Small Market Meetings July August 2020

OPTIMIZING EVENT SCHEDULES | CHARLESTON, WEST VIRGINIA | OHIO MEETING GUIDE JULY/AUGUST 2020

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Kentucky State Parks

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INSIDE VOLUME 21 | ISSUE 7

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MEETING GUIDE Ohio

D E PA R T M E N T S

6 INSIGHTS 8 CONFERENCE 12 MANAGING Jeff Koziatek to Optimizing

Rules for Pandemic Professionalism

Headline Small Market Meetings

Conference Schedules

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.

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INSIGHTS WITH VICKIE MITCHELL

KEEP IT CLASSY

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n recent surveys, 75 percent of meeting organizers said they had not prepared a crisis communication strategy or a contingency option for their event.

Like all of us, Lynne Breil is navigating through the uneasy seas of a global pandemic. The business etiquette expert has shifted from speaking at conferences and teaching in classrooms to making virtual presentations to businesspeople and students from her home office. She’s found that like the real world, the virtual world benefits from polish, professionalism and, of course, politeness. Here, she shares some insights based on her experiences and her expertise.

For more information about Breil and her company — The Professional Edge — or her new book, “Best in Class: Etiquette and People Skills for Your Career,” visit theprofessionaledgeinc.com.

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An etiquette expert offers rules for pandemic professionalism

Relay the Rules

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Being a meeting planning professional during a pandemic requires being specific about what is required of participants, said Breil. People who attend in-person gatherings will come from different places, both geographically and philosophically. That’s why meeting planners need to clearly spell out the ground rules and describe the consequences of ignoring event safety protocols, she said.

“Planners have to be direct in what they are asking people to do,” she said. If masks are required, back up the decision “with data from trusted resources,” or point out that “we are still in crisis mode, so masks will be required,” she said. Then, consequences must be enforced. Everyone involved in a conference, from hotel or convention staff to speakers and vendors, should receive safety guidelines.

The same goes for virtual meetings. Let everyone know ahead of time how the meeting will work. For example, should they mute their video and audio, or leave it on? Should they ask questions along the way, or will there be a dedicated Q&A?

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Don’t Get Sloppy

You’re already spending a lot of time in virtual meetings, and that’s not likely to end soon. Breil has been teaching online classes since the pandemic began, ! and her tips can help planners look as professional as possible in virtual meetings. If you are running a lot of virtual meetings, you might want to send tips like these to attendees beforehand.

In virtual meetings, dress as you would for a professional meeting, but, Breil said, with extra thought to what might be distracting on video; for example, stripes and other busy patterns, flashy necklaces and jangly earrings. Avoid disappearing into the background, she said, by wearing clothing that contrasts with it, such as a dark blue shirt against a white wall.

Pick a Professional Setting

As you choose a place to sit for your virtual meeting, consider what’s in front of and behind you. Sitting with a window or lamp behind you will make you look dark and shadowy, like a crime boss !in a witness protection program. Better to have a light source in front. Choose a plain uncluttered background. As Breil points out, you want people to focus on what you are saying, not the rows of trophies or family photos on the shelves behind you. Tech security experts warn that cybercriminals can use items in your background, like a label on a shipping box — to grab personal information. It’s fine to stage your virtual meeting setting a bit, Breil says. A green plant in the background is neutral and pleasant. And “while no one expects you to have a conference room that looks like a corporate office,” she said, at least make your bed if you have to Zoom from the bedroom.

Keep your screen at eye level; otherwise, everyone sees you from a most unflattering angle.

Replace Handshakes With Waves and Nods

Speak Up

The pandemic has taken a toll on human connection. We can’t hug or shake hands. Masks hide smiles and muffle voices; virtual meetings allow us to see and hear one another, but the body language that adds depth to conversations is often missing. That’s why energizing your expression and your voice is so important in virtual encounters and even face-to-face meetings where masks are being worn, according to Breil.

“When you take away an audience, people’s energy drops and the presenter’s energy drops. You have to give it 30% more,” said Breil.

Think about how much more expressive you are when you read a book to a young child, she said, and add some of that excitement and energy to your voice and to your facial expressions.

July/August 2020

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Some say handshakes will now be frowned upon forever; others say we’ll never completely let go of this greeting. Alternatives like elbow bumps have been suggested, but they prove problematic, Breil pointed out, as they break social distancing guidelines and involve “elbows that we sneeze into.” Breil proposes a manner of greeting people that encompasses three qualities that any introduction should include — respect, authenticity and connection — but with social distancing.

“Fold your right hand to your heart, bow slightly and look the person you are greeting in the eye,” she recommends.

The Emily Post Institute says now is the time to perfect a variety of waves for various occasions: a professional version, a wave for a Zoom meeting with peers, a really-miss-you and would-love-to-hugyou wave for close friends and family.

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CONFERENCE

JEFF KOZIATEK TO HEADLINE SMALL MARKET MEETINGS CONFERENCE

BY DAN DICKSON

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any attendees of the Small Market Meetings Conference look forward to keynote speakers. Audience members never know what they’ll come upon.

It may be expert tips on improving their businesses, special sales techniques or out-of-thebox motivational advice. Some talks are just plain funny.

Other stories are so remarkable that listeners are spellbound.

The next Small Market Meetings Conference, October 4-6 in French Lick, Indiana, will feature a keynote from Jeff Koziatek who is an interesting combination of inspirational presenter, clever performer and life coach.

The audience can expect Koziatek to bring to the stage 20 years of professional entertainment experience, including juggling and some memorable messages.

In people’s work and personal lives, “it’s not about surviving but about striving and growing and making an impact,” Koziatek says in a video on his website. “People will hear your heart before they hear your technique.

And people are going to remember how you made them feel.”

Speakers who make audience members feel good while also educating them are an important part of the conference lineup, according to conference organizer Joe Cappuzzello of The Group Travel Family.

“Speakers and entertainers like Jeff are important to a conference like ours,” he said. “Meeting planners have a lot on their plates, and it helps if they receive solid information from a speaker who’s educational, entertaining and memorable, all rolled into one. We strive to bring the best speakers

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to our delegates, so they leave with great takeaways.”

The Small Market Meetings Conference traditionally arranges an afternoon of touring for the delegates, and delegates will love touring French Lick. Details of this year’s outing are still being worked out, but meeting planners will get to see several appealing sites. This might even prompt them to book meetings in the region.

French Lick is in southern Indiana near the beautiful Hoosier National Forest. The resort consists of two historic structures — the French Lick Springs Hotel and the West Baden Springs Hotel — located about a mile from each other. For many decades, the two sites were the centerpieces of the mineral springs industry, and they drew people for the springs’ health benefits and for luxury vacations. On-site visits and a history narrative are a good way for today’s visitors to learn more about them.

Another go-to option for meeting planners is the French Lick Scenic Railway. The venue offers an off-site theme excursion that can include a dinner train, a tasting train or even a Wild West hold-up train.

“Nearby Patoka Lake Marina offers wildlife cruises,” said Kristal Painter, executive director of Visit French Lick West Baden, the local convention and visitors bureau. “The marina has two boats that will accommodate 55 people each. They can arrange for a wine/bar cruise with appetizers or a full lunch or dinner cruise along with sightseeing or sunsets.”

Painter also recommends Patoka Lake Winery, which offers wine tasting, dinner and entertainment at its rustic lodge, tasting room and event center.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

JEFF KOZIATEK

“Speakers and entertainers like Jeff are important to a conference like ours. Meeting planners have a lot on their plates, and it helps if they receive solid information from a speaker who’s educational, entertaining and memorable, all rolled into one. We strive to bring the best speakers to our delegates, so they leave with great takeaways.”

— Joe Cappuzzello, Small Market Meetings Conference

French Lick experiences, top to bottom: West Baden Springs Resort; French Lick Scenic Railway; a wine cruise on Patoka Lake.

July/August 2020

Photos courtesy Visit French Lick West Baden

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MEETING LEADERS

“It’s an eye-opener to realize how those personal relationships you build are the key in your career.”

WILLIAM MCBROOM

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BY REBECCA TREON

or William McBroom, the road to being director of conference sales at the St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and the Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau was a winding one that started out with working at a friend’s restaurant in Alaska. When the restaurant burned down, he moved on to work at Josephines rooftop restaurant at the Sheraton Anchorage — at the time, the city’s largest meeting space and convention center — where he became the director of catering.

“Taking the time to learn the fundamentals and doing the work in convention services, like catering or conference sales, will serve you very well,” said McBroom. “The ground floor of the next level is that you have a true understanding of what goes into an event.”

After 10 years, he moved his family cross-country to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he worked as the director of sales and the director of catering at Interstate Hotels.

After almost a decade there, he moved into a different arena as a broker for residential real estate, only to be met with the crushing financial crisis of 2008-09. The hold on the real-estate industry forced him to return to the hotel industry at the age of 56 with a 10-year employment gap in the industry.

“The reputation that I’d established through the hard work earlier helped me move into subsequent better jobs that strictly would not have happened but for relationships that were built earlier in my career,” said McBroom. “It’s just an incredible eye-opener for the value of those relationships that you don’t understand until later on.”

He was able to re-enter the hotel sphere, eventually making the move to St. Augustine,

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Florida, in 2013 as the director of sales and marketing at the Renaissance World Golf Village, coordinating the resort’s meetings and overseeing sales and marketing. During his time there, he developed a close relationship with the St. Augustine VCB, which led to his moving to the tourism side of the business. “It has been a dream job for me,” said McBroom.

“It is a fantastic position and a great destination, and it’s been great helping bring our partners business and come full circle with those exploring the destination.”

St. Augustine is a one-of-a-kind destination because of its small size — there are only 14,000 full-time residents — and its historically significant landmarks, unique architecture and independent shops and restaurants.

“We’re the nation’s oldest city, founded by the Spanish explorer Menendez in 1565,” said McBroom. “We work hard to not just throw out cookie-cutter proposals but to understand the client’s needs and then give them exactly the experience they’re looking for.

Another element of having a smaller destination is that we have close relationships with any of the attractions or event spaces — we can contact them directly on short notice.”

McBroom has built his career on cultivating those personal relationships.

“It’s an eye-opener to realize how those personal relationships you build are the key in your career,” said McBroom. “We don’t use a group marketing approach in St. Augustine. Our main method is by personal relationships that are built at trade shows and through networking with existing contacts and referrals from planners we have worked with. It’s not a canned presentation or an automated process, and it’s a real advantage to be able to tailor everything for the event based on that relationship.”

EXECUTIVE PROFILE NAME William McBroom TITLE Director of Conference Sales ORGANIZATION St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and the Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau LOCATION St. Augustine, Florida BIRTHPLACE Jackson, Mississippi EDUCATION Certified Destination Management Executive CAREER HISTORY • Sheraton Anchorage Hotel and Spa • Charlotte Marriott Executive Park Hotel • Westin Poinsett • Hilton Charlotte University Place • Renaissance Charlotte Suites Hotel • World Golf Village Renaissance Resort and Convention Center

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

TIPS FROM

WILLIAM MCBROOM • Use your CVB. We provide great services at no cost, know all the properties and the destination inside out and can find the best options for your group within a destination.

• Explore the destination to find unique options for off-site events and outings to keep the meeting fresh and exciting. For special destinations like ours, we encourage attendees to arrive early or stay after to relax and explore.

WILLIAM MCBROOM (LEFT), POSES FOR A POST-RACE PHOTO WITH BLIND RUNNING PARTNER RANDALL CROSBY.

July/August 2020

• Always take advantage of the local culinary and bar scene to make sure your attendees have an unforgettable experience.

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MANAGING

Rethinking Conference Schedules SMART STRATEGIES MAXIMIZE RETURN WITHOUT RUNNING ATTENDEES RAGGED

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BY RACHEL CARTER

hen it comes to scheduling in-person meetings and conferences — or even hybrid events with a virtual component — there are two sides of the proverbial coin: the conference goals and the attendee experience. And a good schedule will satisfy both.

Planners need to know the why of the event before they can start on the how. Sit down with the organization or client to “figure out what their goals are and why we are doing this,” said Leticia Harnung, owner of Minneapolis-based LMH Consulting Services. “If you don’t start with the why, you’re just spinning your wheels.”

Planners should first consider the meeting goals and use those to direct the agenda and schedule, said Ayesha Navagamuwa, conference director and senior project manager with the Virginia-based Infinity Conference Group, which gets many scientific meetings that require knowledgeand research-sharing during a mix of presentations, small-group discussions and networking.

A continuing-education conference schedule will look different than an event that is primarily for networking or raising funds for the host organization, said Matt Burdetsky, principal at Capital Meeting Planning Inc. A conference where people need to complete continuing-education credits will include more education sessions, whereas other conferences may want to build in dedicated time for networking.

“It really does vary quite a bit,” he said, “so we need to ask, ‘What do we need to accomplish, and how do we do that in a way that’s still mindful of attendees?’”

PLAN FOR THE ATTENDEE Once the goals of the meeting are clear, planners must also consider the attendee experience, something planning committees sometimes forget or flat-out neglect.

“A lot of our clients want to squeeze in so much during a day — they want to manage their travel dollars. But we do try to advise them to be conscious of the attendee experience,” Navagamuwa said.

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“You really have to create your event with your attendee in mind; if you don't do that, you’re going down the wrong path.”

Matt Burdetsky PRINCIPAL

Capital Meeting Planning Inc. Experience: 30 years

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

“[Attendees] get overwhelmed when it’s the same thing over and over; their brains start shutting off. You want to create an atmosphere where they get to take a little break from life, and it’s a time to focus on themselves and for the organization to focus on them.”

Leticia Harnung OWNER

LMH Consulting Services Experience: 25 years

July/August 2020

The planner sometimes has to push back on the planning team to ensure that attendees aren’t overscheduled and overwhelmed.

“Planners have to stay strong,” Harnung said. “They have to remind the planning committee how the attendees feel because [the committee is] just trying to get the why done; they’re not really always focused on the how.”

TOO EARLY, TOO LATE Planners should be wary of starting too early — and running too late. An event should probably not start before 8 a.m., and some organizers prefer not to start until 9 a.m. That gives people a chance to eat breakfast, drink their coffee, reply to emails and come into the first session ready to focus.

“Nobody should ever have a meeting at 7 a.m., unless you’re feeding people, and I mean protein,” Harnung said. “If you’re not feeding people breakfast, don’t put them in a seat until 8 a.m. at the earliest.”

And the same is true of how late to run. Meetings generally shouldn’t go past 5 p.m. because people will be drained and done, and organizers may begin to lose some of their attendees — either because they head back to their rooms or they just mentally check out.

Harnung recommends not doing 8-to-5 days back to back. Instead, consider starting later or stopping earlier on the second day to give people some downtime.

If planners include an evening event, whether an on-site dinner or an off-site social event, they should build in some downtime between the last session and the evening entertainment — but not too much time, or they risk attendees not coming back.

A good rule of thumb is to end the last session between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. That gives attendees an hour or an hour and a half to rest, respond to emails, call home, freshen up and return for the evening event.

Also consider where attendees are coming from for time-difference purposes. If a large number of attendees is flying in from the West Coast for an East Coast meeting, don’t start too early in the morning, or make sure they have adequate time the day before to adjust.

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MANAGING

During a three-day conference, Burdetsky recommends having only one evening event to “let them go out with someone they’ve met there, rather than keeping them booked every night.”

It’s important to also consider the location and the venue. If a meeting is in a popular tourist destination or being held at a resort — and if it makes sense for the attendee demographics — organizers should build in some free time or schedule an outing to take advantage of those attractions and amenities.

KEEP THEIR ATTENTION There’s no formula for a daily agenda; sessions can be 45 minutes long or 90 minutes long, depending on the needs of the conference.

However, a good rule of thumb is 45 minutes of presentation and 15 minutes for Q&A with the speaker or panel, Burdetsky said, or perhaps a 60- to 75-minute session, as long as it’s interactive. Provide a midday lunch break, followed by afternoon sessions.

“There is no one-size-fits-all for this,” he said, “but when you strike the right balance for an agenda, it’s amazing how everyone is in a great mood, and the feedback you get is really positive.”

How the time is allotted isn’t necessarily as important as how it’s spent. It’s important to make sure the content is relevant to the audience and the presentations are diverse, interesting and engaging.

Don’t schedule three sessions in a row with speakers all in the same format, and don’t have one person presenting slides for an hour, Harnung said. Look at using different voices and different media. Planners could start with a panel discussion to warm up attendees’ brains before an education speaker, for example.

Navagamuwa said the average attention span for adults is 18 to 20 minutes, “so we try to keep that in mind when we’re deciding how many talks to fit into an eight-hour day.” Infinity keeps sessions short — about 45 minutes, including Q&A.

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Ayesha Navagamuwa CONFERENCE DIRECTOR/ SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER Infinity Conference Group Experience: 18 years

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

“We would start by looking at the meeting goals and use that to dictate the format for the agenda. Is it for information or knowledge sharing? Or does it need more creative discussion or consensus building? We would start there and look at what the goals are and what the outcomes are.”

It’s also typically better to do collaborative activities like discussions and brainstorming sessions in the afternoon: “You don’t want to bring people in from lunch to a heavy presentation; I don’t think those things will stick,” she said.

Breaks are imperative to allow attendees to stretch, use the restroom and get some coffee. Planners should allot at least 10 to 15 minutes between sessions, but some organizers are now building in extended break times. Capital Meeting Planning has hired a personal trainer to first lead 10-minute stretch breaks before letting attendees break for 15 minutes on their own. Capital Meeting Planning has also shifted from short breaks to 45to 60-minute breaks to allow people to network, often having attendees take those breaks in the expo hall to give vendors and sponsors more visibility, Burdetsky said.

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July/August 2020

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IDEAS

Courtesy Kentucky State Parks

WATERFRONT VIEWS Peaceful scenery is part of the appeal at these meeting venues

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BY RACHEL CARTER

eeting on a sandy beach or a rocky shore brings the serenity of water views and the renewal of refreshing breezes.

It can be a river in the Midwest, a California mountain lake, a gulf-side whitesand beach or a Southern man-made reservoir. And waterfront meeting venues are as diverse as their water bodies; they can be a rustic resort, an elegant 1920s retreat or a modern mountain getaway, among others.

Here are some venues where waterfront views are a primary part of the appeal.

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KENTUCKY DAM VILLAGE STATE RESORT PARK

GILBERTSVILLE, KENTUCKY The Kentucky Dam on the Tennessee River creates Kentucky Lake, the largest man-made lake in the eastern United States. The Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park sits on the western end of the dam.

Its offers visitors a lodge with 72 lake-view rooms — each with a patio or balcony — and a full-service restaurant with a wall of windows that overlook the marina. On the grounds, guests can choose whether to stay in one of the 60 cottages or in the 14-room Village Green Lodge that sits on the 18-hole golf course.

Meeting planners bring their groups to the resort “because it’s an all-in-one,” said LaDonna Miller, director of marketing and sales for Kentucky State Parks.

The resort’s stand-alone conference center is a 6,300-square-foot space that can be split into three smaller rooms and boasts two decks. Behind the center is a pavilion where groups can set up picnic tables.

“When you have your meeting breaks, everybody goes outside,” Miller said.

The Village Green Lodge’s 1,100-square-foot event room also has an outdoor patio, and the lodge offers

Above: Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park offers meeting attendees scenic views of Kentucky Lake.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

another 670-square-foot meeting room. Groups can arrange private dining in the lodge restaurant, which has a wall of windows overlooking the marina, or cater to the conference center, which has a kitchen.

Sponsors often use the cottages to host parties or entertain in the yards.

Groups can rent pontoon boats or houseboats to get on the water, and trails at the park are down by the beach and lead across the dam to the Kentucky Dam Visitors Center on the other side. parks.ky.gov

[The Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park] offers visitors a lodge with 72 lake-view rooms — each with a patio or balcony — and a full-service restaurant with a wall of windows that overlook the marina.

THE DON CESAR

ST. PETE BEACH, FLORIDA Since it opened in 1928, The Don CeSar in St. Pete Beach, Florida, has been a winter wellness retreat for the who’s who of society. Now, 92 years later, the beachfront property is wrapping up a resortwide renovation that preserves and enhances the property’s Jazz Age elegance.

The iconic pink hotel sits next to white-sand beaches and turquoise waters, so it “feels like you’re in the tropics,” said Todd Gehrke, director of sales and marketing.

The property redid all its meeting space in 2018, along with the lobby, the exterior pool, the landscaping and the guest corridors. In 2019, the hotel renovated its boutique shopping area, the lobby bar and the resort’s fine-dining restaurant, Maritana.

The redesign of the 277 guest rooms begins in July, and the hotel will also redo its Sea Porch Cafe and Beachcomber Bar and Grill and add a double-decker bar between the two pools.

Photos courtesy Kentucky State Parks

July/August 2020

Kentucky Dam Village scenes, clockwise from left: afternoon on the golf course; the resort lodge; boats in the marina.

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IDEAS

The 5,700-square-foot bilevel Grand Ballroom on the first floor is attached to a foyer, as well as a veranda and the courtyard, which can seat about 100 for meals.

But when Thomas Rowe built the property, he did something unusual for the time; “he put all of the event space up on the fifth floor,” Gehrke said.

The North and South Terraces are identical spaces, each with a 2,500-square-foot window-surrounded room that leads onto a 2,650-square-foot, partially shaded veranda overlooking the beach. Planners will find several other spaces on the fifth floor, including a 3,450-square-foot ballroom.

Outside, the covered Beach Pavilion can accommodate 250 people, and the Rowe Bar has fire pits.

Because the property has its own private beach, the hotel can do barefoot receptions or luaus, bonfires on the beach and fireworks over the water. doncesar.com

With a pink exterior and beautiful oceanfront spaces, the Don CeSar is an icon of St. Pete Beach.

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BEACH RETREAT AND LODGE AT TAHOE

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIFORNIA The Beach Retreat and Lodge at Tahoe sits on the southern shores of Lake Tahoe, just over the California state line. The resort’s 261 guest rooms are all newly renovated and feature gas fireplaces and either a balcony or patio; many have views of Lake Tahoe’s impossibly clear water.

The property has nearly 8,200 square feet of indoor event space, along with outdoor venues that bring people to the water’s edge — or even over it.

The 3,200-square-foot Lakeview Ballroom can seat 250 for banquets, and a wall of glass doors provides lake views or opens onto a 1,000-squarefoot deck. The ballroom can also be split into three smaller spaces.

Planners can seat 180 under the Beachfront White Tent for dinners, or use it for receptions or

Photos courtesy the Don Cesar

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

company barbecues. Groups can also use the lodge’s beach for outdoor receptions or networking events where guests can play cornhole, giant Jenga, giant Connect 4 or sip drinks from a tiki bar.

The Boathouse on the Pier restaurant sits on the pier and over the water, and it’s one of the top places on Yelp for places to watch a sunset in Tahoe, said Drew Phillips, director of sales and marketing.

The restaurant can be used for smaller private events for up to 40 guests, and it’s popular for executive teams or VIP events. Inside the boathouse, a second-floor balcony is “the prime real estate,” Phillips said. “It literally feels like you’re floating over the water. The view is all water, mountains and sunset.” tahoebeachretreat.com

BEACH RETREAT AND LODGE AT TAHOE

Courtesy Beach Retreat & Lodge at Tahoe

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IDEAS

BEST WESTERN ADAMS INN HOTEL AND WATERFRONT EVENT CENTER

QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS The Best Western Adams Inn Hotel and Waterfront Event Center sits on the banks of the Neponset River in Quincy, Massachusetts, less than 10 miles south of Boston.

The hotel’s riverfront setting, along with its proximity to the city and location on Interstate 93, is a big draw for meetings and other events, said Fred Dole, corporate director of sales for Giri Hotel Management, which owns and manages the property.

The hotel has 106 guest rooms and three main event spaces. The inn’s marquis venue is the riverfront gazebo, a large, round wooden pavilion with a cupola on top. A short pier leads to the gazebo, which stands over the water. It can seat 125 for meals and is a popular spot for the hotel’s riverside New England lobster and clam bakes, as well as cocktail hours and receptions.

The interior ballroom is the largest event space and can accommodate up to 150 people. A smaller

Best Western Adams Inn Hotel and Waterfront Event Center features numerous dining options and event venues overlooking the Neponset River.

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meeting room has walls of windows overlooking the river, “so it has beautiful views; but for those that need to get work done and not stare at the river all day, they do have blackout blinds,” Dole said.

The Adams Inn Pub serves lunch and dinner, and guests can drink and dine al fresco on the deck overlooking the river.

Visitors can also stroll along the river on the Quincy RiverWalk, which runs for two miles along the Neponset River Estuary, from the gazebo at Adams Inn to Squantum Point Park, with views of the estuary along the way. bwadamsinn.com

BEST WESTERN PREMIER WATERFRONT HOTEL AND CONVENTION CENTER

OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN Not every hotel has boat-in access, but the Best Western Premier Waterfront Hotel and Convention Center in downtown Oshkosh, Wisconsin, does. The hotel sits on the very edge of the Fox River and has

Photos courtesy Best Western Adams Inn

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

direct access to the riverwalk, as well as boat slips on the river side of the property.

Most of the 176 guest rooms have views of the Fox River and Lake Winnebago. The hotel connects via skywalk to the adjacent Oshkosh Convention Center, but the hotel itself provides its own meeting space.

The 3,400-square-foot Athearn Ballroom can be broken up into three smaller spaces, and the 880-square-foot Lake Winnebago room can also be divided. The property has several other breakout spaces.

The full-service restaurant, Ground Round at River's Edge, is attached to the hotel and offers outdoor riverside dining on its patio. Guests can even boat in for dinner and pull up to a boat slip on the riverwalk next to the restaurant. oshkoshwaterfronthotel.com BEST WESTERN PREMIER WATERFRONT HOTEL AND CONVENTION CENTER IN OSHKOSH Courtesy Best Western Premier Waterfront

d r a H y a l P WORK HARD

MONTAGE MOUNTAIN RESORTS

We understand the best way for a group to be productive in a meeting is to have fun before, during and after. We can help you to customize your next meeting or event to make sure everyone goes home with a unique experience and incredible memories.

July/August 2020

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1.800.22.WELCOME | VISITNEPA.org

y l n e v a e H ADESTINATION Downtown Charleston features a historic business district on the banks of the Elk River.

Photos courtesy Charleston CVB (except where otherwise noted)

CITY

Charleston offers Appalachian scenery and modern meeting amenities

CHARLESTON AT A GLANCE

aybe John Denver had it right when he called West Virginia “almost heaven” in his enduring song “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” The only state that lies completely within the Appalachian Mountains, it’s paradise for outdoor lovers, and even Charleston, its capital, benefits from this bucolic landscape.

With rivers astride and parkland within, the city offers greenery galore. But it bustles with business, too — not only at the lovely West Virginia Capitol Complex, but also within the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center, the recent recipient of a $100 million-plus overhaul.

Loaded with this and more modern meeting space, as well as opportunities to explore a diverse range of cultural, historic and outdoor attractions, Charleston makes a heavenly destination for meetings.

CHARLESTON COLISEUM AND CONVENTION CENTER

BUILT: 1959, renovated 2018 EXHIBIT SPACE: 50,000 square feet OTHER MEETING SPACES: 25 meeting and conference spaces

M

BY JILL GLEESON

LOCATION: Metro Valley ACCESS: Yeager Airport, interstates 64, 77 and 79 HOTEL ROOMS: 3,500 CONTACT INFO: Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau charlestonwv.com

MEETING HOTELS

Charleston Marriott Town Center GUEST ROOMS: 360 MEETING SPACE: 17,406 square feet Embassy Suites GUEST ROOMS: 253 MEETING SPACE: 38,000 square fee Courtyard by Marriott GUEST ROOMS: 119 MEETING SPACE: 810 square feet WHO’S MEETING IN CHARLESTON

Military Order of the Purple Heart (2021) ATTENDEES: 600 American Baptist Association (2021) ATTENDEES: 600 Freewill Baptist Association (2027) ATTENDEES: 2,200

July/August 2020

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Destination Highlights

DESTINATION HIGHLIGHTS

Coonskin Park

DESTINATION HIGHLIGHTS

Biking in the mountains

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small city of about 49,000 residents, Charleston is distinguished by its stunning state Capitol, which features a 293-foot-tall dome gilded in 23.5-karat gold leaf. The building, available for meeting-goers to tour, like the West Virginia Governor’s Mansion, another historic treasure close by, gives the city a stately profile. This contrasts delightfully with Charleston’s unmistakeable downhome vibe, perhaps best experienced in its music-filled bars and through its inhabitants, who are well-versed in the art of Southern hospitality.

“I think what makes Charleston really special is the people,” said Leslie Smithson, communications director of the Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We have some great meeting venues and awesome locally and independently owned restaurants. Another thing we’re really proud of is that we have live music in Charleston every night, 365 days a year. But at the heart of everything is our people. The people that live and work in Charleston are very welcoming, very excited, when we have visitors in the city.”

Though New River Gorge, one of the country’s premier places to play outdoors, is just an hour from Charleston, meeting attendees can take it outside a lot closer to their hotel. Coonskin Park, a few minutes from downtown, unfurls over more than 1,000 acres with hiking and biking trails, an 18-hole, par-3 golf course and an Olympic-size pool all available for off-hours fun or team-building activities. There are also facilities to rent for off-site meetings. Only seven miles from Charleston, Kanawha State Forest offers some 25 miles of hiking and biking trails.

DESTINATION HIGHLIGHTS

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Spring at the state capitol

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DISTINCTIVE VENUES

West Virginia State Museum

Distinctive Venues

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s befitting a capital city, Charleston is rich with off-site meeting venues, most offering the chance to mix business with pleasure. The Culture Center, on the state Capitol grounds, along the Kanawha River, features several event rental spaces. They include the Great Hall, which can seat 150 for dinner or 250 for a standing buffet or reception. The facility doesn’t have in-house food or beverage service, although it does rent audiovisual equipment.

The Culture Center is also home to the West Virginia State Museum, always worth a visit for meeting-goers, according to Smithson. “If people have a couple hours in town, we always tell them to hit our state museum,” she said. “It’s phenomenal.”

Speaking of museums, the 240,000-square-foot Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences boasts everything from an art institution to a planetarium, a performance hall — home to the city’s symphony — and a hands-on science center. The spaces available for event rental include the Benedum Grand Lobby, which offers a three-story wall of windows and a seated dinner occupancy of 450, and the Susan Runyan Maier Sculpture Garden, which 250 can enjoy comfortably. Catering is available through the Clay Center.

Meeting planners might also want to investigate the Hale Street Center, a newer downtown venue housed in a historic structure built in 1906 and still graced by exposed brick walls and tin ceilings. It can hold groups of from eight to 150.

DISTINCTIVE VENUES

July/August 2020

Hands on at the Clay Center

DISTINCTIVE VENUES

Clay Center for the Arts

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Major Meeting Spaces

MAJOR MEETING SPACES

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The recently renovated Charleston Coliseum

n October 2018, following a renovation and an addition that topped $100 million, the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center reopened. Modern in technology and sleek style, it’s a gorgeous facility that offers, among other things, 50,000 square feet of exhibit space, 25 meeting and conference rooms, a 25,000-square-foot ballroom and an 8,000-square-foot reception area that overlooks the Elk River.

Some $8 million alone went to upgrading the Wi-Fi, resulting in an increase in concurrent-user capacity from 100 to more than 7,500.

“All of our meeting rooms have screens and most have ceiling-mounted LCD projectors,” said Joe Varney, Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center senior event coordinator. “The AV technology is controlled by a wall-mounted LCD panel that not only allows us to control the AV in each room, but it allows us to link up the AV from room to room ... For the larger spaces, we have large screens for projection, and we work with the clients and outside contractors to provide the ultimate experience and professionally produced events.”

Varney, who said the fact that Charleston has a “clean, safe, walkable downtown filled with thriving local restaurants and nightspots” is one of the best reasons to host a meeting in the city, also noted that it offers 3,500 citywide guest rooms. Among the best properties for hosting meetings are Embassy Suites by Hilton Charleston, which provides 13,090 square feet of event space, 23 meeting rooms and 253 guest rooms, and the Charleston Marriott Town Center, with 17,406 square feet of total event space, 16 event rooms and a maximum of 16 breakout rooms.

MAJOR MEETING SPACES

Charleston Coliseum at night

MAJOR MEETING SPACES

Charleston Coliseum on the Elk River

Photos by Peter Gallo and Rick Lee, courtesy Charleston Coliseum

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www.smallmarketmeetings.com

After the Meeting

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AFTER HOURS

Appalachian Power Park

s great as Charleston is at getting down to business, it’s just as good at encouraging visitors to let their hair down. Meeting-goers will want to explore the city’s sparkling music scene with stops at beloved bars like The Empty Glass. The legendary Mountain Stage, a live music radio show heard on more than 200 NPR stations, airs performances on some Sundays from the likes of Norah Jones from the Culture Center Theater. “If I had a meeting Monday or Tuesday, I honestly would come in early to go to Mountain Stage,” said Smithson.

Fans of our national pastime will also want to grab a ticket to see minor league ball club the West Virginia Power play at Appalachian Power Park.

The stadium offers group ticket packages and rents luxury suites, great for smaller, off-site functions.

For meeting planners who want to increase attendees’ motivation and promote cooperation within ranks, nothing beats a rafting trip in the New River Gorge area. Adventures on the Gorge, which works with the Charleston CVB, will arrange transportation for groups traveling between the city and the resort.

“You navigate that raft together,” said Robin Hildebrand, Adventures on the Gorge’s head of sales. “You work as a team. You don’t know what the turn will be, but you’re able to work together and handle it as it unfolds.

There is no better method to team build than whitewater rafting together.”

July/August 2020

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TOWN

CHICAGO’S

t s e w h t r o N

NEIGHBOR

S

BY ROBIN ROENKER

cheduling a meeting in Schaumburg, Illinois, means your attendees get the benefits of the Chicago area without the hassles.

Just a short drive from O’Hare International Airport, this picturesque community in Chicago’s northwest suburbs exudes a welcoming, approachable vibe while offering visitors easy access to the Windy City itself.

“The Village of Schaumburg is easily accessible by highway and for airline travelers,” said Dave Parulo, president of Meet Chicago Northwest. “You can get from O’Hare International to Schaumburg faster than you can get from the airport to downtown Chicago.”

Featuring 500 guest rooms attached to a state-of-the-art convention center, the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel — built in 2006, with a full renovation within the past two years — is the city’s marquee meeting venue. The convention center features more than 148,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, including a 97,000-square-foot main exhibit hall that can accommodate 6,300 attendees. For smaller groups, the facility offers 42 meeting rooms and a ballroom with space for up to 2,200 guests.

The city’s Hyatt Regency Schaumburg and the Chicago Marriott Schaumburg, both with 400-plus guest rooms and featuring more than 25,000 square feet each of designated meeting space, are also popular group options.

Alternate meeting venues include the Chicago Prime Steakhouse, with private dining rooms that can accommodate groups of 32 to 130 people, and the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts, which makes its 442-seat Maggie Atcher Theatre and 96-seat lecture hall, as well as its gallery space and multiple conference rooms, available for rent.

Now in an exciting period of growth, Schaumburg is developing plans for a new restaurant and entertainment district immediately adjacent to the convention center. Additionally, just minutes from the convention center, portions of another new multiuse district that features entertainment and dining, plus plans for an open-air park able to accommodate fairs and live events, have already been completed. The city’s new Topgolf facility opened there in late 2019.

“We’re envisioning it as a multiuse area that will be a great companion to the convention center,” Parulo said.

In addition to its accessibility, Schaumburg offers “an approachable sophistication,” said Parulo. “We have state-of-the-art meeting facilities and multinational business headquarters here. We’re very proud to promote it.”

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Courtesy Cook Co. Forest Preserve District

WEBER GRILL RESTAURANT

Courtesy Weber Grill Restaurant

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Art Haven A SHORT DRIVE FROM CHICAGO, SCHAUMBURG FEATURES A MORE FRIENDLY FEEL AND ATTRACTIONS SUCH AS BUSSE WOODS.

It’s easy to incorporate a dose of art and culture into your stay in Schaumburg thanks to attractions like the International Sculpture Park, a 20-acre garden that’s home to the Chicago Athenaeum’s world-class collection of contemporary sculpture. Visitors can also enjoy live music, theater and dance performances at the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts, plus free outdoor concerts during the summer, when scheduling returns to normal, postCOVID-19. For the opportunity to explore contemporary Native American art and culture, make time to visit the Trickster Cultural Center, where guided tours for groups are available.

Dine On Finding a postmeeting meal is a cinch in Schaumburg, where there are more than 150 restaurants within a mile’s walk of the convention center. Meacham Road, aka Restaurant Row, offers fare for every taste: classic Chicago-style deep dish pizza, Asian, Indian, Mediterranean and more. For team-building events, consider the popular Weber Grill Restaurant, which has event space for groups of up to 150, or for a truly memorable and immersive dinner/theater experience, schedule an evening show at Medieval Times.

SCHAUMBURG ILLINOIS LOCATION

Chicago Metropolitan Area

ACCESS

Chicago O’Hare International Airport, interstates 90 and 290

MAJOR MEETING SPACES

Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel, Chicago Marriott Schaumburg, Hyatt Regency Schaumburg

HOTEL ROOMS 4,800

OFF-SITE VENUES

Topgolf, Medieval Times, Chicago Prime Steakhouse, Weber Grill Restaurant, Arlington International Racecourse, Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts

CONTACT INFO

Meet Chicago Northwest 800-847-4849 chicagonorthwest.com

July/August 2020

Downtime Fun Free time to fill? Spend a few hours at Schaumburg’s Woodfield Mall, one of the largest malls in America. Groups can also typically enjoy live Thoroughbred racing and access to private meeting venues at nearby Arlington International Racecourse. For an evening escape, consider a group outing to the city’s new Topgolf venue for a virtual golf experience or — once they’re playing again — catch the local Frontier League baseball team, the Schaumburg Boomers, in action.

Embracing the Outdoors Busse Woods, part of the Forest Preserves of Cook County, located within a quarter mile of Schaumburg’s business district, offers the perfect spot for outdoor recreation. With more than 13 miles of paved walking and biking trails, the preserve also offers spots for fishing and boating, plus a 17-acre pasture that’s home to an elk herd. The city’s Spring Valley refuge is another great spot to enjoy a fresh-air break, especially with kids in tow, thanks to its natural history museum, 1880s living-history farm complete with costumed interpreters, miles of nature trails and a popular children’s play area.

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HOTEL

Southern Exposure

B

BY KRISTY ALPERT

outique shops, pastel buildings and conch-style houses line the busy sidewalks of Key West, Florida’s famous Duval Street. This one-mile-long road begins on the banks of the Gulf of Mexico and continues south toward the Atlantic Ocean, skirting myriad restaurants and bakeries boasting “Best Key-Lime Pie in Key West.”

Reach the end of Duval Street and you’ll be standing at the Southernmost Point of the Continental U.S., just 90 miles from the coast of Cuba but only three minutes from Key West’s own tropical getaway.

The Southernmost Beach Resort sits on six quiet acres, with nine buildings painted in traditional Key West pastels. A recent renovation gave a fresh face to each of the resort’s 261 guest rooms, where breezy decor and contemporary furnishings complement upscale amenities in a variety of different accommodation types.

The resort is home to four bars, three heated pools, two beaches, a private tanning pier with ocean access, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a full-service spa and the Southernmost Beach Café. The resort is within walking distance of all the action in downtown Key West; it also features its own daily activities, including live music, fitness classes and bicycle rentals. The on-site concierge is armed with all the best tips for making sure everyone in the party finds something to pique their interest, whether its lounging in the pool and beach cabanas or floating on the waves on a sunset catamaran tour.

There are four meeting spaces spread throughout the six-acre property, where events are held year-round indoors and out for groups ranging in size from 25 to 200 participants. The resort’s idyllic location offers meeting and event guests the chance to gather and converse among the stunning backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean.

Breathtaking sunrises and jaw-dropping sunsets are all in a day’s work for the on-site events team at the Southernmost Beach Resort, who still find themselves taken aback by the beautiful display of nature that happens on the property each morning and night.

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A MEETING ROOM AT SOUTHERNMOST BEACH RESORT

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M E E T I N G S PAC E S

MEETING ATTENDEES CAN MIX WORK AND PLAY AT THE SOUTHERNMOST BEACH RESORT IN KEY WEST.

The four meeting spaces set throughout the six acres of the Southernmost Beach Resort provide ample room for small and medium groups to gather within this Key West resort. The Key West Room offers a quiet space just off the Tranquility pool for boardroom meetings and luncheons, and the South Beach room offers an air-conditioned beachside space that’s suitable for conferences and seminars; each space accommodates up to 48 guests. As many as 50 guests can gather poolside for a catered reception or awards ceremony beneath the palm trees, and up to 200 guests can dip their toes in the white sands and warm Atlantic waters with an event on the beach.

C AT E R I N G Events are a delicious affair at the Southernmost Beach Resort, where the “taste of the Keys” includes flavors from the Caribbean, Asia and America. Local ingredients and island-inspired recipes appear on all the menus, whether it’s the resort’s customizable poolside breakfast buffet or its elegant plated dinners. House-made cracker jacks are delicious for nibbling before meetings, and a locally sourced ceviche station is a favorite for cocktail hour. The catering team can prepare gourmet lunch boxes for group outings on the sea or on the town, where even their salads get a local spin, dressed in either a homemade mango vinaigrette or a key lime Caesar dressing.

EXTRAS

Photos courtesy Southernmost Beach Resort

HOTEL FACTS LOCATION

Key West, Florida

All meetings and events come with a secure wireless internet connection to keep guests safely surfing throughout their time at the Southernmost Beach Resort. The resort’s state-of-the-art audio and visual equipment includes iPad connections and Blu-ray/DVD players. An integrated surround sound system and TVs provide additional customization options for meetings, and amenities like iced water served in pitchers with cups and a dry-erase board or flip chart with easel round out the resort’s offerings. Parking is free for all meeting guests and includes two Level 2 Electric Vehicle charging stations.

SIZE

261 guest rooms

E N T E R TA I N M E N T

MEETING SPACE

More than 1,500 square feet

ACCESS

Key West Express ferry from Fort Myers; Key West International Airport; Highway 1.

CONTACT INFO

800-354-4455 southernmostbeachresort.com

July/August 2020

Keeping the crew entertained before and after meetings is a breeze at this tropical resort, where three pools and a beach create an excellent lounge after days spent exploring Key West’s Duval Street or in the boardroom. Organized group activities can be arranged, and the resort offers a wine school, a beer school and yoga classes for groups. Getting out on the water is a priority for many groups, and the Southernmost Beach Resort makes it easy with its partnerships with local fishing charters and catamaran charters.

Sunset sails, parasailing and jet skiing are also available.

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VENUE

TANKS AND GALLERIES MAKE MEMORABLE BACKDROPS FOR EVENTS AT BIRCH AQUARIUM AT SCRIPPS INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHY.

Photos courtesy Birch Aquarium at Scripps

EXPLORING THE DEEP

T

here’s only one place in the world where visitors can peek beneath the tropical waters of Mexico, dip into the cool waters of the Pacific Northwest and get lost within the two-story Giant Kelp Forest without ever leaving Southern California. The Birch Aquarium at Scripps is the public exploration center for the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, committed to sharing scientific knowledge and uncovering the magic and beauty that lie within the depths of the underwater world.

Although the Birch Aquarium operates out of one of California’s most stunning buildings, set atop a picturesque bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean in La Jolla, the aquarium is not confined to its own walls.

Through the aquarium’s partnership with Scripps, guests are given access to the cutting-edge research being done around the world by Scripps scientists to understand and protect the planet. The museum extends outdoors, offering refreshing coastal breezes and sunset views from the outdoor Preuss Tide Pool Plaza, which is home to numerous sea stars, sea anemones, lobsters and hermit crabs.

The facility features more than 60 diverse marine habitats, multiple conservation breeding programs, interactive exhibits and countless

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BY KRISTY ALPERT

opportunities for one-on-one animal encounters.

Meeting with the locals at the Birch Aquarium often means coming face-to-face with leopard sharks, seahorses, sea turtles, vibrant Garibaldi fish or the museum’s beloved giant black sea bass.

The Birch Aquarium operates as a nonprofit, with all ticket sales and facility rentals supporting the organization’s exhibit maintenance, animal care and educational programs. The entire aquarium can be rented for events and meetings, or groups are free to select specific meeting rooms and breakout spaces that best fit the size and type of their event. Six separate meeting spaces immerse meeting guests in the exciting underwater world throughout the Birch Aquarium, where meetings can range from elegant receptions or seated dinners to interactive events for the whole family. Turn the tides on your next meeting or event by booking this unique venue while supporting a good cause.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

M E E T I N G S PA C E S The entire Birch Aquarium facility can be rented out for up to 1,500 guests, or groups can select a space that fits their size and type of event. The central Galleria offers ocean views from within its 4,200-square-foot space, which accommodates 400 guests; an entrance courtyard can extend the gathering outdoors for an additional 300 guests. The Smar-

gon Courtyard offers views that are legendary, but the Preuss Tide Pool Plaza offers the most stunning panoramic views of the ocean below; each of those spaces accommodates 300 guests. Groups of up to 250 guests can also reserve space in the Education Courtyard, and the Café Pavilion fits 1,000 guests.

C AT E R I N G All of the catering partners that work with the Birch Aquarium were chosen because of their commitment to the environment. Options range from passed hors d'oeuvres like stuffed mushrooms with walnuts and blue cheese to a plated affair such as saffron halibut with spring peas and leeks.

Breakfast options and boxed lunches are available as well, and many events rave about the outstanding charcuterie and carving station setups during buffet-style meals. Alcohol is allowed, with bar service provided exclusively by The French Gourmet.

EXTRAS

V E N U E FA C T S

BIRCH AQUARIUM AT SCRIPPS LOCATION

Meeting guests at the Birch Aquarium at Scripps are invited to tour the exhibits before, during or after events, where galleries allow visitors to come face-to-face with a rescued loggerhead sea turtle and enjoy hands-on museum experiences. Sunsets are free entertainment at the aquarium; the building’s perch overlooking the Pacific Ocean offers some of the finest views in the

state. All tables, linen, chairs, flatware and other meeting necessities will be included in the catering proposal from one of the recommended caterers.

Events at the facility not only help raise awareness for the Scripps Institute’s environmental work, but also fund the exhibits and education programs of this nonprofit organization.

La Jolla, California

TYPE OF VENUE

Off-site, aquarium and museum

CAPACITY

1,500

NEARBY ACCOMMODATIONS Hotel La Jolla, Curio Collection

by Hilton

CONTACT INFO

BEFORE AND AFTER Custom tours and private experiences must be booked two to four weeks before events and include self-guided tours, guided behind-the-scenes tours and hands-on ocean discovery experiences during which guests can touch and learn more about tide pool inhabitants at discovery stations in a private classroom. The shark discovery experi-

ence is a favorite for groups, as it introduces guests to a live juvenile shark in a safe environment before they head out to Elasmo Beach to learn about current shark research. Evening events have the option for add-ons like outdoor tide-pool stations, high-quality photo booths, kelp tank dive shows, and scientific lectures and presentations.

858-534-3474 aquarium.ucsd.edu

July/August 2020

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THE GEORGIA THEATRE IS AMONG MANY CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS IN ATHENS, A TOWN KNOWN FOR MUSIC AND ART.

I

Meetdieng Gui

By Elliot Anderson, courtesy Athens CVB

BY JILL GLEESON

f you haven’t had a chance to explore much beyond historic, happening Atlanta, or legendarily charming Savannah, Georgia, we’ve got some good news for you: The Peach State proudly serves up a pleasing variety of less populous cities and towns that are as great for smaller meetings as Georgia’s famed fruit is for noshing.

Filled with Southern charm, spots like Athens, Cartersville, Macon, McDonough and Statesboro offer not only plenty of bang for meeting planners’ bucks, but also environments far removed from the frenetic paces of bigger cities.

In their off-hours, meeting attendees can relax and enjoy pleasures like enriching culture, out-

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Georgia Gems

door activities galore and lovely downtowns that offer escape from the hustle and bustle of their lives back home. And when it’s time to roll up sleeves, these locations provide plenty of modern venues that are equipped with the latest technology. For planners organizing a compact event, these smaller Georgia markets can provide everything they need and nothing they don’t.

ATHENS

Athens isn’t known just as the home of the University of Georgia, though the school’s crackerjack football team scores the town plenty of press. Perhaps even more notably, blockbusters acts such as R.E.M. and the B-52’s got their start in the city. Of course, Athens is appealing to

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meeting planners mostly for other reasons.

“We have a safe and entirely walkable small downtown area,” said Nick Arnold, director of sales for the Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau. “There’s live music found in multiple venues every night, a great culinary scene with hundreds of bars, restaurants and retail establishments all sitting on the north side of the iconic University of Georgia campus. And all of it is just steps away from the Classic Center, our downtown convention center, as well as over 1,750 hotel rooms, which are available right in downtown Athens as well.”

The 104,540-square-foot Classic Center offers everything a bigcity convention facility does, like in-house audiovisual and catering, a grand hall with banquet seating for 3,000 and 35 breakout rooms.

Athens meeting hotels include the Graduate Athens, with a historic, 2,600-square-foot ballroom, and the Hyatt Place Athens. Connected to the Classic Center, it features 190 guest rooms and 3,997 square feet of event space.

Attractions like the UGA State Botanical Garden and the Georgia Museum of Art, as well as the Creature Comforts Brewing Co. and the Terrapin Beer Co., can host off-site events, and all give tours, great for downtime fun. Music fans will want to feed their passion with a music-themed walking tour or by taking in a show at historic venues like the 40 Watt Club and the Georgia Theatre. visitathensga.com

MACON

Macon gets much of its heart from the musicians who hail from it, including Otis Redding, Little Richard and the Allman Brothers.

“You’re really able to learn about our musical history once you get here,” said Valerie Bradley, vice president of marketing for Visit Macon. “We have several attractions you can visit, like the Big House, Mercer Music at Capricorn and the Otis Redding Foundation. Our musical heritage is a major draw for us.”

The Big House, the Allman Brothers Band museum; Mercer Music at Capricorn, which houses exhibits related to the celebrated studio and record label; and the Otis Redding Foundation, home to a museum dedicated to the soul man, are all worth a visit in conference off-hours. So, too, are the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame and the Tubman Museum, the country’s largest institution focusing on African American art, history and culture. Both offer event space, with the Hall of Fame featuring the 1,500-square-foot Georgia Room. The 49,000-square-foot Tubman Museum offers a central atrium that can seat 150 for a banquet.

Bradley recommends meeting-goers make time to play outside, especially on and around the Ocmulgee River. But when work beckons, the Edgar H. Wilson Convention Center provides 82,000 square feet of floor space, five breakout spaces and 11 meeting spaces, with inhouse catering and audiovisual available. The Marriott City Center Hotel, which is attached to the Convention Center, features its own 9,594 square feet of event space, including a 3,034-square-foot ballroom. maconga.org

FLINT HILLS DISCOVERY CENTER

ALLMAN BROTHERS BIG HOUSE MUSEUM IN MACON Courtesy Visit Macon

THE TUBMAN MUSEUM IN MACON Courtesy Visit Macon

July/August 2020

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Meetieng Guid

CARTERSVILLE

CARTERSVILLE’S BOOTH WESTERN ART MUSEUM

Courtesy Booth Western Art Museum

SUNSET IN STATESBORO

With a population of only about 21,000, Cartersville has more world-class museums than any town its size should reasonably be able to claim — and they’re about to be joined by another. Best of all for meeting planners, not only do the Tellus Science Museum and Booth Western Art Museum offer blockbuster exhibits for after-hours enjoyment, they can be rented for off-site events as well.

The Savoy Automobile Museum will open in late summer 2021; it will feature not only cool cars like mid-century Corvettes but also gathering spaces such as a Grand Hall Gallery.

“Cartersville is a refreshing place for a business meeting,” said Regina Wheeler, director of operations for the Cartersville-Bartow County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “For example, The Booth has a large sculpture gallery for a wonderful meet-and-greet. Or, Tellus Science Museum has a great prefunction setting. How many people can say, ‘I’ve had drinks with an apatosaurus?’ And even the Bartow History Museum is a beautiful, private venue for an off-site meeting.”

For meeting-goers who want to get out into the fresh air and sunshine, Lake Allatoona, said Wheeler, “is at our beck and call.” The CVB will arrange boat rides for groups, including transportation onboard its bus. “It belongs to the convention and visitors bureau, and we are here to serve everyone,” Wheeler said.

Cartersville is home to the Clarence Brown Conference Center, which features an 11,500-square-foot main ballroom divisible into four spaces, with audiovisual support and full-service catering. A new Courtyard by Marriott with 108 rooms and a meeting space is set to open next to it by the first quarter of 2021. visitcartersvillega.org

STATESBORO

Home to Georgia Southern University (GSU) and known for the song “Statesboro Blues,” penned by bluesman Blind Willie McTell and remade by the Allman Brothers, Statesboro is booming. Two years ago, the city received $20 million from the state to help fund a massive project that will create a new reservoir and park and transform a downtown drainage ditch into a creek surrounded by smart new commercial and residential development. Not bad for a place with a population of slightly more than 31,000.

In the meantime, there is much to commend Statesboro for meeting planners, including the Nessmith-Lane Center at GSU. It includes a 367-seat auditorium, a ballroom that can accommodate up to 400 guests, in-house catering and audiovisual support.

The city’s Holiday Inn provides four meeting rooms and in-house catering.

The Natural Resources Building at Ogeechee Technical College is also an extremely popular choice for meetings, according to Becky Davis, executive director of the Statesboro Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It’s stunning,” she said. “Their main room has huge stone pillars, floor-to-ceiling glass and automatic shades. They have breakout rooms as well.”

Courtesy Visit Statesboro

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But Statesboro offers other facilities that are great for group tours and off-site events. Davis recommends that meeting planners take a look at the Eagle Creek Brewing Company, noting, “Their chef just won the best shrimp and grits in Georgia at the Southern Living food festival on Jekyll Island.” Further options include the Center for Wildlife Education at GSU, which offers a flight show with raptors, and the Hunter Cattle Company, a family-owned spread that hosts hayrides, dining under the stars and more. visitstatesboro.org

MCDONOUGH

As much as any other location on this list, McDonough is the quintessential small Southern town, blessed with the kind of hospitality that lets you know immediately you’re in the Deep South.

“What makes us so unique is the small-town charm that we have,” said Christy Collier, director of tourism for the McDonough Hospitality and Tourism Board. “We have a beautiful downtown area. And we’re in a great location, with Atlanta just north of us, and Savannah just south of us. We’re in the great heart of Georgia.”

With a population of less than 26,000, McDonough still manages to provide ample conference facilities. According to Collier, the city has about 18 hotels and most feature meeting rooms; the Hilton Garden Inn, for example, offers a 1,500-square-foot ballroom, along with audiovisual support and catering. But where the town really shines is in its other venues, like Story on the Square, a bookstore with a 2,400-square-foot loft that can accommodate 120.

If meeting-goers can tear themselves away from McDonough’s adorable downtown, in their downtime they might want to visit Southern Belle Farm, which also offers gathering space. Fruit picking on the farm’s lovely 330 acres makes for a fun teambuilding exercise, as does the escape room that takes over the Camera Museum nights. Collier also recommends visiting the brand-new C.O. Polk Interactive Museum for a look at McDonough’s history and the powerfully evocative Heritage Park Veterans Museum. visitmcdonoughga.com

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SHOPPING IN MCDONOUGH Courtesy McDonough HTB

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COLUMBUS’ NEW NATIONAL VETERANS MEMORIAL AND MUSEUM CAN HOST EVENTS FOR UP TO 900 PEOPLE, INCLUDING FUNCTIONS ON ITS ROOFTOP TERRACE.

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Meetdieng Gui

Courtesy National Veterans Memorial & Museum

BY ELIZABETH HEY

hio’s meeting horizon is looking bright.

Though current events have brought a halt to large gatherings nationwide, cities around the Buckeye State have been busy preparing new and improved venues for meeting planners.

Along Lake Erie’s shoreline, the Sawmill Creek Resort and the Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake offer new amenities amidst natural beauty. Further inland, Waypoint 4180 in Canfield caters to golfers and nongolfers alike with beautiful facilities and exceptional cuisine. Near Columbus, the Rockmill Brewery serves Belgium-style beer and bucolic views on a former horse farm. And the newly built National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus has received international recognition by Architectural Digest for its innovative design.

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Buckeye Debuts

NATIONAL VETERANS MEMORIAL AND MUSEUM

Columbus Honoring our nation’s veterans from all branches of service and all eras, during peace and wartime, the National Veterans Memorial and Museum provides a powerful experience. Open in late 2018, the museum takes visitors on a dynamic journey through personal effects, multimedia presentations and interactive exhibits that honor service members and their families.

“The museum’s circular structure was built without any pillars, and its unique modernized space is a huge draw,” said Toni Hill, the museum’s special events manager. “A guided tour is included in our event contract, and our event team and volunteers work closely with meeting planners.”

The open-air Rooftop Sanctuary frames views of downtown that, Hill said, are “especially spectacular at dusk.” It accommodates up to 900 for a stand-up reception and 400 for a seated dinner. The circular Great Hall, with floor-to-ceiling windows and jaw-dropping city views, can host approximately 300 guests. Several rooms on the lower level, including Gallery 33, are used for intimate events and VIP functions of 30 to 100 attendees, with full catering services available. Outside, Memorial Grove boasts a reflecting pool, three waterfalls and

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more than 40 white elm trees anchored by a 350-foot limestone wall.

The space is reserved for special ceremonies.

“Within walking distance, Hotel LeVeque is very upscale and part of Columbus history,” said Hill. “We often partner with groups who stay there for events and meetings.” nationalvmm.org

SAWMILL CREEK RESORT

Huron Undergoing a complete renovation and scheduled to open in 2021, the Sawmill Creek by Cedar Point Resort boasts beautiful Lake Erie views and peaceful walks through the adjacent Sheldon Marsh Nature Preserve. The resort’s 50,000 square feet of meeting space includes 12,000 square feet outdoors: in courtyards, on lawns, on the patio at the Sawmill Creek Golf Club, beachside for dining and in a lakefront gazebo.

“Because we’re on the lake with a natural wooded setting, we really focus on tying into nature,” said Tyler Adams, director of resort marketing and sales. “We want to make sure guests enjoy the outdoors while attending their functions.”

Indoors, the 38,000-square-foot convention center can host up to 2,000 guests or be divided into eight breakout rooms. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the golf course. Another 6,000-square-foot ballroom delivers more space and breakout rooms. Three on-site restaurants and an in-house catering team provide a full menu of options.

“Our biggest draw is the Sawmill Creek Golf Club that was designed by Tom Fazio and has holes that play right up to Lake Erie,” said Adams. “Plus, we have our private beach and marina with watersports like jet skiing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding.

We’re also located just 10 minutes from Cedar Point amusement park, so our guests receive exclusive early park entry and discounted park admission.” sawmillcreekresort.com

SAWMILL CREEK RESORT Courtesy Sawmill Creek Resort

GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE RESORT

LODGE AT GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE

Geneva-on-the-Lake Among its many amenities, the Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake recently added a zip line and canopy tour. Managed by Lake Erie Canopy Tours, the zip line is the largest aerial attraction east of Cleveland, with towers up to 60 feet high. Guests can reach speeds of 30 mph, and side-by-side double zip lines encourage racing competitions for teambuilding. An additional Adventure Course offers more than 30 timber and rope obstacles while strapped into the continuous belay system. An optional 36-foot freefall affords another teambuilding activity.

“At the zip-line area, guests can rent six-person golf carts for driving to the beach or to the mile-long entertainment strip in town,” said Daisy Hall, director of sales and marketing. “They can also rent kayaks or paddleboats for exploring Cowles Creek and Geneva State Park.”

With over 8,500 square feet of flexible meeting space in eight meeting rooms, the lodge accommodates banquets and theater-style

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Courtesy Delaware North Companies

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Meetieng Guid meetings. The property offers 25 lakeside cottages and 109 lodge rooms and suites. When daily sessions close, attendees might opt for a wine shuttle tour hosted by the lodge’s certified wine specialist or a covered bridge shuttle tour. Attendees have the use of indoor and outdoor pools and hot tubs, complimentary bikes in summer, plus snowshoes and skis in winter.

“We host many corporate retreats because it’s very relaxing here,” said Hall. “They usually prefer using the Vintage meeting room and staying in the cottages.” thelodgeatgeneva.com

WAYPOINT 4180

Canfield Waypoint 4180 overlooks the Kennsington Golf Club with floor-to-ceiling windows that slide open during good weather and an adjoining wraparound patio. Adjacent to the Courtyard Marriott Youngstown-Canfield in Westford Commons, the venue collaborates with the hotel for meetings and events. The 26,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom can be broken into six smaller rooms, and maximum seating is capped at 1,000 people.

“Guests can golf and then come for a meeting or a meal,” said Nancy Sullivan, executive director of sales and marketing.

“In the evenings, we light fire towers on the patio for a dramatic backdrop.”

Open late summer, the lower level will feature five themed

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breakout rooms and three golf simulators, which can be used for teambuilding. The simulators will be loaded with additional games such as zombie dodgeball, baseball and football. Guests can play pool, use the putting green or relax in the bar area, with seating for 60.

Upstairs, executive chef Angus O’Hara serves an extensive menu from American to ethnic specialties and breakfast to latenight snacks or food bars after an event. On the lower level, a lighter menu will feature casual fare, such as wings and pulled pork sandwiches.

“Chef Angus O’Hara is a culinary genius,” said Sullivan. “If you can visualize it, he can make it.” waypoint4180.com

ROCKMILL BREWERY

Lancaster The family-owned Rockmill Brewery is on a historic 23-acre horse farm. Although the farm has been transformed into a small production brewery, its natural beauty remains untouched. Last year, the brewery added a 2,000-square-foot steel and glass tasting room that opens to an indoor-outdoor fireplace and lawn leading to a picturesque overlook. The property’s rock outcroppings are not only beautiful; they also filter the water used in its Belgian-style ales.

On the farm’s opposite end, the farmhouse sits atop a hill.

Originally, it was an 1870s horse barn. Newly added are an open-air terrace, an exterior bar and a live-fire grill studio that offers everything from meats to roasted vegetables. The terrace patio overlooks the valley, the vintage chapel and the pond fed by the Hocking River that runs through the property.

“The original farmhouse is now allocated only for events, even when we’re open to the public,” said Matthew Barbee, owner and original brewmaster. “People love to explore the nooks and crannies of its different lofts and rooms. We can host a sit-down dinner for 140 people. With larger meetings, we set up a tent in the field for the meal and use the farmhouse for cocktail hour, or planners can reserve the entire property.”

Barbee said between 12 and 15 brews are available and change with the seasons. Several full-bodied and fruity beers are modeled after Trappist ale breweries. Groups can use vendors on the approved caterer and food truck list, but all alcohol must be purchased on-site. rockmillbrewery.com

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Only in Ohio

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Meetdieng Gui

GROUPS CAN MEET AT, SLEEP AT AND TOUR THE WINEMAKING OPERATION AT GERVASI VINEYARD WINERY RESORT. Courtesy Gervasi Vineyard Winery Resort

BY ELIZABETH HEY

hio is fortunate to claim a number of distinctive attractions, from one-of-a-kind museums to sandy beaches along Lake Erie to upscale vineyards. The state’s resorts, boutique hotels and event venues welcome attendees with diversions such as Italian cooking classes, kayaking and exploring our nation’s aviation history.

Here are five places to consider for your next gathering in the Buckeye State.

GERVASI VINEYARD

Canton A Tuscan-inspired experience awaits attendees who visit family-owned and -operated Gervasi Vineyard. Located within Canton’s city limits, the winery produces 100,000 bottles annually. The six upscale villas feature 24 suites with fireplaces. The Casa opened last year

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and offers an additional 24 luxurious guest suites with inroom fireplaces, heated tile floors and private verandas.

The Villa Grande Event Facility’s indoor ballroom can host 40 to 120 for dinner. The outside pavilion has waterproof sides that bolt to the floor, making it perfect for networking, multiple vendor functions and award ceremonies for up to 300 people.

“We can cater to many types of meetings, and the feedback we often get is that our surroundings help break up the day,” said Steph VanKirk, event sales manager. “At the Still House, people can grab a specialty coffee during the day or relax with a cocktail, beer or glass of wine and live music in the evening.”

Three restaurants offer private group dining. The Bistro, housed in an 1820s barn, serves an upscale, rustic menu using fresh seasonal ingredients. Next door, The Marketplace sells local art, top-of-the-line jewelry and gifts such as imported Italian pottery. Wine and culinary options include in-depth pairing tours led by a member of the winemaking team, and hands-on or demonstration cooking classes for up to 30 participants.

“Our private winery and distillery tours offer an optional breakaway for lunch or before dinner,” said VanKirk. gervasivineyard.com

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HOCKING HILLS STATE PARK

A HORSEBACK ADVENTURE AT HOCKING HILLS STATE PARK Courtesy Hocking Hills State Park

PERRY’S VICTORY AND INTERNATIONAL PEACE MEMORIAL ON LAKE ERIE Courtesy Lake Erie Shores and Islands

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Logan Hidden in southeast Ohio are 10,000 acres of unbroken forest punctuated by soaring rock faces, craggy caves and rushing waterfalls within Hocking Hills State Park. Many of the more than 900 lodging operations support everything needed for a successful meeting.

“Within the region there are hiking trails, zip lines, eco and geology tours, rappelling and off-road Segway tours,” said Amy Weirick, spokesperson for Explore Hocking Hills. “There’s a wealth of after-meeting activities and team-building options for all levels of adventure.”

The log-hewn Cedar Grove Event Lodge offers full-service catering and event services for more than 275 attendees in a 5,000-squarefoot space, plus outdoor event areas with spectacular views. Within walking distance, eight cabins provide accommodations for up to 85 guests. Two miles away, neighboring lodging partners can accommodate 500-plus guests. The Inn and Spa at Cedar Falls offers more than 30 units, from rooms and cabins to yurts and new geodesic domes.

The inn’s meeting facility has state-of-the-art green space for up to 50, plus breakout spaces and team-building activities, a full-service restaurant, catering, a spa and a tavern. The property’s meeting planners can help arrange custom tours and meeting details.

Experiences suitable for groups include apple tastings, nighttime astronomy and daytime solar experiences at John Glenn Astronomy Park, and 18 holes at the Hocking Hills Golf Club. explorehockinghills.com

LAKE ERIE ISLANDS

Midwestern island getaways are possible at Ohio’s Lake Erie islands. On Put-in-Bay and Kelleys Island, activities include golf, fishing charters, jet ski and kayaking outings, biking and hiking. Put-in-Bay bustles with activity the moment attendees step off the boat. A mustsee, Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial commemorates the Battle of Lake Erie that took place in the surrounding waters.

“The memorial has an extensive welcome center, and it’s the third-largest monument in the nation, with a 352-foot-high observation deck that has panoramic views,” said Amanda Smith Rasnick, group sales manager for the Lake Erie Shores and Islands Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The 120-room Put-in-Bay Resort and Conference Center has five meeting rooms for 10 to 400 attendees, a poolside deck, and a landscaped courtyard for events. The Niagara Event Center offers 8,100 square feet of space.

On laid-back Kelleys Island, the Kelleys Island Venture Resort can host smaller meetings in this 31-room lakeside property, with 1,600 square feet of space. Nearby, the North Shore Loop Trail skirts the water, and there’s a half-moon beach plus kayak rentals. Foodies will gravitate to the brewery, the winery and the second-generation-owned Village Pump for traditional fried perch sandwiches.

“Groups heading over to either island can take a passenger or car ferry,” said Rasnick. “Most attendees come without cars. In Put-inBay, there’s a tour train that picks up attendees at the dock and golf cart rentals are right there, too.” shoresandislands.com

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STAN HYWET MANSION

Akron The stately Stan Hywet Mansion, surrounded by lovely gardens, was once home to F.A. Seiberling, one of the co-founders of the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. Less than 10 minutes from downtown, it’s Akron’s first and largest National Historic Landmark and the nation’s sixth-largest historic home open to the public.

Enormous effort went into building the 64,500-square-foot Manor House, which included 3,000 blueprints and architectural drawings.

Filled with treasures from around the globe, the house contains 21,455 glass panes, 23 fireplaces and hand-carved paneling of oak, sandalwood and black walnut.

“The multiple gardens are original to the property, and guests also have access to the conservatory, which has a waterfall and fruit trees,” said Sara Crane, sales and catering manager.

The estate’s largest reception hall, on the lower level of the Manor House, holds up to 200 guests. Additional space in the former 10-car garage with an attached three-season tent accommodates up to 125 attendees. A small conference room in the carriage house seats 12 guests. Four preferred caterers can provide breakfast, lunch or dinner, and the property handles the bar.

“Attendees can break in the middle of the day and take a complimentary self-guided tour, and then finish their meeting,” said Crane.

“About 95% of the furnishings are original to the estate, so the house looks as it did in 1915.” stanhywet.org

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NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

Dayton The National Museum of the United States Air Force ranks as the world’s largest and oldest military aviation museum. Hangars showcase more than 360 aerospace vehicles and missiles, many rare and one-of-a-kind, plus thousands of historical items that highlight aviation pioneers to today's technology. Group photo ops take place in front of a green screen with a choice of aviation backgrounds. The museum store stocks books to toys to apparel.

“We can personalize a visit with a guided tour or several types of scavenger hunts that can be used for teambuilding,” said Kat King, event manager for the Air Force Museum Foundation. “We have daily movies and screenings, but we can also schedule special showings for evening events.”

Meeting planners will find 10 event spaces in four hangars, with self-guided museum tours available in the adjacent galleries. Small classrooms and large auditoriums can seat from 10 to 490 attendees. Open spaces within the hangars can support up to 1,200 for an evening reception, concert, team outing or dinner served by an approved caterer.

“Some groups simply want exclusive access to the hangar and aircraft,” said King. “We have several spaces used for touring receptions, with high-top tables set up near the World War I exhibit or Memphis Bell. Volunteers are available to answer questions and are happy to share their personal ties to the aircraft.” nationalmuseum.af.mil

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