Small Market Meetings November 2018

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MEETING RESORTS

Understanding Incentive Programs Baton Rouge, Louisiana Dakotas Meeting Guide N O V E M B E R

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Courtesy Shreveport-Bossier CTB

Volume 19

Issue 11

November 2018

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Small Market Meetings Conference Coverage

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Ontario, California, welcomed meeting planners to the West Coast......................................

Making the Most of Incentives Planners can benefit from incentive programs offered by destinations and hotels..

Resort Destinations These beautiful properties are ideal for meetings and events...................................

Courtesy Stowe Mountain Lodge

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Meet Me in Baton Rouge

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.Louisiana’s capital city brings color, culture and cuisine to meetings..........................

Discover Scranton This Pennsylvania town offers a variety of meeting opportunities...............................

Dakotas Meeting Guide

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.Discover the distinctive downtowns and historic venues of North and South Dakota..

Courtesy ND Tourism Division

On the cover: Overlooking the Cascade Mountains, Washington’s Skamania Lodge makes a scenic setting for meetings. Photo courtesy Skamania Lodge.

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

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

For Sales Call

Kyle Anderson 866-356-5128

kyle@smallmarketmeetings.com

Mac T. Lacy Publisher/Partner maclacy@grouptravelleader.com

Brian Jewell Editor brian@smallmarketmeetings.com

Herbert Sparrow Executive Editor/Partner hsparrow@grouptravelleader.com

Ashley Ricks graphic designer

production@smallmarketmeetings.com

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Daniel Jean-Louis Savannah Osbourn Account Manager Staff writer daniel@grouptravelleader.com Christine Clough Copy editor Kyle Anderson Account Manager Rena Baer kyle@smallmarketmeetings.com Proofreader

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Small Market Meetings September 24-26

By Dan Dickson

Let’s go fast

N

ew business relationships were built; old business friendships were cemented. That’s what 100 meeting planners and 170 travel industry representatives achieved during the 2018 Small Market Meetings Conference, which made its West Coast debut in Ontario, California.

The conference, held inside the Ontario Convention Center, featured meeting planners from across the country searching for new places for their colleagues to meet. They spent hours chatting with reps from myriad cities, states, institutions and attractions that would love to host them.

Planners on a Mission

Meeting planners like Steve Mickley of the American Institute of Building Design in Jupiter, Florida, worked hard during two marketplace sessions.

“We have eight professional and two student conferences per year,” he said. “They’re small and intimate, and they’re growing. We do many field trips. We’re looking for unique

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Conference Report

venues and are moving away from hotel/ conference room settings.”

Two Atlanta planners were investigating sites. Lesia Waker of the Morehouse School of Medicine was open-minded.

“We’re meeting with suppliers and venues to appeal for new destinations for our unique programs and meetings,” she said. “We do about three per year, and I’m looking for destinations outside of university settings that appeal to researchers. Anyplace inside or outside the U.S. is game.”

Teresa Hairston of the Gospel Heritage Foundation sought fresh ideas.

“I am connecting with CVBs, cities and venues that I can learn about and take advantage of,” she said. “We do retreats, big conferences, and these markets have something to offer that makes me think we should go there.”

“We have one big meeting per year and alternate between exotic world locations and more easily accessible and reasonably priced locations,” said Lou Priluker of the

International Boxing Federation in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. “Destinations ranged from Italy and China to Atlantic City and St. Petersburg. For 2020 and 2021, we’re looking for U.S. destinations in secondary markets.”

Shelaine Stone of the National Dental Association in Greenbelt, Maryland, came to the conference with marching orders.

“My site-selection committee said to examine hotels, spaces and what a city has to offer,” she said. “Hopefully, I’ll find something interesting and appealing.”

Destinations Make Pitches

The western U.S. travel industry was highly represented at the conference. Caren Werner of Visit Ogden in Utah found the conference to be in her wheelhouse.

“We’re not a tier-one city,” she said. “That’s why this conference is a great option because people here want to come to tier-two cities.

We have great history and are 10 minutes from the mountains and trailheads.”

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Conference Rocks in California Happy hosts!

All photos by Dan Dickson

Shoppers welcome

Let’s chill

Be the best!

November 2018

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Closing comments

Green screen fun

MSC Cruises luncheon

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Conference Report

Getting down to business

Chris Dunham traveled from Visit Bellevue, Washington, to attend the event.

“This is a first-time conference for us. It caters to smaller markets, which we are,” she said. “It’s a good format and we can spend time with people. My appointments have been quality ones. We’re seeing people aligned with what we have to offer.”

Mike Lessley of Visit Anchorage, Alaska, networked diligently.

“This is meet-and-greet time,” he said. “Last night, when I returned to my hotel room, I sent emails to everyone I met at the evening event. The work really begins when you return to your office to do follow-ups.”

Greg Brannan of Visit Detroit pitched his large market.

“We are back,” he said. “Our slogan is ‘It’s Go Time.’ There are no more apologies. We’ve had to fight bad perceptions for years. People have heard the good that’s happening in Detroit lately. It’s just a matter of seeing it to believe it. We also market downtown Detroit, which is booming now.”

Candice Franklin of the Albany, Georgia, Convention and Visitors Bureau pitched her small market.

“I’m trying to bring more meeting planners into Albany,” she said. “We’re a little off the beaten path — 26 miles — from Interstate 75 but very affordable. People can come, be productive and have a good time. Thursday through Sunday, we’re wide open for that.”

Showcasing the West

In his opening remarks, conference partner Mac Lacy shared recent industry survey data with delegates.

“CVBs, planners, facilities and delegates are dealing more with physical and data security,” he said. “Also, smart technology is a huge, growing part of the industry. Another trend is the need to create local experiences in the destinations where meetings are held.

Delegates expect to leave a conference knowing more about a city than when they arrived.

There is also more racial, cultural and gender diversity within meeting delegations.”

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Time to relax

Getting social

A dash of color

Other speakers gave attendees great ideas about the western U.S. Wyoming got quite a shout-out.

“We have representatives here from Cheyenne, Casper and Gillette, which shows that Wyoming is really interested in bringing your business to our great state,” said Jim Walter of Visit Cheyenne, host for the 2021 Small Market Meetings Conference.

Terry Sjolin represented Visit GilletteWright, Wyoming.

“When there’s free time, your groups can do guided tours to Devil’s Tower; do Buffalo Ranch, one of the largest and oldest buffalo ranches,” she said. “We do coal mine tours, one of my favorites.”

Montana also shined. Stefan Cattarin works with Visit Billings.

“We’re an incredible drive market situated between Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park,” he said. “You can’t drive to Billings without passing through iconic areas of the country. We have some of the strongest

November 2018

airlift in the region: 10 direct flights out of major destinations.”

Jake Bash promoted the Great Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“We have 27 hotels with 2,300 rooms across our city, so we have plenty of space and are excited to have you. Our area is inspirational,” he said.

Vicki Logan of Travel Juneau, Alaska, painted word pictures.

“When you drive in from the airport, the bald eagles will perch on lampposts to greet you,” she said. “Come see the Alaskan bear families, but do it from afar. Things are really jumping in Juneau, like the whales. We also have 34,000 two-legged creatures walking around to serve you and your groups.”

Ed Kirby represented the department of tourism in Henderson, Nevada.

“If you’re looking for big-city amenities or small-town charm, Henderson has the perfect venue for you,” he said. “We can customize your experience.”

If groups prefer to sail away, Wayne Peyreau

Packer power!

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Conference buddies of MSC Cruises could accommodate them thanks to a massive cruise-ship expansion.

“I call them ‘my babies’ because they’re being delivered to us and they are getting larger and larger,” he said. “So I have more beds to fill, and that’s where all of you come in because I cannot do it without you.”

Inspiration and Caution

California cruising

Evening events

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Conference Report

Green Bay greeting

Motivational speaker Harvey Alston pleased the crowd with his effervescent delivery. One point covered job satisfaction.

He told delegates that if they don’t love their jobs, they should quit. “You ask yourself why you bit off so much at work,” he said. “You say ‘I don’t ever want to do this.’ Then you realize when you get off this ‘ride’ of life that there’s a long line of people who waited for you to fail, waiting to get on the same ride you just got off of. Their viewpoint will be different and more delightful for them. It’s all about your attitude.”

Joan Stanford of Jazzy Pen Communications spoke about email marketing.

“What is going to get people to open your email?” she said. “Keep subjects under 10 words. Use your business name, but don’t get cute. Use preheader text to give people a taste of what’s coming. Add three or fewer images, and make them clickable. Also make the text 20 lines or less.”

Meetings industry lawyer Lisa Sommer Devlin gave insight on terms and conditions that should appear in meetings contracts.

“Many things can affect your meeting,” she said. “We’ve had hurricanes and wildfires impact meeting venues and accommodations.

Politics has shown that issues trickle down into our industry, like the #MeToo movement. There’s been gun violence. Planners are considering all this in their events and

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

contracts. Are you ready?”

Greg Nahmens of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration urged delegates to “Look Before You Book,” meaning make sure the transportation they provide is safe and legal. He urged checking the federal website www.fmcsa.dot.gov for safety advice.

Enjoying Ontario

Delegates enjoyed delicious meals and entertainment like dueling rock-‘n’-roll pianos on the first night and an evening of fun and games at Big Al’s the second.

“I thought Big Al’s was awesome; really fun,” said Lelonie Luft of the Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau in Illinois.

“The food was amazing. I liked the size of it — not too big, not too small.”

Some attendees shopped at Ontario Mills, the largest shopping mall in the West. Others took a crazy thrill ride in a high-performance car operated by a movie stunt driver who did squealing turns on a professional NASCAR track. Jerry Rosenthal of ConferenceDirect in Aurora, Illinois, loved it.

“I’m a speed freak at heart, a car aficionado,” he said. “Sitting in the back seat you could really feel the drag and the slide of the car swerving at considerable speed. I got a thrill.”

Next year’s Small Market Meetings Conference will take place September 24-26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

“We’re a small market for meetings and conventions, and many don’t know us,” said Brad Toll, president and CEO of the Greater Green Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“This conference is great to introduce us to the market. Meeting attendance tends to grow because many haven’t been there before. Lambeau Field is on many people’s bucket lists.”

November 2018

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Website Success A Texas CVB caters to meeting planners online

By Vickie Mitchell

I

ndustry surveys show that 95 percent of meeting planners are familiar with convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs).

That’s heartening. Hopefully many of them also use the services of a CVB. When Small Market Meetings was launched in 2000, meeting planners didn’t seem to be as clued in to CVBs; back then, too, CVBs didn’t offer as many services for meetings as they do now.

They’ve elevated their profiles quite a bit, partly through improved websites equipped with helpful information and handy tools like online requests for proposals.

Having a robust website can elevate a small CVB, putting it on the same footing as peers with larger staffs and budgets.

I was reminded of the power of a good website when I came across the Beaumont, Texas, CVB’s website the other day (www.beaumontcvb.com).

Beaumont isn’t a big place; about 120,000 people live in the city 90 miles east of Houston, near the Louisiana border. Its CVB is also small, with three people devoted to meeting sales and services. But because the website has valuable, well-organized, enjoyable-to-read information and is easy to navigate, I left it after 15 minutes feeling like a semiexpert on the city and knowing exactly whom I should call or email if I needed more information.

The Beaumont site covers all the usual bases in clear-cut sections about meeting facilities, off-site venues, meeting services, meeting tools, staff, the city, community resources and others.

It also has some nice extras, like a stack of maps, a how-toplan-a-convention brochure and links to local suppliers like caterers and audiovisual and transportation companies.

Even corporate planners, who, studies show, are least likely to use a CVB, could benefit from a tour of the Beaumont site. They often need a private space for a nice group dinner. That’s easily found on Beaumont’s site, as those restaurants are wisely broken

out into a separate category. Each restaurant and its space are described in detail, and a locator map quickly shows exactly where that restaurant is in relation to hotels or event spaces. It’s a whole lot quicker and easier than checking out individual restaurant websites, although there are links to those sites as well. Or, if planners need to add a little zing to an evening event, they can read about the Beaumont Museum dinearound, a progressive dinner that takes in three of the city’s 19 museums and spices things up with Cajun food and crawdads.

The website manages to supply details in a way that’s not overwhelming. So not only did I come away with emails and phone numbers for sales director Freddie Willard, sales manager Rebecca Woodland and servicing manager Susan Jackson, but I would recognize them immediately thanks to photos, know where they went to school and which professional organizations they are members of, what their job responsibilities include and what each loves about Beaumont. In a quick Q&A section, each shares tips about their city: favorite time of year, where they like to eat, favorite meeting venues and what they do in their free time.

Beaumont’s not the only small city that’s doing an outsize job communicating through its website. Maybe it’s easier for a place that’s small to know what it is all about and to communicate its differences with enthusiasm. I don’t know. But I will point this out: Beaumont and other towns like it are providing just what meeting planners want from CVBs. Research has shown that planners want CVBs to demonstrate “destination expertise.” So, kudos, Beaumont! Your website nails it.

“

Maybe it’s easier for a place that’s small to know what it is all about and to communicate its differences with enthusiasm.

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MeetingPoint

Vickie Mitchell is the former editor of Small Market Meetings.

If you have ideas for future columns, contact her at vickiemitchell11915@gmail.com.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Sweetening the Deal

Many CVBs offer incentive and rebate programs for meeting planners Courtesy Shreveport-Bossier CTB

By Savannah Osbourn

The Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau offers up to $3,000 in rebates for meetings.

onvention and visitors bureaus are gold mines when it comes to complimentary meeting services and often offer valuable cash rebates and incentives to attract new planners to their destinations.

Meeting incentives can range from simple services like creative welcome signs and gift bags to big benefits such as reimbursement on airfare and facility rentals. These steppingstones can be especially beneficial for planners who are either new to the industry or looking to expand their business.

For more insight on how planners can take advantage of these reward programs, we spoke with representatives from several convention and visitors bureaus across the country. Here are some of the most important points they wanted meeting planners to know.

rentals for up to $10,000 during eligible dates from 2018 to 2021.

“The Brighter Meetings program has been very successful and well received,” said Ed Simon, senior vice president of convention sales and services at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We give away thousands of dollars a year, and it’s certainly increased the demand for groups using our convention center.”

As with many reward programs, this cash incentive is based on the number of booked room nights. Planners booking between 50 and 300 rooms can earn a $3 cash rebate per room night paid, and those booking more than 300 can earn a $4 cash rebate per room night paid. In addition, the program applies only to groups that book at least 10 or more guest rooms in a Broward County hotel, and the rewards cannot be combined with other convention and visitors bureau incentives.

Incentives are paid no later than 30 days after the event has occurred and final room night counts have been verified by the hotel properties.

C

Reduce Rental Costs

Some of the biggest costs of any conference or meeting are the rental fees, and some convention and visitors bureaus are prepared to help planners cover a significant percentage of those charges. The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau offers a program called Brighter Meetings that includes cash rebates on facility

November 2018

Customize Incentives

Many reward programs can be customized to accommodate a group’s needs, so it is always advantageous to speak with the convention sales department to find out what offers might be available.

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Courtesy Shreveport-Bossier CTB

The Miss USA organization took advantage of Shreveport’s incentive program for an event earlier this year.

Depending on the planner’s budget and other factors, the convention and visitors bureau might be able to provide complimentary convention space, special rates on city transportation, local keynote speakers and more.

“We personally try to match the incentives to whatever the customer needs, whether it’s transportation between various hotels and venues or a cash rebate to the master bill,” said Simon.

These price differences can make a dramatic difference for new planners. As a medium-size city, Fort Lauderdale often attracts meeting planners who are transitioning their events from a conference hotel property to a midsize convention center and are looking for affordable means of growing their businesses.

“Planners will see a substantial increase in their overall costs during their first few years of trying to expand their business, and our ability to help with transportation and other costs they wouldn’t normally have with a convention hotel can create a lot of comfort,” said Simon.

Budget is not always the defining factor with negotiating incentives.

In some cases, organizations like the Sioux Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau will offer to price match the incentives available in other destinations.

“We always try to stay competitive in the CVB world for our size of a city and with the meeting space that we offer,” said Alexandra LeBlanc, director of sales at the Sioux Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau. “If we hear about new offers on the market, that’s when we have a conversation about whether we can match that and bring that event here.”

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Managing Meetings

Consider Your Qualifications

Many incentives apply only to new business or groups that have not visited the area in several years. The Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau in Louisiana offers up to $3,000 in rebates to meeting groups that have not hosted an event in the city for at least two years.

“The only catch is that it has to be new business for the city, but we use the term ‘new business’ loosely,” said Aly Velasquez, marketing assistant at the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau.

“Our CVB is awesome because we offer big city amenities in a small town. This reward program really does help take off some of those costs in an already affordable destination for both the planner and constituents coming.”

Another common requirement for cash rebates or incentives is that there are no previously signed contracts that run through the campaign dates for the upcoming event.

“You have to work directly with the CVB. You can’t sign a contract with a hotel and then try to take advantage of incentives,” said LeBlanc.

In 2019, the Sioux Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau will begin offering a referral program that offers incentives to local organization members that help bring their meetings to the area. Both event organizers and the person who provides the referral will receive benefits from the program.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

SmallMarketMeetings.qxp_Layout 1 8/16/18 3:18 PM Page 1

Courtesy Sioux Falls CVB

The Sioux Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau tries to match incentive programs offered by competing destinations.

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Made for Meetings These resorts combine relaxing settings and first-rate event amenities

By Savannah Osbourn

W

hen meeting planners host events at destination resorts, they give attendees the opportunity to visit some of the most picturesque locations across America, from wooded mountain valleys to sweeping deserts and vibrant islands. In addition, these resorts often provide everything a group needs for a successful meeting in one scenic venue, including conference space, dining, shopping and activities.

For anyone looking for opportunities to boost attendance and consolidate costs, here are five of the country’s best destination resorts for conferences and meetings.

Stowe Mountain Lodge Stowe, Vermont

One of New England’s premier ski resorts, Stowe Mountain Lodge is conveniently located within a three-and-a-half-hour drive of major cities like Hartford, Connecticut, and Boston. This accessibility enables

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Meeting Ideas

Courtesy Wild Dunes Resort

Wild Dunes Resort gives meeting groups a taste of South Carolina coastal charm.

many East Coast organizations to take their meetings or conferences to a luxury destination without the hassle of traveling all the way to the South or the West Coast.

“It’s a small resort on a grand scale, but large when you look at us on a regional level,” said Jim Beaulieu, director of group sales at the lodge.

“We’re the largest full-service resort in Vermont, and we cater to meeting groups of 300 to 400. Not a lot of properties in New England can accommodate those numbers.”

The Stowe Mountain Lodge offers more than 56,000 square feet of meeting space, with unusual venues such as a 420-seat performing arts center, a mountaintop terrace and an expansive two-story lodge with vaulted ceilings. Unlike some of the more historic grand hotels that feature narrow hallways and lowered ceilings, the Stowe Mountain Lodge showcases the natural beauty of its surrounding environment through sweeping floor-to-ceiling windows and elegant open floor plans.

“We have rooms that look right out at Mount Mansfield,” said

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Courtesy Stowe Mountain Lodge

Meeting rooms at Stowe Mountain Lodge overlook beautiful New England scenery.

Beaulieu. “We bring the natural setting of where we are into the meeting experience.”

During their stays, guests can relish the breathtaking mountain terrain as they try fun outdoor activities like skiing, snowmobiling, ice climbing, dogsledding excursions and guided snowshoe tours. In the past, some groups have organized Olympic-style events on the property such as curling or snow castle competitions.

Wild Dunes Resort Isle of Palms, South Carolina

Wild Dunes Resort is on the northern tip of Isle of Palms, a barrier island in the Atlantic Ocean just 15 miles from the historic port city of Charleston, South Carolina. The 1,600-acre oceanfront property encompasses a charming collection of hotels, condominiums and cottages, providing a variety of accommodations for visitors.

“Wild Dunes is truly a beautiful island paradise with all the cul-

November 2018

tural components that Charleston has to offer,” said Jeffrey Payne, director of sales and events at the resort.

In contrast to a traditional conference hotel in the city, attendees can breathe in a refreshing ocean breeze between meeting sessions as they stroll along the water and rolling golf fairways. Rated among the top golf destinations in the state, the resort features 36 holes of golf on three courses designed by legendary architect Tom Fazio.

Planners can host meetings with panoramic ocean views in the covered Grand Pavilion or set up a poolside reception in Palmetto Hall.

The newly renovated Boardwalk Inn features several smaller meeting venues such as the Club Room and the Board Room.

To give groups a taste of Charleston’s world-class dining, Wild Dunes Resort often brings in local chefs to lead cooking classes, chef’s tablestyle dinners and other culinary experiences. Planners can also coordinate events on one of the neighboring barrier islands, transporting attendees, vendors and performers across the water on skiffs.

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Skamania Lodge Stevenson, Washington

Courtesy Skamania Lodge

Luxury treehouses are a signature of Skamania Lodge in the Columbia River Gorge.

Nestled amid 175 acres of lush woodland in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Skamania Lodge is a popular retreat for meeting and conference groups. Attendees can fly into the nearby metropolitan hub of Portland, Oregon, and enjoy a relaxing 45-minute drive along the Historic Columbia River Highway as they pass natural landmarks such as Multnomah Falls, the tallest waterfall in the state.

“We are very much rooted in the Pacific Northwest,” said Kara Owen, director of marketing. “We’re surrounded by old-growth evergreens all over the property, as well as lots of water, providing many opportunities to experience the Northwest at its finest.”

Skamania Lodge offers 254 spacious guest rooms overlooking the Columbia River Gorge and the Cascade Mountains, as well as a number of luxurious treehouses nestled in Douglas fir trees nearly 15 feet off the ground.

The lodge and property were designed with meeting groups in mind, combining state-of-the-art conference amenities with the tranquil surrounding scenery of the Columbia River Gorge. Planners can make use of 23 versatile meeting areas, including a 22,000-square-foot conference center with natural lighting, high-speed internet and an on-site conference service team. During the warmer months, some groups may prefer to set up a reception or dinner outside in one of the open-air courtyards or the covered Pavilion area.

The Skamania Lodge Adventure facility features a wonderful selection of team-building opportunities, such as a zip-line course, an aerial park and an axe-throwing station. In the neighboring region, groups can also visit some of the state’s finest wineries and breweries, or plan an outdoor excursion such as hiking, whitewater rafting or fishing.

Destination Kohler Kohler, Wisconsin

Photos courtesy Kohler Co.

Kohler’s Whistling Straits has been listed among the top 100 golf courses in North America.

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Meeting Ideas

The Kohler brand is often associated with luxury and relaxation. Owned by the Kohler Company, one of the world’s leading companies in kitchen and bathroom appliances, Destination Kohler outfits each of its guest rooms with some of the most innovative shower and bathroom products on the market, such as showers with digital thermostat valves and hydrotherapy technology.

“When people come to the worldwide leader in baths and expect an amazing bathroom, they’re not disappointed,” said Justin Gephart, director of sales.

Based just outside the quaint village of Kohler, the property encompasses several stylish lodging facilities, including the five-star, five-diamond American Club. Built in 1918, the American Club originally served as a dormitory for new immigrants to America and eventually became a full-service boutique hotel.

Next door, the Carriage House is home to the Five-Star Kohler Waters Spa, one of only 60 five-star spas in the world.

Guests can explore a wide selection of entertainment, dining and shopping opportunities throughout the resort, from high-ropes courses to yoga on the lake and Kohler Factory tours. The Blackwolf Run and Whistling Straits golf courses have repeatedly been listed among Golf Digest’s 100 Great Golf Courses in America. The resort will host the Ryder Cup in 2020.

“When you put Kohler and Whistling Straights on your meeting agenda, it really attracts the right people,” said Gephart. “It’s the kind of thing that people will adjust their calendars in order to experience.”

Event planners can choose from over a dozen meeting venues throughout the property, including the 88-seat Appley Theatre, the 2,738-square-foot Woodlands Hall Conference Center and the 7,519-square-foot Grand Hall of the Great Lakes, which can host up to 850 for a reception.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Photos courtesy Kohler Co.

Kohler’s American Club offers upscale experiences for meeting groups.

November 2018

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Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch Scottsdale, Arizona

Scottsdale’s McCormick Ranch Golf Club offers stunning views of Camelback and McDowell mountains.

Scottsdale Resort can organize elegant farm dinners for special events.

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Meeting Ideas

Set against the romantic backdrop of the Sonoran Desert, the Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch offers a beautiful desert retreat with 326 hacienda-style suites, two championship golf courses, three artisan restaurants and a full-service spa. Meeting groups of all sizes can take advantage of this AAA Four Diamond resort, which features 80,000 square feet of flexible meeting space in 50 unique venues, from outdoor spaces like the Paradise Park Lawn to the 10,000-square-foot Coronado Ballroom.

Between sessions, meeting attendees can enjoy vibrant sunsets from the pool deck, stop by the Luna Spa for a massage or practice their swing at the McCormick Ranch Golf Club, which provides stunning views of Camelback and McDowell mountains. The nine hole of the Palm Course has been featured in Golf Illustrated’s Top 18 Water Holes of America.

In addition to using these amenities, planners can work with Scottsdale Resort’s in-house destination service team, Hello Arizona, to organize unforgettable custom events and activities such as ATV desert tours, hot-air-balloon rides and horseback riding. For special themed events, the service team can bring in Native American artisans and dancers or transform the venue into a classic Western town with mock building facades, hay bales and saddle stools.

Photos courtesy Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

STEP

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Unde Incentivrstanding e Progra ms Baton Ro uge, Louis iana Dakotas Meeting Guide

CAPITAL TIMES IN BATON ROGUE

This Mississippi River city delivers the best of Louisiana in a manageable destination

By Savannah Osbourn

Baton Rouge’s new City Hall Plaza gives groups an outdoor venue for concerts and events.

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Destination Showcase

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“Our city is known to be very affordable and very easy to get around.”

O

n a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, Baton Rouge is one of the South’s most colorful cities.

As Louisiana’s capital, the city brings over 300 years of history to life through beautiful antebellum homes, fine Cajun restaurants and live music venues that showcase distinct genres like zydeco and blues. It is also home to Louisiana State University, one of the state’s most visited attractions.

Meeting planners will discover many reasons to choose Louisiana’s capital city as their next conference or meeting destination. The city is centrally located in the state — an hour from New Orleans to the east and Lafayette to the west — and sits at the intersection of two major interstates , providing easy access for business travelers from every part of the country.

“Our city is known to be very affordable and very easy to get around,” said Christy Chachere Lohmann, communications specialist at Visit Baton Rouge. “A lot of hotels offer free pickup from the airport, which is just seven minutes from the center of downtown.”

Major Meeting Venues and Hotels

Named after the popular Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers restaurant franchise, which holds its roots in Baton Rouge, the Raising Cane’s River Center has played an influential role in shaping the city’s vibrant downtown district. The complex encompasses a 10,000seat arena, a 1,900-seat performing arts theater, a 26,336-square-foot grand ballroom and two exhibition halls with 70,000 square feet of unobstructed floor space. Meeting groups can take advantage of seven hotels within walking distance of the convention center, as well as two attached parking garages.

In addition to using the facility for largescale events, attendees may be able to check out one of the scheduled community events at the convention center, which regularly hosts the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, the Baton Rouge Ballet and the Broadway in Baton Rouge.

For a more midsize venue, planners can

November 2018

consider convention hotel properties like the Crowne Plaza Baton Rouge, the Baton Rouge Marriott and the Renaissance Baton Rouge Hotel.

State Capital History

Game day at LSU All photos courtesy Visit Baton Rogue

Baton Rouge, Louisiana LOCATION

Southeastern Louisiana ACCESS

Interstates 10, 12, 49 and 55; Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport MAJOR MEETING SPACES

Raising Cane’s River Center, Crowne Plaza Baton Rouge, Baton Rouge Marriott, Renaissance Baton Rouge Hotel HOTEL ROOMS

13,000 OFFSITE VENUES

Old State Capitol, the Estuary, Tin Roof Brewing, Capital Park Museum, Louisiana Art and Science Museum, Rural Life Museum, Nottoway Plantation Resort, Houmas House Plantation and Gardens CONTACT INFO

Visit Baton Rouge 800-527-6843 www.visitbatonrouge.com

One of the first things visitors will notice as they drive into Baton Rouge from the airport is the towering facade of the New State Capitol building, the tallest capitol in the country.

With a height of 450 feet with 35 floors, the elegant limestone structure was completed in just 14 months and stands on a 27-acre tract of land. Groups can tour the Capitol free of charge and stop by the observation deck on the 27th floor for a panoramic view of the city from 350 feet in the air.

On the opposite end of downtown, the Old Louisiana State Capitol is an impressive sight to behold. Nicknamed Louisiana’s “Castle on the River,” the ornate Gothic- and Victorianstyle structure overlooks the Mississippi River from a bluff, showcasing colorful architectural features within, such as a cast-iron staircase and a soaring stained-glass dome. The property is within walking distance of the New State Capitol, as well as prominent attractions like the Old Louisiana Governor’s Mansion, the Louisiana Arts and Science Museum, St. Joseph Cathedral and the Shaw Center for the Arts.

Groups can rent out the old Senate chamber or House of Representatives for an exclusive event setting in a National Historic Landmark.

In addition to browsing historical exhibits and state rooms, guests can watch the awardwinning “Ghost of the Castle” show, an immersive 4D theatrical experience that explores the castle’s colorful history through the ghost of a real-life Civil War-era writer named Sara Morgan.

Groups can also delve into local history at the Capital Park Museum, a branch of the Louisiana State Museum that showcases more than 500,000 Louisiana-based artifacts, from early jazz sheet music to judicial records dating back to Spanish and French colonial rule.

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A group enjoys outdoor festivities at Raising Cane’s River Center.

Unique Venues

Baton Rouge offers visitors a wealth of signature local cuisine, such as the desserts at Elsie’s Plate and Pie.

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Destination Showcase

As meeting groups begin to explore the city, they will discover a number of distinct attractions and landmarks. Nicknamed the Pirate of the Pacific, the USS Kidd is a Fletcher-class destroyer permanently moored on the Mississippi River in the heart of downtown. It was named after naval hero Rear Adm. Isaac C. Kidd, who died during the 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that precipitated the United States’ entry into World War II. Groups can take a self-guided tour of the ship and attached museum to learn about the history of warships and significant naval battles that took place in the Pacific theater during World War II. Just outside downtown, the Cane Land Distilling Company is one of the only distilleries in the United States that owns and operates its entire production process: growing, refining and distilling raw sugar cane into spirits on the Alma Plantation family estate. Groups can learn about this process during a 45-minute guided tour, which is followed by a sampling of cane-to-glass premium rums in the Tasting Room.

Drawing nearly 175,000 visitors each year, the Louisiana Art and Science Museum is housed inside a historic 1925 railway station on the banks of the Mississippi. Inside, guests can browse exhibits on ancient Egypt, the solar system, photography, American and European art and contemporary Louisiana art. Groups can also stop by the planetarium for immersive educational shows that explore subjects like gravity, dinosaurs and famous explorers.

On 420 beautiful acres in the middle of the city, the Rural Life Museum at Louisiana State University sheds light on the lifestyles and cultural artifacts of rural Louisiana communities during the 18th and 19th centuries. Guides are available for groups of 10 or more.

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Groups can enjoy off-site events at Cane Land Distilling Company.

Surrounding Attractions

Louisiana’s River Road was once lined with nearly 350 antebellum plantation homes ranging from simple farmhouses to lavish mansions. Today, about a dozen of the remaining properties are open to the public for tours. Just a short distance from downtown Baton Rouge, the Magnolia Mound Plantation is a small but wellmaintained historic property that features one of the finest existing collections of Louisiana-made products from the Colonial era.

Groups can sign up for a guided tour of the main house or take a self-guided tour of the slave-quarters, house, kitchen and gardens.

Several other notable homes can be found just outside the city.

Nottoway Plantation is the largest surviving antebellum plantation in the American South and offers several exquisite venues for off-site banquets or wine classes. As visitors tour the Greek Revival and Italianate-style mansion, they will discover opulent period furnishings, handcarved marble fireplaces, plaster frieze moldings and many other unique features.

Nicknamed the Sugar Palace, Houmas House Plantation and Gardens provides another scenic backdrop for rehearsal dinners, corporate retreats and other events. Groups can follow a docent clad in period clothing through the mansion and 38 acres of gardens to learn more about the history of the wealthy sugar barons who built and developed the property.

For those interested in exploring Louisiana’s rich natural scenery, there are also a number of swamp tours in the surrounding region that take passengers through remote waterways with wildlife such as alligators and colorful migratory birds.

November 2018

Visitors can explore the Louisiana wetlands at Baton Rouge’s Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center.

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Dartmouth’s

By Kristy Alpert

I

t’s 6 p.m. at the Hanover Inn Dartmouth in Hanover, New Hampshire, and all the guests in the lobby pause as the faint sound of music rises from outside. The staff begins to hum along as loyal guests and alumni rush outside to sing the Dartmouth Alma Mater as it plays from the Baker Bell Tower above the Dartmouth Green.

The bells first rang from the tower in 1928, 148 years after the first guest checked into the school’s notable Historic Hotels of America property. The Hanover Inn Dartmouth dates back to 1780 when it opened as the Dartmouth Hotel on the Dartmouth College Campus.

After a devastating fire and a series of renovations, the hotel reopened as the Hanover Inn Dartmouth in 1903. Since its reopening, the inn has added new wings and expanded and updated its offerings to include 108 guest rooms and 14 suites overlooking the iconic Dartmouth Green.

In 2012, the inn reopened again after a $43 million renovation that updated the guest rooms and the facilities to include modern conveniences while maintaining its signature historic charm. Along with the addition of Pine, a new farm-to-table restaurant by celebrated chef and restaurateur Michael Schlow, the inn added several executive meeting rooms, a multipurpose ballroom and an 11,000-square-foot conference center that includes seven executive meeting rooms and an additional ballroom.

The hotel’s central location on campus and easy walking distance to downtown Hanover have made it an excellent choice for meetings

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Hospitality Showcase

Photos courtesy Hanover Inn

Above: The renovated Hanover Inn Dartmouth blends modern decor with historic charm.

Left: Fruit and wine are popular in-room amenities at Hanover Inn. while in the Dartmouth vicinity. The inn is in high demand during sporting events at the campus, as it’s only a short stroll to all of Dartmouth’s sports fields. But even at full capacity, the inn doesn’t waver on its ability to cater to the individual needs and desires of each guest who walks through its doors. Whether in town for a college event, an on-site meeting or a corporate outing to explore the Upper Connecticut River Valley or the Appalachian Trail, guests of the Hanover Inn Dartmouth can witness history being made at this charming inn.

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Historic Inn Meeting Spaces

Many of the meeting spaces are recent additions and feature modern yet timeless decor with state-of-theart audiovisual equipment and complimentary Wi-Fi. Spaces and their guest capacities are the following: Grand Ballroom, 480; East Ballroom, 240; West Ballroom, 240; Hayward

Room, which overlooks the scenic Dartmouth Green, 245; Grand Foyer, 200; Drake Room, 50; Ford Sayre Room, 50; Brewster Room, 20; FordSayre/Brewster, 95; McFate Room, 20; Moosilauke Room, 20; Washington Room, 20; and Cardigan Room, 20.

Catering Groups meeting at the Hanover Inn Dartmouth can savor the culinary creations of award-winning executive chef and James Beard contributor Justin Dain, along with his culinary team. The team crafts a range of menus from which to choose on the catering menu and is eager to create custom menus for groups that show off the inn’s locally sourced ingredi-

ents and farm-fresh produce. Menus are available for all meals of the day and include passed hors d’oeuvres, buffets and plated meals. Among the standout menu items are fig and mascarpone beggar’s purses for passed appetizers and tender filet mignon served with a red-wine reduction. Alcohol is available.

After Events

Hanover Inn Dartmouth

The Hanover Inn Dartmouth emphasizes bettering the environment, and the staff practices environmental stewardship throughout its regular innkeeping duties and event management. In addition to sourcing local ingredients for the restaurant and catering menus, the culinary team also participates in the Clean Plate Club with a commitment to compost

anything left behind on guests’ plates.

The cleaning team uses environmentally safe cleaning products to meet with Green Seal’s standards and changes the sheets and towels every third day unless they are requested to change them more frequently. Waterfree urinals in the men’s restrooms have reduced the inn’s water usage by more than 75,000 gallons each year.

LOCATION

Hanover, New Hampshire

SIZE

108 rooms

MEETING SPACE

More than 11,000 square feet

ACCESS

Lebanon Municipal Airport, Interstate 91

CONTACT INFO 603-643-4300

www.hanoverinn.com

November 2018

Extras Before and after events, guests can take advantage of the Hanover Inn Dartmouth’s central location to enjoy Hanover’s top attractions, including the neighboring Hopkins Center for the Performing Arts and the Hood Museum. Other local attractions include the Montshire Museum of Science, King Arthur Flour, the VINS Nature Center and the Billings Farm

and Museum. Portions of the Appalachian Trail pass directly by the inn’s doors, and guests can hike a short portion of the trail before taking to the shores of the Connecticut River for kayaking, canoeing or swimming. The staff can also arrange short day trips for downhill skiing or golfing nearby.

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‘City Meets Country ’ in Scranton

By Katherine Tandy Brown

Courtesy Hilton Scranton

S C R A N T O N P E N N S Y LVA N I A LOCATION Upper northeastern corner of Pennsylvania ACCESS Highways 81, 84, 80 and 380 and Route 6; WilkesBarre/Scranton Airport MAJOR MEETING SPACES Hilton Scranton and Conference Center, Radisson Lackawanna Station HOTEL ROOMS Approximately 500 citywide OFF-SITE VENUES PNC Field, Montdale Country Club, Harry Houdini Museum CONTACT INFO Lackawanna County Visitors Bureau 800-223-3526 www.visitnepa.org

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Destination Showcase

Above: Scranton’s Everhart Museum showcases natural history, science and art.

Left: The Electric City Ballroom is a prime event space at Hilton Scranton and Conference Center.

I

n the upper northeastern portion of the Keystone State, Scranton, Pennsylvania, is an accessible meetings locale that provides groups with a balanced blend of rural and urban flavors. The community of nearly 80,000 residents offers ample outdoor opportunities for attendees while also providing cost-effective cosmopolitan comfort and culture.

“It’s the city-meets-country,” said Alexa Peregrim, sales manager with the Lackawanna County Visitors Bureau. “You could go to a Broadway show at night and, the next day, wake up and you’re a 10-minute drive from the country and enjoying hiking trails.”

These outdoor options are boosted by the city’s locale in the heart of the Lackawanna River Valley, which includes the 70-mile Lackawanna Heritage Valley Trail that follows beside the river.

“There’s kayaking, there’s hiking, there’s canoeing, there’s tons of fishing and lots of outdoor activities that take place in our area,” Peregrim said, adding that Scranton proper has plenty of worthwhile green spaces as well. These include Nay Aug Park, a sprawling enclave, home to an eye-catching waterfall, a gorgeous gorge and even the

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Hotel Hubs A pair of hotels compose the city’s main meeting spots, led by the Hilton Scranton and Conference Center, with 19,000 square feet of meeting space, 193 rooms and current property renovations set to be completed by the end of November. The hotel is also home to an indoor pool, a few dining options and a fitness room, and its flexible meeting areas include a boardroom, large meeting rooms and exhibition space.

The other big meetings player in town is the Radisson Lackawanna Station, which takes pride in some elegant meeting areas that include a ballroom and a spacious lobby.

Yet another option is the Four Points by Sheraton Scranton, a solid choice for smaller functions, with 3,175 square feet of meeting space and 135 guest rooms.

Off-Site Intrigue

Courtesy Lackawanna Co. VB

Everhart Museum, which showcases natural history, science and art.

Another strong point is the city’s history, and numerous landmarks and venues pay tribute to its industrial past that focused on coal and electricity. Group opportunities here can include an outing to Steamtown National Historic Site for a train or trolley ride, or a museum tour. Similarly, McDade Park offers a historic coal mine tour 300 feet below ground.

This emphasis on local heritage even carries over into one of the city’s main meeting venues, the Radisson Lackawanna Station. Set in a former French Renaissancestyle train station that opened in 1908, this property offers 17,444 square feet of function space and 146 guest rooms.

Scranton’s easy accessibility is another plus, with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Airport just 15 to 20 minutes from downtown and numerous main thoroughfares, making it a drive magnet.

“We’re really a central hub,” said Peregrim. “We like to say all roads lead to Scranton.”

November 2018

Planners looking to put together programs away from the main venue should find plenty of promising possibilities in Scranton.

These include PNC Field, home ballpark to the New York Yankees Triple-A affiliate Scranton RailRiders. The stadium’s two party decks make for fun event spaces during a ballgame. Group menus showcase down-home barbecue items. Meeting planners can arrange to have a special message for their group posted on the stadium scoreboard.

Another popular spot, according to Peregrim, is the Montdale Country Club, with fine dining and indoor and outdoor spaces with views of a 22-acre lake. Its nicely manicured estate features a range of alfresco spaces that include a lakeside ceremony pavilion, handsome gazebos and an attractive grove.

Attractions and Activities

When attendees are seeking to fill some free time, Scranton serves up a few offbeat experiences that are likely to leave an impression. These include the Electric City Aquarium and Reptile Den, home to a wide variety of swimming sea creatures from reef sharks to stingrays; reptiles from rattlesnakes to geckos are also exhibited. Visitors can grab a keepsake at a cozy gift shop, and the venue can also host small events.

Equally captivating is the Harry Houdini Museum, home to a wealth of curios and artifacts tied to the legendary magician and escape artist. For the full experience, visitors should arrive by 1 p.m. to partake in the daily trio of a movie, magic show and museum tour.

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Team Time For groups striving to build a better bond, Scranton has a few choices worth considering.

Electric City Escapes is all about team building, host to a varied offering of “escape rooms” that will test teams’ reasoning, communication skills and ability to thrive under pressure. Challenges include an art heist endeavor and a mine escape, and the venue can host teams of up to 16.

The CVB’s Peregrim says the nearby Montage Mountain Resort, home to activities like a waterpark, a ski resort and zip lining, is another popular group bonding destination. And for something low key but out of the ordinary, groups can plan a self-guided tour of locations related to the popular TV series “The Office,” which was set in Scranton.

Courtesy Radisson Lackawanna Station

Radisson Lackawanna Station is one of Scranton’s most popular meeting hotels.

MONTAGE MOUNTAIN RESORTS

STEAMTOWN NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

Meet Outside the Box!

SCRANTON CULTURAL CENTER

TWO HOUR DRIVE FROM NEW YORK CITY & PHILADELPHIA

PNC FIELD

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Destination Showcase

VISITNEPA.ORG

1.800.22.WELCOME

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Downtown in the Dakotas

By Kristy Alpert

Courtesy SD Dept. of Tourism

Watertown’s downtown district has more than 60 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

D

espite sharing a common name and a border, North Dakota and South Dakota are plenty different.

Each state has managed to create its own signature style and culture that distinguishes it from the other.

But even with noticeable differences in dialect, climate and cuisine, the two states have maintained one shared societal staple by preserving some of the region’s most quaint downtowns. The downtown districts in the Dakotas are wide-ranging, from historical hubs to shopping meccas, but all of them offer the charming feeling of walking into a Terry Redlin painting.

Here are the top downtown districts in North and South Dakota.

Bismarck, North Dakota

As the capital of North Dakota, Bismarck has a long history of welcoming visitors to the state with its scenic bluffs and strategic location along the Missouri River.

Lewis and Clark were among the first visitors back in 1804, and today the city’s historic downtown gives a nod to the early settlers while offering numerous charming choices for meetings and events.

“Bismarck is a shining light of arts, culture, history and the great outdoors,” said Kim Schmidt, public relations and digital communications manager for North Dakota Tourism. “Groups will enjoy the walkability of downtown Bismarck and can get a bird’s-eye view of just what it is that makes Bismarck a true destination from the observation deck on the 18th floor of the North Dakota State Capitol.”

The Broadway Grill and Tavern offers meeting space

November 2018

for up to 64 guests in its private parlor, and the Radisson Hotel Bismarck can host up to 300 guests in its meeting facilities. The largest meeting and event spaces can be found inside the Bismarck Event Center, just on the outskirts of downtown, where more than 200,000 square feet of convention and trade show space await larger groups; 16 individual meeting rooms are available for rent. Just a short drive from the downtown district, at the Port of Bismarck, groups of 100 or fewer can book a trip on the historic Lewis and Clark Riverboat once it reopens in May 2019. www.noboundariesnd.com

Watertown, South Dakota

Founded in 1879 as a stop along the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad line, Watertown boomed quickly, attracting entrepreneurial spirits. Today, the city, with a population of under 22,000, is the fifth largest in South Dakota,.

The historic downtown area offers a beautiful glimpse into the city’s past and offers a picturesque place to stroll and shop the numerous boutiques, thrift stores and art galleries that compose Watertown’s downtown.

More than 60 of the buildings in the downtown district appear on the National Register of Historic Places; they include the Codington County Courthouse, which dates back to 1929; the historic M.L. St. Railroad Depot; and the County Fair Banquet Hall, which is still used for hosting meetings and events.

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Courtesy Destination Rapid City

The “City of Presidents” sculpture series is a hallmark of downtown Rapid City.

“Watertown has plenty of entertainment for groups,” said Keegan Carda, global media and public relations representative for the South Dakota Department of Tourism. Options include “two breweries, a distillery and an art museum with thousands of original works from a celebrated American artist,” she said.

Watertown is home to one of the most celebrated American wildlife artists: Terry Redlin. Although the Redlin Art Center is a short drive from the city center, the city’s downtown boasts a number of art galleries and even an official art walk that showcases the city’s 15 sculptures. Wander past nostalgic streetlamps and window flower boxes to enjoy the historic ambiance of this quaint downtown. www.visitwatertownsd.com

Minot, North Dakota

Minot’s quick rise from a town at the end of the Great Northern Railway’s line to a destination of more than 5,000 in less than five months earned it the nickname “The Magic City.” The residents today keep that magic alive by maintaining an active calendar of events and celebrations in the historic downtown area.

The downtown district is the lifeblood of the city; there, numerous galleries, stores and restaurants add to the romantic ambiance that the Minot Riverwalk creates for visitors traversing the city.

“We are lucky to have an area our downtown merchants spend their time and funds beautifying in the

32

Dakotas Meeting Guide

summer months and lighting up through the holidays,” said Rianne Kuhn, director of marketing and communications for the Minot Convention and Visitors Bureau at Visit Minot. “We have casual and fine-dining options, as well as food trucks, pop-up stands and, of course, Minot’s oldest restaurant: Charlie’s.”

There is a new event space being built downtown, but the current convention space is less than 10 minutes from downtown. Until the new event space is complete, the best downtown options for meetings and events are the Minot Auditorium, the Taube Museum of Art and nearby Minot State University. Hotels nearby with meeting facilities include the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center, the Grand Hotel, and the Sleep Inn and Suites. www.visitminot.org

Devils Lake, North Dakota

Home to the largest body of water in North Dakota, the city of Devils Lake has become famous as the “Perch Capital of the World.” Fishermen come to the area yearround, setting up huts and tents directly on the ice during the winter. But beyond its abundant waters, Devils Lake also boasts a downtown that’s teeming with charming boutiques and buzzing coffee shops and restaurants, like local favorites Kneadful Things, the Old Main Street Café for a hearty bite to eat and the Liquid Bean for a quick cup of coffee. The city’s small-town feel blends with modern conveniences and exciting museums.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Courtesy Devil’s Lake CVB

Downtown Devil’s Lake exudes historic charm.

“The Sheriff’s House Museum is a really unique and very cool museum to go in and see,” said Tanner Cherney, visitor services and outdoor media coordinator for the Devils Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Our downtown is going to be getting some nice updates and improvements with our Department of Transportation Streetscapes Grant Project that will begin next summer in the downtown district.”

Meeting downtown is simple. A range of options include the Knights of Columbus Hall, for up to 300 people; the Memorial Building and the Masonic Temple, for up to 400 people each; and the Lake Region Heritage Center, for up to 75 people. www.devilslakend.com

Rapid City, South Dakota

Rapid City’s family atmosphere blends with the region’s authentic heritage in a way that provides visitors with a unique, eclectic culture. The downtown features 167 local shops, and the city offers more than 200 free events throughout the year, from weekly concerts in the summer to festive gatherings in the winter.

“Main Street Square is what we like to call the living room of Downtown Rapid City,” said Dan Senftner, president and CEO of Destination Rapid City. “Interactive fountains flow in the summertime, and the venue is transformed into an outdoor ice rink larger than Rockefeller Center in the winter.”

Just outside the square, visitors will find the Sculpture Project, where 21 large granite stones were hand carved onsite to represent the landscape and environments of the bordering Badlands and Black Hills.

Rapid City also has an array of meeting sites, from community gathering spaces to conference rooms. They include the Main Street Square; the Holiday Inn Rushmore Plaza, with 14,000 square feet of flexible meeting space; the Barnett Arena inside the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, with 250,000 square feet of exhibit and meeting space; the Rushmore Hotel Ballroom, which can accommodate 300 with five smaller meeting rooms; and the historic Hotel Alex Johnson, which offers three different meeting rooms with capacities that range from 20 to 200. www.visitrapidcity.com

November 2018

NO BOUNDARIES • A multi-use arena with over 200,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit hall space with seating for 10,000 • Numerous venue options for meetings of any size • More than 3,500 sleeping rooms within 15 minutes of the airport

You’re our top priority.

We also offer something you may not find in larger cities: personalized service.

Leave boundaries behind and contact us today.

BMC VB.com 33

Historic Dakotas Venues

By Kristy Alpert

Courtesy SD Dept. of Tourism

Sioux Falls’ Old Courthouse Museum dates back to 1889.

U

ntil 1889, North Dakota and South Dakota operated as the Dakota Territory, where their shared history ran deep with Native American ancestry and pioneers.

34

Early settlers were looking to strike it rich with gold in the Black Hills or work the tracks along some of the nation’s earliest railroads. Although the territory eventually divided into the north and south, the two states still share a storied past, and many landmarks, buildings and monuments still stand today as a reminder of the earliest days of the Dakotas.

Discover a few of the most historic sites and attractions that welcome groups for meetings and events throughout North Dakota and South Dakota with this journey through the region.

Fort Mandan Washburn, North Dakota

When winter hit during the famous Lewis and Clark expedition, the Corps of Discovery crew needed a shelter to get them through the frigid season ahead. They constructed Ford Mandan and used the encampment as their home between 1804 and 1805. While there, Lewis and Clark made their plans for the next phase of the journey by interviewing locals and nearby villagers to decipher the best route to the Pacific Ocean. It was at Fort Mandan that Lewis and Clark first met Sacagawea, the Lemhi Shoshone woman who helped the men achieve their mission.

Although the fort was unable to stand the test of time, today a replica of the original fort stands on the grounds as the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center.

“The rebuilt fort is adjacent to a modern interpretive center in the wooded Missouri River Valley,” said Kim

Dakotas Meeting Guide

Schmidt, public relations and digital communications manager for North Dakota Tourism. “The center provides an overview of the Lewis and Clark expedition, with an emphasis on the time spent at Fort Mandan during the winter of 1804-1805.”

Groups can explore the center to see authentic artifacts or book a guided tour through the interpretive center and the reconstructed Fort Mandan. Both sites are available for meetings and events. The Lodge Classroom inside Fort Mandan can hold 75 people maximum, and the interpretive center’s two rooms can host 180 and 12 people, respectively. www.fortmandan.com

Historic Fargo Theatre Fargo, North Dakota

An Art Deco theater built in 1926, the Historic Fargo Theatre opened as a cinema and vaudeville house.

Throughout the years, the theater has hosted numerous film icons and celebrities, including Babe Ruth, Janet Leigh and Tom Mix, many making guest appearances onstage. The theater was placed on the National Register of Historical Places in 1999 and now operates as a firstrun cinema for independent and foreign films 364 days a year.

“The theater brings the best of independent and art films to the Red River Valley,” said Kim Schmidt, public relations and digital communications manager for North Dakota Tourism. “There is a weekend midnight movie series, a classic-film series and silent-movie nights.”

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Courtesy ND Tourism Division

Interpreters at Fort Mandan share the site’s Lewis and Clark history.

The best way to soak in the ambiance of this historic theater is by taking in a show, a movie or a live concert, but the two auditoriums on-site are also available for rent for corporate and private parties. The theater is not available as a venue for weddings or political campaign events.

Every March, the theater hosts the annual Fargo Film Festival, bringing together film lovers and filmmakers from around the world.

The Fargo Theatre also hosts a variety of live events such as concerts, album release events and guest speakers. www.fargotheatre.org

Old Courthouse Museum Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Built in 1889, Sioux Falls’ Richardsonian Romanesque courthouse was originally constructed of native Sioux pink quartzite stone, a popular building material in the late 1880s. The building is a National Historic Landmark and is still home to the original 1893 clock tower.

The courthouse was used for official county business until the early 1960s and was then placed on a demolition list to make room for a parking lot. Locals and passionate fans campaigned to save the courthouse, and in 1974, their cries were heard. The building was converted into the Old Courthouse Museum, one of the two Siouxland Heritage Museums in Sioux Falls. The exterior is stunning on its own, but inside, visitors can explore the slate stairs, the granite pillars and the stained-glass windows.

“Visitors will also see murals painted from 1915 to 1917 that detail early life in Dakota Territory,” said Keegan Carda, global media and public relations representative for the Department of Tourism with Travel South Dakota.

Visitors can tour the museum for free during regular operating hours. The museum is also available for rent for small meetings and events, including weddings and receptions. Available venues include the courtroom, the law library, the first floor hallway, and the outdoor Reardon Plaza. www.siouxlandmuseums.com

Old Brewery Yankton, South Dakota

In the early 1900s, the Schwenk-Barth Brewing Company’s Rosebud beer slogan — “A beer a day will make you healthy” — rang out from the company’s headquarters at the corner of Second and Walnut in

November 2018

Yankton, South Dakota. Although the claim that beer is a health tonic has since faded, little about this historic building has changed. Built of sturdy concrete, brick and steel, the Old Brewery stands tall next to the old Meridian Bridge and Water Plaza.

“Yankton and the rest of South Dakota have carried on the proud tradition of brewing beer with breweries in every corner of the state,” said Keegan. “Yankton has Ben’s Brewing, which buys its hops from a farm just a few miles away.”

Although the Old Brewery ceased brewing beer after World War II, when the facility was used to brew an industrial alcohol for the government, it’s now acting as a holding tank for memorable meetings and events inside its Barley Room and Rosebud Room. The space features 26-foot ceilings and exposed brick walls with 20-foot-high windows overlooking the water plaza and the historic walking bridge.

The venue provides all the tablecloths, chair covers, napkins and catering. It has space for up to 800 guests. www.theriverfronteventcenter.com/brewery

First Gold Gaming Resort Deadwood, South Dakota

Built on the actual site of the first gold discovery that occurred in Deadwood Gulch in 1875, the First Gold Gaming Resort has one of the richest histories in the state. When the First Gold Gaming Resort opened in 1990, it did so with 32 hotel rooms, one suite, live table games and slot machines, and an on-site restaurant that served a 19-ounce T-bone steak for $4.95 and offered breakfast for 79 cents.

Today, the complex has grown to include 11 casinos and 190 deluxe hotel rooms, with five luxury suites, and a restaurant that serves three lavish buffets daily.

“First Gold Gaming Resort is directly across the street from the location where the first nuggets of gold were panned in Whitewood Creek in Deadwood Gulch in 1875,” said Kim Morris, marketing director for the First Gold Gaming Resort. “First Gold is celebrating its 28th anniversary this September.”

There are two meeting and banquet rooms on the First Gold property, including the Terrace Banquet Room, with a 200-person capacity, and the Gold Room, with an 80-person capacity. Both rooms include free Wi-Fi and state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment with podiums and speaker systems. Catering is available on-site, and guests have access to the public buffets for breakfast, lunch and dinner. www.firstgold.com

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