77 minute read
ONSITE
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.
Southern 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.
ACTIVITIES ACTIVITIES
Meetings in Clearwater come with abundant From hiking through waist-deep water and activity options. From the soft white beaches bouncing over off-road trails in all-terrain to major attractions, meeting planners envehicles (ATVs) to a relaxing hand and foot joyed these recreation experiences during massage and an entertaining outdoor musical, their site inspection tour in Clearwater. the meeting planners experienced the many activities that can add to the experience of a • Beach Activities — The entire shoreline of Clear meeting in St. George. water Beach is owned by the city and open to the public, and a city concessionaire offers umbrella • HIKING — There are numerous opportunities to and cabana rentals. Meeting planners can work experience the natural wonders around St. George with their host properties to arrange beach activi on foot. The meeting planners braved the water of ties and team-building opportunities. beachcham the Narrows and hiked to the Lower Emerald Pools ber.com in 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 and makes an excellent spot for walking, birding • ATV RIDE— Four-passenger off-road vehicles and fishing. The surrounding park offers games, with ATV and Jeep Adventure Tours offered a inflatables and other fun to keep family members thrilling way to see the unusual rock formations entertained during a meeting. myclearwater.com and red sand dunes of Sand Hollow State Park. Attendees can drive if they choose or ride with an • Sugar Sand Festival — For 17 days in April, Clear-experienced guide. water Beach hosts the Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival, a celebration of the area’s fine sands and amazing • CABLE MOUNTAIN SPA — After hiking in Zion sunsets. Visitors can explore dozens of sand sculp-National Park, some of the meeting planners gave 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 — Made famous among the many services offered by the lodge’s spa. by the movie “A Dolphin’s Tale,” the Clearwater Marine Aquarium is an animal rescue and reha • SILVER REEF BREWERY— The Silver Reef bilitation center where guests can see famous Brewery started out in 2018 to provide the St. residents such as the dolphins Hope and Winter. George area with fine locally brewed beer. It has A major expansion opening next year will bring since expanded to also make root beer, wine and more than 6,000 square feet of meeting and event spirits. It has a tasting room set amid gleaming space. seewinter.com metal brew tanks. • Spectrum Field — Clearwater’s resident ball-• SHOWS AT TUACAHN — For a memorial park is home to two professional teams: the minor after-hours event, the meeting planners enjoyed league Clearwater Threshers in summer and the a wonderful production of “Annie” at Tuacahn, a major league Philadelphia Phillies during spring 1,920-seat amphitheater set into the base of a red training. Groups can rent hospitality suites and rock ridge that towers over the 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.
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 column-
free 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.
LODGING | Thirteen hotels within one mile of the
convention center
MORE INFO
DIXIECENTER.COM
THE NORTH LOBBY OF THE DIXIE CONVENTION CENTER
A SCENIC VIEW AT SPRINGHILL SUITES
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.
MEETING SPACES | 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.
DINING | The Springhill Suites is within walking
distance of several restaurants, including the Bit and Spur Restaurant and Saloon, across the street.
RECREATION | The hotel has an outdoor pool and
hot tub with amazing canyon views, a splash pad, patios and fireplaces.
Courtesy Springhill Suites
Hilton Garden Inn
The Hilton Garden Inn is steps from the Dixie Convention Center and a four-minute drive from the St. George Utah Temple.
ROOMS | The property has 150 guest rooms.
MEETING SPACES | 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.
DINING | 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.
RECREATION | 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.
MORE INFO
HILTON.COM
MORE INFO
MARRIOTT.COM
THE HILTON GARDEN INN’S OUTDOOR POOL
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.
ROOMS | The Advenire has 60 rooms, including 22
suites. Each room is designed with a nod to St. George’s history.
MEETING SPACES | The Advenire has two meeting
rooms — a private dining room and a rooftop terrace — that total 2,029 square feet.
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.
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.
Courtesy Advenire
Cable Mountain Lodge
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 | The Cable Mountain Lodge has 78 rooms.
MEETING SPACES | The lodge has a 3,100-squarefoot ballroom; a small boardroom is under construction.
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.
RECREATION | 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.
MORE INFO
CABLEMOUNTAINLODGE.COM
AN OUTDOOR BANQUET BENEATH THE WATCHMAN AT CABLE MOUNTAIN LODGE
MORE INFO
MARRIOTT.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.
ROOMS | The inn has 130 rooms, including two VIP
deluxe suites, in the main building and 24 suites in the adjacent South Tower.
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.
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.
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 | The separately operated Inn at Entrada has 57 suites and studios with patio, living room and fireplace.
MEETING SPACES | 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.
DINING | 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.
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.
MORE INFO
GOLFENTRADA.COM
THE ENTRANCE TO ENTRADA AT SNOW CANYON COUNTRY CLUB
MORE INFO
BWABBEYINN.COM
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.
DINING | The Red Mountain Resort offers full-serve
catering in addition to buffet-style, prepackaged and bar service.
RECREATION | 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.
Courtesy Red Mountain Resort
Sand Hollow Resort
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.
MEETING SPACES | 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.
DINING | The full-service Grille has 360-degree views
of magnificent red rocks. The Grille’s kitchen provides catering for meetings.
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.
MORE INFO
SANDHOLLOWRESORT.COM
AN AERIAL VIEW OF SAND HOLLOW RESORT AND ITS SURROUNDINGS
MORE INFO
REDMOUNTAINRESORT.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.
• 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.
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
GREATER ZION CONVENTION AND TOURISM OFFICE 435-986-6612 OR 800-889-6635 GREATERZION.COM/MEETINGS
By Kyle Anderson
If you are interested in hosting a FAM for readers of Small Market Meetings, call Kyle Anderson at 866.356.5128
Talent Scouting
BY KRISTY ALPERT
Booking 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.
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.”
Josh Baker
CEO
Hi-Fi, MOKB Presents Experience: 20-plus years
“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
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.
Samantha Gutting
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF SALES OFFICER
“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.”
“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.
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OFF PEAK, ON TREND
These seasonal destinations offer great value at other times of year
BY REBECCA TREON
Seasonal 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-
Courtesy Aspen Chamber & Resort Assoc.
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.
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, 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.
— Patti Lloyd, Cape Cod Chamber 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
Cape Cod scenes, clockwise from left: the Ship’s Knees Inn; a Pirate Adventures excursion; the Queen Anne Inn
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.
“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.”
Reno scenes, clockwise from left: downtown in autumn; LakeRidge golf course; the famous Reno arch
Photos courtesy Reno Sparks CVA
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
Santa Barbara scenes, clockwise from left: the historic courthouse; boats on the harbor; a mountainside vineyard
By Blake Bronsta
By Jay Sinclair By Jay Sinclair
feed their
150k sq. ft. of meeting space 18k lodging units 32 miles of beaches
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Binghamton 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
This New York city is flexing its innovative muscles
BY ELIZABETH HEY
Fostered 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
MEETING SPACE: 30,000 square feet
MEETING HOTELS
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Binghamton GUEST ROOMS: 207
MEETING SPACE: 36,000 square feet
Holiday Inn Binghamton Downtown
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
Destination Highlights
Binghamton 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 DESTINATION HIGHLIGHTS
DISTINCTIVE VENUES Bundy Museum of History and Art
Distinctive Venues
Outdoors 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.”
Major Meeting Spaces
Anchoring 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 Traditions at the Glen Hotel and Spa AFTER HOURS Broome County Hiking
After the Meeting
Meeting 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.”
WORK AND PLAY IN Auburn
BY TOM ADKINSON
It’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.
JUNE COLLINS SMITH MUSEUM OF FINE ART AT AUBURN UNIVERSITY
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
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
Photos courtesy Auburn-Opelika Tourism
TOWN AuburnOpelika
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 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.
AGRICULTURE HERITAGE PARK PAVILION
By Drew Lambert
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 off ers 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
MARRIOTT GRAND NATIONAL RESORT MARYLAND THEATRE
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 destinations 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.
By Drew Lambert
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
Small But Mighty in Iowa
Meeting Guide
BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH
From 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
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
DUTCH HERITAGE DEFINES PUBLIC SPACES IN PELLA.
Courtesy Visit 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
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
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
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.
PELLA’S MOLENGRACHT PLAZA
FLINT HILLS DISCOVERY CENTER
REIMAN GARDENS AT IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY IN AMES
Courtesy Visit Pella
Courtesy Ames CVB
DECORAH ON THE DRIFTLESS SCENIC BYWAY
SIOUX CITY’S TYSON EVENT CENTER
Courtesy Visit Decorah
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
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.
Courtesy Explore Sioux City
THE EXTERIOR OF BOULDERS CONFERENCE CENTER IN DENISON
A MEETING ROOM AT BOULDERS CONFERENCE CENTER
Photos by Bluespace Creative, courtesy Visit Denison & Crawford Co.
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
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
ACTIVITIES ON THE WATER ARE POPULAR IN MARIETTA, WHICH SITS AT THE CONFLUENCE OF THE OHIO AND MUSKINGUM RIVERS.
Meet Ohio’s Scenery
Meeting Guide
BY ROBIN ROENKER
From 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 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
Courtesy Washington Co. CVB
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
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
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.
ENJOYING SYCAMORE LAKE IN LIMA
Courtesy Visit Greater Lima
A HISTORIC HOME IN LIMA
Courtesy Visit Greater Lima
INN & SPA AT CEDAR FALLS IN THE HOCKING HILLS
Courtesy Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls
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
GET LOST IN INSPIRATION.
Bring your next event to Greater Lima.
visitgreaterlima.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.
RETREATS | TRAININGS | MEETINGS | CONFERENCES | SOCIAL EVENTS
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!
MARBLEHEAD LIGHTHOUSE ON OHIO’S LAKE ERIE
Courtesy Lake Erie Shores & Islands
KAYAKING IN SANDUSKY BAY
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
Courtesy Lake Erie Shores & Islands
Start coasting.
Take advantage of our Conference Support Grant, up to $5000 available!
Put-in-Bay, South Bass Island
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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Mississippi Historic Venues
Meeting Guide
BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH
From 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
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 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.
GROUPS OF UP TO 250 CAN MEET AT THE HISTORIC WHITE HOUSE HOTEL IN BILOXI.
Courtesy White House Hotel
whitehousebiloxi.com
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
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
NATCHEZ’ DUNLEITH HISTORIC INN
Courtesy Dunleith Historic Inn
BELMONT PLANTATION IN GREENVILLE
Courtesy Belmont Plantation
THE MILL AT MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY
MODERN TOUCHES INSIDE HISTORIC SPACES AT THE MILL
Courtesy Mill Conference Center at MSU
MILL CONFERENCE CENTER AT MSU
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
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.
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
VICKSBURG’S OLD COURT HOUSE MUSEUM
Courtesy Old Court House Museum
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!
THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI OFFERS SEVERAL ATTRACTIVE VENUES FOR GROUPS MEETING IN HATTIESBURG.
On Campus in Mississippi
Meeting Guide
BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH
Mississippi 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
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, 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.
By John McKeith, courtesy Visit Hattiesburg
visithburg.org
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
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
DAVIS WADE STADIUM AT MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY IN STARKVILLE
Courtesy Greater Starkville Development
GRAMMY MUSEUM MISSISSIPPI IN CLEVELAND
Courtesy Cleveland-Bolivar Co. COC
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
