Small Market Meetings March 2019 by The Group Travel Leader, Inc.

IMPROVING BREAKOUTS | HIGH-TECH DESTINATIONS | ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN MARCH 2019

s e i k c Ro

MEETINGS RESORTS IN THE

H E R E , T H E S TA N DA R D

BRIEFCASE I S N â&#x20AC;&#x2122; T S O S TA N DA R D.

The Resort at Longboat Key Club Book now for 2019/2020. Exclusive meetings incentives found only behind the gates of The Resort at Longboat Key Club. 941-387-1605 | LongboatKeyClub.com

Zota Beach Resort With over 2,700 square feet of ďŹ&#x201A;exible Gulffront event space, Zota Beach Resort is an ideal choice for meetings of up to 150 guests. 855-995-9199 | ZotaBeachResort.com

Aloft

For your next meeting consider trading office chairs for beach chairs, business suits for swim wear and board rooms for wide open spaces. It just may be the change that inspires change. Contact Visit Sarasota County for exclusive meeting incentives.

Located in the heart of downtown, mix work with fun during your next meeting at Aloft Sarasota with meeting & event space for up to 75 attendees. 941-870-0900 | AloftSarasota.com

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5,000 + Hotel Rooms

Let’S StArt PLAnning John S. Knight Center | AKron, oh

15 Minutes Away From CAK

Staff Is 87% Friendlier Than The Other Guys

8 Out Of 10 Visitors Rate Food “Excellent”

99% Chance Of A Successful Event*

35 Minutes Away From CLE

(the other 2 think it’s “Really Good”)

John S. Knight Center

123,000 Square Feet For Convening, Collaborating, Dining & Even Dancing. 279 Combined Years Of Employee Service

79 Steps To Some Great Guacamole

Whether it’s a one-night event or week-long conference, our professional staff at the John S. Knight Center is here to ensure a top-notch experience both inside and out. Call 800.245.4254 or visit johnsknightcenter.org for more information and to reserve your space. Akron, oH

* 1% accounts for the unlikely event of a volcanic eruption

ON THE COVER: The Whispers lounge at Coeur d’Alene Resort overlooks Lake Coeur d’Alene in Idaho’s Rocky Mountains. Courtesy Coeur d’Alene Resort.

INSIDE VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 3

IDEAS High-Tech Destinations

CITY Ann Arbor, Michigan

Courtesy The Broadmoor

TOWN National Harbor, Maryland

MEETING GUIDE The Rockies

D E PA R T M E N T S

INSIGHTS 10 PROFILE 8 Food Trends Karl Pietrzak for 2019

12 MANAGING Creative Breakouts

SMALL MARKET MEETINGS is published monthly by Pioneer Publishing, Inc., 301 E. High St., Lexington, KY 40507, and is distributed free of charge to qualified meeting planners who plan meetings in small and medium size towns and cities. All other meeting industry suppliers may subscribe by sending a check for $39 for one year to: Small Market Meetings, Circulation Department, 301 East High St., Lexington, KY 40507. Phone (866) 356-5128 (toll-free) or (859) 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.

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Mac T. Lacy Publisher/Partner

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Ashley Ricks Graphic Designer

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CUSTOM CONTENT

FROM BOOKING TO

BON VOYAGE MSC EXPERTS ARE THERE FOR MEETING PLANNERS BY VICKIE MITCHELL

here are many upsides to having a meeting or event on a cruise. It’s a chance to work with one company instead of a half dozen as you plan meals, guest rooms, meeting space and activities. It’s the opportunity to turn a ho-hum meeting into an adventure where attendees bond as they spend time together on a ship. Still, meeting planners who’ve never taken an event shipboard might not give it a try because they don’t feel they know enough about how things differ from a land-based program. Wayne Peyreau, regional vice president, sales (U.S.A) for MSC Cruises, the world’s largest privately owned cruise line, understands the concerns. Here, he covers questions planners often pose and explains how MSC works with meeting and incentive groups.

EXPECT TO ANSWER A LOT OF QUESTIONS

An MSC planning expert will spend a lot of time on the phone, talking to a meeting or event planner. “We ask questions to really understand what that end goal is and identify their needs, wants and requirements,” said Peyreau. “Then we can give them options.” Meeting and exhibit spaces, special receptions or meals, teambuilding and onshore excursions as well as audiovisual and other technical needs will be discussed.

WANT YOUR GROUP TO STAND OUT? MSC CAN HELP.

MSC can help brand a gathering with logoed T-shirts, hats, napkins, party invites, banners on ship and off. Branding ideas are especially big with groups that buy out entire ships for their conventions.

CREATIVE USES OF SHIP’S SPACES

MSC’s ships vary in size, facilities and amenities. Some have dedicated meeting space but often public spaces like lounges and libraries double as meeting venues. Availability will be limited to times the venue wouldn’t be needed by regular passengers, Peyreau said. For example, a bar or lounge could be used for a morning meeting.

MSC MIGHT MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS

MSC’s planning experts will review a ship’s bookings to see what other groups are already committed. They want to ensure spaces will be sufficient. “There is just so much space available, so if there is already significant programming on a particular voyage, our team might steer you toward another departure if your meeting dates are flexible,” said Peyreau.

VARIED ITINERARIES WORK FOR DIFFERENT NEEDS

MEETING EXPERT AT YOUR ELBOW

MSC’s meeting experts don’t abandon a planner after the group is on board. “You have someone on board your ship making sure everything is set up as it should be and if not, it is brought to that person’s attention right away,” said Peyreau. That staff member is at every event to ensure everything is in order. If an unexpected issue arises and the MSC expert is not present, planners can simply use one of the phones located throughout the ship and call guest services to reach their contact.

Most of MSC’s ships in the U.S. depart from Miami and are weeklong voyages with stops at several Caribbean ports. For a shorter meeting, planners might look at the three-day cruises MSC is offering to the Bahamas this year on the MSC Divina.

EQUIPMENT AND TECH EXPERTS ON BOARD

MSC’s ships supply high-tech audiovisual equipment and experts to set it up and manage it. Well ahead of departure, MSC will request and review a meeting’s equipment needs. Occasionally, equipment will be required that is not available through MSC, and a planner will need to bring that equipment on board. Their MSC planning expert will explain the process and paperwork needed to accomplish that.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Wayne Peyreau 954-958-3283 www.msccruisesusa.com wayne.peyreau@msccruisesusa.com

JOIN US FOR A TRIP TO CLEARWATER IN AUGUST

ave you always wanted to visit the top meetSITE INSPECTION ATTENDEES WILL ENJOY CLEARWATER’S SCENIC BEACHES (TOP) AND WILL GET FIRSTHAND ings resort properties in LOOKS AT TOP MEETING PROPERTIES IN THE AREA, INCLUDING THE WYNDHAM CLEARWATER (BOTTOM). Clearwater, Florida? Are you looking for ways to learn more about meeting possibilities in Clearwater and have a great time doing it? Do you have a few days to see Clearwater firsthand in August? Would you like to spend a few days with executive staff of Small Market Meetings magazine while you’re at it? If so, we have just the opportunity for you. The City of Clearwater is inviting up to eight of our meeting planner readers to enjoy a four-day site inspection trip, August 26-29. Qualified meeting planners will be guests of the City of Clearwater staff and will enjoy visiting numerous resorts and attractions around the city. And once you get to Clearwater, all your expenses are covered. “Join Small Market Meetings’ managing editor, Brian Jewell, and Kelly Tyner, our director of sales and marketing, for this fun and educational site inspection trip to experience the best of Clearwater’s meeting properties,” said publishBRIAN JEWELL KELLY TYNER er Mac Lacy. “Brian and Kelly will Photos courtesy City of Clearwater accompany our Clearwater hosts on this trip and will be sharing This readership event and site inspection tour is limited to their experiences with everyone in attendance. eight qualified meeting planners. Applicants will complete a “Brian and Kelly will be highlighting the trip in real time brief meeting profile that will be used by the City of Clearwaon social media, and Brian will write an article on this tour for ter staff to select attendees. publication in Small Market Meetings magazine,” said Lacy. To submit your profile and request a spot on this exciting “Participants will have the opportunity to share their imprestrip, go to smallmarketmeetings.com/clearwater-fam and sions and experiences about Clearwater with our staff and fill out your profile online. To inquire by phone or to ask a meet some wonderful hosts from the state. It’s going to be a lot question, call us toll-free at 888-253-0455 and ask for Kelly. of fun for everyone involved.” Registration for this complimentary site inspection trip in All accommodations, sightseeing, transportation and Clearwater closes June 3, so don’t delay. meals are included once participants arrive in Clearwater. Join Brian, Kelly and the City of Clearwater for a wonderIn addition, the City of Clearwater will offer an airfare reimful trip August 26-29. bursement of up to $450 per participant, to be paid at the conclusion of the site inspection trip. 6

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J O I N U S F O R A M E M O R A B L E FA M T O A M E R I C A’ S # 1 B E A C H J O I N U S F O R A M E M O R A B L E FA M T O A M E R I C A’ S # 1 B E A C H Clearwater Beach is only a 20-minute drive from the St. Pete - Clearwater International Airport! Clearwater Beach is only a 20-minute drive from the St. Pete - Clearwater International Airport!

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/myclearwater| |504-655-9887 504-655-9887| |visitclearwaterflorida.com visitclearwaterflorida.com /myclearwater

INSIGHTS WITH VICKIE MITCHELL

CATERING, RECONSIDERED

o you pay less attention to what you wear and more attention to what you eat? If you are a meeting planner, focusing on food is justified, as a significant portion of your meeting budget — one study suggests 30 percent on average — is devoted to food and beverage. So instead of knowing that leopard print trumps zebra print this season, you’re better off knowing that more diners are opting for meatless meals or indulging in dishes inspired by South American or African culinary traditions. By being up on food trends, meeting planners can work with caterers and food-and-beverage staffs to liven up menus, providing attendees with surprise and delight as well as sustenance. Here are a few food ideas for 2019 as identified by Nation’s Restaurants News, Whole Foods’ annual survey, the New York Times and others.

Five food trends to chew on in 2019

Liquidate your assets

Not so long ago, the martini, the Manhattan and other classic cocktails returned, perhaps as a nod to the 1960s, when keeping a bottle of booze in the desk drawer was cool. Yet, young professionals today apparently aren’t so keen on drinking. Mintel reports that the 35-and-under set is more apt to sip spiritless cocktails. In terms of meetings, this trend has upsides — fewer worries about overindulging and its associated hazards, as well as a smaller bar tab at the end of an evening. Along the same lines, as we all wander around with our water bottles in hand, there’s a move to infuse plain water with flavorings to make it more palatable. It’s a trend that can easily be implemented at your next meeting break. Just have your caterer add fruits, vegetables or even cactus to water.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Dessert — decadent or do-gooder?

When it comes to dessert, two decidedly different paths dominate in 2019. In one direction are treats like artisanal doughnuts, high-calorie and guilt inducing, but oh, so yummy. Nation’s Restaurant News reports that the round mounds of fried dough become after-dinner delights when makers dip them in ganache or pile cocoa nibs on top. On the flip side are desserts that leave guests sated without the unhealthy fats and sugars: ice cream made with hummus, avocado and tahini instead of dairy — which has the upside of eliminating a major food allergen — or adding fruits and other nutrient-rich ingredients into desserts to make them tasty and healthful. The Daily Meal has a good list of possibilities, from low-sugar pumpkin pecan cookies and chocolate-dipped strawberries to baked purple sweet potatoes and banana sushi.

Where’s the beef, or the meat?

Take plant-based proteins like soy, potato, wheat, mushrooms and rice; mix them and voila, you have meatlike products that aren’t meat at all. Companies are already manufacturing products that taste like meat but have no meat in them. These protein-packed foods — like Pig Out Pigless Bacon Chips and Snacklins Cracklins Without the Pork — have a meat flavor and nice crunch. Vegans, vegetarians and those who are cutting back on meat consumption will be happy to give them a try. Catersource.com agrees that protein has gone beyond meats as seeds, lentils, chickpeas, hemp and split peas find their way to plates. Jackfruit is also becoming a popular meat alternative.

The last (plastic) straw

Plastic straws are going out of style in a hurry. Soon, your attendees might sip drinks through straws made of bamboo, beeswax, paper, glass, metal or even pasta. A number of cities and states, especially in coastal areas where people see the damage plastics do to sea life, are enacting laws that ban plastic straws, and it’s expected that more will follow. In Europe, bans are motivating corporate hospitality giants like Marriott and McDonald’s to look for other options. Straws and stirrers are small, but they have a big impact, as an estimated 500 million land in the trash every day in the United States.

March 2019

Look South for worldly inspiration

International travel expands our minds and broadens our palates. This wanderlust can be expressed in menus not only in restaurants but also at meetings. Regions of the world expected to pepper our meals with new flavors and spices this coming year include Africa, South Asia and Latin America. So instead of ordering hash browns for your breakfast event, imagine serving a spicy fruit salad of mango, kiwi and pineapple with lime, red chili and ginger. Lunch or dinner could feature a grilled salmon with a nectarine-Thai basil relish. Guava, dragon fruit, passion fruit and other exotic fruits will also be used increasingly in entrees, drinks and desserts.

CONFERENCE

MEETING LEADERS KARL PIETRZAK

KARL PIETRZAK ENJOYS ATTENDING PITTSBURGH SPORTS EVENTS, INCLUDING PENGUINS HOCKEY GAMES. Photos courtesy Visit Pittsburgh

“A

“We are a city on the rise, and people are seeing the things that really make the town so great.” BY MOLLY PHILLIPS

t some point, I figured out that I loved travel,” said Karl Pietrzak, vice president of convention sales at VisitPittsburgh, during a phone interview in February. “And once I figured out I could actually have a career in that industry, I thought that was interesting.”

Pietrzak, like many others working in destination sales and marketing, first parlayed his love of travel into a job by working in hospitality. In college at Penn State, he started by working for a hotel at the front desk. After graduating in 1992, he continued working in the category for 11 years in various sales positions mostly within the Hilton and Starwood families of properties, eventually becoming the assistant director of sales at the Pittsburgh Hilton. “Working at hotels was great because you come from this world that you need to be well acquainted with both to sell and to work with hotel partners on the destination side,” said Pietrzak. Switching to work for Pittsburgh’s visitors

bureau in 2003 was a natural transition for Pietrzak. “Even when I worked for hotels, I always sold the destination first and then the hotel rooms,” he said. Now vice president of convention sales at VisitPittsburgh, Pietrzak puts his decade of hospitality experience to work for a city that he’s as passionate about living in as he is about selling. Like many midsize cities in the country, Pittsburgh has undergone a renaissance of sorts in the past decade, one that Pietrzak has not only witnessed but also helped shape by telling the city’s story to the world. “When I came into this role in 2003, there was this perception people had of Pittsburgh of being a smoky steel town; now we are a city on the rise, and people are seeing the things that really make the town so great,” he said. What are some of those things? Pietrzak is a Rolodex of factual knowledge about Pittsburgh and included on his list of forces shaping the city’s growth the exploding local food scene, the relatively low cost of living and a burgeoning technology and startup community. “Kids used to go off to college and never come back,” said Pietrzak. “Now they’re staying here, getting jobs here and choosing to raise their families here.” Silicon Valley tech giants such as Google, Uber and Facebook have opened outposts in the city, and Pittsburgh re-

tains young talent and continues to grow. It’s that sort of energy, flavor, and dynamism that makes Pittsburgh attractive to meeting planners. “Any city that we compete with has hotels, has a convention center. So we try to think about what really sets Pittsburgh apart,” said Pietrzak. In January, Pietrzak’s team and the city had a marquis moment as it hosted the Professional Convention Management Association’s (PCMA’s) annual conference. A sort of holy grail for destination marketers, the gathering of 4,000-plus meeting planners led to immediate new business and hundreds of new qualified leads for future events. Many planners walked away raving that it was the best PCMA conference they had ever attended. When he’s not with journalists or meeting planners, Pietrzak likes to play tourist in Pittsburgh himself, often with his two teenagers in tow. They’ll take the tram up the iconic Duquesne Incline for the best views of the city, go to a vintage arcade or catch a show at one of the city’s nine performing-arts theaters. The best way to end the day, Pietrzak said, is by chowing down on a Primanti Bros. renowned steak sandwich topped with special sauce, french fries and coleslaw. It’s hearty, surprising and full of unexpected flavor, just like the city that made it famous.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

EXECUTIVE PROFILE NAME

Karl Pietrzak

TITLE

Vice President, Convention Sales

ORGANIZATION VisitPittsburgh

LOCATION

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

BIRTHPLACE

Las Vegas, New Mexico

EDUCATION

B.S. in hotel, restaurant and institutional management from Pennsylvania State University

CAREER HISTORY

Twelve years in hotel sales in Pittsburgh. Joined VisitPittsburgh in 2003 as a national sales director; promoted to senior national sales director in 2007, then vice president of convention sales in 2012

TIPS FROM

KARL PIETRZAK • Get as broad an experience as you can. We have a lot of interns come through, and I always say to go work at a hotel, work for a group that holds its own meetings, and get involved in all the local meeting planning chapters. • Get involved and get to know people. • Go on site visits and FAM trips — sometimes you need to see a place and ‘get it’ and be surprised, like Pittsburgh. March 2019

MANAGING

Building Better Breakouts EXPERT FACILITATORS OFFER ADVICE FOR SPARKING GREAT DISCUSSION

BY RACHEL CARTER

f breakout sessions get a bad rap, it’s often because attendees often don’t understand what purpose breakouts serve. “If people are questioning why they should be there, you’ve already lost a little bit,” said Gordon Eby, solution designer for Collective Next, a Boston-based company that designs and produces “creative interventions” for businesses. Breakout sessions need to clearly link to the bigger picture of the conference and “contribute to the larger event,” said Rachel Ruggieri, customer success director for Bizzabo and a former corporate event planner. To make your breakout sessions more useful and popular, implement some of these expert strategies.

“To have something for the sake of having something is not valuable. It has to be contributing to the overall purpose.”

PROVIDE VALUABLE CONTENT Planners can sometimes get too wrapped up in icebreakers, decor and tech and overlook the most important aspect of breakout sessions: content. To get people excited about — and going to — breakout sessions, planners must make sure they’re providing valuable, relevant content. “I think what makes or breaks breakout sessions is the content,” said Alison Zimmerman, founder and CEO of the Event Lounge. Finding the right speaker or moderator is key. Planners can provide attendees an exclusive or rare opportunity to learn from speakers who have an interesting job or are with an exciting company. Sometimes it’s about finding passionate industry experts, sometimes it’s inviting speakers from a totally different industry who can compare and share cross-industry lessons. Zimmerman often uses a speakers bureau, but she is also seeing a trend where, instead of using paid speakers, planners opt for people who have achieved something exceptional or led a charge on an issue and have them present their challenges, successes and takeaways. The best breakouts, Eby said, go from introduction to sharing content to teams working together. If a facilitator leaves having spoken for more than 30 percent of the time, “I don’t think you’ve succeeded.”

Rachel Ruggieri DIRECTOR OF CUSTOMER SUCCESS Bizzabo Experience: 9 years

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

SET THE STAGE

“I think the most important thing right now is making people’s time away from the office feel like they’re getting their return on investment. Everybody is trying to do more with less time; if people go into breakout sessions or even general sessions, they want it to be chock full of valuable content.”

From outrageous decor to going outdoors, planners can get outside the typical meeting space to set their sessions apart. At one of Zimmerman’s recent events at Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego, groups held fireside chats around fire pits and did Vitamin D sessions, where attendees talked while lounging on branded towels and lawn chairs on the lawn. During a “walking meeting,” a facilitator or speaker leads the session while leading attendees on a walk, either indoors or outside. During an in-house “roadshow,” a group may walk from station to station during a session. Though those get people up and about — and out of a room — they aren’t conducive to doing the specific, focused work that is often the goal of breakout sessions, Ruggieri said. Also, not every event will be able to hold sessions around fire pits or lounging on lawn chairs. All things being equal and assuming that sessions will be held in a convention center or an event hall, it’s important to work with what you’ve got. Room setup is key to how the group will interact, and function should take precedence over form. “The environment should always be there to make the work easier for the people,” Eby said. “But I love when you can make something cool and functional.” He likes to divide rooms so half is set up for receiving information during a presentation and the other half is set up for sharing information while working together. If attendees are going to be working in small teams, don’t use theater or classroom setups; use seating around small tables or in arcs of chairs. Planners can take away tables altogether to create a more intimate, circle-chat feel. Using couches and armchairs or other soft seating, like beanbags, creates a more relaxed vibe and can help people connect. Hotels and convention centers usually own soft furniture and can often provide it for sessions. Decoration can really spice up the space. Niagara Business Events sponsored a room at a recent conference, and its audiovisual company used gobos and graphics to make it look like Niagara Falls. Mixed seating included picnic tables, glass tables and Lucite chairs. “Pop-up” breakout spaces, though interesting, aren’t always that functional. For example, stretching fabric to create separate spaces in a ballroom can create issues with noise and add distractions. Themed mobile or “rolling” rooms may be interesting, but the gimmick should always support the message. “Sometimes people think too much about making it cool and not making it cool for a reason,” Eby said.

Alison Zimmerman, CMP FOUNDER/CHIEF EVENT OFFICER The Event Lounge Experience: 23 years

March 2019

MANAGING

GET ENGAGED Mobile meeting apps with live polling and surveying capabilities have changed the game. Speakers can use presession polling to ask attendees what they want to discuss, which allows speakers to hone their presentations. Moderators can also use apps for live Q&A during a session, “which gives you that instant pulse-check in the room,” Eby said, or use it after a session to get feedback for future events. Apps also allow a different kind of engagement: networking. Networking before, during and after a session “makes that content and experience live on for a much longer lifecycle than just during the event,” Ruggieri said. Icebreakers and incentives can get people involved, but they can also backfire, coming across as hokey or turning people off. Getting attendees involved for a reason is a better route. Pair people off so they can chat peer to peer. Give them written assignments or starter questions related to the topic. When weighing in on ideas, ask the group to walk around the room using dot stickers to vote, or have them “vote with their feet” during a human planogram. Facilitators can also use music to move people, for instance, turning on a song to wrap up the presentation and transition to team exercises. Tech can be helpful in getting people to engage, but it can also be hurtful. Using a “catch box,” a throwable foam cube that contains a microphone, is a great way to get people to pay attention, have fun and contribute to the conversation. The “silent disco” idea is popular but not conducive to breakouts because having everyone siloed in headphones is the antithesis of collaboration. MPI’s Dallas-Fort Worth chapter pioneered the Rockin’ Roundtable concept. People suggest topics or ask questions ahead of time. Then, during the event, separate tables each have a facilitator or an executive, and “people come to that table, and we just have an open dialogue,” Zimmerman said.

“The meeting planners I like to work with are the ones that change the game. They don’t only bring an expertise in logistics; they bring an expertise in thought leadership. They don’t need to have those ideas themselves; they need to have access to people who do.”

Gordon Eby SOLUTION DESIGNER Collective Next Experience: 12 years

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Your meeting will be so

you’ll be tempted to wear the cheesehead home!

We’ll see you

September 24-26

at the Small Market Meetings Conference Sign up now for pre and post FAMs! Call Beth to reserve your spot 888.867.3342

March 2019

www.MeetInGreenBay.com

IDEAS

Courtesy Visit Austin

POWER UP These high-tech destinations can supercharge your meetings

BY RACHEL CARTER

pple, Google, Oracle. NASA, FBI, IBM: From space exploration to mobile gaming, technology has evolved beyond being a part of our daily lives to being intrinsic to every part our lives. And the same is true for these destinations where high-tech industry is no longer simply part of the local economy — it has shaped these cities and defined their communities. Groups that require specialized technology at their events or that would simply enjoy meeting in high-tech hubs should consider meeting in these “scientific” cities.

AUSTIN, TEXAS

In addition to homegrown behemoths like Dell Inc., which Michael Dell started in his dorm room at the University of Texas (UT) at Austin, Austin has become something of a Texas outpost for West Coast tech companies. Apple just announced a new $1 billion campus in North Austin. Google just leased out a second building. Oracle established offices in Austin a couple of years ago. Some 6,500 employers in the Austin metro area are in high-tech industries. “There’s not many major tech companies that don’t have an office here,” said Steve Genovesi, executive vice president of Visit Austin. UT helps feed Austin’s tech industry, as do the city’s many tech incubators. And many young entrepreneurs have chosen Austin after being introduced to the city through the South by Southwest (SXSW) conference. Austin is expanding beyond information technology (IT) to biotech and medical sciences. UT’s Dell Medical School opened in the summer of 2016, and Athenahealth and Merck’s tech division have also relocated there.

Above: Austin has become a darling of the technology world, with more than 6,500 hightech employers in the city.

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Because of SXSW, the Austin Convention Center has kept up with cutting-edge offerings, making it attractive for high-tech conferences. And with a surge in recent hotel development, the convention center will soon have nearly 2,700 hotels rooms connected or located within two blocks. Planners can also mimic SXSW by setting up sponsored or branded meet-ups at off-site locations just steps from the convention center. Groups can use event space at the Capital Factory incubator or at the IBM research lab that houses a Watson supercomputer. Visit Austin can help arrange for local tech leaders or UT professors to speak at events, and some planners also set up campus tours. www.austintexas.org

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA

North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park (RTP), the country’s largest research park, was established in 1959 in the heart of the triangle formed by Duke University in Durham, North Carolina; the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and North Carolina State University in Raleigh. IBM helped put Raleigh on the map when the company chose RTP for its 600,000-square-foot

research facility in the 1960s. Today, RTP is home to 250 companies that span the tech gamut, but the area’s four target industries are IT, clean tech, life sciences and advanced manufacturing, said Loren Gold, executive vice president of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau. Big names in high-tech help draw events to Raleigh, either by companies’ own conferences or by nonprofits that focus on related industries. For example, after several years in Orlando, Florida, Lenovo relocated its North American sales conference to its Raleigh-area headquarters, where they showcase the company’s hometown with local bands, brews and barbecue. SAS Institute recently held its U.S. sales conference at the 500,000-square-foot, LEED-certified Raleigh Convention Center, which opened in 2008. RTP also offers event space for 150 to 200 people, and groups can arrange tours of the park through the Research Triangle Foundation. North Carolina State University has its own R&D park, Centennial Campus, and the on-site StateView Hotel offers 8,400 square feet of meeting space for up to 400 attendees. Also at NC State, groups can tour the fully automated, state-of-the-art James B.

Courtesy Austin Convention Center

By Roger Winstead, courtesy NC State

March 2019

By Keenan Hairston, courtesy Greater Raleigh CVB

Clockwise from left: North Carolina State University in Raleigh; Austin Convention Center; Raleigh’s James B. Hunt Jr. Library

IDEAS Hunt Jr. Library or use the McKimmon Conference and Training Center, where the largest space can seat 720 for banquets. www.visitraleigh.com

EUGENE, OREGON

Like most high-tech destinations, Eugene, Oregon, is a college town, home to the University of Oregon (UO), “which is a big driver for tech,” said Janis Ross, vice president of convention and sports marketing for Eugene, Cascades and Coast/ Travel Lane County. Nicknamed the Silicon Shire, the Eugene-Springfield area is home to more than 400 tech companies, and nearly two dozen new tech companies have established roots in the metropolitan area in the past year, according to the Technology Association of Oregon (TAO). Though several larger tech companies have over 100 employees, much of Eugene’s tech industry is tucked away in small startups that employ fewer than 10 people. Eugene’s video game sector has exploded alongside the growth of mobile gaming, and the city is home to studios such as Pipeworks and Zynga. EUGNet is an open-access fiber network the city built through downtown that serves as a backbone for tech companies. Eugene’s largest conference hotel, Hotel Eugene, connects to EUGNet, providing planners with “great connectivity and speed,” Ross said. The 275-room hotel is being renovated as the new owners transform the former Hilton to a Graduate property.

Hotel Eugene sits next to the Hult Center for the Performing Arts and is within walking distance of the UO campus, which offers planners over 120 meeting and event spaces. TAO’s local chapter has also organized some fun events that planners can re-create for their groups — like human foosball and King Pong — that “create and enhance an overall sense that this is a quirky, fun place to be,” Ross said. www.eugenecascadescoast.org

AKRON, OHIO

During its heyday as the Rubber Capital of the World, Akron, Ohio, was the headquarters of Goodyear, BFGoodrich, Bridgestone/Firestone and General Tire. And although that industry has mostly faded away, it paved the way for Akron’s future as a high-tech city. “It’s not rubber anymore; it’s polymers,” said Jim Mahon, vice president of marketing and brand management for the Akron/Summit Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The number of polymercentric businesses in Greater Akron is in the hundreds.” Bridgestone Americas Center for Research and Technology provides advanced materials technology for tire and nontire applications. The University of Akron is a hub for polymer science with the College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, the National Polymer Innovation Center and Akron Polymer Technology Services. Nearly 90 companies are located at Canal Place, a modern,

Courtesy US Space and Rocket Center

Courtesy Akron/Summit CVB

By Ben Schorzman, courtesy City of Eugene

Clockwise from left: A banquet under a rocket at Huntsville’s U.S. Space and Rocket Center; University of Akron Polymer Science Center; Eugene’s McDonald Theater

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mixed-use redevelopment of BFGoodrich’s first rubber plant. There, Bounce Innovation Hub is an incubator for a range of tech companies in life sciences, biomedical, software, manufacturing and, of course, polymers. Groups may be able to hold events or arrange tours at the Bridgestone research center or Goodyear’s new Global Headquarters, or tour the university’s polymer research center. The John S. Knight Center also just upgraded its fiber optics to become a 1-GB facility, which provides “tremendous opportunities” for meetings and trade shows such as the International Tire Exhibition and Conference held there in September or to “stay ahead of the curve” with markets like esports and gaming, Mahon said. www.visitakron-summit.org

for the Apollo moon program in the 1960s, but more recent missions have included the International Space Station, the Curiosity Mars Rover and the Hubble Space Telescope. The FBI is also moving many operations to Redstone Arsenal, the U.S. Army base where the space center is located. In addition to aerospace and defense, those institutions have expanded Huntsville’s industry into cybersecurity as well as bioscience, manufacturing and more. Cummings Research Park is the nation’s second-largest research park and is home to Fortune 500 companies, defense contractors and other high-tech enterprises. The U.S. Space and Rocket Center is the official visitor center for the Marshall Space Flight Center and is one of the city’s “most unique venues,” Koshofer said. There, up to 1,000 guests can mingle below a massive Saturn 5 rocket. The neighboring Huntsville Marriott offers nearly 16,000 square feet of meeting space. In downtown, the Von Braun Center is undergoing an expansion and renovation that will add a 1,200-person music hall, a 35,000-square-foot ballroom, 14,000 square feet of breakout space and a 15,000-square-foot prefunction lobby as well as renovate the convention center’s existing space. www.huntsville.org

HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA

Huntsville, Alabama, aka Rocket City, is home to NASA’s George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, as well as the country’s second-largest research park. “It helps explain Huntsville as a city, and it helps put us on a map,” said Jamie Koshofer, vice president of conventions for the Huntsville/Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau. The space center first developed Saturn launch vehicles

Convenient. Customizable. Culture-rich. Albany is more than a meeting place. It’s a meeting

destination

Visit www.albany.org to find out more.

iloveny.com

March 2019

® NYSDED

s â&#x20AC;&#x2122; n a g i h c i M

CULTURE CAPITAL

The law building at the University of Michigan is one of numerous campus venues available to meeting planners in Ann Arbor. All photos courtesy Destination Ann Arbor

CITY

Ann Arbor packs meetings appeal

BY ELIZABETH HEY

ome to the University of Michigan and just west of Detroit, Ann Arbor looks great from a variety of angles. The city’s flourishing dining, arts and cultural scenes offer nightlife and a full calendar of yearround events. Kayaking, canoeing and hiking are easily accessed on the picturesque Huron River, which flows throughout the area’s lush parks. Ann Arbor’s walkable Main Street has been ranked by Fodor’s Travel as one of the best in the nation, with charming local shops and eateries.

ANN ARBOR AT A GLANCE LOCATION: Southeastern Michigan ACCESS: Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Interstate 94, U.S. Highway 23 HOTEL ROOMS: 5,015 CONTACT INFO: Destination Ann Arbor 734-995-7281 www.destinationannarbor.org

MEETING HOTELS Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest GUESTROOMS: 243 MEETING SPACE: 20,000 square feet Weber’s Boutique Hotel GUESTROOMS: 158 MEETING SPACE: 9,117 square feet The Kensington Hotel GUESTROOMS: 200 MEETING SPACE: 10,000 square feet WHO’S MEETING IN ANN ARBOR National Association of African Americans in Human Resources ATTENDEES: 200 United Association of Plumbers, Pipefitters and Steamfitters ATTENDEES: 2,400 National Training Institute for the Electrical Training Alliance ATTENDEES: 2,250

March 2019

DESTINATION HIGHLIGHTS

University of Michigan Museum of Art

Destination Highlights

he University of Michigan’s influence reverberates throughout this vibrant city. A popular photography spot on campus, the Law Quadrangle was considered as a filming location for the Harry Potter films because of its Gothic architecture. Autumn weekends mean Michigan football, and thousands of Wolverine fans flock to Michigan Stadium, known as the Big House. Ranked as the nation’s largest stadium, it’s the world’s second-largest stadium after the May Day Stadium in North Korea. With more than 300 restaurants, Ann Arbor is a hotbed for globally inspired cuisine, with such wide-ranging options as Ethiopian, Eastern European, Turkish and Thai. Locals, visitors and celebrities head to iconic Zingerman’s Deli, known for its Reuben, as well as its spin-off bakery, coffee and creamery businesses. Food tours wine and dine visitors while sharing tidbits of the city’s history and culture. The craft beer culture is vast and varied; downtown claims more than 10 microbreweries and distilleries. Art and culture intermingle in Ann Arbor. Art museums and galleries include the University of Michigan Museum of Art and the Stamps Gallery. Street art embellishes downtown with larger-than-life murals that pop up on brick walls, electrical power boxes and manhole covers. Historic Hill Auditorium — home to many university events for the School of Music, Theatre and Dance — hosts visiting performers and speakers. “One of Ann Arbor’s greatest draws are the unique venues where groups can hold events, and our smaller city is a welcoming, comfortable and very safe community,” said Patti Ingleson, national sales manager for Destination Ann Arbor. “Another plus: We’re 20 minutes from the Detroit Metro Airport, which has direct flights from many cities across the country.”

Distinctive Venues

n neighboring Ypsilanti, approximately 20 minutes southeast of Ann Arbor, the restored Ypsilanti Freighthouse looks much as it did 137 years ago when it was part of the Michigan Central Railroad complex. This entire rail-side venue accommodates 170 seated with options for receptions and smaller groups. Zingerman’s Cornman Farms, a working farm less than 15 minutes from downtown, offers a tent pavilion that overlooks the gardens and the climate-controlled 1837 Red Barn. Customized corporate retreats for 25 to 300 feature hands-on learning, educational seminars and group activities. Dining and reception options include the Loft and the beautifully restored farmhouse. Seasonal cuisine features organic, local ingredients harvested on-property and at neighboring farms. Chic and modern, Zingerman’s Greyline accommodates groups of 40 to 200. Located inside the Residence Inn Downtown, the dining room seats up to 150 people and can host receptions for 200. Zingerman’s Catering serves as the venue’s exclusive caterer, and whenever possible, they use free-range meat and local produce from area farmers. Team building, directed by the University of Michigan Recreational Sports Department, ranks as a favorite among groups. The Adventure Education Center at Radrick Property is home to the Adventure Leadership Team program. Its wooded 150-acre site features a 3,100-squarefoot indoor meeting room and an outdoor picnic area. Visitors of all ability levels can participate in the half- or full-day Team Challenge, Team Tower and High Adventure programs.

After the Meeting

s an urban oasis, the Ann Arbor area is a four-season destination with golf, hiking, cross-country skiing and water activities. Providing some of the best canoeing and kayaking in southeastern Michigan, the 104-mile Huron River National Water Trail flows through quaint towns and river communities such as Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. Two city-run liveries — Argo Park Livery and Gallup Park Livery — offer rentals and work with groups. Also for nature lovers, trails at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and the Nichols Arboretum wind through the woodlands and gardens. A color-coded map highlights four routes within the garden’s 90-plus acres. For a paved hiking and biking path, the Gardens Trail connects with a network of trail systems throughout the area. Another 3.5 miles of trails crisscrosses the arboretum. For entertainment, the University Musical Society hosts award-winning musicians and symphonies from around the globe, avant-garde performances, and renowned musical and theatrical groups. At the ornate Michigan Theater, constructed during the silent-film era, contemporary foreign, independent American and documentary films keep the art of movies alive. Right on Main Street, the Ark music club is known for its quality and breadth of programming. Attendees can tap into their creative juices at the Ann Arbor Art Center. Classes and art parties host wine-glass painting, canvas-bag stamping, copper-plate embossing and stationary stamping.

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Major Meeting Spaces

estled on the shores of Ford Lake and overlooking 135 acres of green space, the Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest contains the city’s largest indoor-outdoor hotel event space. More than 40,000 square feet can include 30 breakout rooms and 17 event rooms. The hotel’s Eagle Crest Golf Club features an 18-hole championship course with a three-tiered driving range and short practice area overlooking Ford Lake. In the heart of the University of Michigan campus, the Michigan League can host 500 or expand to the surrounding buildings to accommodate up to 1,500 attendees. The historic Michigan Union, where President John F. Kennedy once spoke, can accommodate 500 attendees; its current renovation will be complete by 2020. For a quintessentially Wolverine experience, the Jack Roth Stadium Club, in the Big House, can host an enclosed event for up to 500 people. Dinner and a tour of the stadium, locker room and field can be arranged. “It’s an awesome feeling to be standing on the stadium turf,” said Ingleson. “I’ve seen groups from all over the world enjoying the event, even those who had no idea what the UM football stadium is all about.” Historic Weber’s Boutique Hotel provides the Atrium Ballroom, which features natural lighting adjacent to its four-seasons pool, for up to 200 attendees and the Grand Ballroom, which accommodates up to 500 with catering supplied by Weber’s Restaurant. The recently renovated 200-room Kensington Hotel offers more than 10,000 square feet of flexible space, easy access to freeways and abundant parking.

MAJOR MEETING SPACES

Good events make good memories and there’s no better Midwest venue than Grand Wayne Convention Center in downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana, as the backdrop for your story. INSIDE: 225,000 square feet of fully carpeted, beautifully appointed, versatile space | OUTSIDE: 3 full-service, adjacent hotels and a million amazing experiences! Let’s create

Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest

grandwayne.com • 260.426.4100 March 2019

The Midwest’s Favorite Drive-To Destination! Easy by Air via Fort Wayne International (FWA).

TOWN

MEET ON THE

c a m o t o P

BY REBECCA TREON

ational Harbor, on the banks of the Potomac River in Oxon Hill, Maryland, is mere minutes from Washington and Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Accessible by three airports, train lines and water taxi, getting there is easy and convenient. In just a little more than a decade, National Harbor, on 300 acres of former plantation land, has transformed itself into a major tourism destination. "National Harbor is unique in that it offers space for all meeting sizes and has the ability to customize indoor and outdoor event space," said Josh Winston, director of tourism at Visit National Harbor. More than 12 million people visited National Harbor in 2017, attending meetings, events and conventions. That year, it created its own convention and visitors bureau to facilitate booking propertywide experiential meetings. Visit National Harbor creates exciting and unique itineraries, working with each of the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eight hotels, 40 restaurants and attractions like the Capital Wheel and Fleet Street. Visitors can arrange boat rentals and water taxis to downtown Washington, Old Town Alexandria and Mount Vernon. "We recognize that the best meetings and events are those that are memorable and experiential, and we're happy to work with meeting and event planners to provide the perfect venue within our waterfront destination,â&#x20AC;? said Winston. The Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center has almost 2,000 hotel rooms and 600,000 square feet of meeting space, including a freestanding waterfront ballroom. The MGM National Harbor, a luxury casino resort, boasts more than 50,000 square feet of upscale meeting space, a 3,000-seat state-of-the-art theater, one of the largest gaming floors outside of Las Vegas and renowned restaurants. Meeting groups will find a variety of attractions and activities to explore during their visits. National Harbor Plaza hosts waterfront morning yoga and custom workouts or team-building activities. A variety of water activities are an option for event attendees, among them paddleboards, kayaks, pedal boats and private boat excursions. The Waterfront District offers plenty of after-hours options, including boutique shops, restaurants, entertainment and galleries.

THE WATERSIDE HARBOR DOME IS AVAILABLE FOR SPECIAL EVENTS.

Courtesy Gaylord National Resort

Courtesy Visit National Harbor

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NATIONAL HARBOR’S GAYLORD NATIONAL RESORT AND CONVENTION CENTER IS THE LARGEST NONGAMING RESORT ON THE EAST COAST.

Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center The Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, which debuted in 2008, was the first entity to open in newly developed National Harbor. It is the largest nongaming resort on the East Coast and has one of the region’s top and largest spas. It features 96,000 square feet of outdoor flex space and, in 2017, added the freestanding RiverView Ballroom, a 16,000-square-foot venue with a 270-degree panoramic view of the Potomac River. The resort features seven eateries, including a steakhouse, a coffee shop, a market, a rooftop lounge and a sports bar. The hotel features a 19-story glass atrium with water views and is walking distance to National Harbor’s attractions.

National Harbor Plaza

NATIONAL HARBOR MARYLAND LOCATION

Maryland’s D.C. suburbs, across the Potomac River from Alexandria, Virginia

ACCESS BALTIMORE

Ronald Reagan National Airport, Dulles International Airport, Baltimore-Washington International Airport, Amtrak, interstates 95 and 495

MAJOR MEETING SPACES

Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, MGM National Harbor, National Harbor Waterfront District

HOTEL ROOMS 3,400

OFF-SITE VENUES

TopGolf, Fleet Street, Capital Wheel at the Waterfront District

CONTACT INFO

Visit National Harbor 301-203-4151 www.nationalharbor.com

March 2019

The area’s waterfront location was masterfully planned to highlight views of the river and its breathtaking sunsets, which have been voted some of the best in the nation. The iconic Capital Wheel, a 180-foot observation wheel, offers views of Alexandria and the Washington monuments. Below the wheel is Flight Deck, a covered, open-air bar and restaurant that makes for a great after-meeting gathering place; it can also be reserved for special events. The plaza features an outdoor stage and big screen where movies and sporting events are held or shown. There are two 700-foot-long piers and two adjacent 10,000-square-foot platforms.

Fleet Street The Waterfront District’s entertainment zone offers everything from bull riding at Cadillac Ranch to dueling pianos at Bobby McKey’s Dueling Piano Bar. The highly walkable area is directly in front of the Gaylord National. The street is an excellent venue for meetings and events; it can be shut down to host block parties and has a spectacular overhead light show. There are more than 40 restaurants and bars in National Harbor, offering wide-ranging cuisines and culinary experiences from seafood to barbecue. It is home to Succotash, a restaurant by James Beard Award nominee and television celebrity chef Edward Lee.

Harbor Dome The Harbor Dome, a large, clear tent, is a recent addition to National Harbor that can be used for special events, receptions and meetings. The waterside dome, which can be customized with a theme: One summer event converted it into a snow globe using all white furniture, white bars, white holiday lights and a snow-blowing machine that kicked off the cool at 11 p.m. This unique space is a fantastic space for groups to host a memorable event.

HOTEL

A Georgia Mountain Getaway

BY KRISTY ALPERT

two-hour drive from Atlanta in the north Georgia town of Young Harris, Brasstown Valley Resort and Spa feels like a world away from the city. Guests are treated with stunning views of north Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains before passing through the woods and arriving on the 503-acre property. The resort shares a name with its neighboring peak, Brasstown Bald, Georgia’s highest mountain, which offers a birds-eye view of the valley below and the city of Atlanta beyond. A grand stone fireplace and oak-vaulted ceilings greet visitors, and a wall-sized window allows for panoramic views. Brasstown Valley Resort features 102 lodge guest rooms, 32 cottage guest rooms and a private spa suite. Along with an 18-hole golf course, the resort is also home to a 1,200-square-foot stable with access to five miles of horseback riding trails and the Equani Spa. Guests can spend the day hiking, fishing and birdwatching or can book excursions through the resort for guided trips to the nearby wineries or guided pontoon boat adventures on the gorgeous Lake Chatuge. Each season provides the chance for a new adventure, as fall brings about the colorful landscape and summer means more time spent in the resort’s indoor/outdoor pool. The resort caters to families, executives, reunion groups and guests looking to escape for a few days in the comfort and luxury of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Meeting groups have a range of options for meetings and events, with more than 14,000 square feet of flexible meeting space throughout the entire property. A dedicated events team relishes the chance to wow meeting groups with unique add-ons like customized activities, themed dinners and all-encompassing packages.

THE BRASSTOWN VALLEY RESORT SITS AMONG THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTH GEORGIA.

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M E E T I N G S PAC E S

THE CONFERENCE CENTER AT BRASSTOWN VALLEY RESORT FEATURES AMENITIES SUCH AS COMFORTABLE SITTING AREAS AND A DEDICATED SNACK AREA.

With more than 14,000 square feet of meeting space, Brasstown Valley Resort and Spa can accommodate groups of up to 400. Venues include several small meeting rooms with spaces to accommodate groups of 12 or 100, a 3,872-square-foot ballroom for up to 400 guests, the Trackrock Amphitheatre for up to 72 guests, Creekside Pavilion for up to 175 guests, the Mercantile for up to 125 guests, the Equani Spa Deck for up to 80 guests and the Pool Terrace for up to 150 guests. The Sunset Pavilion for up to 350 guests is many groupsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; favorite open-air space due to its floor-toceiling fireplace, its outdoor grill and scenic views of Three Sisters Mountain.

C AT E R I N G Brasstown Valley Resort offers a diverse selection of catering menus to serve groups large or small. The resortâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s culinary team is equipped to provide breakfasts, lunches and dinners, as well as receptions and refreshments for coffee breaks. Groups can select from prepared options or work with the on-site sales team to create a personalized menu. Alcohol is allowed, and the resort offers several alcoholic beverage packages for events. Groups can choose from the open bar package, a sponsored bar package or a cash bar package. Brasstown Valley Resort does not permit meeting groups to bring alcoholic beverages from off-site sources.

EXTRAS

HOTEL FACTS LOCATION

Young Harris, Georgia

SIZE

102 lodge guest rooms, 32 cottage guest rooms and a private spa suite

MEETING SPACE

More than 14,000 square feet

ACCESS

Approximately a two-hour drive from Atlanta; Greenville, North Carolina; and Asheville, North Carolina.

CONTACT INFO

Photos courtesy Brasstown Valley Resort

March 2019

800-201-3205 www.brasstownvalley.com

Many of the meeting spaces at Brasstown Valley Resort and Spa take advantage of the beautiful natural surroundings, with grand windows and neutral color palettes that can adapt to any theme. Many of the favorite venues at the resort feature stunning views of the property, like the Sunset Pavilion, an open-air venue overlooking the mountains and the 18th hole of the golf course. The Creekside Pavilion is glass-enclosed to accommodate guests during any season and contains a grand fireplace and views of the woods. The resort also offers high-speed internet access and audiovisual equipment to accommodate any presentation needs.

AFTER EVENTS Along with an 18-hole golf course and a full-service spa, guests can take part in a number of on-site activities like hiking and fishing. The sales team offers a number of customizable packages for groups in town: winery trips and tastings; guided horseback rides; private golf tournaments; team-building exercises, including the Amazing Race, Minute to Win It and a murder mystery; golf clinics, pontoon boat cruises on Lake Chatuge; and even a build-a-bike competition. No idea is off limits, as the team is happy to customize any package even further, allowing guests to provide ideas they can turn into memorable experiences.

VENUE

GROUPS OF UP TO 300 CAN MEET OUTDOORS IN THE VARIOUS GARDENS AT BOTANICA IN WICHITA.

Photos courtesy Botanica

BOTANICA IN BLOOM

he seed for a community horticultural center in Wichita, Kansas, was planted in 1982. But it would take three more years until the first seed would pierce the soil. In 1985, the birds were chirping and locals stood by as ground was broken on what would become one of Kansasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; most beloved gardens. Botanica opened to the public in 1987 with four gardens and a horticultural library and would soon grow to include the more than 30 themed gardens and exhibits it has today. In 2011, Botanica added the Downing Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Garden to its expansive grounds, creating an interactive space for the young and the young at heart to play, explore and commune with nature. The garden now encompasses more than 18 acres and 4,000 species of native and nonnative plants. The 30 themed gardens make a great backdrop for meetings and events, where the landscape includes stunning waterfalls, grand fountains, flowing streams and more than 50 sculptures. Groups are free to meet in the outdoor beauty of the gardens, but Botanica also offers four main indoor spaces from which meeting groups can choose while

BY KRISTY ALPERT

holding events on the property, from intimate gatherings to functions for up to 300 people. Botanica is open throughout the year, thus offering visitors a chance to see the changes that take place in the different gardens each season, from the 50,000 tulips and 120,000 daffodils that bloom each spring to the 20,000 annuals that paint the gardens during the warm summer months. Visitors from all over come to stroll through the gardens or take part in any of the various community events and programs Botanica puts on throughout the year. Botanica has grown to become a fixture in the community, where local families and foreigners alike come for teatime in the garden or storytime among the flowers, using the natural beauty to connect people from many different backgrounds. The gardens are a lovely choice for groups looking to host memorable meetings in a natural landscape.

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M E E T I N G S PA C E S

MEETING ATTENDEES CAN TOUR ALL OF BOTANICA’S GARDEN AREAS, SUCH AS THE BUTTON FOUNTAIN.

Along with the 18 acres of sprawling gardens, Botanica offers four dedicated event spaces throughout the property for groups to rent for events and meetings. The Lotus Hall can hold up to 200 guests and features high arched ceilings with a stunning window and skylight as the centerpiece. The Weidenbach Room is able to seat 40 guests maximum, with a large

stone fireplace to keep things cozy even in the cooler months. The Terrace Room is the largest space on property, capable of holding up to 300 guests, with dropdown screens and full audiovisual equipment available. The Pavilion can seat 80 guests comfortably and offers views extending over the gorgeous gardens beyond.

C AT E R I N G Botanica operates an open catering policy, allowing groups and planners to choose their own favorite caterers or even supply the food and beverage on their own. Dining possibilities at the gardens could include a formal sit-down dinner with food catered from a local Kansas caterer or could be as simple

as a picnic lunch to break up the monotony of morning meetings and allow guests some fresh air in a nontraditional setting. Groups wanting to serve alcohol at their events are able to do so if they bring their own and let their events coordinator know about the beverages beforehand.

AFTER HOURS V E N U E FA C T S

BOTANICA LOCATION

During free hours in between or before and after meetings, groups are welcome to visit the 30 gardens, including the Children’s Garden, the Children’s Library, the Butterfly House, the Chinese Garden, the Garden Café or the brand-new Carousel Gardens. Docents are available with advanced notice to

give guests a more detailed look at the intricacies that make Botanica such a special place. Botanica’s on-site beehive has become a popular attraction for groups as well. Event planners can arrange an experience that will have everyone buzzing with excitement on their way home.

Wichita, Kansas

TYPE OF VENUE Off-site, garden

CHILDREN’S GARDEN

CAPACITY

More than 300 guests

NEARBY ACCOMMODATIONS Hotel at Old Town

CONTACT INFO

316-264-0448 www.botanica.org

March 2019

The donations of Paula and Barry Downing, among other donors and artists, made the remarkable Downing Children’s Garden a reality. The garden opened in 2011 as an educational and exciting place for families to enjoy and appreciate the natural world together. The Monster Woods are popular for ad-

venturous kids, while the raised beds on the farm offer the chance for little farmers to get their hands dirty and learn about how plants grow. The garden also has a giant tree with a treehouse for climbing, as well as an enchanted glen for storytelling and a musical maze.

COUER D’ALENE RESORT SITS IN THE SHADOWS OF IDAHO’S ROCKY MOUNTAINS ON THE BANKS OF LAKE COEUR D’ALENE.

Meetdieng Gui

Rockies Resorts

Courtesy Coeur d’Alene Resort

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

he Rocky Mountains are known for their national parks, wildlife and outdoor lifestyle. Meeting planners looking to hold events in the region should check out these distinctive resorts that cater to the adventurer’s spirit. COEUR D’ALENE RESORT

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho In northwest Idaho, the Coeur d’Alene Resort sits perched on Lake Coeur D’Alene, surrounded by the Canfield Mountain Natural Area and the Coeur d’Alene National Forest. Known for its water sports and outdoor activities, the resort is famous for having the world’s only floating, movable golf course green. The 14th hole is programmed to move constantly, and golfers need to take a boat out to finish the hole, if they make it onto the green, that is. Visitors to the resort can take

part in fly-fishing, zip lining, hiking, mountain biking and kayaking. Downtown Coeur d’Alene, with its restaurants, antique stores and art galleries, is right next door. The resort, built in 1986, recently underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation. It updated its 338 guest rooms, 80 percent of which have lake or mountain views; the public spaces; and the 32,000-square-foot conference center. Many of the conference rooms overlook the lake, and the resort has some outdoor venues, like the Lakeview Terrace, that are great for welcome receptions or dinners. Conference planners can raft two of the resort’s five cruise boats together for a dinner cruise or use the boats for a scenic meeting space. The double cruise boat can hold up to 700 people. Other amenities include a year-round heated outdoor pool and hot tub, an elegant restaurant called Beverly’s that boasts an 18,000-bottle wine cellar; and a spa with 21 treatment rooms. www.cdaresort.com

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IZAAK WALTON INN

Essex, Montana Glacier National Park’s Izaak Walton Inn was built next to the railroad yard in 1939 to serve as a refuge for railroad service personnel. Strategically located between the East Glacier and West Glacier entrances to the park, the inn is a great location to hold small conferences and disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the big city. The inn doesn’t get cell service, and there are no telephones or TVs in the guest rooms. “There is Wi-Fi access in the common areas, but it is not widespread across the property,” said Holly DuMay, director of sales, marketing and retail for Izaak Walton Companies. “Visitors are forced to focus and communicate, forced to disconnect.” The inn is known for its 20 miles of nordic ski trails, and the area is a snowshoer’s delight. “We’re nestled in the Great Bear Wilderness Area next to Glacier National Park,” she said. “You can’t get a better location than that.” The inn has rental cars available for guests to visit the park, and since it is situated next to the railroad yard, visitors can travel directly to the resort by Amtrak train. Its meeting space can hold anywhere from 10 to 150 people, but its most popular space is its outdoor pavilion that is fully enclosed by glass garage doors. The doors can be open during the summer months. During winter, they are closed and the space is heated. Some guests can stay in restored cabooses or locomotives. There are 13 vacation homes and 33 lodge rooms for rent. www.izaakwaltoninn.com

SNAKE RIVER LODGE AND SPA

Jackson Hole, Wyoming One of the oldest hotels in Teton Village in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, the Snake River Lodge and Spa is known for its distinctive meeting spaces, scenic Snake River float trips, whitewater rafting, fly-fishing, Via Ferrata rock-climbing program and prime location next to Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks. With 147 guest rooms and 6,000 square feet of meeting space, the lodge can handle small and large groups. It has three separate meeting spaces, all boasting natural light and windows. The largest can accommodate 120 people and has a built-in audiovisual system with high-definition LCD projectors, drop-down screens and full catering available. Tourists flock to the area to see Yellowstone in the summer, but Al Gauthier, director of sales for the Snake River Lodge, said it is a “really surreal feeling and activity to take a snowmobile into Yellowstone.” Only 90 are allowed in at one time, which changes the whole experience for tourists wanting to view Old Faithful and other park highlights. The resort is also next to an elk refuge. On any given day, there are 3,000 to 10,000 elk inside, and visitors to the lodge can take a 45-minute tour of the refuge by horse-drawn sleigh. “When you walk into our lodge, you know you are in Jackson Hole,” said Gauthier. “It is not a cookie-cutter property you could find anywhere. It is really an identity. It is truly a lodge, and I think that’s what speaks to its strength.” Summer conferences like to use the Via Ferrata rock-climbing courses as a team-building exercise, but biking is another big draw. There are 56 miles of paved bike pathways linking Teton Village to Jackson Hole and Teton National Park. For adrenalin junkies, downhill or cross-country mountain biking is also available. www.snakeriverlodge.com

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Meetieng Guid

LA POSADA DE SANTA FE

Santa Fe, New Mexico Two blocks east of Santa Fe, New Mexico’s historic downtown plaza sits one of the oldest resorts in the city, La Posada de Santa Fe. The original three-story brick mansion on the property, which now serves as a restaurant and bar, was built in 1882 by a merchant named Abraham Staab. In the 1930s, adobe casitas were added around the existing mansion and carriage house, and the property became a hotel. Kristin Lepisto, director of sales for La Posada, said the resort underwent a major remodel in 1998, adding a conference center, additional guest rooms and a spa. The beautifully landscaped grounds and art collection add to the location’s many charms. With 4,500 square feet of flexible meeting space, the resort prides itself on being an exceptional corporate event venue. It also hosts events outside on its lawn court, adjacent to the conference center. La Posada is the only full-service resort in Santa Fe with grounds. The property boasts six acres of landscaped gardens. Guests of the resort have an easy walk to the area’s art galleries, shops, cathedral and restaurants and can take their time perusing the jewelry and other crafts displayed daily by Native Americans on the plaza. La Posada has 157 restored casita-style rooms and suites, and each one is different. They feature adobe walls and traditional exposed beams and wood ceiling slats. www.laposadadesantafe.com

BROADMOOR

Colorado Springs, Colorado The historic Broadmoor celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2018. The resort at the base of Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado Springs is steeped in history. What sets it apart from other Rocky Mountain resorts is its attention to detail and service, said Krista Heinicke, public relations and communications manager at the Broadmoor. “Everybody can have the best places, the most beautiful scenic areas, but when you don’t have service and personalization, you get lost,” she said. The 5,000-acre property is a playground for groups of all sizes, offering team-building activities such as tomahawk throwing, pickleball, tennis, golf, guided hiking, rappelling and climbing. The Wilderness Experience at the Broadmoor is a unique collection of rustic properties that offer more intimate settings for meetings. Cloud Camp, on top of Cheyenne Mountain, offers team activities like cooking, crafts and archery. The Ranch at Emerald Valley is more activity driven, offering horseback riding, fishing and team-building activities, and the much smaller Fly Fishing Camp is dedicated solely to fishing. With 185,000 square feet of meeting space and 779 rooms, the resort can host groups of as many as 5,000 people. www.broadmoor.com

WESTERN

Authenticity. Hospitality. Experience.

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GLENWOOD CAVERNS ADVENTURE PARK GIVES ATTENDEES STUNNING VIEWS OF ROARING FORK VALLEY AND THE MAROON BELLS IN NEARBY ASPEN.

Meetdieng Gui

Courtesy Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

ocky Mountain meetings can take you to some amazing places. The region is full of one-of-a-kind meeting venues that are close to some of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most loved national parks but also offer history, entertainment and culture. Consider some of these distinctive venues for your next event in the Rockies. GLENWOOD CAVERNS ADVENTURE PARK

Glenwood Springs, Colorado Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park takes meetings and corporate events to new heights. Guests ride a high-speed gondola up the mountain to the amusement park and caverns up top. The 10-minute ride gives visitors a panoramic view of the Roaring Fork Valley, Glenwood Springs, Mount Sopris and the Maroon Bells range in Aspen,

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Rocky Mountain Originals

Colorado. Thrill-seekers can ride the full-size roller coaster, the alpine slide or the terrifying giant swing that launches its passengers 1,300 feet above the Colorado River. Event organizers offer guests a lunch buffet for up to 250 people and a 40-minute walking tour of either the historic Fairy Cave, which opened to visitors in the 1880s, or the newer section of caverns, which opened to visitors in 1999. The caves were formed by the same sulfur- and ironrich waters that created Glenwoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famous hot springs, making them some of the most colorful caves in the country. Event planners can choose what their guests will do at the top, from just riding the tram up to eat a meal to a cave tour and full-day adventure pass. One of the more popular team-building exercises is to take a hard-hat tour of the caves. Participants get to crawl through some of the tightest spaces in the caverns for sights not available to the average tourist. A restaurant and an outdoor seating area up top can handle small or large group meetings or meals. www.glenwoodcaverns.com

Meetieng Guid

INDIAN PUEBLO CULTURAL CENTER

Albuquerque, New Mexico Event planners wanting to introduce their guests to New Mexico’s Native American cultures will love the adobe architecture and the culturally significant artifacts displayed at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. Guests can not only visit the museum, which highlights the pottery, stories and artwork of the 19 living pueblos in New Mexico, but also take walking tours focused on the amazing murals painted in the courtyard of the center. Minutes from downtown Albuquerque, the center first opened to the public in 1976. Its permanent exhibit, “We Are of This Place: The Pueblo Story,” tells the history of the Native Americans who still call New Mexico home. With both indoor and outdoor banquet and meeting spaces, the cultural center can accommodate groups of up to 500 people. The center holds festivals and events throughout the year. It also offers classes on everything from how to make fry bread to how to grow a garden using the ancient technologies of pueblo farming. Native storytellers, dancers and flute players can give your event another perspective on pueblo traditions. “The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center is a great way to get your first introduction and understand what the pueblos and Native American communities have done for the state of New Mexico and the city of Albuquerque,” said Brenna Moore, public relations and communications manager for Visit Albuquerque. www.indianpueblo.org

CHATEAU EVENT CENTER

We meet people in town for business, sure. But after a few minutes giving restaurant recommendations or sharing the best hiking trails, we start to forget you’re going to leave soon. In Boise, we don’t meet business travelers.

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BOISE CONVENTION & VISITOR S BUREAU

Bozeman, Montana Montana visitors expect to visit rustic event venues like barns and ranches. The Chateau Event Center bucks that trend. It was built in medieval French style with thick stucco walls, elaborate iron chandeliers and vaulted ceilings with wooden beams. “We’re very unique for Montana,” said Keanan Ritchey, who manages the property with his wife, Whitney. The property, built in 2009, sits on 40 acres about four miles from Bozeman and is under a conservation easement, meaning that most of it must remain undeveloped. Hyalite Creek meanders through it, and the Chateau is surrounded by cottonwood trees. It has both indoor and outdoor event spaces with spectacular views of the Spanish Peaks and the Gallatin Range. The Chateau got its start as a wedding venue, but the current managers of the property are working to expand its reach to individual and corporate events. “Our family is well versed with the area, and we know all the favorite recreation destinations and guides that any corporate group would enjoy, be it team building, individual fun or group-specific recreation,” said Ritchey. Its outdoor gardens, grassy spaces and flowering trees make a lovely spot for corporate and social events, with plenty of space for groups to play soccer, tetherball and other outdoor games. Bozeman is known for its outdoor sports, and the Cha-

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teau is within an hour of horseback riding, zip lining, fly-fishing, hiking and whitewater rafting. www.thechateaueventcenter.com

STUECKLE SKY CENTER

Boise, Idaho Boise State University’s Albertsons Stadium is known nationwide for the bright blue turf on its football field. The Stueckle Sky Center, built above the stadium, offers event planners not only 360-degree views of Boise, Idaho, and the foothills but also amazing views of the field. The stadium has featured blue turf since the idea was pitched in the 1980s. “They ran with it,” said Rochelle Criswell, client relations manager for the Stueckle Sky Center. “We hold the rights to any colored turf in the United States. Anyone who wants to do that has to get approved through Boise State.” The blue turf is a major attraction for event planners booking space in the four-level 131,000-square-foot Sky Center. The Double R Ranch Club, which seats up to 350 banquet guests or 450 in a theater configuration, features 30-foot ceilings and has floor-toceiling windows with great views of the blue turf. Planners who book the Double R Ranch room also get a tour of the field, if their event doesn’t conflict with a football game or practice. They are even allowed to play a pickup game of flag football on the field. The Loft space, above the Double R, seats 100 to 150 people and

Downtown Views. Uptown Service. Centrally located in vibrant downtown Boise, the newly expanded Boise Centre has a variety of customizable meeting spaces, modern amenities, exceptional culinary services and a warm and hospitable staff ready to make your next meeting an unforgettable experience.

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is suitable for small meetings. The Skyline Room will seat up to 200 people banquet style and 300 people in a theater setup. eventservices.boisestate.edu

FORT CASPAR MUSEUM

Casper, Wyoming Sample the Old West at Fort Caspar Museum in Casper, Wyoming. Platte Bridge Station, later renamed Fort Caspar, is in a section of Wyoming where the Oregon, California, Mormon Pioneer and Pony Express trails met back in the late 1800s. It was originally built in the 1860s to house cavalry sent to protect the Overland Mail Company and the Pacific Telegraph. The fort now on the site was built in 1936 from detailed plans of the original 1864 structure drawn by Lt. Caspar Collins. Rick Young, museum manager at Fort Caspar, said the fort and the city of Casper are named for Collins, but the city misspelled his name. The building is accurate and is furnished to look as it did in the late 1800s. Visitors tour the museum on their own, participate in re-enactments and even hold meetings and events at the fort. The facility has a multiuse room that can seat 120 people and a classroom that can hold up to 30 people. There are no kitchen facilities on-site, but the museum does allow food and drink in its meeting spaces. Meeting planners can rent the fort’s grounds and the adjacent Centennial and Fort Caspar parks. www.fortcasparwyoming.com

• Seven minutes from Boise airport • Over 20 direct flights • Nine hotels within walking distance • Downtown Location • Close to outdoor recreation LEARN MORE:

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Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a meetings destination where ideas are inspired by nature and nurtured by unexpected sophistication. Where hospitality, technology and amenities are top notch. Where groups gather to experience a town pulsating with arts, culture, food, drink, rich roots and friendly locals, not to mention three rivers and seven wilderness areas. Come together in Missoulaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a world-class meeting place for corporate events, retreats conferences and conventions. Meet our small town with big offerings.

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