Small Market Meetings March 2023

The premier event and meeting venue in Kentucky.

Centrally located between Louisville and Lexington, the Shelbyville Conference Center melds versatility, beauty, and modern amenities to provide a welcoming and accommodating venue for events of all types.

Flexible floorplans and state-of-the-art technology allow for all groups of any size — from as intimate as 10 guests to as grand as 400 attendees — to gather together in the premier event and meeting venue in Kentucky.

Call (502) 633-6388 to discuss availability and for all inquiries.

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

into a bar...

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

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

Kearney, where the Heartland gathers.

Kearney, where the Heartland gathers.

Typically, Kearney hosts more than 1,350 events a year. Everything from large conferences, to regional sporting events as well as hundreds of smaller professional and educational meetings all host their events in Kearney. The reason is simple. Because Kearney has the best facilities between Denver and Omaha, experienced staff and wonderful volunteers that make sure every event that comes to town is taken care of.

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

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

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

WheretheHeartlandGathers.com | 308-237-3178

A sheri , a shriner, a cattleman, and an executive walk

IN SIGHTS

WITH VICKIE MITCHELL

MINDING THE MENU

Which do you fear most: a shark attack or a peanut snack?

Jaws aside, the more dangerous of the two is definitely the peanut. Each year, 150 to 200 Americans die from allergic reactions to peanuts and other common food allergens. Last year, sharks killed only nine people worldwide. With 32 million people in the United States suffering from food allergies and millions more who restrict their diet for health, philosophical or religious reasons, it’s easy to see why meeting planners tread carefully when it comes to the food and beverage.

Attendee safety is the biggest consideration, but revenue and retention can also be affected by how dietary restrictions are handled, says former meeting planner Tracy Stuckrath. Her own food allergy inspired her to start her business, Thrive Meetings, aimed at helping meeting planners and others learn how to feed people safely and healthfully.

As Stuckrath points out, when dietary needs aren’t respected, the meeting attendee is likely to never again return to the annual conference and the corporate employee is likely to go looking for a new job — both costly to business and completely avoidable when care and attention are given to meal planning.

During a recent webinar called “F&B 101: Managing Attendee Food Preferences and Dietary Requirements from A to Z,” Stuckrath shared tips. The webinar is at thrivemeetings.com , where you’ll also find interviews, a blog, videos and links to recent reports and research.

Attendees’ dietary restrictions can require creative thinking

Food for thought: Ask the right questions.

As in-person meetings have returned, planners tell Stuckrath they have seen an uptick in registrants with dietary restrictions. No one knows exactly why, but the trend underscores the need to have an effective approach to planning meals that meet everyone’s needs. That starts with a registration form that collects valuable dietary information from each attendee. Questions should be clear and care should be taken to avoid asking open-ended ones. Questions should also make it easy to distinguish between food allergies/sensitivities and food preferences, like vegan and vegetarian. Stuckrath recommends including a checklist of the most common food allergies. (Nine food allergens — milk, eggs, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans and sesame — account for more than 90% of food allergies.) Below the list, a blank line could be added so that those whose food allergies go beyond the most common ones can write in theirs.

Can F&B cater to dietary needs?

Before you sign a contract, have a thorough conversation with a venue’s food and beverage staff, Stuckrath recommends. Ask to see a banquet menu — if it doesn’t detail ingredients for the dishes, is the venue really up to speed on food allergies and other issues? It’s a good sign if chefs share that they have developed or are working on dishes and sauces that are gluten free or dairy free. Ask also about staffing. Have servers been on board for years, or is the venue relying heavily on part-timers? Ask if training can be done for staff who aren’t schooled on dietary restrictions. And, Stuckrath says, if there seem to be unjustified charges for special meals, planners should pull out the American with Disabilities Act, which includes protections for those with dietary issues.

Strategies and websites serve planners well.

Dig into the data with relish.

Looking at all of the dietary information collected will give a planner a clearer picture of the crowd. After analyzing the information, planners are likely to have questions for specific attendees. A basic question might be whether an allergy is confined to eating the food or whether the allergy is triggered by simply being near the allergen. Follow-up calls demonstrate that the planner is a true professional who wants to meet attendees’ needs and keep them healthy. It might even lead to cost savings. Stuckrath once had three attendees who had noted on their registration forms they required kosher meals. She called each of them; as it turned out, only one really needed a kosher meal; the other two simply needed assurance that kosher foods would be properly labeled on the buffet.

No doubt, planners have a lot to chew on as they come up with meals to suit everyone. It doesn’t have to be a chore, and Stuckrath has some strategies that make it less of a challenge. For example, since most food allergies are tied to nine foods, planners can ask a venue to create a menu that includes none of those allergens. Or, if attendees are allergic to outlier foods, food and beverage could simply make sure to eliminate those ingredients over the course of the entire meeting or conference.

Planners can also look to local sources for solutions. In Sandy Springs, Georgia, Stuckrath found a local gluten-free and soy-free bakery that supplied breads and muffins for a meeting. And, she points out, the internet provides many good resources. Among them are chabad.org for finding kosher foods and suppliers; snacksafely. com for its regularly updated catalog of commonly available foods free of allergens; and hungryharrys.com , a brand of baking products that are free of the top 14 allergens.

Keep dishing up the information.

Communicating with attendees who have dietary restrictions doesn’t end with registration. One of the most important ways to keep things safe is through labeling foods and their ingredients so that attendees can avoid any problematic dishes. It’s especially important for meetings that include attendees from the EU member countries, where clear labeling is an EU requirement. Talk to your venue about how they label their foods and what measures they take in setting up buffets to avoid cross-contamination. Planners should also review a venue’s descriptions of gluten-free, vegan and other special meals to make sure they adhere to those diets, she said.

CO NFERENCE

Cedar

Rapids REIMAGINED

BY RACHEL CRICK

Eastern Iowa has an energy to it, thanks to Cedar Rapids.

This centrally located Midwestern city bisected by the Cedar River is a surprisingly lively epicenter of culture and entertainment. It features an appealing collection of museums, historic neighborhoods and a buzzing culinary scene to entertain travelers and locals alike. It’s also proven its commitment to innovation, industry and sustainability time and time again. Its reimagined and renovated spaces, including a brand-new convention center, have allowed it to gain a foothold in the meetings industry in recent years.

Cedar Rapids will host the 2023 Small Market Meetings Conference, September 27–29, to show off its newest facilities and its most classic attractions. Planners will get to explore the city’s exciting array of amenities, lodging options and intriguing off-site venues sure to wow their attendees at the upcoming conference.

DESTINATION APPEAL

Cedar Rapids was founded in 1849 as a milling town. Within the first decade, a large number of Czechoslovakian immigrants had settled there because of cheap land and job opportunities. Today, Cedar Rapids has more residents of Czech ancestry than any other place in the world besides Prague, and the city has found many ways to pay homage to its cultural roots. It’s home to the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library, a Smithsonian affiliate that explores the Czechoslovakian heritage in Cedar Rapids and the U.S., and Czech Village, a neighborhood on 16th Street historically populated by mostly Czech immigrants.

Czech Village and another historic neighborhood, New Bohemia, combine to form the District, a region known as a local hub for shopping, culture and dining in Cedar Rapids. This vibrant area is walkable from downtown and is home to numerous antique shops, bookstores, vintage stores, plant shops and boutiques for attendees to explore in their downtime. It also has a wide variety of restaurants, breweries and sweet shops to help attendees refuel after a long day of exploring the city.

CEDAR RIDGE WINERY AND DISTILLERY

Cedar Rapids is a city still heavily influenced by its industries. It’s one of the top manufacturing regions in the U.S. and is home to several large manufacturing plants like Quaker Oats and General Mills. It’s also the second largest producer of wind energy, meaning it’s more than willing to embrace innovative new technologies and industries. Another one of the most important industries in Cedar Rapids is the tourism industry, demonstrated by the numerous new projects designed to revamp the city and inspire excitement.

Julie Stow, associate executive director at Cedar Rapids Tourism, said one of the biggest draws of Cedar Rapids is its friendly and helpful people.

“You come and you need your meeting space and activities, but it’s really about the human interaction,” she said. “I’m so proud to be in a community that is warm and welcoming and provides great service to its visitors.”

MAJOR MEETING VENUES

The Cedar Rapids Convention Complex is the newest convention center in Iowa and comes with 80,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space and an arena that seats 9,600. It features a sleek, contemporary design with floor-to-ceiling glass that lets in natural light and views of downtown Cedar Rapids. Its exhibit hall totals just over 28,000 square feet, while its grand ballroom has over 12,000 square feet of space and can seat 600 for a banquet. Another exciting feature of the new convention complex is the attached DoubleTree by Hilton, the newly renovated 267-room hotel. In addition to its updated, comfortable rooms, the DoubleTree also features a restaurant and a lounge on the tower’s top floor with spectacular views of the city and Cedar River. One of the best features of the complex is how comprehensive it is when it comes to planning.

“You only work with one sales department for the whole complex,” Stow said. “From food and beverage to hotel rooms to meeting space, it’s just one group.”

Cedar Rapids is also home to several other full-service conference hotels, such as the Cedar Rapids Marriott, the Hilton Garden Inn Cedar Rapids, and the Hampton Inn and Suites Cedar Rapids North. The Hotel at Kirkwood is a stylish boutique hotel and the city’s only AAA Four Diamond property. It has 71 rooms and is connected to the hospitality

All photos courtesy Cedar Rapids Tourism

CEDAR RAPIDS IS HOME TO A THRIVING PUBLIC ARTS SCENE, INCLUDING SCULPTURES LIKE REGENERATION AT THE CEDAR RAPIDS PUBLIC LIBRARY.

and culinary arts program at Kirkwood Community College. The Hotel at Kirkwood Center features 19,000 square feet of meeting space and offers a range of culinary-based amenities, from in-house catering to culinary team-building exercises, such as preparing a multicourse meal together.

“The beauty is while you’re staying there or having a meeting or experiencing the restaurant, you’ll connect with students who are passionate about learning about the industry,” Stow said.

OFF-SITE VENUES

In addition to its hotels and convention center, Cedar Rapids has a variety of unique local venues that will align with the theme of any meeting.

The Indian Creek Nature Center, a nature preserve with five miles of hiking trails and multiple ecosystems, offers several classrooms, an outdoor amphitheater, an auditorium and an exhibit hall in its headquarters. This stylish and sustainable venue effortlessly blends modern convenience with nature by leaning into wood, stone and plant accents throughout with lots of natural light. Stow said the building, which is equipped with solar panels, is “one of only a few living buildings, which is the highest level of sustainability.”

Several museums in Cedar Rapids make excellent hosts for events, including the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library. This colorful, elegant venue offers both indoor and outdoor venue space. Its Heritage Hall can seat 200 for a banquet or be divided into smaller rooms, while the Rozek Grand Hall can accommodate 100 banquet-style. The museum also has a 51-seat theater and a terrace perfect for receptions. Planners can choose from a list of preferred caterers for their events.

For a beautiful, countryside vineyard backdrop, planners can hold their events just outside the city at Cedar Ridge Winery and Distillery. This family-owned winery and distillery produces award-winning wines and was named 2017 Distiller of the Year by the American Distilling Institute. It has three distinct spaces for events of different sizes, from an event center that can seat 200 to a vineyard room that can seat 40.

Cedar Rapids has several historic venues, such as the Paramount Theatre, which was recently renovated, preserving the grandeur of its ornate architecture and classic red and gold decor. It offers 1,700 seats and space for up to 100 for a banquet. The Brucemore Mansion, another historic property, is a beautiful, Queen Anne-style mansion from the 19th century. This mansion is set on 26 manicured acres and includes both indoor and outdoor event

INDIAN CREEK NATURE CENTER

spaces, from smaller meeting rooms seating 10 to the First Avenue Lawn, which has accommodated as many as 20,000 visitors.

One of the most memorable venues for events is Prairie Patch Farm, a nature preserve and wildlife refuge just outside Cedar Rapids that allows attendees to interact with llamas. From llama hikes to llama yoga, the activities at Prairie Patch Farm are friendly additions to any event. The farm’s barn can be rented for events or meetings of about 40 people, but the llamas can also be booked for off-site events in Cedar Rapids.

RECREATION

After hours, attendees have no shortage of ways to keep busy. Cedar Rapids offers plenty of opportunities to shop, try local cuisine and learn about the city’s cultural heritage.

Many of these opportunities can be found in The District. For a culinary experience they won’t soon forget, attendees can head to Newbo City Market, a public market that functions as both a collection of restaurants and a business incubator. The market allows small-business owners looking to jump-start their ideas and dip their toe into the restaurant business. In the process, visitors to the market enjoy an ever-changing blend of cultural cuisine and new culinary ideas. They can also check out Lion Bridge

One of the most memorable venues for events is Prairie Patch Farm, a nature preserve and wildlife refuge just outside Cedar Rapids that allows attendees to interact with llamas. From llama hikes to llama yoga, the activities at Prairie Patch Farm are friendly additions to any event.

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: “FACES OF FREEDOM” EXHIBIT AT THE NATIONAL CZECH AND SLOVAK MUSEUM AND LIBRARY; BRUCEMORE MANSION; BRIDGE IN CZECH VILLAGE AND NEW BOHEMIA

Brewing Company to try their assortment of craft beers and elevated pub food. For something sweet, attendees can enjoy an ice cream sundae at Sweet Mercantile Soda Fountain and Candy Shop in Czech Village.

“Folks are also surprised by our culinary scene,” Stow said. “We are home to several James Beard-nominated chefs. Sixty-two percent of all restaurants in Cedar Rapids are locally owned and operated.”

Outside of The District, another dining option is the upscale, James Beard 2015 finalist, Cobble Hill Eatery and Dispensary, which serves creative dishes and cocktails with many locally sourced ingredients. Attendees will find a laid-back atmosphere, handmade pizzas, craft beer and classic arcade games at the Quarter Barrel Arcade and Brewery.

The arts scene in Cedar Rapids is impressive. The city features many works of public art, such as murals and sculptures, and even offers a self-guided public art tour for visitors to follow.

Attendees can visit the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, which features 7,200 works of art, including pieces by Grant Wood, who painted the famous “American Gothic” and was a Cedar Rapids resident for much of his life.

tourismcedarrapids.com

BOURBON AT CEDAR RIDGE WINERY AND DISTILLERY

MEETING LEADERS

DARCIE HOLTE

BY REBECCA TREON

Darcie Holte doesn’t feel like a salesperson.

Though her title at Destination Lake Winnebago Region is director of sales, her daily work feels more like sharing insider info she has picked up living in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, for 31 years.

“I don’t even feel like my position has the word ‘sales’ in it,” said Holte. “I just feel like a big cheerleader for the region.”

Holte grew up in central Wisconsin in a town called Marshfield but after college moved to the Fond du Lac area, where she has primarily worked in roles as an administrative assistant. Five years ago, she took a position at Destination Lake Winnebago Region and was only at the job for a few months before her boss, Fond du Lac Area Convention and Visitors Bureau president Craig Molitor, encouraged her to apply for a sales role that had opened up.

“I was scared to death — sales was something I had never done before,” said Holte. “But Craig had all the confidence in the world in me. He told me I had nothing to lose by going for it, and he knew that my years of living here made it a place that was so easy to talk about. Here I am five years later.”

As the pandemic disruptions fade into the past, Holte says this year has the same excitement as her inaugural year in the role. Fond du Lac has a population of only about 45,000, but while meeting planners in the past were looking to markets like Milwaukee and Madison, many are now looking to smaller places like the Lake Winnebago Region, says Holte.

“We have really unique spaces, and people are just blown away by what we have to offer,” said Holte. “I want to show people the things

that we have that are different that are worth coming here for.”

As an example, she recently created an itinerary for a board member retreat that included the region’s most unusual locales, including a goat farm and creamery in a pastoral setting. But the meeting also featured a stay at a recently renovated historic hotel, as well as a distillery tour, a cheese tasting and visiting a winery that’s converted its former horse barn into meeting space.

It’s Holte’s familiarity with all of these local amenities — and the people behind them — that have made her a success.

“Living here for so long, I know what is going on — when things are being built, when businesses are being developed,” she said. “And because I have relationships with the owners, it makes it seamless when I bring meeting planners to visit.”

Putting these itineraries together for meeting planners is not just part of the job for Holte — it’s what she really loves to do.

“You have to gain the trust of the community to be able to gain the trust of the planners,” she said. “The only way you can gain that trust is to really be embedded in the local culture,” she said.

Holte considers Fond du Lac (and Wisconsin in general) to be a well-kept secret that just needs a little more exposure to the rest of the world for people to appreciate a hidden gem that’s in their own backyard.

“We’re not a cookie-cutter CVB, and we don’t look at our meeting planners as a dime a dozen,” she said. “I take so much pride in what I do, and I think when people experience it here, they’ll go back and tell other people about what a great experience it was.”

EXECUTIVE PROFILE

NAME

Darcie Holte

TITLE

Director of Sales

ORGANIZATION

Destination Lake Winnebago Region

LOCATION

Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

BIRTHPLACE

Marshfield, Wisconsin

EDUCATION

Some college but mostly work experience

CAREER HISTORY

• Underwriting assistant in commercial insurance (1992-2008)

• Registrar assistant, Moraine Park Technical College (2008-2013)

• Administrative assistant to school superintendent (2014-2018)

• Visitor center rep and currently director of sales at Destination Lake Winnebago (2018-present)

“You have to gain the trust of the community to be able to gain the trust of the planners. The only way you can gain that trust is to really be embedded in the local culture.”

TIPS FROM DARCIE HOLTE

• Personal connections make for the most successful events.

• Find out who at the CVB is the resource for the community. I have a lot of resources to help make your planning easier!

• Ask, ask, ask! There are so many hidden ideas or abilities that each CVB has or can offer.

HOLTE FEATURES HER GOLDEN

BOGIE AND BIRDIE, IN

FOR DESTINATION LAKE WINNEBAGO.

Friends in High Places

LEARN TO CULTIVATE RELATIONSHIPS WITH DESTINATION REPRESENTATIVES

BY RACHEL CRICK

Planners seeking VIP access to a destination should look no further than its convention and visitors bureau (CVB). These destination experts have all the most current details of an area’s attractions and vendors, which means they can assist at every level of planning an event by providing a friendly, helpful link to the tools planners need to succeed. This can be especially true when planning an event in an unfamiliar city, but even a planner’s local CVB can be an invaluable resource.

Building strong relationships with CVBs ensures a planner will have a knowledgeable partner throughout the event-planning process, in addition to gaining access to a wealth of resources and necessary information. Here are some ways experts encourage planners to make sure they’re getting the most from their relationships with CVBs.

NETWORKING

To form strong bonds with CVBs, first planners need to be introduced to them. One of the best ways to do this is at trade shows and conventions. CVBs from around the region or even the country will send their sales teams to meet planners and spread the word about the destination appeal of their city.

“Our entire strategy around those is to build and solidify those relationships with planners,” said Jonathan Brashier, vice president of commercial strategy for Visit Greenville SC.

Stopping by each booth to say hello to the CVB representatives from every city may seem a little taxing, or a little like speed-dating, but these initial introductions can be the foundations for solid relationships that later lead to successful events. Every industry event is an opportunity to build on these relationships. It’s likely if a planner attends many of these events or shows, they’ll eventually start to recognize the same faces.

CVBs have large networks of their own and frequently help planners make critical connections and introductions with vetted industry professionals. Planners can use their CVB contacts to track down anything from a suitable venue to party favors for attendees.

Jonathan Brashier

VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMERCIAL STRATEGY

Visit Greenville SC

Experience: 25 years

On the importance of developing relationships with CVBs: “Relationships are important across the board. People like doing business with people they know and trust.”

DIRECTOR OF CONVENTION SERVICES

Visit Spokane Experience: 10 years

“We view the CVBs as a quality location to find people that work in the events industry full time,” said Heather Pilcher, CEO and executive director of Blue Spark Event Design. “We use their relationships with local vendors and local hotels to start the design.”

Bethany Letcher, director of convention services at Visit Spokane, said that another way to network and make connections with CVBs is by simply reaching out or responding to them. Letcher encourages planners to “take a quick five minutes to have a call, get to know each other and learn about the resources we provide.”

USE THEIR RESOURCES

One of the biggest perks of a good relationship with CVBs is access to their long list of helpful planning resources and services specific to their destination. CVBs have huge banks of current information to share with planners and being familiar with the CVB ensures a planner can use it.

“If we built a good relationship from the start, they know they can use us as a resource,” Letcher said. “We’re their liaison to everything Spokane has to offer.”

These resources can be as simple as an updated directory of venues and vendors in a city. Especially in the years after the pandemic, navigating contradictory online information about business hours and closures can be challenging. CVBs will have updated information on the newest vendors, intelligence on which properties are undergoing renovations and up-to-date news on changes in business hours and business closures.

Many CVBs also offer excellent meeting planner toolkits, which contain a collection of information about a city’s most prominent meeting spaces and downloadable and shareable PDFs and images for planner use. These can streamline the planning process and even help planners market their event.

Another helpful service CVBs sometimes provide to planners is a FAM trip, or familiarization trip.

“We get invited to FAMs, which are a really good use of time in cities you are unfamiliar with. You get to build a relationship and have

On what makes good relationships with planners worthwhile: “It’s way more fun to service a group if you get to know a planner and the group through and through because you have so much pride in hosting them.”

Bethany Letcher

someone you can call in the future,” Pilcher said. “If you can go, go. The time and experience is invaluable.”

FAMs usually showcase the best of each destination. Some CVBs offer additional incentives, like free airfare or free hotel rooms to planners to encourage them to check out their destination. While many planners are strapped for time, site visits and trips to the destination are among the most useful way for a planner to max out everything CVBs offer.

DETAILED COMMUNICATION

Maintaining a positive relationship with a CVB is like maintaining any positive relationship: It requires communication, and specifically, details. CVBs need information from

Heather Pilcher

CEO/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Blue Spark Event Design

Experience: 22 years

MEETINGS WITH A VIEW

Looking for a place to host your next meeting, conference or convention? Look no further than Corbin, KY. Conveniently located off of I-75 exit 25 in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Corbin is home to 2 premier meeting and conference centers, The Corbin Arena and the Corbin Center. After the meeting get out and enjoy the Original KFC, Cumberland Falls State Park, the Laurel Lake and our vibrant and eclectic downtown! We can’t wait to host you… Corbin LOVES Company!

On the importance of using a CVB’s resources when planning: “A good relationship with a local CVB is an important factor because secondary markets have become very important. Not everyone is going to major destinations; reaching out to the CVB is a really good way to start.”

RECONNECT IN THE FOX CITIES

Plan confidently for your next meeting or event in the Fox Cities. With a wide variety of spaces and places, we have the perfect venue for any group to feel excited and inspired to get back to business.

Looking for a modern, state-ofthe-art option with room for a crowd? Check out the Fox Cities Exhibition Center - 38,000 square feet of thoughtfully designed space built right into the hillside of Downtown Appleton.

Now offering incentives starting at $500 for events booked and held in the Fox Cities.

planners to put their best offerings forward and help in the best way they know how.

“Clear communication and a timely response are very important when the CVB is trying to reach out and grab information about hotels and venues,” Brashier said.

Timeliness is important on both sides because everybody’s busy and nobody wants to waste their time. But if they’re relying on CVBs to secure great rates on a package of hotel rooms for attendees, that may be an especially time-sensitive issue, which is something planners should keep in mind.

As far as the event itself, the more details a planner gives the CVB, the more assistance they can provide.

“We want to know about their event, if they’re planning off-site events, because that’s how we can come in and help them,” Letcher said. “Being open and willing to work with the CVB will ultimately pay off.”

For example, Visit Spokane helped plan an event that was centered around sustainability, interactivity and voluntourism. Because this was communicated to Letcher upfront, she was able to organize activities that were a good fit for the event

and the group, such as visits to the local recycling and composting plants.

Pilcher agreed and said that in addition to communicating details about the event’s logistics, planners need to be willing to discuss their vision and their client’s vision with the CVB in detail. That’s something that shouldn’t only be communicated by email.

“We like to be on the phone and explain the vibe they’re looking for,” Pilcher said. We try our best to over-communicate up and down, because if everybody knows the goal of the conference, the best foot is put forward.”

STAY IN TOUCH

CVB representatives know the last thing planners want is an influx of CVB marketing materials cluttering their inboxes. That’s why many are turning to more intentional ways of chasing leads and attracting planners, and this all stems from strong relationships with planners.

“They want to talk to us when it’s meaningful and specific,” Brashier said.

The more a CVB gets to know a planner and the types of events they typically produce, the more accurately they’ll be able to pitch their cities and services to them. Planners can turn to traditional ways to stay updated, like subscribing to newsletters or email campaigns that will let them know all the latest happenings in a destination. Or they can check in with a phone call or email from time to time. However, if they are very familiar with a CVB, they’ll often get ideas, updates and leads curated just for them.

“We want to hear about anything brand new that might be of interest,” Pilcher said. The CVBs who know a planner well can tell what news does or doesn’t apply to them.

Meetings meet Convenience

Let our experienced destination staff assist with all your planning needs!

We help make your meetings a success with our convenient location, directly off I-94 between Milwaukee and Madison in the heart of “Lake Country, ” complimentary personalized services, and these benefits:

 More than 100,000 square feet of affordable, flexible meeting space

 1,300+ guestrooms with complimentary parking

 Plenty of after-hours dining and entertainment options for your attendees

Learn

COASTAL FAVORITES

tain. In these destinations, attendees will also find vibrant dining scenes with lots of fresh seafood, abundant shopping and opportunities to enjoy the natural beauty of the shore.

To host a meeting, conference or event attendees won’t want to leave, planners should head to these coastal havens.

DESTIN-FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA

BY RACHEL CRICK

There’s no better way to combine business with leisure than with a beach meeting.

Attendees dream of the ocean views, warm weather and laid-back schedules that make up these coveted meeting destinations. In addition to the unmatched views and restful feel of coastal destinations, they are often teeming with fun activities designed to enter-

Destin is known as the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village” because of its range of fish species. As such, it’s a fantastic place for fishing and boating. From the Choctawhatchee Bay to the Gulf of Mexico, the emerald waters of the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area are its biggest attraction. Attendees can enjoy water sports and activities during their downtime or as part of team-building exercises, such as charter fishing, boating to Spectre Island for a picnic or taking a sunset dolphin cruise. Lessons and beginner paddleboarding, snorkeling and scuba diving are also available.

“Beyond our modern meeting space and accommodation options, there are a plethora of water

These beach destinations are always popular with meeting-goers

Above: The DestinFort Walton Beach area is renowned for its abundance of emerald-green waters and waterfront views.

Courtesy Destin-Fort Walton Beach

adventures that visitors can discover,” said Melissa Read, general manager at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center.

Right across the street from the beach, the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center is a modern venue with 32,000 square feet of flexible indoor space, including a 21,200-square-foot ballroom. To enjoy Florida’s beautiful weather, groups can use the convention center’s outdoor 30,000-squarefoot Bayview Plaza. The Destin-Fort Walton Beach area is home to many upscale full-service meeting

hotels, such as the Emerald Grande at Harborwalk Village, a Gulf-side resort that features a range of indoor and outdoor meeting spaces and Gulf-totable cuisine. For a more unique venue that comes with a chance to meet with marine life, planners can check out the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park, where they can participate in team-building activities during the day or rent the park after hours for a banquet in the park’s aquarium room or the outdoor, covered beachfront space.

destinfwb.com

CRYSTAL COAST, NORTH CAROLINA

The 12 communities that make up North Carolina’s southern Outer Banks are collectively known as the Crystal Coast, a seaside destination that has proven a charming destination for meetings. In addition to the dining, shopping and history offered by the Crystal Coast’s small towns, the abundance of conserved natural land and waterways also make it a bounty for nature lovers. Home to

Crystal Coast scenes, clockwise from left: Cape Lookout Lighthouse; Beaufort Hotel; Carolina Home and Garden

“Beyond our modern meeting space and accommodation options, there are plethora of water adventures that visitors can discover.”

—

Melissa Read,

Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center

Photos courtesy Crystal Coast Tourism Development Authority

IDEAS

Cape Lookout National Seashore, Fort Macon State Park and Shackleford Banks, where wild horses roam, this beach destination has no shortage of natural scenery and wildlife for visitors to take in.

The Crystal Coast is suitable for small or midsize meetings and events. The Civic Center features 20,000 square feet of meeting space with the largest space being 12,000 square feet. Meeting hotels in the area include the DoubleTree Atlantic Beach, with a 5,400-square-foot ballroom and 200 rooms, and the Beaufort Hotel, with 10,000 square feet of meeting space and 133 rooms. It also features an exciting selection of off-site venues. At the Carolina Home and Garden, a garden shop and nursery, attendees can gather for a magical gathering among beautiful plants. Merrell Estate and Gardens and the Cottage at the Crystal Coast are additional settings for elegant events.

Jim Browder, executive director of the Crystal Coast Tourism Development Authority said part of what makes this such a great meeting destination is its quaintness.

Courtesy Crystal Coast Tourism Development Authority

WILD HORSES OF SHACKLEFORD BANKS

“When smaller meetings go to larger destinations they tend to get swallowed up,” he said. “Our environment allows for someone to feel like a small event is the only event. It gives them the opportunity to interact and get to know each other.”

crystalcoastnc.org

Home

to Cape Lookout National Seashore, Fort Macon State Park and Shackleford Banks, where wild horses roam, the Crystal Coast has no shortage of natural scenery and wildlife for visitors to take in.

On the sandy shores of beautiful Lake Michigan, we are a friendly community ready to host your next small market meeting or conference. We offer a variety of traditional meeting spaces ranging up to 20,000 sq. ft., as well as unique and modern venues, like the Wisconsin Maritime Museum overlooking the Manitowoc River and Lake Michigan, The Venue downtown, and Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center

We are conveniently located 36 miles south of the Green Bay airport and 80 miles north of the Milwaukee airport, and since we are a home port to Lake Michigan's largest passenger car ferry, you caneven arrive by water!

We can accommodate almost 600 hotel rooms and will help with logistics to make your experience care free and fun Contact us today to dive into planning your meeting in Manitowoc!

RaeAnn Thomas Destination Sales and Marketing Manager rthomas@manitowoc org

920-686-3507

Visit Manitowoc

900 Quay St Manitowoc, WI 54220 www visitmanitowoc com

BUCKMAN HOUSE IN BEAUFORT

Manitowoc

IDEAS

ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY

The most famous gaming city on the East Coast is also one of the best beach destinations for event planners. Atlantic City offers attendees a staggering range of amenities to accompany its resort casino properties. Gaming may be one of Atlantic City’s biggest draws, but the city is also home to plenty of enticing attractions unrelated to gaming. The five-mile Atlantic City Boardwalk on Atlantic City’s beach offers numerous places for attendees to shop, dine and explore the beach. Visitors to Atlantic City will want to see its famous landmarks like Lucy the Elephant in Josephine Harron Park and the Absecon Lighthouse, New Jersey’s tallest lighthouse.

Larry Sieg, CEO of Visit Atlantic City, said the location is within driving distance for a third of the U.S. population, which is one of the best reasons to consider Atlantic City for their next meeting.

“We’re situated only an hour from Philadelphia, two hours from New York City, three hours from

Baltimore and Washington,” he said. “That’s really important to a lot of our meeting planners.”

The Atlantic City Convention Center offers nearly 600,000 square feet of meeting space, 45 meeting rooms and full-service catering. It should come as no surprise that Atlantic City’s many casino resort properties have plenty of meeting space and lodging for events while being conveniently located near the convention center. Bally’s Atlantic City has over 1,200 rooms and 80,000 square feet of meeting space, while Ocean Casino Resort has almost 1,400 rooms and 160,000 square feet of space.

meetac.com

COASTAL MISSISSIPPI

Comprising 12 cities in three counties, the “Secret Coast” of Mississippi is a little-known beach destination on the Gulf of Mexico. This 26-mile stretch of man-made beach is a beautiful getaway for attendees, featuring picturesque scenery of

Atlantic City scenes, clockwise from left: Steel Pier; casinos on the Atlantic City coast; Atlantic City Convention Center atrium

Photos courtesy Meet AC

“We’re situated only an hour from Philadelphia, two hours from New York City, three hours from Baltimore and Washington. That’s really important to a lot of our meeting planners.”

— Larry Sieg, Visit Atlantic City

Courtesy Coastal Mississippi

MISSISSIPPI COAST COLISEUM AND CONVENTION CENTER

YOUR TEAM

lighthouses and piers stretching across the Gulf’s deep blue waters. It’s also a well-known golfing destination, with almost 20 golf courses across the 12 communities. The Secret Coast has another element of surprise that ups the ante and attracts attendees: gaming. Twelve casino properties can be found scattered among Mississippi’s coastal towns with a wide offering of amenities.

“I like to say we’re the only place you can golf, gamble and fish,” said Ari Covacevich, convention sales and development manager at Coastal Mississippi.

The beachfront Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center in Biloxi is one of the coast’s central meeting venues and includes 400,000 square feet of space, with a 129,000-square-foot exhibit hall and additional meeting rooms. For a resort with meeting space and gaming, the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino has 50,000 square feet of meeting space and 1,740 guest rooms for attendees, while the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino has 13,000 square feet of meeting space and 318 guest rooms. Receptions or smaller meetings can be held at the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art in Biloxi, which has its own kitchen. The Mississippi Aquarium gives a nautical background to any event and has inhouse catering.

gulfcoast.org

LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA

The only urban downtown waterfront between San Francisco and San Diego, Long Beach, California, is an extremely walkable city of 500,000 people. The city has 5.5 miles of beaches, 11 miles of waterways and over 120 restaurants within an eight-block radius of its convention center. Long Beach is home to several standout attractions for attendees to check out in their downtime, from the allegedly haunted Queen Mary to cultural gems like the Museum of Latin American Art.

Courtesy Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau

PACIFIC BALLROOM ENTRANCE AT LONG BEACH CONVENTION AND ENTERTAINMENT CENTER

“I like to say we’re the only place you can golf, gamble and fish.”

— Ari Covacevich, Coastal Mississippi

REDEFININGbusiness casual

With beautiful, white-sand beaches, a variety of venues and endless entertainment opportunities, the Alabama Gulf Coast brings new meaning to business casual. Book your next meeting or conference with us and let the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach sales team handle the rest.

“We are the quintessential Southern California meeting destination,” said Joseph Jenci, senior vice president of sales and services at Long Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We’re on the ocean, we have the best weather year round, the palm trees, the open space, all the amenities we can offer.”

The crown jewel of the tourism industry in Long Beach is its Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, a contemporary, 400,000-square-foot venue. The convention center acts as a town hall and central venue for most of the town’s events. It has several turnkey event spaces that are each retrofitted with a grid system with speakers, rigging and lighting to help planners pull off their most technologically advanced meetings and events. The Pacific Ballroom is a 46,000-square-foot and can seat over 3,000 attendees banquet style. The convention center’s outdoor venues, the Terrace Plaza and the Cove, offer unique and stylish spaces for large events. Planners can hold smaller meetings in the center’s meeting rooms, or off-site at venues such as the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden, a living museum and Japanese garden that provides an elegant space for receptions and banquets.

visitlongbeach.com

Courtesy Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau

“We are the quintessential Southern California meeting destination. We’re on the ocean, we have the best weather year round, the palm trees, the open space, all the amenities we can offer.”

— Joseph Jenci, Long Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau

SUNSET VIEWS IN LONG BEACH

Located at the crossroads of the northeast, Albany is easily accessible by plane, train, or automobile and is a short jaunt from major metropolitan areas such as Boston, New York City, and Montreal.

There are a variety of convention, special event, sports, and creative venues for your next event. Including the Capital Complex made up of four different venues: The Albany Capital Center, The Empire State Plaza Convention Center, The Egg Performing Arts Center and MVP Arena. Connected via enclosed walkways, these venues combine to make up the largest meeting space in Upstate New York at 159,000 square feet.

‘Heart

OF THE ROCKIES’

BY LINDSEY HYDE

Kalispell, Montana, is far from a typical mountain town. Nestled in the heart of the Rockies, this city offers gorgeous views, outdoor attractions and a sense of serenity. But it is also bursting with life. Its downtown is lined with an eclectic combination of quaint shops, museums, local watering holes, eateries and much more.

“Kalispell is really the hub of the Flathead Valley in northwest Montana,” said Tia Troy, a spokesperson for Discover Kalispell.

Though filled with present-day venues and amenities, downtown Kalispell also displays pieces of its past. It is home to multiple buildings that can be traced back to the late 1890s and early 1900s, like Kalispell Grand Hotel, Hockaday Museum of Art, Conrad Mansion Museum and Northwest Montana History Museum. As its oldest treasure, the region’s landscape creates quite the entertaining playground for people of all ages.

“Kalispell is surrounded by various mountain ranges,” Troy said. “You have the Swan Mountains, which are all part of the Rocky Mountains, as well as the Salish Mountains. You have Glacier National Park, which sits just 32 miles away from Kalispell. And then you also have Flathead Lake, which is just 10 minutes south of Kalispell.”

Together, these features provide visitors with a unique yet truly authentic Montana experience. In addition to being a great spot for tourists, Kalispell is also primed to host a variety of events, from large conventions to corporate retreats.

“Kalispell is an ideal destination for corporate meetings and events of various sizes because it has everything you need while still being surrounded by Montana’s incredible outdoors and iconic destinations,” Troy said.

Two of the area’s main event spaces can be found at Hilton Garden Inn Kalispell, which is located about five minutes from downtown, and Red Lion Hotel Kalispell, which sits on the north end of downtown. Other available venues include everything from additional hotels to unique spaces, like baseball stadium suites and a performance/lecture hall.

A MONTANA RAFTING COMPANY EXCURSION

LOCATION Northwest Montana

ACCESS

U.S. Highway 2 and 93, Glacier Park International Airport, Amtrak’s Empire Builder

MAJOR MEETING SPACES

Hilton Garden Inn Kalispell, Red Lion Hotel Kalispell

HOTEL ROOMS About 1,500

OFF-SITE VENUES

Ashley Creek Historic Venue at Snowline Acres, Wachholz College Center, Flathead Field

CONTACT INFO Discover Kalispell 406-758-2820

discoverkalispell.com

Popular Venues

Found just outside of downtown, Hilton Garden Inn Kalispell is one of the city’s major meeting hotels. With 11 meeting rooms, totaling nearly 14,000 square feet, groups have plenty of space to assemble or break out into smaller teams. The inn’s largest room, Glacier Ballroom, measures 8,550 square feet and can host approximately 700 people.

Red Lion Hotel Kalispell, which sits on North Main Street downtown, has approximately 12,000 square feet of meeting space and can accommodate roughly 750 people. That space includes the 8,800-square-feet Grand Ballroom and several smaller rooms for breakout sessions. Both hotels offer catering services as well as audio and visual support.

Additional Areas

OUTDOOR

Kalispell boasts numerous unique meeting spaces. Roughly six minutes from downtown, Ashley Creek Historic Venue at Snowline Acres is a beautiful barn-style building that sits on 30 acres. The facility offers 22,000 square feet of total indoor space, with its largest room measuring 6,000 square feet. Plus, thanks to its available acreage, groups can shift outdoors throughout the day, if the weather is nice. The venue can host up to 330 people, and groups can utilize the on-site prep kitchen.

Other interesting venues include a performance and lecture hall at Wachholz College Center or luxury suites at Flathead Field, the home of Kalispell’s Glacier Range Riders baseball team.

All photos courtesy Discover Kalispell

DINING AT BULLS & BEARS

KALISPELL’S ARTEMIS ACRES PAINT HORSE GUEST RANCH OFFERS HORSEBACK RIDING, HIKING AND OTHER TEAM-BUILDING ACTIVITIES.

CONRAD MANSION MUSEUM

Connect with Coworkers

Groups can capitalize on their time in Kalispell by taking part in one of the area’s many team-building activities. For example, about 8 miles from downtown in the foothills of the Salish Mountains, Artemis Acres Paint Horse Guest Ranch offers hiking and horseback riding, along with family-style meals. Groups can also bond by going whitewater rafting or taking a scenic float. Both can be achieved through Glacier Guides and Montana Raft, which is located about 40 minutes from Kalispell.

Nightcaps

Whether groups are given a midday break or are finished up for the evening, downtown Kalispell is home to a long list of places worth exploring. The Northwest Montana History Museum and Conrad Mansion Museum offer insight into the city and state’s interesting past. Plus, groups can satisfy their hunger and thirst at places like Moose’s Saloon and MontaVino Winery. Moose’s serves up mouthwatering pizzas, salads and sandwiches, along with beer and wine. Its wooden booths and sawdust-covered floor provide a rustic, inviting atmosphere. As for MontaVino, groups can sample whites and reds, build their own charcuterie boards, lounge on the patio and listen to live music.

REACH MEETING PLANNERS IN 2023

WE’RE OFFERING SPECIAL PACKAGES FOR ALL AD SIZES. IT’S AS SIMPLE AS CHOOSING THREE ISSUES!

A LAKE IN GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, ABOUT 32 MILES FROM KALISPELL

Meeting Guide

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

The Hoosier State is awash in unique meeting venues.

Indiana offers plenty of opportunities for meeting planners to buck the traditional hotel ballroom for their events and instead tap into the state’s past. One-of-akind historic venues include former mansions and a Big Band-era ballroom and performing arts center, as well as a Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired conference center, agritourism destination and storied Irish pub.

HARRY COOLER CONFERENCE CENTER

Greenwood

Built in Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian style, Harry Cooler Conference Center in Greenwood initially was built as a residence for Ernie and Edith

Only in Indiana

Mills in the mid-1950s. They hired architect Harry Cooler, who was a student of Frank Lloyd Wright, to design the home exactly like one designed by the master himself.

The home was on the Indiana Historical Society’s top 10 endangered properties list two years in a row. Todd Anthony bought the property in 2019 because the area doesn’t have a lot of midcentury architecture and he hated to see the building fall into disrepair. The home is built on 7 wooded acres. When it was first built, it was in the middle of nowhere, but now it is surrounded by Greenwood. It took Anthony a year to complete a full restoration, with assistance from Harry Cooler’s son Bill, who is also an architect.

The home hosts daytime meetings, training sessions or afternoon cocktails. It can easily fit 50 people in the lower level, which has an open concept. Combined with the property’s outdoor spaces, groups can host events up to 125. The three-level home has several smaller rooms that can be used for breakout sessions.

The building is furnished with a mix of original and reproduction furniture from the 1950s. It showcases an original Frank Lloyd Wright-designed conference table. The

Courtesy Harry Cooler Conference Center

GREENWOOD’S HARRY COOLER CONFERENCE CENTER WAS INSPIRED BY FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT’S ARCHITECTURAL STYLE.

center has a liquor license, but groups can bring in their own catering. The facility is expanding with a large outdoor chapel that will seat 150 people and a tent platform for a 40-by-60-foot tent. coolercenter.org

PALAIS ROYALE BALLROOM/ MORRIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER South Bend

Built in the Big Band-era style in 1922, South Bend’s Palais Royale Ballroom and Morris Performing Arts Center have both been lovingly restored to their former glory. Situated in the heart of downtown, the facility is surrounded by local hotels, bars and restaurants.

The 8,800-square-foot ballroom has 35-foot ceilings, an elegant crystal chandelier, painted walls with gilded woodwork and polished hardwood floors. The windows are draped in lavender velvet and the original musician’s balcony overlooks the event space below, which can host more than 850 guests for a standing reception or 650 for a sit-down banquet or meeting. The ballroom has smaller rooms on the third floor that work well for small meetings of 12 to 20 people.

The Granada Room, which is on the bottom floor of the Morris Performing Arts Center, can host smaller events up to 100 and has a built-in bar. The center can seat 2,500 and is utilized for shows, concerts, weddings and events. The city owns both properties, but Navarre is contracted to manage them. Groups wanting a taste of elegance can host cocktail hours or wedding ceremonies in the lobby of the Morris, which is connected to the ballroom.

palaisroyale.org morriscenter.org

FAIR OAKS FARMS Fair Oaks

One of the most famous agritourism destinations in the country, Fair Oaks Farms offers not only experiential museums but also three guided adventures that educate groups about how a modern dairy and pig farm operate. The tours take guests from seed to feed, highlighting modern farming practices that help farmers feed the world’s ever-burgeoning population. Along with the fun tours, the facility also has a Fairfield by Marriott at Fair Oaks Farms with 99 guest rooms; the Farmhouse Restaurant for fine dining; the Cowfe, which offers quick meals, ice cream and souvenirs; and the Farmstead Market and Dairycatessen.

The property has several unique meeting spaces, from a small boardroom to the Fair Oaks Ballroom, which can seat 220 to 250 for a banquet. The Feed Barn can be used to host dinners of 100 or lectures for 250. The Dairy Loft offers an original spot for a 130-person reception or meeting setup for 250.

Several outdoor spaces are available for weddings or events, including trade shows. The Fairfield Hotel Patio can accommodate 100 for a reception, while Gateway Garden and Farmhouse Backyard can host 300 for a reception.

fofarms.com

By Josephiney Photography, courtesy Palais Royale Ballroom

PALAIS ROYALE BALLROOM

Courtesy Fair Oak Farms

FARMHOUSE RESTAURANT AND CONFERENCE CENTER AT FAIR OAKS FARMS

Hello, Fort Wayne! INDIANA

“Grand Wayne Center is a stunning work of architecture with easy access to hotels, restaurants and entertainment. Our members were impressed with how clean, modern, walkable, and friendly downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana, proved to be.

NOW BOOKING your best event!

Meagan Drabik | Sales Manager

WHAT YOU’LL LOVE ABOUT US:

• Full in-house services for In-person, Hybrid, or Remote meetings

• 225,000 sf of beautifully appointed space

• 18 carpeted, fully equipped event rooms

• 4500 theatre; 3100 banquet; 2900 classroom

• 3 adjacent hotels with garage parking

• In-house Sales, AV, Catering, Event management, and Guest experiences

• 60+ walkable restaurants and pubs, boutiques, and riverfront parks

• Easier event planning & guest navigation

>> SAVE UP TO 15% versus comparable cities! Easy Drive-To Destination! Easy by Air via FWA

Meeting Guide

THE IRISH LION RESTAURANT AND PUB

Bloomington

Located in the heart of downtown Bloomington, a half block west of the town square, The Irish Lion is a restored historic 1882 tavern and outdoor venue. Locally owned since 1982, the restaurant offers traditional Irish fare and spirits, including seafood, steak, lamb, Dublin pub stews and pub grub. It also offers several unique meeting spaces for private events, banquets and corporate meetings, both indoors and out.

The building originally was used as a pub and inn when it was first built to serve the public and passengers arriving in Bloomington at the former Monon Train Depot across the street, which is now a Hyatt Place hotel and B-Line Trail. The Irish Lion features metal ceilings, which were installed to create a fire barrier for the gaslight fixtures. Two bars date from the late 1800s and early 1900s. The mahogany back bar on the main level was made between 1860 and the late 1880s.

The Celtic Room seats up to 30, while the Banquet Room can accommodate up to 115. The Outdoor Glen, a secluded oasis tucked between two brick buildings draped in creeping vines, can host groups of 80 people.

irishlion.com

THE HISTORIC AMBASSADOR HOUSE AND HERITAGE GARDENS

Fishers

Built in 1827, the historic Ambassador House in Fishers got its current name from its second owner Addison Harris, who purchased it in 1867 as a summer residence. Harris became an ambassador to the Austro-Hungarian empire in the late 1800s and early 1900s. After he and his wife, India, passed away, the house was acquired by the town of Fishers, which relocated the home to its current location in Heritage Park. A stone outbuilding was relocated in spring of 1997.

DOWNTOWN FORT WAYNE, INDIANA | grandwayne.com | 260.426.4100

@GrandWayneCC #yourGrandWaynestory

The Historic Ambassador House and Heritage Gardens nonprofit board of directors was formed in 2004 to oversee the home’s restoration. In 2009, it opened as a destination for community events and as a historic site. The property hosts corporate meetings, retreats and parties. All corporate events held inside the house include tables and seating for up to 90 guests, as well as flatscreen monitor, projector, screens, whiteboards and free WiFi. Groups also can host events on the patio or under the company’s large tent, which can seat 250 people for corporate cookouts or receptions.

There is a corporate meeting room in the sub-level of The Ambassador House that can accommodate up to 45 guests theater-style.

ambassadorhouse.org

— Dallas. W. Johnson, North American SCRABBLE® Championship

OUTCOMES.

SMALL MEETINGS NEED b g

HOST YOUR ORGANIZATION’S NEXT SMALL-SIZED MEETING OR CONFERENCE IN HAMILTON COUNTY AND REST EASY.

In Hamilton County, we know how big a small meeting can be. Whether it’s a conference, trade show, or any other type of special event, we can comfortably accommodate all your organization’s needs. With a diverse array of gathering places—barns to boardrooms to ballrooms—more than 5,000 hotel rooms, and 30,000 sq. ft. of contiguous event space for larger events, you can rest easy when you select Hamilton County to play host.

Meeting Guide

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

Historic hotels abound in Indiana, from those serving college campuses to luxury accommodations tucked into the state’s parks and national forests. Here are five historic hotels that range from charming boutiques in some of Indiana’s most historic towns to larger properties that once catered to the rich and famous.

MORRIS INN South Bend

The Morris Inn on the University of Notre Dame campus in South Bend, Indiana, was built in 1952, funded in part by a $1 million donation from Ernest Morris, a former student who attended the school in 1902. Morris didn’t have enough money to continue paying tuition at the university so he asked the university’s president if he would allow him to continue on credit and also take care of Morris’ horse, Dexter. The president agreed. When Morris graduated, he founded an investment firm.

Historic Hoosier Hotels

He donated his first $1 million to the university because he never forgot how kind Notre Dame was to his horse.

The hotel, which underwent a $30 million renovation in 2015, has 150 guest rooms and 18 suites. Meeting groups wanting to tap into the history of the Morris Inn and visit the famed Catholic university can host meetings or events at the inn or Notre Dame Conference Center at McKenna Hall, which opened in 2021 and is connected to Morris Inn by a beautiful underground tunnel.

The inn has a 4,928-square-foot ballroom decorated with crystal chandeliers and encased in Notre Dame’s traditional colors, as well as three private dining rooms that feature large windows overlooking Notre Dame Avenue. The Conference Center has 30,000 square feet of space and the ability to host meetings for up to 300.

morrisinn.nd.edu

FORT HARRISON STATE PARK INN

Lawrence

The historic Fort Harrison State Park Inn, the Fort Golf Resort and the Garrison Banquet and Conference

Courtesy Morris Inn

MORRIS INN IS CONNECTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME’S CONFERENCE CENTER VIA AN UNDERGROUND TUNNEL.

Center are nestled within the 1,700-acre Fort Harrison State Park in Lawrence. The historic buildings once served as part of Fort Benjamin Harrison, a military installation that opened in 1906 and operated until its decommissioning in 1991. The main lodge has 27 guest rooms and the Harrison House has 16. The Blue Heron Ballroom has banquet capacity of 320. It features multiple arched glass doors and chandeliers. The doors open onto the patio above the golf course’s practice green. Two smaller rooms in the conference center can accommodate groups up to 40 people.

The Roosevelt Room in the inn can host groups up to 100 people, and the Theodore Room in the main lodge offers quick access to the Inn’s outdoor fire pit and lounge area.

in.gov/dnr/state-parks/inns

THE FRENCH LICK RESORT

French Lick

Located 43 miles from Bloomington, Indiana, the French Lick Resort encompasses the historic French Lick Springs Hotel, built in 1901, and the West Baden Springs Hotel, built in 1902. Listed as a National Historic Landmark, the resort is situated on 3,200 acres tucked among the hills of southern Indiana’s Hoosier National Forest. The historic AAA Four Diamond hotels feature three championship golf courses, a casino, two spas and more than 700 guest rooms.

The focal point of the luxurious West Baden Springs Hotel is a gorgeous atrium that spans 200 feet. The French Lick Resort Event Center has 105,000 square feet of event spaces, including 27 state-of-the-art meeting rooms for any size event. A 32,000-square-foot exhibition hall is attached to the event center and can accommodate 200 trade-show booths. The Hoosier Ballroom is the resort’s largest meeting space and can accommodate 2,500 theater-style and 1,260 for a banquet. The Windsor Ballroom can host 850 for a banquet, while Clifton Ballroom can seat 300.

The Pete Dye Pavilion is an indoor and outdoor space for 300 people overlooking the surrounding hills and golf course. The Pete Dye Mansion serves as an intimate space for luncheons and cocktail parties. frenchlick.com

CORNERSTONE INN Nashville

Situated on a three-acre campus in downtown Nashville, a quaint town in the heart of Indiana’s beautiful Brown County, Cornerstone Inn offers 39 accommodations, from standard queen rooms to premier suites and vacation homes. The property the inn sits on was purchased in 1939 by Frederic and Gladys Tilton, who had a tiny home at the end of Nashville’s West Main Street. Lot 10 was eventually deeded to Pam Gould, formerly a Tilton. In 1993, the property was cleared to build Cornerstone Inn.

Now the property has three cottage buildings that offer king suites, private porches and whirlpools. Two of the cottages can house 20 guests and one can serve up to 60. Cabin 360 is a completely renovated historic log cabin three blocks north of the center of Nashville.

The inn can host smaller groups for meetings, retreats or weddings. It has an outdoor courtyard with a fire pit next to the downtown area and a dining area that

Courtesy Fort Harrison Inn

Centrally located in the Midwest along the Indiana Toll Road, I-80/90, Elkhart County is easy to get to from Chicago, Toledo or Detroit.

can be rented out. The lodge only sleeps seven, but it has an outdoor terrace near gardens that can host up to 50 people, using both indoor and outdoor spaces.

cornerstoneinn.com

CHARLEY CREEK INN

Wabash

Charley Creek Inn in central Indiana combines a 1920s’ vibe with modern conveniences. The 30-room inn debuted in 1920 as Hotel Indiana. It was started by Service Motor Truck Company, which was seeking a high-class place for employees to stay and a place to host company events. Over the years, the property changed hands numerous times and was even converted into an efficiency apartment building at one time.

In 2007, a local philanthropist and historic preservationist bought and renovated the building. The exterior was restored to its historic appearance, and the interior was appointed with crystal chandeliers, period furniture and arched doorways. The original 80 rooms were converted to 21 enlarged guest rooms and nine suites.

The inn has more than 8,500 square feet of combined flexible meeting spaces that can host events up to 200 guests for conferences or breakout sessions. The Big Four Ballroom and Wabash Cannonball Room together have a capacity of 180, and the inn has several smaller rooms that can host groups of 10 to 40 people.

charleycreekinn.com

Courtesy Cornerstone Inn

AN-ADVENTURE-SEEKINGSELFIE-TAKING-

MEETING-KINDA-TOWN