Small Market Meetings June 2018

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Wisconsin Meeting Guide

SMALL MARKET MEETINGS DESERVE

BIG INCENTIVES • 100,000 sq. ft. convention center with 700+ guest rooms • 65 hotels with 10,000+ guest rooms including 13 full-service hotels • Free parking everywhere • Direct access from Downtown Chicago and O’Hare International Airport Chicago Northwest is affordable sophistication that’s easily accessible to the world.

Contact Heather Larson, CMP today.

Ask about our current incentive!

800.847.4849 ChicagoNorthwest.com/incentive

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CHAMPAIGN

74 HENDRICKS COUNTY

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TERRE HAUTE

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LOUISVILLE

OPENING THIS YEAR! FIVE REASONS TO CHOOSE HENDRICKS COUNTY FOR YOUR NEXT CONFERENCE 1

A variety of venues, including the brand new 21,000-square-foot Embassy Suites Hotel & Conference Center

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Next to the Indianapolis International Airport, with free shuttle service to hotels

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Free parking at all Hendricks County venues

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An experienced Visit Hendricks County staff who will do the legwork for you—venue selection, welcome bags, event marketing and more

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Just minutes from downtown Indy, with easy access from I-70, I-74 and I-65

To compare venues and get started, go to VISITHENDRICKSCOUNTY.COM/MEETINGS

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Becky Harris, Director of Sales | Becky@VisitHendricksCounty.com VisitHendricksCounty.com/Meetings | 800-321-9666

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Courtesy Greater Ontario CVB

Volume 19

Issue 6

June 2018

Get to Know Ontario

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This Southern California destination will host the Small Market Meetings Conference this year.

CVBs 101 Learn how local convention bureaus can help you plan successful meetings.

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Essential College Towns These destinations offer meetings with school spirit.

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Courtesy Louisville CVB

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Boise Rising Idaho’s capital city is on a hot streak.

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Wisconsin Meeting Guide Discover the waterfront destinations and unique meeting venues in the Badger State.

Courtesy Visit Las Cruces

On the cover: The Idaho State Capitol in Boise is surrounded by local art and indigenous plants.

Photo by V.K. Bhat

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

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It’s Pronounced “NACK-a-dish” Natchitoches, Louisiana, is full of distinctive Southern charm.

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Kyle Anderson 866-356-5128

kyle@smallmarketmeetings.com

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

BRIAN JEWELL EDITOR brian@smallmarketmeetings.com

HERBERT SPARROW EXECUTIVE EDITOR/PARTNER hsparrow@grouptravelleader.com

DAVID BROWN ART DIRECTOR production@smallmarketmeetings.com

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

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

A Golden State Gateway Ontario is at the center of it all in Southern California September 23-25

By Dan Dickson

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ntario, California, and its tourism partner and neighbor, Rancho Cucamonga, have treasures that many other cities would envy. Not only are there many interesting things to see and do in these communities about 40 miles east of Los Angeles, but they are an excellent home base and springboard for visitors to experience a dazzling list of attractions in the wider region.

“We talk about Ontario being a gateway; it is all about location, location, location,” said Sue Oxarart, director of marketing and communications for the Greater Ontario California Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We’re at the apex of three major freeways that are going north, south, east and west and that are why we say Ontario is the perfect location. It’s easy to come here, stay here, and then you can go anywhere else.”

Certainly, 300 days of sunshine in the area each year and the appealing Mediterraneanstyle climate, not to mention the ubiquitous palm trees, make this location attractive.

Ontario also offers residents and visitors a great view of the nearby San Bernardino Mountains Meeting planners and destination professionals will get three days to enjoy Ontario when they attend the next Small Market Meetings Conference, September 23-25. The conference will be presented in the beautiful glass-walled, natural-light-infused Ontario Convention Center. The official conference hotel is the 484-room Doubletree by Hilton, a resort-type hotel right next door to the center. Both are only a few minutes’ drive from the Los Angeles/Ontario International Airport, one of the best small airports in the region and the one most delegates will fly into and out of.

Meeting Venues and Hotels

Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga are similar-size cities with populations of about 175,000 each. The Ontario Convention Center is the main meetings center in the area and boasts about 225,000 square feet of flexible

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Conference Report

All photos courtesy Greater Ontario CVB

Graber Olive House offers speciality foods and a scenic setting for visitors to Ontario, California. and divisible meeting, event and function space. The center staff can help provide meeting planners with a full range of technology services to make their events successful.

Another frequently used meeting venue is the Citizens Business Bank Arena, with 20,000 square feet. The arena can be booked for exhibitions, business functions, educational and cultural gatherings, and much more. The arena is also home to several professional basketball, hockey and soccer teams. It’s a popular stop for entertainers on the concert circuit.

The aforementioned Doubletree by Hilton hotel also has plenty of meeting space. The hotel offers planners 27,000 square feet of versatile event space that can be secured for any group gathering. The hotel also has 4,000 square feet of covered outdoor function space for group use.

The Ontario Airport Hotel and Conference Center offers 24,000 square feet of flexible meeting and function space, as well as 309 guest rooms.

Ontario has about 3,000 hotel rooms, and the wider area offers about twice that number. Accommodations range from intimate bed-and-breakfast inns to convention hotels.

Meeting planners should note that an aggressive hotel construction campaign is underway that will add more than 600 guest rooms in the area. At least six new hotels are expected to open their doors in the next two years.

Ontario’s Attractions

Greater Ontario has an interesting history.

It’s part of an area known as the Inland Empire, so named because of its agricultural roots that began in the late 1800s. Water from

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Ontario sits beneath the beautiful San Gabriel Mountains. melted mountain snow flowed easily into the region and made growing fruits and vegetables a bonanza. “We were inland from the Pacific Ocean and Los Angeles and became an empire because of the booming citrus industry,” said Oxarart. “There are also many historical sites in and around Ontario that pay homage to those days.”

A lot of people know Ontario Mills, which has 220 stores and is the largest shopping center in the western United States. The single-story outlet mall sits at the junction of two major freeways, so shoppers drive in from everywhere and make a day of the retail, restaurants and entertainment available. Visitors can take a break from shopping and relax in one of the two giant movie theaters. Together they offer 52 screens to watch, and moviegoers can generally walk right up

June 2018

and get a ticket and a good seat.

Tourists also enjoy the area’s entertainment options, which include comedy clubs; Dave and Buster’s, a family restaurant and arcade palace; and Rainforest Café, a restaurant with a jungle theme and animatronic animals.

Arts and culture thrive in Ontario, especially along historic Euclid Avenue, with its town square and amphitheater. There is a summer concert series and nearby antique stores and historic museums to visit.

The culinary movement is active in Ontario.

The city is far enough away from Los Angeles that it has its own up-and-coming chefs who are making a name for themselves in their unique restaurants. The craft beer trend has also come alive in Ontario, particularly in some of the area’s industrial sections, making the breweries and pubs interesting and spe-

cial. “The millennials, especially, love to explore that option,” Oxarart said.

The first registered winery in California is just north of the city in Rancho Cucamonga. In the early 1900s, the largest winery in the nation, the Vineyard, was nearby. Other local wineries offer lovely scenery and tasting tours.

Sports are big in Ontario. Citizens Business Bank Arena stages 200 annual events, including professional basketball, hockey and soccer. Rancho Cucamonga is home to the Quakes, the local professional baseball team and an affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

NASCAR fans love Auto Club Speedway in nearby Fontana. Its big race earlier this year was the Monster Energy Drink NASCAR Cup Auto Club 400. There are track activities going on year-round, and groups can arrange to tour the track grounds.

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& Plan on meeting here

MEET, EXPLORE, CONNECT GREATER ONTARIO, CALIFORNIA A breathtaking contemporary state of the art venue with more than 225,000 square feet of flexible column-free exhibit, meeting and function space, the Ontario Convention Center is ideal for conventions, trade shows, exhibits and meetings. Located just 2 miles from Ontario International Airport with access to a variety of hotel and dining options within walking distance, the center is frequently used by filmmakers as an on-site location for movies and commercials.

• 225,000 total square feet with a 70,000 square foot column free exhibition hall • Full range of technology services • Award winning Executive Chef and service excellence • Over 6,000 hotel rooms available in Greater Ontario • Complimentary hotel parking and shuttle service For meeting needs of all sizes – from a conference room to a citywide convention utilizing the Ontario Convention Center – or for a special exposition or sporting event, the Greater Ontario Convention & Visitors Bureau will provide the necessary destination support tools to execute a successful experience.

For more information on planning your next adventure, visit GOcvb.org 800.455.5755

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Conference Report

Regional Attractions

From Ontario, visitors can easily travel to Los Angeles, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Disneyland and Palm Springs, to name a few popular choices.

“And if you really get excited and want to see things, it is not really that far to drive in one day to Las Vegas or to the Grand Canyon or to San Diego,” said Oxarart.

Visitors can head in just about any direction and find a variety of scenic vistas and activities, such as California’s legendary Pacific beaches, desert landscapes, snowy mountains, wineries, golf resorts, casinos, historic sites and more of the best shopping in the West. “You are near a lot of the reasons why people want to come to Southern California for a vacation in the first place: all the iconic destinations,” Oxarart said.

Visitors can check out the wide-open spaces of the California high desert country during a day trip. People used to a city or suburban lifestyle will appreciate the unique and beautiful natural sites they will see. From Ontario, tourists also head east to shop, eat, play golf and otherwise enjoy all that Palm Springs offers. Others enjoy a visit to Joshua Tree National Park and its surreal geologic wonders.

“My parents are from Ohio, and I can tell you that when they came to visit me, all that my mom wanted to do was travel around in the desert,” said Oxarart.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

The Ontario Convention Center has 225,000 square feet of flexible meeting space.

A portion of historic Route 66 runs north of Ontario and inspires the annual Route 66 Cruisin’ Reunion, where classic-car lovers from around the U.S. and the world flock to the area for several days of food, live music and entertainment and to gawk at more than 2,000 vintage automobiles.

The Southern California coastline has inspired many Beach Boys songs and attracted millions of visitors from across the country. Popular beach destinations in the area include Newport Beach, Santa Monica, Venice, Laguna Beach, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, Malibu and Huntington Beach.

As a contrast to ocean and desert scenes, Big Bear Mountain Resort, just 45 minutes from Ontario, is a place where visitors can ski in winter and enjoy the alpine lake settings in spring, summer and fall. “It is a really gorgeous place,” said Oxarart. “Big Bear Lake is the largest in the area, and Lake Arrowhead is also very popular.”

Also in the mountains, the Lake Arrowhead Queen offers one-hour, narrated cruise tours of the lake area.

June 2018

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Hilton Des Moines Downtown Hotel Opens in Iowa

The new Hilton Des Moines is directly connected to the Iowa Events Center.

DES MOINES, Iowa — The newly constructed Hilton Des Moines Downtown opened its doors this spring as the only hotel directly connected to the Iowa Events Center, which comprises a world-class convention center and the Wells Fargo Arena.

The opening of this hotel will attract more large-scale meetings and events to Des Moines and, in turn, increase economic activity throughout the community.

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Couretsy Hilton Des Moines

The Hilton Des Moines Downtown has 14,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 10,000-square-foot ballroom that opens onto a lovely outdoor terrace. All meeting space is on the same floor, allowing for easy flow among the spaces for multifunction meetings and events. The property is the only hotel in downtown Des Moines that features natural light in every meeting room. Each space pulls through the techcentric theme of

the hotel, which features technology such as touch-screen navigation signage, smart window lighting and Click Share technology in boardrooms.

Reflecting Des Moines’ growing status as one of the nation’s leading technology hubs, the hotel was designed to celebrate the agricultural and technological influences of the city. The Hilton Des Moines Downtown features windows that are arranged in a binary pattern to resemble barcodes; customdesigned, circuit-board-inspired carpets; and light fixtures that playfully mimic the appearance of wiring. The techcentric hotel offers digital check-in, USB ports throughout its vibrant lobby and a tech lounge with complimentary computers and internet. A nod to the city’s agricultural roots, the precast panels on the side of the hotel were inspired by wheat, and the windows and outside facade by corn and soybean rows. The overall aesthetic pulls colors from its agricultural surroundings.

As part of the Des Moines Skywalk system, the hotel provides a direct connection to the Iowa Events Center, offering the most convenient accommodation option for convention attendees.

“Hilton Des Moines Downtown will attract even more people and events to central Iowa,” said Greg Edwards, president and CEO of Catch Des Moines. “The fact that the hotel is connected and right next door to the Iowa Events Center is a game-changer for us in luring new conventions, sporting events and trade shows to the metro. Prior to opening the doors of the hotel, the Catch Des Moines team has already booked over 23 new conventions, conferences and sporting events.”

The Hilton Des Moines Downtown invites guests to the community with its locally inspired touches, including a rotating art exhibit, provided by the local Moberg Gallery.

The artwork, created by local and regional artists, is proudly displayed and available for purchase in the hotel’s lobby.

The hotel is also home to Park Street Kitchen, a modern restaurant featuring dishes created with locally sourced, seasonal ingredients and Des Moines’ only outdoor patio fireplace. The restaurant is led by Chef Nick Marino, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, who joins the team from his previous position at Hilton’s acclaimed Waldorf Astoria Chicago.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Kimpton Lorien Hotel and Spa In Alexandria, Virginia, Debuts Elegant and Whimsical New Design ALEXANDRIA, Virginia — The Kimpton Lorien Hotel and Spa in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, has completed a $2.51 million redesign to the hotel’s 107 guest rooms. Redesigned were 16 suites, signature outdoor terraces, hallway corridors, public areas, adjacent French brasserie Brabo and 5,600 square feet of meeting, wedding and event space.

Along a brick-lined street amidst boutiques and fine-art galleries, the Kimpton Lorien Hotel and Spa is in a tranquil setting. With its dedicated award-winning spa, newly refinished modern and elegant interior design, and two culinary venues helmed by executive chef Sebastien Rondier, the hotel also offers easy access to the sights and attractions of Washington, D.C., and the neighboring Virginia countryside.

The Kimpton Lorien Hotel and Spa’s newly redesigned guest rooms feature a minimal yet luxurious atmosphere where guests can retreat and rejuvenate from the day’s activities.

The Lorien Hotel and Spa is also a venue for meetings and events, with nearly 5,600 square feet of event space, including access to private courtyards and terraces as well as French-inspired cuisine directly from Rondier of Brabo. This year, the hotel’s two dedicated function spaces also received decor upgrades with calming and neutral slate-blue walls with a subtle Greek-key-patterned flooring that pairs well with any occasion.

The Liberty Room, the hotel’s largest space at 1,250 square feet, can be separated into two function spaces or used whole, accommodating up to 100 guests banquet style and up to 125 for receptions. The nearby Independence Room features plenty of natural light, with 730 square feet appropriate for board meetings, breakout space for up to 20 and cocktail hours for up to 50 guests; the room leads directly out to the open-air Freedom Terrace, an intimate outdoor courtyard just outside the hotel’s living room. The 756-square-foot Freedom Terrace has a large ivy-covered trellis, chrome accents, oversized mirrors and a contemporary inground fire feature and is a good setting for events such as wedding ceremonies, banquets of up to 20 guests and receptions for up to 45.

At the end of 2016, Brabo also expanded its bar to be double in size, enhancing the brasserie’s modern comfort in historical Old Town Alexandria.

Loyal Brabo guests now enjoy more seating areas and natural lighting, new furniture, copper-accented lighting fixtures and locally curated artwork. www.lorienhotelandspa.com

June 2018

The redesigned Kimpton Lorien in Alexandria features signature outdoor dining spaces.

Coutesy Kimpton Lorien

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Open Your Mind by Organizing Your Life A productivity expert offers tips for bringing order to your environment

By Vickie Mitchell

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roductivity expert and trainer Peggy Duncan is well acquainted with disorganization, the culprit that can keep us at our desks long after everyone else has gone home.

Having too much stuff and no organizational system makes us less effective, like the guy Duncan met who spun his wheels looking for messages among the 40,000 emails he kept or the client Duncan was coaching who, along with an assistant, spent three hours searching for files on computers and in file drawers.

The damage disorganization does to our work days has made Get Organized So You Can Think! one of Duncan’s most popular topics for the professional training she offers.

Duncan has organized every aspect of her life, from her kitchen junk drawer to her computer files. “Everything I touch has some sort of organization system to it,” she said.

Here are four steps she says are critical to organizing, not just your office but your entire environment, because if you can’t find your keys in the morning, you’ve started your day on a disorganized trajectory.

Step 1: Scuttle the Superfluous Stuff

“The first step toward getting organized is to purge,” Duncan said. Clearing stuff out opens not only physical space but also the mind. “Ask ‘When was the last time I referred to this or I wore this?’” Duncan said. “Use the same principles in your office that you would use in your clothes closet.” Be firm, and if you have emotional ties to an item, break them by “taking a picture of it, then blessing someone else with the item,” Duncan said. Another trick is to use opaque garbage bags so you aren’t reminded of what you are getting rid of.

In the office, the purge must include email. Duncan gets more requests to talk about managing email than any other topic. She recommends asking these questions: “Do I need it for legal reasons?” “Is the information available elsewhere?” and “If I delete this and by some miracle someone needs it, can I live with the consequences?”

Remember that searching through virtual piles is hard on your computer and on you.

Step 2: Start Small

The thought of organizing your whole life at once can be

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paralyzing, so break the task into manageable bits. Start with your desk drawer, Duncan suggests. Dump everything out, buy some organizing bins and use them to lump like things together. Biting off small chunks makes it easier to find a few minutes for an organizing blitz. “One of the big issues about organization is stopping long enough to do it,” Duncan said. Getting started can make you want to do more, she said. “The results are immediate. It’s not like dieting or exercising; as soon as you organize your desk drawer or closet, you see the result.”

Step 3: Create Sensible Systems

“People will say to me, ‘I have all these folders on my desktop,’” Duncan said, but, she pointed out, those folders aren’t meaningful if they aren’t part of a logical system.

Duncan uses a grocery store layout to illustrate how a good organizational system works. Grocery stores group goods under broad categories of similar products. For example, there’s a meat department, and within the meat department, sections for chicken, beef, pork, lamb and other meats. Within each section, meats are grouped by cut or type: ground beef, steaks, roasts, for example.

“You start with broad categories, then break that down,” Duncan said. “And you don’t put Cheetos next to chicken” just because the products both start with “c.”

“You don’t want to put stuff together that has nothing to do with each other,” she said.

Step 4: Maintain It

Hours you’ll save are the motivation for maintaining an organizational system. For example, simply designating a place for your keys will save tons of time — if you always put the keys in that place. “Do you have the hours to spend to find what you would be looking for?” Duncan said. “Getting organized is going to clear your time so you can think about other things you can improve.”

For more information, visit Duncan’s website, www.personalproductivityexpert.com Vickie Mitchell is the former editor of Small Market Meetings. If you have ideas for future columns, contact her at vickie@smallmarketmeetings.com.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

CVBs 101

Learn to work with local meetings experts Courtesy Visit Park City

By Savannah Osbourn

Local experts at convention and visitors bureaus can offer insights and services to help meeting planners stage successful events.

convention and visitors bureau (CVB), also known as a destination marketing organization, or DMO, is one of the most valuable resources at a meeting planner’s disposal. But some planners have yet to take advantage of everything these organizations have to offer. These not-for-profit organizations work tirelessly to promote their local destinations and often provide an extensive range of complimentary services, such as site-inspection visits, promotional materials, welcome receptions and housing programs.

In addition, some CVBs offer booking incentives for planners to bring their groups to the city. To learn more about some of the ways planners can tap into these resources, we spoke with several sales and service teams from CVBs across the country. Here is some of the advice they shared.

call so we can become their main point of contact and start to build that relationship from the beginning.”

Though CVBs typically recommend that planners contact them at least a year in advance, Freddie Willard, director of sales at the Beaumont Convention and Visitors Bureau in Texas, proposed getting started two or three years ahead of time.

“If you talk to most meeting planners, they’re booking four or five years out,” Willard said. “So if you plan ahead, you’re going to get the dates that you want, and you’re probably going to get the better deal as well.”

With smaller CVBs, planners can often work with a single point of contact throughout the planning, but occasionally the sales and service teams work separately. In that case, the person leading the site inspections may not be the same person assisting with event planning.

“The service team will be the boots on the ground, so get services involved upfront so they can help with as much planning as possible,” said Zack Davis, vice president of destination services at the Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau in Kentucky. “For the planner, it would make a lot of sense to instigate that if it hasn’t already happened.”

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Contact the CVB as early as possible.

Carolyn Creek-McCallister, the senior group sales manager at the Park City Chamber/Convention and Visitors Bureau in Utah, suggested that planners get in touch with the CVB sales team when they first begin planning, even if they are still narrowing down their choice of destination.

“If we can take it from start to finish, it will go so much more smoothly,” said Creek-McCallister. “When they first start thinking about different destinations, they should reach out via email or phone

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Take full advantage of CVB services.

Some planners, even those who have worked in the meeting industry for many years, may not realize that most CVBs offer their services free of charge.

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The Beamont CVB can provide registration assistance for meeting planners.

When your meeting enjoys the amenities of one of the Midwest’s fastest growing cities.

From a prestigious university to thriving arts & culture, Champaign County delivers an Outside of Ordinary meeting experience.

SCHEDULE A SITE VISIT TODAY TO RECEIVE AN ILLINI T- SHIRT! 800.369.6151 | CAITLYNF@VISITCHAMPAIGNCOUNTY.ORG

CHAMPAIGNMEETS.COM

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Managing Meetings

“There’s always a concern that we are a cost item for them,” said Creek-McCallister.

“This is a complimentary service. We are the feet on the street for any meeting planner to make their job easier.”

Likewise, Davis said, “Many planners underestimate our services and contact us too late in the game. We hear a lot ‘Oh, we didn’t realize you could do this or that.’”

Whether planners are looking for transportation services, florists, off-site adventure companies, local speakers or entertainment, CVBs have the resources and connections to guide them in the right direction. In some cases, planners might hesitate to approach a CVB because they prefer to retain control of their information, but they miss out on using the organization as a onestop-shop for all the services and venues they need for their event.

“Sometimes there’s a fear that we’re going to send their information out to all our hotel partners, so some people are a little gun-shy because they think, ‘We don’t want 20 people contacting us,’” said Creek-McCallister. “But we’re not a mass distribution service. Our work is very strategic to what their needs are and what they’re trying to accomplish.”

Courtesy Beamont CVB

Moreover, the CVB staff members are destination experts and can often provide vital information that a planner might overlook.

“A lot of us have lived in the area for years,” said Creek-McCallister. “If they’re looking at dates during the Sundance Film Festival or another major city event, they may not know that, so we can suggest different dates.”

Plan a site inspection or a familiarization tour

Seeing hotels and venues in person can play a deciding factor in the planning, which is why many planners schedule site inspections in the host cities they are considering. In many destinations, the CVB can help organize an itinerary for the planner during a two- or three-day stay, even arranging airport pickup and hotel accommodations.

“It’s such a time-saving, helpful service that a CVB can provide at no cost,” said Carli Adams, group communications and services manager at Explore Asheville in North Carolina.

For a more in-depth evaluation of the city, planners can participate in familiarization

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Courtesy ExploreAsheville.com

Asheville hosts groups of meeting planners for site-inspection tours called the 48-Hour Experience.

Middle Tennessee Meeting Space

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let’s meet

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tours with a group of meeting planners. Twice a year, Explore Asheville hosts a familiarization trip called the Asheville 48-Hour Experience, during which planners unfamiliar with the city can arrange site inspections, as well as explore the culinary and art scenes over the course of two days.

Some CVBs, like the one in Park City, combine their site inspection services with an airfare reimbursement program. Planners can fly to the city for a couple of days to narrow down their choice of venues, hotels and other services, and once they submit a signed copy of their hotel contract, the CVB will reimburse their airfare for up to $500.

“I’m a real believer that once you see a destination, it’s a lot easier to make that decision,” said Creek-McCallister. “This is just something that we have had great success with.”

CVB staff can also help planners identify experiences that are unique to the area and incorporate those cultural trademarks into the meeting or event, from bringing in local vendors to setting up regionally inspired decor.

“It’s not about rates, dates and space so much as what experiences your destination can deliver,” said Davis. “Traditional exhibiting has become antiquated. People want to get a feel and taste of the area.”

Talk to the CVB about incentive programs.

Courtesy Louisville CVB

It is crucial to contact the CVB before a contract has been signed, since some services are reserved for those who supply their initial request for proposal (RFP) to the CVB.

The Louisville CVB can help meeting groups get a taste of the area’s bourbon heritage.

AT THE CROSSROADS OF I-57 AND I-70, A VIBRANT COMMUNITY AWAITS...

www.visiteffinghamil.com 800-772-0750

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Managing Meetings

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

“We want to be involved before the hotel selection has occurred, and doing so ensures that they have access to Explore Asheville’s exclusive services,” said Adams.

Explore Asheville’s incentive program offers qualified meeting planners up to $2,500 that can be used towards unique Asheville experiences or vendors. To be eligible, planners must have submitted an RFP to the CVB sales team and contracted at least 1,000 room nights. In addition, planners who book between January and April receive an additional 20 percent discount.

Some tourism organizations, like the Beaumont Convention and Visitors Bureau, are primarily funded by the city’s hotel occupancy tax, which means that the more room nights a planner books, the more services become available.

“Anyone coming into the city can talk to the CVB, but if you get 25 rooms, then you get this, this and this. And if you get 100 rooms, you get a little more servicing,” said Willard.

Some of these services are items like name badges, promotional materials, press releases, VIP bags, signage and welcome receptions. However, if a planner has specific needs or preferences, most CVBs are willing to work with them to meet those expectations.

“If a planner comes to us with a wish list, certainly we’re going to take a look at that wish list to make the destination more attractive,” said Willard. “It could be something as simple as hosting an opening reception for VIPs or coordinating shuttles if the client has booked multiple hotels.”

Courtesy Park City Chamber and Bureau

The Park City Chamber and Bureau can set up team-building adventures at Utah Olympic Park.

CRYSTAL BRIDGES MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART, BENTONVILLE

DESTINATIONS Naturally Made When it comes to playing host to meetings, trade shows and conferences, The Natural State is a popular destination. Our combination of modern facilities, affordable lodging and tons of things to see and do before and after your meeting highlights just a few of the reasons to plan your next event in Arkansas. To learn more, visit arkansasgrouptravel.com.

What will you make in Arkansas?

June 2018

Arkansas.com

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Come Together in a College Town

Universities define the meetings landscapes in these communities Courtesy Visit Las Cruces

By Savannah Osbourn

Meeting groups can hold an event or take in a football game at New Mexico State University’s Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces.

niversities and colleges provide a wealth of resources for meeting groups, from upscale event venues to world-class museums and evening entertainment. Planners can often coordinate a keynote address from one of the faculty or organize an exclusive tour of campus attractions. Moreover, the beautiful setting and academic atmosphere add a fresh energy to the typical meeting agenda.

Before you pick out your next conference destination, consider one of the following college towns.

Convention Center sits directly across the street from campus, and the convention center team frequently works with campus personnel to co-host events.

“Working with the university gives planners a whole different set of possibilities than what they’re used to,” said Albert Herrera, convention sales manager at Visit Las Cruces. “It allows them to have so much more freedom and create more of a package experience.”

For example, the city recently hosted a conference that included a large youth component, and planners could arrange adult sessions at the convention center and youth sessions on campus.

“We couldn’t fit all the attendees into the convention center at the time, so we used it as an opportunity to showcase the university,” said Herrera. “Most universities are going to take a look at youth and see it as a recruitment opportunity.”

In May, the city broke ground on a $5 million expansion of the Las Cruces Convention Center, with plans to add 17,000 square feet of meet-

U

Las Cruces, New Mexico

Nestled on the edge of the Chihuahuan Desert, the city of Las Cruces is an agriculture-driven community with beautiful Spanish architecture, rich cuisine and numerous museums.

It is also home to New Mexico State University. One of the biggest benefits of hosting a meeting at the university is that the Las Cruces

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Meeting Ideas

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Courtesy Visit Bloomington

A group tours the beautiful Indiana University campus in Bloomington. ing space to the existing 30,000 square feet. The project will include building a new 120-room Marriott Courtyard adjacent to the convention center, and both properties are scheduled to complete construction by the end of 2019.

For a spicy sample of local flavor, planners can work with the internationally acclaimed Chile Pepper Institute on campus to schedule an interactive presentation at the event venue. During the program, attendees learn about the different types of chiles grown in the area, as well as the many products they are used in, such as chocolate, cosmetics and ice cream. www.lascrucescvb.org

Bloomington, Indiana

Bloomington is a charming college town in southern Indiana with a thriving campus community at Indiana University. The campus is the flagship institution of the university system’s eight campuses and

June 2018

houses the largest event venue in the city: the Indiana Memorial Union. Built during the 1930s, this expansive 500,000-square-foot facility is one of the largest student unions in the world and offers nearly 30 different meeting spaces; 11 accommodate full on-site catering services.

Next door to the Indiana Memorial Union, the Biddle Hotel features 189 newly renovated guest rooms decorated with memorabilia and artwork from Indiana University students. Thanks to the diverse talents of university students and staff, groups can often find top-quality entertainment like plays, comedy shows, musicals and jazz concerts, which take place weekly throughout the year.

Between sessions, attendees can take a self-guided tour of campus or get in touch with Visit Bloomington to coordinate a custom program. Since limestone is one of Indiana’s most well-known resources, many groups enjoy doing a limestone building tour that highlights some of the unique architecture on campus.

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Courtesy Visit Normal

The Sam Noble Museum at the University of Oklahoma is available for private events.

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“It’s something that people seek out, especially during June, which is Limestone Month,” said Kaylin Worthington, convention sales manager at Visit Bloomington.

The Monroe Convention Center in downtown provides an additional 24,000 square feet of meeting space for groups, and visitors can walk a couple of blocks from campus to enjoy shops, restaurants and other activities.

“During your conference, you can park your car and not have to move it the whole time you’re here because the city is so walkable,” said Worthington. www.visitbloomington.com

Norman, Oklahoma

Twenty miles south of Oklahoma City, the University of Oklahoma in Norman features a remarkable range of facilities and museums.

“The University of Oklahoma is the state’s largest attraction when you consider all the athletic events and museums and other parts of campus,” said Stefanie Brickman, communications manager at Visit Norman. “It has incredible name recognition from coast to coast, so we realize that a lot of meeting professionals selecting Norman may want to

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Courtesy Visit Tallahassee

Game-day celebrations are an important part of campus life at Florida State University in Tallahassee.

include the university as part of that experience.”

Two of the university’s largest event venues are the Lloyd Noble Center, an 11,528-seat multipurpose arena, and the Oklahoma Memorial Union, a 25,000-square-foot student activity center with Gothic-style architecture and coffered ceilings.

In addition to traditional event spaces, there are several exquisite off-site venues on campus. Groups can take exclusive, behind-thescenes tours of the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, which is considered one of the top natural-history museums in the world, or enjoy a private meal function surrounded by the artwork of masters like Monet, van Gogh, Renoir and Degas in the Fred Jones Museum of Art. Another must-see on campus is the National Weather Center, a five-story research center that houses some of the country’s finest meteorologists, climatologists, scientists and engineers. Though tours must be scheduled two weeks in advance, visitors can walk through the National Severe Storms Laboratory and see the movie props from the 1996 film “Twister.” www.visitnorman.com

Tallahassee, Florida

Though rich with history, Florida’s capital city of Tallahassee is imbued with a young and energetic vibe fueled by its high percentage of young adult residents.

“Tallahassee is not only one of the youngest cities in Florida but also the most educated,” said Rachel Jeter, public relations and marketing specialist at Visit Tallahassee, referring to the 2017 study by

June 2018

21

Courtesy Visit Tallahassee

Locals display their love for Tallahassee.

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A successful event starts with the right venue. With nearly 30 event spaces available for rental, the Indiana Memorial Union is the ideal place to host any kind of event, from intimate gatherings to large conferences.

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Meeting Ideas

WalletHub that ranked the city the 10th-mosteducated city in America.

The city’s record number of college degrees earned per capita is largely due to the presence of two major universities in town — Florida State University and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University — both within minutes of downtown.

“The area around both of these universities has experienced significant growth in recent years,” said Janet Roach, marketing and conventions director at Visit Tallahassee. “From Railroad Square Art Park to Gaines Street, all of those places have walkable restaurants and shops that attraction students as well as visitors.”

The 64,000-square-foot University Club Center on the Florida State University campus serves as the largest event venue in town, encompassing three and a half floors at the Doak Campbell Stadium. Planners can make use of various areas in this upscale facility, such as the private dining space, boardroom areas and outdoor decks overlooking the field.

Attached to the basketball arena, the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center presents a spacious exhibition hall with 35,000 square feet of uninterrupted function space as well as six carpeted meeting rooms. For smaller events, the Florida State Conference Center contains 11 meeting spaces,

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Courtesy Visit Bloomington

The Sample Gates serve as an entryway to the 1,860-acre University of Indiana campus in Bloomington.

S T A Y L A F AY E T T E Plan your escape to the Happiest City in America.

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June 2018

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Courtesy Visit Syracuse

The Oncenter Convention Center in Syracuse offers 200,000 square feet of meeting space.

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Meeting Ideas

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Built around the Erie Canal in upstate New York, Syracuse offers meeting planners a scenic, central getaway from some of the larger cities in the state.

“Our location is really ideal,” said Danny Liekda, president and CEO of Visit Syracuse. “We’re right in the middle of the state, with Albany less than two hours to the east, Buffalo less than two hours to the west and Canada less than an hour north.

We offer world-class amenities with the affordability of a smaller destination.”

Just a few minutes from Syracuse University, the Oncenter Nicholas J. Pirro Convention Center comprises 200,000 square feet of meeting, exhibition, arena and theater space. The center’s adaptable arena can accommodate ice, basketball and turf sports, and the multifunction theater space includes a black-box theater, a 458-seat theater and a 2,100-seat theater.

The Sheraton University Hotel and Conference Center is conveniently located in the heart of campus, offering 10,000 square feet of meeting space throughout 10 meeting rooms and two

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Courtesy Visit Syracuse

Syracuse Univeristy’s Carrier Dome is the country’s largest domed stadium on a college campus. elegant ballrooms. On campus, groups can also take a free tour of the 49,262-seat Carrier Dome, the only domed stadium in the Northeast and the largest structure of its kind on a college campus in the nation.

The university recently announced plans to implement a $118 million renovation of the facility.

To learn more about Syracuse’s colorful background as a port city, travelers can visit the Lake Erie Canal Museum, which chronicles the history of the 363-mile waterway that connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. www.visitsyracuse.com

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June 2018

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BASQUE-ING IN BOISE This Idaho city has a rich cultural heritage and mee ting space abundant meeting

By Katherine Tandy Brown

Visitors to Boise can enjoy paddleboard yoga and other activities on the Boise River.

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Destination Showcase

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

“We’d all like to be a little Basque. It’s a culture everyone puts their arms around.”

B

oise is full of pleasant surprises.

Basque Museum and Cultural Center, a historic former boardinghouse All about outdoor adventure and sustainability, this destithat’s a treasure of information on these self-reliant people, and the nation in the foothills of the Rockies heats many homes and Basque Market, famous for its giant paellas and delicious pintxos, even its state capitol with geothermal energy which are similar to tapas. pumped from 3,000 feet underground — it’s “We’d all like to be a little Basque,” said the only state capitol in the nation to do so. Its Terry Kopp, director of sales for the Boise downtown is compact and walkable, with Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It’s a culture 100-plus shops, nearly as many restaurants, a everyone puts their arms around.” number of microbreweries, growler bars and Groups can participate in cooking classes a rockin’ nightlife. Three rivers — the Boise, and wine tastings, or rent the entire block, Payette and Snake — converge here, their tour the museum, revel in the dancing and banks rife with the cottonwoods that give enjoy a yummy meal at one of several Basque Boise its nickname: City of Trees. A 25-mile eateries. The convention center and downGreenbelt bicycle and pedestrian path hugs town hotels are but a short walk away. the Boise River, which affords great fishing.

Meetings Growth Idaho’s first designated American Not surprisingly, Boise is experiencing treViticultural Area, the Snake River Valley, with mendous growth. the ideal microclimates, soil and conditions “In the downtown area alone, three new for growth, boasts the highest density of vinehotels opened up in the last year and a half, yards and wineries in the state. all with meeting space, and a Hilton Garden Boise’s farm-to-table cuisine scene is lively.

Skiing Bogus Basin near Boise Inn will open by the end of the summer,” Getting here is not difficult. Winters are mild.

Kopp said. “Certainly, a part of our growth is Because the city is home several corporate All photos courtesy Boise CVB because Boise has shown up on a number of headquarters, including Albertson’s and lists, like Time magazine’s No. 1 city for Micron Technology, and an HP Laser Print ‘Getting It Right.’ division, nonstop flights leave Boise for 21 cit“But the big news that ups our ante in the ies daily. The airport is a 10-minute drive into LOCATION meetings market is the expansion of Boise town, and all hotels offer free airport shuttle Southwest Idaho Centre.” service.

ACCESS Completed in 2017, the convention center’s Boise Airport, Interstate 84 Basque Heritage $47.5 million makeover increased its flexible The largest Basque population per capita space to 86,000 square feet. A theater was conMAJOR MEETING SPACES outside of Spain lives in Boise. verted into a 4,000-square-foot junior ballBoise Centre, Grove Hotel, Courtyard by Lured by the 1800s California gold rush, room. In addition, a 24,426-square-foot grand Marriott Boise Downtown, Hotel 43, Residence shepherds from the Basque region, which ballroom can host 1,220 for a reception, up to Inn Boise Downtown City Center, Inn at 500, straddles the border between France and 1,670 for a banquet and 2,754 theater-style.

Hyatt Place Boise Downtown, Hampton Spain, stopped by the Rockies, settled in Idaho The center also has an upscale executive Inn and Suites Boise Downtown, Red Lion instead. Basque women came to work in boardroom, 31 meeting rooms, a second-floor Downtown, Riverside Hotel, Safari Inn boardinghouses where the men lived and patio and an indoor walkway that connects HOTEL ROOMS started families. the building’s two sections.

6,000 sleeping rooms Today, that thriving community keeps its “We went from accommodating 600 to OFFSITE VENUES culture alive through schools that teach the 1,600,” said Pat Rice, the facility’s executive Jack’s Urban Meeting Place, Basque Block, Basque language — Euskara — and traditional director.

“For the industry, we’re still a minOld Idaho Penitentiary, Stueckly Sky Center, dances. Jaialdi, a festival held every five years, now in the ocean, but for Idaho, we’re the big Warhawk Air Museum brings thousands of people to Boise, many fish.”

CONTACT INFO from Spain, to compete in traditional competiLast July, Boise hosted its largest nonBoise Convention and Visitors Bureau tions. The next festival will be in 2020. sports-tournament convention ever at the 800-635-5240 Downtown, the Basque Block houses the center. Some 1,500 members of the Council of www.boise.org

Boise, Idaho

June 2018

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Hot air balloons fill the sky during the Spirit of Boise Ballon Festival.

“We can now do two conventions simultaneously or combine a convention with lots of local events.”

State Territorial Epidemiologists used 13 hotel properties for 3,600 room nights.

“Because of the success of an earlier, smaller convention and site visit here, this group said yes,” Rice said. “Seven of our high-quality hotel properties are within walking distance of the center. We provided transportation for the remainder, which made the convention work well.

“We can now do two conventions simultaneously or combine a convention with lots of local events. Our ideal size is 1,200 if we want to meet ’em, feed ’em and exhibit ’em.”

The center’s main entrance opens onto the Grove Plaza, a rentable outdoor space with a fountain, trees and seating.

The trendy boutique 43 Hotel, with 112 rooms and suites and 1,300 square feet of event space, and the AAA Four-Diamond, 250-room Grove Hotel, the largest full-service hotel downtown, are a short walk away. Attached to the Grove, CenturyLink Arena seats 5,000 for concerts and sports events.

Off-site Options

Off-site venues abound in this metropolitan area of more than 616,000.

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Destination Showcase

Close to downtown, the Boise State University campus has five meeting sites, including the four-level Stueckly Sky Center that sits atop Bronco Stadium and overlooks its famous blue football field.

Three private banquet rooms provide a total of 14,704 square feet of space, including 7,100 at the Double R Ranch Club, plenty for a standup reception for 500.

Between 1872 and 1973, about 13,000 of the West’s most desperate criminals did hard time in the Old Idaho Penitentiary. Now groups can visit the stark, imposing structure; peek into solitary confinement, the cell blocks and the gallows; and admire the prison’s impressive collection of historic arms and military artifacts. Attendees can creep out at a spooky Halloween event.

A 45-minute drive from Boise, Cascade Raft and Kayak gets folks out into Idaho’s exceptional natural beauty.

“It’s easy to schedule a raft trip as an ice breaker at the beginning of a meeting, an extra event if people are coming early or staying late, or for team building,” said Anne Long, whose family has owned and run the business since 1985. Team competition happens on water and land.

Afterward, paddlers can dine on a deck overlooking the Payette River, complete with on-tap microbrews.

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Snowsports offer opportunities for groups meeting in Boise to enjoy the nearby Rocky Mountains.

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At the 40,000-square-foot Warhawk Air Museum, aviation history is on tap through memorabilia from World Wars I and II and the Korean, Cold and Vietnam wars; static and operational aircraft from those eras are also on display.

“We can seat up to 500 for a dinner with docents as tour guides and live music, all among priceless World War II aircraft,” said Pat Kilroy, executive director.

With a mission of “creating an environment to inspire human potential,” Jack’s Urban Meeting Place (JUMP) is a not-for-profit off-site venue that’s pure think-outside-thebox. Options include a kitchen studio, where groups of 30 can create recipes for an Iron Chef competition, or participatory activities — “explorative playing” in JUMP language — for up to 170. A theater-style room can host 525 seated.

“We meet with planners to determine their team-building goals so as to provide a personalized opportunity to enhance collaboration and communication,” said Kathy O’Neill, JUMP’s community engagement director. “For example, they might create something together to benefit their community in our Make Studio.”

At the Wahooz Fun Zone, meeting rooms can accommodate 10 to 300 guests; a new 12,500-square-foot Galaxy Event Center can hold up to 600. This extraordinary teambuilding site has a new four-story, 17,000-square-foot adventure park with a ropes course and amusement rides, a laser maze, neon-lit bumper cars that hover, bumper boats, bowling, miniature golf, an arcade and a restaurant.

There’s even an eight-person photo booth.

Meeting-goers will find plenty of places to relax and celebrate in Boise’s vibrant downtown.

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Destination Showcase

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Local Fun

Opportunities for fresh-air fun and team building abound at Bogus Basin ski resort, where groups can enjoy alpine night-skiing, Nordic skiing, snowboarding, tubing and snowshoeing 15 miles from Boise. A new 4,000-footlong mountain coaster speeds riders downhill at 25 mph in the offseason. Though wintry Bogus is deep with snow, Boise’s annual mean temperature is a not-all-that-chilly 51.5 degrees.

“People have a lot of misconceptions about our city,” said Kopp. “Our winters are not cold like Chicago’s. Our biggest challenge is getting planners to come and see Boise as a meetings destination. Once we get them here, they say, ‘Wow! Who knew?’ ‘This is really nice,’ ‘I could live here.’

And actually, you can get here from there.”

Downtown Boise’s arts and cultural scene thrives with a philharmonic, an opera, a ballet, an annual Shakespeare Festival, the Boise Art Museum, the Idaho Historical Museum and an architectural, historic district, and Sundaybrunch food walking tours. By the Greenbelt path, the Idaho Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial was the first in the U.S. “Everything about Boise makes it a perfect meetings destination,” said Rice. “It’s the community dynamics, the Boise Centre and hotel property expansions — just the overall vibrancy.”

The Boise Ballet performs “The Nutcracker.”

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Visit boisecentre.com to view interactive floor plans or to submit an event inquiry.

June 2018

31

Big History in Small Natchitoches

By Katherine Tandy Brown

Above: A group tours the Fort St. Jean Baptiste Historic Site in Natchitoches.

N A T C H I T O C H E S , L O U I S I A N A LOCATION Northwest Louisiana ACCESS Interstate 49, connecting with interstates 10 and 20; Alexandria International Airport, Shreveport Regional Airport, Natchitoches Regional Airport MAJOR MEETING SPACES Natchitoches Events Center, Chateau St. Denis Hotel, Natchitoches Conference Center, Church Street Inn HOTEL ROOMS 972 hotel rooms and 125 bed-and-breakfast rooms OFF-SITE VENUES Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum, Lafayette Street, Beau Jardin and Roque House Gardens, Grand Ecore Visitors Center, Prudhomme Roquier House, Rue Beauport Riverfront CONTACT INFO Natchitoches Convention and Visitors Bureau 800-259-1714 www.natchitoches.com

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Destination Showcase

Left: Live oaks line the front lawn at Oakland Plantation.

T

he first thing you need to know about Natchitoches, Louisiana, is how to say its name. Thanks to 300 years of French colonial history, the proper pronunciation of all those letters is “NACK-a-tish.”

Established in 1714, the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Territory is one of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations and recipient of its Main Street Award. Loaded with eclectic shops, its 33-block National Landmark Historic District echoes a European past with houses that sport wrought-iron balconies, restaurants that offer cuisine from Creole and Cajun to barbecue and Cuban, and a few bricked streets. All sit on the long, narrow Cane River Lake, which meanders through town.

“Natchitoches is a little city with a big history,” said Katherine Johnson, group tours and special events manager for the Natchitoches Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It surprises you because it’s such a small place but has such authentic Creole-Cajun cultural experiences with many tie-ins that groups can use to create a more memorable meeting experience, all with a quaint Southern charm.”

It is the same charm that led Natchitoches to being chosen as the filming site for the classic Southern movie “Steel Magnolias” in 1988. Among the 17 sites on a “Steel Magnolias” tour are the Northwestern State University Field House and the Steel Magnolia House, one of two historic homes that team up as a bed-and-breakfast with enough rooms for a small corporate retreat.

Anchoring the city’s downtown historic district is the 87-room Chateau St. Denis Hotel, with 4,000 square feet of flexible space. Across the street, the Natchitoches Events Center, with floor-to-ceiling windows, adds another 20,000 square feet to host

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Downtown Venues Known for its “picturebook architecture,” the Chateau St. Denis Hotel, in the Southern Living Hotel Collection, has balcony rooms, a French Quarter-style brick courtyard and meeting space for 330. All have picturesque downtown views.

Also embracing French colonial heritage, the Natchitoches Events Center caters local cuisine at its functions. Attendees can savor meat pie, Louisiana seafood and Creole entrees.

Nearby, the Church Street Inn, built in 1961 as a bank, has an outdoor patio that works well for receptions. It’s within walking distance to lovely Cane River Lake and to Northwestern University, which boasts nearly 40,000 square feet of meeting space, including a boardroom.

Sports and History Museum The stunning $23 million, 27,000-square-foot Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest History Museum stands appropriately in the Natchitoches National Historic District. Here, interactive media, high-definition videos and touch screens reveal the stats and life stories of such natives as Archie Manning, “Pistol” Pete Maravich, Shaquille O’Neal and New Orleans-born Audrey “Mickey” Patterson, the first AfricanAmerican woman to win an Olympic medal.

A private museum meeting room can accommodate 40.

“The building that houses both entities is beautiful and has won architectural awards,” said Jennae Biddiscombe, branch director of the museum. “After a meeting here, attendees can take a guided tour.”

All photos courtesy Nathcitoches CVB

1,000 people. Up to 100 can meet at the 20-room Church Street Inn, the first boutique hotel in the historic district.

Late-1700s vintage, the Prudhomme Roquier House, one of the most architecturally significant homes in the district, can accommodate 300. And recently bricked Lafayette Street can seat 180 for an outdoor crawfish boil or up to 250 for food booths, a bar and a band.

Outdoor recreation and team-building opportunities abound, with water sports, fishing excursions, skeet shooting and hiking. And at Christmastime, Natchitoches morphs into the “City of Lights.”

It’s easy to see why April’s Southern Living magazine proclaimed it “The Best Small Town in Louisiana.”

By Donaire Photography

Nathcitoches’ Melrose Plantation was built in 1883.

June 2018

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Creole Cookin’

Paddle and Pedal

For more than 50 years, Lasyone’s Meat Pie Kitchen has been serving “soulful Louisiana Creole” fare that features its internationally known meat pies — think empanadas stuffed with flavored meats and spices. Sharing the menu are crawfish pies and Cane River Mud Pie. Family owned and run, this 115-seat hot spot ships worldwide and has garnered raves in Southern Living, Gourmet and The New Yorker and has fed a slew of household names, such as Charles Kuralt and the stars of “Steel Magnolias.” The filming shot it to fame. In September, the Meat Pie Festival will offer samples of specialty beer and a “lotta hotta meat pies.”

Whether team building or touring is a group’s goal, Cane River Paddle and Pedal can provide exciting options. On Rue Beauport Riverfront, which just completed a $4 million restoration, this company can tailor an adventure, starting with guided river tours. Its equipment includes stand-up paddleboards; single and double kayaks; hydrobikes, which are pedal bicycles on pontoons; and something called a Hobie Mirage Eclipse.

“It’s a stand-up paddleboard with handlebars,” said Gerry Kiefer, company owner with his wife, Julia. “You step on it like an elliptical machine to propel through water.”

Team building can include competitions, exercises or staged “rescues” on stand-up paddleboards.

Plantation Country

Other Meeting Venues

Three major plantations near Natchitoches beckon visitors to peek into the past.

The first, Melrose Plantation, is its own entity. Its 1883 main house is a haven for artists and writers and hosts Louisiana’s longest-running arts and crafts festival. Clementine Hunter, a field hand and cook at Melrose, became one of the South’s premier primitive artists. Groups can use an outdoor reception space.

The other two properties, which can be toured but not rented, are part of Cane River Creole National Park. Oakland Plantation, with 17 original outbuildings, is a National Bicentennial Farm; Magnolia Plantation has a gin barn and former slave hospital.

On the banks of Cane River Lake, newly constructed Beau Jardin and Roque House Gardens provides an intimate setting complete with waterfalls for an outdoor event of up to 100 guests.

Seventy-five can gather outdoors for before-meetings or afterhours events at Cane River National Heritage Area’s Grand Ecore Visitors Center atop a bluff overlooking the Red River. “It’s a great place to see the region’s topography,” said Rebecca Blankenbaker, public relations director of the Heritage Area.

At the Fort St. Jean Baptiste Historic Site, costumed interpreters offer a taste of French colonial history. An escape from the replica fort adds team building extraordinaire.

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Destination Showcase

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Jersey’s Science Center

By Kristy Alpert

T

raditional rules go out the window the second visitors enter the Liberty Science Center (LSC) in Jersey City, New Jersey.

This 300,000-square-foot interactive museum invites its guests to touch and play with its displays and exhibits in a way that encourages exploration and discovery. The center opened in 1993 as New Jersey’s first major state science museum and is now the largest interactive science center in the Greater New York City and New Jersey area.

Home to the largest and most technologically advanced planetarium in the Western Hemisphere, the Liberty Science Center has become a top destination for families, and many of the center’s first visitors who had originally come as children are now bringing their own children to relive some of their favorite childhood memories. The museum is for all ages, where the young and young at heart can interact and discover alongside one another in a fun and educational environment.

In the center are 12 hands-on exhibition halls, among them the Touch Tunnel and much beloved Hoberman Sphere, a silver, computer-driven engineering artwork designed by Chuck Hoberman; a liveanimal collection with more than 110 species; grand aquariums; a 3D theater; a 35-foot-high climbing gym; live simulcast surgeries; a tornado-force wind simulator; and a blacked-out, 80-foot-long crawlthrough maze. Many school-aged groups look to the center for its on- and off-site learning programs, but the center is popular with older crowds as well. During film nights and monthly events like LSC

36

Venue Showcase

Photos courtesy Liberty Science Center

Above: Liberty Science Center can be used as a venue for elegant after-hours affairs.

Left: The center offers views across the river to the Manhattan skyline.

After Dark, guests 21 and older can enter the center after hours for a night of drinking, eating, exploring and dancing with a live DJ. The center regularly hosts birthday parties, school field trips, campins and Scout weekends, but it also offers more than 15 different meeting spaces that can accommodate groups of up to 1,800 guests. The ADA-compliant building’s stunning views of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty make it a great space for holding memorable corporate meetings, glamorous cocktail receptions and intimate dinners.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Meeting Spaces The meeting spaces at the Liberty Science Center are broken up based on floor location. The first floor is home to the PSE&G Court, for up to 700 guests; the Skyscraper! Gallery, for up to 150 guests; and the Center for Learning and Teaching, for up to 250 guests. The second floor holds the Governor’s Hall, for up to 800 guests; the Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium and LSC Giant Dome Theatre, for up to 390 guests; the Joseph D. Williams 3D Science Center, for up to 300 guests; the I

Explore, for up to 80 guests; Group Dining, for up to 400 guests; the Café Banks, for up to 70 guests; and the Lawn, for up to 1,500 guests. The third floor holds the Board Room, for up to 45 guests; the Breakout Room, for up to 100 guests; and the M. Galleries, a 20,000-square-foot gallery space. The fourth floor tops things off with the Fourth Floor Galleries, for up to 300 guests, and the Observation Tower, for up to 80 guests.

Catering The Liberty Science Center’s onsite catering partner, Catering by Restaurant Associates (CxRA), is well known on the East Coast for its uncompromising quality. The company not only plates each of its creations artfully, but also sources all its ingredients from local providers, using only the freshest meat and dairy products, seasonal pro-

duce, and renewably sourced seafood. CxRA creates custom menus and offers a range of set options to help narrow the choices, but meeting planners can also use a number of other preferred off-site caterers.

Other recommended choices include Cosi Catering, Encore Catering NJ, Frungillo Caterers and Signature Creations Caterers.

Between Events

Liberty Science Center

It would be a shame not to check out the hands-on exhibits and the amazing planetarium while at the Liberty Science Center for a meeting or event. However, for guests looking to make the most of their time in the area, the center’s proximity to the Hudson-Bergen Light

Rail train makes it easy for anyone to quickly catch a train into New York City. The center is only minutes from some of the world’s most visited travel sites, including the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, among others.

LOCATION

Jersey City, New Jersey

TYPE OF VENUE Off-site, museum

CAPACITY 1,800 guests

NEARBY ACCOMMODATIONS Residence Inn Jersey City

CONTACT INFO 201-200-1000 www.lsc.org

June 2018

Extras Even the most exciting events can benefit from a few small enhancements, and the Liberty Science Center’s engaging science programs are a great addition to any gathering. Enjoy live science demonstrations with the center’s Science Educators, or get up close and personal with furry, slimy or flying creatures as an animal hus-

bandry expert brings life to the event. The events team can create mini one-on-one science experiments to delight guests or can arrange for scientific to-go gift packs so guests can take home a souvenir from their time at the center. Meeting groups can also take advantage of discounted Imax and 3D Tickets while at the center.

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Waterfront Wisconsin

By Rachel Carter

The Lakeside Park Lighthouse is the most photographed location in Fond du Lac.

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isconsin Wisconsin is bordered to the north by Lake Superior, to the east by Lake Michigan and to the west by the might Mississippi River and dotted all over by countless be best inland lakes, streams and rivers.

Wisconsin communities take full advantage of their known for its waterways, shorelines and riverbanks, and planners cheese and its will find plenty of options to do the same for their cheeseheads, but events. the state should Fond du Lac be just as French for “far end of the lake” or “bottom of the renowned for its lake,” the city of Fond du Lac is “anchored at the foot of water. one of the country’s largest freshwater inland lakes,”

said Carrie Stollenwerk, director of sales for the Fond du Lac Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The lake is one of the city’s biggest and best features, and groups can enjoy it on the shore or on the water. The Lakeside Park Pavilion sits just steps from the water’s edge, and “it’s like having a little house on the lake,” Stollenwerk said. The pavilion can accommodate up to 225 people, and it sits in the 400-acre Lakeside Park, where groups can climb to the top of a lighthouse, visit the zoo, stroll past the marina or rent kayaks and pedal boats to navigate the canal that winds through the park.

The lake is known for its “silent sports,” especially sailing and windsurfing, because the winds come whipping off the Niagara Escarpment on the eastern side of the lake. The Wind Power Surf Shop offer group

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Wisconsin Meeting Guide

lessons and rentals for windsurfing, kite sailing and paddleboarding.

The 139-room Holiday Inn Fond du Lac recently doubled the size of the Lake Winnebago Conference Center to 14,000 square feet; the space includes a 6,250-square-foot ballroom that can be halved as well as several other smaller flexible meeting rooms. The hotel also recently remodeled and reimagined its former Holidome as a 10,000-square-foot reception hall; an adjoining courtyard offers outdoor space.

The hotel and conference center anchor the conference district, which includes two neighboring hotels with another 300 guest rooms.

In downtown, Hotel Retlaw is “undergoing a grand transformation” and is slated to reopen in December, Stollenwerk said. The interior of the 1920s hotel has been reduced to bare bones and is being rebuilt and restored as an urban luxury hotel with an Art Deco flair. The 127-room boutique hotel will have 10,000 square feet of function space, including the 3,400-square-foot Crystal Ballroom, which will return to its Roaring ’20s elegance and retain its crystal chandelier.

Just steps from Hotel Retlaw, planners will find the Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts, housed half in the historic Masonic Temple building and half in a contemporary addition. In the historic side, groups can book the 2,900-square-foot Fountain City Room or the 1,800-square-foot Grand Hall Lounge with an arched

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

stage. In the contemporary wing, groups can gather in the galleries, the six breakout rooms or a 2,000-squarefoot outdoor plaza. www.fdl.com

La Crosse

By Casey French, courtesy Fond du Lac Area CVB

June 2018

La Crosse sits on the Mississippi River, which forms Wisconsin’s western border with Minnesota. With so much urban riverfront, many of the city’s venues are on the shoreline.

The 169-room Radisson Hotel La Crosse sits on the river’s edge and has meeting facilities that total 11,500 square feet for up to 400 people. The 3,450-square-foot main ballroom looks out into downtown, and the onsite restaurant, Three Rivers Lodge, offers river views.

The Radisson serves at the convention hotel for the La Crosse Center, the city’s convention hall and arena also on the riverbanks. The arena seats between 5,000 and 7,500, depending on the setup, and has a convention center with two halls that can be combined for 36,000 square feet. Groups can also use three boardrooms, a conference room and a 6,000-square-foot, second-floor ballroom that delivers views of the river.

North of the convention complex, the AmericInn by Wyndham fronts the Black River, a tributary of the Mississippi that forms the east side of French Island, and guests can arrive via car or boat. The hotel’s on-site restaurant, Moxie’s, is redoing its outdoor patio to have

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a tiki-bar feel, and “people can pull right up on their boats,” said Ben Morgan, director of group sales and sports services for Explore La Crosse. With 2,000 square feet of event space in four flexible meeting rooms, the hotel can accommodate conferences and banquets for up to 350 guests.

The La Crosse Queen riverboat docks at downtown Riverside Park, and both can serve as event venues. The 149-passenger stern-wheeler offers daily sightseeing cruises as well as private charters and special-event cruises such as brunch, dinner and pizza outings. The historic Riverside Park opened in 1911 and serves as a community gathering place for festivals and events, such as company picnics and barbecues. The park is also home to the Riverside International Friendship Gardens, a collection of gardens and landscapes around the globe.

To get on the water, groups can rent kayaks, canoes and paddleboards from Island Outdoors on French Island. “Bluff hiking is very popular around here,” Morgan said, and Grandad Bluff is the area’s most popular bluff hiking location, although “hiking” doesn’t accurately describe the activity. Groups can drive to the top of the 600-foot bluff where they’ll find a park, a picnic area and views of the river, as well as panoramas of Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. www.explorelacrosse.com

Chr

l ntrl s v l , n i lc i mei o s h i

Janesville offers a variety of meeting spaces and a wide selection of hotels, restaurants and attractions including many affordable options that provide you with great value. Janesville is easily accessible - right off of I-39/90. Call the Janesville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau today at (800) 487-2757.

Janesvillecvb.com 40

Wisconsin Meeting Guide

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Oshkosh

Oshkosh is surrounded — and shaped — by water. It sits between Lake Winnebago on the east and Lake Butte des Morts on the west and straddles the Fox River, which connects the two lakes.

“Water has always played a pretty big part in Oshkosh,” said Justin DeJager, director of marketing for the Oshkosh Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The city’s downtown riverfront is a hub for leisure travelers and meeting planners alike. The Best Western Premier Waterfront Hotel and Convention Center sits on the river’s edge, and “groups will often have receptions or sit-down dinners outside right along the riverfront,” said Cathy Cluff, director of sales for the CVB. Best Western Premier manages the recently renovated Oshkosh Convention Center, which is connected via skywalk. The convention center has 18,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 15,000-square-foot conference hall that can be split into eight smaller rooms.

The hotel has several more flexible conference rooms, including a 3,500-square-foot ballroom, and connects directly to the city’s Riverwalk trail.

The hotel, convention center, Riverside Park and Leach Amphitheater all form a line along the riverfront.

Groups can reserve the 7,500-capacity Leach Amphitheater, and visitors can follow the Riverwalk to waterfront restaurants and bars such as Ground Round at River’s Edge and Fox River Brewing Co. Becket’s is just a short walk from the Best Western, and the riverfront restaurant can seat up to 500 for a meal. Becket’s can accommodate such large groups because it’s in a former mall that now houses a variety of shops and businesses and has “a beautiful atrium area that can be used for events,” Cluff said.

The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Alumni Welcome and Conference Center sits on a riverfront park and has a flexible 8,000-square-foot ballroom, four 40-person breakout rooms and two boardrooms.

Loos Cruises offers riverboat tours on the river and both lakes and “launches right from the Riverwalk,” DeJager said. In addition to sightseeing cruises, the company offers private charters for up to 39 people.

Off the riverbanks and on the lakeshore, The Waters was built in 1903 on Lake Winnebago as the Oshkosh Yacht Club. The Georgian Revival-style mansion can accommodate groups of 300, and the Grand Ballroom seats 172 for meals. Planners can also use the first-floor Harbor Bar and Winnebago Room, the waterfront screened-in porch or the open-air, second-story balcony.

Half a mile north up the shoreline, groups can explore the Menominee Park zoo or rent kayaks, canoes, paddleboards and paddleboats in the park. www.visitoshkosh.com

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Wisconsin Originals

By Rachel Carter

Courtesy Homestead Meadows Farm

Up to 50 guests can pile onto wagons for tractor-pulled rides around Homestead Meadows Farm in Greenville.

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It’s dotted with rich farmland and verdant pastures. hen it’s And, of course, it’s blanketed with Green Bay Packers not cov- fans. But there are plenty of urban offerings as well. ered in At these Wisconsin venues, groups can walk through a bog to see orchids in bloom or take a hayride pulled snow, Wisconsin is green in nearly by antique tractors, gather in a 1930 military armory or meet in a converted midcentury Cadillac dealership. every sense of the word. It’s carpeted Automobile Gallery Green Bay with old-growth William “Red” Lewis of Green Bay is a car guy forests, lush river through and through. Lewis grew up admiring the difdeltas and grassy ferent cars that came through the car wash where he worked. He sold auto parts and drove a wrecker before plains. inventing and manufacturing the touchless automatic carwash, several of which he still owns and operates in northeast Wisconsin. So it’s not surprising Lewis is also an avid collector of cars.

“He loves cars and kept on buying cars,” said Kathryn Gardner, executive director of the Automobile Gallery in downtown Green Bay. Following a health scare, Lewis started talking with his family about what to do with his collection. That led to the idea of creating a gallery both to display his cars and host events. He bought the long-vacant 1958 Denil Cadillac dealership building, renovated it, preserved the facade and opened the Automobile Gallery in 2016.

Today, the gallery displays about 55 cars during the

June 2018

winter and up to 70 during the summer using outdoor spaces. The collection includes three cars visitors can sit in: a 1981 DeLorean, a 1972 red convertible Chevelle and a 1919 Dort Speedster. The oldest car in the collection is a 1912 Maxwell.

The gleaming chrome and glittering glass serve as decor as guests pass through the showroom to the Lewis Gallery, a purpose-built event space that seats 160 for banquets. In the mezzanine-level executive boardroom, a glass wall slides open to overlook the showroom floor, which can also be set up for larger events. The Lewis Gallery connects to a fenced, landscaped outdoor area where planners can put live music, food trucks, car shows and even a pig roast.

The indoor space can accommodate about 200 guests and includes a full catering kitchen, and the gallery has welcomed about 650 people using its outdoor space, including the back event area and adjacent parking lot. www.theautomobilegallery.org

Hunt Hill Audubon Sanctuary Sarona

The Hunt Hill Audubon Sanctuary sits on 600 acres about 75 miles north of Eau Claire and serves as a mosaic of Wisconsin’s natural habitats.

“Within a quarter-mile walk, you can be in oldgrove forest, cutover forest; you can be at a lake, a bog, a marsh, a prairie,” said executive director Nikki Janisin.

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Courtesy Hunt Hill Audubon Sanctuary

Groups can use a cedar-plank stage and amphitheater for presentations at Hunt Hill Audubon Sanctuary in Sarona.

Meetings meet Convenience

Homestead Meadows Farm Greenville

Complimentary services

Unique lakeside dining

Team & social activities

Conveniently located between Milwaukee and Madison, we offer complimentary personalized services to help make your meeting a success. Additionally, our area offers:  More than 100,000 square feet of affordable, flexible meeting space  1,100 guestrooms with complimentary parking  Plenty of after-hours dining and entertainment options for your attendees

Learn more at visitwaukesha.org/meetings

42

Wisconsin Meeting Guide

The sanctuary exudes summer-camp charm. Most of the camp operates seasonally between May and October, but the camp will soon remodel, expand and winterize the sanctuary’s Program Learning Center Garage, which can seat 150 to 200 people. The plan is to have that venue climate-controlled and available for year-round use by May 2019, Janisin said.

By far, “people enjoy the Barn and Library the best,” she said. The Barn has a 100-person dining hall downstairs decorated with old camp signs on the walls, and sliding barn doors lead to outdoor areas that can be used as overflow for larger events. An upstairs loft can be used for meetings and events for about 100 people.

Despite its name, the Library is a stand-alone 100-person-capacity building shaded by trees on the edge of a forested area. Inside, guests will find hardwood floors, wood-beam ceilings and a fieldstone fireplace.

The Amphitheater, which opened in 2012, has a cedar-plank stage, and the camp used salvaged brick to build grassy, terraced seating for 100 people.

For team-building activities, groups use the lowropes “cooperation course,” opt for a canoeing program or take a pontoon ride.

The camp’s 13 miles of trails are also perfect for group hikes and nature walks, especially walking to the bog on an elevated boardwalk.

“The cool part about it is, end of June, it will be purple and pink because of the orchids blooming, and in the fall, the tamaracks have turned from green to gold — it’s different every season,” Janisin said. www.hunthill.org

Steve Nagy wanted to move his family to the country, where he could give his kids plenty of space to roam and room to grow, much like he had growing up in Hungary.

So, in 1970, he bought a farm at auction, despite being warned that although the land was good, the buildings were unsalvageable. Nagy spent the summer camping out at the property and working to repair and restore the buildings, including the farmhouse, the barn and the machine shed.

Today, nearly 50 years later, Nagy is still providing the same countryside experience and farmlike atmosphere, but to event attendees instead of his own family. Up to 50 guests can pile into wagons hitched up to one of several restored, bright-red Farmall tractors for a hayride tour of some of the farm’s 55 landscaped acres to see white cedar groves, ponds and wildflowers.

“It’s very much like a slightly rustic park setting,” he said.

The farm is in the township of Greenville, about 20 miles north of Oshkosh and 40 miles southwest of Green Bay. The barn is the largest venue, and the

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3,200-square-foot lower level has large windows that overlook the south lawns and ponds. The 2,500-squarefoot upper level has a hardwood dance floor and 35-foot ceilings, and an antique glass wall separates a smaller 800-square-foot room that groups often use for food or bar service.

Groups often progress from one space to another in the barn, Nagy said, perhaps holding a meeting upstairs, having a meal downstairs and enjoying cocktails outside.

The renovated machine shed houses two separate spaces. The 800-square-foot rustic Pioneer Room features old plank and brick flooring, and the more refined 1,600-square-foot North Parlor works well for meetings. Each room connects to porches that flank the building, and an event tent can also be used on the east side of the shed. www.homesteadmeadows.com

Armory Janesville

The Armory in downtown Janesville was built in 1930 as a National Guard Armory. It also served as headquarters for the 32nd Tank Company, which became Company A of the 192nd Tank Battalion in 1940. Within a year, the Janesville tank company, known as the Janesville 99, had been trained and dispatched to the Philippine Islands, where troops would eventually be

forced to surrender to the Japanese and embark on the tragic Bataan Death March.

“It has some important history, and there’s a lot of historical integrity to the space,” said Christine Rebout, executive director of the Janesville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

After the building had sat vacant for several years, the exterior was restored and preserved to its original appearance; the interior was renovated to serve as an event venue that can host up to 500 guests. It was also used as a dinner theater, so it has great audiovisual capabilities, Rebout said.

The main space is the Drill Hall, a World War II-era military drill hall with patterned brick walls, exposed metal-beam ceilings, large windows and an open floor plan that can seat about 350 for dinners or more for presentations. Just off the hall and adjacent to the lobby, the Bunker Lounge has a copper bar and connects to an outdoor patio.

Upstairs, the Lieutenant’s Quarters is a separate space with its own private bar that can accommodate up to 52 guests. Across the hall, the Lieutenant’s Alcove is large enough for an additional 20 people.

The Armory also sits on the fringes of Janesville’s downtown, which is undergoing “a huge Renaissance,” so guests can easily walk to a pub, a restaurant or local shops, she said. www.janesvillearmory.com

OSHKOSH IS HOME

to many unique, affordable and flexible venues to fit any event! Our team exceeds expectations and is committed to making your job easier by working diligently to ensure your event is successful.

LET’S GET TOGETHER! CALL (920) 303-9200 TODAY.

VISITOSHKOSH.COM/EVENT-PLANNERS June 2018

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START PLANNING.

The Fox Cities offer convenience, versatility and venues for every type of meeting. An array of exceptional dining options, 3,200+ hotel rooms and group activities, along with our walkable downtown areas will complete your experience.

NEW in 2018 — Fox Cities Exhibition Center (38,000 sq. ft. facility)

FoxCities.org/meeting

Plus Wisconsin’s Best Shopping!

Contact Amy Karas at akaras@foxcities.org or 800.236.6338 FOX CITIES