Small Market Meetings January 2021

MEETING HOTELS | GLENDALE, ARIZONA | HEARTLAND MEETING GUIDE JANUARY 2021

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ARKANSAS.COM/GROUP-TRAVEL

With Harrisonburg’s P ledge Affirming Trusted Hospitality rest assured, your safety and well-being are our top priority!

Meet in the Friendly City

Harrisonburg offers small-town hospitality with the convenience of urban amenities. An equally short drive from Washington, D.C. and Richmond make Harrisonburg the perfect place to meet. Whether your group is large or small, Harrisonburg is ready to accommodate with 2,000 hotel rooms available. Consider the Friendly City for your next meeting.

Hotel Madison & Shenandoah Valley Conference Center with 230 hotel rooms, 21,000 sq ft meeting space within walking distance to charming Downtown Harrisonburg, an award-winning arts & culinary district.

ON THE COVER: The “Arc of Dreams” sculptural monument spans the Big Sioux River in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Photo courtesy South Dakota Tourism

INSIDE VOLUME 22 | ISSUE 1

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MANAGING CVBs 101

18

IDEAS Meetings at Hotels

CITY Sioux Falls, South Dakota

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MEETING GUIDE America’s Heartland

D E PA R T M E N T S

6 INSIGHTS Warming Winter Events

8 CONFERENCE 12StevePROFILE Small Market Mickley Meetings Summit Preview

SMALL MARKET MEETINGS is published monthly by Pioneer Publishing, Inc., 301 E. High St., Lexington, KY 40507, and is distributed free of charge to qualified meeting planners who plan meetings in small and medium size towns and cities. All other meeting industry suppliers may subscribe by sending a check for $39 for one year to: Small Market Meetings, Circulation Department, 301 East High St., Lexington, KY 40507. Phone (866) 356-5128 (toll-free) or (859) 253-0503. Fax: (859) 253-0499. Copyright SMALL MARKET MEETINGS, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of editorial or graphic content in any manner without the written consent of the publisher is prohibited.

TO ADVERTISE CALL KYLE ANDERSON 866-356-5128

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Mac T. Lacy Publisher/Partner

Brian Jewell VP & Managing Editor

Kelly Tyner VP, Sales & Marketing

Donia Simmons Creative Director

Herbert Sparrow Executive Editor/Partner

Ashley Ricks Graphic Designer

Kyle Anderson Director, Advertising Sales

Christine Clough Copy Editor

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Rena Baer Proofreader

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Courtesy Great Wolf Lodge Traverse City

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Most popular vacation destination in the world.

(For 600,000 Sandhill Cranes)

Kearney, where the Heartland gathers.

It’s not just the 600,000 Sandhill Cranes that gather in our rivers and fields. Every year Kearney hosts more than 1,350 events. Everything from the Shrine Bowl to conferences large and small makes their way here. You know why? Because Kearney has the best facilities between Omaha and Denver, experienced staff and wonderful volunteers that make sure every event that comes to town is taken care of.

If you’re looking for a host city for your next event make sure you look at Kearney. Those 600,000 Sandhill Cranes are on to something.

Meet In Kear ney.co m

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KEARNEY visitors bureau

NEBRASKA

INSIGHTS WITH VICKIE MITCHELL

WARM UP THE WINTER

“W

e cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.”

Throughout the pandemic, this Dolly Parton quote has been posted in the window of a small shop in my neighborhood. I like the quote nearly as much as I like the tiny woman with big hair.

The Dolly quote reminds me to shift my sails and invent new ways to safely enjoy life and the people around me. It’s especially important with winter on the doorstep.

Meetings and events usually take place inside during the colder months, but being outdoors with others is ultimately safer during a pandemic. So here are five ways to add warmth and cheer by moving post-meeting gatherings outside.

Here are five ways to gather outdoors during cold weather

Head south and soak up the sun

Light a fire

In most of the country, it won’t be warm enough to sit outdoors in the winter without an auxiliary heat source. No wonder outdoor heaters are flying off shelves. Look for hotels and resorts with fire pits, outdoor heaters or fireplaces, and sheltered courtyards to cut the wind. If an outdoor event is part of the plan, send attendees ideas for a winter-worthy outfit.

Outside magazine suggests layers: a thin base layer — what we used to call long underwear — of wool, silk or synthetic to wick moisture away, topped with warm wool or fleece topped with a puffy coat, filled with down or synthetic down. A warm hat, good gloves or mittens, thick socks and insulated boots complete the outfit. Nice hosts will hand out inexpensive hand-warmer packets to drop in gloves or pockets.

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Perhaps the easiest way to get warm is to head south.

According to currentresults.com, Florida is the warmest state in the continental U.S. in the winter months. The state is also blessed with about 1,200 miles of coastline.

Resorts and hotels rise up from many of its beaches, so it’s easy to find a nice property where groups can gather in the sand, on a pool deck or on a lawn under palm trees.

In Clearwater Beach near Tampa, for example, the 196room Postcard Inn on the Beach is totally modern with a vintage surfer vibe. It has a large open-air tiki bar, a roomy pool, palm-shaded gardens and fire pits surrounded by Adirondack chairs. Looking for other warm states in the winter? Try Louisiana, including the small towns north of Lake Pontchartrain, a more peaceful alternative to New Orleans; Texas, where beaches beckon in Galveston; and Georgia, where there’s plenty of shade under live oaks in Savannah or Augusta.

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Sing — or story tell — around the campfire

Sitting around a fire, even at a social distance, is a natural way to build camaraderie. Boost the campfire feeling by adding a little light entertainment. Ask the hotel or local convention bureau to help locate talent or do a little sleuthing yourself.

Want live music? Call the music department at a local college or do as a friend of mine did and hire a local street musician to play a saxophone or guitar in the background. Another option: Enlist a professional storyteller.

The International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, Tennessee, is a good place to start; watch some of the country’s best storytellers on the center’s website, then find a state or local storytelling association near your meeting location.

Area museums and history centers are good resources as well. Montgomery History, a nonprofit in Montgomery County, Maryland, has more than 75 programs from which to choose, including one about a local pet cemetery where various D.C. movers and shakers have laid their pets to rest.

Take a vigorous walk

Hikers know that layers of clothing and vigorous walks create quick body heat. Winter walks in the woods or along city streets also get people talking, sharing and laughing. It’s a way to unwind, see the sights and get better acquainted. At a resort or state park, line up a naturalist and turn a walk into a learning experience. Outdoor centers often offer nighttime hikes where nocturnal creatures like owls or the nighttime sky entertain.

In cities, it can be fun to walk through a quiet downtown that’s tucked in for the night, windows alight. Or stroll through historic neighborhoods: Colonial-era Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, stretches along the Potomac and has self-guided architecture, art, waterfront and mural tours, as well as guided history tours. Or explore German Village in Columbus, Ohio. The lovingly preserved historic area’s charm makes this neighborhood of tightly bunched brick homes one of the city’s most-desired places to live.

January 2021

Cocoa, coffee or tea?

Heat up happy hour

No one wants to hold an icy cocktail in their mittens as they sit by the fire. Thankfully, there are many ways to turn hot tea, coffee, cocoa and ciders into adult beverages — or not — and heat up happy hour.

Some winter cocktails are almost medicinal, like a high-end Chicago restaurant’s Cure for the Chicago Cold, a mix of bourbon, Aperol, lemon juice, simple syrup and hot tea that’s a play on the classic hot toddy. Farther South, a Southern Limerick at Nashville’s Pinewood Social bar gives brewed coffee a kick by adding rye whisky and amaro.

Guests at the historic Deer Park Inn in Lake Forest, Illinois, feel like they have landed in England with this renovated property’s grand Tudor style, afternoon tea and gardens. In the winter, they can ask for one of the bar’s specialty drinks, like the Red Velvet Hot Chocolate, with whipped-creamflavored vodka, hazelnut liqueur, brandy and whipped cream on top.

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SMALL MARKET

MEETINGS SUMMIT

SMALL MARKET MEETINGS SUMMIT DEBUTS IN MAY

M

BY DAN DICKSON

eeting planners that have attended the annual Small Market Meetings Conference will have an exciting new option to consider in 2021. A boutique event called the Small Market Meetings Summit will debut May 12-13 at the Sheraton Golf and Spa Resort in Panama City Beach, Florida.

PIER PARK SITS ON THE GORGEOUS EMERALD COASTLINE IN PANAMA CITY BEACH, HOST OF THE SMALL MARKET MEETINGS SUMMIT.

The regular Small Market Meetings Conference will still take place September 26-28, 2021, in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Planners may choose to attend one gathering or the other, but not both.

Unlike the usual conference format that features up to 50 one-onone business appointments between meeting planners and destination providers, the Summit is one day shorter but structured to include more of the key people who can help planners select a meeting site.

“What makes the Summit unique is you have meeting planners gathering with a specific group of individuals from a single location,” said Charlie Presley, conference partner and founder of The Group Travel Family, which stages the conferences. “Planners meet with three principals who may represent a city’s convention and visitors bureau, or one or two hotels, or an upscale meeting venue, or any combination of that.”

These representatives will work together as a team to sell their city as a meetings destination. There will be a total of 25 meeting slots offered, split between morning and afternoon sessions, and they will be 12 minutes long instead of the usual six minutes.

MEETING SAFELY During this time of concern over COVID-19, people are naturally assuming responsibility for traveling and gathering safely, whether in an airport, on a flight or in a hotel or conference setting. Presley said the Summit’s staff is working diligently to have safeguards ready for the safety of every participant.

“We have already hosted conferences in the COVID era and have done so safely and successfully,” said Presley. “We know what we are

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Photos courtesy Visit Panama City Beach

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

PANAMA CITY BEACH’S SHERATON BAY POINT RESORT FEATURES A SPA, GOLF COURSE AND BREEZY DECOR.

doing and will have safety precautions in place, as we did with Small Market Meetings Conference last October in French Lick, Indiana.”

Presley said that everyone involved in the Summit is affiliated with the travel industry and that meetings and conferences are simply going to happen.

“There is a built-up demand for them, and we all need to lead the way to a safe return to travel,” he said. “We can’t stop the world. And if we don’t lead the way, who will?”

REGISTER NOW Registration for the Summit is open, but planners must meet certain requirements to be one of the 25 meeting planners that join the conference.

January 2021

“They must be highly qualified and quite active in the small- to medium-size markets we promote for convention and conference business,” said Presley, who added that planners will also get a more detailed, in-depth look at the Summit’s host city, Panama City Beach.

TO REGISTER FOR THE 2021 SMALL MARKET MEETINGS SUMMIT IN PANAMA CITY BEACH, CONTACT JANINE EMANUEL AT 800-628-0993, OR JEMANUEL@GROUPTRAVELFAMILY.COM

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JOIN US FOR A SITE VISIT TO AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA, IN OCTOBER

A

re you looking for a SITE INSPECTION ATTENDEES WILL ENJOY THE PICTURESQUE DOWNTOWN AND DISTINCTIVE EQUESTRIAN distinctive, high-end HERITAGE IN AIKEN, AN IDEAL DESTINATION FOR INCENTIVE, RETREAT AND EXECUTIVE MEETINGS. destination for your incentive, retreat, golf or executive meetings?

Discover a hidden gem in Aiken, South Carolina, when you join Small Market Meetings for a site inspection there this fall.

Known for its polo heritage, equestrian culture, luxury golf courses and the distinctive Willcox Hotel, Aiken is perfectly situated to host small gatherings for groups seeking a unique, upscale environment. You can discover the city’s charm and event venues yourself when you join the staff of Small Market Meetings in Aiken in October.

The City of Aiken Tourism Division is inviting up to 10 of our meeting planner readers to enjoy a four-day site inspection trip, HERB SPARROW KELLY TYNER October 26-29. Qualified meeting planners will be guests of the City of Aiken staff and will enjoy visiting accommodations, small meeting venues and attractions around the city.

If you are selected to attend, the City of Aiken will reimburse your airfare up to $450.

Photos courtesy City of Aiken “Join Small Market Meetings’ executive editor, Herb Sparrow, and Kelly Tyner, our VP of sales and marketing, for this fun and educational site inspection trip to experience Aiken’s APPLICANTS WILL COMPLETE A BRIEF COMPANY PROFILE unique golf and equestrian community, as well as its distincONLINE THAT WILL BE USED BY THE CITY OF AIKEN TO SELECT tive meeting venues,” said publisher Mac Lacy. “Herb and Kelly will accompany our Aiken hosts on this trip and will be ATTENDEES. REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS JUNE 1. sharing their travel experiences with everyone in attendance.”

TO SUBMIT YOUR PROFILE, GO TO All accommodations, sightseeing, transportation and SMALLMARKETMEETINGS.COM/AIKEN-FAM. meals are included once participants arrive in Aiken. This IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, CALL KELLY AT 888-253-0455. readership event and site inspection tour is limited to 10 qualified planners of incentive, retreat, golf and executive meetings.

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www.smallmarketmeetings.com

MEETING LEADERS

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

STEVE MICKLEY

S

BY REBECCA TREON

teve Mickley never set out to be a meeting planner, but he became one the day he accepted the position of executive director at the American Institute of Building Design (AIBD).

As the owner of a residential design firm, Mickley stepped into the new role at AIBD and restructured the organization from the ground up to be one that reflected the needs of its membership. Of the organization’s members, 85% own their own businesses, 5% are architects, 15% are design/build builders and the rest are design professionals who design homes without being architects.

Members rely on the organization in order to remain current on new technology, materials and building codes in their profession, as well as to establish and maintain professional relationships with other organizations within the design and construction industry. For that reason, conferences and meetings of all types and sizes are important to the organization.

“We’ve had some great successes in the past five years,” said Mickley, “even this year, when our conference had paired style events — attendees were able to connect and join lectures with some audiences virtual and some in person.”

AIBD typically holds four regional meetings and one national conference each year, ranging on average from 50 participants for small conferences to 250 at larger events. At times, Mickley has had to work with small budgets and do most of the planning himself.

“There’s a little bit of Barnum and Bailey there,” he said, referring to the fact he is often pressed to plumb his own entrepre-

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neurial background and spirit when creating AIBD’s events, which include everything from networking to workshops.

The pandemic forced AIBD to incorporate virtual components into events that would normally be exclusively in person. As a result, the organization invested in its own audiovisual equipment and shifted its approach to workshops, tours and networking.

Although the group was already moving toward adding a virtual component, the pandemic made doing so necessary and sped the process along. At the last conference this summer, workshops were made interactive between those participants attending virtually and those attending in person, and those participating online could even do a tour through a house outfitted with the latest technology and building materials.

“I like the idea of hybrid events — where workshops take place in person and online simultaneously — and people can participate as if they are there in person,” said Mickley.

Mickley advises everyone planning conferences and meetings to take advantage of those at convention and visitors bureaus, as well as meeting planners at hotels, by asking for their help whenever you have questions.

They can draw on the wealth of other events they’ve helped to create, troubleshoot and problem solve, plus draw on ideas only someone local to their area would know about.

“My most valuable assets were the people at CVBs,” said Mickley. “It’s like having another person on staff — you can ask them what other groups have done, and they’re really creative when it comes to organizing events and experiences because they’ve hosted so many.”

EXECUTIVE PROFILE NAME Steve Mickley TITLE Executive Director ORGANIZATION American Institute of Building Design LOCATION Jupiter, Florida BIRTHPLACE West Palm Beach, Florida EDUCATION High School Diploma CAREER HISTORY • Building Contractor • Home Designer • Association Management

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

TIPS FROM

STEVE MICKLEY • Use the local convention and visitors bureau. It can be a very valuable member of your team.

• Be a hacker. Just because it’s always been done a certain way doesn’t mean there’s not a better way.

• Trust the “compound effect.” Smart changes, repeated over time, produce huge results. In other words, a system plus discipline equals success.

WHEN HE’S NOT BUSY RUNNING THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF BUILDING DESIGN, STEVE MICKLEY ENJOYS COMPETING IN BARBECUE COOK-OFFS AND TRIATHLONS.

January 2021

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MANAGING

CVBs 101

LOCAL EXPERTS OFFER VALUABLE SERVICES FOR MEETING PLANNERS

C

BY RACHEL CARTER

VBs, CTBs, DMOs: Nearly every destination of a certain size has some kind of agency to help attract out-of-town visitors and out-of-state events to its city. These agencies exist to help people make the most of the destination, but some meeting planners don’t use convention and visitors bureaus, and many planners don’t use them to their fullest potential.

“If you go to the CVB first, we can be your liaison to the entire community,” said Jessica Schenkel, vice president of Visit Topeka.

“We can open the doors to the community.”

The best way to start is the simplest: by contacting the convention and visitors bureau.

“I think it’s always good to make that initial contact and ask the question ‘What is it you can do to help us bring this meeting here?’” said Jim Walter, vice president and director of sales and marketing for Visit Cheyenne.

On how CVBs can provide additional help during the pandemic: “We want to be their advocate coming into this because there are so many unknowns, and we want to tackle any problems together.”

GETTING THE MOST FROM CVB SERVICES “The first contact is finding a facility that accommodates their needs,” said Beth Ulatowski, director of destination sales for the Greater Green Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau. The agency can facilitate a request for proposals, putting out an RFP to area hotels for the event. In Green Bay, after CVB staff send out the event information to facilities and after facilities come back with their proposals, “we always invite them in to see the property firsthand,” Ulatowski said. “It’s important for them to see not only the facilities, but also the city, to see what it’s like, to see what there is to do, to get a feel for it.”

Many CVBs will help planners with familiarization tours and site visits. If Cheyenne is on a planner’s short-and-serious list, Visit Cheyenne will cover travel costs to bring the planner to town to visit various meeting facilities and off-site venues.

CVBs can also help curate proposals. Because CVB staff are destination experts, “we put it out to the [hotels] that make sense,” Walter said. The CVB knows which hotels can accommodate 150 attendees and which work great for 35 people.

Visit Cheyenne puts together destinationwide proposals that compare apples-to-apples bids, plus any incentives, like an offer to sponsor the opening reception.

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Jessica Schenkel VICE PRESIDENT

Visit Topeka Experience: six years

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

On why some planners may not use CVB services: “I think they forget that we’re pretty much the experts in our city and utilizing that can certainly help in all of their planning endeavors.”

Additionally, CVB staff can connect planners with trusted vendors for services like catering and transportation and get quotes for the event, said Schenkel.

CVBs often pitch in to help with registration, both online and on-site.

Visit Cheyenne will build an online registration site, manage online registration and collect all the payments; doing that provides a hidden incentive because the CVB “will also eat the credit card fees, so you’re not having to pay those,” Walter said. “If your registration is $100, you get $100 back, not $97.”

CVBs can provide staff to help with on-site registration: assembling name badges; checking in attendees; setting up information tables; and stuffing welcome bags with visitors guides, area maps and coupons to local businesses.

“If you want us to, we’ll integrate with your team and become extra hands while you’re in market,” Walter said.

Event promotion is another area where CVBs can assist. In Topeka, if an event fits certain parameters, like a regional or national conference, Visit Topeka will build an event webpage and promote the event on social media channels.

‘DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK US’

Beth Ulatowski DIRECTOR OF DESTINATION SALES Greater Green Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau Experience: Over 25 years

January 2021

Planners who know to contact CVBs usually know to ask them for help with hotels and transportation and registration, but CVBs offer a slate of other lesser-known or little-used services.

For larger groups, Green Bay has its own online housing program, which it developed and manages on its own. So for groups that are using two or more hotels for an event, the Green Bay CVB will block their inventory in the online program, allowing attendees to go to the website and choose their hotel and room from within the block.

“Because it’s our own, it’s something we can offer to groups complimentary,” Ulatowski said.

Green Bay can also help with give-back events.

Planners are increasingly looking to incorporate service projects in their events, and the CVB will offer both suggestions and connections for appropriate charities or nonprofits.

Visit Cheyenne has a fleet of trolleys and can provide complimentary trolley service, like moving people from the hotel to an off-site activity, which saves money on motorcoaches. The agency can also provide guided trolley tours of the city as a group activity.

One of the most important CVB services isn’t a bullet point on any brochure because it’s helping with whatever the planner wants or needs.

CVBs can step in when things don’t go as planned. When a speaker cancels at the last minute,

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MANAGING

the CVB can tap local talent to find a replacement. When the caterer goes out of business, the CVB can recommend trusted alternatives.

The agencies can also help planners organize interesting, one-of-akind receptions, dinners, outings and activities — things the planner may not even know to ask for.

Visit Topeka will arrange behind-the-scenes brewery tours, private wine tastings and after-hours access at attractions. The agency once planned an evening event with a giant tent set up on the grounds of the Kansas governor’s mansion for attendees to enjoy a cocktail hour and watch the sun set over the Kansas River.

“We can open the doors to the community,” Schenkel said. “We have a lot of connections, and we can be creative. Maybe it’s something that hasn’t been done before — just ask us.”

NAVIGATING THE NEW NORMAL With all the upheaval and uncertainty in the age of COVID-19, CVBs are more important than ever and are offering more help than ever.

Visit Topeka’s top priority is flexibility: flexibility in how they offer FAM tours, flexibility in contract terms, and flexibility in working with planners however they feel most comfortable.

“Everything has changed,” Schenkel said. “We want to make sure we know what their needs are and are being flexible for them.”

The CVB has been hosting virtual site visits, taking a laptop or iPad and walking planners through a facility. If a planner wants to visit but doesn’t feel comfortable riding in the same car, a Visit Topeka staffer will drive separately or provide the planner with information to go alone.

“We want to meet them where they’re at, wherever that may be, and let them know we’re willing to work with them,” Schenkel said.

Visit Topeka has also nearly tripled its incentive offerings, which are based on room nights, “because it helps the clients and our hotel partners,” she said. Events are facing more COVID-19-driven costs, like providing face masks or sanitation stations, so planners can use the cash incentives to help offset some new costs or use it for regular expenses, like marketing. “They get the check the second the meeting is over,” Schenkel said.

The Green Bay CVB recently debuted virtual FAM tours on its website. Regional meeting facilities recorded videos for planners to learn more about a property; some talk about their venue, and others provide walk-throughs of the property.

Green Bay also put together an online COVID-19 toolkit that offers planners information on any mandates, recommendations or guidelines for events in Green Bay.

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On why CVBs are valuable for event organizers: “We’re an important resource for meeting planners. We’re very much involved in making sure the meetings here go off without a hitch.”

Jim Walter VICE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING Visit Cheyenne Experience: 19 years

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STEP

WHEN YOU’RE READY TO RALLY, WE’RE HERE TO HELP.

We’re here to empower your comeback efforts with these deeply discounted recovery rates!

ONE

CHOOSE 3 ISSUES

FEBRUARY Making the Most of Site Inspections Sports Meetings The South

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MARCH Rebate & Incentive Programs Special-Interest Programs Rocky Mountains & Indiana Meeting Guides

JULY Booking Entertainment Off-Season Meetings Mississippi & Ohio Meeting Guides

NOVEMBER Streamlining Registration Meetings on the Beach Wisconsin & Kentucky Meeting Guides

AUGUST Event Websites & Apps Meetings at Museums Iowa & Washington Meeting Guides

DECEMBER Event Photos & Video Meetings at Casinos New York Meeting Guide Directory Issue

APRIL Managing Room Blocks Religious Meetings Texas Meeting Guide MAY Food & Beverage Tips Colleges & Universities Carolinas Meeting Guide

SEPTEMBER Minimizing Environmental Impact Meetings at Farms & Ranches Florida Meeting Guide

JANUARY CVBs 101 Meetings at Hotels The Heartlands

STEP

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CONTACT US! JANU ARY 2021

January 2021

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IDEAS

Courtesy the Lodge at Gulf State Park

CHECKING IN These distinctive hotels make great venues for small meetings

H

BY RACHEL CARTER

otels have long served not only as overnight lodging for travelers and tourists but also as venues for meetings, conferences and conventions. Meetings hotels are as diverse as the events they host.

Some deliver surf and sand at oceanfront locations, and others offer soaring views of surrounding forests from mountaintop destinations. Some hotels provide lakefront fun; others create it at indoor water parks.

These hotels give planners flexible function space along with plenty of options for food, fun and free time.

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THE LODGE AT GULF STATE PARK

GULF SHORES, ALABAMA The Lodge at Gulf State Park opened in November 2018 – 14 years after Hurricane Ivan destroyed the original lodge in 2004. Designing and building the new hotel from the ground up gave developers an opportunity to incorporate “a lot of unique pieces surrounding environmental and sustainability efforts,” said Dan Keyser, the lodge’s director of sales and marketing.

For starters, the property is the state’s first-ever designated Fortified Commercial building, meaning it can withstand hurricane winds of up to 150 mph.

It is also LEED Gold-certified, boasting an array of sustainable features, such as heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems that collect and filter condensation water to refill the pools. SITES Platinum certification means that indigenous plants in the landscaping contribute to the environment and to local wildlife.

With the Gulf of Mexico on one side and Lake Shelby on the other, the lodge’s 350 guest rooms and 40,000 square feet of event space take full advantage of the views and surrounding nature.

Above: The Lodge at Gulf State Park in Alabama was built in 2018 to LEED Gold standards.

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The 12,000-square-foot flexible Gulfview Ballroom has a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the ocean and leads to the adjoining 5,500-square-foot Dunes Terrace. Groups can also use the beach for company picnics or to roast s’mores over bonfires.

Being inside Gulf State Park, the lodge has access to the park’s 6,500 acres and 28 miles of trails.

Groups can arrange kayaking or biking tours and charter fishing excursions. Planners can also use the park’s Learning Campus, which features a variety of indoor and outdoor classrooms, meeting spaces and bunkhouses, with the Woodside Restaurant just across the street.

“We are located directly on the beach — oceanfront — and also on the boardwalk, which takes guests to the attractions and restaurants.”

— Amy O’Connell, Grand Hotel and Spa

At the park’s Interpretive Center, which is also a certified Fortified structure, attendees can learn about the area’s dune ecosystems. lodgeatgulfstatepark.com

GRAND HOTEL AND SPA

Ocean City, Maryland When it comes to event location, you can’t get much better than on the beach and on a boardwalk, both of which meeting planners find at the Grand Hotel and Spa in Ocean City, Maryland.

“We are located directly on the beach — oceanfront — and also on the boardwalk, which takes guests to the attractions and restaurants,” said director of sales and marketing Amy O’Connell. The hotel’s location on 21st Street also means it’s within easy walking distance to nearby attractions and restaurants, although with five in-house food-and-beverage options, guests don’t have to go anywhere.

The 251-room hotel offers 15,000 square feet of meeting space, including the largest space, the 8,200-square-foot Grand Ballroom, which can be divided. The Stowaway Ballroom provides another

Courtesy Grand Hotel & Spa

Courtesy the Lodge at Gulf State Park

January 2021

Courtesy Grand Hotel & Spa

Clockwise from left: The Lodge at Gulf State Park’s Dunes Terrace; Ocean City’s Grand Hotel and Spa; an outdoor bar at the Grand Hotel.

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IDEAS

2,000 square feet that can be halved, and a 690-square-foot conference room is an additional meeting option.

Planners can also use the Grand Terrace Restaurant for receptions or dinners. Attendees enjoy panoramic ocean views from the sixth floor. The second-level pool deck is another popular option for cocktail hours and networking mixers; the Maryland Fraternal Order of Police used it this summer for a welcome reception.

The hotel can also arrange for meeting groups to use the beach for bonfires or team-building activities, like sand-sculpting competitions. grandhoteloceancity.com

WHITE MOUNTAIN HOTEL AND RESORT

NORTH CONWAY, NEW HAMPSHIRE The staff at White Mountain Hotel and Resort in North Conway, New Hampshire, have been there for “many years, and it provides a very homey atmosphere,” said Carol Sullivan, the hotel’s director of sales and marketing. “It really makes people comfortable.”

The warm welcome paired with the hotel’s postcard New England setting attract meeting organizers. And though it’s close to area attractions and amenities, the property abuts both state and national forests, so “we feel like we’re a million miles away.”

The Echo Ballroom offers 1,550 square feet of function space and can accommodate meetings and receptions for up to 120 guests. Groups can also use the 975-square-foot White Horse Room and additional conference rooms and breakout suites, as well as the Ledges Restaurant.

The pool deck is popular for cocktail parties and receptions “because you get to take advantage of the views and the beauty of the local area,” Sullivan said. The North Lawn is another outdoor option and can be tented or not for events. At a recent gathering, vendors set up, and guests enjoyed, lawn games and fire pits.

The property connects to hiking and biking trails at Echo Lake State Park, and guests can walk the trail to the spring-fed Echo Lake.

On property, guests can golf or play basketball, pickleball, shuffleboard or cornhole. In the region, planners can arrange for their groups to go canoeing, kayaking and mountain biking. whitemountainhotel.com

rooms, each with 500 square feet of event space. Groups can also gather at the attached Sprecher’s Restaurant and Pub. Across the street, Flat Iron Park sits on the shores of Lake Geneva and is home to the Brunk Performance Pavilion, a reservable open-air pavilion built in 2015. The park also has a gazebo available for events, like an evening reception to watch the sun set over the water.

Just north of the park, the Lake Geneva Cruise Line offers a wide variety of tours, including bay tours, sunset cruises and brunch trips. The cruise line provides private charters aboard its fleet of eight boats, which includes two 225-passenger steamers that evoke turn-of-the-20th-century style with preferred vendors for catering and live music. coveoflakegeneva.com

GREAT WOLF LODGE

TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN Great Wolf Lodge is synonymous with indoor water parks: surf, slides — sun optional. But among planners, the Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City, Michigan, is known for its meeting spaces and culinary choices.

COVE OF LAKE GENEVA

LAKE GENEVA, WISCONSIN Planners choose the Cove of Lake Geneva in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, for events because “they want to have their meeting and do business, but also have a retreat for their people — let them enjoy the area and relax,” sales manager Jolie Perez said.

The all-condominium resort sits just off the shores of Lake Geneva and just a block from the downtown area, known for its shopping.

Each of the Cove’s 222 suites has a fireplace, a kitchenette and a living room area, and every suite features a balcony or a patio.

The hotel also offers 6,600 square feet of meeting space. The Promenade is the largest function space at 3,700 square feet and can be halved; it offers views of the neighboring wetland preserve. Planners can use the 2,200-square-foot Lakeshore room and two additional conference

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Courtesy White Mountain Hotel and Resort

Above: White Mountain Hotel and Resort Opposite page: the Cove at Lake Geneva’s Promenade Ballroom

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Courtesy the Cove at Lake Geneva

“The first thing we hear about planners liking best is our staff and the level of service provided,” said Taryn Miracle, the hotel’s director of sales and catering. “Of course, food is the one thing attendees always remember, and the quality of food presented by our culinary team is top-notch.”

The lodge has over 10,700 square feet of flexible meeting space and 10 separate, configurable rooms. White Pine Ballroom is the largest and the most popular, with 4,000 square feet that can be separated into four smaller spaces. Northwest Territory is a 2,000-square-foot room that can be halved, and the 900-square-foot Timberview room connects to a patio where guests can lounge on patio furniture around a portable fire pit.

Attendees can also gather on Dogwood Terrace, a 4,000-squarefoot outdoor lawn area with a large bonfire area.

At Camp Critter Bar and Grille, guests slide into their booths to dine under a lantern-lit, cozy camp tent. Contactless ordering and pickup is also available at all the hotel’s food and beverage outlets via the Great Wolf Lodge mobile app.

Planners can use the lodge’s entertainment options for team building or social activities, from a game at the Ten Paw Bowling Alley to a round at Howl-In-One Mini Golf. greatwolf.com/traverse-city

PLAN ON ATTENDING ONE OF OUR 2021 SITE INSPECTIONS! Keep an eye out for more information on registering for the following 2021 Site Inspections.

GREATER ZION UTAH JUNE 9-12

OXFORD MISSISSIPPI JULY 12-15

AIKEN SOUTH CAROLINA OCTOBER 26-29

WITH SMALL MARKET MEETINGS

January 2021

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h t u o S akota DDYNAMO The Big Sioux River cascades its way through Falls Park in the heart of Sioux Falls.

All photos courtesy Experience Sioux Falls

CITY

Sioux Falls offers urban scenery and plenty of amenities

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BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

ioux Falls is the largest city in South Dakota, but it still manages to maintain its hometown, welcoming feel. With a population of 197,000, the city sits on the banks of the Big Sioux River and got its name from a series of cascades along the river that were created during the last ice age.

“When people think of South Dakota, they think of it as flyover country. We are not having that,” said Krista Orsack, director of marketing for Experience Sioux Falls.

SIOUX FALLS AT A GLANCE

LOCATION: Southeast corner of South Dakota ACCESS: Sioux Falls Regional Airport, interstates 90 and 29 HOTEL ROOMS: 5,500 CONTACT INFO: Experience Sioux Falls 800-333-2072 experiencesiouxfalls.com SIOUX FALLS CONVENTION CENTER

BUILT: 1996 EXHIBIT SPACE: 125,000 square feet OTHER MEETING SPACES: 11,000-seat Premier Center, 6,000-seat arena MEETING HOTELS

Sheraton Sioux Falls and Convention Center GUEST ROOMS: 243 MEETING SPACE: 66,534 square feet Hilton Garden Inn Sioux Falls Downtown GUEST ROOMS: 136 MEETING SPACE: 6,300 square feet WHO’S MEETING IN SIOUX FALLS

American Maine-Anjou Association 2020 National Junior Heifer Show ATTENDEES: 800 Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival ATTENDEES: 1,500 Pheasants Forever 2018 National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic ATTENDEES: 28,868

January 2021

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Destination Highlights

DISTINCTIVE VENUES

Washington Pavilion

W

hen visitors come to Sioux Falls, they like to get outdoors. The main attraction, of course, is the falls, a series of cascades on the Big Sioux River that wend their way through the area’s native pink quartzite. These are preserved in a downtown green space called Falls Park. The second-biggest attraction is the city’s Sculpturewalk, which displays 55 public works of art throughout the downtown area. The sculptures are owned by the artists but loaned to the exhibit for one year. From May through September, the public votes on their favorite sculptures. The top vote-getter is then purchased for the city’s permanent collection.

The city, which is in the southeast corner of the state, has a 20-mile paved trail that is great for hiking, biking and running. It also has more than 80 city parks.

“We appreciate our green spaces here,” said Orsack.

Sioux Falls has a robust local music scene and world-class shopping and restaurants. Look’s Marketplace, a combination food hall, grocery store, meat market, delicatessen, bakery and wine shop, has become a major foodie destination in the city. In July, it was featured on the Food Network show “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.”

Distinctive Venues

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Sculpture Walk

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DESTINATION HIGHLIGHTS

ashington Pavilion is one of Sioux Falls’ most unusual meeting venues. Originally built as the city’s first high school, it is now a three-story arts and entertainment venue in the heart of downtown that includes the Husby Performing Arts Center, with its two state-of-the-art theaters; the Kirby Science Discovery Center, a hands-on science center; the Wells Fargo CineDome theater, which shows movies on a 60-foot screen; and the Visual Arts Center, which showcases regional and national art exhibitions.

The Great Plains Zoo and the Delbridge Museum of Natural History can host concerts, festivals, picnics and corporate events for up to 3,000 people in Savannah Park, near the zoo’s African Savannah exhibit. A small, covered pavilion in the center of the zoo can host groups of up to 800 people, and Shoreline, along the river, can host events for up to 300 people. As part of the zoo rental, groups can add on a one-on-one experience with farm animals or train and carousel rides for attendees.

The District hosts many concerts and corporate events. It has a main stage and balcony-level seating and a restaurant on-site.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Major Meeting Spaces

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he opening of the city’s 132,000-square-foot Denny Sanford Premier Center and Sioux Falls Convention Center in 2014 put the city on the map, with concerts by the likes of Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney and Garth Brooks. It also brought Sioux Falls to the attention of many meeting planners, who have brought large trade shows and conventions to the city.

Sioux Falls has more than 565,000 square feet of meeting space and can host events from small board meetings to large conventions and trade shows. There are about 1,000 hotel rooms within a one-mile radius of the Premier Center, among them the 243-room Sheraton Sioux Falls Hotel, which is attached to the convention center. The Best Western Dakota Hotel and Conference Center has 232 rooms and a 60,000-squarefoot exhibit hall.

The Holiday Inn Sioux Falls-City Centre has 290 guest rooms and 15,000 square feet of meeting space that works well for smaller meetings.

The Hilton Garden Inn downtown is right on the river and has 136 guest rooms and about 6,300 square feet of meeting space.

The Canopy Hotel by Hilton is planning to build a new convention hotel and walk-in retail center just north of Levitt at the Falls, an outdoor concert venue, and west of Falls Park. In total, Sioux Falls has 5,500 hotel rooms.

MAJOR MEETING SPACES

An outdoor concert at Falls Park

AFTER HOURS

Sip-n-Cycle

After the Meeting

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roups that want to get away from their hotel or meeting venue after hours should follow the Brewfalls Adventure Trail, which takes them to 10 of Sioux Falls’ local breweries. If meeting attendees download the Brewfalls Craft Beer Adventure app and check in at the Falls Park Information Center, they can get a free Brewfalls T-shirt.

Groups can learn archery, kayaking, bird-watching, cross-country skiing or Dutch oven cooking at the Outdoor Campus, an outdoor skills education center. If sipping wine is more your style, the Strawbale Winery offers 20 different wines for tastings just outside of Sioux Falls.

The Old Courthouse Museum offers exhibits that tell the natural and cultural histories of the region, and the Pettigrew Home and Museum tells the story of South Dakota’s first full-term U.S. senator, Richard Pettigrew.

The 1889 Queen Anne home displays many of the artifacts he collected during his travels, and a research library in the basement contains his personal papers.

For visitors who want to get outside, Good Earth State Park at Blood Run is nearby. The area was an important gathering place for many tribal peoples from A.D. 1300 to A.D. 1700. Falls Park offers 123 acres of green space in downtown Sioux Falls and features the city’s beloved triple waterfall, which visitors can see from a five-story viewing tower.

January 2021

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TOWN

GATHER IN

e l a d n e l G

BY KRISTY ALPERT

F

ertile soil and expansive landscape drew the first settlers to Glendale, Arizona, in 1884. Today the city — a suburb of Phoenix —is ripe with a rich cultural scene, prestigious higher education campuses and a booming arts community.

The city of 250,000 people is a contrast, where both an epic sports and entertainment district and hometown festivals thrive equally.

A 30-minute drive can take Glendale visitors to downtown Phoenix or the gates of Luke Air Force Base, home to the 944th Fighter Wing. But it’s in the streets of Arizona’s Glendale where the most memorable meetings have occurred.

“People always get us mixed up with any number of the Glendales throughout the country,” said Danielle Dutsch, administrator at Visit Glendale. “But we are the only Glendale in the nation to host three Super Bowls and two Final Fours.”

Along with approximately 40 miles of hiking trails open from sunrise to sunset each day, Glendale is home to the 60,000-square-foot State Farm Stadium. The iconic venue has hosted countless athletes and performing artists, including a sold-out Garth Brooks concert in 2019, since it first opened in 2006. But the stadium’s retractable roof and moveable playing field have made it one of the top venues in the country, and it will be the site of Super Bowl LVII in 2023 and the NCAA Final Four in 2024.

Meeting groups can book the stadium for gatherings of from 20 to 20,000 -plus guests, but Glendale is also home to the 40,000-square-foot Glendale Civic Center, which frequently hosts day conferences, meetings, trade shows, graduations and more throughout its multiple banquet rooms, annexes and covered outdoor spaces.

By Michael Baxter

TOP: THE WESTGATE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT BRINGS NUMEROUS HOTELS, RESTAURANTS AND ACTIVITY OPTIONS TO GLENDALE.BOTTOM: RENAISSANCE PHOENIX GLENDALE

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Photos courtesy Visit Glendale

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Major Meeting Hotels

Glendale boasts 15 hotels that offer a total of nearly 1,800 rooms for visitors meeting within the city’s limits. Meeting spaces at the hotels range from 185 to 160,000 square feet. One of the top hotels for meetings is the Renaissance Hotel and Spa, which features 100,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, 26 meeting rooms, 320 guest rooms and an overall meeting capacity of 2,700 guests. The new Aloft Hotel at Westgate opened to visitors at the end of 2019 and offers one meeting space for groups of up to 34 guests, with an additional breakout room available if needed.

Before and After

With more than 300 days of sunshine per year on average, there is plenty of opportunity for open-air exploration throughout Glendale. The West Wind Drive-In is the valley’s only permanent drive-in movie theater and is a great option for spending time beneath the bright night stars to catch a movie or a summer concert. Glendale is walkable, and most entertainment options are within walking distance, including the shops at Tanger Outlets, the stadium and the Gila River Arena, home to the NHL Arizona Coyotes. The city is an antique shopper’s dream, and the historic downtown area has been dubbed Arizona’s Antique Capital.

GLENDALE ARIZONA LOCATION

Southwest Arizona

ACCESS

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

MAJOR MEETING SPACES

New Additions

The city of Glendale is constantly evolving, and visitors will be able to experience a beach party in Arizona once the Crystal Lagoons Island Resort opens in 2022. The resort will be in the lively Westgate Entertainment District and will include an 11-acre beach lagoon with options for scuba diving, windsurfing and soaring with a water jet pack. Crystal Lagoons will be an experiential retail amusement park, 4D theater and themed hotel with an “aero bar” overlooking the entire valley from 130 feet above the ground. The resort will also add 630 new hotel rooms to the city.

State Farm Stadium, Glendale Civic Center, Renaissance Hotel and Spa

HOTEL ROOMS 1,800

OFF-SITE VENUES

West Wind Drive-In, Arrowhead Country Club

CONTACT INFO Visit Glendale 623-930-4500 visitglendale.com

January 2021

Special CVB Services Visit Glendale likes working with groups and event planners to showcase the many facets and amazing finds of their remarkable city. They can recommend restaurants for off-site dinners or help book a group outing to favorite Glendale spots like Cerreta’s Chocolate Company, where a replica of the chocolate machine that appeared on “I Love Lucy” is on display.

They assist in coordinating site tours and FAM trips and provide access to preferred vendors throughout the city. The team can also handle media outreach and digital billboard promotions and will provide maps and marketing collateral for all meeting attendees. All of the services are complimentary.

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HOTEL

Berkshires Bliss

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BY KRISTY ALPERT

he Berkshires of western Massachusetts have long inspired visitors and residents with visual and ethereal displays of beauty, and in recent years the area has become a destination that inspires wellness and revival. In the heart of the region is the Canyon Ranch Wellness Resort, where guests enjoy the same views that once inspired writers such as Melville and Hawthorne while painting a backdrop for artists like Norman Rockwell.

The Canyon Ranch Wellness Resort opened in Lenox, Massachusetts, in 1989 and sits on 120 acres of woodlands, meadows and crystal-clear ponds and rivers. Forested hiking and biking trails wind through the resort grounds, and all lead back to the stunning Bellefontaine Mansion.

The mansion was built in 1897 and over the years served as a private home, a seminary and even a boarding school before lying empty for years. Under the guidance of Canyon Ranch founders Mel and Enid Zuckerman, the mansion was restored to its former glory and converted into a gorgeous resort complete with an Integrative Health Center and a state-of-the-art spa.

The resort can accommodate up to 200 guests in a variety of rooms and suites. Each of the 126 rooms is outfitted with luxurious Italian linens and complimentary Wi-Fi. Mini refrigerators and in-room coffee and tea service is standard for all rooms and suites, as is the resort’s Pillow Menu, which includes more than 20 options. The property also features more than 10 venue configurations for gathering with other guests for private events, corporate meetings or celebrations. Everything has been considered at this celebrated wellness resort, where meals, meeting space, audiovisual equipment and most activities are included in the stay.

The resort specializes in creating customized packages for its guests, with an emphasis on healthy living. Experts are on hand to lead private and group sessions on everything from communication and stress-reduction exercises to cooking, fitness and meditation classes. The Canyon Ranch experience always begins with a good night’s sleep and a healthy start before spending a rejuvenating day with genuine people.

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www.smallmarketmeetings.com

M E E T I N G S PAC E S

FRESHLY PREPARED GOURMET MEALS ARE PART OF THE HOLISTIC MEETING EXPERIENCE AT CANYON RANCH WELLNESS RESORT.

Meetings at Canyon Ranch take place in a healthy environment that spurs innovation, passion and productivity. One of the most popular rooms is the demonstration kitchen, which is outfitted with eight round tables that are great for hosting a demo dinner or buffet for groups of up to 50 guests. The mansion library accommodates up to 30 guests and is fine for small receptions; the Sargent Brook Lounge can host up to 50 guests on the lower level and offers gorgeous views of the great lawn for intimate dinners and receptions. There is also the Berkshire Room, for up to 50 guests, and the Tanglewood Room, which can host 40. The Stockbridge Room, which fits 30 guests, and the Rockwell Room, which fits 40, can be combined to accommodate up to 70 guests.

FOOD AND DRINK Meals and snacks are included in all of the packages at the Canyon Ranch Wellness Resort and can be enjoyed privately or as a group.

The on-site chefs work with top nutritionists to create healthy and delicious menus that can be customized for groups. Many groups choose to dine in the main dining areas throughout the resort, but dining in the meeting room is an option for working lunches; groups that reserve the demonstration kitchen enjoy plated meals. The Canyon Ranch Wellness Resort is an alcohol-free environment, although guests are welcome to bring alcohol to the resort to enjoy in the privacy of their rooms.

EXTRA TOUCHES

Photos courtesy Canyon Ranch Wellness Resort

HOTEL FACTS BERKSHIRES TRANQUILITY AT CANYON RANCH

LOCATION

Lenox, Massachusetts

SIZE

126 guest rooms

MEETING SPACE

More than 7,500 square feet

ACCESS

150 miles from New York City and 130 miles from Boston

CONTACT INFO

800-742-9000 canyonranch.com/lenox

January 2021

Retreats at the Canyon Ranch Wellness Resort are infused with a wellness mind-set that extends beyond the spa. The events team can customize team-building activities, lectures, demos and classes for groups. For a more bespoke experience, groups can book one-onone meetings with the resort’s life management experts, nutritionists and exercise physiologists. Meeting rooms are complimentary for corporate groups to use throughout their stay at the resort — group minimum is eight guests — and groups have complimentary access to the resort’s standard audiovisual equipment during the stay as well.

Many of the resort’s daily classes and activities are complimentary for all guests, including access to the spa and fitness facilities.

BEFORE AND AFTER The Canyon Ranch Wellness Resort offers activities both on and off the property, and on-site meeting planners offer scheduled entertainment for all guests. Popular options include trips to Broadway in the Berkshires, comedians for small gatherings, and guest speakers to entertain and delight during the day. The resort can also arrange for private group entertainment with local artists. And since the resort is located in the cultural mecca of the Northeast, it offers transportation and tickets to local cultural venues year-round, including tickets to special performances at Tanglewood during the summer.

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THE NEW LAKESHORE CONVENTION CENTER IN MUSKEGON IS ATTACHED TO THE DELTA HOTEL BY MARRIOTT.

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Meetdieng Gui

Courtesy Lakeshore Convention Center

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

he COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t put a halt to new hospitality projects in America’s Heartland, although it might have delayed them. From new convention centers to major convention hotels, here is a selection of what’s new in 2020 and 2021.

LAKESHORE CONVENTION CENTER

Muskegon, Michigan The Lakeshore Convention Center is a 23,050-squarefoot meeting and event venue in downtown Muskegon, Michigan. The project, which has been in the works since 2014, will be able to host groups of up to 3,000 people when it opens in February 2021.

As part of the project, the Delta Hotels by Marriott Muskegon Downtown, which is connected to the convention center, underwent a $9 million renovation that was

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New in the Heartland

completed in 2019. The hotel has 200 guest rooms, 10,000 square feet of meeting space and a 200-seat restaurant and bar. Between the convention center and the Delta Hotels, there is 33,050 square feet of meeting space that includes 12 large breakout rooms and more than 3,500 square feet of prefunction space.

The convention center is across the street from the 140-room Shoreline Inn and Conference Center, which overlooks the Terrace Point Marina on Muskegon Lake and has an additional 5,000 square feet of meeting space.

The $22 million convention center offers state-of-the-art in-house audio and visual capabilities in its meeting spaces. It also has abundant outlets and data ports throughout. The center overlooks Muskegon Lake and downtown Muskegon and is within walking distance of more than 20 restaurants, breweries, distilleries and bars, as well as the Frauenthal Center for Performing Arts and the 3,000-seat Mercy Health Arena. The project was a collaboration between the Muskegon County Convention and Visitors Bureau and Parkland Properties of Michigan. Parkland manages the convention center, the Delta Hotels property and the Shoreline Inn Hotel for seamless convention and hotel bookings. muskegonconventioncenter.com

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

BROOKFIELD CONFERENCE CENTER

Brookfield, Wisconsin The Brookfield Conference Center was designed with flexibility in mind. The facility, which opened in July, has 54,000 square feet of meeting space, including an 18,000-square-foot main ballroom and a 6,000-square-foot junior ballroom that can host groups of all sizes. The main ballroom can host 1,200 people for a banquet or can be broken into 10 separate rooms. The junior ballroom can be split into three separate rooms.

A state-of-the-art boardroom, a 9,000-square-foot atrium and a 9,000-square-foot outdoor plaza are also available for group rental. The full-service facility manages catering in-house, and its kitchen can manage multiple events at a time. The center is attached to the 168-room Hilton Garden Inn/Brookfield Milwaukee by a glass walkway. The Brookfield Sheraton is adjacent to the property and has 389 guest rooms.

The conference center has been in the works for several years.

Before it was built, Brookfield had 2,512 hotel rooms and a collection of smaller meeting spaces. The hope was that the new conference center would become a demand generator for the community to feed the hotels, said Nancy Justman, president and CEO of Visit Brookfield.

Even with the pandemic, interest in the conference center has been high, and although the larger conferences that were booked for 2020 have been rescheduled, many smaller groups are still booking space in the center because it easily allows attendees to social distance. brookfieldconferencecenter.com

COURTYARD SIOUX CITY DOWNTOWN/CONVENTION CENTER

WISCONSIN’S NEW BROOKFIELD CONFERENCE CENTER

AN OUTDOOR SPACE AT THE BROOKFIELD CONFERENCE CENTER

Sioux City, Iowa The Courtyard Sioux City Downtown/Convention Center, which opened in May, is a five-story, 150-room hotel that was built in a former parking lot of the Sioux City Convention Center. It is connected to the convention center by a brand-new 7,260-square-foot prefunction space and a 7,500-square-foot ballroom that was carved out of existing convention center space. The convention center also upgraded the audio system, the lighting and the air walls in its galleries as part of the renovation. Meeting planners can now book their groups at the Courtyard and easily take advantage of 54,000 square feet of meeting space at the convention center, which can host groups of 15 to 3,000 people.

The Courtyard and Convention Center are on Sioux City’s historic Fourth Street, giving guests easy access to dining, a movie theater, nightlife and shopping. The link between the hotel and convention center also connects to the city’s skywalks, making it easy for guests of the hotel to leave their cars parked at the Courtyard and explore the city comfortably, even in the middle of winPhotos courtesy Brookfield Conference Center

January 2021

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Meetieng Guid ter. If guests don’t want to walk everywhere, a complimentary downtown trolley makes stops every 15 to 20 minutes at shopping and entertainment districts around town. The hotel has the only heated saltwater pool in Siouxland, a full-service fitness center, a bistro, free parking and Wi-Fi for its guests, and outdoor fire pits.

COURTYARD SIOUX CITY DOWNTOWN

EMBASSY SUITES BY HILTON ROCKFORD RIVERFRONT AND ROCKFORD CONFERENCE CENTER

Rockford, Illinois Rockford, Illinois, needed a downtown hotel and conference center, so the developers of the Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront purchased a former factory property that was right in the heart of Rockford’s downtown area. The 12-story factory building, which was built in 1912, sits right across from the BMO Harris Bank Center — a multipurpose arena that is the home of the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs hockey team— and is within walking distance of Rockford City Hall and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

The developers put $87.5 million into converting the old factory building into a 160-room, all-suites hotel. A 21,000-square-foot conference facility was built next door. The entire project opened July 1.

“In touring the building, I fell in love with the charm and character still within,” said Fred DeLaRosa, general manager of the Embassy Suites. “With an industrial chic feel, our ceilings were left unCourtesy Courtyard Sioux City Downtown

“In touring the building, I fell in love with the charm and character still within. With an industrial chic feel, our ceilings were left unfinished. Our concrete pillars were left as is.

The bare concrete got a clear coat. The guest rooms have lofty ceilings and 24 inches of concrete between floors.”

— Fred DeLaRosa, Embassy Suites by Hilton Rockford Riverfront and Rockford Conference Center

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www.smallmarketmeetings.com

finished. Our concrete pillars were left as is. The bare concrete got a clear coat. The guest rooms have lofty ceilings and 24 inches of concrete between floors.”

The Ziock Ballroom has 7,500 square feet of space and can hold 450 people banquet-style. The Top, a rooftop bar and lounge, is a popular spot for events, as it is on the 12th floor of the hotel, overlooking the Rock River and Davis Park at Founders Landing.

MCKENNA HALL/NOTRE DAME CONFERENCE CENTER

South Bend, Indiana The University of Notre Dame is rebuilding McKenna Hall, a facility that was constructed in the 1960s and was the home of the Notre Dame Conference Center. The new building is expected to open in September, with 30,000 square feet of meeting space and room for the university’s Enrollment Division.

McKenna Hall is directly across the street from the Morris Inn, a university-owned hotel that is connected to McKenna Hall via an underground concourse. The idea was that parents visiting or touring the school could stay at the Morris Inn, which has 150 rooms, free parking and access to campus via the underground concourse.

The previous conference center had the same amount of space, but the new building has a different configuration. When it opens, McKenna Hall will be able to host up to 300 people in its largest space. Its second-largest room can hold groups of up to 175.

EMBASSY SUITES ROCKFORD RIVERFRONT Courtesy Embassy Suites Rockford Riverfront

CONNECT. COLLABORATE. CELEBRATE.

Southeastern Wisconsin’s premier event location with over 150,000 sq ft of meeting space, featuring the new Brookfield Conference Center, 11 hotels and hundreds of restaurants & retailers. Brookfield will exceed your expectations!

(262) 789-0220 • www.visitbrookfield.com

January 2021

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Meetieng Guid “Both large spaces have beautiful and ample prefunction space,� said Megan Akatu, director of business development with Venue ND. Part of the reason the building needed to be torn down and rebuilt was that it would have cost too much to retrofit the 1960s-era building with the state-of-the-art technology that is expected in modern meeting facilities. In true Notre Dame fashion, the walls of the convention center will be a warm blue with gold accents and wood millwork and paneling. It is being built in the Collegiate Gothic style. venue.nd.edu

In true Notre Dame fashion, the walls of the convention center will be a warm blue with gold accents and wood millwork and paneling.

It is being built in the Collegiate Gothic style.

THE REDEVELOPED MCKENNA HALL AT NOTRE DAME Courtesy Venue ND

Plan Now. Meet Later.

Contact us to learn how to take advantage of our event support grant.

meetings.SHORESandISLANDS.com 34S

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This

LITTLE BIT OF

That

LITTLE BIT OF

DUBUQUE .COM

MORE THAN THE MEETING.

Hometowns in the Heartland

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Meetdieng Gui

Marietta, Ohio, was the first organized settlement in the Northwest Territory back in 1788. Rich in history, this quaint and historic town has many ties to the past, including a historic cemetery that is home to more Revolutionary war generals than anywhere else in the United States and a Native American burial mound. Many of the

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Courtesy Marietta CVB

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

ometimes going small pays big.

Meeting planners who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of big cities but still have access to the full-service meeting facilities and world-class hotels they have grown to appreciate should consider these smaller towns in America’s Heartland that have much to offer in the way of unique venues, history and small-town charm.

MARIETTA, OHIO

THE LAFAYETTE HOTEL IN DOWNTOWN MARIETTA CAN HOST MEETINGS FOR UP TO 800 PEOPLE.

city’s downtown buildings date from the town’s founding, as does a former train bridge.

Groups hosting a meeting or an event in the city can stay at the Lafayette Hotel in downtown Marietta, which is located at the confluence of two rivers. The hotel has meeting rooms that can hold groups of up to 800 people.

The Quality Inn also has meeting space for up to 800 people. There are 12 hotels in Marietta and numerous unique venues in which to host dinners or after-hours events. The Adelphia Music Hall is an entertainment venue that hosts live music in the evenings but can be rented out for meetings and events during the day. The Peoples Bank Theatre, a former hippodrome from the vaudeville era, has 1,000 seats suitable for lecture-style meetings. The Valley Gem is a paddle-wheel boat that can take up to 300 people on a narrated cruise of the area, as well as host murder mystery, dinner and lunch cruises. After hours, groups can tour historic homes or take a trolley or Segway tour of the town. mariettaohio.org

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NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA

North Platte, Nebraska, is home to the country’s largest railroad yard. On any given day, between 10,000 and 15,000 railcars travel through the town. The railyards are North Platte’s main attraction. Visitors can go up in the Golden Spike, an observation tower that overlooks the trains and can even host an event there.

The Cody Park Railroad Museum is a must-see for anyone who loves trains. North Platte also was home to Buffalo Bill Cody for 40 years, and his mansion and barn are full of Cody memorabilia.

If shopping is your thing, Grain Bin Antique Town is a highlight.

The site, just south of town, features 20 antique granaries that were turned into antique shops connected by a boardwalk.

North Platte has six hotels with meeting space for between five and 1,500 people. Among them are the Holiday Inn Express, with 152 rooms and capacity for 450 people, and the Ramada by Wyndham/Sandhills Convention Center, which has 122 guest rooms, a banquet capacity of 700 and a theater capacity of 1,500.

The D&N Event Center is a versatile convention space that can host up to 3,000 people for everything from large trade shows to monster truck rallies and sporting events in its 40,000-squarefoot facility. Unusual venues include the Lincoln County Historical Museum, which can host groups of up to 50 people among the exhibits, and the Peg Leg Brewery, which can host groups of up to 40 people. The Prairie Arts Center used to be a post office.

Now the Italian Renaissance building has an art gallery on the first floor and an event and meeting space on the second. It can hold 125 people for events. visitnorthplatte.com

STE. GENEVIEVE, MISSOURI

For smaller group events, Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, is fantastic. The town of 4,400 people is best known for its French colonial heritage and log structures that date to the late 1780s and early 1790s. Many of the log structures are used as residences and shops, and a few are interpreted as museums or historical attractions. The area also has a brand-new national park, Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park, which was established on October 30, to preserve some of these properties.

“That’s the main draw for downtown: the historic attractions,” said Toby Carrig, tourism director for the city of Ste. Genevieve.

Ste. Genevieve is surrounded by woods and is a great place to go hiking or biking, fishing and rock climbing. The Pickle Spring Natural Area has sandstone canyons, waterfalls and scenic bluffs. The area is also wonderful for grape growing and has a handful of wineries.

The town has one 48-room hotel, the Microtel Inn and Suites

by Wyndham, which has a 65-square-foot meeting space. The Hotel Audubon Grill and Bar is a restaurant and hotel with 14 guest rooms and a small room for meetings and dinners. The DuBourg Centre, which is operated by the Catholic Church, can seat 300 people on its main floor for weddings and meetings and has smaller rooms upstairs for board meetings or small group meetings.

NORTH PLATTE’S GRAIN BIN ANTIQUE TOWN Courtesy North Platt/Lincoln Co. VB

THE FELIX VALLE HOUSE STATE HISTORIC SITE IN STE. GENEVIEVE

By Robert Mueller, courtesy Ste. Genevieve Tourism Dept.

January 2021

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Meetieng Guid The Centre for French Colonial Life and the Boldac House Museum has a couple of large meeting rooms and a kitchen in its basement. The Chaumette Vineyards and Winery has a villa set up for business meetings. visitstegen.com

HUTCHINSON, KANSAS

EXPLORING A FORMER SALT MINE AT STRATACA Courtesy Visit Hutch

THE GEMINI X SPACECRAFT AT HUTCHINSON’S COSMOSPHERE

Hutchinson, Kansas, is home to two world-class and unusual attractions. Cosmosphere is a Smithsonian-affiliated space museum that has a Gemini X spacecraft and an Apollo 13 command module that were restored in the city and are on permanent loan from the Smithsonian. The museum has more Russian space artifacts than any place outside of Moscow, as well as five rooms that can be rented out for meeting space.

Strataca, an underground salt mine museum, lies 650 feet below the town. Artifacts in the museum include perfectly preserved miners’ equipment and trash that was left down in the mine when the work stopped. The museum also showcases Hollywood movie props and costumes that are stored in a secure storage facility that takes advantage of the salt mine's constant 68 degrees and 47% humidity.

Groups can take a train or tram ride tour of the different areas of the former salt mine. Strataca also includes an events center that can host groups of up to 200 people.

The Kansas State Fair makes Hutchinson its home. The Fairgrounds have 40,000 square feet of space that can be used for board meetings, trade shows and sports tournaments. Hutchinson Community College also has meeting spaces available. There are 806 hotel rooms in Hutchinson. visithutch.com

ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA

The Mayo Clinic put Rochester, Minnesota, on the map. Many of the museums and attractions that call the city home came to the area because of the Mayo Clinic. The city has 5,700 hotel rooms and an international airport with daily flights from Atlanta, Denver, Minneapolis and Chicago.

Top attractions include the Mayowood mansion, a 38-room mansion built by Charles Mayo, co-founder of the Mayo Clinic, and the Plummer House, a historic five-story home with 49 rooms that was built in 1917 by a doctor at the clinic. The home includes many innovations that were quite advanced for the period, including a central vacuum system, an underground sprinkler system, a dumbwaiter, electricity and gas lighting. Visitors can tour the beautifully landscaped grounds and formal gardens or host an event for up to 100 people in the home.

Rochester has a growing craft beer scene and plenty of shopping. The area is known for its beautiful scenery and miles of trails and parks.

Courtesy Visit Hutch

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The Mayo Civic Center, which just expanded in 2017 to add a 38,000-square-foot ballroom and 14 more suites, has 200,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. It has a 1,000-person theater that is great for lectures and a 5,000-seat arena. There are 2,000 hotel rooms, shops and restaurants connected to it by climate-controlled skyways. Groups hosting events in Rochester can bring in guest speakers from the hospital. experiencerochestermn.com

Strataca, an underground salt mine museum, lies 650 feet below the town.

Groups can take a train or tram ride tour of the different areas of the former salt mine. Strataca also includes an events center that can host groups of up to 200 people.

ROCHESTER’S MAYO CIVIC CENTER

By AB Photography, courtesy Experience Rochester MN

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THE TRUMAN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM IN INDEPENDENCE OFFERS BOTH MEETING SPACE AND ENGAGING HISTORICAL EXPERIENCES FOR GROUPS.

Meetdieng Gui

A

By Bruce Matthews, courtesy Truman Presidential Library

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

merica’s Heartland is full of unique museums that play host to many memorable events, from cocktail receptions to company picnics and board meetings.

At these Heartland museums, you can step into the shoes of America’s 33rd president as he faces life-and-death decisions; learn about the marshals and gunslingers who put Dodge City, Kansas, on the map; host a cocktail reception among the aquariums and touch tanks of the Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium; have dinner beneath a World War II bomber; or learn about art as your group hosts a dinner and reception at the Rochester Art Center.

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Meet These Heartland Museums

HARRY S. TRUMAN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Independence, Missouri The Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum is undergoing a $33 million renovation in honor of the 75th anniversary of Truman’s presidency. The museum was shut down in late 2019 and is expected to reopen in spring 2021 with a new Truman permanent exhibit, enhanced education programs and expanded public programs. The new exhibit will have improved storytelling and enhanced interactive and technology-based experiences.

The museum has always been a great place to host a meeting or an event, with numerous indoor and outdoor spaces available. The entrance hall is a versatile space that can be used for receptions and events after hours. The museum’s 220-seat auditorium and Mural Room are also popular spots.

For groups that want something a little different, the White House Decision Center, which is housed in a replica of the West Wing, allows people to immerse themselves in the decisions Truman had to make as the 33rd president

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of the United States. Some guests can act as press secretary, and others get to see how they would have responded to real events.

The entire museum can also be rented after hours. trumanlibraryinstitute.org/library-museum

EAA AVIATION MUSEUM

Oshkosh, Wisconsin The Experimental Aircraft Association has been around since 1953, but it didn’t open its museum in Oshkosh until 1983. This aviation museum displays more than 100 airplanes that represent the history of flight, and it welcomes more than 100,000 visitors annually.

The museum is situated on several hundred acres, making it a wonderful meeting venue. Not only does it open its airplane hangars for events, but it also can host large concerts, expos and races on its large campus.

“What is unique is that guests are not just in a banquet facility,” said Amelia Abraham Twing, senior event coordinator at the museum. “[Guests] are among the aircraft and the stories of people who have lived these stories of aircraft.”

The Eagle Hangar, which houses much of the museum’s World War II memorabilia, is the most popular event venue. It can host groups of up to 300 people, and guests are seated next to and beneath World War II airplanes. The grounds can host events of more than 1,000 people. Since the airplane hangars are heated, groups can host events there year-round. eaa.org/eaa-museum

ROCHESTER ART CENTER

Rochester, Minnesota Since it was founded in 1946, the Rochester Art Center has helped visitors understand and appreciate the arts.

“I think a big part of our mission has been diversity and inclusion, and we are only getting stronger in that area,” said Pamela Caserta Hugdahl, executive director of the Rochester Art Center.

“This is a safe space for creative thinking.”

The center offers arts programs, artist talks and art exhibitions.

It also rents out spaces for meetings and events. The 36,000-squarefoot facility overlooks the Zumbro River, a tributary of the Mississippi River that runs through Rochester and connects to the Mayo Clinic and other Rochester attractions via heated skyway. The museum has a 4,000-square-foot glassed-in lobby with a large atrium and grand staircase that is great for events and is a particularly popular wedding spot.

The space can hold 400 people reception-style and 150 seated. There are also smaller meeting spaces, including a conference room that overlooks the park and river. It is a glassed-in room that has shades for privacy and a kitchenette attached. There are also classroom spaces.

The center offers team-building workshops for smaller groups that come to town where they can do an art activity. The facility’s classroom spaces are set up with sinks and plenty of art supplies.

It also offers flexible office space for people coming into Rochester to do temporary work with the Mayo Clinic. rochesterartcenter.org

January 2021

OSHKOSH’S EAA AVIATION MUSEUM

Courtesy EAA Aviation Museum

ROCHESTER ART CENTER

Courtesy Rochester Art Center

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Meetieng Guid

BOOT HILL MUSEUM

REENACTORS AT BOOT HILL MUSEUM IN DODGE CITY

Courtesy Boot Hill Museum

Dodge City, Kansas The Boot Hill Museum commemorates the cowboy and gunslinger history that made Dodge City, Kansas, famous. Open since the 1950s, the museum tells the myths, legends and tales of Dodge City from its establishment in 1872 through the early 1900s. The museum has more than 20,000 artifacts and more than 30 exhibits, as well as a re-created historic street front.

The museum is in the middle of an expansion. It just added a new space that will host nine new exhibits in the spring that are full of interactive displays. Among its highlights are conversation screens — when a guest pushes a button on the screen, a famous character from Dodge City’s past comes out and speaks to them.

The museum has a variety of event spaces that can host groups of up to 150 people. There are two venues in the Front Street replica: the Long Branch Saloon and the Occident Saloon. The Long Branch is a great spot for informal gatherings. Groups can set up bar and food stations throughout the exhibits.

“You can grab your food as you walk through and look at the exhibits and learn about history while you mingle with party guests,” said Christina Million, hospitality coordinator for the Boot Hill Museum. “It is a lot of fun. People really do enjoy doing that.”

The museum does its own catering and has a variety of menu selections. Both the Long Branch and the Occidental have sound systems. The Mariah Gallery, which is 3,000 square feet of event and traveling exhibit space, has a new projector and screen. boothill.org

NATIONAL MISSISSIPPI RIVER MUSEUM AND AQUARIUM

THE NATIONAL MISSISSIPPI RIVER MUSEUM AND AQUARIUM IN DUBUQUE

Dubuque, Iowa A mixture of museum, aquarium and science center, the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium has both indoor and outdoor spaces that can be rented out for meetings and events. Groups can host events near the aquariums and touch tanks or outside receptions using the plaza and wetlands area, which includes a stream dredge in the harbor that people can tour. The museum can host intimate events of 10 to 25 people or large corporate picnics for up to 900 people.

“When they get that large, it gets a little crazy, so we utilize our 14-acre campus, 100,000 square feet of indoor space and the plaza, which has a pavilion and outdoor boatyard,” said Nate Breitsprecker, director of sales and guest services for the museum.

Events inside the museum take place among the exhibits and aquariums. Guests can host a cocktail reception and a full sitdown dinner among the animals of the Mississippi River, including an eight-and-a-half-foot alligator and river otters.

Event attendees are free to roam the exhibits during their events. The museum works exclusively with one off-site caterer but handles the beverage service itself. The full-service facility also has audiovisual capabilities and screens for meetings and awards presentations. rivermuseum.com

Courtesy National MS River Museum & Aquarium

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PHOTO COURTESY: MIKE HOWARD PHOTOGRAPHY