Small Market Meetings July/August 2023

MOUNT MAGAZINE STATE PARK

PETIT JEAN STATE PARK

A sheri , a shriner, a cattleman, and an executive walk into a bar...

(Planning your next event in Kearney is no gamble.)

(There’s no punchline, we just host a lot of events. )

Kearney, where the Heartland gathers.

Kearney, where the Heartland gathers.

every event is a win!

every event is a win!

Why? Because Kearney has the best facilities between Denver and Omaha, and experienced staff that make sure every event is a win!

Every year Kearney hosts more than 1,350 events. Everything from the Shrine Bowl to conferences large and small, heck even half a million Sandhill Cranes make sure to meet in Kearney every year. You know why? Because Kearney has the best facilities between Denver and Omaha, experienced staff and wonderful volunteers who make sure every event that comes to town is taken care of.

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

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

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

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

WITH VICKIE MITCHELL

WHEN YOU ARE THE PROJECT MANAGER

It’s the rare meeting planner who can’t also be called a project manager. Meeting professionals are always managing — and juggling — multiple projects, hopefully with a good team of people. Whether it’s a board meeting, a staff retreat, an annual conference or an international tradeshow, project management comes into play.

The best project managers have a combination of skills — they’re part coach, part traffic cop, part conductor. And they realize project management processes can always be improved. Here are some ways to polish up your skills so the next project runs even smoother.

Follow these guidelines to keep team efforts running smoothly

Be a prognosticator.

There’s no need for a Ouija board or a psychic. Chances are you and your team have worked on a number of projects and have experienced the many ways things can get thrown off course. Thinking ahead about what might go wrong and how to address it might sound like a negative approach, but being proactive and thinking about the most likely issues will get a team on its toes, ready to tackle the inevitable problems. You can’t prevent things from going wrong, but you can somewhat prepare for them. Keep in mind the most common stumbling blocks are communication breakdowns, insufficient budget or staffing, changes in project scope, and interference or lack of cooperation from clients or stakeholders.

Draw a good roadmap.

When we don’t have a map — Google or otherwise — we are more likely to get lost. When people don’t know where they are headed on a project or why, they also lose their way. That’s why from the very start, a project’s goals must be established and understood. Ensuring the team and the client are on the same page will help avoid misunderstandings or work that doesn’t serve the project’s purpose. To make goals easy to absorb and remember, make them crisp and succinct, using active verbs and setting them off with bullet points. They should also be discussed by the team. Are the goals clear and understood by everyone? Can they be accomplished within the timeframe with the resources available? Can they be measured? To keep goals top of mind, include them at the beginning or end of each report or message to the team. And don’t assume goals for annual meetings or conferences will always the same. An organization’s aims will change from year to year as the business climate changes.

Communicate constantly.

Seasoned project managers will tell you constant and clear communication is the key to a successful project. That may be a tough assignment for some, as a Harvard Business Review survey several years ago found that almost 70% of managers aren’t comfortable communicating with staff.

By getting to know team members, you’ll learn about their strengths, experience and interests. Be an encourager, not an expert. Teams fall apart when a know-it-all manager doesn’t seek or value their input. Encourage discussions about problems team members are encountering with their assigned tasks and reassure them it is OK to make mistakes and to pipe up when they have ideas to make the project run more smoothly or more effectively. Be easy to access and quick to respond to questions or concerns. Make it clear you are there to assist, whether it’s by making suggestions based on your past experiences or brainstorming ways around roadblocks. And communicate constantly, because balls get dropped when teams aren’t kept in the loop. When projects pivot, quickly let everyone know. Write and distribute short recaps of meetings — whether they are by Zoom or in-person — so everyone has the same facts to refer to as they work.

Sharpen your skill set.

Project management skills can always be polished. Plenty of business books, magazine articles, blogs and videos tackle the topic. A professional association for project managers — the Project Management Institute (PMI) — is a rich resource, with training, conferences, certifications and its own YouTube channel. Other project management pros, like Mike Clayton, a trainer, author and founder of Online PM Courses, have libraries of online instructional videos. Julie Morgenstern, an author and time management expert, recommends the book “Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager,” pointing out it helps the many staff who “manage projects, on the fly, without training.”

Peers are another excellent resource. Talk to fellow meeting planners about how they manage projects. What principles do they find most important? What software or tech tools do they use? Be wary, though, of overcomplicating your process. No team wants to spend days learning a highly specialized software system they will rarely use.

Take the mountain one step at a time.

A big project can feel like Mount Kilimanjaro, but if you act like a mountain climber and take it one step at a time, the summit can be reached. So, break big projects into small pieces and set deadlines along the way to keep everyone moving forward. Include everyone in creating the project schedule and deadlines. The project manager can write a draft schedule — always starting with the project’s deadline and working backward from that final goal, then have team members evaluate it. They can suggest where timing should be adjusted because of issues like insufficient turnaround for client approval, holidays and other “lost” days in the business schedule and other issues slow down or speed up a project. There’s always a deadline — especially with a meeting or conference — so start with that. Remember Habit 2 of Stephen Covey’s “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People:” Begin with end in mind. As the project progresses, have regular check-ins so team members can report on their assignments, and if needed, adjust the schedule or find workarounds.

SIGHTSEEING TOURS WILL HIGHLIGHT THE BEST OF CEDAR RAPIDS

BY RACHEL CRICK BRUCEMORE MUSEUM

The 2023 Small Market Meetings Conference will bring meeting planners from around the country to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, from September 27-29. It will be held at the 267-room DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cedar Rapids Convention Complex, the city’s downtown hotel and convention center just blocks from well-known venues like the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art and the historic Paramount Theatre.

Cedar Rapids Tourism has announced the sightseeing tours for the 2023 conference, which will take place on Thursday, September 28, and will give planners access to some of the city’s most interesting and varied meeting and event venues.

The first tour will take place at Indian Creek Nature Center, which is located on a nature preserve about five miles away from downtown. There are only 31 certified living buildings in the world, and this nature center, built out of sustainable, local materials, is one of them. Planners can learn what makes this center special, check out the green meeting space, take in serene views of nature and wildlife, and even see a working beehive. They will also be joined by the Cedar Rapids Llamas and a miniature donkey and can sample local beer from Lion Bridge Brewery.

The next tour will take place at Brucemore Mansion, a historical mansion in downtown Cedar Rapids that was built in 1884. Attendees will enjoy sparkling wine and cocktail samples while they tour the mansion’s 21 lavishly furnished rooms. They will get a chance to play croquet on the mansion’s manicured lawn and hear live music.

The third tour will be at Lion Bridge Brewery, where guests will get a guided tour from the owners and have a beer tasting. The brewery is situated in Czech Village, one of the city’s downtown historic districts, which is home to a number of shops, eateries and local landmarks. Planners are free to explore the village after sampling the brewery’s small-batch artisanal beers.

The next tour keeps planners in Czech Village and takes them through the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library, a Smithsonian affiliate that explores the city’s Czechoslovakian heritage. Planners will experience traditional Czech cuisine by eating kolaches (classic Czech pastries) and drinking Czech-inspired beer while they wander through the museum’s exhibits and meeting spaces. They’ll see authentic pieces of Czech culture like costumes and art.

The final tour will take place at Cedar Ridge Winery and Distillery, which is located about 10 miles south of downtown Cedar Rapids and was ranked America’s Best Distillery by the American Distillery Institute in 2017. Planners will tour the scenic winery and its meeting spaces, then enjoy some of the distillery’s award-winning bourbon accompanied by appetizers.

tourismcedarrapids.com

NATIONAL CZECH AND SLOVAK MUSEUM

INDIAN CREEK NATURE CENTER

Photos courtesy Cedar Rapids Tourism

CUSTOM CONTENT

Hiltons in Iowa’s largest cities are designed for meetings

BY VICKIE MITCHELL

Iowa’s two largest cities are home to two of the state’s best-equipped convention hotels.

Hilton Des Moines Downtown and DoubleTree by Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Complex have what planners seek in a second-tier destination — an affordable downtown, full-service hotel that is linked to ample, adaptable meeting space and located near restaurants, bars and culture.

AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY ARE ASSETS

Affordability comes through in these hotels’ room rates but also in expenses like parking. On-site rates are $12 a day at the Cedar Rapids hotel and $25 a day in Des Moines. Free airport shuttles offered by both hotels eliminate the expense of ridesharing or cabs. Both hotels have notable restaurants, where guests not only dine, but take in local views. In Cedar Rapids, the DoubleTree’s restaurant and bar are on the hotel’s top floor, with views of the city and the Cedar River. In Des Moines, the hotel’s Park Street Kitchen and Bar’s patio, with an outdoor fireplace, has views of the capitol, across the river several blocks east.

State associations and organizations rotate from one property to the other from year to year; regional groups that want to capitalize on Iowa’s central location also choose the hotels.

IN DES MOINES, HOTEL TIED TO EVENTS CENTER

In Des Moines, the state capital, Hilton Des Moines Downtown was built five years ago to serve the multifaceted Iowa Events Center, a three-venue complex that includes Wells Fargo Arena, Hy-Vee Hall and CommunityChoice Convention Center Hilton Des Moines Downtown and its 330 guest rooms and 26 suites are connected to the Iowa Events Center by downtown’s climate-controlled SkyWalk system. The

hotel also has 14,000 square feet of meeting and event space of its own, all on one level. A large pre-function space off the 9,940-square-foot ballroom adjoins a terrace. To the hotel’s west, near the Pappajohn Sculpture Park, two breweries draw crowds and nearby restaurants in the Court Avenue Entertainment District offer popular dining options. Des Moines’ city center, Historic East Village, Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden and the Iowa Cubs ballpark are also within a mile.

HOTEL LINKED TO POWERHOUSE IN CEDAR RAPIDS

Cedar Rapids is smaller and may not be as well-known as Des Moines, but its hotel and convention complex rival those of larger cities. DoubleTree Cedar Rapids and its 267 guestrooms are linked to the Alliant Energy PowerHouse and its 80,000 square feet of meeting space. The convention center can be configured into as many as 22 meeting rooms; its largest space, a divisible exhibition hall, measures 28,058 square feet. What also gives this property appeal is its proximity to Cedar Rapids’ attractions like the historic Paramount Theater, the Grant Wood Studio and Visitor Center and Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, all within two blocks. Across the river, attendees can also catch a Cedar Rapids Kernels game in the Summer. After meetings, groups can dispatch to local dining spots nearby in the Cedar Rapids Downtown District.

HILTON DES MOINES DOWNTOWN

515-241-1456

hiltondesmoinesdowntown.com

DOUBLETREE BY HILTON CEDAR RAPIDS CONVENTION COMPLEX

319-731-4444

cedarrapidsconventioncomplex.doubletree.com

Hilton Des Moines Downtown

Hilton Des Moines Downtown

DoubleTree by Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Complex

DoubleTree by Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Complex

MEETING LEADERS TISHA MARAJ

BY REBECCA TREON

Tisha Maraj, catering and events sales manager at The Island Resort in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, knew from the time she was a child that she was destined to live near the beach. But growing up at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, that idea seemed far off.

“My first word was probably beach — I wanted to live at the beach for as long as I can remember,” said Maraj. “After high school, my best friend and I left Pennsylvania and traveled around the country together.”

Maraj and her friend worked at a hotel bar at home in Pennsylvania, so they continued in that line of work as they made their way around the Southeast, living in places like Atlanta and Virginia Beach. They finally landed in Destin, Florida, where a friend’s parents offered them a place to stay for the summer.

“We did banquets, worked the front desk, bartended — we worked at a lot of different hotels,” said Maraj. “When we drove to Destin, we drove all night from Atlanta and hit the beach at about 6 a.m. just as the sun was coming up. I put my feet in that white sand, and I said, ‘I’m gonna live here forever.’”

Maraj quickly found a job at a newly opened Olive Garden in Fort Walton, working as a server and bartender. That led to a role within the company opening locations across the country for the next decade.

“All that time I really missed being in a hotel,” said Maraj. “I got a job at The Island Resort in 1999, which was a Ramada at the

time. I was bartending at the cave bar with all the waterfalls — it was amazing!”

Shortly after, the director of sales tapped her to replace the sales manager.

“Joe, the sales director, was an absolutely amazing person — he took me under his wing and taught me everything about how to be a good sales manager in a hotel,” said Maraj. “I learned a lot from him — he was a great teacher.”

After four years, wanting to “spread her wings a little bit,” Maraj made a move to the newly opened Fort Walton Beach Convention Center across the street, working as the sales coordinator. She worked alongside the local convention and visitors bureau to sell both the convention center and the destination overall. She attended Small Market Meetings conferences, where she gave her first presentations, hosted breakfasts and connected with people highlighting her destination.

“I loved everything about it,” she said. “I stayed at the convention center for about 15 years. But once you’re a hotel person, it’s in your blood. So I came back to the hotel about four years ago. My whole career has pretty much been here and across the street.”

Along the way, Maraj got certified as a CMP and has taken certification-oriented management courses. She also is a certified yoga instructor and teaches yoga to the resort’s guests.

“Sometimes I pinch myself — I don’t know how I get to live at the beach, teach yoga, look at the sand and chat with hotel guests,” she said. “From the first time I came here, I fell in love.”

EXECUTIVE PROFILE

NAME

Tisha Maraj

TITLE

Catering and Event Sales Manager

ORGANIZATION

Island Beachside Resort

LOCATION

Fort Walton Beach, Florida

BIRTHPLACE

Allentown, Pennsylvania EDUCATION

High school, continuing education courses

CAREER HISTORY

• Island Beachside Resort, sales manager (1999–2004)

• Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center, sales manager (2004–2019)

• The Island Beachside Resort, catering and events sales manager (2019–present)

“My first word was probably beach — I wanted to live at the beach for as long as I can remember.”

Spark MORE THAN GOALS

TIPS FROM TISHA MARAJ

• Be a lifelong learner — strive to gain new skills and improve existing ones.

• Keep a positive attitude, serve people joyfully and increase your gratitude.

• Never give up!

Ignite their enthusiasm. Whether it’s four C-level execs galvanizing goals, 10 eager hires training or 50 sales reps seeking tips, fire them up and their guests, too. Meet where daylight streams in and meals are infused with locally harvested flavors. Then paddle Lake Michigan-bound rivers, tour a lighthouse, taste craft beverages and shop in charming resort towns. Feel energized in Southwest Michigan.

CUSTOMERS ENJOY A SWIM-UP BAR IN THE GROTTO AT ISLAND BEACH RESORT WHERE TISHA MARAJ WORKS AS CATERING AND EVENT SALES MANAGER.

MANAGING

Boardroom Business

EXPERTS SHARE TIPS ON CRAFTING ATTRACTIVE BOARD MEETINGS

BY RACHEL CRICK

Board meetings or bored with meetings? For some, little distinction exists between the two. After all, with packed agendas and high stakes, board meetings don’t allow much room for frivolity. But that’s not to say they still can’t be enjoyable.

For planners, the major challenge of conducting a board meeting is finding balance between encouraging productivity and energizing attendees. Here are some tips for cultivating a meeting the board will actually look forward to.

GET ACQUAINTED

At any meeting or event, it’s important for a planner to know their audience, and that’s especially true at board meetings. This is because most board meetings are attended by a smaller number of high-ranking attendees who qualify as “very, very important people” (VVIPs). That means getting to know them is crucial.

“It is up to the meeting planner to know all details about the attendees,” said Colleen Earley, meeting and events professional at CME Events. “I’m talking where they’re from, where they’re coming from, all their needs, from dietary to the kind of pillows they want in their room.”

Knowing these details ensures a planner won’t miss the mark on anything important, such as accommodating food preferences or allergies.

It’s also important to get to know the board in a broader sense. Andrea Cannistraci, founder and president of Andgreat, a marketing, branding and events company, recommends “understanding the culture and personality of the client and what they want to achieve.”

If the association or company is laid-back, they may appreciate a less traditional venue or fun activities on the side, while a board full of bankers or executives may prefer a more traditional hotel boardroom. If company culture is all about cocktails, arranging a mixology activity might be a fun addition to the afternoon session. If an association prioritizes sustainability, planners would be prudent to implement environmentally friendly practices.

Getting a history of the board’s past meetings is very helpful because it can tell you what has

Andrea Cannistraci

PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER

Andgreat

Experience: 20+ years

“Find out what the goals and objectives of the board meeting are. How are they going to measure it as a success?”

PRESIDENT AND PARTNER

Empire Force Events

Experience: 29+ years

or hasn’t been successful at past board meetings. Even if a client doesn’t know exactly what they want, they can usually tell a planner what they don’t want. This helps planners create a meeting with the right atmosphere and feel. If it matches their culture and goals, the company will be well represented.

“We ask a lot of questions of clients,” said Jaclyn Bernstein, president and partner at Empire Events. “We ask them what they have done in the past, what don’t they want. We’ll get the historical approach.”

It’s also a good idea to form strong relationships with local partners, such as the hotel, suppliers and the CVB. In addition to providing amazing resources, these entities can give planners insight into local culture and ask questions planners may not think to ask. If a sales rep at a venue or the CVB has a stake in your meeting, they often go above and beyond to help it be successful.

“Creating that partnership and that trust is extremely important. I know the meeting will be successful because the salesperson has my back,” said Earley. “Same with the CVB; they have this level of expertise and commitment that is just unparalleled.”

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

When you hear the term “board meeting,” it’s easy to picture a sparsely decorated room with a large conference table. Depending on the organization, association or company hosting the meeting, that setting may be appropriate, but that doesn’t always have to be the case. The location of a board meeting can elevate the event and make the difference between a drudging meeting or something attendees are excited to attend.

“I think it’s important to have an environment that’s conducive to getting work done, but also I’m not a fan of planning in four walls with no windows,” Cannistraci said.

For a location that promotes productivity without blandness, look for a room with interesting décor and natural light. In addition to being aesthetically appealing, attractive surroundings can boost creativity and add an element of interest to the meeting. It should also be a quiet and private space with minimal interruptions. Finally,

On how to approach board meetings: “They’re an intimate group and an extremely high-end group of guests. We feel that board meetings are to give those serving on the board an experience that is beyond the meeting itself.”

Jaclyn Bernstein

it should be a large enough space that board members won’t feel claustrophobic or be sitting elbow to elbow.

Boardrooms in chain hotels may meet these criteria. But depending on the board, there may be a more tailored option.

“I really recommend the smaller cities that have boutique hotels that are walkable,” Earley said. “When it comes to board meetings, you can get that very personalized service from a smaller venue.”

In addition to the quality of service offered by a boutique hotel, it may have décor or history that adds to an interesting ambience. Planning the meeting in a small, walkable city cuts down on the need to secure transportation if the meeting goes off-site for lunch or an activity. It also ensures the board is a big fish in a small pond and that the meeting gets all the attention it needs to be successful.

Planners can’t always dictate where the meeting will be held; sometimes it piggybacks off other events or is bound to a city or region that’s agreed upon by the board. But even if they can’t choose the city, planners can often suggest venues.

Look for quiet rooms in interesting locations. Cannistraci

planned a recent board meeting on the top floor of a coffee shop that had multiple walls of windows overlooking the beach. She chose the location because it was private, had an inspiring view and a chic feel, and was comfortable. It also had the added plus of serving coffee beverages to attendees.

All sorts of interesting locations, from museums to restaurants to boutique hotels, offer rooms ideal for board meetings. No matter where a planner chooses, it’s good to highlight elements of local culture.

“I always like people to feel they’re not just in any hotel room or any conference room in any city,” Cannistraci said. “Capitalize on the location and try to marry the local culture with whatever you’re doing.”

DETAILS MATTER

Board meetings are where all the big decisions are made, including an organization’s budget, goals and strategies. That’s why the agenda for a board meeting is often packed and why the stakes are so high. To help a board meeting run seamlessly, it’s important to focus on the finer details.

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Pictured: Visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center to explore the preservation of the traditions, languages, and art of Alaska’s Native People through statewide collaboration and education.

MEETINGS WITH A VIEW

Looking for a place to host your next meeting, conference or convention?

Look no further than Corbin, KY. Conveniently located off of I-75 exit 25 in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Corbin is home to 2 premier meeting and conference centers. The Corbin Arena features a 31,250 square foot floor and a 19,261 square foot concourse, making it perfect for conferences and tradeshows. Directly below the Arena is the Corbin Center, a 20,000 square foot facility complete with an executive board room, five classrooms and an 85 x 63 square foot multipurpose space. After the meeting get out and enjoy the Original KFC, Cumberland Falls State Park, the Laurel Lake and our vibrant and eclectic downtown! We can’t wait to host you…..Corbin LOVES Company!

corbinkytourism.com

606-528-8860

“A board meeting for 20 is as important as an incentive program for 220,” Bernstein said. “We make a production out of everything.”

Fine details can include everything from double-checking the AV equipment to making sure the chairs are comfortable enough.

Setting the agenda for the meeting will vary based on how long it’s been since the previous gathering. If the board meets monthly, it will likely be a lot shorter meeting than if it’s been a year. Regardless of how much time the meeting will take, it’s a good idea to get the harder stuff done first thing and save any fun or off-site activities for later. To keep things fresh, planners should build at least two breaks into the schedule throughout the day, one in the morning and afternoon.

“I do recommend any board have a facilitator on-site to keep track of minute by minute and keep the conversation going,” Earley said.

Food is another detail that can make or break a board meeting. If the meeting begins first thing in the morning, it’s good practice to provide attendees breakfast. During breaks, offering light, healthy snacks can help keep people alert and focused. While doughnuts may seem like an easy option, the last thing a planner needs is for their attendees to be fighting sleep during a mid-morning sugar crash.

Earley recommends going off property for lunch if possible. “A walkable location is great,” she said. “And that provides a nice relief and a change of scenery.”

Another added detail that elevates the meeting is choosing food that ties in with its location. If the meeting is held near the Willamette Valley in Oregon, a region known for its farm-to-table fare and award-winning wines, it would be a missed opportunity to order lunch from a chain restaurant.

“If we’re at a restaurant or using a caterer, we constantly ask ‘what are your signature dishes here, what’s the chef’s specialty?’” Bernstein said. “And wouldn’t it be fun if the chef came out and explained it?”

MEETING AND EVENTS PROFESSIONAL CME Events

Experience: 20+ years

Colleen Earley

On what to remember about board meetings: “There are a lot of details, and each attendee is a VVIP.”

Laredo loves to localize

BY VICKIE MITCHELL

Laredo, Texas, doesn’t dwell on what it doesn’t have. Instead, the city of 250,000 on the Rio Grande River within sight of Mexico, delivers experiences that make it easy to forget the city doesn’t have a convention center.

“Without a convention center, we get very creative with how and where we host conventions,” says Visit Laredo’s director Aileen Ramos.

A good example is the signature drink

Visit Laredo often mixes up for welcome receptions. The blend of Southern Comfort, rum, fruit juices and Grenadine is called Ojo Rojo (Spanish for red eye) for a reason. “That’s how we’ll know you had too many; you will have red eyes the next morning,” says Ramos. Like Laredo, the drink is not easily forgotten, and some later recreate it, including an Austin meeting planner who had the drink served at her daughter’s wedding reception. Ojo Rojo became the wedding’s “something borrowed.”

GETTING GROUPS OUT IN THE CITY

Two hotels, the La Posada and the Embassy Suites by Hilton Laredo, host many conferences.

“When we host meetings in our hotels, we definitely try to get them out to enjoy our local experiences,” says Ramos.

La Posada is Laredo’s only AAA Four Diamond hotel, a Southwest-style beauty with 206 rooms and 15,000 square feet of meeting space. For meetings there, Visit Laredo has arranged off-site events at the Laredo Center for the Arts, two blocks away in a building that was once a marketplace. Local Mexican import shops will

set up booths for evening events, giving guests a chance to grab souvenirs. La Posada is also within two blocks of the Outlet Shoppes of Laredo, which has event spaces.

For a conference at the Embassy Suites, Visit Laredo organized a barbecue at a ranch, with fishing, skeet shooting and karaoke. The hotel, 10 minutes from downtown, has 154 guest rooms and 5,000 square feet of meeting space, and is just across the street from Mall del Norte.

Laredo is a city that likes to celebrate, and its calendar is dotted with annual festivals. By planning meetings that coincide with some of those festivals, attendees can enjoy fun events that are inexpensive and sometimes even free. For example, on the third weekend of July each year, some 200 exhibitors from Laredo’s sister cities set up in Sames Auto Arena — a popular tradeshow venue — for the Laredo International Sister Cities Festival. The free event is popular for its music; inexpensive, homemade foods; and merchandise ranging from cowboy boots and jewelry to embroidered dresses and pottery.

And for almost a month, starting in mid-January, there’s the Washington’s Birthday Celebration, which warms up wintertime, with parades, balls, comedy shows, wine and tequila tastings, a jalapeno eating contest, a barbecue, air show and fireworks.

The festival began 125 years ago after Laredo, which had tried for a time to be its own country, decided to demonstrate, just how proud it was to be part of the U.S. The theme it chose for its celebration makes good sense. After all, says Ramos, “What’s more American than George Washington?”

VENUES IN BLOOM

Botanical gardens make beautiful settings for outdoor events

BY RACHEL CRICK

Garden meetings can plant the seeds for something great.

These elegant and enriching environments surround attendees with sunshine, fresh air and brightly colored blooms. It’s the ideal setting to refresh the spirit and boost creativity. In addition to being excellent sites for productive meetings, they’re also great for elegant receptions and banquets.

For a gorgeous outdoor event adorned with na-

ture’s best décor, planners should check out these awe-inspiring gardens across the country.

MORIKAMI MUSEUM AND JAPANESE GARDENS

DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA

Japanese gardens are renowned for their elegance, minimalist design and emphasis on harmony between natural elements. At the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach, Florida, planners will find a 16-acre Japanese Garden containing such signature components as clean lines, water features and a curved bridge, as well as plants and architecture native to Japan. The accompanying museum teaches visitors about the connections between South Florida and Japan and celebrates Japanese culture.

“Imagine having an authentic Japanese-style garden for a special event without the price tag of traveling overseas,” said Sally Shorr, a spokesperson for Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens.

Six distinct gardens inspired by significant gardens in Japan can be found on the grounds, as well as an extensive collection of bonsai trees, a

Above: The YamatoKan was the Morikami Museum’s original building in 1977 and is a testament to Japanese architecture and aesthetics.

Courtesy Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens

private lake and waterfalls. The museum features several indoor and outdoor spaces for events. The 2,700-square-foot interior lobby can seat up to 150 guests or up to 250 for a reception, and the museum’s theater provides seating for up to 224 guests for lectures or presentations. The outdoor terrace is 7,000 square feet and fits 150 for a banquet or 350 for a reception. A tented area on the grounds can seat up to 400 for larger events. Catering is provided by the Cornell Café, the museum’s restaurant.

morikami.org

NAVARRA GARDENS WILLAMINA, OREGON

In between Salem and Oregon’s coast, Navarra Gardens is located just outside the small town of Willamina. It’s not far from some of Oregon’s biggest attractions, like the city of Portland, the Willamette Valley wine country and the state’s scenic beaches. These gardens contain the rugged beauty of the Pacific Northwest, including towering trees, a river and native blooms. These beautiful natural features bring a sense of magic to any meeting, reception or evening event.

Navarra Gardens has indoor packages for groups ranging from 30 to 50. They can use the 4,200-squarefoot event center with barn doors on either end, which can be opened for views of the river and a waterfall. The gardens’ riverside packages can accommodate a greater range of attendees. There’s a covered outdoor banquet area, a beach area with river access, a riverside stage and a sun-dappled lawn perfect for outdoor banquets or receptions. In addition to being surrounded by a grove of mature oak trees, the gardens feature a wide variety of blooming Oregon wildflowers.

Morikami scenes, clockwise from left: An evening event at the museum; an outdoor terrace overlooking the lake; the south gate in the Japanese gardens.

“Imagine having an authentic Japanese-style garden for a special event without the price tag of traveling overseas.”

— Sally Shorr,

Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens

Photos courtesy Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens

IDEAS

The gardens provide beautiful outdoor décor, from tables and bar top areas to lanterns. Planners can choose from using the venue’s on-site catering or hiring caterers of their choice. The venue is equipped with a projector and Wi-Fi, as well as a dance floor, a stereo and even a karaoke machine. navarragardens.com

THE INTERNATIONAL PEACE GARDEN DUNSEITH, NORTH DAKOTA

The International Peace Garden was designed to be a space where peace and international cooperation could prevail; that’s why it rests directly on the border between North Dakota and Canada. It’s an unusual location to meet because attendees can have one foot in the U.S. and one in Canada, but that distinct opportunity is also a major draw in addition to the beautifully crafted gardens and year-round event space. With 60,000-85,000 annual florae planted in the span of five weeks, an 18-foot working floral clock, several lakes and one of North America’s largest indoor cacti and succulent collections, the International Peace Garden is full of wonders that can inspire and delight attendees.

“You’ll never find another place like this internationally,” said Jennifer Beard, visitor services manag-

Navarra Gardens scenes, clockwise from left: A grape arbor; the event barn; seating by the river

Photos Courtesy Navarra Gardens

“You’ll never find another place like this internationally. That makes it unique and diverse.”

— Jennifer Beard, The International Peace Garden

International Peace Garden scenes, clockwise from left: A decorative garden; the conservatory atrium; the Willis Pavilion

er at the International Peace Garden. “That makes it unique and diverse.”

The Burdick Center for the Performing Arts is a large theater venue with space for up to 500 attendees that’s perfect for presentations, lectures and performances. The Errick Willis Pavilion has two levels with views of Lake Stormon, and each level can seat 100 guests. The Historic Lodge, an atmospheric log-cabin-style building constructed with stone and warmtoned wood, boasts a large stone fireplace on one end

and a full kitchen. The space is excellent for banquets, and the main hall can seat 100-125, while the dining room can accommodate an additional 70 guests.

The Formal Garden has an upper and lower terrace for rent for an outdoor meeting or event, while the Conservatory has both a spacious central area and a conference room. Additional options for meetings include picnic shelters on the grounds and, for larger events, the Masonic Auditorium. peacegarden.com

AMARILLO BOTANICAL GARDENS AMARILLO, TEXAS

Amarillo, Texas, was named for its yellow soil and riverbanks. Like many other cities in the region, it’s a dusty desert city, which makes the colorful Amarillo Botanical Gardens a bit of a rare find.

“We are green the vast majority of the year,” said Mason Whiteside, event and wedding coordinator at Amarillo Botanical Gardens. “We provide an oasis

“We are green the vast majority of the year. We provide an oasis here in West Texas where there’s not always a diversity of plant life and color.”

— Mason Whiteside, Amarillo Botanical Gardens

Courtesy International Peace Garden

Courtesy International Peace Garden

Courtesy North Dakota Tourism

Colorado Springs

Meet in the middle.

Halfway to just about anywhere and tucked into the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado Springs plays backdrop to thousands of meetings and events each year. You handle the agenda and we’ll take care of after-hours “breakout sessions’ at local gastropubs, breweries and rooftop bars.

You’ll never compromise when you meet in the middle.

2023 Planner Incentive Program on

here in West Texas where there’s not always a diversity of plant life and color.”

One of the property’s indoor spaces, the Event Room, has a capacity of 40 and is great for smaller meetings such as educational programs. Adjacent to the Event Room is the Sybil B. Harrington Gallery, a room enclosed with glass on three sides, offering excellent views of the gardens. The gallery can accommodate up to 80. The largest indoor space is an adaptable ballroom that can seat up to 216 and has high ceilings and a grand chandelier.

The entrance patio at Amarillo Botanical Gardens is one of the venue’s smaller outdoor spaces, with a capacity of 80 attendees, but its canopy of trees twinkling with lights is guaranteed to bring life to any reception or event held there. The Grand Wedding Lawn, situated under mature elm and oak trees can seat up to 300, while the Amphitheater can seat 320 with tables or 600 without. The Conservatory Atrium, a tropical plant conservatory that maintains a temperate environment year-round, is excellent for small winter meetings. There’s also a terrace with a covered patio

Our full-service sales team is here to assist you with hosting your next meeting in ST. TAMMANY PARISH!

Qualified overnight stays are eligible to receive a special incentive!

Courtesy Amarillo Botanical Gardens

THE ENTRANCE PATIO AT AMARILLO BOTANICAL GARDENS

Fond du Lac Dock Spiders Stadium

Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts

Lakeside Park Pavilion

Kingwood

and garden views with space for up to 80 attendees. amarillobotanicalgardens.org

KINGWOOD CENTER GARDENS

MANSFIELD, OHIO

The home of Ohio business tycoon Charles Kelley King, Kingwood Center Gardens in Mansfield, Ohio, is a 47-acre estate featuring a lavish home and several gardens. These include the Allée, a vista with a canopy of trees in front of Kingwood Hall; a display greenhouse with tropical and warm-weather plants;

a perennial garden; King’s formal gardens, designed during the construction of the house; a brick-paved terrace garden; a woodland garden full of shade-loving plants; and an herb and rose garden. Guests of meetings, receptions and banquets get free admission to the gardens and grounds.

Several rooms on the property are available for rent. The recently renovated Carriage House has five doors and a private patio garden to transform the venue into an indoor-outdoor setting that can seat up to 140 attendees. It also comes with a full catering kitchen and audiovisual system. The King Ballroom is a spacious option with garden views and access to a terrace; it also features air walls that can divide the room in half for breakout sessions. Smaller rooms for meetings include the Charles Room and the Kelley Room.

Catering and alcohol service can be provided by Buehler’s Fresh Foods, although planners can select an alternate caterer for a fee.

kingwoodcenter.org

The home of Ohio business tycoon Charles Kelley King, Kingwood Center Gardens in Mansfield, Ohio, is a 47-acre estate featuring a lavish home and several gardens.

Center Gardens scenes, clockwise from left: The Allee; Kingwood Hall; the Garden Getaway

Photos courtesy Destination Mansfield-Richland County

ARiverReedy RENAISSANCE

All photos courtesy Visit Greenville

The sun sets over Falls Park on the Reedy, a signature site in downtown Greenville.

future

BY KATHERINE TANDY BROWN

Once known as the “Textile Center of the South” for the 18 mills that fueled the local economy from the 1890s to almost the dawn of the new millennium, Greenville, South Carolina, has revisited its roots, repurposed its historic architecture, lured talented chefs and embraced its natural resources. The result is a visitor-friendly, high-tech, ecologically sound destination in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains that’s constantly collecting kudos.

Securing Greenville’s status as a “foodie destination,” Southern Living named this upstate city one of “The South’s Tastiest Towns.” Readers of Conde Nast Traveler crowned it “#1 Friendliest City in the U.S.” And People magazine proclaims it “The Next Big Small Town.”

Little wonder its slogan is now “Yeah, that Greenville!”

CITY

GREENVILLE AT A GLANCE

LOCATION: Upstate South Carolina

ACCESS: Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport; Greenville Downtown Airport; interstates

85, 385 and 26; SC 291; Amtrak

HOTEL ROOMS: 10,600

CONTACT INFO:

VisitGreenvilleSC

864-421-0000

visitgreenvillesc.com

GREENVILLE CONVENTION CENTER

BUILT: 1964; expanded in 1966, 1969, 1977; $22 million renovation in 2006

EXHIBIT SPACE: 280,000 square feet

MEETING HOTELS

Grand Bohemian Lodge

GUEST ROOMS: 187, including 24 suites

MEETING SPACE: 4,000 square feet

Springhill Suites/Residence Inn

GUEST ROOMS: 186 total

MEETING SPACE: 11,000-plus combined square feet

Westin Poinsett

GUEST ROOMS: 200, including 20 suites

MEETING SPACE: 12,000-plus square feet

Hotel Hartness

GUEST ROOMS: 73 total, including 10 suites

MEETING SPACE: 16,000 square feet

WHO’S MEETING IN GREENVILLE

SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament

ATTENDEES: 57,000+

Women’s NCAA Tournament

ATTENDEES: 21,000

Greenville is embracing its past and creating its

Destination Highlights

Touted as one of Travel and Leisure’s “Top 10 America’s Greatest Main Streets,” Greenville’s tree-lined Main Street is rife with innovative restaurants and al fresco dining, as well as local boutiques, art galleries, independent coffeehouses and hotels. Once a power source for textile mills, the Reedy River bisects the city. Its spectacular waterfalls cascade down boulders midtown. Thirty-two-acre Reedy River Park hugs the waterway while a 345-foot-long pedestrian suspension bridge allows walkers a bird’s-eye view of the falls.

This easily strollable, safe downtown displays 125-plus pieces of outdoor art. There’s even a wintertime ice skating rink. Greenville has come a long way since its cotton-mill days.

“As a lifelong resident, I have found our city’s transformation over the past 18 to 20 years amazing,” said Jonathan Brashier, vice president of commercial strategy for VisitGreenvilleSC. “I believe there’s a special feeling here that almost has to be experienced, not explained, as the city continues to grow.”

Outdoor plazas dot the downtown, featuring such crowd draws as a Mast General Store and Greenville ONE Center, a 36,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art conference center.

Some 201 Fortune 500 companies — including BMW, Michelin and TD SYNNEX Corporation — and 26 higher educational institutions call Greenville home.

The city’s 23-mile Prisma Health System Swamp Rabbit Trail welcomes walkers, runners and bicyclers. Hiking and water sports await in the upstate at numerous foothills’ state parks and three expansive lakes.

Distinctive Venues

Located in the up-and-coming Village of West Greenville, Fluor Field is home to the Greenville Drive, a minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, and was designed as a replica of Fenway Park. The 7,400-seat stadium greets fans with a statue of local baseball great “Shoeless” Joe Jackson. Groups can visit a museum/baseball library built in his honor. The field’s gathering spaces include 18 luxury suites and a concourse where 1,500 guests can schmooze. Up to 300 can meet in the Champions Club and 80 on the rooftop, both with stunning views. The food goes way beyond hot dogs and beer.

“Our in-house catering is full-service with a full-time chef,” said events manager Katy Beverly.

In the architecturally stunning $32 million Peace Center downtown, visitors can enjoy top Broadway musicals and small-venue concerts, the Greenville Symphony Orchestra and International Ballet. Its Performance Hall can seat 2,500, and 10 live music venues surround it.

Part of the Peace Center Complex, the 1882 Huguenot Mill on the Reedy River was one of the area’s first coal-fueled, steam-powered mills. The top floor is now known as the Huguenot Loft, a stellar 4,800-squarefoot event space for 400 guests, and is all exposed brick, rough-hewn timber columns and hardwood floors.

Another reimagined historic venue, Judson Mill, built in 1912, has two event areas, with reception capacities of 500 and 200.

Thanks to public/private partnerships, big-name concerts and events fill 15,000-seat Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The venue is home to the Greenville Swamp Rabbits ice hockey team.

DISTINCTIVE VENUES

DESTINATION HIGHLIGHTS Liberty Bridge at Falls Park

Graham Plaza at the Peace Center

Major Meeting Spaces

At 280,000 square feet, the Greenville Convention Center is one of the region’s largest venues and can accommodate groups from 25 to 25,000. A 3,822-square-foot courtyard allows attendees fresh-air breaks. Only 15 minutes from the airport, the center has an award-winning staff that sources locally grown choices for customized menus.

Opened in August, the boutique Grand Bohemian Lodge is perched above the Reedy River’s waterfalls and brings a Western lodge feel to Main Street. An enormous fireplace in its lobby welcomes guests to peruse an extraordinary curated Western art collection.

Event spaces include a 1,900-square-foot ballroom, private dining room for 20, and an 80-capacity porch with park views. A bourbon bar offers 120-plus varieties. Dining at the Lodge’s restaurant, Between the Trees, is like eating marvelously eclectic food in a treehouse.

The Southern belle of Greenville properties, the 200-room Westin Poinsett, was built in 1925 as one of the most beautifully furnished hotels in the country. A $27 million renovation has restored her former glory. Two ballrooms accommodate 250 attendees each, and a piano bar has live music five days a week.

Also downtown, a Springhill Suites/Residence Inn partnership is perfect for meetings.

“It’s a dual hotel,” said Derek Cooper, general manager. “Truly a twofer that works well for both, with luxurious accommodations, on-site dining at a full-service restaurant — Oak and Honey — state-of-the-art meetings tech and a 24/7 techno gym.”

Greenville’s newest meeting space, Hotel Hartness, lies 15 minutes from downtown and hosts corporate meetings, board retreats and social events. Set on a 450-acre nature preserve, the former family estate includes a 74-room luxury hotel, spa with overnight suites, and a bar/restaurant with gin and bourbon tastings and locally sourced cuisine.

HOURS

After the Meeting

Greenville shines with post-meeting options for attendees and/or their families.

In nearby Greer, the 133-acre BMW campus’ Performance Center, with meeting space for up to 120, offers upbeat, high-performance teambuilding, client entertainment and ultimate corporate incentives, in cars — fast, sporty ones — on a two-mile track. Options include a “hot lap” with an experienced racecar driver for teams and individuals.

“Where else can you drive a half-million-dollar vehicle like you just robbed a bank and not get in trouble for it?” said BMW corporate sales representative Doug McGrath.

Named one of Food Network’s “Best Rooftop Restaurants in the Country,” Up on the Roof, atop the Embassy Suites downtown, is a terrific place for late-afternoon relaxing. This don’t-miss stop on Greenville’s “Liquid Highway” features exquisite sunset views, handcrafted cocktails, artisan wines, craft beers, a chef-curated menu and cozy outdoor fireplaces.

For handcrafted suds, more than 20 breweries provide an array of choices. The Beer Experience introduces local beer meisters on a tour so folks can choose their faves. South of Greenville, wine afficionados can taste innovative wines at family-run City Scape Winery and Vineyards. Behind-the-scenes winemaker’s tours, a wine scavenger hunt, live music, low-sulfite and vegan wines, and charcuterie boards are all available.

Groups can learn to cook like pros at The Cook’s Station or enjoy being fed on several local tours. Choices include a craft cocktail tour, Saturday breakfast tour, coffee tour, barbecue trail tour, taco trail tour and a decadent just desserts excursion.

AFTER

MAJOR MEETING SPACES Grand Bohemian Lodge

Downtown drinks at Up on the Roof

Brannon at the Beach

BY REBECCA TREON

Roughly 20 minutes from Daytona Beach and an hour from Orlando, New Smyrna Beach is an upscale beach town that offers access to the water, as well as a quaint downtown with retail, restaurants, entertainment and golf courses. The Brannon Center is in the heart of it all, right on the Intracoastal Waterway and two miles from the beach.

“Now that everyone is looking for different ways to engage their clients and attendees, we have lots of creative ways to host meetings that aren’t just in a ballroom,” said Brannon Center manager Shonna Green. “Since New Smyrna is a small town, we all know each other, and we have numerous vendors we work with to bundle hotels, food and beverage and activities — we create a total package based on the client’s budget and needs.”

The Brannon Center will arrange accommodations, on-site catering, dining reservations and activities, creating a custom itinerary for meeting groups.

New Smyrna Beach has three hotel properties (and a new Hyatt Place coming soon), each with a pool and beach access. They include the Springhill Suites, the Hampton Inn New Smyrna and the Best Western. The area has charming bed and breakfast options, including Victoria 1883, the Black Dolphin Inn, the Night Swan Intracoastal Bed and Breakfast, The Inn on the Avenue and Anchor Inn Bed and Breakfast.

The Brannon Center is on the Intracoastal Waterway, with easy access to Flagler Avenue, New Smyrna Beach’s commercial and entertainment district. The Brannon Center offers a roster of catering and beverage options they can help event planners navigate according to budget or taste. But there are also ample dining options just steps away.

For those looking for something beyond enjoying New Smyrna’s white sand beaches, there are plenty of opportunities for recreation on and off the water.

A WATERFRONT BALLROOM

THE BRANNON CENTER

MEETING SPACES

The Brannon Center features 10,000 square feet of meeting space — 7,000 square feet of which is the Indian River Ballroom. Additionally, two smaller rooms for breakout sessions can be combined.

“We host a lot of meetings and conferences, so one nice amenity is we also have a green room for speakers, and our A/V is complimentary,” said Green. “If you need something extra, like live streaming, we do have a technician who can assist, but we have a simple plug-and-play system for PowerPoints, presentations and music.”

The facility also boasts a 1,700-square-foot outdoor terrace that overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway that includes a dock for guest use, whether as a mode of transportation or for recreational activities.

DINING

The Brannon Center has a lengthy list of preferred caterers and beverage services for any taste and occasion, ranging from soul food to plated dinners. Off site, New Smyrna Beach offers numerous dining options just steps (or a short boat ride) away. The city doesn’t have any chain restaurants — almost all are independent and locally owned.

“We have a plethora of eating establishments here — anything you want from farm to table to Italian to seafood,” said Green. “The dining here in town is exceptional.”

Two local restaurants, Panheads Pizza and The Garlic, were featured on “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives,” and cafes, bars and restaurants dot Flagler Avenue, from the Grille at Riverview offering a view of the Intracoastal Waterway to the Breakers Oceanfront Restaurant right on the beach.

brannoncenter.com

THE BRANNON CENTER SITS ON THE INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY IN NEW SMYRNA BEACH.

A DINNER EVENT AT THE BRANNON CENTER

All photos courtesy the Brannon Center

OUT AND ABOUT

There’s plenty to do in the area surrounding the Brannon Center. Flagler Avenue is New Smyrna’s commercial district, where guests will find shops, galleries, public art and nightlife — and even a set of shuffleboard courts. There are paint-your-own pottery studios, places to rent bikes, an escape room, the Marine Discovery Center and the Ponce Inlet Lighthouse.

“The Brannon Center is on Canal Street, which isn’t quite as fast paced as Flagler but is another shopping and dining area,” said Green. “We have two distinct areas for shopping, dining, and just walking around and enjoying the local Florida scene.”

New Smyrna Beach also has numerous events that take place on Flagler and Canal including festivals that focus on art, music, wine and seafood. There are three public golf courses: Hidden Lakes Golf Club, New Smyrna Golf Club and the Preserve at Turnbull Bay.

ON THE WATER

The beach is just two miles away from the Brannon Center over the Intracoastal Waterway, where attendees can enjoy New Smyrna’s famed sugar sand beach. Sunset and cocktail cruises are popular, but attendees can engage in various activities, including kayaking, surfing, manatee-watching cruises and even searching for turtle nests as part of conservation efforts. The area’s blueways are aquatic trails, popular for standup paddleboarding and wildlife viewing.

“Some breakouts on the water include river cruises with the Marine Discovery Center, one of our partners, to do manatee or dolphin sightings or talk about the wildlife in the lagoons here,” said Green.

Attendees can also arrange fishing expeditions, then take their catch to one of several local restaurants to cook it.

“Since New Smyrna is a small town, we all know each other, and we have numerous vendors we work with to bundle hotels, food and beverage and activities — we create a total package based on the client’s budget and needs.”

— Shonna Green, Brannon Center

THE BRANNON CENTER AT DUSK

A TROPICAL EVENT SETUP MEETING ROOM WITH A VIEW

AN EDUCATION SUMMIT AT THE BRANNON CENTER

A LOBBY AREA

A BRANNON CENTER SEMINAR ROOM

Stay at the only Ocean Front Property on the famous Flagler Avenue. This all suite hotel offers an oceanfront pool, a lobby bar and hot breakfast daily. Surrounded by great shopping and dining. With convenient on-site garage parking.

Located

Meeting Guide

Maryland’s Meeting Resorts

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

Abundant waterfronts and iconic resorts make Maryland an ideal place for mixing business with pleasure.

Because of its proximity to the nation’s capital, Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River, Maryland has attracted some top-notch hotels and resorts. These five standouts offer everything from fine dining and world class spas to golf, boating, water sports and nice, sandy beaches.

HYATT REGENCY CHESAPEAKE BAY GOLF RESORT, SPA AND MARINA

Cambridge

The 342-acre Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina is a AAA Four Diamond resort on the Choptank River near Chesapeake Bay. It features: 400 guest rooms, including 47 suites; six dining outlets; a year-round indoor pool and seasonal outdoor pools;

an 18-hole golf course; a 150-slip marina; a full-service spa; and numerous ways for guests to get outside and play in the sun. The resort offers water sports, tennis, basketball, beach volleyball, miniature golf, Frisbee golf, horseshoes, Captain’s Parlor game room and several nature trails.

The area is known for its cycling and horseback riding, and along with all of the watersports available at the resort, guests can book fishing and crabbing excursions.

The resort has 37,000 square feet of indoor meeting space. Chesapeake Ballroom is the largest at 11,259 square feet. The room can host banquets for 850 or receptions for 1,300 and can be divided into seven smaller sections for classrooms or breakout sessions.

The smaller Choptank Ballroom can host 300 for a banquet, and the space can be broken into three smaller spaces. The foyer that runs in front of the ballrooms serves as pre-function or reception space for 500. The Manor Lawn is adjacent to the 18th hole of the River Marsh Golf Club and overlooks the Choptank River. The space can hold up to 500 guests. hyatt.com

Courtesy Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay

MEETING PLANNERS CAN ARRANGE ELEGANT EVENTS WITH WATER VIEWS AT THE HYATT REGENCY CHESAPEAKE BAY GOLF RESORT

THE INN AT THE CHESAPEAKE BAY BEACH CLUB AND SPA

Stevensville

Set on Kent Island, the Inn at Chesapeake Bay Beach Club has 77 guest rooms, suites and cottages and a full-service spa and salon. The resort has plenty of dining options, including the Market, a gourmet café and marketplace that specializes in locally sourced small bites, and Knoxie’s Table, a restaurant that features scratch-made seasonal cuisine inspired by the region’s farmers and watermen.

Guests can enjoy two dipping pools with cascading water features, a fitness center, complimentary bicycles for guests 14 years of age and older and a chef’s garden, where they can explore seasonal plantings. The resort also offers complimentary yoga classes on Fridays and Saturdays in the courtyard.

The property has more than 30,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space, with 5,000 square feet at the inn, 16,000 square feet of waterfront event space and 12,000 square feet of outdoor space. Tavern Bayside features sliding windows to let in the fresh breezes coming off Chesapeake Bay and offers sweeping views of the bay and Bay Bridge. The site can host 50 to 180 guests and offers lawn games on its beachfront grounds. The Garden Rooftop, which sits above the Garden Room, offers breathtaking views of Chesapeake Bay and has 16-foot-high wood ceilings, a stone gas fireplace and a custom-built bar.

Beach House Ballroom can accommodate up to 220 guests and overlooks a sunken garden at the water’s edge. baybeachclub.com

ROCKY GAP CASINO RESORT

Flintstone

Rocky Gap Casino Resort is a destination resort that features 198 guest rooms, a casino, a full-service spa and a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course. Situated in Rocky Gap State Park, the resort is perched on Lake Habeeb, a 243-acre lake where resort guests can rent canoes, paddleboats and paddleboards. The resort recently partnered with Wheelzup Adventures to oversee boat and fishing rentals from the boat house.

Groups hosting events on property can plan group paddle sessions or golf tournaments. There are nearby fishing spots and hiking and mountain biking trails all around the park. The resort hosts comedy shows once or twice a month, as well as live musical entertainment.

The resort features a casino with 630 slot machines, 17 table games and two casino bars that are open 24/7. The Allegheny Event Center offers 5,070 square feet of meeting space that can host 400 people. The space can be split into two separate rooms that can host 200 guests each. Several small breakout spaces include an executive boardroom.

Lakeside Grill offers a private dining area for groups of about 30. Signatures Bar and Grill has an outdoor patio that groups can utilize, and the restaurant offers acoustic entertainment on weekends. Lakeside Terrace offers a more casual space for drinks and appetizers. rockygapresort.com

Courtesy Chesapeake Bay Beach Club

THE INN AT THE CHESAPEAKE BAY BEACH CLUB

Courtesy Rocky Gap Casino Resort

WATERFRONT AT ROCKY GAP CASINO RESORT

Meeting Guide

GAYLORD NATIONAL RESORT AND CONVENTION CENTER

National Harbor

Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center is a short drive or train ride away from Washington, D.C., in National Harbor, a development built on a former plantation site in Prince George’s County. It sits on the Potomac River, just south of D.C., and is the largest resort in the area with 1,996 hotel rooms. It has several on-site restaurants, entertainment, a full-service spa, a lush indoor garden atrium and shops.

National Harbor itself has plenty for groups to do, including shopping at Tanger Outlets, water activities, and the Capital Wheel, a 175-foot Ferris wheel that sits on a pier on the river.

The convention center has 546,889 square feet of event space, including 94 event rooms, 101 breakout rooms, and exhibit and pre-function spaces. Five ballrooms range from 8,000 square feet to 50,000 square feet, including RiverView Ballroom with 270 degrees of floor-to-ceiling windows. The resort features more than 75,000 square feet of outdoor event space, including an 11,000-square-foot private event pier. There are private dining options at all of the resort’s restaurants, including Pose Rooftop Lounge, which is also home to Replay at Pose Rooftop, an ’80s-themed pop-up bar with river views, neon lights, retro arcade games and music from the 1980s.

gaylordhotels.com

PRINCESS ROYALE OCEANFRONT RESORT

Ocean City

Princess Royale Oceanfront Resort is in the heart of Ocean City, right on the Atlantic Ocean. Guests can stroll along the coast, lounge by the pool in the resort’s four-story tropical atrium, or get a massage, manicure or pedicure at the full-service Creative Day Spa.

The resort offers golf packages for groups at any of 14 local golf courses that include lodging and three rounds of golf. Guests have several dining options on property, including Royale Roasters, which serves coffee, tea, pastries and baked goods; the Current, open-air dining with great views of the Atlantic and East Lawn; and Schooners Oceanfront Restaurant, which serves breakfast favorites. Ice Tiki offers Chesapeake Bay Farms Ice Cream, and Tropical Tiki in the atrium serves tropical drinks and light gourmet fare.

Princess Royale Oceanfront has 10 indoor meeting spaces. The 5,670-square-foot Palmetto Ballroom can accommodate groups of up to 400 but also can be split into five smaller rooms. The Caribbean Foyer offers space for pre-event cocktails or between-meetings refreshment breaks. Caribe Ballroom is 5,400 square feet and can host groups of up to 400. The resort also has an 8,000-squarefoot exhibition hall, and the atrium is perfect for receptions by the pool.

princessroyale.com

Meeting Guide

Meet Ohio’s Museums

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

Ohio is home to some of the most popular museums in the country that just happen to make great places to host meetings or special events. These include two presidential museums, the largest military aircraft museum in the world, a museum that details the legacy of the U.S. steel industry and a newer museum dedicated to military veterans and their stories.

Check out some of these distinctive museums for your next Ohio meeting.

NATIONAL VETERANS MEMORIAL AND MUSEUM

Columbus

The National Veterans Memorial and Museum, which opened to the public in October 2018, tells the stories of U.S. military veterans from

all eras and branches, highlighting their personal journeys through images and artifacts. Permanent exhibits include Veterans Among Us, which touches on key themes and moments from a veteran’s journey, and Legacy of Service, which shows how veterans use the skills and values they learned in the military to give back to their communities.

The Remembrance Gallery on the mezzanine offers visitors a space for reflection and recollection of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The building was designed in arched concrete with a glass curtain wall that seems to rise organically from the surrounding terrain. A spiral processional leads up to a rooftop sanctuary, which is one of the museum’s top event venues for groups. The sanctuary can host 400 for a sit-down banquet and up to 700 for a reception. Outside the museum is a 2.5-acre Memorial Grove for contemplation and reflection.

The Great Hall, which overlooks the Columbus skyline, can host up to 500 for a reception. Two smaller rooms, Gallery 33, and the Franklin County Room, can hold 50 to 75 people comfortably for meetings that need access to drop-down screens and other electronics. Outside caterers

Courtesy National Veterans Memorial and Museum

THE GREAT HALL AT THE NATIONAL VETERANS MEMORIAL AND MUSEUM IN COLUMBUS CAN HOST UP TO 500 PEOPLE FOR RECEPTIONS.

can be brought in, and groups wanting to tour the museum as part of their events have numerous options to choose from. nationalvmm.org

RUTHERFORD B. HAYES PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUMS

Fremont

In Freemont, the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museums was the first national presidential library and museum to open to the public. Hayes, who was the country’s 19th president, and his wife, Lucy, lived in the 31-room Victorian mansion after his presidency. The first floor of the mansion is furnished as it was when the Hayes family lived there.

The museum tells the story of the president and Lucy Hayes through artifacts, documents and images and also features rotating exhibits. Visitors can see Lucy’s wedding dress and a ring with a lock of George Washington’s hair in it or learn about Hayes’ contested election, the issues he faced during his presidency and what life was like in the White House. Hayes collected letters from every president of the U.S. during his lifetime, and the museum has kept up the tradition, collecting letters up to Donald Trump. The property is designated as an arboretum because it has 90 different species among its 1,700 trees.

Groups can host events in the auditorium, which can seat up to 100 people. If seating is in rounds, the space can host up to 75.

FREMONT’S RUTHERFORD B. HAYES PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUMS

Courtesy Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museums

The grounds are also available for rental and can accommodate up to 400 people. The facility has a smaller tent with tables and chairs for up to 100 people. If the event is larger, groups will have to rent additional tents, tables and chairs. Groups can also book tours of the mansion and museum. rbhayes.org

MCKINLEY PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Canton

Unlike other presidential museums, Canton’s McKinley Presidential Library and Museum goes beyond learning about the life and presidency of William McKinley, who served as the country’s 25th president. The McKinley Gallery details his life and career, from birth to his assassination in 1901 and features the largest collection of McKinley artifacts in the world. The Keller Gallery hosts temporary exhibits, and the Experience Stark County exhibit chronicles 200 years of the county’s history through artifacts, photos and interpretive audio programs.

The Discover World Science Center offers interactive science exhibits geared toward school children on history, fossils, animals and weather. The grounds are home to McKinley National Memorial, where McKinley and his wife, Ida, are buried. The property also has the Ramsayer Research Library and Hoover-Price Planetarium.

Groups can rent out the entire museum, which can accommodate 500 guests. The Everhard Auditorium, which can host groups up to 100, was recently renovated and includes new walls, flooring and A/V equipment. The space includes a full kitchen with double ovens and catering refrigerator, access to Wi-Fi, screen and a projector. Admission to the museum can be added as an additional cost.

The History Lobby and School House can accommodate smaller meetings or events, and guests can host events in the Street of Shops, a life-sized replica of a historic town that includes the Dannemiller Store, Gibbs Manufacturing Company, Eagle Hotel and fire station.

The grounds are available for events of all sizes and groups can add on planetarium shows or a photo booth at their events. mckinleymuseum.org

YOUNGSTOWN HISTORICAL CENTER OF INDUSTRY AND LABOR

Youngstown

The Youngstown Historical Center of Industry and Labor was designed by architect Michael Graves in the postmodern style. Built of brick, glass block and tinted glass, each side of the museum resembles the design of a steel mill from a different period. Visitors to the museum can take in a 15-minute video that was shot in Youngstown in 1944, titled “Steel Town,” that shows the inside and outside of steel mills, what people were doing for work and what they did in their leisure time.

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Groups can take self-guided tours or schedule guided tours of the museum, which has two galleries. The upper-level gallery space covers steel and iron making from Colonial times up through Black Monday in 1977, when the Youngstown steel mills began closing down. The first-floor gallery features a re-creation of a company house, a company locker room and an overlook into a mill pulpit. The museum also keeps an archives library with books and photographs that can be used for research.

Groups that want to host meetings or events at the center can rent out the Meshel Classroom, a large room that can be divided into two spaces or used as one large space. It can accommodate up to 100 seated or 80 people for a meal. Groups can bring in their own caterer and have access to a refrigerator, sink and microwave. They also can rent out the entire museum. Groups meeting at the museum get a free guided tour and access to the galleries.

youngstownohiosteelmuseum.org

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE U.S. AIR FORCE

Dayton

Dayton’s National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is the oldest and largest military aircraft museum in the world. The museum, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, displays more than 350 aerospace vehicles and missiles and thousands of artifacts. It covers 20 indoor acres with additional outdoor Air Park and Memorial Park.

The museum’s exhibit galleries include an Early Years gallery, which touches on the formative days of U.S. military air power, from the Wright brothers through World War I; a World War II Gallery; Cold War Gallery; and Missile Gallery. The Space Gallery has a Space Shuttle Exhibit, which features NASA’s first Crew Compartment Trainer, a representation of a space shuttle crew station used primarily for on-orbit crew training and engineering evaluations. Visitors can walk through a full-sized replica of a NASA space shuttle payload bay and look inside the CCT-1 cockpit and mid-deck areas.

Groups can utilize 10 areas throughout the museum for events. What makes the venue special is they can host dinners near presidential aircraft or under historic planes, as well as facilitate training sessions or team-building activities. The Air Force Museum Theatre has a stage for live music or performers and can host up to 400 guests. The Presidential Gallery can accommodate dinner-style seating for 300 with round tables or concert/ceremony seating for 800 with a stage. The museum also has smaller rooms that work well for corporate meetings. Events can include tours of the museum’s gallery spaces. afmuseum.com

Courtesy NMUSAF

A MEAL EVENT AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE IN DAYTON

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