Small Market Meetings July 2017

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NORTHERN KENTUCKY

Convention Center Updates Topeka, Kansas Illinois Meeting Guide J

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Insider Tip #37 - Visit the Overlook Café to enjoy the best ice cream while sitting on a deck overlooking the Falls.

“Insider Tip #39 - The Sioux Quartzite first mined around Falls Park is used in many Sioux Falls buildings because it is one of the hardest rocks on earth.”

-Jill Niedringhaus, Sales Manager jniedringhaus@siouxfalls.com

Qualify Today!

VisitSiouxFalls.com/Cash-Is-Here

Insider Tip #27 - SculptureWalk features over 55 sculptures in an outdoor art exhibit along the streets of a vibrant downtown.

Grab a guide and vote for your favorite.

6:15 am | Keeper of the Plains

Authentic and unique off-site venues for event attendees

Brick-lined Old Town entertainment district

Headquarter hotel attached to convention center

800.288.9424 VisitWichita.com

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Courtesy Pathable

Volume 18

Issue 7

July 2017

Using Tech in Meetings

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These developments go beyond simple event apps.

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Convention Center Updates New and expanded venues mean more options for meetings.

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Meet Kansas’ Capital Topeka is an ideal small city for meetings in the Midwest.

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By Vivian Hsu, courtesy Meydenbauer Center

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Northern Kentucky’s Appeal New attractions and a variety of venues draw events to Kentucky’s Cincinnati suburbs.

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320 Guest Ranch Catch the Montana spirit at this Big Sky Country resort.

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Illinois Meeting Guide Discover the unique venues and college towns of the Prairie State.

Courtesy Meet NKY

On the cover: Visitors enjoy the beer garden at Hofbrauhaus in Newport, Kentucky. Photo by John Lair, courtesy Meet NKY

SMALL MARKET MEETINGS is published monthly by Pioneer Publishing, Inc., 301 E. High St., Lexington, KY 40507, and is distributed free of charge to qualified meeting planners who plan meetings in small and medium size towns and cities. All other meeting industry suppliers, including hotels, conference centers, convention centers, destinations, transportation companies, restaurants and other meeting industry-related companies may subscribe by sending a check for $39 for one year to: Small Market Meetings, Circulation Department, 301 East High St., Lexington, KY 40507. Phone (866) 356-5128 (toll-free) or (859) 225-1452. Fax: (859) 253-0499. Copyright SMALL MARKET MEETINGS, Inc. All rights reserved.

Reproduction of editorial or graphic content in any manner without the written consent of the publisher is prohibited.

For Sales Call

Kelly Tyner

MAC T. LACY PUBLISHER/PARTNER maclacy@grouptravelleader.com

BRIAN JEWELL EDITOR brianj@grouptravelleader.com

HERBERT SPARROW EXECUTIVE EDITOR/PARTNER hsparrow@grouptravelleader.com

DAVID BROWN ART DIRECTOR production@smallmarketmeetings.com

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

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866-356-5128 kelly@grouptravelleader.com

STACEY BOWMAN SAVANNAH OSBOURN ACCOUNT MANAGER STAFF WRITER sales@smallmarketmeetings.com CHRISTINE CLOUGH COPY EDITOR KELLY TYNER ACCOUNT MANAGER RENA BAER sales@smallmarketmeetings.com PROOFREADER

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September b 26 26-28, 28 2017

Magician and Mentalist to Entertain at Small Market Meetings Conference

By Dan Dickson

W

hen 12-year-old Jason Greenamyer first saw a magic act while visiting relatives in California, he was hooked. Jason traveled back home to Ohio and began studying magic and practiced the craft for years until he felt confident enough to launch a career. You might say the rest of the story is magical.

Today, Jason and his wife, Stacy, have teamed up to present a fabulous and unusual entertainment act called The Alans Live, which combines Las Vegas-caliber magic, intriguing mind reading and fun audience participation. The Alans — the name comes from Jason’s middle name — will bring their show to the annual Small Market Meetings Conference to be held in South Bend, Indiana, September 26-28.

Jason began working his mesmerizing art form on the cruise-line circuit and then graduated to corporate and private events.

Then everything changed when he and his wife decided to partner. “Stacy joined me in the act three years ago as an entertainer,” said Jason. “When she made the commitment, we decided to take the route of a nontraditional magic act. Most times, when a wife is in the magician’s act as his assistant, they end up ‘cutting her in half,’” he said with a chuckle.

But what Stacy brought to the show was an extensive background in psychology. She has a master’s degree in therapy.

“We saw an opportunity for her to dive into being a mentalist,” Jason said. “What’s interesting about our act is that we have equal parts in the show, but we have different personalities. While I do a lot of sleight of hand, Stacy does expert mind reading and so on.”

Small Market Meetings Conference attendees will enjoy this imaginative, high-energy show, which will include some of them as well.

“Our biggest thing is doing audience interaction,” said Jason. “We really get people involved. The audience members may have gone through a full day of conferences and

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Conference Report

Photos courtesy The Alans Live

The Alans Live, a husband-and-wife performing duo, will bring their illusions and mentalist act to the Small Market Meetings Conference in September.

meetings, and later they get to see some of their colleagues up on stage having fun, not getting picked on but actually participating.”

The Alans can customize the act for any group that wants to be entertained. One example of that is when Jason and Stacy perform what they call strolling magic. It’s perfect for a cocktail hour setting where they perform tricks and mind-reading bits for small groups gathered informally. Their act is also ideal for “brain breaks” — timeouts scheduled during

long, intense conference sessions or meetings and designed to combat fatigue and release tension.

The couple also runs a “self-contained act,” as they put it. That means they handle all show logistics themselves, from music to microphones to props. All that, they say, eliminates the need for a road crew and helps keep costs down for meeting planners who want to book them.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

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Saint Charles Convention Center

Total Meeting Space: Exhibit Hall:

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Grand Ballroom:

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Half-mile from Streets of St. Charles, one mile from Historic St. Charles.

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minutes from Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.

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minutes from downtown St. Louis.

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Saint Charles, MO

complimentary parking spaces.

Convention Center Plaza St. Charles, MO . .

stcharlesconventioncenter.com LEGEND

Venue Management

Food Services & Hospitality

Cross Insurance Center Total Meeting Space: ,

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Bangor, ME

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hotel rooms within within seven miles

Airport: Minutes from Bangor International Airport Located one hour from Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.

Maine’s newest and largest convention center is centrally located, with easy access to I , the downtown district and Penobscot riverfront.

Main Street Bangor, ME . .

crossinsurancecenter.com

SpectraExperiences.com

Durham Convention Center Total Meeting Space:

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Grand Ballroom: , sq ft (divisible into sections) Jr. Ballroom: , sq ft (divisible into sections) Meeting Rooms: Board Rooms: Hotel Rooms: attached, within walking distance Located in a vibrant downtown dining and entertainment district. miles from Raleigh-Durham International Airport.

West Morgan Street Durham, NC . .

durhamconventioncenter.com

Durham, NC

Greater Richmond Convention Center ,

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Richmond, VA

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attached/adjacent, , , in the region.

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Largest meeting and exhibition facility in Virginia.

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Virginia Green Certified and Non-Union.

Award-winning restaurants and attractions in close proximity.

North Third Street Richmond, VA . .

richmondcenter.com

LEGEND

Iowa Events Center ,

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iowaeventscenter.com

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Des Moines, IA

Pueblo Convention Center ,

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within a one mile radius Located in the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk. Walking distance to historic downtown Pueblo, dining, shopping, and entertainment.

Expansion Coming Soon!

Central Main Street Pueblo, CO . .

puebloconventioncenter.com

SpectraExperiences.com

Utah Valley Convention Center ,

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One of the most technologically advanced, architecturally pleasing, functionally superb venues in the West.

West Center Street Provo, UT 84601 . .

utahvalleyconventioncenter.com

Provo, UT

Myrtle Beach Marriott Unveils a Transformed Resort

Courtesy Myrtle Beach Marriott

The Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort and Spa at Grand Dunes has undergone a $14 million renovation.

MYRTLE BEACH, South Carolina — The Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort and Spa at Grande Dunes, rising high above the Atlantic on the northern end of Myrtle Beach, has announced the completion of its $14 million makeover for the summer season.

The Marriott’s massive remodeling project, which began in October 2016, showcases 405 revamped guest rooms that were redesigned to include contemporary furniture, including

chests, mirrors, artwork, closets, desks, chairs and beds. All rooms now also contain new 50-inch smart TVs. Guest room bathrooms were replaced with new walk-in showers, mirrors, fixtures, commodes and lighting. The hallways on the resort’s 11 floors were recarpeted and updated as well.

“We believe our guests will be pleased and delighted with these renovations,” said Cindy Hull, director of sales and marketing for the

Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort and Spa. “The Myrtle Beach Marriott has always set a high standard among the oceanfront hotels here along the Grand Strand, and these upgrades will define a new benchmark of luxury moving forward.”

The resort offers high-end amenities and features. On the corporate end of the spectrum, there is 45,000 square feet of contemporary meeting space, as well as gourmet catering options, modern audiovisual equipment, a business center and high-speed internet.

Located in the exclusive Grand Dunes area, the resort is designed with elegance, flexibility and fun in mind. The upper and lower pool decks offer additional landscaped space for outdoor receptions by the ocean.

With 60 miles of pristine coastline to explore, Myrtle Beach also offers plenty of recreational activities. Guests can play golf, have fun at the many entertainment attractions, dine in the “seafood capital of South Carolina” and shop, or they can stroll along the 1.2-mile oceanfront boardwalk and enjoy the natural setting.

L’Auberge Del Mar Completes Beach-Inspired Renovation “Our goal was to create a casual, beach-inspired ambiance that allows our business and meetings guests to unwind and revel in their surroundings,” said Bob Harter, director of sales and marketing. “Our latest upgrades take a cue from the surf, sand and sun.”

The new designs, inspired by the hotel’s oceanfront location, were done with Butera’s characteristic modern beach flair, marked by clean, transitional “coastal chic” decor with fresh Courtesy L’Auberge Del Mar ocean blues and sea-glass greens.

A centerpiece of the renovation is Meeting groups can hold events on the Ocean Terrace at L’Auberge Del Mar the more than 10,000 square feet of near San Diego. indoor meeting space, which encompasses two ballrooms with terraces and six DEL MAR, California — L’Auberge Del Mar, distinct meeting rooms. located in San Diego’s coastal North County According to Butera, who first redid the region, has put the finishing touches on the resort in 2008, the refurbished meeting areas renovations of its 121 guest rooms, public are now in coastal blues, soft greens and crisp areas and meeting spaces, emerging with a white. “We brightened and freshened up the contemporary look masterminded by decor while maintaining its existing look and renowned Los Angeles interior designer feel,” he said.

Barclay Butera.

12 Industry News

Other meeting space renovation highlights are the following: • New light fixtures offer a modern take on traditional chandeliers with hanging crystals that form circular, razor-shaped edges toward the center.

• Custom golden-hued, pebble-motif carpeting is rich in pattern and texture and complements a variety of event decor.

• Custom Barclay Butera wallcovering shows a modern geometric design in neutral cream tones.

• Large custom mirrors add light, depth and drama.

The renovations come on the heels of a recently announced partnership with artist Aaron Chang, a photographer known for his colorful and dynamic surf and ocean images who is showcasing some of his works throughout the resort. Furthering the resort’s beachy appeal is a new live TV feed of the Pacific Ocean that welcomes guests and anchors the lobby’s front desk area. www.laubergedelmar.com

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Embassy Suites Colorado Springs Completes Renovation

Courtesy Embassy Suites Colorado Springs

The Embassy Suites Colorado Springs has 7,000 square feet of newly renovated meeting space.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado — Embassy Suites by Hilton Colorado Springs has completed its multimillion-dollar renovation under the management of Spire Hospitality. The transformation includes modernized design updates to all 206 guest suites, the in-house restaurant and bar, the atrium and other public areas.

Featuring 7,000 square feet of newly remodeled, flexible meeting space, the hotel offers inventive setup options, advanced audiovisual equipment, and high-speed Wi-Fi internet access. The event spaces include large meeting rooms, a boardroom, conference space and a ballroom. The hotel’s staff offers personalized event planning and customized catering selections.

“The reimagined Embassy Suites by Hilton Colorado Springs debuts as a modern-day retreat in an ideal location for travelers,” said general manager Jeff Zelkin. “The renovated hotel offers a unique combination of the rugged outdoors, with breathtaking views of Pikes Peak and sleek sophistication featured in the beautifully updated atrium and guest rooms, creating an aesthetically pleasing and ergonomically minded space that fosters relaxation and comfort for travelers.”

The two-room-suite accommodations include a private guest room and separate living area with a sectional chaise lounge and a queen-size sofa sleeper; modern comforts include two flat-screen high-definition TVs, a refrigerator, a coffeemaker, a microwave and a selection of gourmet coffee and tea from The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.

The in-house restaurant and bar, 14ers, offers local dishes and signature cocktails. In the atrium, free made-to-order breakfast and a complimentary evening reception featuring alcoholic beverages and light snacks are offered for all guests.

The hotel is near several Colorado Springs attractions, including Pikes Peak, the U.S.Air Force Academy and the U.S. Olympic Training Center. It is less than 15 miles from Colorado Springs Municipal Airport.

July 2017

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Skip Sander is leading the way at the Alliance of Military Reunions

By Vickie Mitchell

ight years ago, Louis “Skip” Sander and a friend were spurred to action by a conversation they had with other reunion planners about the need for a military reunion planner association.

They created the Alliance of Military Reunions, and today, with Sander as its sole staff, AMR has a membership of 700 military planners, 100 convention and visitors bureaus, and some 250 attractions.

“It is extremely difficult to reach the military market,” said Sander. “Most of the planners are an old guy who tries to keep in touch with his buddies; I can say that because that is what I do.

Other than Alliance, there is no unified list of them.”

The resources AMR offers include lists of military planners, suppliers, recommended venues, destinations, scheduled military reunions and a 33-page downloadable planning guide at the “About Military Reunions” link on its website. Sander also hopes to have one-day educational town halls this year.

AMR membership is free for reunion planners and inexpensive for suppliers — about $100 a year and a little less for multiyear memberships.

Sander, a retiree, coordinates reunions for the USS Rankin — www.ussrankin.org — an attack cargo ship put into service late in World War II. Sander was an officer aboard the ship in the early 1960s.

His work as a planner and his conversations with AMR members give Sander a good grasp of the military reunion market.

Here are some of his insights:

WWII reunions are shrinking, but others are coming.

Destination is the first decision.

Not all destinations love military reunions. They aren’t a large piece of business, typically using only one hotel. Because they often have never planned a reunion, military planners can be high maintenance. Yet, these groups are flexible, happy to take dates others might not want and pleasant to have around.

“Military reunions aren’t usually going to bring 2,000 people to town,” said Sander. “But almost all of the veterans are seniors, so they aren’t going to trash your hotel. They are going to pay their bills; they aren’t going to run out on you. They have stability. If they say they are going to bring 50 rooms, based on past experience they are going to bring them.”

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Although a few veterans groups don’t much care where they gather and gab, most want to go someplace interesting. But “interesting” isn’t narrowly defined. As you’d expect, veterans love destinations with military ties; but they are also lured to places like Branson, Missouri, that have little in that respect but that roll out the welcome mat and put on a show for these groups. With the right combination — a hotel that is tuned in to the market and a few interesting attractions — “anyplace can have military reunions, and many places do,” said Sander. Proof is in the fact that airport hotels are popular with this market.

World War II reunions once ruled, but as those veterans have passed away, so have their gatherings. As a result, the number of annual military reunions has shrunk from an estimated 12,000 to around 5,000, according to AMR. However, new groups are emerging. During one recent week, AMR signed up reunion planners for Iraq and Desert Storm veterans. These younger veterans are less budget conscious than the World War II veterans were, Sander said.

More than half of military reunions involve Navy veterans and are built around vessels. These reunions often span the many decades of a ship’s service and thus include veterans of varying ages who share the experience of having served on the same ship.

When ships are large, such as aircraft carriers, veterans’ children and grandchildren sometimes attend, adding another dimension and more activities to the reunion, Sander said.

Smaller reunions join forces Because some military reunions have lost members, they are holding reunions with other reunion groups. For example, veterans who served on the USS Rankin and the USS Yancey will have a combined reunion in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, this fall, Sander said. Three other military groups that were left without a reunion destination when the meeting planning company they used unexpectedly closed will also be joining Rankin and Yancey veterans. The result will be a reunion of about 60 rooms.

Military reunions are a nice piece of the pie.

Vickie Mitchell is the former editor of Small Market Meetings.

If you have ideas for future columns, contact her at vickie@smallmarketmeetings.com.

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MeetingPoint

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Apps 2.0

The new generation of mobile meeting technology offers powerful tools Courtesy Pathable

By Savannah Osbourn

eetings apps have become more versatile and affordable than ever, especially as app developers create templatebased products that are easier to customize. Nearly every event app’s baseline features include meeting agendas, venue maps and sponsor information, but today’s technology makes it possible for planners to track attendance, organize virtual competitions, create and edit PowerPoint presentations in real time, and so much more. To narrow down some of the key steps for incorporating apps into conferences and events, we spoke with several technology experts.

Chuck Law serves as the director of business development at Creatacor, a long-respected trade-show and event service that specializes in designing custom displays. Shelley Brown is the sales manager at the American branch of Lumi, a global event app developer that offers some of the most advanced audience-response technology on the market. Lindsay Martin-Bilbrey works as the director of marketing at Pathable Inc., an award-winning event app developer that was

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July 2017

Advancing technology allows planners to build more powerful apps for meetings.

founded by a team of seasoned technology specialists from Microsoft and Intel.

Here are the tips they shared for using technology in your meetings:

Keep it simple.

There are countless app developers on the market, from college students to global corporations, and choosing the right one depends on a planner’s objectives. Though some might be tempted to reach for an app with all the bells and whistles, planners should focus on providing a simple and effective product.

“You can spend a lot of hours in the developing process,” said Law. He advised planners to take their time outlining their main goals, locate the appropriate developers and then rely on the experts.

Marketing agencies are usually a great place to start, since they can help planners find the best developer to accommodate their plans and price points.

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Courtesy Creatacor/Baker PR

Creatacor helps exhibitors design booths that take advantage of current technology.

Market the app in advance.

Once planners design an app, the next step is creating incentives for attendees to use it. Attendees need to know how to download it, what it involves and how it will supplement their event experience.

“Most clients have learned that you can’t just create the app and call it a day,” said Brown. “But if you tell attendees, ‘This app is how we’re going to provide questions to speakers during presentations,’ or ‘This involves a game where you can score points and potentially win an iPad,’ then you’ve given people a reason to download it.”

According to Martin-Bilbrey, it is ideal to begin promoting the app three to six weeks in advance, working it into the email marketing campaign that typically precedes events. The emails could provide a quick-start guide or snapshots of the app’s key features so attendees feel comfortable using it.

This is also a good opportunity to supply an incentive, such as saying the first 100 people to download the app will get a chance to win a free dinner at a local restaurant. For one event, the hosting company sent out a humorous video of its CEO trying to set up the app while others in the office made helpful suggestions.

“It was funny and relatable, and allowed attendees to see it as another great tool,” said MartinBilbrey.

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Managing Meetings

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

“Instead of coming in cold and having to talk about the weather, you come in connected.

And it allows event planners to create a more engaging event culture and community without working so hard.”

Turn the app into a communication tool.

Some event apps, such as the ones designed by Pathable, offer a networking and messaging feature akin to LinkedIn, which helps connect attendees with similar interests or job titles. This enables attendees to form new acquaintances before the event and communicate through a single social platform.

Courtesy Pathable

Meeting apps help attendees make connections at events.

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July 2017

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Courtesy Pathable

Pathable’s apps offer detailed analytics, which meeting planners can use to customize events in real time.

“Instead of coming in cold and having to talk about the weather, you come in connected,” said Martin-Bilbrey. “And it allows event planners to create a more engaging event culture and community without working so hard.”

Event apps can also serve as two-way communication tools between the attendees and the exhibitors or speakers. During a moderated Q&A session, people can use the app to send their questions to the speaker or moderator. For instance, if a lecture focuses on a particular case study, the speaker might invite his listeners to share their questions and reflections on a virtual message board throughout the session. Brown noted that if you can get people to download this kind of service onto their personal devices, then it is no longer just one person speaking to 500; it is 500 people speaking to each other.

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Managing Meetings

Use the app to track attendance.

Advanced features like iBeacon technology or session check-ins make it easy for planners to track attendance. iBeacon technology involves setting up “beacons” imbedded with Bluetooth chips throughout the event that activate welcome notifications and other information on attendees’ phones when they walk within range. It also identifies their locations so that other attendees can keep track of who has arrived and which sessions are more popular.

“It can be a cool way to let people know who is there, or for a scavenger hunt,” said Brown.

Attendees can also use a session check-in system to mark their locations, which often entails scanning a bar code from the app at different stations.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Add a little competition.

Everyone has a competitive side, so it is no surprise that one of the most effective ways to spur participation is to include a contest or game. During one event, Law described how they incorporated a horseracing game into the app and featured a leader board so attendees could compare scores throughout the day. At the end of the event, the player with the highest score won a prize.

Another popular type of competition is a bingo-style checklist, where attendees complete certain actions to earn prizes.

“Let’s say you’ve got 300 pharmaceutical sales reps in town for three days who don’t know each other very well,” said Brown. “You can create a buffet list of items on the app like, I want them to download learning materials, take quizzes, send a message to each other, tweet about a meeting — these are the things I want people to do. Then those points accumulate and people can see where they are on a leader board.”

This activity often encourages attendees to interact as they compete, so it can serve as a great ice breaker. Participants who complete the most tasks receive an award, such as dinner with the CEO.

Courtesy Creatacor/Baker PR

A Creatacor booth uses multiple computers and video screens in a 360-degree format.

July 2017

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Look Again

These convention centers are newly improved Courtesy Anaheim Convention Center

By Savannah Osbourn

A 200,000-square-foot expansion of the Anaheim Convention Center will be completed in September.

any planners bring their conferences and events to the same venues year after year, but conference centers throughout the United States are always evolving, adding new exhibit halls, catering options and surrounding attractions. Here are five recently renovated, state-of-the-art facilities to consider before planning your next event.

center makes parking easy with three spacious parking lots. Planners will find plenty of room for their event or conference inside, and the building is simple to navigate and caters to a variety of budgets.

“Whether your group is large or on the smaller side, it’s easy to find your way around the convention center and be comfortable,” said Harriet Porter, vice president of convention sales at Visit Anaheim.

Beyond the convention center and Disney attractions, the city has worked hard over the past few years to develop its hotel, retail and dining inventory, attracting younger crowds as well as more craft breweries, coffee shops and bars.

“Anaheim is more relaxed than most cities,” said Porter. “You can walk around at night, and sometimes in the evening, you can look out over the convention center’s 10,000 square-foot balcony and see a fireworks show from Disney.” www.anaheim.net

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Anaheim Convention Center Anaheim, California Across from the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, the Anaheim Convention Center is the largest convention center on the West Coast, with 1.8 million square feet of function space. The expansive, glass-walled structure is now undergoing a 200,000-square-foot expansion that will be completed in September.

Meeting groups can access the sun-soaked California city from major airports in Long Beach, Los Angeles and Ontario, and the convention

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Meeting Ideas

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Courtesy Mayo Civic Center/Time Into Pixels

A 7,500-square-foot outdoor plaza is part of the raft of improvements at the Mayo Civic Center.

“One aspect of Mayo Civic Center that differentiates us is that clients aren’t required to use an in-house caterer and can choose from four signature caterers recognized for superior service and cuisine.”

July 2017

Mayo Civic Center Rochester, Minnesota Over the past year, the Mayo Civic Center has essentially doubled the size of its event capacity, which now features 200,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and a new 7,500-square-foot outdoor plaza. The center’s 40,000-square-foot ballroom is the largest ballroom in Minnesota. Among other venues on the property are a 15,000-squarefoot auditorium, a 25,000-square-foot arena, a 25,000-square-foot exhibit hall and a 9,000-square-foot presentation hall.

“One aspect of Mayo Civic Center that differentiates us is that clients aren’t required to use an in-house caterer and can choose from four signature caterers recognized for superior service and cuisine,” said Megan Malugani, marketing and communications coordinator at Rochester Convention and Visitors Bureau.

With the widely respected health care nonprofit Mayo Clinic based in Rochester, the Mayo Civic Center draws a large number of health care and technology professionals each year, and the center’s entertainment venues have hosted a variety of acclaimed guests, from Bon Jovi to the Dalai Lama.

Attendees can access over 100 restaurants and 2,500 hotel rooms throughout the city by pedestrian skyways and climate-controlled underground walkways. A few popular nearby attractions are the Rochester Art Center, the Rochester Trolley tours and over 84 miles of bike trails. www.mayociviccenter.com

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By Marv Heston, courtesy Meydenbauer Center

Natural wood and artistic lighting are trademarks of the renovated spaces at the Meydenbauer Center in Washington.

Meydenbauer Center Bellevue, Washington

Make Your Next Meeting, Training, or Retreat Perfect The National 4-H Conference Center is the Washington D.C. area’s non-profit hotel and conference center. We will make your event easy to plan and memorable to attend.

• 246 sleeping rooms • 41,000 square feet of flexible meeting rooms • Catering and dining options available • Complimentary on-site parking & Wi-Fi • Conveniently accessible to Washington, D.C.’s three airports and just minutes from the monuments and memorials

PLAN YOUR VISIT WITH US: SALESINFO@4HCENTER.ORG 800.368.7432 | 4HCENTER.ORG

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Meeting Ideas

Tucked along the east side of Lake Washington near Seattle, the Meydenbauer Center is conveniently located 17 miles from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. In 2015, the 54,000-square-foot convention center initiated a $12.5 million renovation, revamping the building’s style, logo and lighting. Today, meeting groups will appreciate the natural wood and artistic lighting that characterize the building and reflect the natural beauty for which the region is known.

With the snow-capped Olympic Mountains looming in the distance, Bellevue is a wonderful hybrid of urban attractions and lush outdoor landscape. Visitors can explore hundreds of bike trails throughout the area or stroll down Main Street to browse fine local products such as Fran’s Chocolates or artisan glassware from Glassybaby.

“It’s a very vibrant kind of place where you can stroll around at any time of day or night,” said Jane Kanton, director of sales at the Meydenbauer Center. “The city planners were smart in developing internal plazas between buildings that feature over 100 pieces of outdoor artwork.”

The city is very compact, measuring about a square mile, which allows groups to thoroughly explore local attractions and easily reach the 4,000 hotel rooms in downtown. www.meydenbauer.com

Albany Capital Center Albany, New York Albany’s brand-new 82,000-square-foot Albany Capital Center opened in March, joining the Capital Complex’s two existing facilities: the Times Union Center, a sports and entertainment venue, and the Empire State Plaza. Together, these three buildings provide 150,000 square feet of exhibition space, making the Capital Complex the largest meeting venue in upstate New York.

“The flexibility of the 26,000-square-foot space upstairs with dividing air walls really allows an event to grow without being pigeonholed to a specific size,” said Doug McClaine, general manager of the Albany Capital Center The Albany Capital Center’s exhibition floor was designed for multipurpose events; it features an open 26-foot-high space and an LED-lit ceiling with the ability to project over 16 million different colors and logos.

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“The interactive ceiling allows you to brand your event and engage attendees the minute they walk off the elevator,” said McClaine. He described how the American Red Cross recently hosted an event in the center and projected a giant red cross on the ceiling. Other groups might display an image of a waving flag during the national anthem.

The convention center’s location in the heart of downtown Albany places the New York State Capitol, the New York State Museum, the Palace Theatre and a host of bars and restaurants all within walking distance. www.albanycapitalcenter.com

Greater Columbus Convention Center Columbus, Ohio The Greater Columbus Convention Center is expected this month to complete an expansion project started in 2015 that will add 100,000 square feet. This will bring the space available to a total of 1.8 million square feet.

“Columbus is an incredibly walkable city, and the convention center sits right in the heart of that package,” said Lexi

July 2017

Courtesy Albany Capital Center/Baker PR

Images from local history adorn the walls at new Albany Capital Center.

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Courtesy GCCC

The Arnold Classic is a high-profile annual event at the newly expanded Greater Columbus Convention Center.

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Meeting Ideas

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Every event has a story ...

SPARTANNASH FOOD SHOW

By Randall Scheiber, courtesy GCCC

Local restaurateurs can cater events at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

Sweet, public relations coordinator at Experience Columbus. “You never have to get in a car, and at the end of a long day in meetings, a lot of people feel like walking.”

As part of the expansion, the convention center has also accrued 150 new pieces of local art, joining the pre-existing collection featured throughout the Greater Columbus Convention Center, the Hilton Columbus Downtown and three surrounding parking garages. The total collection of 350 pieces is the largest contemporary collection of Franklin County artists in the state, and this aesthetic reflects the neighboring arts district.

“Being in the heart of the arts district really gives attendees a sense of place,” said Sweet.

Levy Restaurants partners with a local upscale company, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, to cater events at the conference center, providing top-grade cuisine that is 85 percent locally sourced. Levy plans on developing the country’s first convention center indoor hydroponic vertical farm, which will produce an average of 100 pounds of fresh herbs and vegetables per week to supplement event dining.

A few of the center’s signature annual events include the Arnold Classic, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s famous body-building competition, and the American Hort Experience, the largest horticulture show in North America. www.columbusconventions.com

July 2017

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MEET TOPEKA

By D B Dan Di Dickson k

KKansas’ ansas’ a nsas’ ca p i t a l m capital makes a kkees a place pllac ace ffor oorr ga therin ga t herrin in gs gs on tthe on he G Grea rrea ea t P llains aiins a

Visitors get virtual thrills at the Evel Knievel Museum in Topeka.

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Destination Showcase

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“It is the only capitol building in the nation where you can go up to the dome and step out onto an outdoor deck that allows you to walk 360 degrees around the building. There are both dome and historic tours offered.”

S

tate capitals are usually busy places where meetings of all types ple depending on the type of event, such as a sports event or a major and sizes are carefully planned and staged. In northeast concert. Exhibition Hall has a 44,500-square-foot exhibit floor. Also Kansas, the busy city of Topeka, populaon-site is the Capitol Plaza Hotel and Convention tion 127,000, is one of them. The state of Kansas Center Topeka. It boasts 25,000 square feet of happens to be the city’s largest employer, with versatile meeting space, including an elegant 8,400 residents on the payroll, so many visitors ballroom and the Maner Conference Center. “It come to town daily to meet and conduct official is important to know that everything is attached state business. and under one roof,” Bell said.

“We are a small-market town with a lot of Also available on-site is historic, charming drive-in visitors, but we have a lot of good and affordable Heritage Hall, a limestone-covthings going on here,” said Mike Bell, vice ered building with 5,750 square feet of space, president of sales for Visit Topeka, the city’s and the reliable Agriculture Hall with 18,000 convention and visitors bureau. “We are a city square feet of space. full of wonderful, friendly people. We are really Another option is the Topeka Performing Arts easy to get to, and for meeting attendees, we are Center, better known as T-PAC. The perforan affordable option.” mance hall seats 2,400, and there are other Topeka’s transportation network is efficient. special rooms, lobbies and a dance studio and a Interstate 70 handles the bulk of the east-west playhouse that can be used in a variety of ways. automobile travel while U.S. Highway 75 brings The Great Overland Station makes an interKansas Statehouse north-south traffic to town. Interstate 335 grazes esting off-site venue as well. Groups can rent the southern part of the city and is a major conAll photos courtesy Visit Topeka space in this historic, restored 90-year-old nection between Wichita, Kansas, and Kansas Union Pacific railroad station that includes the City, Missouri. Topeka Regional Airport services old station’s waiting room, balconies, galleries charter flights and private planes, but there is and other areas.

LOCATION no commercial airline traffic. “But we are just Other available meeting spaces in Topeka can Northeast Kansas one hour away from Kansas City International be found at Washburn University, the Topeka Airport,” said Bell. and Shawnee County Public Library, and the ACCESS The city’s history is colorful. In the 1840s, it Kansas Museum of History.

Interstate 70, U.S. Highway 75, Topeka became a stop for wagon trains heading west on Regional Airport. the Oregon Trail. A ferry service across the Hotel Options Kansas River was established at what is now In all, Topeka offers visitors about 2,800 hotel MAJOR MEETING SPACES Topeka. Soon after, steamboats and railroads rooms, with about 560 of them located in the Kansas Expocentre, Maner Conference arrived. The city was embroiled in the dispute Center, Ramada Convention Center, Landon downtown area. More hotels are on the way. between “free-staters” and Southerners over the The previously mentioned Capitol Plaza Hotel Arena, Topeka Performing Arts Center, issue of slavery. Eventually, Kansas was admitis a full-service facility that offers 224 guest Great Overland Station. ted to the Union in 1861, and Topeka was chosen rooms. Another convention-type hotel is the HOTEL ROOMS as its capital.

Ramada Topeka Downtown Hotel and 560 rooms downtown (more under conToday, besides government employment, the Convention Center. This hotel has 213 guest struction); 2,800 citywide. city is a busy place for the education, health, rooms and 32,000 square feet of event space. Its social services, retail and manufacturing indus21 meeting rooms can be arranged in many OFFSITE VENUES tries. ways to accommodate more than 3,000 conferBrown vs. Board of Education National ence attendees or about 1,200 banquet guests.

Historic Site, State Capitol, Evel Knievel Another of the chain’s hotels, Ramada Topeka Prime Meeting Sites Museum West, is a bit smaller, but still has 150 guest The main meeting hall in Topeka is the CONTACT INFO rooms and 6,800 square feet of meeting space.

Kansas Expocentre and Maner Conference Visit Topeka The convention and visitors bureau is excited Center. It is connected to Landon Arena, which 800-235-1030 about the arrival of a new hotel now under has 22,500 square feet of space and seating conwww.visittopeka.com construction. It’s called The Cyrus, and it will be figurations that range from 7,700 to 10,000 peo-

Topeka, Kansas

July 2017

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The Capitol Plaza in Topeka is a full-service hotel with 224 rooms. a boutique property that will open its doors in late summer 2018 with 106 guest rooms and 6,500 square feet of meeting space.

Nearby Attractions Topeka tourism officials encourage visitors to stroll the Capitol grounds.

“Our state house has undergone a nearly $400 million renovation,” said Bell. “It was completed in 2014 and won awards for the work, which included the uncovering of hidden artwork and restoration of the copper dome.”

The building also offers a one-of-a-kind view.

“It is the only capitol building in the nation where you can go up to the dome and step out onto an outdoor deck that allows you to walk 360 degrees around the building,” said Michaela Saunders, director of brand strategy for the Visit Topeka. “There are both dome and historic tours offered.”

Evel Knievel was a major name in the daredevil entertainment business back in the 1970s. He is remembered for attempting to jump his

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Destination Showcase

motorcycle over a dozen buses or over a wide canyon, among other bone-crunching stunts. Topeka is the home of the surprisingly interesting Evel Knievel Museum, which opened recently inside a popular Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealership. The museum has the world’s largest collection of jump bikes and other cool mementos from the folk hero, who died in 2007. “We have 90 percent of the memorabilia from his family in the museum,” said Bell.

Knievel has a connection to Topeka. “As a little kid, Evel Knievel saw a man do some trick riding on a motorcycle here in Topeka, and he went back home to Butte, Montana, and built his first bike ramp,” said Saunders. “Much later, when everyone realized his connection to Topeka, we were really excited to bring his museum here.”

Civil Rights Site The U.S. Supreme Court’s 1954 decision in Oliver Brown et al. v.

Board of Education of Topeka is one of the most significant in the history of the nation’s highest court. The case challenged the constitutionality of racial segregation in public schools across the nation. The

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Families enjoy the traditional carousel in Topeka’s Gage Park. ruling paved the way for integration not only in schools, but also in other public places, and was a major victory for the civil rights movement. The Brown vs. Board of Education National Historic Site is a must-see historic site in Topeka.

“It is located in the original school building that has been completely restored to what it looked like in the mid-1950s,” said Bell.

“The museum has a lot of interactive components like video that helps you experience all the history that was made here,” said Saunders.

The city of Topeka is working on building a new downtown civic plaza, essentially a food-and-beverage district. It will feature a stage, green space, outdoor dining, a fountain and an ice rink in winter. It should be completed by early 2019.

“They expect to have about 300 days a year of programming, ranging from concerts on a stage to art shows to food trucks and more,” said Bell.

NoTo, which is a local acronym for North Topeka, is the site of an eclectic arts district. Galleries, shops, a brewery and various restau-

July 2017

rants are located there, according to Bell.

“It is definitely a fun place to go to, especially on First Fridays when they have the art walk and a lot of other activities,” he said.

Saunders touted Topeka’s many outdoor activities for visitors to enjoy.

“We have a lot of trail options in the city, and we have Lake Shawnee, which was named by the travel website Expedia as the best place to see in Kansas in 2017,” she said.” It includes the lake and gardens and the seven-mile trail around the lake. The Yacht Club will let you join in with sailing, and you can rent canoes and paddleboats, too.

“If anyone is coming here for a meeting and they bring their kids, there are many kid-friendly things for them to do in Topeka,” said Saunders.

That includes places like the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center and its interactive exhibits, the Going Bonkers entertainment center or Gage Park, where kids can hop on a merry-go-round or visit Topeka Zoological Park, just to name a few.

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New Ideas in Northern Kentucky

By Savannah Osbourn

Left: The Belle of Cincinnati plies the Ohio River between Newport and Cincinnati.

Above: Guests walk underneath the exhibit tanks at the Newport Aquarium.

N K

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LOCATION Kentucky’s northern border, across the Ohio River from Cincinnati ACCESS Interstate 75, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport MAJOR MEETING SPACES Northern Kentucky Convention Center, Cincinnati Marriott at RiverCenter, Radisson Hotel Cincinnati Riverfront HOTEL ROOMS 7,000 OFF-SITE VENUES Newport Aquarium, New Riff Distilling, BB Riverboats CONTACT INFO Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau 877-659-8474 www.meetnky.com

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Destination Showcase

eeting groups will discover a vibrant hub of Southern charm and urban landscape along the Ohio River in northern Kentucky. This colorful region comprises three towns: Covington, Newport and Bellevue, as well as a small portion of the Cincinnati metropolitan area. Thanks to its proximity to the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, 60 percent of the nation’s population can reach northern Kentucky by air in two hours or less.

“One of the greatest benefits of bringing your meeting to northern Kentucky is that you get to take advantage of amenities in Cincinnati,” said Julie Kirkpatrick, vice president of sales and marketing at the Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau.

After meetings, attendees can explore numerous attractions along the riverfront, from craft distilleries like New Riff Distilling to BB Riverboat cruises and art galleries in Newport’s Art on the Levee.

“We’re lucky to be part of Kentucky and share its distilling history,” said Kirkpatrick. “Bourbon is a big deal here in northern Kentucky.”

Sports fans often enjoy a visit to the Great American Ballpark, home of America’s first professional baseball team, the Cincinnati Reds. History buffs might gravitate toward the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Historic pubs, shops and galleries abound in the German-heritage district of MainStrasse in Covington.

Faith-based meeting groups would be remiss not to stop by two of Kentucky’s most-visited attractions, the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter, which illustrate biblical history from the book of Genesis through world-class exhibits.

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All photos courtesy Meet NKY

Northern Kentucky Conference Center Overlooking the river and the Cincinnati skyline, the Northern Kentucky Conference Center offers the perfect riverfront and meeting-space package. The conference center provides 110,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 3,900-seat exhibition hall and a fully carpeted, flexible conference floor with 13,288 square feet of space.

Attendees can walk through a skywalk to the adjoining Cincinnati Marriott at RiverCenter, which features 119,000 square feet of meeting space as well as free shuttle service to nearby attractions.

Newport Aquarium

Travelers aboard the Belle of Cincinnati on the Ohio River enjoy a view of the skyline.

July 2017

The Newport Aquarium is one of the premier event and meeting venues in the region, accommodating up to 1,500 guests. A few highlights of this iconic local attraction include a 14-foot-long alligator, a 17,000-gallon touch tank with stingrays and a suspended rope bridge over the shark exhibit. With the glimmering, aquatic environment as a backdrop, planners can set up bar stations throughout the aquarium and take advantage of unusual after-hours activities such as dive shows, scavenger hunts and penguin encounters. They can also host their reception or meeting in the elegant Riverside Room, which offers a sweeping view of the river and downtown Cincinnati.

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New Riff Distilling Visitors can get a taste of Kentucky’s rich distilling heritage at New Riff Distilling in Newport. The distillery offers free tours seven days a week, accompanied by complimentary tastings of signature spirits like Kentucky Wild Gin, a tangy citrus and spice bush blend, or the vanilla-tinged Bourbon-Barreled Kentucky Wild Gin. Event planners can rent the beautiful 150-seat Tower Room upstairs, which features a full bar and a roof deck, or host smaller gatherings in the 75-seat Doubler Room. Entertainment options include a chef’s table, mixology classes and live performances by local artists.

Above: The Ark Encounter is the newest major attraction to open in Northern Kentucky.

Bottom: The Northern Kentucky Conference Center features an exhibit hall with more than 13,000 square feet of space.

Creation Museum and Ark Encounter Many groups take a full day to visit the Creation Museum and its sister attraction, Ark Encounter. The Creation Museum explores biblical accounts of the earth’s origin through engaging exhibits that include animatronic dinosaurs, an insectorium and a colorful replica of the Garden of Eden. Just 40 minutes south, Ark Encounter displays a 510-foot-long ark built according to the biblical dimensions described in the story of Noah; it claims to be the largest timber-frame structure in the world. Though it opened in 2016, the site has already hosted nearly 1 million visitors.

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Destination Showcase

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The South on Display

Southern Cultural Heritage Center LOCATION Vicksburg, Mississippi

By Kristy Alpert

TYPE OF VENUE Off-site, cultural center

CAPACITY hen the Sisters of Mercy first came to Vicksburg in 1860, they did so with a mission to help the community by opening a school and convent that would act as a gathering point for the residents of their new home in Mississippi. The nuns set to work immediately creating spaces for gathering and learning, unaware that just one year later, a civil war would break out and change their new convent’s history forever.

Already set up with a mission to enrich the community, the convent soon became the place soldiers came to seek medical care and attention, and the nuns spent the next four years nursing the sick and tending the wounded soldiers. Centuries later, it would be the sisters’ goodnatured role in the Civil War that landed their building on the National Register of Historic Places. After the war, the nuns continued to educate children in the halls until 1991, when they relocated the school and convent.

The five buildings of the convent — the Cobb House, circa 1830; the Sisters of Mercy Convent, 1868; the Auditorium, 1885; the Academy Building, 1937; and the O’Beirne Gymnasium, 1955 — sat unused for only a few years before the city of Vicksburg purchased the property and established it as the leading cultural center in the region. Today, the Southern Cultural Heritage Center (SCHC) offers cultural education

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Venue Showcase

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NEARBY ACCOMMODATIONS Hampton Inn and Suites Vicksburg

CONTACT INFO 601-631-2997 www.southernculture.org

and artistic enrichment to residents and tourists with programs, workshops and cultural events.

The SCHC still holds a special place in the heart of locals, many of whom attended Catholic school in the building before it was converted into a center for meetings, events and special programing. An area that once housed writing desks and lesson boards is now a multipurpose space for gathering and holding meetings. Today, the center rents out the auditorium, a convent building that includes a chapel and two large parlor rooms, a beautiful courtyard for outdoor events and many classrooms for everything from receptions and performances to diverse community educational and recreational activities.

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Meeting Spaces The meeting spaces at the SCHC are spread throughout five different buildings constructed from 1830 to 1955. Multiple meeting spaces allow for a variety of events to occur throughout the day. The Auditorium dates to 1885 and is the largest of the meeting spaces, with a maximum capacity of 400 guests, and features a stage, an expansive open floor and an option to add on one or two courtyards.

The Convent Chapel holds up to 100 guests, and the Convent Parlor Room can be rented out as a single room for up to 50 guests or a double room for up to 100 guests. There are two academy classrooms available for rent in the 1937 schoolhouse; each holds up to 50 guests.

Catering Meeting groups have their choice of culinary options when booking events at the SCHC, as there is no on-site caterer. Groups can bring in a caterer of their choice or choose from a list of Vicksburg’s many local caterers, among them Storycook Favorites J&B Catering Service. Although barbecue and Southern-style green beans are favorites among many of the meeting guests, it wouldn’t be a true Mississippi event without a healthy slice of Mississippi mud pie, and there are many amazing versions around the town from which to choose. Alcohol is allowed with the understanding that the party hires a bartender with liquor liability insurance.

Extras

AMERICAN~HISTORY Mississippi Music ~ Southern Charm

The staff at the SCHC are pros at organizing events and programming, and they are eager to help ensure that all events and meetings run smoothly inside their National Register of Historic Placesrecognized buildings. All rentals at the SCHC include the use and setup of tables and chairs providing that the event’s planners turn in their desired layout no later than one week before the event.

Decorating and personal setup are available one working day before the event at no additional charge during normal operating hours at the center with prior notification.

Photos courtesy SCHC

Entertainment Opposite Page: The Southern Cultural Heritage Center includes the former Sisters of Mercy Convent, constructed in 1868.

Above: A historic space at the Southern Cultural Heritage Center is set for an elegant event.

July 2017

The SCHC buildings are a main attraction along Vicksburg’s tourism route, not only for their historic significance from the Civil War, but also because “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” was filmed partially in the auditorium. Guided group tours of the buildings can be booked in advance, and group rates are available. Along with preplanned programming that the SCHC offers, groups can head downtown for a larger taste of Vickburg’s cultural offerings. The SCHC’s downtown Vicksburg location means event guests have immediate access to the city’s top attractions, including museums, restaurants, shopping and the Mississippi River, all within walking distance.

Contact Ashley Gatian, Sales Manager for planning assistance.

800-221-3536 • ashley@visitvicksburg.com

VisitVicksburg.com /VisitVicksburg

Scan this QR to visit our mobile site and get your keys to Vicksburg.

35

Small Meetings in Big Sky Country

By Kristy Alpert

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he sound of hooves stomping down on the hard earth is the last thing guests of the 320 Guest Ranch in Big Sky, Montana, hear as they turn the corner and arrive at the banks of the Gallatin River. After a nearly two-hour ride on horseback, the rush of the river, the crackle of an open fire and the sizzling sound of thick steaks searing to perfection fill the air with a sense of accomplishment as the riders arrive, just in time to enjoy a hearty dinner while the sun sets beyond the river.

This riverside barbecue with a trail ride is just one of the many unforgettable experiences for guests at the 320 Guest Ranch. This historical guest ranch has been welcoming guests since 1905, just a few short years after Sam Wilson and his father, Clinton, combined their homesteads to form what they referred to as the Buffalo Horn Resort. The ranch remained lovingly preserved over the years while changing ownership a handful of times, and today the ranch offers 87 sleeping rooms with 58 log-

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Hospitality Showcase

Photos courtesy 320 Guest Ranch

cabin-like accommodations, as well as seven luxurious log homes and a mountain chalet.

The ranch has become a respite for guests and meeting groups to reconnect and recharge while taking part in authentic Montana experiences, and many first-time visitors have become repeat guests over the years, noting the refreshing and energized feeling they have upon their return home. Dr. Carolyn McGill, Montana’s first female physician and one of the ranch’s early owners, remarked that “to get out into God’s mountains, whether to ride or walk, or just sit, will cure more ills than all the medicine or medical knowledge in existence.”

Whether in town for a reunion or a corporate outing, meeting guests that stay at the property can always find time to take one of the resort’s horses out for a ride through Montana’s scenic valleys and hills, or cast their lines for wild trout on the Blue Ribbon Gallatin River, the same river used as the setting for the fishing scenes in Robert Redford’s movie “A River Runs Through It.”

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320 Guest Ranch Meeting Spaces The 320 Guest Ranch offers a conference center and a banquet hall, both in Montana-inspired log buildings with Western decor. Groups can enjoy meetings accompanied by a roaring fireplace — there’s one in each building — and the ranch has some on-site audiovisual equipment, as well as dedicated planning support. The 4,000-square-foot conference center can be divided into thirds; the center holds a total of 175 people, and the banquet hall seats 175. The resort also allows groups to rent out the dining room, which holds up to 100 guests; the historic saloon, which holds up to 50 guests; the tent, which holds up to 170 guests; and the “deck by the creek,” which can accommodate 80 guests.

Location Gallatin Gateway, Montana Size 87 sleeping rooms with 58 log-cabin-like accommodations, seven log homes and a mountain chalet Meeting Space More than 4,000 square feet Access 56 miles from Gallatin Field Airport in Belgrade, Montana; 35 miles from Yellowstone Airport in West Yellowstone, Montana Contact Info 406-995-4283 www.320ranch.com

Activities In the summer, the ranch offers trail rides into the wilderness, with numerous options to suit participants’ skill levels and time restraints. The team of concierges and adventure consultants can assist with booking fishing guides and fly-fishing lessons on the Gallatin River for aspiring anglers. During winter, the resort offers dogsledding, sleigh rides, snowshoeing and nightly bonfires.

Guests don’t have to leave the property to stock up on souvenirs and gear, since the resort features an on-site fly-fishing shop and gift shop. The ranch staff also offers a babysitting service, so parents can enjoy after-hours activities at the 320 Saloon.

July 2017

Catering The 320 Guest Ranch is renowned for genuine Montana experiences, and that reputation continues in the kitchen. The culinary team specializes in Montana favorites such as elk medallions, bison and cowboy cut steaks, but a range of menus satisfies all palates. The breakfast menu includes freshly baked pastries or healthy granola, and afternoon breaks sizzle with the “pop it like it’s hot” offering of buttered, rum-caramel and nacho-cheese popcorn.

Dinners range from buffets to plated affairs, but its ultimate ranch experiences include a private pig roast, a summer chuck-wagon cookout, a winter sleigh ride and a Montana-themed dinner. Alcohol is available.

Nearby Left: A group enjoys sunset around the campfire.

Right: Horseback riding is one of numerous activities available at 320 Guest Ranch.

Opposite page: Outdoor seating offers the opportunity for informal meals at the ranch.

The resort is just 30 minutes from the Yellowstone National Park area and 12 miles from Big Sky, making it a potential hub for groups traveling in the area. The meetings and events staff can assist guests with tickets to the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone, as well as whitewater rafting on the Gallatin River. Among other off-site activities for groups are dogsledding excursions, golfing trips, all-terrain-vehicle riding, float trips, kayaking, snowmobiling and mountain biking. The resort can assist in suggestions for bus companies for private or group transfers around Big Sky.

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Illinois After Hours

By Rachel Carter

Courtesy Prairie Street Brewing Co.

Prairie Street Brewhouse overlooks the Mississippi riverfront in Rockford.

T

here’s nothing wrong with conference centers with air walls and smart boards; they get the job done — and do it well — when it comes to meetings.

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But moving events into historic buildings, tropical gardens or even a working 160-year-old train station shifts expectations and gets attendees into a different place, both physically and mentally.

The Prairie Street Brewhouse in Rock Island, Illinois, was a storage warehouse and laundry facility for decades before it was returned to its brewery roots, and the Two Brothers Roundhouse, in a circular limestone building, welcomes private events as well as Amtrak passengers. Illinois has no shortage of unique venues, and these are some of the state’s standouts.

Two Brothers Roundhouse Aurora The last stop on the BNSF Metra line out of Chicago is the Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora. The limestone facility was built in 1856 to service, store and turn around locomotives. Today, it houses Two Brothers Artisan Brewing, along with its restaurant and event spaces; but it’s still a working station, and with exposed

Illinois Meeting Guide

limestone walls and overhead iron beams, it was built to handle the traffic.

“You can see the trains pulling in and out, but there’s no shaking, no loud noises,” said Lori Simonsen in banquet sales.

The historic circular building surrounds a courtyard with a central gazebo where as many as 1,000 people enjoy live music during summer concerts and events.

Although the gazebo is popular for wedding ceremonies, the courtyard can be tough for private events because it’s open to the public.

Inside, in addition to the restaurant, a cafe serves Two Brothers roasted coffee, and a lounge is being converted into a tasting room for spirits “because we’re putting a distillery in there as well,” Simonsen said.

A curved, 8,900-square-foot ballroom has an exposed limestone wall and glass windows that overlook an adjoining private terrace. The Stout and Lager rooms can be used separately or combined for events of up to 130 people. The Tavern is a nightclub with a stage and

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Courtesy IL State Museum

mezzanine area that can be used, usually on weeknights, for private events for up to 200 people. www.twobrothersbrewing.com

Prairie Street Brewhouse Rockford In 1857, 10 years after Jonathan Peacock immigrated to America, he built his brewhouse and bottling plant on the banks of the Rock River in Rockford, Illinois. The Prairie Street Brewing Co. opened in the building nearly 160 years later, returning it to its brewing roots.

Today the brick structure houses the brewery, a brewpub, two bars, event space and residential lofts; it also has a marina and a dock.

With so many different levels and rooms in the brick building, groups could hold several events there on the same day without ever using the same space twice.

“It’s a neat feeling when you walk through the building; it feels really layered and laid out in a unique way, so you feel like you’re exploring,” said Nathan McDonald, creative director at the Prairie Street Brewing Co. On the main level, the 6,000-square-foot Barrel Room can seat up to 300 people for meals, and 70 guests can enjoy a plated meal in the adjacent 1,500-squarefoot Malt Room. Also on the main level is the brewpub restaurant, which, along with a catering kitchen, handles food for events.

On the lower level, the Ice Cellar is a 1,500-square-

July 2017

foot lounge with a copper-counter bar and 10 draft lines. Last year, the brewery opened another bar and dining area on the lower level facing the marina. The Dockside Taproom sits just off the dock and has a nice patio, McDonald said.

The dock is a popular event venue for riverfront receptions and even has a stage for a live band. Typical receptions use a part of the dock that can hold about 300 people, but when the entire space is opened, such as for Dinner on the Dock events, the dock can hold about 1,000 people.

Planners can also arrange to have the brewery do one of its themed, five-course, meal-and-beer-pairing dinners for their group. www.psbrewhouse.com

A mastodon skeleton is one of the signature exhibits at the Illinois State Museum.

Illinois State Museum Springfield The Illinois State Museum in Springfield has 13.5 million objects in its collection, so visitors never know what they might see on display. But two regulars greet and wow guests every day: the skeletons of a mastodon and a giant ground sloth.

Groups can gather at the museum in designated spaces during the day or rent the entire facility for after-hours events, said Karen Everingham, interim director of visitor services. Daytime venues include the museum’s 185-seat auditorium and a classroom for 40

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people. But after the museum closes for the evening, groups of up to 100 can sit down to a meal in the atrium and lobby area, or wander through galleries and mingle among exhibits during receptions.

Capacity for the entire building is about 480.

On the first floor, visitors can explore the “Changes� exhibit, which covers 500 million years of environmental and landscape changes in Illinois, Everingham said. Second-floor exhibits mostly feature art and change every several months, she said. Groups can also arrange for after-hours guided tours or presentations from a curator. www.illinoisstatemuseum.org

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Quad City Botanical Center Rock Island The Quad City Botanical Center in downtown Rock Island sits just off the banks of the Mississippi River. The center opened in 1998 with a 6,400-square-foot, glass-walled tropical Sun Garden atrium, topped with a 70-foot skylight, as its crown jewel. Inside the conservatory, visitors will find a 14-foot-high waterfall and a stream along with hundreds of plants. The building also houses the center’s event space: a 3,080-square-foot banquet hall that can seat up to 250 people for meals or be split into three smaller rooms. “The gardens are beautiful, and even through the winter months, we have the tropical sun garden,� said event planning and banquet manager Kari Campbell. “I just think it gives people a chance to get out of the office and into a very serene and calming space.�

The center’s other event venue is an outdoor, three-season canopy.

A climate-controlled tent with walls sits over a concrete pavilion and can hold up to 250 for dinners. From the plaza, guests can enjoy views of the Children’s Garden or look out over the west garden and lawn.

After hours, the entire center and its gardens, including the wildflower prairie garden, rare conifer collection and perennial garden, can be reserved for private events. The center is also a full-service facility with a catering company, and groups can arrange for guided tours or themed programs, such as “Botanical Bliss� and “Plants of the Bible.� www.qcgardens.com

Packard Plaza Peoria In downtown Peoria, Illinois, just a couple blocks from where the Illinois River meets Peoria Lake, Packard Plaza will mark its 90th anniversary this year. Giant two-story arched windows define the facade of the brick building, which was designed by architect Frederic Klein.

It was originally called the National Building when it opened in 1927; later, when a Packard automobile dealership moved into the basement and first floor, it became known as the Packard building.

The Chandler Hotel Group, which is based in Arizona, bought the plaza and the adjacent 111-room Mark Twain Hotel in 2015. After pausing events at the Packard last summer for several months when the leased operator and catering company backed out, Chandler is once again booking events in the building, which the company is also refreshing.

The Packard has 7,000 square feet for receptions, banquets, presentations and other meetings. Inside, a wraparound mezzanine level overlooks the main event space, which has parquet wood floors and a coffered wood ceiling. www.marktwainhotel.com

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Illinois Meeting Guide

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

An Illinois Education

By Rachel Carter Courtesy Visit Champaign Co.

Fans cheer at a University of Illinois football game.

C

ollege towns are often the perfect package for residents, visitors and, of course, students, who are both residents and visitors.

July 2017

Universities attract high-class arts and entertainment, first-class activities and athletics, and world-class professors and programs. That allows relatively small cities, like these Illinois college towns, to boast amenities like those found in larger metropolises: museums, performing-arts centers, fine dining, international acts and easy public transit.

Champaign-Urbana Home to the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign, the Champaign-Urbana area of Illinois may not immediately suggest global flair, but “we’re fortunate enough to have one of the largest international populations in the country,” said Terri Reifsteck, vice president of marketing for Visit Champaign County.

The university has nearly 45,000 students, and about one-quarter of them are international, she said.

Illini Union presides over the quad and has more than two dozen meeting spaces and conference rooms.

The Illini Room can seat up to 480 at rounds or can be split into two or three smaller spaces, and the secondfloor ballroom has 5,800 square feet. The union’s Rec Room, where groups can bowl, shoot pool or play arcade games, is also available for private events. Also housed in the center, the Illini Union Hotel has 72 guest rooms and two suites. The university’s StateFarm Center reopened in October after a $170 million renovation, and the 15,500-seat arena can be set up for events.

Adjoining the 125-room I Hotel and Conference Center on the south end of campus is the 38,000-squarefoot Illinois Conference Center with two large ballrooms and 10 meeting rooms. The Hilton Garden Inn Champaign/Urbana offers another 18,000 square feet of conference space and is next door to a Homewood Suites.

About 30 miles west of town, the university-owned Allerton Park and Retreat Center is “absolutely stunning,” Reifsteck said. The Georgian-style mansion has meeting space and 14 formal gardens and hiking trails on the grounds. www.visitchampaigncounty.org

Bloomington-Normal The sister cities of Bloomington and Normal are cradled in the C-shaped crook where interstates 74, 55 and 39 converge. The two communities are home to two major universities: Illinois State University (ISU) in Bloomington and Illinois Wesleyan in its slightly smaller neighbor, Normal.

“Both of our communities are very trendy and high tech with the universities here,” said Crystal Howard, director of the Bloomington-Normal Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Both universities have advanced each of the communities they’re in.”

ISU has an “enormous amount of meeting space,” and the CVB often works with the school’s conference

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services to bid on and attract meetings and conferences. The Bone Student Center is the school’s major event venue with several function spaces, including the 14,575-square-foot Brown Ballroom and Braden Auditorium, with theater seating for over 3,400.

On campus, the 226-room Bloomington-Normal Marriott Hotel and Conference Center has about 24,000 square feet of meeting space, most of it in the 20,000-square-foot Redbird Ballroom, which can be divided into seven smaller spaces. Across the street, the 191-room Hyatt Place has three flexible meeting rooms with 2,600 square feet of function space. Both hotels are less than a three-minute walk to Uptown Station, one of the busiest Amtrak stations in the state.

Two miles north of campus, the ISU Alumni Center has a variety of event spaces; the largest, the Reiman Ballroom, can seat 180 people for dinner. The U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington can seat 8,000, and the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts can seat 1,200 in its auditorium. The theater also rents out its elegant lobby, ballroom and multipurpose room. www.visitbn.org

fic or expense — and with nature at its doorstep.

When you add Southern Illinois University (SIU) students to the mix, the city of 26,000 people grows to about 40,000. As with most college towns, the population is transient, but students often stick around — or come back, Smith said.

On campus, planners will find a number of venues, but the SIU Student Center is the largest. Among its 28 multipurpose rooms, groups can use the 300-seat auditorium and a large ballroom that can be broken into four smaller spaces.

The city-owned Civic Center can host an event for 600 people, or its space can be split into six smaller conference areas. The 100-room Holiday Inn has 2,800 square feet of flexible space, and the Garden Grove Event Center has both indoor and outdoor venues.

At SIU’s Touch of Nature Environmental Center, groups can canoe, kayak, hike, rock climb and zip line.

Meeting groups can also arrange to tour the school’s new Fermentation Science Institute before heading out to sample craft beers at local breweries. www.carbondaletourism.org

Carbondale

Charleston

Cinnamon Smith, executive director of Carbondale Tourism, describes Carbondale as an eclectic town with the amenities of a big city “but without the drawbacks.”

The city offers arts and entertainment without the traf-

MEET

In Charleston, “everyone is tight knit and helps everybody out,” said Diane Ratliff, who handles tourism and special events for the city of 21,000 residents.

But that closeness doesn’t close it off; the town is “friendly and accepting of new people or visitors to the area,” she said.

The vibrant campus of Eastern Illinois University is always a hub of activity, and “the university obviously draws in a lot of culture to Where else can you host the area, not only with the students who are here, corporate gatherings but also the events they host on campus,” Ratliff in an elegant ballroom, said. meet with business The Doudna Fine Arts Center has a variety of partners in a quiet function space, as well as auditoriums for audiprivate lounge, or ences ranging in number from 50 to 500. The collaborate during University Union hosts the most events and breakout sessions at a offers a variety of venues: the 7,400-square-foot sophisticated economic Grand Ballroom, the University Ballroom that development center, can seat 250 for banquets, classrooms, meeting all on the site of an rooms, a lecture hall and two auditoriums. accredited research The Unique Suites Hotel, just a couple of miles university? west of campus, is Charleston’s only full-service ONLY property. The 77-room hotel has about 4,000 square feet of function space, as well as the Brick CARBONDALE House Bar and Grill. The city also has a Days Inn and several bed-and-breakfasts, and larger events often book hotel rooms in the nearby town of Mattoon.

When visiting for events, attendees often check out the Lincoln-Douglas Debate Museum or the Lincoln Log Cabin, which was the home of Abraham Lincoln’s father and stepmother. www.charlestontourism.org

126 S. Illinois Avenue | Carbondale, Il 62901 | 618.529.4451 | carbondaletourism.org

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Illinois Meeting Guide

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Evanston Evanston sits on the shore of Lake Michigan about 12 miles north of downtown Chicago. Many of the North Shore’s most popular attractions can be found along Sheridan Road as it traces the lakefront, and that includes Northwestern University’s Evanston campus, where the Norris University Center has 14 meeting rooms, including the McCormick Auditorium and the Louis Room.

At Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, the 700-seat Thorne Auditorium and adjacent lobby recently reopened after a renovation. The school also offers about 20 additional conference rooms and a courtyard for up to 300 people.

Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management opened its 415,000-square-foot flagship building in March. Its stunning event space includes the glasswalled White Auditorium for 300-person events and a “floating” glass-box conference room.

Just a short drive south of campus on Sheridan Road takes visitors to the 1894 lakefront mansion of former U.S. Vice President Charles Gates Dawes, which he donated to Northwestern University.

North of campus, Sheridan Road leads to the 1873 Grosse Point Lighthouse, which groups can tour June through September, and a little farther north, the road takes visitors to the Baha’i House of Worship, where free docent-led tours are available. www.visitchicagonorthshore.com

July 2017

Courtesy Chicago’s North Shore CVB

The Baha’I House of Worship overlooks the lakeshore in Evanston.

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