Small Market Meetings July August 2021

OFF-SEASON MEETINGS | BINGHAMTON, NY | MISSISSIPPI MEETING GUIDE JULY/AUGUST 2021

Event t n e m n i a t r e t n E DEMYSTIFIED

TICKET

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

E N I L F F O

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MORE THAN RIVERS MEET

Welcome to Missoula, where ideas are inspired by nature and nurtured by top notch hospitality, technology and amenities. A place where groups gather to explore three rivers and seven wilderness areas, and indulge in art, culture, drink, food and friendly locals. Come together in Missoula—a world-class meetings destination dedicated to creating a safe and memorable experience for corporate events, retreats, conferences and conventions.

Interested in meeting in Missoula? Call 1.800.526.3465 or visit destinationmissoula.org/smm2.

INSIDE VOLUME 22 | ISSUE 7

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MANAGING Booking Entertainment

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IDEAS Off-Season Meetings

CITY Binghamton, New York

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D E PA R T M E N T S

TOWN Auburn/Opelika, Alabama

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6 INSIGHTS 8 CONFERENCE 14 ONSITE Same Name, Small Market Greater Different City

Meetings Summit Debuts

MEETING GUIDE Mississippi

Zion Site Inspection

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

TO ADVERTISE CALL KYLE ANDERSON 866-356-5128

kyle@smallmarketmeetings.com

Mac T. Lacy Publisher/Partner

Brian Jewell VP & Managing Editor

Kelly Tyner VP, Sales & Marketing

Donia Simmons Creative Director

Herbert Sparrow Executive Editor/Partner

Ashley Ricks Graphic Designer

Kyle Anderson Director, Advertising Sales

Christine Clough Copy Editor

Sarah Sechrist Controller/Office Manager

Rena Baer Proofreader

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Courtesy Greater Zion CTO

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Ahem. Excuse us.

(Just wanted to let you know, we’re adding another new hotel and conference center.)

Kearney, where the Heartland gathers.

When you have the best meeting and event facilities between Omaha and Denver, there’s only one thing to do. . . get even bigger and better. The region-leading Younes Campus is adding an additional conference center with 75,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and a brand new Crowne Plaza hotel to go with it.

Every year, (2020 doesn’t count) Kearney hosts more than 1,350 events. Conferences, sporting events, professional and educational meetings, they all come to Kearney. With the best facilities in the region getting better we look forward to welcoming even more events in the near future.

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

WheretheHear tlandGathers.com

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308 -2 37-3 178

INSIGHTS WITH VICKIE MITCHELL

SAME NAME, DIFFERENT CITY

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ities scattered in different states often share the same name, but they are never confusingly similar.

No one ever mistakes Nashville, Tennessee, for Nashville, Indiana. Columbus, Ohio, is nothing like Columbus, Georgia. My hometown, Lexington, Kentucky, is due west of Lexington, Virginia, and except for being college towns with cool histories, the cities are miles apart literally and figuratively.

It is fun, though, to compare and contrast samename small cities to see how each expresses its personality and extends a welcome to meeting-goers.

Here are five examples.

These namesake destinations are wonderfully distinct

Portland, Oregon, and Portland, Maine

Springfield, Illinois, and Springfield, Missouri

Abraham Lincoln established himself in Springfield, the Illinois capital, so it’s a thrill to find Lincoln historic sites steps away from downtown’s BOS Center and two major hotels, with a total of 700 rooms between them. Groups naturally want to add a little Abe to events, and one way to do that is an after-hours banquet at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, with the White House facade or Lincoln log cabin as a backdrop.

Downtown Springfield, Missouri, teems with 40 restaurants, four craft breweries, live theater, the Springfield Cardinals ballpark and the Hotel Vandivort, a boutique hotel that boasts Vantage, a rooftop bar for admiring sunsets over downtown Springfield. Conventions meet at the Springfield Expo Center downtown, where the adjacent University Plaza Hotel and Convention Center and Tru by Hilton supply guest rooms. Celebrating Springfield’s ties to the Mother Road, the Route 66 Food Truck Park has eats of all sorts and free live music. visitspringfield.org springfieldmo.org

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Though Portland, Oregon, is way larger, with a population of 650,000 to Portland, Maine’s 66,000, both are the biggest cities in their respective states, and both have distinct vibes.

The Oregon version is famous for coffee shops and hipsters but is also known in meeting circles for interesting, independent downtown hotels as well as one of the country’s most environmentally conscious convention centers.

Portland, Maine, like its Western counterpart, is comfortably walkable, with cobbled byways. It’s rare not to have a view of the historic Old Port, which huddles at the hillside city’s feet. Downtown’s hotels come in varied forms — allsuites, boutiques, big-name brands — and almost all manage to offer views of blue waters. Not far from town, seaside resorts welcome meetings as well as vacationers. travelportland.com visitportland.com

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Charleston, South Carolina, and Charleston, West Virginia

Charleston, West Virginia’s downtown follows the Kanawha River through a mountain valley. At one end, stands the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center, twice the size it was five years ago and certified green, as well as five nearby convention hotels; at the other end is the gold-domed state Capitol. In between are riverfront parks, an open-air market for farmers and others, restaurants, shops and a performing arts center.

It’s hard not to include history when meetings are in Charleston, South Carolina. Every venue a meeting might require — from ballrooms and boardrooms to restaurants and reception spaces — will likely be housed in a historic building in what must be the South’s best-preserved historic city. Charleston is entertainment in itself, with its warren of brick streets, gracefully aged homes and pocket gardens. It’s difficult to doubt the CVB’s claims that attendance goes up when groups come there for meetings. charlestoncvb.com charlestonwv.com

Arlington, Texas, and Arlington, Virginia

I didn’t know much about Arlington, Texas, before I visited 20 years ago.

Impressive then, the Dallas suburb is more so now. Last year it welcomed MPI’s World Education Congress and the World Series at the Texas Rangers Globe Life Field. And a major league baseball park isn’t its only big-time sports venue.

Arlington is also home to AT&T Stadium, where the Dallas Cowboys play. The fun and games continue at Six Flags Over Texas and at an esports stadium for competitive gaming that’s part of the city’s convention/expo center.

Eleven Metro stops put Arlington, Virginia, a quick and easy hop away from downtown Washington, D.C. Many of its 40 hotels have significant meeting space, so groups can shave about 20% off hotel bills and still enjoy the district and all of its draws. But visitors can also stay plenty busy touring Arlington’s nine villages and compelling sites, which include Arlington National Cemetery and the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial. arlington.org stayarlington.com

July/August 2021

Bloomington, Indiana, and Bloomington, Minnesota

Indiana’s Bloomington is devoted to feeding and entertaining nearly 50,000 Indiana University students, hence the 100 restaurants in what otherwise would be defined as a small town. Downtown shops huddle around a town square, home to three brand hotels that are walking distance from the city’s small convention center, just off the square.

IU’s campus, with its own hotel and conference center, borders downtown.

Bloomington, Minnesota, has a lot going for it. Ten minutes south of Minneapolis and even closer to the international airport, Bloomington is best known as the home of the Mall of America. For respite from all the retail therapy — as well as venues for meetings — 40 hotels are nearby. And meeting planners quickly learn that the mall's 500 stores also include restaurants, an adventure course, a mirror maze and mini golf. visitbloomington.com bloomingtonmn.org

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SMALL MARKET

MEETINGS SUMMIT

SMALL MARKET MEETING SUMMIT DEBUTS BOUTIQUE FORMAT IN

h c a e B y t i C a m a n a P

A

BY DAN DICKSON

select group of meeting planners gathered an enormous amount of travel destination information during the first-ever Small Market Meetings Summit.

The gathering took place May 12-13 at the Sheraton Panama City Beach Golf and Spa Resort in the Florida Panhandle. Meeting planners and destination providers helped lead the renewal of the meetings industry now that the pandemic appears to be waning.

“We’ve always had an overflow at the Small Market Meetings Conference in the fall, so we initiated the summit with a smaller group of 25 planners,” said Charlie Presley, chairman of The Group Travel Family and a partner in the summit. “These select planners met in pods of destinations. Rather than a planner meeting one-on-one with just one vendor from a city, the planner talked with three individuals from that location. So, including our host city, Panama City Beach, planners learned a lot about 25 destinations all in one day.”

The meetings were 12 minutes long, twice the length of the usual marketplace appointments, which made it easier for meeting planners to get more answers to their many questions. Before the two marketplace sessions began, Presley gave meeting planners a pep talk of sorts to emphasize the importance of the format and the commitment of the travel industry representatives.

“Don’t miss any appointments with them,” Presley said. “They didn’t just spend money to be here, they spent a lot of time and effort too. They are the backbone of our industry because they understand meeting planners and know exactly what they need.

They are going to support you.”

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www.smallmarketmeetings.com

SELLING MEETINGS

PLANNERS SEEKING OPTIONS

Signing up for the summit was not a matter of first come, first served. The 25 meeting planners were carefully selected for this conference and had to qualify based on various aspects of their businesses. They looked forward to concentrated sessions where they would meet with a trio of representatives from a potential meeting city.

Phillip Stevens of International Slow Pitch Softball in Miami came to the summit to spread the word about his organization and seek new markets.

“I want to bring international slow-pitch softball to other regions of the United States,” he said. “We have teams in Honduras, Africa and even the Netherlands now, but we want the sport to grow and branch out across the United States.”

Eugene Jerry of Social Security Alumni of Windsor, Pennsylvania, represents people who worked for the federal agency and remain connected.

“We are all former Social Security employees,” he said. “We have annual meetings, get-togethers and training functions. I like to find various small-market training venues and take people there for effective leadership or administrative meetings to help them learn about the latest trends in the industry.”

Cory Brooks of Specialty Planners International in Gallatin, Tennessee, books meetings for her many kinds of clients. “I am an independent planner who helps clients like associations and corporations with their board meetings and conferences,” she said.

All photos by Dan Dickson “My objective is to reestablish strong relationships in my industry because so much has happened and changed in the last pandemic year.”

SAINTTO ANDREW BAY HAPPY BE HERE Judy O’Babatunde of the Education Writers Association in Washington, D.C., offers education writers training, information, support and recognition in their field.

“I plan and execute EWA events,” she said. “I’m seeing lots of opportunities in smaller markets and believe that they would be good for our regional seminars and conferences, which are smaller than our big annual conferences held in larger cities.”

Jennifer Goldman of the Food Service Packaging Institute in Falls Church, Virginia, likes the idea of booking meetings into smaller markets.

“I plan two meetings a year, and we hold them all over the place, and I am always looking for new destinations,” she said. “We have done a lot of first-tier cities over the years, so it’s nice to hear about second-tier cities that I am not familiar with.”

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TRAVEL INDUSTRY SELLS

SHUCKING OYSTERS

GOOD MORNING

PANAMA CITY BEACH HOSTS

The destination providers had to coordinate with each other to present a complete picture of their city to meeting planners.

Some representatives came from the city’s convention and visitors bureau, others from a full-service hotel, convention center or some other unusual meeting venue. All strived to make the best impression.

Anna Kent of the Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center in Auburn, Alabama, thought second- and third-tier meeting destinations like hers would be appealing to planners.

“We wanted to come and meet people and connect them with a place like Auburn, which is a small college town with a lot of history,” she said. “Since the pandemic, people have reclused themselves from larger cities, and they now want the comfort of meeting in a small town like ours.”

Reanna Darone of Destination Niagara USA came from Niagara Falls, New York, and thought she brought a lot of good selling points.

“Our goal is to bring more business to Niagara Falls like smaller meetings that can fit into single properties,” she said. “We have so many different types. So, we have something for anyone. We are open to every kind of meeting.”

Mary Ann Statkewicz of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism promoted Alabama’s gorgeous Gulf Coast.

“I wanted to meet new planners and get information on whether their groups are meeting again,” she said. “I introduced them to our squeaky white-sand beaches and what we have to offer for planners and even their families, if they come along.”

Luke Gilliam of Visit Casper in east-central Wyoming was happy to present his vision of rugged and beautiful Wyoming.

“As a CVB, our goal is to make connections and build relationships and to find out how we can serve these groups, hopefully in Casper,” he said. “There are a lot of interesting groups and amazing people to speak with here at the conference.”

Aquan Robinson of the Montgomery Convention and Visitors Bureau in Montgomery, Alabama, was happy to boost his state’s capital city.

“My goal is to reconnect with planners, somewhat post-pandemic, to get a feel for how their sourcing for future meeting dates is going,” he said. “I was surprised at how much they are planning again for events that they really feel will take place this year and in 2022.”

SPEAKERS CONNECT

Keynote presenter Johnny Campbell is known in the speaking trade as the Transition Man. He enjoys talking about a subject that often makes his audience members nervous: change. Campbell conceded change can be difficult unless you accept it as inevitable and learn how to manage it. Meeting planners have certainly seen their share of change in this past year of COVID-19.

“Everybody talks about change,” Campbell said. “I believe that

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www.smallmarketmeetings.com

MARKETPLACE

BADGED AND READY

EVENING RECEPTION

you can change your life just like that. Snap. I believe that everyone has inside of them an extraordinary character and ability. If you care a little more, if you focus a little more, if you want it just a little bit more, you can have an extraordinary life and results from change. The opportunities are around if you just look for them.”

Julia Smyth-Young, sales director for Visit Williamsburg, Virginia, came to the conference to promote her area’s early-American history landmarks that can be enjoyed any way the visitor prefers. Plus, she plugged the many other modern attractions and activities that bring in professional groups and tourists alike.

“You can experience historic Williamsburg, Jamestown and Yorktown at your own pace,” she said. “We are conveniently located, with a temperate climate. We have 15,000 sleeping rooms in the area and just over 200,000 square feet of meeting space for your attendees to use.”

SPONSORS SHINE

The conference delegates enjoyed an opening night reception and entertainment presented by the host, Visit Panama City Beach.

It included seafood delights, plus an open bar. The scene was further enhanced with live music as delegates gathered outside at sunset in

July/August 2021

the Sheraton’s spacious pavilion. Renee Wuerdeman, vice president of sales for Visit Panama City Beach, was pleased to meet the planners, which is a group the city is targeting for future business.

“We are so grateful that organizers brought the inaugural Small Market meetings Summit here,” she said. “Everyone now wants to get out and travel and hold meetings. We want to host those meetings of between 200 and 450 participants. That would do a lot of good for us and for the entire Florida Panhandle.”

The Small Market Meetings Summit, with its unique format, will be back next year. Look for it to convene May 2-3, 2022, in exciting Fort Worth, Texas. The conference will take place at the beautiful Dallas/Fort Worth Marriott Hotel and Golf Club at Champions Circle.

“We are super excited and are ready to show off our Southern and Texas hospitality and the unique personality that Fort Worth has to offer,” said Stefanie Schafner, who is national sales manager for Visit Fort Worth. “We just want to get meetings back up and running and showcase to the planners why Fort Worth would make a great destination for them.”

Visit Fort Worth also livened things up by holding a drawing, with special prizes awarded to three fortunate meeting planners.

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““Even if many organizations have an in-house meeting planner, they will mine your talents as someone who can take care of the details. In the end, the event needs to make them look good.”

MEETING LEADERS KIMBERLY BEAN

K

BY REBECCA TREON

imberly Bean’s career as an independent conference and event planner began almost by chance.

“I was working for a university and the Public Education Foundation, and I started organizing their annual fundraiser,” she said. “I majored in business and had a background in PR and advertising that prepared me in a way to work with board members and executives, and it just sort of snowballed.”

After the fundraiser, she organized a small education conference, and soon, that led to corporate retreats and other small meetings.

In her professional capacity, Bean handles myriad things, from swag and gifts to creating event registration websites. She visits hotels and resorts, meets with meeting planners, looks into the details for food and beverage, everything involved in the nuts and bolts of an event that will ensure events will run seamlessly.

“Over time, you figure out your own best practices that will work well,” said Bean. “You’re constantly keeping up with industry changes to stay visible. And honest communication with the client is key, because you want to make sure everyone has a positive experience.”

Though she didn’t major in hospitality management in college, she did take a se-

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ries of classes on event planning. But most of her training has been in the field.

Being an independent consultant allowed her to raise her family alongside her business, and now that her children are grown, she can participate more fully in the meetings she helps to plan by traveling to them along with her clients.

“It just sort of evolves,” she said. “And you can have experience, but you also have to have the type of personality where you love people.”

From that initial education conference, Bean’s business has grown largely through word-of-mouth to include other educational institutions, member organizations and nonprofits. Bean suggests that for those who are interested in getting started in the meeting planning industry, volunteering can be a great way to get a foot in the door because many organizations need a go-getter to plan their events.

“Even if many organizations have an inhouse meeting planner, they will mine your talents as someone who can take care of the details,” she said. “In the end, the event needs to make them look good.”

Bean has found plenty of demand for event planning for people who love to research and create something participants will enjoy attending.

“I hope I’m doing this for the indefinite future,” she said. “I have built something with my business that I absolutely love.”

EXECUTIVE PROFILE NAME Kimberly Marlin Bean TITLE Event Strategist/Meeting Incentive Planner ORGANIZATION KBT Creative Support Services LOCATION Brentwood, Tennessee BIRTHPLACE Nashville, Tennessee EDUCATION Lipscomb University, Business Administration/Management CAREER HISTORY • Public relations/advertising account coordinator and events at Brumfield-Gallagher Inc. • Administrative and events coordinator for Nashville Public Education Foundation • Event strategist and meeting planner at KBT Creative Support Services

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

TIPS FROM

KIMBERLY BEAN • A solid business education/work history can help you adapt. A willingness to try new things, even though they may be uncomfortable at first, will help you survive and thrive in uncharted waters and uncertain times.

• Do something that inspires and makes you smile every day, and be the person who builds up others sincerely; you will be better for it.

WHEN NOT PLANNING MEETINGS AND EVENTS, KIMBERLY BEAN ENJOYS SPENDING TIME WITH HER FAMILY IN NASHVILLE.

• Confidence is gained from experience and hard work. Dream big, and be willing to do the small, seemingly insignificant tasks that get the job done.

You will find success in following your heart.

COMING

2022

Conveniently located in the Mid-Atlantic Region, Wind Creek Bethlehem is soaring to new heights.

By Fall 2022, our integrated resort will expand to include 550 rooms and 60,000 square feet of event space and feature 5 restaurants, a luxurious rooftop spa, entertainment, shopping and more!

To book your next meeting, call Dan Mies at 484.777.7928 or email at Daniel.Mies@windcreek.com

July/August 2021

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ONSITE GREATER ZION Small Market Meetings readers discovered an adventurous destination in and around St. George, Utah

GROUPS MEETING IN AND AROUND ST. GEORGE, UTAH, CAN ENJOY HIKING THROUGH THE NARROWS, ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC AREAS OF ZION NATIONAL PARK.

S

outhern Utah has a wealth of spectacular natural beauty: craggy red-sandstone cliffs and deep, narrow canyons; fascinating rock formations sculpted by wind and rain; sweeping deserts and towering mountains; and brilliant blue skies filled with sunshine more than 300 days a year. Throw in a full-service 100,000-squarefoot convention center; five conference hotels; resorts; a dozen golf courses; four state parks and one national park; a charming historic downtown lined with art galleries, shops and restaurants; and a 2,000-seat amphitheater beneath one of those sandstone cliffs, and St. George and the Greater Zion area offer rare opportunities for unforgettable meetings.

And despite its rugged locale, St. George is easy to reach. St. George Regional Airport has daily flights to four hub cities, and Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport is a scenic 90 minutes away on Interstate 15.

Nine meeting planner readers of Small Market Meetings got a firsthand look at this fascinating part of the country during a recent familiarization tour hosted by the Greater Zion Convention and Tourism Office and its convention, meeting and event sales manager, Jacqueline Grena.

The planners toured the impressive Dixie Convention Center, with its multiple services and rooms, along with smaller meeting spaces at hotels and resorts. They sampled the area’s culinary offerings and experienced just some of the many outdoor adventures that can spice up a meeting, from hiking in Zion National Park to all-terrain-vehicle rides on Sand Mountain in Sand Hollow State Park. Along the way, they met a bevy of friendly people eager to host meetings.

July/August 2021

By Joe Newman, courtesy Greater Zion CTO

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ONSITE

From Meetings hiking in through Clearwater waist-deep come with water abundant and bouncing over off-road trails in white all-terrain activity options.

From the soft beaches vehicles to major(ATVs) attractions, to a relaxing meeting hand planners and foot enmassage joyed these andrecreation an entertaining experiences outdoor during musical, the their meeting site inspection plannerstour experienced in Clearwater. the many activities that can add to the experience of a • Beach Activities — The entire shoreline of Clearmeeting in St. George. water Beach is owned by the city and open to the a city concessionaire offers umbrella •public, HIKINGand — There are numerous opportunities to and cabana rentals.

Meeting planners can work experience the natural wonders around St. George with their properties to arrange beach activion foot.

Thehost meeting planners braved the water of tiesNarrows and team-building beachchamthe and hiked toopportunities. the Lower Emerald Pools inber.com Zion National Park, an hour from St. George, and walked over the uneven surfaces of the Petrified • Pier 60 Park— Near the center of Clearwater Sand Dunes in nearby Snow Canyon State Park.

Beach, Pier 60 extends 1,000 feet into the gulf makes an excellent spot for walking, birding •and ATV RIDE— Four-passenger off-road vehicles and ATV fishing. park offers games, with andThe Jeepsurrounding Adventure Tours offered a inflatables other to keep family members thrilling wayand to see thefun unusual rock formations entertained a meeting. myclearwater.com and red sand during dunes of Sand Hollow State Park.

Attendees can drive if they choose or ride with an • Sugar Sandguide.

Festival — For 17 days in April, Clearexperienced water Beach hosts the Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival, celebration of the area’s sands and amazing •aCABLE MOUNTAIN SPA fine — After hiking in Zion sunsets. Park, Visitors canofexplore dozens of sandgave sculpNational some the meeting planners tures created by world-renowned sand artists. their aching feet a break with a foot and hand sugarsandfestival.com massage at the Cable Mountain Lodge, located at the entrance to the park. Others opted for facials, • Clearwater Marine Aquarium —the Made famous among the many services offered by lodge’s spa. by the movie “A Dolphin’s Tale,” the Clearwater is an animal reha•Marine SILVERAquarium REEF BREWERY— Therescue Silverand Reef bilitation centerout where guests can seethe famous Brewery started in 2018 to provide St. residents such asfine the locally dolphins Hope beer. and Winter.

George area with brewed It has A major expansion opening next beer, year will since expanded to also make root winebring and more than square feetset of amid meeting and event spirits.

It has6,000 a tasting room gleaming space.brew seewinter.com metal tanks.

Dixie Convention Center The Dixie Convention Center is a full-service venue in the heart of St. George with 100,000 square feet of space for meetings, conventions, banquets, trade shows and sporting events.

MEETING SPACES | A 46,550-square-foot columnfree exhibit hall; 32,000 square feet of meeting space; a 13,200-square-foot ballroom; 25,000 square feet of prefunction space; 19 breakout rooms, including the atrium-style Garden Room; two boardrooms; a rotunda; and an indoor lobby.

MEETING SERVICES | On-site full-service catering staff, high-speed internet, top-of-the-line A/V, hybrid meeting capabilities, decorating service and event management.

| Thirteen hotels within one mile of the convention center

LODGING

MORE INFO DIXIECENTER.COM

Spectrum — Clearwater’s resident ball••SHOWS ATField TUACAHN — For a memorial park is home to two teams: the minor after-hours event, the professional meeting planners enjoyed league Clearwater Threshers in summer and the a wonderful production of “Annie” at Tuacahn, a major league Philadelphia Phillies during 1,920-seat amphitheater set into the base of aspring red training. can over rent the hospitality suites and rock ridgeGroups that towers stage. The amphiother large spaces for games.

Catering and bar theater is celebrating its 25th season this year with a services are available. milb.com/clearwater series of Broadway musicals and concerts.

THE NORTH LOBBY OF THE DIXIE CONVENTION CENTER

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www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Courtesy Dixie Convention Center

ACTIVITIES ACTIVITIES

Hilton Garden Inn

A SCENIC VIEW AT SPRINGHILL SUITES

Courtesy Springhill Suites

The Hilton Garden Inn is steps from the Dixie Convention Center and a four-minute drive from the St. George Utah Temple.

Springhill Suites Built in 2017, Springhill Suites is 1.5 miles from the entrance to Zion National Park in Springdale. Its lobby features a floor-to-ceiling window that looks out at red-rock mountains.

ROOMS | Springhill Suites has 114 suites on two floors with magnificent mountain views. Its two sister properties — the Hampton Inn and Suites and the Holiday Inn Express — are located next door, and the three properties together provide a total of 321 rooms.

| There are two meeting rooms totaling 3,700 square feet: a 3,330-square-foot conference room that can be broken into two separate rooms and a 400-square-foot boardroom. An outdoor event space can be rented separately.

ROOMS

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The property has 150 guest rooms.

| The Hilton Garden Inn has a 4,000-square-foot ballroom that can be divided into various combinations. Two nearby sister properties — the Holiday Inn Express and Hyatt Place — have a combined 2,500 square feet of meeting space.

MEETING SPACES

| The Great American Grill specializes in American cuisine, and customers can wrap up their day with a drink at the bar/lounge. Chef-made omelets are available for breakfast for a fee.

DINING

| The hotel’s recreational amenities include an outdoor pool, a spa tub and a 24-hour fitness center. City-owned Crosby Confluence Park, with a wide variety of walking and biking trails, is just minutes away.

RECREATION

MEETING SPACES

DINING

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The Springhill Suites is within walking distance of several restaurants, including the Bit and Spur Restaurant and Saloon, across the street.

MORE INFO HILTON.COM

Courtesy Hilton Garden Inn

RECREATION | The hotel has an outdoor pool and hot tub with amazing canyon views, a splash pad, patios and fireplaces.

MORE INFO MARRIOTT.COM

July/August 2021

THE HILTON GARDEN INN’S OUTDOOR POOL

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ONSITE AN ELEGANT OUTDOOR DINNER SETTING AT THE ADVENIRE

Cable Mountain Lodge

Courtesy Advenire

The Cable Mountain Lodge is beside the entrance to Zion National Park in Springdale and has magnificent views of the park’s canyon walls.

ROOMS

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The Cable Mountain Lodge has 78 rooms.

| The lodge has a 3,100-squarefoot ballroom; a small boardroom is under construction.

MEETING SPACES

DINING | The Cable Mountain Lodge is part of the Zion Canyon Village complex, with a locally sourced restaurant. It is also within easy walking distance of several restaurants in Springdale.

Advenire The Advenire opened in 2020 in downtown St. George as the town’s first Autograph Collection full-service luxury boutique hotel. Its Pioneer-Federal architecture is reminiscent of St. George’s historic 1860s inn, the Big House.

| The Cable Mountain Lodge has its own picnic area with gas grills on the banks of the Virgin River and is just steps away from the many adventures offered in Zion National Park. It also has its own spa with a variety of treatments.

RECREATION

ROOMS | The Advenire has 60 rooms, including 22 suites. Each room is designed with a nod to St. George’s history.

| The Advenire has two meeting rooms — a private dining room and a rooftop terrace — that total 2,029 square feet.

MEETING SPACES

RECREATION | The Advenire has a year-round rooftop terrace whirlpool tub and a mountain bike valet and wash station and is within walking distance of downtown shopping and 16 art galleries and museums.

MORE INFO CABLEMOUNTAINLODGE.COM

AN OUTDOOR BANQUET BENEATH THE WATCHMAN AT CABLE MOUNTAIN LODGE

Courtesy Cable Mountain Lodge

DINING | Everything is made from scratch at the hotel’s gourmet wood.ash.rye restaurant, which puts a unique spin on American cuisine and mixes its own distinctive cocktails from local ingredients.

MORE INFO MARRIOTT.COM

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www.smallmarketmeetings.com

THE LOBBY AT BEST WESTERN ABBEY INN

Best Western Abbey Inn The Best Western Abbey Inn is part of Wittwer Hospitality. It was opened in St. George in 1996; the South Tower was added in 2005.

| The inn has 130 rooms, including two VIP deluxe suites, in the main building and 24 suites in the adjacent South Tower.

ROOMS

MEETING SPACES | A 3,100-square-foot ballroom in the South Tower can be broken into three rooms. The main building has two meeting rooms and a boardroom.

Courtesy Best Western Abbey Inn

Entrada at Snow Canyon Country Club The 25-year-old Entrada Country Club sits on 710 acres of desert landscape near the entrance to Snow Canyon State Park outside St George.

ROOMS

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The separately operated Inn at Entrada has 57 suites and studios with patio, living room and fireplace.

| The Entrada Country Club has a 1,950-square-foot ballroom that can be divided into three sections. It also has two small meeting rooms and a 3,000-square-foot event lawn.

MEETING SPACES

| The Clubhouse features the Grille for lunch and dinner service with panoramic views of red rock cliffs; the Snack Bar is open for breakfast and lunch.

There is in-house catering for meetings.

DINING

RECREATION | The club is renovating its golf course from a Johnny Miller design to a David McLay Kidd Course, which is expected to be complete in the fall. The Wellness Center features an indoor and outdoor pool and hot tubs, workout rooms, classes, spa treatments, tennis and pickleball courts, a basketball court and a sand volleyball court.

DINING | The Best Western Abbey Inn has awardwinning in-house catering for meetings and banquets.

RECREATION

|

There are 10 golf courses within 13 miles of the inn, which is 10 miles from Snow Canyon State Park, with 16 miles of hiking trails.

MORE INFO GOLFENTRADA.COM

THE ENTRANCE TO ENTRADA AT SNOW CANYON COUNTRY CLUB

By Kyle Anderson

MORE INFO BWABBEYINN.COM

July/August 2021

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ONSITE POOLSIDE VILLAS AT RED MOUNTAIN RESORT

Courtesy Red Mountain Resort

Sand Hollow Resort

Red Mountain Resort The Red Mountain Resort is located on 55 acres of black lava gardens and mesquite set amid red rocks and carved canyons a quarter mile from the entrance to Snow Canyon State Park.

ROOMS

|

The Red Mountain Resort has 82 rooms and 24 villa suites.

MEETING SPACES | With nearly 10,000 square feet of meeting space in five rooms and an outdoor gazebo, the Red Mountain Resort can accommodate groups of eight to 100.

| The Red Mountain Resort offers full-serve catering in addition to buffet-style, prepackaged and bar service.

Located near Sand Hollow State Park, Sand Hollow Resort is set amid striking southern Utah red-rock scenery a half hour from St. George. It offers a variety of options for lodging, recreation and dining.

ROOMS | The Sand Hollow Resort offers more than 100 units in a variety of accommodations, from rooms and suites to condominiums and vacation homes with one to six bedrooms.

| The Rock Bowl, with a green lawn set amid towering red sandstone, provides year-round outdoor meeting space for up to 1,000. The Clubhouse can seat 120 inside and has covered outdoor gathering areas and adjacent grass fairways. An outdoor deck provides an additional 1,200 square feet of space for 80 guests. The 4,000-square-foot Penthouse Suite can accommodate 10 to 50 guests.

MEETING SPACES

| The full-service Grille has 360-degree views of magnificent red rocks. The Grille’s kitchen provides catering for meetings.

DINING

RECREATION | Sand Hollow’s highly rated Championship

golf course contours through ridgelines and red rock outcroppings; its Links course brings traditional links-land golf to the desert. All-terrain-vehicle rides in Sand Hollow State Park are nearby.

DINING

SANDHOLLOWRESORT.COM

|

The Red Mountain Resort has private walking trails, a spiral labyrinth, indoor and seasonal outdoor swimming pools, three whirlpools, a full-menu spa and salon, guided hiking and biking, more than 50 fitness classes weekly and an adventure concierge.

AN AERIAL VIEW OF SAND HOLLOW RESORT AND ITS SURROUNDINGS

Courtesy Greater Zion CTO

RECREATION

MORE INFO

MORE INFO REDMOUNTAINRESORT.COM

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www.smallmarketmeetings.com

RESTAURANTS

The meeting planners on the Greater Zion fam sampled the area’s wide range of culinary options, from regionally sourced cuisine to Mexican, Southwestern and even Hungarian, in the following restaurants.

• WOOD.ASH.RYE — Located in the Advenire boutique hotel in downtown St. George, wood.ash. rye uses regionally sourced ingredients for distinctive recipes that rotate with the season. These are coupled with a wide selection of craft cocktails primarily using Utah breweries, distilleries and wineries. It also has a bakery and a lounge.

THE AMPHITHEATER AT TUACAHN CENTER FOR THE ARTS

By Dave Becker, courtesy Greater Zion CTO

MEETING PLANNERS DEPARTING FOR A HIKE IN ZION NATIONAL PARK

• MEME’S CAFÉ — You can eat the delicious home-style food and wide variety of crepes at MeMe’s Café inside or outside on two patios amid the soaring beauty of nearby Zion National Park.

Owner Mechelle, affectionately called MeMe, opened her cafe in downtown Springdale in 2012 and this year opened the adjacent Zuma’s Baja Mexican Kitchen.

• ANASAZI STEAKHOUSE — For a different dining experience, cook your steak and seafood at the table on hot rocks at the Anasazi Steakhouse in St. George.

The restaurant is also famous for its fondue appetizers and desserts served amid a variety of artwork.

• ARAGOSTA — Upscale Aragosta features a contemporary American and fine European menu by executive chef Imi Kun, who relocated to St. George in the mid-1990s from Hungary after visiting on a cultural exchange program. And, yes, he serves a delicious Hungarian goulash.

• BIT AND SPUR RESTAURANT AND SALOON — The successor to a popular roadside bar, the Bit and Spur Restaurant and Saloon opened in 1981 in Springdale and has steadily grown. You can still shoot pool in the bar and listen to live music while ordering an array of Southwestern dishes such as local favorites sweet potato tamales and tofu tacos.

July/August 2021

By Kyle Anderson

GREATER ZION CONVENTION AND TOURISM OFFICE 435-986-6612 OR 800-889-6635 GREATERZION.COM/MEETINGS

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

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MANAGING

Talent Scouting

EXPERTS SHARE TIPS ON BOOKING ENTERTAINMENT FOR EVENTS

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BY KRISTY ALPERT

ooking entertainment for an event or meeting is supposed to be the fun part. But all too often, planners wind up entertaining a headache instead.

Entertainment can mean the difference between a memorable event and a forgettable one. A perfectly timed dance routine at the end of a seminar can liven the room, and a well-known performing artist can ensure that attendees stick around until the very last session. Successfully booking an act or a performer for an event is all about knowing how to navigate the industry, which is why we asked three industry pros for their tips on booking entertainment for small meetings and events.

Here’s what they had to say.

“Artists have been out of work for 15 months. They are looking for every opportunity. With the number of dates that need to be rescheduled that were canceled or postponed, some organizers may find it challenging to fit into rigorous touring schedules.”

PLAN AHEAD Whether you’re planning your dates around a particular performer or are hoping to find an act that’s available during the dates of your event, the best time to book your talent is immediately after you’ve booked your venue.

“We have had groups where money is no object and they contracted legendary touring bands, and we’ve had groups that just want a piano for a cocktail hour,” said Craig Clemmer, director of sales and marketing at the Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire. “Regardless of the act, though, if the entertainment is a focal point of the event, you should begin the search as soon as you select a location.”

Booking early ensures plenty of time for negotiating the ins and outs of the contract. But in the current competitive market for entertainers, it also ensures your being able to secure an artist or performer at all.

“Six months to a year is standard,” said Josh Baker, CEO of Hi-Fi, MOKB Presents and executive director of Indiana Independent Venue Alliance in Indianapolis. “Though, post-pandemic, we are seeing artists booking two years simultaneously, so availability may start to wane midway through 2022. Most corporate events are fly dates for artists, so it really just all depends on the artist availability and their tour schedule.”

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Josh Baker CEO

Hi-Fi, MOKB Presents Experience: 20-plus years

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

“We have a frequent group that has a big focus on entertainment. In the past they’ve hired Alanis Morrissette and Cheap Trick and absolutely rocked the Grand Ballroom.

Company leadership has also performed onstage to show appreciation for the team’s hard work. The entertainment takes the event to the next level.”

SET THE STAGE — AND THE BUDGET Before even beginning a conversation with an artist or an entertainment booking agency, it’s important to know what you need the artist to provide, what you can provide and what the venue will be providing in terms of audiovisual, gear, staging and other equipment.

“Communication is always key,” said Samantha Gutting, senior vice president and chief sales officer for the Branson Convention and Visitors Bureau in Branson, Missouri. “It’s very important for the venue to be included from the very beginning of the planning process to be sure you’re taking everything into consideration. And they can even help you navigate things like permits and noise levels.”

These factors will not only influence the cost; they could also influence the types of artists that can perform in your selected venue.

“The promoter is the one responsible for providing all the necessary equipment, such as stage, PA, lighting, security, power, hospitality, etc., to produce a safe and successful event,” said Baker. “Some venues have this in-house, but in most cases, you’ll need to source components to complete the production puzzle.”

Whereas a pianist or a poet may need only minimal equipment to perform, a touring band may be able to bring its own crew and equipment. Knowing what you already have available will help smooth out those conversations with the artist/performer early on and will eliminate any technical or equipment issues or miscommunications on the day of the event.

Keeping tabs on the equipment situation can also help your budget stay on track. When booking a performer or an act, you’re often given just the cost of the performance, but what’s left out is the price tag for transportation, meals and any necessary equipment or staffing. Make sure you factor into your entertainment budget not only the artist’s performing fee but also production, hospitality and a little extra for equipment you may need to source yourself.

Craig Clemmer DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING Omni Mount Washington Resort Experience: 20-plus years

July/August 2021

TAP INTO YOUR NETWORK Unless you already have your mind made up on a specific band or performer, when booking talent for an event, it’s important to reach out to your network to get the most relevant information about which performers or acts would be a good fit for your specific event.

23

MANAGING

Samantha Gutting SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF SALES OFFICER

Branson Convention and Visitors Bureau Experience: 25 years

“In the case of Branson, we’re home to many outrageously talented entertainers — often young ones — working their way up the ladder in the music scene. They want to get their names out there, and they really bring an incredible amount of passion and enthusiasm. Choosing someone who has a great local reputation but who’s still growing a national audience is one way to get great talent at a lower cost.”

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www.smallmarketmeetings.com

“You should work directly with the destination’s CVB, DMO or DMC,” said Gutting. “We spend our days and nights meeting entertainers and hearing reviews from other meetings and groups. We’re incredibly connected, and we’re totally aware of all the options available.”

CVBs and entertainment agencies are great resources with huge pools of talent from which to choose, and they can often give direction for which type of act would be best for your meeting/event demographics. But you can also reach out directly to the performer’s agent or, in some cases, manager. When dealing with an agent, it’s important to be concise with your request by providing information on the event — when, where, type of event, etc. — as well as demographics, estimated number of attendees and what you want the performer/artist to do at the event. Agents receive requests daily, so providing this information upfront and following up in a timely manner — that is to say, three to five days — will set you apart from the noise.

NEGOTIATE THE CONTRACT The key word here is “negotiate.” When you make an offer to an entertainer, you want to make sure you’re not putting your best offer on the table right away. There will likely be some back and forth with the contract, and offering anywhere from 10% to 15% below your desired budget is often a wise move upfront.

During these negotiations, make sure to discuss all the hidden fees, like travel, accommodations, meals and anything else you will be responsible for to bring the artist to your event.

This is also the time to bring up the idea of a contingency plan. Although no planner wants to hear this, unforeseen circumstances such as illness, airline cancellations and so forth can occur, and it’s reasonable to talk about what the performer will do to assist in the event that something does come up. Often, agents will provide a backup performer or offer a refund of some sort, but you should make sure this is all outlined in the contract to avoid any surprises on the day of the event.

THE WORTHINGTON AREA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

IS READY TO ACCOMMODATE YOU WITH WHAT OUR GREAT CITY HAS TO OFFER.

WORTHINGTON EVENT CENTER

HISTORIC DAYTON HOUSE

ROUND LAKE VINEYARDS & WINERY

WORTHINGTON EVENT CENTER

ASSISTANCE WITH REGISTRATION • PROVIDE HOSPITALITY BAGS PLAN YOUR ITINERARY • COORDINATE LODGING OPTIONS • COORDINATE MEETING FACILITIES WANT MORE INFORMATION ON BOOKING YOUR EVENT IN WORTHINGTON? CALL US AT 507.372.2919 • VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WORTHINGTONMNCHAMBER.COM

July/August 2021

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IDEAS

Courtesy Aspen Chamber & Resort Assoc.

OFF PEAK, ON TREND These seasonal destinations offer great value at other times of year

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BY REBECCA TREON

easonal travel often makes sense: cooling off at the beach in the summer, hitting the slopes in the winter or getting out of the chill to somewhere warm. But areas known for their seasonality are crowded and charge top prices during their peak seasons. For groups, the high cost of meeting during this time can be off-putting. For the destinations, the slow season can damage the local economy because no visitors means no work.

Many locations are still great for meetings during the low or shoulder seasons, however, offering dis-

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counts and plush amenities. This makes booking off-season a boon for meeting and event planners.

Plus, discovering a place without all the crowds is a benefit all its own; visitors get the insider’s perspective and the chance to discover some hidden gems.

Here are four popular seasonal destinations that offer a lot of value during off-peak times.

ASPEN, COLORADO

Aspen, Colorado, is often touted as a world-class ski destination and celebrity playground. And while it is those things, it’s also a fantastic destination for smaller meetings. Mid-May to mid-June is what locals call the secret season, a great time to get more favorable rates. Similar discounts are available after Labor Day through mid-October.

“Groups can get better rates with Sunday to Wednesday dates instead of Thursday to Sunday,” said Sarah Reynolds Lasser, director of business development at the Aspen Chamber and Resort Association. “Those shoulder seasons tend to have gorgeous weather, so they’re really a best-kept secret.”

Aspen and the outdoors go hand in hand. Guests can hike, bike, climb, kayak, fly fish, raft, ride horse-

Above: Stunning mountainous surroundings make Aspen a popular ski destination in winter but also an attractive meetings destination during off-peak seasons.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

back and paraglide in the spring and fall. Reynolds Lasser suggests checking out the Grottos Trail in lieu of the overly popular Maroon Bells, using e-bikes — trending for their ability to equalize all athletic abilities despite the altitude — and, for a local’s experience, doing yoga al fresco atop the mountain.

Aspen is also known for its dining scene; it has more than 80 restaurants and bars, many of which have an option for outdoor dining, and great options for more affordable buyouts. “The Aspen Historical Society or the Holden-Marolt Mining Museum are great for cocktail hour, and the Wheeler Opera House,

“We have it all: amazing seafood, wineries, breweries, farm-to-table restaurants. For meetings and groups, we can do evening clambakes on the beach, whale watching or sunset cruises.”

— Patti Lloyd, Cape Cod Chamber

our historic Victorian-era opera house, is available for groups to rent for meetings and presentations,” said Reynolds Lasser. “The Theatre Aspen Hurst Theatre at John Denver Park is another great outdoor venue for both presentations and cocktails, and the Doerr Hosier Center at Aspen Meadows is a beautiful flexible space that works for meetings as well as for parties.”

As for hotels, there are many in Aspen that cater to groups, like the Gant, the historic Hotel Jerome, the St. Regis, the W Hotel and Limelight, but you don’t have to stay there to get the perks. The group sales associates can help arrange citywide meetings using all the different hotels in town. aspenchamber.org

CAPE COD, MASSACHUSETTS

Cape Cod, Massachusetts, is made up of 15 towns, plus islands Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, along a 75-mile-long peninsula surrounded by 559 miles of coastline. It’s roughly 60 miles from Boston and 80 miles from Providence, Rhode Island, accessible by road, ferry or plane. And though it’s a popular destination during the summer, spring and fall, especially midweek, are excellent times for

Photos courtesy Cape Cod Chamber

July/August 2021

Cape Cod scenes, clockwise from left: the Ship’s Knees Inn; a Pirate Adventures excursion; the Queen Anne Inn

27

IDEAS

groups to take advantage of lower prices and fewer crowds without losing any of the area’s charm.

“We have a year-round population of about 212,000, and that becomes 2 million in the summer, so April, May [and] June, and September, October and November, are good months to meet here,” said Patti Lloyd, vice president of group sales at the Cape Cod Chamber. “We have conference centers that can accommodate groups of up to 500 depending on where you want to be. The rates are certainly different outside of the summer months.”

Groups will want to take the time to play tourist for a day, visiting some of the Cape’s museums and the National Seashore — groups can do a unique excursion with Art’s Dune Tours — and doing a day trip to the islands or climbing the Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown.

“We have it all: amazing seafood, wineries, breweries, farm-to-table restaurants,” said Lloyd. “For meetings and groups, we can do evening clambakes on the beach, whale watching or sunset cruises.”

Each town on Cape Cod offers a wide range of options for all types of groups, from boutique hotels to sprawling resorts.

Reno scenes, clockwise from left: downtown in autumn; LakeRidge golf course; the famous Reno arch

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“The rates in the summer are higher,” said Lloyd.

“But at other times of the year, the amenities are the same, the service is the same — we’re happy to see the meeting world coming back.” capecodchamber.org

RENO, NEVADA

With its proximity to Lake Tahoe and everything a metropolitan area has to offer, Reno, Nevada, is a noteworthy choice for groups. Surrounded by the Tahoe National Forest, highways 80 and 395 provide easy driving access, and the Reno-Tahoe Airport currently offers a record number of direct flights with expanded capacity servicing 26 domestic destinations.

“Reno offers an authentic place to have some time outdoors,” said Charles Harris, Reno Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority president and CEO. “We want to work with meeting planners on custom solutions to meet their needs. Midweek is the ideal time for meetings because there's so much to do. Traditionally, March, April and November are the months we see as having opportunities for groups to travel when it’s not the high season, but people right now are making up for lost time.”

Photos courtesy Reno Sparks CVA

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

t a i o c n o l s c ... i r o t s i h g n i m r a h c d n a s g n i t t e or s o d t u o y l e v o l , s ue Traditiona l ven Photo courtesy of Bodacious Shops of Block 42

When you’re ready to plan your next meeting we want you to know that we’ve got options to help you meet in the safest way possible. Conveniently located directly off of I39/90 and less than 90 minutes from Madison and Milwaukee. Call today to learn more about our complimentary services!

janesvillecvb.com · (800) 487-2757 · 

IDEAS

Reno offers facilities that can host groups, as well as a vast number of things to do and events in which attendees can participate. It has rodeo; hot-air balloon festivals; a well-known barbecue cookoff; AAA baseball; world-class golf, hiking and biking trails outdoors; the Nevada Art Museum, with a rooftop lounge; hotels with climbing walls; and the automobile museum, to scratch the surface.

“We’ve got multiple facilities that can host events or conferences, from places that have 600,000 square feet of space to a 78-lane bowling alley,” said Harris.

“We have events all year long. That’s something that we’re uniquely known for and that really enhances the meeting experience.” visitrenotahoe.com

SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA

For many groups, especially those in California, Santa Barbara is a beautiful coastal destination that welcomes those who want to escape city life and get away.

According to Beth Olson, director of sales at Visit Santa Barbara, roughly 70% of visitors are from within driving distance — the city is just 90 miles north of Los Angeles — but the other 30% are an infusion of people from

everywhere, seeking mild weather and sandy beaches.

“The weather is pretty amazing here year-round,” says Olson. “Our high season is typically when kids are out of school, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, but shoulder seasons are February through May and then September through November, when we really look for meetings to fill those spots because it’s not a big leisure travel time.”

Prices can vary about 25% for both accommodations and activities during off-peak times and are even better on weekdays. Additional incentives and rebates are available too, working to the planner’s advantage.

Another trend Olson is seeing is families joining the meeting attendee and tacking on some vacation days. For leisure activities, the area’s museums; wine country, which offers great options like tastings in a barrel room; beaches; and water activities — think sunset cruises — are all appealing for meeting-goers.

Olson and her staff work with meeting planners to create unusual and memorable experiences for attendees of meetings of all sizes. santabarbaraca.com

By Blake Bronsta

Santa Barbara scenes, clockwise from left: the historic courthouse; boats on the harbor; a mountainside vineyard

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By Jay Sinclair

By Jay Sinclair Photos courtesy Visit Santa Barbara

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

feed their 150k sq. ft. of meeting space

18k lodging units 32 miles of beaches

Loosen up that tie, trade your business suit for a swimsuit, and begin planning the meeting, conference or event that no one will want to miss.

With meeting spaces that can accommodate up to 2,000 attendees, full-service beachfront properties and unique offsite venues, Alabama’s beaches offer plenty of flexibility for your next event.

Our sales professionals are excited to help you feed the FOMO with our complimentary services. To learn more about what we can do for you, visit GSOBmeetings.com.

n o t m a h g n i B 2.0 Many of the old industrial buildings in downtown Binghamton have been repurposed as dining, retail and lifestyle spaces, a nod to the city’s legacy of innovation.

All photos courtesy Visit Binghamton

CITY

This New York city is flexing its innovative muscles

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BY ELIZABETH HEY

ostered by historic innovators and home to tech leaders such as IBM, Binghamton, New York’s vibe is fueled by contemporary creative visionaries. The city was incorporated in 1867, and many of its industrial-style downtown buildings have been repurposed into thriving restaurants, boutiques and offices. Binghamton has actively embraced the gifts of the past by reimagining them for the next generation.

BINGHAMTON AT A GLANCE

LOCATION: Central New York State ACCESS: Greater Binghamton Airport, Route 17 (future Interstate 86), interstates 81 and 88 HOTEL ROOMS: 3,500 CONTACT INFO: Visit Binghamton Convention and Visitors Bureau 800-836-6740 visitbinghamton.org MEETING SPACES

Visions Federal Credit Union Veterans Memorial Arena MEETING SPACE: 30,000 square feet Binghamton University Events Center FLEXIBLE SPACE: 165,000 square feet MEETING HOTELS

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Binghamton GUEST ROOMS: 207 MEETING SPACE: 36,000 square feet Holiday Inn Binghamton Downtown GUEST ROOMS: 237, including 10 suites MEETING SPACE: 15,000 square feet Traditions at the Glen Hotel and Spa GUEST ROOMS: 41 MEETING SPACE: 4,800 square feet WHO’S MEETING IN BINGHAMTON

Odyssey of the Mind ATTENDEES: 3,000 I Love NY Gymnastics ATTENDEES: 2,000 NYS School Food Service Association ATTENDEES: 300

July/August 2021

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Destination Highlights

B

inghamton University and SUNY Broome Community College bring world-class musicians, art and theater to the city. Add outstanding restaurants and nightlife to the mix, and there’s plenty of places to explore and unwind.

Visitors can also hike, kayak and bike right at the city’s doorstep.

Beautiful Confluence Park lies at the epicenter of the city’s rivers.

“I tell planners that we have everything that a big city offers but on a smaller scale when it comes to culture and restaurants,” said Gina Calisi, convention sales manager for Visit Binghamton. “And our park system is magnificent. Visitors can snowshoe in the winter and bike, kayak or hike in the summer.”

State Street supports creativity on its Artists Row, dotted with studios and galleries. First Fridays, artists open their doors for this popular event. Fourth-generation Apple Hill Farm, nestled in the countryside but near downtown, offers apple picking and a cafe that incorporates farm-grown fruit. Animal Adventure Park, approximately 25 minutes east, features hands-on activities such as feeding the animals and hanging out with a baby sloth or kangaroo.

Binghamton is known as the world’s carousel capital, with six operating carousels free to the public. Built as an employee benefit by the Endicott Johnson Shoe Company, they are open Memorial Day through Labor Day. One is in the city’s historic Ross Park Zoo. Another, in Recreation Park, inspired a “Twilight Zone” episode.

The show’s creator, Rod Serling, grew up in the area.

Confluence Park

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DESTINATION HIGHLIGHTS

DISTINCTIVE VENUES

Bundy Museum of History and Art

Distinctive Venues

O

utdoors and in, Binghamton’s unique settings can accommodate an event, a meal or a reception. In a rustic setting 10 miles from downtown, Mountain Top Grove serves as a picnic area that can flex for smaller groups or large events of up to 500 people. According to Calisi, the venue is renowned for catered clambakes.

“Another great site is the Riverdale Banquet Hall,” said Calisi. “It’s a refurbished restaurant with a contemporary ambiance, and they’re well known for the quality of their food.”

The Bundy Museum of History and Art displays permanent and rotating exhibits and can host meetings, parties or ceremonies. The 14-room mansion is furnished with items from the Victorian and early Art Nouveau periods and boasts original woodwork and stained-glass windows. The carriage house Annex Theater seats up to 70 people and provides full audiovisual, restrooms and a bar/concession area.

The Roberson Museum and Science Center encompasses the elegant Roberson Mansion with its grand foyer, dining room and library for events. In addition, the museum’s galleries, walled courtyard, planetarium, visitors center and newly restored third-floor ballroom can host meetings, receptions and parties for 50 to 500 attendees. Kopernik Observatory and Science Center, approximately 13 miles from Binghamton, is one of the best-equipped public observatories in the Northeast.

For events, the facility offers four classrooms, the space lobby, a computer lab, three observatory telescopes and 24 acres.

“For an evening reception, the observatory can host a chocolate and wine night while groups look at the stars through the center’s high-powered telescopes,” said Calisi. “They will also host a seated dinner.”

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Major Meeting Spaces

A

nchoring downtown, the Visions Federal Credit Union Veterans Memorial Arena offers 30,000 square feet of flexible meeting or exhibit space. The nearby Binghamton University Events Center’s 65,000 square feet of flexible space hosts trade shows, dinners and receptions.

Overlooking the Chenango River and located near each other, two notable downtown properties focus on meetings. The 207-room DoubleTree Binghamton offers 25,452 square feet of event space with 19 meeting rooms. The property’s 5,000-square-foot Riverwalk Athletic Club boasts a large saltwater indoor pool and whirlpool. Guests can also hop on its free five-mile shuttle.

Newly renovated, the 237-room Holiday Inn Binghamton Downtown Hotel and Conference Center houses more than 15,000 square feet of banquet and flexible space. Facilities include 10 meeting rooms, and the Triple Cities Ballroom accommodates up to 700 guests and delivers full-service catering. Cafe Select overlooks the Chenango River, and the hotel’s fitness center touts a 50-foot indoor pool.

“The four blocks surrounding both hotels have a plethora of restaurants, nightlife and shops,” said Calisi. “Visitors can actually get to both hotels from the river walkway.”

On 650 forested acres, Traditions at the Glen Hotel and Spa was originally built as a private residence. After IBM bought the property in 1936, it became known as the IBM Homestead. Executives, presidents, celebrities and notable golf greats have stayed in its 41 elegant rooms and suites. Amenities include an 18-hole championship golf course overlooking the Susquehanna River, an 18-hole FootGolf course that combines soccer and golf, and a full-service spa with an Eastern European-style Himalayan salt cave.

MAJOR MEETING SPACES

July/August 2021

Traditions at the Glen Hotel and Spa

AFTER HOURS

Broome County Hiking

After the Meeting

M

eeting attendees should make sure to sample the celebrated spiedie, a Binghamton culinary tradition. This sandwich contains cubes of marinated meat threaded onto skewers and cooked over an open flame, then served between slices of Italian bread.

For beer aficionados, the Colonial serves 30 beers on tap, plus a full menu. And local restaurant favorite Burger Mondays is notorious for serving large portions and cranking out the area’s best meat-and-bun combinations.

History buffs will appreciate the Phelps Mansion Museum, listed on the National Register of Historic American Buildings. Programs on public affairs, arts and literature are presented through the Monday Afternoon Club. And Tri-Cities Opera has been a cultural staple for more than seven decades.

Guided kayak or bike tours take advantage of the area’s waterways and parks. Horseback riding can be arranged at one of the area’s many stables. In winter, snowmobile and cross-country ski trails crisscross Broome County. More than a dozen area golf courses include the Golf Digest-rated Conklin Players Club or the Golf Magazine-ranked Links at Hiawatha Landing, to name just a few. Binghamton University fields NCAA Division I teams in every sport, with Bearcats basketball that entertains throughout the winter. The Binghamton Rumble Ponies minor league baseball team plays 71 home games annually at downtown’s newly renovated NYSEG Stadium.

“We have magnificent golf, and the PGA Tour Champions plays here every year,” said Calisi. “Baseball games are fun with a great party deck and fireworks, and we offer group ticket packages with food.”

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TOWN

WORK AND PLAY IN

n r u Aub

BY TOM ADKINSON

I

t’s not accurate to call Auburn and Opelika twin cities. The east-central Alabama cities are adjacent — almost blending together — but they are distinct. Auburn is best known as the free-spirited university town that it is, and some locals describe Opelika as Auburn’s hip older sister that enjoys a sense of history.

Regardless, the two cities promote themselves as one, and they have plenty to offer meeting planners and their groups.

This vibrant community is strategically located along Interstate 85 between Alabama and Georgia’s capital cities. Montgomery is about 55 miles southwest, and Atlanta is about 105 miles northeast. This puts Auburn-Opelika in a sweet spot, both for access and appeal.

The area’s population is well suited to meetings that seek amenities without the crunch of a major metro. Auburn’s population is about 64,000, and Opelika’s is about 30,000. Add Auburn University’s enrollment that’s pushing 30,000, and you have a great mix of people, facilities, entertainment and activities.

Auburn University athletics, of course, deliver considerable excitement, especially during football season when Jordan-Hare Stadium can swallow almost the equivalent of the two cities’ populations. The university says it’s the 10th-largest on-campus stadium in the country: capacity: 87,451.

College sports aside, it is golf that provides much of the allure here. That’s because of the Grand National, the golf complex described as the jewel of Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.

Its Links course and Lake course have been listed in Golf Digest’s “America’s Top 50 Affordable Courses.” More than half of the complex’s 54 holes are along 600-acre Lake Saugahatchee. It’s a challenge to keep attendees in meetings when that much golf temptation is nearby.

It’s not all play, of course. Forbes named Auburn-Opelika one of America’s top-10 cities for small business in 2019.

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JUNE COLLINS SMITH MUSEUM OF FINE ART AT AUBURN UNIVERSITY

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Meeting Space

The area has two major meeting facilities. One is the Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center, and the other is the Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort and Spa at Grand National.

Both are a mouthful, and both deliver for meetings.

The Hotel at Auburn University recently completed a $1.2 million conference center renovation and, in 2019, earned AAA Four Diamond status. It has 236 guest rooms and 27,000 square feet of meeting and event space. If you detect a particularly youthful vibe, that’s because its management firm partners with Auburn University’s hospitality management program and provides students with hands-on experience.

The Marriott, a Four Diamond property since 2017, has 221 guest rooms, 15,220 square feet of meeting space and 13 event rooms. One of its major calling cards is a full-service spa, often visited before big social events or after hard days of golf.

HOTEL AUBURN THE GRAND NATIONAL COMPLEX IN AUBURN IS AMONG THE MOST IMMPRESSIVE SITES ON ALABAMA’S ROBERT TRENT JONES GOLF TRAIL.

AUBURN/OPELIKA ALABAMA LOCATION

East-central Alabama

ACCESS

About 105 miles southwest of Atlanta and 55 miles northeast of Montgomery off Interstate 85

MAJOR MEETING SPACES

Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center, Auburn Marriott Opelika Resort and Spa at Grand National

HOTEL ROOMS 3,247

OFF-SITE VENUES

Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, Agricultural Heritage Park Pavilion (the Red Barn), Southerly Warehouse, Gogue Performing Arts Center

CONTACT INFO

Auburn-Opelika Tourism 334-501-3281 aotourism.com

July/August 2021

Photos courtesy Auburn-Opelika Tourism

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TOWN

n r u b u A Opelika AGRICULTURE HERITAGE PARK PAVILION

Other Meeting Venues A barn, a warehouse, an art museum and a sparkling new performing arts center lead the list of off-site event venues.

The Hotel at Auburn operates the Agriculture Heritage Park Pavilion, usually just called the Red Barn. Recent major renovations made the Red Barn an open, well-lighted architectural gem overlooking the 30-acre Ag Heritage Park. It works well for receptions and dinners.

Another notable reception site is the long, two-story lobby of the Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center, capacity 1,200. In addition, the

By Drew Lambert

performing arts center has a 1,500-seat outdoor amphitheater. All this is across from the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, which has reception and dinner space — indoor and garden settings — and an auditorium for formal presentations. For contrast, the Southerly Warehouse in the heart of Opelika’s historic district offers a blank canvas for meeting planners.

Opelika also is primed for a multistop spirits tour with two breweries, a craft distillery and a wine bar that says it has the largest by-the-glass selection in America.

INDOOR MEETINGS. OUTDOOR OASIS.

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

To learn more call 800.593.6456 or visit MarriottGrandNational.com.

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

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© 2021 Marriott International, Inc.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

MARYLAND THEATRE MARRIOTT GRAND NATIONAL RESORT

A GRAND NATIONAL GOLF COURSE

After-Meeting Activities Robert Trent Jones, who designed or redesigned more than 500 golf courses worldwide, said Grand National is the “single greatest site for a golf course” he ever saw. That’s one reason so many attendees hang around after a meeting here. The adventurous press on to some of the other 10 Alabama sites on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.

History is another major draw. The Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site is less than 20 miles away on the way to Montgomery, where desti-

By Drew Lambert

nations such as the Civil Rights Memorial and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice await to illuminate important aspects of America’s story.

A completely different educational experience is another of Montgomery’s attractions: seeing the amazing process that produces more than 1,500 Hyundai cars each workday. Alabama’s highly automated Hyundai plant is the only one in the U.S.

REIMAGINED ROOMS SAME AWARD-WINNING HOSPITALITY

The Front Door to Auburn just got an exciting upgrade!

Join us in our newly reimagined guest rooms and experience the best of southern hospitality.

241 South College Street Auburn, Alabama 36830 | www.auhcc.com | 334.821.8200

July/August 2021

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Small But Mighty in Iowa

F

Meetdieng Gui

A Dutch town in the middle of Iowa, Pella is considered the closest thing to Holland in the U.S., with its Klokkenspel clock, canal, working drawbridge and large windmill

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Courtesy Visit Pella

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

rom its rural roots and beautiful natural surroundings to its European cultural influences, smalltown Iowa has plenty to offer meeting planners trying to escape the state’s larger, more bustling cities. These charming small towns offer full-service hotels, distinctive meeting venues, historic downtowns with boutique shops, tasty cuisine, historical sites and gorgeous state parks to explore.

PELLA

DUTCH HERITAGE DEFINES PUBLIC SPACES IN PELLA.

surrounded by Dutch architecture. The town is also only four miles from Lake Red Rock, Iowa’s largest lake, and the area attracts visitors from all over the world. For a rural destination, Pella has an amazingly vibrant downtown with diverse restaurants and shopping.

Meeting planners wanting to get a taste of the Netherlands can choose from a variety of meeting locations, many that tap into that Dutch heritage.

Pella’s canal area, Molengracht Plaza, is great for private parties and outdoor conference events, and the Pella Historic Village campus, a replica of what would have been found in the Netherlands in the late 1800s, can also host events. There are 23 buildings on the property, including a large grain windmill.

The largest event space in town is on the campus of Central College, a four-year liberal arts school. The banquet facility on campus can seat 300 people comfortably at round tables. The campus also has tons of breakout spaces for larger conferences.

The historic Pella Opera House is available for group meetings.

The Great Hall can host up to 250 guests banquet style, and the historic theater can hold 324 attendees. The second- and third-floor lobbies are suitable for smaller banquets or events for up to 30 guests.

The Amsterdam, a 40-room boutique hotel close to Molengracht Plaza, is a favorite place to stay with its full-service restaurant and bar

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

and proximity to downtown. Pella also has a number of brand-name hotels like the 69-room Country Inn and Suites and the 87-room GrandStay Hotel and Suites Pella, which has conference facilities that can accommodate 80 guests. visitpella.com

PELLA’S MOLENGRACHT PLAZA FLINT HILLS DISCOVERY CENTER

AMES

The consummate college town, Ames derives much of its identity from its relationship to Iowa State University (ISU), a land-grant institution that brings 36,000 students to town every year and is the city’s largest employer.

Most of the conferences that come to Ames are held at the Scheman Building at the Iowa State Center. The center has three floors of meeting and event space that include a 400-seat auditorium, several breakout spaces and a dining area on the second floor.

The Gateway Hotel and Conference Center at ISU has 187 guest rooms and a conference center that can host meetings for up to 400 people easily with its two large ballrooms and additional breakout spaces. It also has an attached restaurant and bar.

The Radisson Hotel Ames Conference Center at ISU can fit up to 200 people in its ballroom and has a smaller space that can be used for breakout sessions. The hotel has 75 guest rooms. The Best Western nearby has 86 guest rooms.

Ames is distinctive in that it has two business and entertainment districts. Downtown Ames has the city’s dining, bars and entertainment, and Campustown, with its own restaurants and shops that appeal to a younger demographic, is within walking distance of the university. Reiman Gardens has event space, as well as a butterfly garden and floral gardens, that meeting groups can enjoy. For a taste of ISU campus life, groups can host receptions overlooking the football field at Jack Trice Stadium, home of the Cyclones. The Hansen Agricultural Center can host banquets of up to 1,000 people on its arena floor, and the James H. Hilton Coliseum at ISU can host events of up to 15,000 people, including large trade shows. thinkames.com

Courtesy Visit Pella

REIMAN GARDENS AT IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY IN AMES

DECORAH

The small town of Decorah sits on Iowa’s Driftless Scenic Byway, a 144-mile byway that takes visitors past chiseled limestone bluffs, rivers, waterfalls and forested valleys that were carved by glaciers during the last ice age. The town is an outdoor lover’s paradise, with 600 acres of parks, state parks, a state fish hatchery and the largest seed bank in the world.

Meeting groups have plenty of opportunities to enjoy Decorah’s scenic beauty and Norwegian heritage. The historic Hotel Winneshiek and Opera House downtown can host up to 300 people for a conference. The Opera House, the hotel’s grandest space, features original tin walls and ceiling, a stage and a mezzanine that can host groups of up to 250 people for a meal or breakout sessions.

The hotel also has a meeting room for up to 125 guests, a private dining room for 25 people and a beautiful lobby that can be used as prefunction space.

Courtesy Ames CVB

July/August 2021

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Meetieng Guid The Pulpit Rock Brewing Company has a small event space that can accommodate 50 people and a patio on the east side of the building that can seat about 30 people. Pivo Brewery, about nine miles south of Decorah, offers 40 beers and ciders on tap and has a 4,500-square-foot event space that can seat up to 400 people. It has a large hardwood dance floor and a private bar.

Luther College has numerous event spaces that can host groups of up to 300 people, among them the Dahl Centennial Union, the Center for Faith and Life, a performance hall that seats 1,400 people and numerous lecture halls. Many groups host their main meeting events at Luther College and then schedule breakouts throughout Decorah, taking advantage of its breweries, winery, restaurants and the Seed Savers Exchange. visitdecorah.com

SIOUX CITY

DECORAH ON THE DRIFTLESS SCENIC BYWAY Courtesy Visit Decorah

SIOUX CITY’S TYSON EVENT CENTER

Sioux City is in the tristate area of Iowa, within minutes of South Sioux City, Nebraska, and North Sioux City, South Dakota.

Sioux City is known for its Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, which showcases the Corps of Discovery’s time in the area from July to September 1804 and commemorates the life of the only person that died on that expedition, Sgt. Charles Floyd.

The city has several free museums, including the Sioux City Art Center; the Sioux City Public Museum, which is an interactive museum that talks about the history and culture of the area; and the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center. The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino also is a big attraction in the area.

For groups, there are several large meeting spaces. The Tyson Event Center is the biggest venue in the area: It seats 10,000 people. The Siouxland Expo Center is a brand-new event venue that can host very large groups in its arena and up to 260 guests for a banquet in its banquet room.

Sioux City is known for its Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, which showcases the Corps of Discovery’s time in the area from July to September 1804 and commemorates the life of the only person that died on that expedition, Sgt. Charles Floyd.

Courtesy Explore Sioux City

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CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA

Meet the NEW Cedar Rapids where billions of dollars have been invested in revitalized entertainment districts, culturally rich attractions, a nationally recognized culinary scene, outdoor recreation and shops of every variety.

With hundreds of destinations vying for your business, we know you can’t just take our word for it.

Contact Julie Stow today to learn about upcoming familiarization tours and visit in person!

Julie Stow Director of Meetings & Conventions Cedar Rapids Tourism Office j.stow@tourismcedarrapids.com 319.731.4558 370 First Ave NE Cedar Rapids, IA 52401 tourismcedarrapids.com

Our Community. Your Experience.

Meetieng Guid The Sioux City Convention Center has 56,000 square feet of meeting and event space and is connected to the Courtyard Sioux City Downtown/Convention Center hotel. For something a little more intimate, the Orpheum Theatre, built in 1927, was recently remodeled to preserve its hand-painted ceiling, gilded accents and hand-carved details. The six-story theater can hold 2,690 people in the auditorium and is home to the city’s symphony orchestra and Broadway shows. There are 15 hotels in the area, but not all of them have meeting spaces. The Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center and the Warrior Hotel are full-service hotels that offer meeting spaces. The city also offers a trolley service for bigger events so that attendees can stay at multiple hotels and travel easily between conference locations. visitsiouxcity.org

DENISON

THE EXTERIOR OF BOULDERS CONFERENCE CENTER IN DENISON

A MEETING ROOM AT BOULDERS CONFERENCE CENTER

Denison and Crawford County are known for beautiful hills, scenic farms and Denison’s historic downtown. Oscar-winning actress Donna Reed is Denison’s hometown sweetheart, and there are plenty of ways to learn more about her and her history in town. Reed is best known for her roles in “It’s a Wonderful Life” with Jimmy Stewart and “From Here to Eternity,” a movie that earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She also starred in a hit TV series, “The Donna Reed Show,” for eight years.

The Donna Reed Performing Arts Center contains the Donna Reed Theatre and the Donna Reed Museum. Visitors can take tours of the building upon request.

Meeting planners love Boulders Conference Center, which is located on the Majestic Hills Golf Course. The facility can host groups of up to 420 people for a banquet or as few as 10 people in the boardroom. The Stables at Copper Ridge is an old barn that sits on 43 acres of rolling pastureland. The building used to house famous stud horses but is now an event venue for up to 560 guests. The facility has a commercial kitchen, a full bar and an outdoor space that can seat more than 300 people.

Visitors can stay at the Cobblestone Inn and Suites-Majestic Hills — a 32-room hotel next to the golf course — or Cobblestone Inn and Suites-Oak Ridge, a 30-room lodge. The Denison Inn and Suites and the Historic Park Motel are additional lodging options in Denison.

In their downtime, meeting attendees can take a self-guided walking tour of 36 historic homes in town; cool off at the Denison Aquatic Fun Center with its two 150-foot waterslides, huge pool, sand volleyball pit and 18-hole putt-putt golf course; or spend time at Yellow Smoke Park, a 358-acre recreation area with hiking, camping, swimming, fishing and boating. visitdenison.com

Photos by Bluespace Creative, courtesy Visit Denison & Crawford Co.

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www.smallmarketmeetings.com

This

LITTLE BIT OF

That

LITTLE BIT OF

.COM

Dubuque, Iowa is open for business and ready to welcome attendees!

MEETING INCENTIVES AVAILABLE.

MORE THAN THE MEETING.

ACTIVITIES ON THE WATER ARE POPULAR IN MARIETTA, WHICH SITS AT THE CONFLUENCE OF THE OHIO AND MUSKINGUM RIVERS.

F

Meetdieng Gui

Courtesy Washington Co. CVB

BY ROBIN ROENKER

rom 50-foot waterfalls and untouched forests to beautiful glacier-carved valleys, Ohio is an outdoor lover’s paradise. Meeting planners who want to incorporate the great outdoors into their events should host conferences near these spectacular scenic locations, which include the only national park in Ohio, several state parks, national forests, valleys, rivers and, of course, Lake Erie.

MARIETTA

Marietta was the first organized settlement in the Northwest Territory in 1788. At the confluence of the Ohio and Muskingum rivers, the scenic area is great for outdoor activities, like kayaking, canoeing, hiking in Wayne National Forest or rock climbing at Baker Run. Groups visiting the area for a meeting or event can take a ride on a sternwheeler, go on a historic trolley tour, or walk or bike along the

46

Meet Ohio’s Scenery

four-mile-long Marietta River Trail that runs along the rivers. Marietta is also a hub for six trail systems, with more than 200 miles of mountain bike and hiking trails within a 45-minute radius of downtown.

There are two historic hotels downtown within walking distance of entertainment, shopping, dining and the rivers.

The Lafayette Hotel has 77 rooms and meeting space that can accommodate 500 people. The Hackett Hotel Marietta is a boutique hotel with only five rooms, but the Adelphia music hall next door can host groups of up to 80 people.

Marietta College can host up to 3,000 people in five campus buildings, including the Dyson Baudo Recreation Center. To get out on the rivers for a remarkable meeting or teambuilding experience, planners can book a ride on the Valley Gem Sternwheeler, which can serve groups of up to 165 people.

There are 12 hotels in Marietta. The Quality Inn has 120 rooms and can host groups of up to 800 people. Meeting planners interested in something a bit more rustic can host an event at the Barn at White Pine Acres, which can accommodate nearly 300 people. The Campus Martius Museum can host meetings of up to 50 people. To see more

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of Marietta, meeting groups can book a scavenger hunt through the Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau that will get them out of their conference rooms and out into the community. mariettaohio.org

ENJOYING SYCAMORE LAKE IN LIMA

LIMA

The area around Lima and Allen County, in the northwestern part of the state, is known for its woods. The city built a river walk along the southeast bank of the Ottawa River to entice visitors to enjoy this scenic location in the heart of Lima’s downtown. The Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District includes more than a dozen parks, such as Fort Amanda Memorial Park, where Fort Amanda once stood. The fort was a major supply depot for the American Army during the War of 1812. The historic Miami and Erie Canal Towpath Trail travels between the nearby village of Spencerville and the city of Delphos. The canal was built from the mid-1820s to 1845 to help transport goods from Toledo to Cincinnati.

The Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center and the Allen County Fairgrounds are the largest meeting venues in Lima. The Civic Center includes a 14,000-square-foot exhibit hall, 14 meeting areas, the 1,800-seat Crouse Performance Hall and a banquet facility. Crouse has a three-story lobby with floor-to-ceiling windows that is great for banquets and cocktail receptions, and Windows on the Balcony and Mezzanine, an area with views of the town square, can hold 100 people seated or 200 people reception style. The convention center is connected to the 100-room Wingate by Wyndham hotel.

The Schmidhorst Pavilion is an outdoor covered arena at the fairgrounds with seating for up to 500 people, and the Nutrien Events Center has 35,700 square feet of trade show and meeting space.

Lima recently developed a Downtown Outdoor Refreshment Area, or DORA, which is open from noon to midnight. Visitors can grab a drink at one of the bars downtown and enjoy it while exploring the area. visitgreaterlima.com

Courtesy Visit Greater Lima

The Cuyahoga Valley between Akron and Cleveland is one of the most beautiful spots in Ohio. Home to the only national park in the state — Cuyahoga Valley National Park — the area preserves 33,000 acres of pristine forests, rolling hills and a 60-foot-high waterfall called Brandywine Falls.

A HISTORIC HOME IN LIMA Courtesy Visit Greater Lima

July/August 2021

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Meetieng Guid INN & SPA AT CEDAR FALLS IN THE HOCKING HILLS

HOCKING HILLS

The Hocking Hills are 10,000 acres of unbroken forest in south-central Ohio with gorgeous rock formations, waterfalls and rivers. In the past five years, the area has made a point of boosting its lodging, corporate retreat and meeting capabilities to entice meeting planners to the area. Cellphone service in the area is spotty, but most of the area’s lodging do have Wi-Fi, and when the meetings are over, attendees can make good use of the nearby Hocking Hills for a bit of outdoor adventure.

The Glenlaurel Inn is a small resort patterned after a Scottish village that sits on 123 acres with a beautiful gorge and waterfalls. Its link-style golf course has Scottish flair, with its sand tees and antique hickory shaft golf clubs. The Manor House on the property has 7,000 square feet of meeting space, and several other locations on property can serve as breakout spaces. Attendees can enjoy nearby zip lines, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing, and wine and beer tastings.

The Inn and Spa at Cedar Falls in Logan offers guest rooms in its cabins, lodges, yurts, cottages and geodomes. The 75-acre property is in the middle of uninterrupted woods and is surrounded on three sides by Hocking Hills State Park. It can host groups of up to 50 people in its 2,500-square-foot banquet hall.

Malabar Farm State Park was once the home of Pulitzer Prize-winning author and conservationist Louis Bromfield. Visitors can tour the Big House, hike the nature trails, visit the working farm Courtesy Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls

GET LOST IN

INSPIRATION. Bring your next event to Greater Lima.

The Hocking Hills are 10,000 acres of unbroken forest in south-central Ohio with gorgeous rock formations, waterfalls and rivers. In the past five years, the area has made a point of boosting its lodging, corporate retreat and meeting capabilities to entice meeting planners to the area.

visitgreaterlima.com

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www.smallmarketmeetings.com

or host small meetings and events of 50 to 200 people. The Ohio State Reformatory, a historic prison in Mansfield, is now a meeting and event venue. The huge Gothic building is “slightly odd and creepy but beautiful,” said Amy Weirick, a spokesperson for Explore Hocking Hills. The building served as the set for the movie “The Shawshank Redemption.” explorehockinghills.com

LAKE ERIE

There are plenty of ways to enjoy Lake Erie in Ohio, from the cities of Sandusky and Toledo to some of the beautiful islands on the lake itself.

The two most popular meeting spots are on Kelleys Island and South Bass Island, where the popular tourist town Put-in-Bay is located.

Part of the thrill of hosting a meeting on one of the islands is getting there. Groups hop on the ferry from Port Clinton or Marblehead to travel across the scenic lake to either island destination.

Many groups will host their main conference event on the mainland and then host off-site events on the islands. But for groups that want to stay on the islands, the Put-in-Bay Resort and Conference Center has 4,600 square feet of indoor meeting space that can host groups of up to 400 people. It also has a poolside deck and beautifully landscaped courtyard for outdoor dining and events.

The Niagara Event Center can host events of up to 500 people. In their downtime, attendees can get out on the water, explore caves, wander nature trails and enjoy wonderful restaurants and live music nightly.

MARBLEHEAD LIGHTHOUSE ON OHIO’S LAKE ERIE Courtesy Lake Erie Shores & Islands

R E T R E AT S | T R A I N I N G S | M E E T I N G S | C O N F E R E N C E S | S O C I A L E V E N T S

Featuring: Comfortable Accommodations, Team Building, Award-Winning Culinary Services, Hybrid Meeting Options.

Special Discounted Rate Packages available for September and October* *Sunday - Thursday business Visit MiamiOH.edu/Marcum or call 513.529.3591 to book today!

July/August 2021

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Meetieng Guid The Kelleys Island Brewery has indoor and outdoor spaces for meetings and events and is adjacent to Kelleys Island Venture Resort, the only hotel on the island, which also has a 1,600-square-foot meeting room. Groups can explore the island by foot, organize group fishing expeditions or a day sail, and explore the many kayak trails in the area.

Sandusky has a new pier with restaurants and entertainment, and the area is full of wineries. The Kalahari Resort is the largest hotel in the area and is known for its top-notch convention center. Cedar Point Amusement Park is another main draw to the area offering fun and a handful of unique meeting venues. shoresandislands.com

KAYAKING IN SANDUSKY BAY

There are plenty of ways to enjoy Lake Erie in Ohio, from the cities of Sandusky and Toledo to some of the beautiful islands on the lake itself.

The two most popular meeting spots are on Kelleys Island and South Bass Island, where the popular tourist town Put-in-Bay is located.

Courtesy Lake Erie Shores & Islands

Start coasting.

Take advantage of our Conference Support Grant, up to $5000 available!

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CUYAHOGA VALLEY

The Cuyahoga Valley between Akron and Cleveland is one of the most beautiful spots in Ohio. Home to the only national park in the state — Cuyahoga Valley National Park — the area preserves 33,000 acres of pristine forests, rolling hills and a 60-foot-high waterfall called Brandywine Falls. A great way to view the national park is via the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, which takes visitors through the valley along the Cuyahoga River where passengers can see myriad wildlife and the beautifully preserved scenery of the park.

Two of the valley’s most iconic attractions, Hale Farm and Village and the Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens, are a must-see for groups visiting the area; they are also unusual meeting venues. Hale Farm and Village, which is in the national park, is a village set in the mid-1800s that features more than 30 historic structures, many of them moved to the property to help preserve them; costumed interpreters; and skills demonstrations, like glassblowing, broom-making, and spinning and weaving. Groups can host gatherings on the 90-acre grounds or inside the 1850 Greek Revival meetinghouse or newly renovated gatehouse.

The Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens in Akron features a 65room Tudor Revival manor house, a restored gate lodge and about 70 acres of grounds and formal gardens. Groups can take a self-guided tour of the manor house, as well as host meetings, luncheons, dinners and parties on the property.

The Sheraton Suites Akron Cuyahoga Falls is a full-service hotel near the park that has 207 guest rooms and meeting spaces that can accommodate groups of up to 380 people for a banquet and 500 people theater style. The Sheraton is only a 10-minute drive north of downtown Akron.

The John S. Knight Center in Akron is the largest meeting venue in the valley and features a 29,000-square-foot exhibition hall, a 12,000-square-foot ballroom and 12,600 square feet of additional meeting space. visitakron-summit.org

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Courtesy Akron Summit CVB

July/August 2021

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Mississippi Historic Venues

F

Meetdieng Gui

Biloxi The White House Hotel began its life as a private beachfront home in the 1890s. The story is that the White family was tired of their relatives dropping in on them for extended stays every summer without offering to pay for anything. Southern hospitality demands that the hosts do everything for their guests. Cora White, the wife of Circuit Court

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Courtesy White House Hotel

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

rom slavery and the Civil War to commerce and industry, Mississippi has played a prominent role in the evolution of the United States. Meeting planners who want to tap into the state’s past should consider hosting events at these wide-ranging historic venues: antebellum and Victorian-era homes, a former cotton mill and an old courthouse that played host to some of America’s most well-known politicians.

WHITE HOUSE HOTEL

GROUPS OF UP TO 250 CAN MEET AT THE HISTORIC WHITE HOUSE HOTEL IN BILOXI.

Judge Walter White, decided to circumvent their freeloading relatives by opening up their home as a boarding house.

Business was so good that the Whites bought the Victorian house next door. In 1910, the homes were joined to create a lobby, a dining room and a ballroom. Today, the hotel is joined with seven historic homes as one establishment.

Meeting planners that want great views of the Gulf of Mexico should consider this historic property. The ballroom alone can hold 100 people. If the terrace is included, the property can host banquets for up to 150 people. For outdoor events, groups of 250 people can assemble on the lawn, with tents to keep them out of the sun. Dance floors, stages and bars can be added, depending on the type of event. The White House Hotel is famous for its weddings, banquets and receptions. Cora’s Restaurant, an on-site establishment that specializes in Southern coastal cuisine, handles all the catering for events held at the property.

After sitting vacant for 30 years, the property was restored to its former glory and reopened in 2014 as a boutique hotel with 76 guest rooms and modern interior decor. whitehousebiloxi.com

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DUNLEITH HISTORIC INN

Natchez The Dunleith Historic Inn, a quaint antebellum mansion, was built in 1856. Set on 40 acres in the historic district of Natchez, the estate, which is now a bed-and-breakfast, includes an original 1790s carriage house, a dairy barn, a poultry house, a greenhouse and a three-story brick dependency. The current mansion, built in the Greek Revival style with 26 brick and stucco columns, replaced the original home that burned down in 1855. A National Historic Landmark, the home was turned into a bed-and-breakfast in 1976.

Dunleith has 22 guest rooms on-site, and its current owners, who bought it in November 2019, have completed a $1.5 million renovation. The original stables and carriage house were converted into the Castle Restaurant in 2000. A balcony was added to the restaurant as part of the recent renovation project, giving it an additional 44 seats, and 24 seats were added downstairs by the pub and pool. Also added were a beautiful outdoor space with Adirondack chairs and a firepit. In the main house, renovations included plaster work on the columns, a new roof and mechanical improvements.

Dunleith is about a two-minute drive to Natchez’ main street.

Meeting planners who want to tap into the site’s history can host dinners for up to 125 people in the restaurant or receptions for up to 500 people on the grounds. The first floor of the main house can accommodate up to 50 people at round tables or 75 people theater style. dunleithhistoricinn.com

NATCHEZ’ DUNLEITH HISTORIC INN

Courtesy Dunleith Historic Inn

BELMONT PLANTATION

Greenville The current owner of the historic Belmont Plantation, which was built along the Mississippi River in 1857, purchased the property at auction in 2016. The previous owners, who used the property as their main residence, had tried to sell the home but were unable to do so. It eventually went up for auction. The new owners spent a year and a half bringing the property up to code and restoring it to its original elegance. Now a bed-and-breakfast with rooms for 26 people, the property also has four large parlors that can be used for meeting rooms or events.

The property is a good choice for retreats, since guests can stay on-site. Along with the dining room and other indoor spaces, the large porch and balcony can host events of up to 150 people, 300 to 400 people if the groups use the outdoor space.

Belmont is outside the Greenville city limits and doesn’t have modern conveniences like television sets. The goal of the property is for guests to take advantage of the solitude and mingle with the other guests staying there. Meeting groups at Belmont can bring their own food and alcohol. Groups are also welcome to tour the mansion and grounds and learn about the history of Belmont, its prior inhabitants and how the current owner is related to one of the previous saviors of Belmont Plantation, former Mississippi Gov. Dennis Murphree. belmontplantation1857.com BELMONT PLANTATION IN GREENVILLE Courtesy Belmont Plantation

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Meetieng Guid

MILL CONFERENCE CENTER AT MSU

THE MILL AT MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY

Starkville A former cotton mill built in 1902 to support Mississippi State University’s (MSU’s) textiles program was recently converted into a large conference center with office space. Many attempts were made to turn the building and its 13-acre site into an event space over the years, but it wasn’t until the university put out a request for proposals in 2012 that a developer was chosen for the site.

“We assembled a team that had experience with historical renovation, hotel and office space, and constructed on the 13-acre site a Courtyard by Marriott hotel, a 450-car parking garage and did a significant renovation of the mill itself,” said Mark Castleberry, principal and owner of Castle Properties. The 103,000-square-foot mill is divided into office space and a conference center.

The ballroom seats 1,000 people, and the building has nine additional breakout spaces. The Mill sits on a hill with a large green space in front of it that also can be rented out for events. The Courtyard by Marriott has 105 rooms, and the developers built two additional hotels within walking distance of the property: the Hampton Inn and Comfort Suites.

The Mill has a great relationship with MSU and hosts many university events there. The developers leased the mill from MSU for 55 years, but Castle Properties owns the land where the hotel was built and several nearby parcels. themillatmsu.com

OLD COURT HOUSE MUSEUM

Vicksburg The Old Court House Museum was built between 1858 and 1860 and was used as Warren County’s courthouse until 1939 when a new Art Deco building was constructed across the street. The museum is full of exhibits and artifacts dedicated to Vicksburg and Warren County. The building also contains a research library where people can come to do research and genealogy.

The building served as the headquarters for reconstruction in Vicksburg after the Civil War. Vicksburg was a model for the rest of the nation at that time. Many famous people walked the halls of the courthouse during its heyday, including Gen. Ulysses S. Grant before he became president of the United States. He addressed troops

MODERN TOUCHES INSIDE HISTORIC SPACES AT THE MILL

The Old Court House Museum served as the headquarters for reconstruction in Vicksburg after the Civil War. Vicksburg was a model for the rest of the nation at that time.

Courtesy Mill Conference Center at MSU

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on the lawn outside the building. Jefferson Davis launched his political career there, and Theodore Roosevelt, Booker T. Washington and William McKinley all made appearances.

Rather than demolishing the building when the new courthouse was built, the Vicksburg and Warren County Historical Society preserved it as a museum. The original Victorian-era courtroom upstairs is large enough to host groups of up to 150 people in the gallery area. The area between the judge’s podium and the audience is suitable for small banquets and dancing with its beautiful hardwood floors.

The building has hosted weddings, an annual Christmas ball, receptions and corporate meetings. Smaller groups of about 20 people can rent space in the library. oldcourthouse.org

Ridgeland is Ready Ridgeland offers your group a small market meetings destination with over 1,600 hotel rooms, 140 restaurants, the Bill Waller Craft Center and outdoor venues.

To assist you, we offer: • Hybrid Options • Rebate Programs • Welcome Bags • Name Badges Our staff is here to help you plan safely and responsibly!

VICKSBURG’S OLD COURT HOUSE MUSEUM Courtesy Old Court House Museum

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THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI OFFERS SEVERAL ATTRACTIVE VENUES FOR GROUPS MEETING IN HATTIESBURG.

M

Meetdieng Gui

Hattiesburg is a young community. The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and William Carey University both call Hattiesburg home, and many of their alumni fall in love with the community and decide to make it their home.

Although the universities are about five miles away from the city’s historic downtown, Hattiesburg has worked hard to make the community accessible to its students. Artists abound in the community,

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By John McKeith, courtesy Visit Hattiesburg

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

ississippi universities are known for their crazy mascots, talented marching bands and school spirit, but they also make great places to host a meeting or event. Here are five of Mississippi’s favorite college towns that not only are chock full of history and art but also have many unique places to gather.

HATTIESBURG

On Campus in Mississippi

inspiring the HBurg Public Art Trail that showcases murals and sculptures by local and some national artists. The Freedom Summer Trail is a 16-stop driving tour that educates visitors about the largest civil rights voting initiative in the Southeast, which took place there in 1964.

The Lake Terrace Convention Center has more than 30,000 square feet of meeting space and is a full-service facility. Both universities have meeting spaces. At USM, the Thad Cochran Center has a grand ballroom and 10 breakout spaces, and the Trent Lott Center has 8,000 square feet of meeting space.

Groups can hold team-building activities on campus, including special events in the president’s suite and the Touchdown Club overlooking the USM football field, or bringing Seymour the Golden Eagle mascot or the USM marching band to perform for and interact with visiting groups.

The zoo in Hattiesburg is a great venue for off-site events of any size, with a new event space that overlooks the giraffe exhibit. Many meeting groups like to use the historic Saenger Theater, built in 1929, as the location for their keynote speaker. visithburg.org

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STARKVILLE

Starkville calls itself Mississippi’s college town because it is home to the main campus of Mississippi State University (MSU). Known for its Bulldogs sports programs and 117-year-old marching band, the university is a major destination in the area. Groups can tour the campus, including the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library and the Frank and Virginia Williams Collection of Lincolniana at the Mitchell Memorial Library, or the Charles H. Templeton Sr. Music Museum; all are free to visit and make wonderful event venues.

The Hunter Henry Center, with its modern glassed-in lobby, can host events of up to 400 people theater style or 250 seated in its ballroom. The lobby and upper lounge area are also great spots for cocktail receptions. The MSU football stadium can host private events overlooking the football field. Add a visit from the HailState Marching Band or the MSU cheerleaders to give an event more of a game day feel.

Dudy Noble Field at Polk-Dement Stadium, MSU’s baseball park, has three club areas that can be used for private events. Dudy Noble, with its 15,000 seats, is considered the Carnegie Hall of college baseball.

The Mill at MSU is a former 1902 cotton mill that was recently converted into a 12,000-square-foot meeting and event space. It is across the street from campus with an adjacent Courtyard by Marriott. Two other hotels are minutes away. The facility is historic but modern. Meeting groups can also close off the historic Cotton District, a walkable area that ties Main Street Starkville to the university campus, for opening events or receptions before allowing attendees to visit the local bars, restaurants and shops. starkville.org

DAVIS WADE STADIUM AT MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY IN STARKVILLE Courtesy Greater Starkville Development

CLEVELAND

A jewel in the Mississippi Delta, Cleveland has deep musical roots and is home to the only four-year university in the southeast part of the state. Delta State University “is very much a part of our town,” said Cade Holder, director of community programs for the Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce. Meeting planners hosting events in the area can incorporte the campus either by using its meeting spaces, arranging campus tours or hosting campus ambassadors, like the famous campus mascot, the Fighting Okra, to be part of their events.

Cleveland also is home to GRAMMY Museum Mississippi, the only GRAMMY awards museum outside Los Angeles, which opened in 2016. It has several meeting venues, including the Sanders Soundstage, an intimate 130-seat theater, a lobby that can host 250 people for a reception and 130 for a banquet and a front porch that can hold groups of up to 350 people for a reception. Cotton House Cleveland is located on Cotton Row near the museum and the Mississippi Blues Trail. It has 95 guest rooms and four event rooms that can host groups of up to 180 people.

The Lyric Hotel West End District, which opened in 2020, has 63 rooms and three meeting venues: the Gin, which can hold groups of up to 450 people; the Statehouse, a classic two-story mansion with

GRAMMY MUSEUM MISSISSIPPI IN CLEVELAND Courtesy Cleveland-Bolivar Co. COC

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Meetieng Guid 13 guest suites and a double parlor that can host groups of up to 200 people; and the Clubhouse, which is wonderful for smaller groups.

Additional venues include the Delta Arts Alliance, a small theater, and the Bologna Performing Arts Center. visitclevelandms.com

COLUMBUS

The Mississippi University for Women was founded in 1884 as the first state-supported college for women in the U.S. Now coed, the W, as it is called, is an integral part of Columbus that is located in the city’s historic Southside Historic District. The university is a great place to host an event, with several large halls available for rental, including the Thad and Rose Cochran Hall and Whitfield Hall. The Hogarth Student Union offers private dining in the Stella Pope Dining Hall, and the Puckett House hosts overnight guests in a bed-and-breakfast setting.

The W also manages the Plymouth Bluff Environmental Center, a 190-acre property set amongst the woods near Columbus. It has an 11,700-square-foot conference center, a 100-seat auditorium, an interpretive museum of cultural and natural history, a lakeside amphitheater for special events, 24 guest rooms and four miles of nature and fitness trails.

The city has more than 1,500 guest rooms, including those at the Courtyard by Marriott, which has three large meeting rooms, and six other brand-name properties that also have conference rooms.

The Burnt Oak Lodge and Conference Center, about 14 miles from Columbus, offers both inside and outside meeting venues in a natural setting. For the more adventurous, the property offers Mississippi quail hunting and prime fishing opportunities on Burnt Oak Lake. visitcolumbusms.org

OXFORD

The so-called Cultural Mecca of the South, Oxford is home to Ole Miss — the main campus of the University of Mississippi — and Rowan Oak, the former home of Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner. The Downtown Square is the heart of Oxford with its independent bookstores, boutique shops and restaurants. Meeting groups wanting to use Ole Miss can host an event at the Inn at Ole Miss Hotel and Conference Center, which features 146 guest rooms, a 5,600-square-foot ballroom and a 900-square-foot boardroom.

Groups hosting events there can organize a meal at McCormick’s Bar and Grill or take a stroll through the Grove, a 10-acre green space in the middle of campus best known for its tailgate parties during football season. The school’s sports stadiums are well worth touring, or attendees can visit the University of Mississippi Museum and Faulkner’s historic home, which are both on campus.

The Graduate Hotel Oxford at the north end of the Downtown Square is just a mile from campus and has a small meeting space, a boardroom and a fourth-floor terrace lounge that offers amazing views of downtown Oxford.

The largest conference space in Oxford is the 25,000-square-foot Oxford Conference Center. Three hotels are within walking distance of it, including the Hampton Inn, TownePlace Suites by Marriott and Tru by Hilton, and it is at the epicenter of restaurants, shops and entertainment.

In their free time, meeting groups can take private double-decker bus tours around town, enjoy a tour or tasting or host an event at Wonderbird Spirits gin distillery or visit Oxford’s famous independent bookstore, Square Books. visitoxfordms.com

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