47 minute read
PROFILE
MEETING LEADERS
WARREN ISENHOUR
BY REBECCA TREON
For Warren Isenhour, president of Nashville-based meeting planner Isenhour International, it was his studies in college in sports and recreation management that became the cornerstone of his successful business.
“My background working in that field uses the same kind of coordinating as meeting planning,” Isenhour said. “I find a lot of the traits for those jobs are similar: a lot of organizing, dealing with large volumes of people and events. It’s sort of the same kind of coordinating of logistics and dealing with hotels and venues.”
In 2004, Isenhour volunteered to organize his college fraternity’s annual conference, and his knack for planning landed him in a position in local government where he organized and planned community events. By 2013, he had enough experience that he decided to go into business for himself. Isenhour International is a full-service event management firm that handles every facet of a meeting, convention, retreat or conference for groups ranging from nonprofits to large corporate clients.
“We have a pretty wide range of clients within the SMERF market, multicultural, educational, government, association groups, religious groups and some gospel or musical groups,” Isenhour said. “We do quite a bit with destination events in the Caribbean or Mexico, and sports groups — we’re organizing a marathon group in Munich, Germany, next year. We have a lot of different footprints.”
From the point of contact, one thing that sets Isenhour International apart is that each of its events is highly individualized based on the client’s needs.
“It’s not a checklist someone fills out,” he said. “It’s really more about the relationship — having a conversation and getting to know the client and what their needs are. You get all the particulars because a 300-person group could need a pretty wide range of things. We try to really understand the group to learn about how we can best service them.”
Isenhour can’t stress enough the importance of cultivating client relationships. Having a good sense of what a client needs for an event allows the client to focus on the content of the event rather than worry about details such as catering or audiovisual equipment. Isenhour and his staff like to go on-site to help keep an event’s flow going and make sure everything is running smoothly. And he loves seeing how events unfold for a client based on what his company has set up for them.
“I’m big on the relationship and a partnership with a client — anyone can get a quote on a block of hotel rooms, but we want clients to stay with us for 30 or 40 years because we know how to do their events again and again,” he said. “You may get a rate for the hotel, but I may be able to get something different because I know the GM — those relationships are important so I save the client the burden of doing the legwork.”
Isenhour appreciates the variety that comes with event planning and that no two days are exactly alike. But more than anything, he loves to see when attendees are enjoying themselves because of something unique that Isenhour International has helped to create.
EXECUTIVE PROFILE
NAME Warren Isenhour
TITLE President
ORGANIZATION Isenhour International
LOCATION Nashville, Tennessee BIRTHPLACE Gastonia, North Carolina EDUCATION • B.S., Appalachian State University • M.S., Middle Tennessee State University CAREER HISTORY • Owner, Isenhour International (since 2013) • Program director, Metro Nashville Public Health Department (2008-2013) • Event director, Arthur Wylie Enterprises (2006-2008) • Assistant communications director, Tennessee Democratic Party (2005-2007)
WARREN ISENHOUR ENJOYS A HIKE WITH HIS GODCHILDREN. A COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME WITH OLD FRIENDS
TIPS FROM
WARREN ISENHOUR
• Relationships, relationships, relationships: That’s what this industry is all about. Create and cultivate them continually.
• Engage in professional organizations that benefit your growth. As an independent planner, I advocate for organizations like the Association of Independent Meeting Planners that protect our interests and provide resources for planners. Join organizations like this, MPI, SITE, etc.
• Expand your knowledge base. Constantly learning about the industry, new destinations and what is occurring across the landscape will make your services more valuable to your clients and customers.
ISENHOUR AND COLLEAGUES AT A MEETING PLANNER CONFERENCE
Offsite Insights
FOLLOW THESE TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL EVENTS BEYOND THE MEETING ROOM
BY REBECCA TREON
When it comes to holding part of a meeting or a conference at an off-site venue, many moving parts are involved that have to run smoothly together. Communication between the meeting planner, the event planner, the venue coordinator and the caterer are key so that attendees have the best experience.
Off-site events may make up only a portion of a conference, yet when they run smoothly, they can be some of the most memorable and enjoyable parts. Each of the major players has a role to play, but working together, they provide guests with something unforgettable and unique.
“It is a lot of coordination, and I would say communication is key 100% of the time,” said Jill Goldfine, partner at EventHouse Partners. “It’s important to have realistic expectations, and with timing, there’s sort of a sweet spot — you have to keep everything moving along because you don’t want to lose that momentum.”
Straight from those that keep things running along smoothly behind the scenes, here are the factors meeting planners should keep in mind from the perspectives of an event planner, a venue coordinator and a catering director.
EVENT PLANNER
Goldfine has more than 20 years’ experience in planning events of all sizes for a variety of industries at locations across the country. She works with planners to create events tailored to participants’ needs and does the heavy lifting by managing the logistics so everything goes smoothly.
“Venues vary so greatly, and so does my event checklist,” said Goldfine. “Everyone needs to have an itinerary for the event on a clipboard, ready to go with information for each checkpoint.”
Goldfine begins by developing a timeline within the client’s budget, including every detail for the event, like venue selection, food and beverage, and audiovisual coordination, even managing entertainment and attendee gifts or awards. And she manages the contracts, too.
It’s the variation that makes her role as event planner so important; her decades of experience have taught her to leave no detail unaccounted
Jill Goldfine
PARTNER
EventHouse Partners Experience: 25 years
for. Working with an experienced event planner ensures that what the average person may overlook isn’t forgotten; for example, which entrance the hotel wants to use for getting large groups of people out to transportation or what the plan is for an outdoor event in the case of inclement weather.
“Coordination and communication are critical,” she said. “I go to the venue not just on a site visit when I’m booking it, but the day before or the day of as setup is going on. It’s really important to oversee the setup and make sure that it is how you arranged it and that nothing is lost in translation.”
April Anne Chase
VENUE DIRECTOR
Stanley Marketplace Experience: 25 years
VENUE COORDINATOR
April Anne Chase, venue director at Denver’s Stanley Marketplace, coordinates sales and marketing for her venue and also manages the logistics of events while they’re happening. The Stanley is a trendy warehouse-style space with food and retail vendors inside a former airplane hangar; it hosts private social events like birthdays, weddings and mitzvahs, as well as groups for corporate and nonprofit events.
“You have to plan on being dealt curveballs at every event,” said Chase. “You plan everything down to a tee and then give yourself a little breathing room, because you know something unexpected could happen and you want to have the time and the composure to be able to deal with it. Because if you’re already having an event that hasn’t been well executed and you’re trying to do things last-minute, that’s when things can really fall apart.”
An event should be on track no matter what unexpected things might pop up, if the venue coordinator has planned effectively. Now, that means adhering to new sanitation and security measures that are frequently changing.
“It’s a whole new landscape, and many of the things are very nuanced,” said Chase. “I’m almost feeling like an amateur and having to relearn everything, from the rules on spacing and dining to adding virtual components like Zoom to an event.”
Beyond knowing the venue and the basic components of an event, it’s important for a venue coordinator to stay educated and competitive by adding these new tools and having a backup
plan in place for every scenario. It’s the venue coordinator’s responsibility to keep the event running like clockwork regardless of what happens, including the rare medical emergency. Planners should feel confident in handing over the reins to the venue to have a safe and secure event that meets local guidelines and runs as expected without major hiccups.
CATERER
“The new normal for attendees is one thing, but the back of the house has their own guidelines to adhere to, too: If people are traveling, how are they being monitored; for staff it may be temperatures being taken or rapid tests and the
Dawn Williams, founder of VenuHub, has worked in the hospi- use of PPE — it’s all of these tality industry in some capacity since she was 15. In her 26 years of professional event-planning experience, this year has been one of the nuanced things.” most challenging when it comes to safely feeding people at an event.
“We have had to pivot for every moving part,” said Williams. “We ask planners, ‘What did you hope your event would look like?’ [and] then give them options with current safety protocols and show them how it can look now.”
Everything has changed in the landscape of what the dining part of an event looks like, especially the style of service. Groups can no longer mingle with cocktails and passed appetizers or finger foods; rather, they need to stay in small groups at their tables with 10 or fewer and be masked whenever not seated. Instead of a bar where people can gather, a server may take orders and serve drinks. Self-serve buffets may now have staff serving portions and additional staff for cleanliness, or plated meals may be served at the table instead. Timing is also different, as things take longer with distancing and additional moving pieces behind the scenes.
“Social cues are different now. Where people used to arrive and get a drink, now they may have individually portioned, prewrapped appetizers; so people see those set up and understand what the expectations are,” said Williams.
When the planner is educated about the new safety and sanitation protocols, which often vary widely according to location, it helps the event run more smoothly. Caterers may rely on signage Dawn Williams that reminds attendees of mask and distancing regulations or ask the party host, emcee or DJ to make announcements. FOUNDER
“Planners can still have an idea of how they VenuHub envision an event, then trust the experts that are Experience: 26 yearsmanaging these protocols to give them advice on how to meet their expectations,” said Williams.
BEYOND THE QUAD
College towns offer energy and amenities for meeting groups
BY JILL GLEESON
There’s a certain feel to a college town that can’t be beat. Youthful vibrancy, a respect for knowledge and the ability to play hard when the day’s done: Communities that host institutes of higher learning offer it all, making them great places to hold meetings. Plus, planners can easily find unique ways to jazz up a conference with a little school spirit, whether it’s through a campus tour or a visit from a mascot.
Here are a few dynamic college towns to consider for your next meeting.
Courtesy Boulder CVB
BOULDER, COLORADO
Boulder, Colorado, offers planners a bounty of gifts, including not only its location at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains but also the 33,000-student-strong University of Colorado (CU), which sits nestled against the town. Though meeting groups should be sure to take advantage of the town’s lauded outdoor adventures, which range from e-biking Boulder’s many trails to heading up, up and away in hot air balloons, they shouldn’t miss out on opportunities related to the school.
For example, CU, which has long been heralded for its weather science and aerospace programs, is heavily involved in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).
“They both work with groups to tour the facilities,” said Mary Ann Mahoney, CEO of the Boulder Convention and Visitors Bureau. “NCAR is housed in a beautiful I.M. Pei building, but the depth of the knowledge there, and also at NOAA — that’s where the weather forecasts come from — it’s so fascinating to see.”
Above: Pearl Street is a popular shopping and dining district in Boulder near the University of Colorado campus.
Traditional meeting spaces in Boulder include the newer Hilton Garden Inn and the Embassy Suites by Hilton Boulder, which sit adjacent to one another and offer a total of 376 guest rooms and 11 meeting rooms. For off-site events, planners might want to look to the Boulder Theater, with a 5,000-square-foot meeting room, or the Museum of Boulder, which offers a rooftop venue with a gorgeous view of the mountains and a total capacity of 350 cocktail style.
bouldercoloradousa.com
— Kinney Ferris, Visit Oxford MANHATTAN, KANSAS
Tucked away in the gently rolling Flint Hills, home to the precious last 4% of America’s tallgrass prairie ecosystem, Manhattan, Kansas, benefits from something the Big Apple can’t claim.
“We are told over and over again that we have unsolicited friendliness,” said Karen Hibbard, vice president and director of Visit Manhattan, Kansas. “We will genuinely welcome you.”
That congenial vibe extends through Kansas State University, the public land-grant school that abuts the town. Founded in 1863, it offers a gorgeous campus for attendees to stroll through, dotted with handsome buildings crafted from limestone quarried locally. According to Hibbard, K-State is happy to bring its expansive energy to meetings, whether that means a rousing performance by the marching band or an equally festive visit from mascot Willie the Wildcat.
Speaking of meetings, the newly expanded Manhattan Conference Center, which is attached to the 135-room Hilton Garden Inn Manhattan, offers 34,000 square feet of customizable event space, cutting-edge audiovisual technology and catering. For
Manhattan, Kansas, scenes, clockwise from left: A Kansas State University football game; the Flint Hills Discovery Center; Manhattan Conference Center
Photos courtesy Visit Manhattan
off-site events, the Flint Hills Discovery Center is within walking distance of downtown and features a rooftop terrace and a glass atrium. Meanwhile, attendees who are looking to team build can tackle the zip lines at Wildwood Adventure Park or hike the trails at K-State’s breathtaking Konza Prairie Biological Station.
manhattancvb.org
OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI
Oxford, Mississippi might be small — with about 26,000 residents, its population is only 6,000 more than the enrollment at the University of Mississippi, the learning institution that calls it home. But with Southern charm galore, a famed food scene and a pretty-as-a-picture downtown square, Oxford makes a mighty appealing meeting destination. The town doesn’t shirk in the venues department, either, thanks to the Oxford Conference Center, which offers meeting space for 1,200, a 300-seat auditorium and full catering and audiovisual services.
Three hotels — the Hampton Inn Oxford Conference Center, TownePlace Suites Oxford and Tru by Hilton Oxford — serve the conference center. Or attendees can stay and meet downtown at the Graduate Oxford. With decor inspired by Ole Miss, it can host up to 200. The Lyric Oxford, a converted theater, makes a great place for receptions since attendees can walk to one of the town’s James Beard Award-winning eateries after the event.
In their off-hours, attendees will also want to visit Rowan Oak, once Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner’s home. “And of course you’ll want to see the campus,” said Kinney Ferris, Visit Oxford’s executive director, “whether that’s on our double-decker bus tour or we’ve even set up garden tours on the grounds with Jeff McManus, the university’s horticulturist. So we can always get creative and come up with something fun to pique interest in your attendees.”
visitoxfordms.com
A DAY OUT IN OXFORD
Courtesy Visit Oxford
BURLINGTON, VERMONT
Blessed with a laid-back vibe and a stunning location along Lake Champlain, Burlington, Vermont, also boasts the University of Vermont (UVM), which is situated within the town of about 42,000. Planners have a host of ways to tie in their meeting to UVM, founded in 1791 and known as a leader in sustainability.
“The University of Vermont has Division I sports programs and great facilities to welcome groups, whether it’s a smaller, 25-person event to a basketball game or 150 people to a soccer game,” said Tom Carton, director of sales for Hello Burlington. “Groups could also meet some of the athletes or do a Q&A with the athletic staff.”
Other opportunities for leisure time activities include taking a Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream factory tour in nearby Waterbury or wandering Church Street Marketplace, a pedestrian walkway filled with 100-some shops and restaurants. Attendees can also cruise the lake aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen, which makes a great off-site event option for 350. HULA Lakeside, a spiffy new co-working space, can book events for up to 500.
When the time comes to buckle down, Burlington has a number of choices for meetings, such as the Doubletree by Hilton Burlington, with 309 guest rooms and 30,000 square feet of exhibit space, and the Hilton Burlington Lake Champlain, with 258 guest rooms and 16,000 square feet of exhibit space.
helloburlingtonvt.com
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA
With a population of 50,000, Charlottesville, Virginia, is proof positive that college towns often boast cultural scenes to rival those of much larger cities. Home of the University of Virginia, famously founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819, Charlottesville was dubbed locavore capital of the world a few years back by Forbes. In addition, the area also offers the Monticello Wine Trail, which includes nearly 40 wineries.
And then there is Jefferson’s home, Monticello, and the University of Virginia’s Academical Village, both designed by the third president and together named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Attendees will want to visit the village, home to the school’s instantly recognizable Rotunda, and Monticello.
“No visit to this area is complete without a trip there,” said Brantley Ussery, director of marketing and public relations at Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau. “In recent years they’ve really been undertaking efforts to tell a more inclusive and complete story of Thomas Jefferson and his estate.”
Planners can schedule off-site events in a wide range of spaces at Monticello and at James Monroe’s Highland, just down the road. Meeting hotels in Charlottesville include an Omni, with 205 guest rooms and 12,441 square feet of meeting space, and the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Charlottesville, with 239 guest rooms and 16,150 square feet of event space.
visitcharlottesville.org
Courtesy Hello Burlington
Above: HULA Lakeside, a co-working and event space in Burlington Opposite: Downtown Charlottesville
Courtesy Charlottesville Albermarle CVB
— Tom Carton, Hello Burlington
ADMIRE THE AESTHETIC OF LUBBOCK & Create Y�r Own
Amid the creative energy of the Arts District, planners create an escape and inspire a new perspective for their attendees. From craft beer to printmaking, see the creative crafts of the "Hub City" during your next meeting in Lubbock.
Pueblos CITY OF and Pines
The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is one of many historic structures in Santa Fe.
All photos courtesy Tourism Santa Fe
History and scenery headline Santa Fe’s meetings appeal
BY KATHERINE TANDY BROWN
Santa Fe, New Mexico: The name conjures up images of adobe pueblos amid the sweet aroma of pinyon pines, temperate summers and crisp winters at 7,000 feet and handmade Native American artwork spread on bright-colored blankets in centuries-old stalls in the Palace of the Governors. And it’s all set against a backdrop of the stark high desert and the majestic
Sangre de Christo Mountains.
With such distinctive images, it’s little wonder that Santa Fe landed among Condé Nast Traveler’s
Top 10 Destinations in the World. It’s also a great place to host unforgettable meetings.
SANTA FE AT A GLANCE
LOCATION: Northern New Mexico ACCESS: Interstate 25, Amtrak Southwest Chief, Albuquerque International Sunport, Santa Fe Regional Airport HOTEL ROOMS: 6,000
CONTACT INFO:
Tourism Santa Fe 505-955-6206 santafe.org
SANTA FE COMMUNITY CONVENTION CENTER
BUILT: 2009
EXHIBIT SPACE: 40,000 square feet OTHER MEETING SPACES: 18,000-square-foot ballroom, 6,600-square-foot outdoor courtyard
MEETING HOTELS
Eldorado Hotel and Spa
Drury Plaza Hotel
La Fonda on the Plaza
WHO’S MEETING IN SANTA FE
National Governor’s Association
ATTENDEES: 300
ATTENDEES: 80
La Cosecha Dual Language Conference
ATTENDEES: 3,000
Destination Highlights
Built circa 1610 on the plaza in the middle of the city’s historic district, Santa Fe’s Palace of the Governors, with its lovely interior courtyard, served as the seat of state government for many years. This star of the city’s Historic District has witnessed 400 years of history, from the Spanish occupation and the Santa Fe Trail to the Civil War and the Rough Riders to the days of Pancho Villa and D.H. Lawrence.
The Santa Fe Native American population still live in pueblos. Cool, thick-walled adobe churches of the same vintage host services, and ancient bells peal to celebrate weddings.
The oldest capital city in the nation is unlike any other in numerous ways.
“What makes Santa Fe a popular destination for the individual traveler is what makes it interesting for planners, especially if attendees are bringing spouses and families,” said Randy Randall, executive director of Tourism Santa Fe. “It’s unique: the architecture, the cuisine, the dress.”
Four of the city’s 13 museums inhabit Museum Hill, tucked in the foothills of the Sangre de Christo Mountains, including the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian, with the most comprehensive collection of Navajo and Pueblo jewelry in the world.
Then there’s the weather.
“Santa Fe has four seasons, but they’re all mild,” said David Carr, director of sales for Tourism Santa Fe. “We have as many cocktail parties outdoors as indoors.”
DESTINATION HIGHLIGHTS
Art market on the Santa Fe Plaza DISTINCTIVE VENUES Meow Wolf
Distinctive Venues
A317-acre upscale property, the historic Bishop’s Lodge Ranch Resort and Spa borders the 1.5 million-acre Santa Fe National Forest. Amenities for groups include a healing arts studio, horseback riding, mezcal tastings and a private dining room in chef Dean Fearing’s SkyFire restaurant. A wide event lawn holds 750 guests, and a Historic Chapel Garden, 100.
“Lonesome Dove” and untold numbers of well-known Western films have been shot on Bonanza Creek Ranch. A movie set since 1955, this privately owned venue is also a seasonal corporate events site. Destination Services of Santa Fe (DSSF) can arrange a Western-immersion experience for 15 to 60.
“Groups can enjoy cocktails and entertainment,” said Marcia Skillman of DSSF. “When the dinner bell rings, they can load up on barbecue and kick up their heels to a Western dance band.”
On another side of the culture coin, a remarkable art collective called Meow Wolf creates interactive experiences that transport audiences into fantastic realms of story and exploration. Meow Wolf began in Santa Fe in 2008 with the support of “Game of Thrones” creator George R.R. Martin, who purchased an old bowling alley that varied media artists transformed. The 500-person venue features concerts, a full bar and a cafe.
Showcasing some of the city’s best contemporary visual and performing arts, the Santa Fe Railyard is a 50-acre collection of retail, restaurants, galleries, boutique hotels, microbreweries and a venue for 5,000 on the site of the old Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railyard.
Major Meeting Spaces
With 40,000 square feet of meeting space, the LEED-certified Santa Fe Community Convention Center is on the Plaza. Within walking distance are a number of hotels that vary in size, luxury and historic quality. Larger meetings can use the 2,000-attendee center in partnership with two or more hotels.
With 30,000-plus square feet of meeting space, the adobe-design Eldorado Hotel and Spa, built in 1986, has 219 rooms, including a rooftop presidential suite with stunning mountain and city views.
If La Fonda on the Plaza’s walls could talk, they’d have stories to tell. Described as the “grand dame of Santa Fe hotels,” the inn opened in 1922 to become one of the original properties of the Fred Harvey Company. Noted for its Pueblo Revival style, exquisite original art and handcrafted furniture, La Fonda has 21,000 square feet of meeting space and event venues that showcase the splendid Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi nearby.
The 182-room Drury Plaza Hotel offers 20,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, a complimentary daily reception, private balconies and lush gardens in a beautifully renovated 1950s building.
Owned by the Picuris Pueblo, one of eight northern tribes in New Mexico, the Hotel Santa Fe and Hacienda has 161 rooms, 35 of those with butler service.
MAJOR MEETING SPACES An outdoor event space at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center AFTER HOURS
Santa Fe adobe architecture
After the Meeting
The third-strongest art market in the country, Santa Fe is known for its variety and depth of art, said Elaine Ritchel, founder of and guide for Santa Fe Art Tours, which leads individuals and groups and even offers artcentric teambuilding.
“From historic pueblo pottery to cutting-edge contemporary art, the sheer number of galleries downtown [250] can be overwhelming,” she said. To assist in learning, her tours are discussion based.
Those include Art and Yoga on Canyon Road and an Immersive Art Tour and Chocolate Tasting.
Heritage Inspirations specializes in electric bicycle tours exploring Santa Fe’s churches, Southwestern architectural interiors and exteriors, and wine. Santa Fe Mountain Adventures, on the other hand, explores the outdoors via hiking and mountain biking, and off-road Jeep and classic truck trips into the Rockies.
The Santa Fe Cooking School demonstrates New Mexican, Native American, Mexican, Spanish, vegetarian and contemporary Southwestern cuisine to small classes. Up to 60 people can revel in wine-and-food pairings or a chef’s dinner on an outdoor patio.
Since 1957, the Santa Fe Opera has been a summer oasis for arts enthusiasts to experience internationally acclaimed talent. Dance, theater, opera, choral performances and chamber music hold sway in a sweepingly contemporary venue with an open roof and mountain views.
Expressive art, gardening classes and one-on-ones with puppies are but a few of the stress reducers offered at the 70-acre Ojo Santa Fe Resort and Spa.
COASTAL Lake Erie
BY ROBIN ROENKER
Whether your group is searching for waterfront fun or water park and amusement park memories, the charming northern Ohio communities along Lake Erie’s shores deliver.
Though Sandusky is well known for its famed Cedar Point Amusement Park — the self-proclaimed Roller Coaster Capital of the World, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this summer — the region boasts much more than just thrill rides to explore.
“We are a great value destination,” said Amanda Smith Rasnick, director of group accounts for Ohio’s Lake Erie Shores and Islands. “We’re just outside Toledo and Cleveland and not too far from Chicago. It’s a good central meeting point, whether you’re coming from east or west, since we’re located right on the Ohio Turnpike and other major routes.”
The family-friendly destination’s premier convention space, Kalahari Resorts and Conventions, features 210,000 square feet of indoor meeting space and 1,000 guest rooms, as well as Ohio’s largest indoor water park.
And though the indoor water park offers guaranteed fun, no trip to the region would be complete without a visit to Lake Erie itself, where opportunities for outdoor water fun abound.
Photos courtesy Ohio’s Lake Erie Shores and Islands
PUT-IN-BAY
HOTEL BREAKERS OFFERS MEETING SPACE ADJACENT TO THE CEDAR POINT AMUSEMENT PARK ON SANDUSKY’S LAKE ERIE COAST.
OHIO’S LAKE ERIE SHORES AND ISLANDS
LOCATION Northern Ohio on Lake Erie
ACCESS Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport or Toledo Express Airport, both about one hour away MAJOR MEETING SPACES Kalahari Resorts and Conventions, Lakeside Chautauqua, Cedar Point’s Castaway Bay HOTEL ROOMS 8,000
OFF-SITE VENUES Bowling Green State University Firelands Campus, Colonnades Banquet Facility, Erie County Fairgrounds CONTACT INFO Ohio’s Lake Erie Shores and Islands 800-255-3743 shoresandislands.com
Waterfront Fun
From fishing or sailing to lazy afternoons exploring the area’s many lighthouses and beaches, Lake Erie is a water lover’s paradise.
Beach lovers can dip their toes in the sand at one of the region’s nearly 30 beach access points, like East Harbor State Park Beach in Marblehead. For a fun lakeside daytrip, consider an excursion to see any of the six Shores and Islands area lighthouses visible from shore. Or book a boat tour to see one of the two area lighthouses — the Green Island Lighthouse and the West Sister Island Lighthouse — visible only from the water.
Anglers who flock to Lake Erie find it easy to get out on the water via one of the area’s 25 full-service marinas.
Island Hopping
Take a 20- to 30-minute ferry ride from Sandusky or Marblehead to explore picturesque Kelleys Island or the quaint lakeside village of Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island for an authentic Great Lakes daytrip.
“On those Lake Erie islands, you’re going to find caves and wineries and shops and restaurants, and it’s just fun to be whisked away — almost as if you’re not in Ohio anymore,” Smith Rasnick said.
Ferries typically run every half-hour between the islands and the Ohio mainland during peak season.
Winery Wandering
With a history that dates back to the 1880s, Firelands Winery in Sandusky offers award-winning wines and engaging wine tours, including a deluxe tour and tasting package for groups of 25 or more with advance notice. Guests to Chateau Tebeau Winery in nearby Helena can taste its celebrated rhubarb wine while enjoying live music during weekends on its picturesque grounds.
Cap off a daytrip to Put-in-Bay with a stop at either Put-in-Bay Winery, where you can relish a glass of pinot while strolling the grounds of the restored, Italianate-style Valentine Doller Estate, or Heineman Winery, the oldest family-owned winery in Ohio.
Meetings Made Easy
Staff at the Ohio’s Lake Erie Shores and Islands CVB work with group travel planners to make coordinating meetings in the region simple and stress-free.
In addition to Kalahari Resorts and Conventions, the area also has several other hotel-based convention centers, including Cedar Point’s Castaway Bay Indoor Waterpark and Hotel, which is undergoing renovations this year, and Hotel Breakers at Cedar Point, which is within walking distance to the amusement park.
For groups that want to fully embrace the Lake Erie island experience, Kelleys Island Venture Resort is a full-service resort hotel that offers 31 luxury suites and a conference facility that can seat 50 for banquet-style dining.
Or, in nearby Put-in-Bay, the Put-in-Bay Resort and Conference Center features 4,600 square feet of meeting space and a poolside deck for outdoor functions. Another South Bass Island option, the Niagara Event Center at the Grand Islander Hotel, features a full-service conference center that can accommodate 590 people in its Grand Meeting Room.
A Wisconsin Waterfront Retreat
BY KRISTY ALPERT
Over the past few centuries, the visitors have flocked to the shores of Geneva Lake in southeastern Wisconsin to enjoy its sparkling lakeside vistas and dramatic bluffs. Wealthy Midwesterners built summer homes on the waterfront, and Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, today is dotted with Tudor lodges, French-inspired chateaus and many
Gilded Age mansions. The city has been home to the Wrigley family, of Wrigley’s Chewing Gum, and the Vick family, of Vick’s VapoRub.
But it’s the families that stay and play at the Cove of Lake Geneva that get to experience what home feels like in Lake Geneva.
The Cove of Lake Geneva merges vacation-condo living with hotel amenities in a relaxed and laid-back setting along the shores of expansive Geneva Lake. The all-suite resort offers 222 spacious accommodations of varying sizes, each equipped with a full kitchen, a fireplace, a whirlpool tub, and an extended balcony or patio. The resort’s amenities for guests range from in-the-room — including 32-inch flat-screen TVs and high-speed internet — to out-of-theroom, where guests can enjoy all this spacious setting has to offer.
Parking is free for all guests, and so is access to the year-round indoor pool and seasonal outdoor pools, where families can enjoy the oversize adult pool, zero-depth children’s pool and play area, and hot tub. The pool area features a cabana bar with light bites and drinks and has private cabanas available for rent that include cushioned furniture and filled ice buckets. Meeting groups at the resort get the biggest benefits, as they have access to the resort’s professional event planners that are available to ensure a memorable stay on-site.
More than 6,600 square feet of flexible meeting space is available on the property. The resort’s central location makes it easy and convenient for groups to gather on the shores of Geneva Lake. The property is less than an hour from the General Mitchell International Airport and is a 75-minute drive from Chicago’s O-Hare International Airport. No matter where guests arrive from, they will leave feeling refreshed from their time in Lake Geneva.
Photos courtesy The Cove of Lake Geneva
EACH OF THE 222 ROOMS AT THE COVE OF LAKE GENEVA OVERLOOKS THE LAKEFRONT OR POOL DECK.
A POOLSIDE BAR AT THE HOTEL
THE 1908 TERMINAL STATION AT THE CHATTANOOGA CHOOCHOO
HOTEL FACTS
LOCATION
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
SIZE
222 suites
MEETING SPACE
6,600 square feet
ACCESS
47 miles from Milwaukee’s General Mitchell International Airport
CONTACT INFO
262-249-9460 coveoflakegeneva.com
The four separate meeting rooms at the Cove of Lake Geneva are spread throughout 6,600 square feet of flexible meeting space at the resort. The Promenade is the largest space, and it can be divided into two separate sections or used as one large venue for up to 300 guests. The Lakeshore’s vaulted ceilings and natural lighting make it a prime gathering space for afternoon meetings for up to 125 guests; groups of 12 or fewer guests will enjoy the intimate spacing in either the Sandpiper or the Seagull.
The on-site catering team at the Cove of Lake Geneva is skilled at crafting custom menus to suit the range of dietary restrictions and preferences for each meeting group or event. Breakfast buffets and boxed lunches are favorites for corporate clients; plated dinners and passed hors d’oeuvres work well for receptions and formal gatherings. The planning team also has connections with many of the best local vendors and is happy to recommend its favorites from the preferred list of vendors. Between meetings, guests can hang out and grab a sip at the newly renovated coffee bar lounge that serves Colectivo coffee and a variety of teas.
Brainstorming sessions and productive meetings are powered by the resort’s state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment. The professional event-planning staff provides event budgeting tools to keep events streamlined and on track, and it is always available to answer questions or assist with requests. Wireless internet and parking are complimentary for all meeting guests, and the events staff can help arrange travel activities for groups to enjoy between meetings, like a leisurely cruise along Geneva Lake to take in the scenery and gaze in awe at the historic mansions that line the shore.
The Cove of Lake Geneva’s prime location along the shoreline of Geneva Lake provides plenty of options for meeting groups to unwind and explore the area by water or by land. While at the property, guests can take advantage of an on-site fitness center, a 24-hour arcade room and indoor and outdoor pools. The resort is just steps from many fantastic shops and restaurants in downtown Lake Geneva and offers easy access to beach bathing or boating along the lake. During winter, groups can ski at nearby Wilmot Mountain or give ice fishing a shot on the frozen waters surrounding the resort. The resort’s friendly front desk is happy to arrange tickets and rentals and make reservations for groups and individuals.
CATERING
EXTRAS
BEFORE AND AFTER
New in the Carolinas
Meeting Guide
BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH
Recent headwinds haven’t stopped the hospitality industry in the Carolinas from preparing for better times. The past year has seen a slate of new hotels, resort additions and hotel and convention center remodels. Here are just a few of the properties that came online in 2020 or that broke ground and are expected to be completed in the near future.
HARRAH’S CHEROKEE CASINO RESORT
Cherokee, North Carolina
Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, which opened in 1997 in Cherokee, North Carolina, is in the midst of a $350 million expansion project that includes an 85,000-square-foot conference center and a new hotel tower with 725 guest rooms. When the project is completed in October, the resort will have more than 100,000 square feet of meeting space and 1,800 guest rooms.
The conference center is a game changer for the small town of Cherokee and the Carolinas. It will be the largest hotel conference center in both states and will allow the resort to attract larger meeting groups from across the country. The resort is owned by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and is near the back entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It will have a 35,000-square-foot exhibit hall on the lower level and a 35,000-square-foot pillarless ballroom upstairs. Air walls will help break up the space. There is also a 900-square-foot boardroom and about 20,000 square feet of prefunction space.
As part of the project, the Asheville-based Wicked Weed Brewery will open at the resort, and the resort’s buffet will be replaced with a chef-inspired food hall, which is expected to open in the fall. The resort already has a 3,000-seat event center that works well for large stage productions, concerts, trade shows and large general sessions; 3,000 casino games; a luxury spa; and the UltraStar Multi-Tainment Center, an adult bowling alley concept that includes two bars, an arcade, food options and a patio with a fireplace that groups can rent out.
RENOVATIONS AT HARRAH’S CHEROKEE CASINO RESORT INCLUDE A NEW VIP CHECK-IN AREA.
Courtesy Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort
caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee
GRANDE CAYMAN RESORT
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
The former Long Bay Resort in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, completed a multimillion-dollar renovation in spring 2020 that included exterior and interior improvements and a new name. The exterior of the buildings and the pool deck received fresh coats of paint, and every unit in the guest towers was remodeled to achieve a more modern aesthetic. The color scheme outside is gray, coral and white. Inside, the rooms are gray and white with hints of terra cotta and aqua throughout. All the guest rooms have new black appliances, doors, lighting, shiplap wood walls, artwork and furniture.
A new lobby bar and restaurant was added as part of the renovation. Called Due South at 72nd, the restaurant offers a selection of appetizers and sandwiches for lunch and a more robust menu for dinner that includes ribs, burgers, steak and seafood options. A new second-floor restaurant, the Turtle Bay Café, is a great place for visitors to enjoy a drink on the veranda overlooking the outdoor pool. The cafe has wonderful ocean views and serves sandwiches, salads and snacks.
The resort has an outdoor oceanfront pool and hot tub, a 250-foot-long lazy river, a 35-foot kids pool, a 50-foot indoor swimming pool and three four-person whirlpools. Its brand-new Silly Sub Water Park features a three-story waterslide, a large yellow submarine and a sea serpent for children to play on. The resort has 260 guest rooms and 1,700 square feet of meeting space that can host meetings or banquets for up to 75 people.
grandecaymanresort.com
GRAND BOHEMIAN HOTEL GREENVILLE
Greenville, South Carolina
The Grand Bohemian Hotel Greenville, a 187-room luxury boutique hotel and spa, will open in November in Falls Park, the iconic urban park that sits alongside the Reedy River and Reedy River Falls in downtown Greenville, South Carolina. The new hotel will be at the entrance to the park, where the river begins, and was designed to look like a national park lodge. It will feature 30 balcony suites.
The hotel overlooks the falls and Liberty Bridge and is being built with native materials such as natural stone, weathered wood and timber to help the property blend seamlessly with its natural surroundings. Expansive windows throughout allow guests to enjoy views of the beautiful river and park.
The main level of the hotel includes a grand lobby, a park overlook terrace, event spaces, gallery retail, a Poseidon Spa, an extensive art collection and a two-story restaurant and bar that overlooks the river.
Guest suites will be perpendicular to the riverbank, and terrace suites will overlook the Reedy River Falls and the Liberty Bridge. The new hotel is near many of Greenville’s major attractions, including museums, shops and restaurants.
kesslercollection.com
THE RENOVATED POOL DECK AT MYRTLE BEACH’S GRANDE CAYMAN RESORT
Courtesy Grande Cayman Resort
GRAND BOHEMIAN HOTEL GREENVILLE
Courtesy Grand Bohemian Hotel Greenville
THE FICKLEN, A NEW BOUTIQUE HOTEL IN GREENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA
Courtesy the Ficklen
FICKLEN
Greenville, North Carolina
The Ficklen, a new boutique hotel in Greenville, North Carolina’s Uptown neighborhood, is expected to open in January 2023 as a Tribute Portfolio by Marriott property. The 72-room hotel, which will begin construction this year, will transform a historic tobacco building into the first hotel in downtown Greenville.
The design of the hotel harkens back to Greenville’s history and its roots in the tobacco industry. The three-story Ficklen building is attached to a 17,000-square-foot addition that was built in the early 1900s. That building will be the largest event space in downtown Greenville. The only other large meeting space downtown is the convention center. The space will seat 500 people and can be subdivided into three smaller rooms. It will have about 8,000 square feet of finished event space when it is completed.
The Star Warehouse, a 76,000-square-foot, one-story warehouse with steel trusses and 18-foot ceilings, will be converted into a food hall with 10 to 12 individual vendors and will be the first food hall concept in eastern North Carolina. The owners expect to host a farmers market there a few days a week, and they have plans for an entertainment venue on the property. The Ficklen is just a couple of blocks from East Carolina University and next to the Dickinson Avenue Arts District.
theficklen.com
inspiring meetings start with inspiring settings
Bring a new view to your next meeting. Picturesque waterfront settings blend historic charm with modern new hotels and facilities. From event lawns and gardens to a waterfront park and event pier, spend time networking in our outdoor venues, intimately sized convention center or nearby beaches.
From our walkable River District to three island beaches, consider a fresh possibility in NC and at the coast.
NCCoastalMeetingsGroups.com • 800.650.9064
NEW BERN RIVERFRONT CONVENTION CENTER
New Bern, North Carolina
The New Bern Riverfront Convention Center in New Bern, North Carolina, got a much-needed facelift in 2020 after sustaining water damage during Hurricane Florence. The building was already scheduled for renovation, and the storm just moved up the timeline. As part of the renovation, the 20-year-old facility expanded Heritage Hall in the back of the building by 1,500 square feet. The new space, called the View, has floor-to-ceiling windows that give visitors a spectacular view of the river. The new Riverfront Veranda wraps from the View to Ballroom B, and the Riverfront Patio is on the lower level. Three pergolas were installed outside to host cocktail hours and receptions. And Riverfront Greens is a large green lawn that faces the river and is lovely for wedding ceremonies and other outdoor events.
The renovation included new marble paneling; LED lighting that can change colors; digital signage, including a video wall inside and a monument sign outside; new carpet tiles; and a new color scheme. The building used to be decorated in gold, forest green and burgundy. It is now painted in bright blues and white, making everything look bigger and brighter, including the hallways. The facility went from 29,000 square feet of meeting space to nearly 32,000 square feet.
The ballroom, which is 12,000 square feet, is divisible by three. The room never had access to natural light; as part of the renovation, a wall was removed in Ballroom B and glass windows were installed for a wonderful view of the river.
riverfrontconventioncenter.com
Meet on the water. Mingle with history. Make events unforgettable.
Find more than modern amenities, stunning waterfront venues and award-winning restaurants in Beaufort, SC. Discover the Lowcountry warmth that is life with the tides—and the transformative e ect it has on successful events of every size.
NEW BERN RIVERFRONT CONVENTION CENTER
Courtesy New Bern Riverfront Convention Center
Carolina Coastlines
Meeting Guide
BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH
The Carolinas are home to some of the best waterfront destinations in the country, from isolated barrier island towns with pristine white-sand beaches to larger cities that front rivers or the Intracoastal Waterway. These beautiful waterfront destinations offer a variety of hotel and meeting venues as well as plenty of water activities and fun attractions to keep your meeting attendees occupied during their free time.
KIAWAH ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA
Kiawah Island is a 10,000-acre barrier island about 21 miles south of Charleston in South Carolina. It has 10 miles of beaches, maritime forests, marshes, sand dunes and plenty of wildlife to discover, including sea turtles, white-tailed deer, alligators, seabirds and bobcats. The Kiawah Island Golf Resort is a wonderful coastal setting for meetings and conferences. The resort has more than 500 private villas and luxury homes that provide 1,150 rooms. The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort is a 255-room luxury hotel and spa on property that resembles a grand seaside mansion. Its West Beach Conference Center has 23,000 square feet of pre-event and event space, including a 10,000-square-foot meeting room and 10 breakout rooms. The Sanctuary’s east wing includes many different meeting and event spaces, including the 6,000-square-foot Grand Oaks Ballroom and the Calhoun Boardroom. The Grand Lawn and Terrace offer oceanfront views for outdoor events.
Groups that want to take advantage of the beaches and water can kayak in the ocean or on the marshes; take an ecotour boat ride through Kiawah’s inlets, creeks and marshes searching for the Atlantic bottlenosed dolphin; book an inshore fishing charter; or do yoga on the beach.
CAPE HATTERAS LIGHTHOUSE IS AMONG THE MOST VISITED SPOTS IN NORTH CAROLINA'S OUTER BANKS
Courtesy Outer Banks VB
charlestoncvb.com/beaches/kiawah-island
NAGS HEAD, NORTH CAROLINA
Nags Head, in the Outer Banks, is one of the oldest beach communities in North Carolina. Legend has it that the name
came from land who that would tie a lantern around a horse’s neck to make ships believe there was another ship between them and land. When their ships crashed onto shore, the pirates would steal their goods. Now, instead of piracy, the area is known for its beautiful beaches, three national park sites that are within a short drive of town and the Bodie Island Lighthouse.
Groups meeting in the area have their pick of 10 hotels; the largest include Hilton Garden Inn Outer Banks/Kitty Hawk, with 9,854 square feet of event space and 180 guest rooms, and the Comfort Inn Oceanfront South, with 7,471 square feet of meeting space and 105 guest rooms.
Nags Head is close to the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, the Wright Brothers National Memorial and Cape Hatteras National Seashore, all of which make great spots for groups to visit. Jockey’s Ridge State Park, in the middle of town, covers 426 acres of natural sand dunes, which rise nearly 90 feet above sea level. More adventurous groups like to take hang gliding lessons there.
The Bodie Island Lighthouse, a few miles outside of town, is open for climbing. Groups that would like to get out on the water can book an excursion on the Crystal Dawn Head Boat out of Pirate’s Cove Marina on the Nags Head-Manteo Causeway. Groups can fish for flounder, sea bass, gray trout and more, or enjoy a sunset cruise on Roanoke Sound, where they can see Jockey’s Ridge and the Elizabeth II, a square-rigged sailing vessel.
outerbanks.org
ISLE OF PALMS, SOUTH CAROLINA
Isle of Palms, which is not technically an island since it only has water on three sides, is best known for its beaches and vacation rentals and the expansive 1,600-acre Wild Dunes Resort. Groups that want to get away from Charleston, South Carolina, can host their meeting or event in the resort’s 35,000 square feet of meeting space. The resort opened its new 153-room hotel, the Sweetgrass Inn, in March 2021. The property added 30,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting spaces, including a grand ballroom and terrace and a rooftop ballroom and terrace that feature panoramic views of the ocean. The hotel also features a 14-treatment-room destination spa, expanded pools and a poolside restaurant and bar. The Boardwalk Inn Hotel is a AAA four-diamond resort that has 93 coastal hotel rooms and suites; or groups can book rooms and suites through the Residences at Sweetgrass.
During their off hours, meeting attendees can take advantage of the resort’s pristine beaches or plan a group golf outing on the resort’s two Tom Fazio-designed golf courses. Groups that want to get out on the water can set up group kayaking or boating expeditions, an oyster clinic or skeet shooting, or schedule a group sail on the Schooner Pride, an 84-foot tall ship that berths in Charleston Harbor. Charleston is only 20 minutes away, so attendees also have the option to go to town, where they can take historic walking tours or nighttime ghost tours. Boats are also available to take groups out to Fort Sumter National Monument.
charlestoncvb.com/beaches/isle-of-palms
KIAWAH ISLAND NEAR CHARLESTON
Courtesy Explore Charleston
WILD DUNES RESORT ON THE ISLE OF PALMS
Courtesy Explore Charleston
DOWNTOWN BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA
WILMINGTON’S PORT CITY MARINA AND EVENT PIER
Courtesy Visit Beaufort
Courtesy Wilmington and Beaches CVB
BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA
Beaufort sits on the Intracoastal Waterway in South Carolina, within boating distance of a handful of barrier islands.
Its waterfront location gives meeting planners plenty of outside meeting venues and water-based activities from which to choose. Hunting Island State Park is on a barrier island 15 miles east of Beaufort and has a beautiful lighthouse that groups can tour, as well as a covered pavilion where groups can host a meeting or luncheon on the beach. St. Phillips Island, Ted Turner’s former island retreat, can host smaller groups in his former beach home, or groups can organize an ecotour of the island through Coastal Expeditions, exploring the island’s dense foliage, salt marshes and tidal creeks looking for wildlife.
Coastal Expeditions also offers dolphin tours and cocktail or moonlight cruises in the area on its 38-passenger boats. Groups can also rent paddleboards or kayaks to tour local creeks or the Intracoastal Waterway.
Bay Street in Beaufort, which fronts the water, offers a plethora of locally owned shops and restaurants, and the seafood options are fresh and plentiful. The largest meeting hotel in Beaufort is about a block off the water.
The Beaufort Inn has 48 guest rooms and meeting spaces that can accommodate up to 300 guests. The inn plans to build a 65-room hotel across the street from its current guest cottages and one additional 14-room cottage. The project will open in the first quarter of 2023. As part of the renovation, the hotel will increase its indoor meeting spaces to 12,000 square feet and its outdoor venues to 17,000 square feet.
beaufortsc.org
WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA
Nestled along the Cape Fear River, Wilmington, North Carolina, is known for its beautiful island beaches: Carolina, Kure and Wrightsville, all within easy driving distance of downtown. Historic Wilmington has plenty of outside activities that meeting planners can schedule into meetings and conferences held in the area, including history, craft beer and themed walking tours; canoe and kayak excursions; narrated cruises; and culinary adventures.
There are plenty of meeting hotels right on the water. Groups can tour the battleship North Carolina, which is moored across the river from downtown Wilmington, or host an event on the ship’s fantail or in Battleship Park. They can also tour a historic Civil War fort at Fort Fisher State Historic Site in Kure Beach. The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is worth a visit, and groups love to stroll along the famed Carolina Beach Boardwalk.
The city’s Historic District and South Front District are full of older buildings that have been transformed into brewpubs, wine bars and hip restaurants. The North Waterfront Park and Amphitheater, which opens this summer in Wilmington’s Convention District, is a 6.6-acre green space that will be a great fit for large outdoor receptions and special events. The park has stunning views of the Cape Fear River and will be connected to the city’s Riverwalk.
wilmingtonandbeaches.com
NESTLED IN NATURE
