greenbelt

LEARN MORE: boisecentre.com

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TOWN

PATRIOTIC

h t r o w n e v Lea

BY KATI HYER

R

ich with pioneer and military history, the national treasures in Leavenworth, Kansas, will leave an indelible mark on visitors.

“I love the history and the connection to the military post that’s here,” said Kristi Lee, director of the Leavenworth Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The patriotic spirit here is amazing.”

Leavenworth’s location on the western banks of the Missouri River, just 40 miles northwest of Kansas City, gave it a starring role in many historic movements. For example, Fort Leavenworth occupies the northern half of the town and was a key supply base for settlers on the Oregon and Santa Fe trails, earning it the moniker the “Post that opened the West.”

Because neighboring Missouri entered the union as a slave state, Leavenworth became a refuge for thousands of African Americans seeking freedom. When Gen. Colin Powell was stationed at Fort Leavenworth in 1992, he spearheaded the creation of the Leavenworth Buffalo Soldier Monument to honor pioneer-era African American Army soldiers. Visitors can explore museums that highlight the history of the fort and the Buffalo Soldiers throughout Leavenworth.

In the late 19th century, entrepreneur Fred Harvey launched the nation’s first restaurant chains along the railroads from his home in Leavenworth. The wave of women who migrated from the East under Harvey’s employ was made famous thanks to the musical “The Harvey Girls,” starring Judy Garland.

The railroad still plays a role in Leavenworth’s story today. The town’s main convention center is the Riverfront Community Center, housed in the renovated 1888 Union Station Train Depot.

Meeting attendees can learn more about Leavenworth’s tapestry of history and hold memorable events in its museums, historic homes and monuments around town.

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THE BUFFALO SOLDIER MONUMENT AT FORT LEAVENWORTH

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EASY TO NAVIGATE, DOWNTOWN LEAVENWORTH IS JUST 40 MILES AWAY FROM KANSAS CITY.

Major Meeting Spaces

In the 1860s and 1870s, Leavenworth was a boomtown. Riverboats chugged into town daily, and railroads laid track at a furious pace to accommodate eager passengers. Railway companies built a handful of train stations in town, of which the Union Depot was the finest. Today, the Union Depot is still used as Leavenworth’s main convention center. The architecturally stunning Riverfront Community Center was beautifully renovated in 1998.

Its 53,000 square feet of flexible meeting space accommodates 450 people.

To provide for overflow, meeting planners often book the nearby Heritage Center at the same time. There, planners will find a banquet hall of 5,000 square feet and three other meeting spaces that range from 600 to 1,900 square feet. The Heritage Center can accommodate 20 to 350 guests.

Unique Meeting Venues

LEAVENWORTH KANSAS

Planners that hope to make use of historic Fort Leavenworth's facilities can book the Frontier Conference Center. Though there are heavier planning logistics involved, the extra protocol is worth the treat of hosting a group at the post that opened the West.

The on-property event venue is one of the largest in Leavenworth, with multiple rooms and 50,000 square feet of event space. Facility managers recently overhauled the audiovisual system with what they call ultramodern technology.

Additional venue options include the Haymarket Event Center, Schwinn Produce Farm, Lamborn Farm and the University of St. Mary.

LOCATION

On the banks of the Missouri River, 40 minutes northwest of Kansas City, Kansas

ACCESS

Interstates 70 and 29; Kansas City International Airport

MAJOR MEETING SPACES

Riverfront Community and Convention Center, Frontier Conference Center within Fort Leavenworth and the Heritage Center

HOTEL ROOMS 600-plus

OFF-SITE VENUES

Haymarket Event Center, Schwinn Produce Farm, Lamborn Farm and the Lincoln Room at the University of St. Mary

CONTACT INFO

Leavenworth Convention and Visitors Bureau 913-758-6725 visitleavenworthks.com

FRED HARVEY HOUSE All photos courtesy Leavenworth CVB

February 2022

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TOWN

h t r o w n e v Lea RIVERFRONT COMMUNITY CENTER

Leavenworth’s location on the western banks of the Missouri River, gave it a starring role in many historic movements. Fort Leavenworth was a key supply base for settlers on the Oregon and Santa Fe trails, earning it the moniker the “Post that opened the West.”

MEET IN..

Popular Attractions Fort Leavenworth, the longest continuously running military installation west of the Mississippi, figures heavily in the town’s atmosphere. “A lot of people come to town just to visit the fort and the Frontier Army Museum,” Lee said.

Thanks to Hollywood hype, Leavenworth is famed the world over for its five penitentiaries. None of the facilities allow public tours, but there are prison displays at the First City Museum, open Thursdays 1 to 4 p.m.

The Richard Allen Cultural Center is one of Leavenworth’s premier attractions highlighting African American history. The center hosts plays and musicals and displays artifacts like freedom papers from former slaves.

Now being restored, the Fred Harvey Museum will reopen later this year to educate visitors about how hospitality tamed the West, and the Carroll House Museum will transport visitors to Victorian-era Leavenworth.

LEAVENWORTH sas Kan

CVB Services The Leavenworth Convention and Visitors Bureau is happy to serve groups visiting Leavenworth. For example, the CVB can arrange site tours, marketing collateral, custom itineraries, step-on guides, name badges, welcome bags and more.

One of the CVB’s unique offerings is coordinating Harvey Girl Dinners. “Almost all of my group tours take advantage of the Harvey Girl Luncheons,” Lee said. Harvey Girls perform a skit and serve a full meal as groups learn about the history of Leavenworth.

Make History with your next meeting.

VISITLEAVENWORTHKS.COM 913-758-2948

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February 2022

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Southern Meeting Resorts

Meetdieng Gui

THE SONESTA RESORT HILTON HEAD ISLAND OFFERS LUXURIOUS YET COMFORTABLE SURROUNDINGS FOR MEETINGS AND EVENTS. Courtesy Sonesta Hilton Head

SONESTA RESORT HILTON HEAD ISLAND

R

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

esorts are fantastic spots for meeting groups to get away from the office and out into nature for a bit of relaxation and inspiration.

Groups that host events at these top-notch Southern resorts can take advantage of that and more, from paddleboarding, kayaking and hiking to competitions that involve outdoor adventures, shooting sports, golf and scavenger hunts.

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Hilton Head Island, South Carolina Set on an 11-acre beachfront property on South Carolina’s Hilton Head Island, the Sonesta Resort is a AAA Four Diamond property with 340 guest rooms and suites that have private balconies overlooking the Shipyard Plantation grounds, tropical gardens and the Atlantic Ocean.

Sonesta is the closest resort to the island’s restaurants, nightlife and shopping areas and includes a zero-entry lagoon swimming pool, a hot tub and a children’s area; Arum Spa; and four restaurant and dining options. Bayley’s Lobby Bar and Terrace offers atrium seating where guests can enjoy a morning coffee, afternoon refreshments or evening cocktails. Heyward’s Restaurant serves breakfast and dinner with fresh seafood and steaks. Seacrest has indoor and outdoor fireplaces, a patio and terrace seating and serves lunch, cocktails and small-plate evening appetizers.

Sweet Cane is poolside and features casual dining and walkup and poolside service for food and beverages.

The resort tailors leisure activities to the meeting group, including golf outings at the neighboring Shipyard Golf Club, with 27 holes, a practice facility and clubhouse, and tennis at Van Der Meer Shipyard

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Tennis Resort, which has 14 clay, six hard and three enclosed tennis courts. The resort has over 12 miles of beach and a variety of beach equipment available for guests to enjoy.

Meeting groups can take advantage of the resort’s 23,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 10,000-square-foot ballroom, a covered 7,000-square-foot room overlooking the ocean and the Shipyard Beach Club, with 4,000 square feet of indoor space and an oceanfront deck that can accommodate up to 1,100 guests. sonesta.com

AN EVENT PAVILION AT SONESTA RESORT HILTON HEAD ISLAND

OGLEBAY RESORT AND CONFERENCE CENTER

Wheeling, West Virginia Oglebay Resort and Conference Center in Wheeling, West Virginia, is in a 2,000-acre city park that was established 90 years ago when Earl Oglebay gifted his land to the city. The property features four golf courses, including two championship courses and a nine-hole short course with a driving range, as well as a small ski hill, a 254-room lodge, 54 cottages, seven restaurants, a full-service spa that offers wellness classes and more than 30,000 square feet of meeting space. With 35 species of endangered animals, the Good Zoo, on property, is the only accredited zoo in West Virginia, and the Bissonnette Gardens is a re-creation of the many gardens that surrounded the summer home of Earl Oglebay in the early 1900s. The property also has several hiking trails.

Meeting groups can stay at the resort, which can host conferences for up to 500 people. The 8,000-square-foot Glesner Ballroom, the property’s flagship meeting space, can hold 325 people for a banquet or 400 for a reception. The resort recently finished renovating all of its meeting spaces, stepping up the technology in each room with audiovisual systems and the ability to host virtual conferences.

Team-building activities include scavenger hunts across the property, a miniature golf course, hiking trails and Segway tours through the property. From November through January, Oglebay hosts its Festival of Lights, which features over 1 million lights and more than 100 displays along a 6-mile drive through the park. Groups also can enjoy two museums on property: the Earl Oglebay Mansion Museum and the Glass Museum, which offers glassblowing demonstrations and workshops. oglebay.com

Set on an 11-acre beachfront property on South Carolina’s Hilton Head Island, the Sonesta Resort is a AAA Four Diamond property that overlooks the Shipyard Plantation grounds, tropical gardens and the Atlantic Ocean.

Courtesy Sonesta Hilton Head

OGLEBAY MANSION AT THE OGLEBAY RESORT Courtesy Oglebay Resort

February 2022

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Meetieng Guid

BEST WESTERN INN OF THE OZARKS

Eureka Springs, Arkansas The Inn of the Ozarks in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, is not your typical Best Western. On 15 acres situated between two lakes, the property is more like a mountain resort of old. It has a beautiful swimming pool with a waterfall flowing into it, a game area with a nine-hole miniature golf course, video games and table tennis. It features basketball and volleyball courts and a large Foot Pool area, where guests can play billiards with their feet.

A city trolley system helps guests get around without hopping in their car. Five routes around the community allow visitors to enjoy the scenery and many attractions in Eureka Springs and shop in the town’s historic district. The property has so much open space that it can host large outdoor events as well as more traditional meetings and conferences.

The inn has 122 guest rooms and 18,000 square feet of meeting space that includes a 5,600-square-foot ballroom that can seat 825 people for a banquet, 10 meeting and banquet rooms and a poolside pavilion. The property has two kitchens: one for the restaurant and one dedicated to banquets and catering.

Eureka Springs is known for “The Great Passion Play,” a large outdoor theater presentation of the last days of Jesus Christ’s life. When groups aren’t meeting on property, they can attend the production, tour the Holy Land replica and visit the Christ of the Ozarks statue. innoftheozarks.com

BEST WESTERN INN OF THE OZARKS

Courtesy Best Western Inn of the Ozarks

RITZ-CARLTON REYNOLDS, LAKE OCONEE

Greensboro, Georgia The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2022. It recently underwent a complete renovation of guest rooms and suites that included the private cottages and Lake House, a new Ritz-Kids Clubhouse and the family pool. Just outside Atlanta on Lake Oconee, the resort offers plenty of activities to keep meeting groups and their families occupied, among them hiking through the Georgia pines, boating and watersports on the lake.

Nearby, guests can enjoy the Reynolds Lake Club Tennis Center, play a round of golf at one of five local courses or spend a day at the Sandy Creek Sporting Grounds.

THE WATERFRONT AT THE RITZ-CARLTON REYNOLDS, LAKE OCONEE

The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2022. It recently underwent a complete renovation of guest rooms and suites that included the private cottages and Lake House, a new Ritz-Kids Clubhouse and the family pool.

Courtesy Ritz-Carlton Reynolds

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Meet in

Valdosta

Rainwater Conference Center Unique Meeting Venues February 2022

In an ideal location right off I-75,Valdosta is the perfect crossing point for your next meeting. Choose from a variety of venue locations including the historic Crescent building, the tap room at Georgia Beer, or an open-air oasis at Quail Branch Lodge. Experience southern hospitality at its finest in the heart of South Georgia.

With 38,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, we will skillfully manage your event up to 650.

From Georgia’s southernmost brewery to an open-air countryside setting, you’ll find the perfect venue for your next meeting.

VisitValdosta.org/Meet

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Meetieng Guid A LAKESIDE FIRE GLOBE AT THE RITZ-CARLTON REYNOLDS, LAKE OCONEE

The resort can accommodate groups of many sizes, from intimate board meetings to large conferences. Its 58,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space include the Linger Longer Ballroom in the Oconee Clubhouse; the Forest Tent; an 8,000-square-foot covered outdoor space that can host groups of 200 for a banquet; the Pavilion, a 6,000-square-foot venue; an 1820s barn for a more rustic setting; and several conference rooms and ballrooms. There are 251 guest rooms on property and plenty of fun things to do year-round.

In the summer, groups enjoy boating, fishing and watersports like kayaking and paddleboarding on the lake or relaxing by the pools. In the winter, they can roast s’mores by the firepit or go ice skating at the lakefront rink. ritzcarlton.com

CHETOLA RESORT

Blowing Rock, North Carolina Chetola is in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, just a short drive to the famous Blue Ridge Parkway. Nestled on 78 acres with a beautiful lake, the resort is great for smaller meetings and conferences of 50 to 75 attendees.

Guests can enjoy the Highlands Sports and Recreation Center on-site, which has a heated indoor pool, a gym, personal training and fitness classes. Chetola Lake offers swimming, boating and other watersports, and the property has tennis, volleyball, spikeball and pickleball courts; fishing clinics; a nine-hole disc golf course; and a Courtesy Ritz-Carlton Reynolds

OUR MOUNTAINS ARE EXCITED TO MEET YOU.

Once your meetings are complete, entertainment galore among the Great Smoky Mountains await. The many meeting facilities in Pigeon Forge provide space for groups of all sizes, from 20 to 12,000. These facilities are conveniently situated mere minutes from hundreds of family-friendly activities, including shows, Dollywood, unique dining experiences, museums and so many more ways to make work fun.

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Reserve the place where New Orleans goes to meet and unwind.

Next to New Orleans is Jefferson Parish, featuring a world-class airport, two convention centers, 8,000 hotel rooms, unique venues, and outdoor adventures. When you’re ready, let us plan your next event and a down-south adventure.

Jefferson Parish is a Clean & Safe Destination committed to the safety and well-being of our community and visitors. For more information visit www.visitjeffersonparish.com/pledge

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Meetieng Guid CHETOLA RESORT

three-hole practice course. Chetola Sporting Reserve has archery, pistol and rifle ranges and sporting clays and offers Orvis fly-fishing excursions. The resort has numerous maintained hiking trails and offers guided hikes on property.

Because Chetola is a resort, food and beverages are all part of the package. People can stay in the 42-room lodge, which was fully renovated in 2019 and overlooks the lake, or they can rent one of the 75 condos the resort manages for a more intimate experience.

The lodge has six main meeting rooms for rent that can host groups of up to 100 people; outdoor meeting spaces are also available.

The resort is in a college town, so there are plenty of opportunities to bring in experts from the university for training or educational seminars. The resort also partners with local businesses for whiskey or wine tastings and cooking demonstrations. Teambuilding includes competitions at Chetola Reserve, game shows, scavenger hunts, cardboard boat races and outdoor adventures. chetola.com

Courtesy Chetola Resort

2022 Planner Incentive Program on the

LOUISIANA NORTHSHORE Our full-service sales team is here to assist you with hosting your next meeting in St. Tammany Parish by June 30, 2022. Qualified overnight stays are eligible to receive a special incentive!

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M e e t t h e c o o l e s t c o l l e g e t o w n i n t h e S o u t h . A n d h i s h i p o l d e r s i s t e r. aotourism.com

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FAMILIES ENJOY RELAXING AT THE ANAKEESTA THEME PARK IN GATLINBURG.

Southern Family Favorites

Meetdieng Gui

Courtesy Gatlinburg CVB

GATLINBURG, TENNESSEE

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BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

dventures for families abound in Southern meeting destinations, with beaches, swamps and woods to explore, as well as aquariums, museums and amusement parks that are fun for groups of all ages. Here are some cities around the region that prove popular with event attendees and their families.

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Surrounded on three sides by Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is an arts and crafts community and a nature lover’s dream. A loop road around the city takes visitors to arts and crafts shops where they can buy art and participate in making it.

The Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts offers workshops in painting, woodworking, drawing and ceramics, and many visiting meeting groups will use the courses as team-building exercises.

The area’s major attractions include Ober Gatlinburg Amusement Park and Ski Area, a year-round entertainment venue with an indoor ice skating rink, a snowless tubing hill, a mountain coaster and kiddie rides. It also can host receptions for up to 250 people.

Visitors love to walk across the Gatlinburg Skybridge, the longest pedestrian cable bridge in North America, stretching nearly 700 feet across the valley at Gatlinburg Skylift Park. Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies is small but a family favorite, with 8,500 sea creatures in a large saltwater lagoon. Dolly Parton’s 160-acre Dollywood theme park is only six miles away in Pigeon Forge and offers fun for kids of all ages.

Meeting planners can host groups of up to 6,000 people at the Gatlinburg Convention Center, which has 148,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. The facility is easy walking distance to downtown

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attractions, dining, shopping and lodging. The largest full-service hotel in the area, the Park Vista, has 300 guest rooms and 25,000 square feet of meeting space. Glenstone Lodge, three blocks from downtown, has more than 200 guest rooms and 10,000 square feet of meeting space. gatlinburg.com

WATERFRONT DINING IN PENSACOLA

PENSACOLA, FLORIDA

Groups that want a great Florida beach experience will enjoy staying in Pensacola with its 52 miles of wide-open public beaches. Pensacola’s downtown area is full of restaurants, shops, historic museums and entertainment, making it a wonderful destination for families.

On the beach, Lagunas Adventure Park has a large ropes course, a zip rail and go karts, but visiting groups can also enjoy dolphin cruises, kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkeling, fishing and diving. Families enjoy taking in a Blue Angels Airshow or visiting Fort Pickens, one of four military forts in the area that is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. Visitors can tour the fort, explore trails, bird-watch, fish or play on the beach.

The largest naval aviation museum in the country calls Pensacola home. It is free to visit and makes a great off-site event venue beneath the bellies of the airplanes.

The Hilton Pensacola Beach is the largest full-service hotel, with 30,000 square feet of meeting space and 272 hotel rooms.

The Holiday Inn Resort Pensacola Beach Gulf Front is a family-friendly hotel with 10,000 square feet of meeting space and 206 guest rooms. It has a heated lazy river pool with waterfalls, two hot tubs, a tiki bar and live music. The Margaritaville Beach Hotel and Landshark Landing sits on a golf course and Landshark Landing, which is a great location for big retreats and outdoor activities that use the water. It has 3,000 square feet of meeting space and 162 guest rooms. visitpensacola.com

Courtesy Visit Pensacola

EXPLORING LOST RIVER CAVE IN BOWLING GREEN

BOWLING GREEN, KENTUCKY

Visitors flock to Bowling Green, Kentucky, because of its spectacular outdoor experiences and its caves, including the Lost River Cave, smack-dab in the middle of town. It offers the only underground boat tour in Kentucky, as well as zip lines, hiking trails, a playscape and a butterfly habitat. Groups can host meetings or events inside the entrance to the cave. Car lovers will want to make a stop at the National Corvette Museum or tour the GM Corvette Assembly Plant.

Downtown Bowling Green is very walkable, with locally owned shops and restaurants. The historic Rail Park and Train Museum is a two-story museum inside the old L&N depot. Guided tours take guests through the rail cars. Beach Bend Park and Splash Lagoon is an amusement park with miniature golf, gokarts, coasters and a water park. Mammoth Cave National Park, the longest known cave system in the world, is only one hour south of town and offers tours daily.

Courtesy Bowling Green Area CVB

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Meetieng Guid Meeting planners can find what they need at the 60,000-squarefoot Sloane Convention Center, which was just renovated with a modernized lobby and new carpeting and lighting. The center is in the heart of town near the main strip of shopping and restaurants, and there are 444 hotel rooms surrounding it, including the 218-room Holiday Inn University Plaza, which is attached to it. The Embassy Suites is expected to open this spring with 199 rooms and 9,000 square feet of meeting space. visitbgky.com

A LIGHTHOUSE ON NORTH CAROLINA’S CRYSTAL COAST

CRYSTAL COAST, NORTH CAROLINA

North Carolina’s Crystal Coast is famous for its white sand beaches and water activities, but it also has many attractions to keep visitors of all ages entertained. The North Carolina Maritime Museum houses artifacts from Blackbeard’s ship, the Queen Anne’s Revenge, which ran aground near Beaufort, North Carolina, in 1718.

Beaufort, founded in the late 1600s, has about 150 restored historic homes. The Beaufort Historic Site in the historic district depicts 18th- and 19th-century coastal Carolina. The 2-acre site is open to the public year-round and features an old courthouse and county jail. Groups can take a guided tour of the buildings on the property year-round or take a Double-Decker Bus Tour of the historic site.

Kids will enjoy the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores and history tours and fort adventures at Fort Macon State Park. Boat tours will take groups to see the wild horses of Shackleford Banks, spot dolphins and tour the Cape Lookout Lighthouse.

The Crystal Coast Civic Center in Morehead City, North Carolina, has 20,000 square feet of space that can host groups of up to 1,000 people, including a waterfront patio that overlooks Bogue Sound.

The Beaufort Hotel has a large ballroom that can accommodate up to 300 and outdoor venues for larger gatherings. The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Atlantic Beach Oceanfront features 200 guest rooms and meeting spaces that can host groups of up to 800. In total, the Crystal Coast has about 1,700 hotel rooms and more than 5,000 vacation rentals. crystalcoastnc.org

NORTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM AT PINE KNOLL SHORES

LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA

Considered the Festival Capital of Louisiana, Lake Charles goes all out for Mardi Gras, with more than 60 krewes participating in its parade, gumbo cookoffs, a shoebox Mardi Gras float contest, glittery costumes bedecked with feathers and ornate masks, and all the king cake you can eat.

Creole Nature Trail Adventure Point in Sulphur, Louisiana, is a fun, free attraction that gives visitors a taste of Cajun/Creole cuisine, shows them where to spot alligators and birds in the nearby marshes and bayous and introduces them to the toe-tapping sounds of Cajun and zydeco music. It is the gateway to the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road, a scenic byway that takes visitors through marshlands and along 26 miles of Gulf of Mexico beaches fantastic for fishing, crabbing and water fun.

Photos courtesy Crystal Coast Tourism Authority

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LIVE it up

WANT A BETTER VACATION? Raise your expectations.

VisitLakeCharles.org February 2022

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Meetieng Guid

Groups can take guided kayak and ecotours through fresh and saltwater marshes, cypress swamps, native coastal prairies and pine forest plantations. Kids will enjoy Game2Life, an entertainment venue with iCombat, an immersive, tactical laser tag game, and axe throwing.

The 83,260-square-foot Lake Charles Civic Center is the largest meeting facility in the area; it sits right on the lake and has fabulous views of the water. The West Cal Arena and Events Center in Sulphur has 17,705 square feet of space. Lake Charles, Louisiana, has 5,734 lodge rooms across 58 hotel properties. The largest are the Golden Nugget Lake Charles, with 1,100 sleeping rooms and 29,305 square feet of meeting space, and the L’Auberge Casino Resort, with 1,000 sleeping rooms and 26,000 square feet of meeting space. Unique venues include a former grocery store turned events center and the Historic Calcasieu Marine National Bank, where groups can host events inside the former vault. visitlakecharles.org

A MARDI GRAS PARADE IN LAKE CHARLES Courtesy Lake Charles/SWLA CVB

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241 S College St.

334.821.8200

auhcc.com

@hotelatauburn

Meetings Are Back, Contact Our Team TODAY!

INDOOR MEETINGS. OUTDOOR OASIS.

With 221 guest rooms and more than 15,000 square feet of interior event space, including a modern conference center and Grand Ballroom, the Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort & Spa is ready to host your next great meeting or event. The zero-entry resort pool complex offers private cabanas and a pool bar, while a full-service spa awaits to relax and rejuvenate both body and mind. The resort also boasts 54 holes of world-class golf on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Grand National, as well as tennis and pickleball, all in one resort location.

To learn more call 800.593.6456 or visit MarriottGrandNational.com.

AUBURN MARRIOTT OPELIKA RESORT & SPA AT GRAND NATIONAL 3700 ROBERT TRENT JONES TRAIL OPELIKA, AL 36801 MARRIOTTGRANDNATIONAL.COM

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THERE ARE MORE THAN 18,000 HOTEL ROOMS AND CONDO UNITS IN THE GULF SHORES AREA.

Meetdieng Gui

The Waterfront South

Courtesy Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism

GULF SHORES AND ORANGE BEACH, ALABAMA

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BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

rom pristine white sand beaches to top-notch golf courses, rich cultural heritage, amazing wildlife and every type of watersport imaginable, waterfront destinations in the South are wonderful locations for meeting planners who don’t want to work that hard to attract people to their events. Consider some of these beach and riverside destinations for your next event.

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Gulf Shores and Orange Beach in Alabama are prime destinations for meeting groups that want to lie out on white sugar sand beaches, get out on the water or play a round of golf at one of the area’s 15 golf courses. Kiva Dunes, right on the water, and the Craft Farms Golf Resort are two of the most popular courses in the area.

There are more than 200 locally owned restaurants in the area, which is on the southernmost tip of Alabama on the Gulf of Mexico.

The area is also home to the Coastal Arts Center and the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo. Water lovers will appreciate playing in the saltwater of the Gulf, the brackish water of the back bays or the freshwater lakes in Gulf State Park.

There are more than 18,000 hotels rooms and condo units, as well as hundreds of beach houses along the water. Springhill Suites at The Wharf in Orange Beach is adjacent to the 18,000-square-foot Orange Beach Event Center, located on the Intracoastal Waterway. The center can host groups of up to 2,500 people. The Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach, with its 344 guest rooms and 40,000 square feet of

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meeting space, and the Lodge at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shore, with its 350 sleeping rooms and 40,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, are both full-service hotels and offer the largest meeting spaces in the area. In their free time, groups can organize sunset or dolphin cruises, take glassblowing or pottery classes at the Coastal Arts Center or learn to build the best sandcastles at Sandcastle University. gulfshores.com

KIVA DUNES GOLF CLUB IN GULF SHORES

VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA

Virginia Beach, Virginia, is where the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay meet and offers plenty of oceanfront resorts and fun water activities from which to choose. The city has seven distinct districts to explore. The Oceanfront district sits on a 3-mile-long boardwalk that features restaurants, shopping and entertainment. Some of the area’s top meeting resorts are right on the beach for easy access to the Atlantic.

In their downtime, attendees can grab a kayak or a paddleboard and enjoy the many waterways around Virginia Beach, take a whale- or dolphin-watching tour or visit the Virginia Beach Aquarium, the Military Aviation Museum, the Cape Henry Light House or the Surf and Rescue Museum.

A short drive south of the boardwalk, Sandbridge offers secluded beaches and sand dunes to explore; there’s also the marshes, the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park, where they can go kayaking, hiking, fishing and wildlife watching. First Landing State Park fronts the Chesapeake Bay and commemorates the 1607 arrival of the first English settlers in America.

Meeting planners have their pick of meeting venues, with the 500,000-square-foot Virginia Beach Convention Center being the largest and just about every oceanfront hotel and resort offering at least one small meeting space. The Holiday Inn Virginia Beach-Norfolk Hotel and Conference Center has 317 sleeping rooms and 22,000 square feet of meeting space that can host banquets for up to 450, while the Marriott Virginia Beach Oceanfront has 25,000 square feet, including a 10,738-square-foot ballroom and 305 sleeping rooms. The Founders Inn and Spa, though not on the beach, has 40,000 square feet of meeting space and 240 guest rooms. visitvirginiabeach.com

Courtesy Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism

A PADDLE-BOARDING ADVENTURE IN VIRGINIA BEACH

FORT MYERS AND SANIBEL, FLORIDA

In Florida, Fort Myers and Sanibel have 50 miles of white sand beaches, over 12,000 hotel rooms and nearly 300,000 square feet of meeting space to choose from. Crystal-clear turquoise water, secluded islands, pristine beaches and a plethora of wildlife are the main attractions. Meeting attendees can go parasailing, rent watercraft, take a cruise out on the water or step back in time at the Mound House Museum, where they can learn about the

Courtesy VA Beach CVB

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Meetieng Guid native Calusa who lived in the area 2,000 years ago. The site also offers guided kayak tours along the Great Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail and Estero Bay. Luminary Hotel and Co. in downtown Fort Myers boasts 243 guest rooms and several smaller meeting spaces and is connected to the 41,176-square-foot Caloosa Sound Convention Center. The hotel has a rooftop bar, two restaurants and the Workshop, a stateof-the-art culinary theater.

The Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa in Bonita Springs has its own private island. It takes about 20 minutes to get to the island by boat, but the ride is anything but boring, with pelicans, dolphins, eagles and osprey vying for your attention. The property has 82,500 square feet of meeting space.

The South Seas Island Resort resides within a 330-acre wildlife preserve on 2.5 miles of white sand beaches at the end of Sanibel and Captiva Islands. The resort has 20 pools, guided cruises on the bay and a beachfront golf course. It has 28,000 square feet of meeting space.

The Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort and Spa has 45,000 square feet of meeting space and a luxurious 40,000-square-foot spa, a private fishing pier, a game room and a 100-foot yacht. visitfortmyers.com

A TROPICAL-THEMED EVENT AT A FORT MYERS HOTEL

Courtesy the Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel

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The South Seas Island Resort resides within a 330-acre wildlife preserve on 2.5 miles of white sand beaches at the end of Sanibel and Captiva Islands.

The resort has 20 pools, guided cruises on the bay and a beachfront golf course.

MEETINGS WAGERS RACES EVENTS CHEERS LEGENDS

A BEACH CELEBRATION IN FORT MYERS

DINING WINS COCKTAILS

ARKANSAS’ ONLY CASINO RESORT HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS

GROUP SALES: (501) 363-4611 or dkacena@oaklawn.com Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700.

RACING • CASINO • HOTEL S PA • E V E N T C E N T E R • D I N I N G Courtesy the Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel

February 2022

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Meetieng Guid

BAY ST. LOUIS, MISSISSIPPI

SUNSET OVER BAY ST. LOUIS

Courtesy Coastal Mississippi

Bay St. Louis is just one of the many beautiful waterfront destinations in coastal Mississippi. Not only is it close to the many fun attractions in Gulfport and Biloxi, Mississippi, but it has a deep connection to African American history and culture. One of the area’s top meeting venues, 100 Men Hall, is on the Mississippi Blues Trail.

The hall, founded in 1894, became one of the few places in the South where Black musicians could perform in the era of segregation, hosting legendary musicians such as Ray Charles, Etta James and Sam Cooke. The hall can hold about 400 people for a reception or concert.

Meeting attendees can take a scenic cruise out on the bay and along the Jordan River and its tributaries with Tiki Cruises; dine, grab a drink, or shop along the waterfront; or visit the Bay St. Louis Historic L&N Train Depot, which houses the Bay St. Louis Mardi Gras Museum and the Alice Moseley Folk Art Museum. Bay St. Louis has small, protected beaches to enjoy along the bay.

The Hollywood Casino and Resort Gulf Coast is the largest hotel in the area, with 291 rooms and 14,000 square feet of meeting space.

Its Bridges Golf Club offers lessons at its 11-acre practice facility, and the staff can organize group outings or tournaments for the casino’s guests. It also has meeting and banquet facilities. The Pearl Hotel, a brand-new 53-room hotel right on the water downtown, has a smaller event space for about 40 people that opens onto the pool.

The Longfellow Civic Center is a 4,500-square-foot assembly space with views of the waterfront and downtown. gulfcoast.org

NATCHITOCHES, LOUISIANA

FRONT STREET IN NATCHITOCHES

Natchitoches, Louisiana, sits on Cane River and is the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase territory, dating back to 1714. The 33-block Natchitoches National Historic Landmark District is full of bed-and-breakfasts, historic churches and bricklined streets. Free guided walking tours of the area are available.

The former Red River tributary is now a lake in the middle of downtown. Visitors can rent boats to get out on the water and even host events on the riverbank. The Cane River Queen Riverboat is a 60-passenger paddle wheeler that takes groups on scenic tours of the lake; it can also be rented out for board meetings or social hours. The Cane River Brewing Company, which is in a restored cotton seed oil plant, also has a large events space.

The Natchitoches Event Center can accommodate groups of up to 1,000 about a block from the water. Two boutique hotels are nearby, the Chateau St. Denis Hotel and the Church Street Inn, an old bank building converted into a 20-room boutique hotel. The Chateau has 87 rooms and meeting space for up to 200 people. The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and the Northwest Louisiana History Museum were designed to look like a Creole plantation with louvred windows. Groups can tour the museums or host their conference’s opening reception there. natchitoches.com

By Brian Jarreau, courtesy Natchitoches CVB

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visitknoxville.com/meetings