Small Market Meetings November/December 2022

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SMALL MARKET MEETINGS is published monthly by Pioneer Publishing, Inc., 301 E. High St., Lexington, KY 40507, and is distributed free of charge to qualified meeting planners who plan meetings in small and medium size towns and cities. All other meeting industry suppliers may subscribe by sending a check for $39 for one year to: Small Market Meetings, Circulation Department, 301 East High St., Lexington, KY 40507. Phone (859) 356-5128 (toll-free) or (859) 253-0503. 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.

Courtesy Shepherdsville/Bullitt County

(Planning your next event in Kearney is no gamble.)

(Planning your next event in Kearney is no gamble.)

Kearney, where the Heartland gathers.

Kearney, where the Heartland gathers.

every event is a win!

every event is a win!

Why? Because Kearney has the best facilities between Denver and Omaha, and experienced staff that make sure every event is a win!

Why? Because Kearney has the best facilities between Denver and Omaha, and experienced staff that make sure every event is a win!

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

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

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

WheretheHeartlandGathers.com | 308-237-3178

If you’re looking for a host city for your next event, make sure you look at Kearney, Nebraska. WheretheHeartlandGathers.com | 308-237-3178

WheretheHeartlandGathers.com | 308-237-3178

WheretheHeartlandGathers.com | 308-237-3178

IN SIGHTS

WITH VICKIE MITCHELL

GRAND OPENINGS

Hotel development has not been on hiatus, and a number of properties that opened in 2022 will be of in terest to meeting planners. These new options will give planners and their audienc es something to look forward to after several years of feeling hamstrung and homebound by the pandemic. Here’s a look at five new properties in smaller meeting destinations.

These new hotels present exciting opportunities for meetings

Two hotels become one in Knoxville

In 2019, a real estate firm bought an old Holiday Inn in downtown Knoxville and an adjacent hotel, the Tennessean. The result, opened early this year, is the Marriott Downtown Knoxville, a 302-room ho tel that overlooks the site of the 1982 World’s Fair. The two buildings are linked by Maker Exchange, a 12,000-square-foot gathering place where guests can sit around a large fireplace and dine in a local restau rant, bar and coffee shop. Six hotel meeting rooms total 17,746 square feet of meeting space and include a 10,000-square-foot ballroom. One of the meeting spaces features garage-style doors that can be flung open to an adjacent, private part of the park. The hotel is easy to find — just look for the golden globe high above the city, one of the iconic structures that remain from the World’s Fair.

Greenville gets its Grand Bohemian

Fans of the Grand Bohemian in Asheville, North Caro lina, will be happy to know its sister property has opened a few miles south, just over the state line in Greenville, South Carolina. Downtown Greenville, already blessed with dynamic hotels, has added another to the list with the opening of the Grand Bohemian Lodge Greenville, part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection. It’s on prime real estate next to the Reedy River, which cuts a tumbling, waterfall-interrupted pathway through town and is one of the finest linear parks around. The Grand Bohemian let nature inspire its design, from white antler chandeliers in its 1,872-square-foot ballroom to a massive cobble stone fireplace in its lobby. An open-air bourbon bar and restaurant overlook the river; an event lawn lets meet ings easily move outdoors. The 187-room luxury hotel also has an art gallery, wine room, library and spa.

Elvis fans trek to Tupelo

Elvis enthusiasts will petition to take the next board meet ing to Tupelo’s new and first-ever downtown boutique hotel, Hotel Tupelo. While it’s not all about Elvis, it does give nods to the native son. For example, door hangers read “Recording in Progress,” and its King’s Suite has plenty of Elvis photos and mementos. The 79 guest rooms have all the niceties and mid century style modern furnishings, all the rage in Elvis’ heyday. Meeting spaces are small but feel spacious thanks to large windows and include a meeting room for 46, a private din ing room for 25 and a balcony space overlooking city streets. Bikes are free and fun for self-guided Elvis tours. Local touch es include guest room coffee mugs made by a local potter; Tupelo River Coffee on brew; a Blue Delta jeans booth; and samples from Queen’s Reward meadery, the state’s first me adery. Guests can convene in a roomy bar and lounge to play shuffleboard, chess, checkers and board games.

Montage is minutes from Yellowstone

The accurately named town of Big Sky has finally scored a luxury resort, the Montage Big Sky. Guests never forget how lucky they are to be staying there thanks to the omnipresent windows that reveal big skies and the Span ish Peaks mountain range. A mix of guest rooms, suites and residences total 139 rooms, and a number of meetings spaces cater to corporate events like a large boardroom, multiple executive rooms and a 5,080-square-foot divisi ble ballroom. If a 10,000-square-foot spa isn’t enough to fill free time, there is also ski-in/ski-out access to Big Sky Resort, nearby fly-fishing rivers, golf and private jeep tours of Yellowstone National Park, less than an hour away. With six dining options at the resort, there’s no need to go else where. Drinks and appetizers come with glowing sunset views in the Alpenglow lobby bar; Beartooth bar blends craft beers with bowling, darts and arcade games.

New lodge for Ohio’s favorite park

Ohio’s favorite state park finally has a lodge with overnight guest rooms and meeting space. When Hocking Hills State Park Lodge and Conference Center opened in October, it was the first time the state had opened a new lodge in 30 years. This one seems way overdue, given that Hocking Hills is a hands-down favorite, chock full of trails, cliffs, caves, gorges and wa terfalls. The new lodge has 81 guest rooms and suites, a full-service restau rant, a pub, indoor and outdoor pools, and for meetings, a 2,000-square-foot divisible ballroom and additional flexi ble small meeting spaces. The existing 40 two-bedroom cabins have also been renovated. Among the premier recep tion spots is the Grand Terrace, with its commanding views of the 2,356-acre park, which is located about an hour southeast of Columbus.

PLANNERS INVEST IN FUTURE SUCCESS AT SMALL MARKET MEETINGS CONFERENCE

BY HERB SPARROW

Tami Maynard-Griffin of Lithonia, Georgia, near At lanta had booked several meetings for associations from previous Small Market Meetings Conferences. After more than 20 years working with associations, May nard-Griffin started her own company, Griffin Event Management Service (GEMS), this year and was back at the 2022 Small Market Meetings Confer ence, October 2-4 in Wichita, Kansas, looking for more business.

“It is an opportunity to look at destinations you may not have information about,” she said. “You meet new people and get to think outside the box.”

Maynard-Griffin was one of 70 meeting planners who attended the three-day conference, where they had various opportunities to meet with more than 150 representatives of destinations, convention centers, attractions and hotels that are looking to build their meeting business back after the COVID interruption.

REBOUNDING BUSINESS

“It is starting to come back,” said Teresa Chamley, regional sales manager for Younes Hospitality, which operates the Younes Center in Kearney, Nebraska. “Peo ple are very happy about meeting in person. It is getting back to normal.”

“I’m looking for new business,” said Alison Walker of the Classic Center in Ath ens, Georgia. “I am trying to bring corporations back. I am making good connec tions.”

In addition to scheduling up to 60 six-minute appointments during two mar ketplaces in the Century II Performing Arts Center and Convention Center, the meeting planners were able to network and make connections at meal functions in the adjoining Hyatt Regency Hotel, go on sightseeing tours and attend two evening functions sponsored by Visit Wichita.

Walker said she had gotten three good leads in her first four appointments at the marketplace.

The conference also was an educational experience for both the meeting plan

KEYNOTE SPEAKER BUD GEISSLER

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

CO NFERENCE

BUSINESS DURING MARKETPLACE

HERE'S A TASTY MORSEL

SUSIE SANTO, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF VISIT WICHITA, WELCOMES DELEGATES

VISIT WICHITA PULLS OUT ALL THE STOPS

All photos by Herb Sparrow, unless noted

CO NFERENCE

ners and the industry representatives, which will hopefully lead to future business together.

“It is an opportunity to introduce Bowling Green and the mu seum and to find out what their needs are,” said Debbie Eaton of the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. “I find there are a lot of unusual associations I never knew existed. It is an education for me.”

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

Allison Popadyn of the Dayton, Ohio, Convention and Visitors Bureau was attending her first Small Market Meetings Conference.

“I am building relationships and getting to know meeting plan ners,” she said. “I am breaking the ice and telling them about meet ings in Dayton.”

Another first-timer, Stephanie Murray of the Campbell County Convention and Visitors Bureau in Gillette, Wyoming, said every one had been great to her.

“If I have a question, they are very knowledgeable,” she said.

“It’s about getting to know different destinations and players,” said Lisa-Beth Lauck, manager of global accounts for HelmsBriscoe in St. Petersburg, Florida. “It’s getting knowledge and meeting new suppliers.”

“I’m looking for new opportunities,” said Julie Hewett of JulNet Solutions in Huntington, West Virginia. “I like the consistency of who shows up. I see people I know and want to continue to do busi ness with.”

“I enjoy the intimacy,” said Martisha LaCroix, owner of LaCroix Events in State Park, South Carolina. “It is not overwhelming. I get

to see smaller destinations that are not highlighted as much.”

EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE

Bud Geissler of Group Collect of St. Augustine, Florida, opened the conference with a keynote address about using technology to help with marketing.

Geissler noted that while many people have a love/hate relation ship with technology, they can utilize it to provide flexibility, en hance education and find new ways to generate revenue. It also can level the playing field, with “all having access to the same technology as larger operators.”

“What we do changes people’s lives, and technology makes us do it better,” he said.

Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple welcomed the delegates after Geissler’s address.

The second day of the conference featured a breakfast sponsored by Visit Williamsburg, Virginia, the morning marketplace, a lun cheon sponsored by Great Zion Convention and Tourism Office, and Wittwer Hospitality and options for five sightseeing tours in the afternoon.

The conference concluded with a breakfast sponsored by the Val ley Forge Tourism and Convention Board, another marketplace and a luncheon sponsored by Cedar Rapids, Iowa, which will host the 2023 Small Market Meetings Conference September 27-29.

“We are over the moon about hosting the conference,” said Julie Stow, associated executive director of the Cedar Rapids Tourism Of fice. “We are excited to show off our community. The opening night will be spectacular.”

MEETING OLD FRIENDS

WICHITA MAYOR BRANDON WHIPPLE

JEN AND JANINE WELCOME LENA

YEAR IN CEDAR RAPIDS

JANINE AND JOHN KOON ENJOY THE FIRST-NIGHT EVENT

JEREMIAH AND CASSIE LIGHT THE WAY

GO AHEAD AND PET HIM

TALKING BUSINESS

CO NFERENCE

IMAGINATIVE SPONSORS

Sponsorships are a great way for the travel industry to reach delegates at a conference and they are only limited by their imagination.

“Lots of things give value,” said Small Market Meetings co-founder Char lie Presley.

For example, all delegates to the 2022 Small Market Meetings Conference received special key cards to their rooms at the host Hyatt Regency Wichita. Both sides were color photos of Lake Charles, Louisiana, whose convention and visitors bureau sponsored the cards. Every time a delegate entered their room, they were reminded of Lake Charles.

Destination Irvine, California, put a creative twist on its registration sponsorship with a margarita booth that provided a cool welcome to delegates as they registered.

The Greater Zion Convention and Tourism Office, the site of the 2024 Small Mar ket Meetings Conference, co-sponsored the Monday luncheon with Wittwer Hospitality. However, when Jacqueline Grena of Greater Zion took the stage, she didn’t show the usual video extolling her destinations attractions.

Instead, she had the audience participate in a 25-question quiz about Greater Zion. Delegates scanned a large QR code on the video screen and then played the quiz on their phones. Each question gave a detail about Greater Zion, located in southwest Utah near Zion National Park.

The three delegates who answered the most questions took part in a contest for a free trip for two to the Greater Zion area. The winner, Sarah Focke, tourism and convention sales manager for the Kearney, Nebraska Visitors Bureau, was the first to don full length waders and large boots that are used to hike the Narrows in Zion National Park, which can involve wading in water up to your waist.

“I like to push the envelope a little and it definitely paid off,” said Grena. “People were incredibly engaged during the entire game, and it was still a great way to provide valuable information about our destination but in a new way.”

There are numerous opportunities for sponsors at the Small Market Meetings Con ference, from the traditional delegate badges and portfolios (Explore Branson) to phone charging stations (Springfield, Illinois CVB) and floor stepping-stone graphics leading from the hotel to the convention center (Visit Ogden, Visit Henderson, Discover Davis) or on the marketplace floor (Visit Lubbock, Visit Las Cruces).

A popular event on the closing day is the annual auction for prizes using “$100 bills” passed out by various sponsors at their booths. This year’s auction, sponsored by Destina tion Lake Winnebago Region in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, had a new twist — the bidding was for surprise gifts. The successful bidders didn’t know what they had won until the auction was over.

The Iowa Travel Industry Partners gave away Starbucks gift cards at their booth.

The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development went high tech and had an adver tisement on the convention’s mobile app.

Destinations also had the opportunity to promote themselves in a Destinations Showcase prior to the start of each day’s marketplace. This year’s showcase sponsors were Visit Chey enne, Meet Kansas, Explore Utah Valley, Visit Henderson, the Kearney Visitors Bureau and ASM Global, which manages hundreds of conventions centers around the world, including the Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center where the conference was held.

JULIA SMYTH-YOUNG EXTOLLS VISIT WILLIAMSBURG

DRESSED TO WIN

REFRESHMENT FROM DESTINATION IRVINE

MEETING AND DINING

QUIZMASTER JACQUELINE KEEPER OF THE PLAINS

DOING BUSINESS DURING MARKETPLACE

HAPPY WINNERS

STEVE, TISHA AND KYLE

WICHITA SHINES ON SIGHTSEEING TOURS

Martisha LaCroix of LaCroix Events in State Park, South Carolina, had never been to Kansas before attending the 2022 Small Market Meetings Conference in Wichita. She liked what she saw.

“It allowed me to experience the host city as a visitor,” said LaCroix. “I now know how to use that to sell the city.”

The host, Visit Wichita, went all out to provide that experience.

“It was a great couple of days to get meeting planners to experience Wichita firsthand,” said Susie Santo, president and CEO of Visit Wichita, the city’s convention and visitors bureau.

“When people come to Wichita, they are so surprised. That is what we are hearing. We gave a sneak peek of Wichita to get the planners excited about bringing meetings here. It was an opportunity to highlight our city.”

That began with a bang with an opening night at the Tanganyika Wildlife Park, where delegates fed lemurs, giraffes and kangaroos and even petted a porcupine (they actually feel soft with their needles laying back). The evening included food and a dance band.

“The event was a good networking experience,” said Debbie Eaton of the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. “I met new people and saw people from last year.”

The event inspired Sue Mandell of Better Me Solutions in Goodyear, Arizona, who organizes two-day training sessions in leadership and communications for law enforcement, corporations and schools.

“I like to have activities in the middle, such as last night,” Mandell said.

The second night’s function offered appetizers at the eclectic Museum of World Treasures, followed by more food and dueling pianos across the street at the River City Brewing Co. in Wichita’s Old Town. Afterward, delegates were taken to the iconic 44-foot-tall Keeper of the Plains statue at the confluence of the Arkansas and Little Arkansas rivers, where they witnessed the lighting of firepots at the foot of the statue.

Delegates were fresh off options for sightseeing tours that afternoon that gave them a further taste of what Kansas’ largest city has to offer. Among their options were a dessert tour of local sweet shops, the city’s booming brewery scene, a tour of the world-class Sedgwick County Zoo or a behindthe-scenes look at the sparkling new Double-A baseball stadium.

“We were so thrilled to host the meeting planners,” said Santo.

SILENT AUCTION

HEADING TO THE ZOO

Photos courtesy Visit Wichita

POSING WITH SURGE

WHITE CROW CIDER COMPANY

MEETING LEADERS

MARYANN KRISOVITCH

BY REBECCA TREON

Growing up in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains, Maryann Krisovitch was surrounded by the beautiful scenery the area is known for — including the numerous lakes dotting the landscape. She got her first taste of working in hospitality at one of the local resorts beloved by honeymooners.

“It had the champagne glass towers and heart-shaped tubs and all of that,” said Kriso vitch. “I was going to Penn State and learning the hospitality industry from the inside out. I worked my way up through the spa, the night club, and finally ended up at the front desk — and all these years later, it gives me perspective in planning meetings and working with hotel staff, to see their perspective as well.”

After graduation, Krisovitch, a self-de scribed extrovert, wanted to escape the snow and cold of the Northeastern winters and live someplace that fit her sunny disposition. She chose the Sunshine State. She became a Florida master gardener, which led to her po sition as a volunteer coordinator for the St. Johns River Water Management District and an environmental educator in Lake County. It was there that she connected with the Florida Lake Management Society.

“One thing led to another, and it has all been connected,” she said. “I love being able to share knowledge and resources.”

Krisovitch started working with the Flori da State Management Society as an administrative assistant, helping register attendees for conferences, but as she took on more respon sibilities, she moved into different roles. Today, she is the executive director of the Society of Lake Management Professionals, the Flor

ida Lake Management Society and the North Carolina Lake Management Society — and coordinates events and meetings for all three.

With so many irons in the fire, Krisovitch relies on hotels and resorts to put meeting packages together, then consults with the lo cal convention and visitors bureau to source great options for unusual off-site events so at tendees can best enjoy a destination. The big gest priority in her role is to welcome guests as if they were family.

“The camaraderie and the friendship — the way you make people feel when they come to your event — is what people remem ber,” said Krisovitch. “I want people to say, ‘I learned a lot and there was awesome net working, but they made me feel at home even though it was my first time there.’”

Another priority for Kristovitch’s is strate gic communication. Since each organization is different, their communication needs vary, and the leader’s communications strategy has to keep up with changing trends — from newsletter to emails, social media to podcasts.

“We need to customize our communica tion to have member retention,” she said. “I’ve also found working with small market meet ing destinations is something I love — they’re able to offer personalized service and can work within tight budgets with great results.”

Krisovitch didn’t set out looking for an executive director position at three organiza tions. Rather, she kept doing what came nat urally to her and let the acquired skills lead from one thing to the next.

“For people who are just starting out, don’t be afraid to start small,” she said. “Eventually you’ll figure out what you’re really good at, and that's the niche you stay in, and that’s the key.”

EXECUTIVE PROFILE

NAME Maryann Krisovitch

TITLE Executive Director

ORGANIZATION Society of Lake Management Professionals

LOCATION Clermont, Florida

BIRTHPLACE Scranton, Pennsylvania

EDUCATION

B.S. from Penn State 1988

CAREER HISTORY

• Administrative assistant, Florida Lake Management Society: 2005-2016

• Executive director, Florida Lake Management Society: 2016-present

• Executive director, Society of Lake Management Professionals: 2020-present

• Executive director, North Carolina Lake Management Society: 2021-present

“I’ve also found working with small market meeting destinations is something I love — they’re able to offer personalized service and can work within tight budgets with great results.”

TIPS FROM MARYANN KRISOVITCH

• Attend association executive meetings and networking events. You’ll always learn something new.

• Think outside the ballroom. You don’t have to have all your meals and breaks in the same location.

• Talk to the CVB and hotel staff about small local vendors near your event.

MARYANN KRISOVITCH, CENTER, POSES WITH MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA LAKE MANAGEMENT SOCIETY DURING AN EVENT IN KEY WEST.

Turning Up the Feedback

VETERAN PLANNERS SHARE TIPS ON POST-EVENT SURVEYS

BY RACHEL CRICK

Though they often take a backseat to planning an event, surveys are among the most important tools in an event planner’s toolbox. Post-conference surveys that gather feedback from attendees of an event, conference or meeting can help planners evaluate its strengths and weaknesses, determine their return on investment (ROI) and prepare for even more successful events to come. However, planners may be unsure of what constitutes the most valuable feedback, how to analyze their data or how to get attendees to respond in the first place.

We spoke to survey experts to learn about best practices in postevent questionnaires. Here’s what they had to say.

DRIVING ATTENDEE RESPONSE RATES

Driving up attendee response rates to post-conference surveys should be one of the top priorities for planners, because even the best-de signed survey is meaningless if no one takes it.

The first way experts recommend improving survey response rates is to make them less daunt ing to complete by keeping them short and simple.

“People don’t have time or interest in doing long surveys,” said Kyle Jordan, director of meet ings at Informs, an international association for professionals in analytics and operations research.

Jordan says he strives for respondents to only spend an average of three minutes on his postevent surveys. Limiting the number of questions or making long-form responses optional is a way to make sure attendees aren’t overwhelmed or put off by the length of the survey.

Another way to boost response rates is ensur ing the survey is as accessible as possible. Digital surveys tend to be easier and more convenient to complete than paper. Putting up a QR code or link on a screen is an easy way for attendees to access it with little hassle. If the event has an app, putting the survey in-app is another way to make it convenient.

Timing can also be an important factor in de termining how many attendees respond. Setting aside a couple minutes at the end of a session or program can encourage them to take the survey while the information is still fresh in their minds rather than sending it out weeks later.

“You want to make sure people answer the survey and take the time to do it, and usually after

Valerie Bihet

FOUNDER Vibe Agency

Experience: 22 years

“We look at everything and then we adjust. Those surveys help you to clarify a point.”

Kyle Jordan

the event is done, sometimes they don't take the time,” said Valerie Bihet, founder and owner of Vibe Agency, a virtual event production and destination management company.

Finally, offering an incentive to respond to a survey may be an other way to increase the number of attendees who answer. Howev er, the incentive should be something attendees perceive as truly re warding. Large rewards, like a gift card or being entered in a drawing to win a cruise may work better than cheap company swag.

An even bigger incentive may be letting participants know their responses matter and have directly influenced the program they’re attending. If they recognize the impact their responses can have, completing a survey feels like something worthwhile.

“The best way that we’ve gotten people to respond is by letting them know last year’s survey results mattered, and we made changes because of it,” said Liz Lathan, co-founder of Haute Companies, a collection of brands that encompass services from advertising to event planning.

ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS

To get the most useful data, planners need to know what to ask in their surveys. Each event has many components and countless pieces of infor mation to ask attendees about, so planners need to know what counts and what can be left out.

Rather than asking about the logistics or ev ery single detail of the event, planners should ask questions about the event on a larger scale.

Asking about things like an event’s communi cation, content and relevance is “more valuable than asking if they liked any piece of it because opinions are going to be varied,” said Lathan.

In other words, there’s always going to be someone who wasn’t impressed by small aspects of the event — like the catering — so it’s not help ful to ask about those specifics. Gauging how at tendees feel broadly about an event is what allows planners to analyze trends, learn what’s import ant to attendees and evaluate the event’s ROI.

Planners can use existing survey models to help them determine this. One common model is the Net Promoter Score, or NPS, model. This model measures the general satisfaction of attend ees based on whether they would recommend it.

Recommending an event is very personal, said Jordan, who uses NPS model survey questions in his post-event surveys. “You don't recommend some thing to somebody unless you think it's really good.”

Another model for post-event survey ques tions is a relatively new concept derived from a

On analyzing survey results: “Our job is to figure out what we are missing and how to improve in that area.”

MANAGING

Kenner. The best deal for

research study designed by Lathan’s company to determine which emotions produce a good environment for generating business and revenue. This model, return on emotion (ROE), measures how well an event makes attendees feel five key emotions that contribute to this environment. A survey that uses the ROE model asks attendees to rate how hopeful, adventurous, accepted, active and motivated they felt during the event on a scale of one to 10. The scores are av eraged to determine if the event was a success.

“ROE is a predictor of future business,” said Lathan. “Did we cre ate an environment where business is likely to happen?”

APPLY THE RESULTS

The main purpose of post-conference surveys is to evaluate an event and determine what changes can be made to ensure a higher ROI in the future.

“You [use] the survey and feedback to see how you can improve to make a better event next time,” said Bihet.

If a survey allows attendees to add comments, they may identify specific components they’d like to be different. However, even if a survey uses a model to assess broad trends within a program, the data can still be interpreted and applied in specific ways.

“What we can do is look at those important key drivers and key influencers that help people make decisions about why they attend,” said Jordan. “If we’re not performing well in those areas, how do we take actionable steps to improve in that area?”

For example, if a survey uses the ROE model, the score in each emotion category can tell you which components of the event went over well and which were lacking. If the event receives high ratings in the hope and motivation categories, it’s likely the content or key note speaker resonated well with the audience. However, low ratings in the adventure category may mean a more exciting agenda is nec essary for future events.

Consistently using surveys is important because it helps measure progress over time. If ratings improve year after year, it means plan ners are doing something right.

“When looking at a successful evaluation, if you’re not consistent, what’s the point,” said Jordan. “You can’t benchmark.”

Event planners are not the only ones who can benefit from an alyzing survey results. Sharing the data with stakeholders can help them determine which attendees would be open to future interac tions with them. Sales and marketing teams are more likely to reach successful outcomes with participants who rated the event favorably rather than poorly. Conversely, if the surveys aren’t anonymous and they want to make it up to attendees who rated the event poorly, sales and marketing teams can reach out to them to mitigate the damage and see if they can salvage the relationship.

It’s also good practice to share information with vendors, spon sors and venues if the feedback is relevant to them. If a respondent gives feedback about the hotel or conference center, providing them with the details is courteous and can foster a better relationship for future collaboration.

next get together.

Watertown: Small but mighty in South Dakota

BY VICKIE MITCHELL

Step into the Watertown Regional Airport’s new $10 million terminal, and it’s likely you’ll catch a whiff of award-winning Dempsey’s pizza that’s being baked at the local restaurant’s new airport location.

The aroma and bright terminal make for a pleasing welcome to Watertown, a town of 22,000 located 90 minutes north of Sioux Falls on I-29. Flights from Denver and Chicago arrive each day, and there’s hope air service will expand even more because of the new, larger terminal.

Improved air transportation is one hint that Watertown is a progressive place. Another is the $5 million renovation of downtown’s 1889 Goss Opera House. Reopened in 2020 after being idle 70 years, the Goss is a glittering performing arts center as well as a dazzling events space. The Reliabank Theater has the latest in sound and lighting and an open floor plan for 275 at rounds or 500 theaterstyle. There are also small meeting spaces, including suites furnished with couches and chairs for brainstorming or enjoying downtown views.

Downtown is definitely worth a wander. Among the highlights is ArtWalk, a display of 15 to 20 sculptures along city streets. The sculptures are changed each May. Pelican Lake and Lake Kampeska flanking the city, drawing fishermen and boaters.

RAMKOTA SERVES AS HEADQUARTERS

The 101-room Ramkota Hotel, attached to the 32,000-square-foot Water town Event Center, is the logical headquarters hotel for larger conferences, such as the Red Angus Association of America, which met there recently. Visit Water town helps coordinate transportation from the city’s other 700 hotel rooms, most located within a few minutes’ drive of the Ramkota.

CREATIVE AND QUIRKY

Venues like Joy Ranch and Redlin Art Center are places that tell Watertown’s story in different ways.

The 125-acre Joy Ranch has long focused on using equine therapy to help people who are troubled. It is also a popular meeting site, largely because its 1880 replica Old West town provides many possibilities, from a 250-person dining hall, where boots and saddles hang overhead, to 16 guest rooms with Western themes. Even the Old West town’s main street is an event option; South Dakota’s governor was a guest at an open-air dinner there. Guests can also fish or swim in the lake, walk winding trails, take horse-drawn wagon rides or, on cool evenings, gather around one of 13 fireplaces in the Western town.

Since the Redlin Art Center opened in 1997, with free admission always, more than 2 million people have admired 150 original paintings by the late Terry Redlin, who grew up in Watertown and became a favorite for his wildlife pieces and works depicting Midwestern life. The center’s 30-acre conservation park, a nod to Terry’s love of nature, has at its heart an octagonal pavilion enlivened with Redlin’s art, lighted by ample windows. It’s a favorite for events of up to 250 and a perfect place to appreciate Watertown’s natural side.

RAISING THE STAKES

These casinos have invested in expanding meeting space

BY RACHEL CRICK

Planning an event at a casino is anything but a gamble. With plenty of meeting space, dining and entertainment to offer attendees, casinos are impressive and distinctive venues for many meetings and events. Their combination of luxury accommo dations and exciting amenities make them the per fect places for both work and play.

These five casino resorts have undergone multi million dollar renovations to give their facilities im pressive makeovers. Each facility’s chic décor, brand

new dining options and upgraded gaming rooms are sure to elevate the experience even further for attendees and planners alike.

YAAMAVA’ RESORT AND CASINO HIGHLAND, CALIFORNIA

What was once the San Manuel Casino in High land, California, has now been expanded and re branded to become Yaamava’ Resort and Casino at San Manuel, named for the Serrano word for spring to signify its transformation and growth.

Located just an hour south of Los Angeles, this 17-story hotel reopened in late 2021 after a $760 million renovation and is packed with opportuni ties for recreation and leisure. Decorated with warm earth tones and modern finishes throughout, its luxurious guest rooms, posh pool deck and intimate meeting rooms make this casino resort an excellent destination for small to midsized meetings, retreats and gatherings. However, the expansive options for gaming and entertainment are what set it apart; it features over 7,000 slot machines, 150 table games, five high-limit rooms and a 3,000-seat arena that hosts live entertainment every week.

Above: Yaamava’ Resort and Casino in California unveiled a $760 million renovation in 2021.

Courtesy Yaamava’ Resort Casino

The resort has two meeting rooms that can seat from 25-88 attendees theater-style. Events can also be hosted outside on the resort’s 8,000-square-foot pool deck. A selection of lounges and restaurants are avail able for banquets and receptions, such as the Y Lounge, which can seat up to 125 at a banquet. The Pines Mod ern Steakhouse, one of the resort’s fine dining options, serves as a sophisticated venue for banquets and can seat up to 40 attendees.

Yaamava.com

WILD HORSE PASS RESORT AND CASINO CHANDLER, ARIZONA

Located on the Gila River Indian Reservation just south of Phoenix, the Wild Horse Pass Resort and Ca sino revealed its updated interior and new amenities at the beginning of 2022. The $180 million renovation and expansion incorporated plenty of extra space with a new tower that added 205 guest rooms overlooking the surrounding desert. Other additions include the rooftop restaurant Prime Shula’s Steakhouse, which turns into a

cocktail lounge in the evening, and two new pools. Cos metic details such as the lobby’s towering bucking horse sculpture, art from the Gila River Indian Community and a new chandelier add to the resort’s luxurious aes thetic. On the casino side, the renovation also included improvements to the high-limit salon, in addition to its table games and slot machines.

The resort has two elegantly furnished ballrooms, one of which has automobile access, for a combined 20,000 square feet. It also features a showroom with a stage and theater seating for up to 1,400 attendees. Other prominent spaces include the resort’s four breakout rooms, its patio and a 7,000-square-foot lawn. The resort’s full catering menu offers a range of options, from reception-style hors d’oeuvres to breakfast buffets to plated dinners. Other amenities that set Wild Horse Pass apart are its complimentary parking and its lack of a resort fee.

“We have a little bit of everything here,” said Dan iela Vizcarra, public relations manager at Gila Riv er’s Wild Horse Pass. “You can have the professional space, but there are lots of things to do for fun as well.”

playatgila.com

Clockwise from left: The Yaamava’ Resort Casino exterior; Tunica’s Gold Strike Casino Resort; a steakhouse meal at Gold Strike

Courtesy Gold Strike Casino Resort

Courtesy Gold Strike Casino Resort

Courtesy Yaamava’ Resort Casino

IDEAS

OCEAN CASINO RESORT ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY

With views of the Atlantic Ocean and its striking architecture, Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey, is an upscale choice of venue for an East Coast meeting. The resort features 20 beachfront acres, a reflective glass exterior and sophisticated, contemporary furnishings that combine to make it a chic, glamorous backdrop to any event.

The massive property recently unveiled $85 million worth of developments, including the addition of 460 rooms and suites, a bar and lounge, and additional retail and dining options. An award-winning 40,000-squarefoot spa allows attendees to relax during their downtime, while the 1,700-plus slot machines and 122 gam ing tables ensure there’s no shortage of fun after hours.

The resort features an impressive 160,000 square feet of space for any event, from small retreats to in ternational conferences or trade shows. The resort’s 20 think tanks and boardrooms, each equipped with audiovisual equipment, are perfect for breakout ses sions and board meetings. The 70,000-square-foot

Ovation Hall and Conference Center spans one level, has 30,000 square feet of columnless space and can seat up to 80,000 attendees theater-style. Addition ally, there are 90,000 square feet of outdoor space are available, from parks to pool decks, for a relaxed event setting with gorgeous ocean views. theoceanac.com

POTAWATOMI HOTEL AND CASINO MILWAUKEE

The Potawatomi Hotel and Casino is the largest casino in Wisconsin and is just minutes from down town Milwaukee, making it a great choice for Mid western meetings and events. The property is cur rently undergoing a $100 million renovation to its third floor to modernize the gaming space, create a VIP lounge and add Rock and Brews, a restaurant founded by KISS band members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons. The casino features more than 2,500 slot machines, 36 table games and a 500-seat theater that frequently features live entertainment.

Clockwise from left: Potawatomi Hotel and Casino; the pool deck at Ocean Casino Resort; Ocean’s Amada restaurant

Courtesy Ocean Casino Resort

Courtesy Ocean Casino Resort

Courtesy Potawatomi Hotel and Casino

“We have space to accommodate any plan ner’s needs, from a board meeting to a trade show,” said Ryan Amundson, public relations manager at Potawatomi Hotel and Casino.

The property offers 60,000 square feet of meeting space total, including one of Mil waukee’s biggest venues, an event center with 24,000 usable square feet that can seat up to 1,200 banquet-style. This versatile space is furnished with red curtains and a massive chandelier. It serves as a chic backdrop for everything from large conferences to expos.

The Legacy Ballroom can seat 630 for a ban quet or be sectioned off. Seven additional meet ing rooms in the hotel offer sweeping views of downtown Milwaukee, audiovisual equipment and classroom seating for 40-143 attendees. paysbig.com

GOLD STRIKE CASINO RESORT TUNICA, MISSISSIPPI

Situated on the border of Mississippi and Arkansas, Gold Strike Casino Resort can provide both relaxation and excitement to at tendees in the Southeastern market. Known for amenities like its dining and its spa, the resort boasts some exciting upgrades for guests to enjoy.

The recent renovation at Gold Strike Casino Resort elevated the casino experience for all visitors with a $4 million makeover that added a new high limit gaming room. This 7,000-square-foot room comes with a VIP lounge and cocktail service, in addition to its slot machines and table games. Attendees have their choice of five restaurants and end less after-hours entertainment at the resort. The new and improved Spa at Gold Strike offers plenty of stress-relieving services for attendees to enjoy in their downtime, along with a heated pool and fitness center.

The Live Oak Ballroom can seat up to 700 for a reception or up to 600 banquet-style.

The resort also features a theater seating over 750 and four additional meeting rooms that can accommodate groups ranging from 15 to 100 people. The resort also provides for every catering need and a range of tastes for every meal. Themed buffet dinners range from cre ole classics to Southern comfort food to Ca ribbean cuisine.

goldstrike.mgmresorts.com

smallmarketmeetings.com

STOP HAVING BORED MEETINGS.

a more exciting location for your small market meetings? Look no further than Ruston! Our city is the perfect blend of southern hospitality and college town charm. Enjoy unique local cuisine and an after hours “meeting” in our downtown night life scene.

APlains High HUB

Public spaces at the Cotton Court Hotel reflect Lubbock’s rustic Western charm.

All photos courtesy Visit Lubbock

Lubbock is a beacon of opportunity in West Texas

BY KATHERINE TANDY BROWN

West Texas is a land of uninterrupt ed horizons, open sky and broad stretches of flat land known as the High Plains. Agriculture rules here. The fact Lubbock is one of the world’s largest cotton producers often surprises visitors. But accord ing to John Osborne, president and CEO of Visit Lubbock, it’s an important part of the multifaceted personality of “the hub city” of the region.

“We have a strong work ethic from having to work the land,” Osborne said. “We’re a very young community with quite a few educational institu tions: Texas Tech and Texas Christian universities, just to name two. This brings a tremendous vibran cy to Lubbock.”

CITY

LUBBOCK AT A GLANCE

LOCATION: West Texas in the far southern end of the Texas Panhandle

ACCESS: Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport; Interstate 27, U.S. highways 84 and 62/82, and Texas State highways 87 and 114

HOTEL ROOMS: 6,400+

CONTACT INFO: Visit Lubbock 800-692-4035 visitlubbock.org

LUBBOCK MEMORIAL CIVIC CENTER

BUILT: 1977

EXHIBIT SPACE: 40,000 square feet

OTHER MEETING SPACES: exhibit hall (seats almost 5,000), theater (seats 1,377), 14,105-square-foot banquet hall, 12 meeting rooms

MEETING HOTELS

Overton Hotel and Conference Center

GUEST ROOMS: 303 rooms, including 17 suites MEETING SPACE: 20,000 square feet

DoubleTree by Hilton GUEST ROOMS: 140, including six suites MEETING SPACE: 3,803 square feet

MCM Elegante Hotel and Suites

GUEST ROOMS: 295 guest rooms and about 25 suites MEETING SPACE: 14,000 square feet

WHO’S MEETING IN LUBBOCK

Solid Waste Association of North America/Texas Lone Star Chapter

ATTENDEES: 322

Texas Surgical Society

ATTENDEES: 75

International Conference of Police Chaplains ATTENDEES: 64

Destination Highlights

Founded by pioneers in the late 1800s, Lubbock is part of the last settled land in America and currently is undergoing a facelift.

“There’s been a revitalization in our downtown over the past seven years,” said Osborne. “The original city hall building is now our community college. Hotels have been renovated and new ones built. The Cotton Court Hotel used to be a parking lot.”

Through last March, the total investment reached about $400 million, with the new Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences accounting for $150 million of that.

The city is proud of its community focus on creativity and diversity. Its cultural district features the Texas Tech Public Art Collection, which was ranked among the top 10 public art col lections in the nation by Public Art Review.

“The arts in many forms define an important part of our history,” Osborne said, “Lots of musicians began their careers here. Buddy Holly, Waylon Jennings. We have Broadway shows, the symphony, the ballet. We’re seeing a huge expansion of the visual arts. There’s a First Friday Art Trail that brings business to restaurants, galleries and shops.”

Once an old downtown fire station, the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts offers visual, performing and literary arts for all ages. Visitors can craft souvenir pinch pots, vases and pottery here or make screen-printed bags and letter press posters at the Charles Adams Studio Project.

A favorite selfie spot is in front of an enormous painted mu ral of Frida Kahlo on a studio’s façade.

Major Meeting Spaces

Dedicated to the memory of local residents who died in the city’s 1970 tornado, the downtown Lubbock Memorial Civic Cen ter is 40,000 square feet of inspired architecture with a wide variety of gathering spaces. With a hospitality suite adjacent, its exhibit hall can accommodate 185 10-foot-by-10-foot booths. A 28,000-squarefoot walkway connects the center with a pedestrian mall and plaza. An outdoor patio overlooking downtown and a lovely rock garden seats 200.

The center — which hosts the annual National Cowboy Symposium and Celebration — and most Lubbock hotels are a quick 15-minute drive from the airport.

Just steps from Texas Tech University, the Overton Hotel and Confer ence Center is the official hotel of the school’s athletic program and is rife with “Lone Star sass.”

“West Texas is known for warm hospitality,” said Shannon Baker, di rector of sales, “and our superb guest services set us apart.”

Its award-winning, two-level conference center hosts groups of 12 to 1,200, such as state associations, government organizations, industry groups and medical societies. Groups of up to 1,125 can enjoy a reception in its Sunset Ballroom. And the Pecan Grill rocks with live music after Red Raider home games.

In homage to Lubbock’s history, the Cotton Court Hotel was built in the footprint of a cotton gin. This luxury boutique property has more of a retreat feel than a typical hotel.

“Our meeting spaces are bright and airy with lots of windows,” said Jessica Hall, director of sales and marketing. “Attendees step right out into a courtyard with yard games and firepits.”

MAJOR MEETING SPACES

DISTINCTIVE VENUES

Lubbock Memorial Civic Center

Buddy Holly Hall

TO MEET IN LUBBOCK, TEXAS

When considering a destination to host your next event, choose a city that lies west of your expectations. Where the people are as warm as the West Texas sun and hospitality is woven into our blue jeans, attendees and meeting planners alike will find Lubbock, Texas to be an unexpected host city that offers a one-of-a-kind experience. From critically acclaimed cuisine and a prominent wine region to a renowned arts community that boasts unique venues and hands-on activities, Lubbock welcomes groups of all sizes to experience the wild West Texas. Plan your meeting in the 806 today at visitlubbock.org/meet.

The Nicolett

National Ranching Heritage Center

LHUCA Clay Studio

Distinctive Venues

Recently opened, the 200,000-square-foot Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences pays tribute via a permanent exhibit dedicated to Lub bock’s famous native son and one of rock ’n’ roll’s original artists. The gorgeous facility is replete with meeting spaces, including a 2,297-seat, four-level theater, a 6,000-square-foot multipurpose event room for lectures and receptions, and a 100-seat restaurant, Rave On.

A 19-acre historical park with 50-plus authentically re stored ranch structures, the Ranching Heritage Center adds cowboy culture to any board meeting, luncheon or seminar for 22 to 300 people.

Another quintessential High Plains experience, the Fiber Max Center for Discovery tells the history of the region’s food, fiber and fuel through interactive exhibits. Its Plains Cotton Growers Conference Center can accommodate 300, as can a 6,800-square-foot patio at the American Windmill Museum, which tells the story of windmill technology, historically vital to Plains agriculture.

An exquisite outdoor courtyard with vine-covered walls and a tiered waterfall is but one aspect of the Willows Event Center’s 3,200 square feet of space for conferences, meetings, retreats and receptions. Four boardrooms hold 10-14 participants each.

Once home to one of the largest Air Force training bases in the nation, Lubbock welcomes military groups to its Silent Wings Museum, which houses one of but a few fully restored World War II gliders in existence. Another stop is the Vietnam Center and Sam Johnson Vietnam Archive at Texas Tech Uni versity, which tells the story of the American Vietnam Experi ence and Southeast Asia culture. Staff at the latter can person alize the experience for vet groups.

After the Meeting

Ideal for growing wine grapes, the semi-arid Texas High Plains ac counts for more than 90% of the state’s wine grape production. Though the wine industry is young in Texas, the McPherson family has been part of viticulture here for 40-plus years and converted Lubbock’s 1930’s Coca-Cola bottling plant downtown into a thriving urban winery — McPherson Cellars — with a tasting room, lofty interior and outdoor patio.

“With advance notice, we can put together a winemaker’s dinner for a corporate group,” said Thomas Turman, the winery’s executive director.

The partnership of two West Texas families created English Newsome Cellars — Texas Winery of the year in 2020 and 2021. On a wine tour, groups can experience barrel tasting of young wine from an aging barrel and actually meet the winemaker and grape grower.

The handsome, mission-style facility can be rented for up to 250-per son events, while at Llano Estacado Winery groups can take pizza-mak ing and wine-pairing classes.

For suds sippers, the 806 Beer Trail sports numerous craft breweries, including the city’s first nano brewery and a hyperlocal microbrewery. Housed in the historic Pioneer Building, The Brewery LBK in 2021 was named the No. 1 brewpub in the country by USA Today.

Tex-Mex culinary skills are a great take home for attendees and spouses. Evie Mae’s Pit Barbecue offers a west Texas barbecue class, while Hand of the Cook sponsors tortilla making and a taco lunch.

Teams can work off those Tex-Mex calories at 20-acre Adventure Park’s ropes course, zipline, laser maze, miniature golf, bumper boats and go-karts.

AFTER HOURS American Windmill Museum

DISTINCTIVE VENUES

FiberMax Center for Discovery

REACH MEETING PLANNERS IN

FOR

AS CHOOSING

3 ISSUES

JANUARY

Hiring Outside Caterers

Winter Meeting Destinations

The Heartlands Meeting Guide

FEBRUARY

Improving Event Production Sports Meetings

The South Meeting Guide

MARCH

Building CVB Relationships Meetings on the Beach Indiana Meeting Guide

APRIL Airport Transportation Religious Meetings Texas Meeting Guide

MAY Affordable Meetings

Meetings at Colleges & Universities California & Tennessee Meeting Guides

JUNE

Catering to VIPs Convention Centers Kansas Meeting Guide

JULY/AUGUST

The Art of the Board Meeting Outdoor Venues Maryland & Ohio Meeting Guides

ISSUES!

SEPTEMBER

Selecting Off-Site Venues Meetings at Wineries

Arizona Meeting Guide

OCTOBER

Generating Event Publicity

Incentive Meeting Destinations

Illinois & Kentucky Meeting Guides

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

Better Team-Building Meetings at Casinos

Wisconsin & Wyoming Meeting Guides

‘Louisiana’s

SWEET SPOT’

BY TOM ADKINSON

Lake Charles is in a Louisiana sweet spot. Lafayette and New Orleans are to the east, while Beaumont and Houston, Texas, are to the west.

That means Lake Charles is a tasty gumbo of Cre ole, Cajun and cowboy cultures, which explains the abundance of crawfish and boudin and the fact the local universi ty’s athletic teams are the McNeese State Cowboys and Cowgirls. It suits Lake Charles well that the university’s mascot is cowboy named Rowdy and the city’s own costumed mascot is named Gumbo Gator.

Because of three destination casino resorts, municipal meet ing facilities and numerous off-site event spaces, Lake Charles works well for corporate and association meetings.

A broad spectrum of attractions makes Lake Charles appealing, especially for a city the population of which is less than 90,000. It has upscale resorts, excellent cuisine (although that’s not a surprise in Louisiana), challenging golf, rich history and opportunities to get up close and personal with Mother Nature within minutes of a meeting room.

“Lake Charles has ample meeting space for groups looking for a special location,” said Kyle Edmiston, president and CEO of Visit Lake Charles. “Our three resort hotels have all the amenities you’d find in big-city casinos, and with easy access. Meeting spac es, golf, spas, multiple restaurants — it’s a complete experience.”

Because the Gulf of Mexico is so close (open water is only 30 miles away, and Lake Charles is a deep-water port), Europe an dabbling in the Lake Charles region has a long history. Pirate Jean Lafitte frequented the area, paving the way for the two-week Louisiana Pirate Festival every April.

The town itself evolved in the 1850s and 1860s, and in the Louisiana spirit of letting the good times roll, Mardi Gras cel ebrations began here in 1882. Gaming’s arrival in 2005 opened another chapter in Lake Charles’ visitor appeal.

CELEBRATING MARDI GRAS IN LAKE CHARLES

By Lyndsey Janies; all photos courtesy Visit Lake Charles

LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA

Casinos Resorts

Three casinos are central to Lake Charles meetings, providing 2,350 guest rooms, considerable meeting space, entertainment, dining and rec reation. Of note, meeting spaces are accessible without passing through the gaming areas.

The first was L’Auberge Casino Resort (2005), with 1,000 rooms and 26,000 square feet of meeting space. Its Contraband Bayou Golf Club is the only public Tom Fazio course in Louisiana; its 8,700-square-foot Spa du Lac has eight treatment rooms; and its outdoor pool has a swim-up bar.

Right next door — and connected by a boardwalk — is the Golden Nugget Lake Charles (2014), with 1,100 rooms and 29,305 square feet of meeting space. Its Country Club golf course is a challenging 7,000 yards along a Louisiana bayou. Other amenities include a spa, pools, a sand beach and a deep-water marina accommodating boats up to 206 feet long.

Rounding out the casino scene is the Horseshoe Lake Charles, opening in late 2022 with 250 rooms and 15,000 square feet of meeting space.

More Meeting Spaces

The Lake Charles Civic Center is a downtown facility with 83,260 square feet of meeting space and nine meeting rooms. Edmiston antici pates renovations and more meeting rooms in the next couple of years and perhaps an adjacent hotel.

The West Calcasieu Events Center has 17,505 square feet of exhibit space and five meeting rooms. A range of rodeos, equestrian events and festivals use its arena.

Distinctive Venues

Three destinations are on everyone’s list of off-site venues. One is a historic building, another is an interesting commercial space adaptation, and the third is a modern brewery and entertainment facility.

The neoclassical, three-story Calcasieu Marine National Bank, built in 1928, isn’t where you can cash a check these days, but it is a venue for re ceptions, dinners and awards banquets for up to 350 guests. Separate, but thought of as part of the bank, is the Paramount Room, a target for smaller events such as board dinners.

The former commercial space now used for special events is the Cash and Carry, a 9,600-square-foot warehouse from the 1930s that once served both wholesale and retail grocery operations. It’s now an award-winning blank slate to adapt for a variety of meeting functions.

Entertainment, craft beer and a permanent food and beverage op eration are the big draws at the Crying Eagle Brewing Company. It is a 4,000-square-foot taproom, complete with an outdoor beer garden when weather permits and a professional stage for live entertainment. Tours are available if you’re curious about the making of Louisiana Lager, Things Un settled IPA, Fruit Stand Sour and other brews.

TWO WATERFRONT CASINOS IN LAKE CHARLES OFFER ABUNDANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEETING GROUPS.

Special Services

Visit Lake Charles offers traditional services such as registration assis tance and welcome bags, but it can go much further, according to Taylor Beard Stanley, senior director of convention sales.

How much further? Visit Lake Charles can arrange for Gumbo Gator to spice up your opening ceremony, for a crowd of merrymakers called the Mardi Gras Revelers to get your attendees on their feet for a second line parade or for a crew called the Buccaneers to stage a pirate raid on your meeting.

After the Meeting

Lake Charles' culinary scene is an incentive to stay. Locally owned stars include the James 710, LUNA Bar and Grill and the Villa Harlequin, where Chef Amanda Cusey won 2022’s Louisiana Seafood Cookoff, earning the title of Queen of Louisiana Seafood.

The most captivating natural attraction away from town is the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road that takes you through “Louisiana’s Outback.” The whole route is 180 miles long, but it’s easy to sample just a bit to see marshes, prairies and beaches. An outing with Grosse Savanne Eco Tours is a way to understand this land of alligators, herons, turtles and pink-billed roseate spoonbills.

AN

DECK ON

CREOLE NATURE TRAIL

By Brenda Lefleur

LIVE it up

WANT A BETTER MEETING? Raise your expectations.

Meeting Guide

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

The largest convention centers in Kentucky can handle everything from intimate board meetings to conferences or trade shows that attract thousands of guests. These five convention centers feature the latest technology, tasty eats, plenty of nearby hotels and beautiful central locations that allow attendees to sample some bourbon and get a feel for what makes Kentucky special.

KENTUCKY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTER AND KENTUCKY EXPOSITION CENTER

Louisville

Louisville is in a prime position when it comes to meeting planning be cause it has two large venues. Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC), which completed a $207 million expansion in 2018, has 200,125

Kentucky Convention Centers

square feet of contiguous class A exhibit space, a 40,000-squarefoot, column-free ballroom with color-changing LED walls and 52 meeting rooms. The new conference theater has 165 tiered seats and a 220-inch video wall with cutting edge A/V capabili ties. The city has 22,000 hotel rooms, with nearly 7,000 of those downtown close to KICC. Louisville Marriott Downtown is across the street from KICC and has 616 guest rooms.

Accessible by three major interstate highways and adjacent to Muhammad Ali International Airport, the Kentucky Expo sition Center has both indoor and outdoor exhibit space, boast ing 1.2 million square feet. It also features 356 acres of outdoor space and 25,000 parking spaces. The facility has 700,000 square feet of class A exhibit space and 56 meeting rooms. There are about 4,500 hotel rooms near the airport and expo center.

The Galt House Hotel is the city’s largest hotel, with 1,300 rooms and more than 130,000 square feet of meeting space, right on the riverfront.

Louisville is home to the world’s only Urban Bourbon Experience, with more than 10 distillery experiences, a bourbon cocktail and culinary trail, bourbon-themed ac

Courtesy KICC

THE KENTUCKY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTER OFFERS MORE THAN 200,000 SQUARE FEET OF SPACE IN DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE.

commodations and shopping. The Kentucky Derby Museum and Churchill Downs Racetrack are worth a visit. Muhammad Ali was born in Louisville and boxing fans will want to visit the Muham mad Ali Center to learn about his life and legacy. Baseball aficiona dos will want to tour the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory. gotolouisville.com

CENTRAL BANK CENTER

Lexington

Central Bank Center is one of the largest convention centers in Kentucky, with 200,000 square feet of flexible convention and event space, including a 100,000-square-foot exhibition space with four halls, 29,000 square feet of meeting space in 14 rooms, a 24,300-square-foot ballroom that is divisible by three, and 55,000 square feet of club and flexible space.

Hardwood and Oak Hospitality is the center’s exclusive ca terer, handling everything from cocktail receptions to full dinner menus. LEXPO Exposition Services offers support services, in cluding presentation needs, for trade shows, conventions, cor porate meetings and special events at the Central Bank Center..

The facility’s niche is professional conventions between 1,000 and 2,000 attendees, but the space is large enough to handle up to 14,000 depending on the schedule. The Central Bank Center is attached to Rupp Arena, which is large enough to host general sessions. The center’s management company also manages Triangle Park, which is across the street from the convention center and also hosts events. A new project, Town Branch Park, will break ground in 2023 and will feature an outside amphitheater and park space next door to the Central Bank Center. It is expected to be completed in 2025.

The center is attached to the Hyatt Regency and Hilton Down town hotels, with 700 hotel rooms between them, and is just a few blocks away from Lexington Marriott City Center, which has 218 guest rooms and 11,171 square feet of meeting space. centralbankcenter.com

SLOAN CONVENTION CENTER

Bowling Green

Sloan Convention Center is in the heart of Bowling Green, about 10 minutes from downtown. The center features 70,000 square feet of space, including a 19,500-square-foot ballroom, and is adjacent to a golf course. The facility underwent a major pre-COVID renovation, with the second phase completed in September 2020. The renovation included a complete redesign of the lobby; a new roof, signage, carpet and lighting; and major mechanical improvements.

The Holiday Inn University Plaza, with 218 guest rooms, is attached to the center and features 4,500 square feet of additional meeting space. The hotel’s professional sales and catering team manages the convention center as well. The Courtyard by Mar riott and Hilton Garden Inn are right across the street. In total, Bowling Green has about 2,500 hotel rooms, more than 400 of them within walking distance of the convention center.

Car lovers know Bowling Green is the home of the Corvette.

LEXINGTON'S CENTRAL BANK CENTER

Courtesy Central Bank Center

Courtesy Sloan Convention Center

SLOAN CONVENTION CENTER

Guide

NORTHERN KENTUCKY CONVENTION CENTER

Look Again!

winds its way through

the Native American era through the 20th century. You’ll be mesmerized as you wander through

and alleys

Groups can tour the General Motors Corvette Assembly Plant, the only plant in the world where Corvettes are built. The National Corvette Museum is a must visit; and those who like to drive in stead of look at cars have the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a C8 or C7 Corvette or a Camaro at the NCM Motorsports Park, a 3.2-mile racetrack across the street from the Corvette Museum. bgky.org/convention-center

NORTHERN KENTUCKY CONVENTION CENTER

Covington

The Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington is the largest conference facility in Northern Kentucky, with 204,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. About 20 minutes from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, the facility sits on the banks of the Ohio River, directly across from the beautiful 19th century suspension bridge that connects Covington to downtown Cincinnati.

The first-floor event center is 46,200 square feet that break down into two rooms. It can accommodate receptions of up to 4,600 people and meetings of up to 3,900. The main lobby offers 8,000 square feet of public space perfect for registration, exhibits and receptions. The Learning Center is a 400-seat amphitheater for presentations and lectures that features the latest projection technology and two large video screens. The conference level on the second floor includes 10 flexible meeting rooms and a 17,500-square-foot ballroom that can be di vided into four separate spaces.

An on-site audio-visual company handles all the center’s needs, and Centerplate is the convention center’s exclusive food and bev erage supplier. The Marriott RiverCenter and Embassy Suites Cincinnati RiverCenter are across the street from the conference center with 650 rooms between them.

There’s a nice riverfront area for walking and many locally owned restaurants to visit. Covington offers the B-Line, Northern Ken tucky’s self-guided Bourbon Trail, which in cludes five craft distilleries, eight bourbon bars and six bourbon-centric restaurants. All 19 stops are located throughout Covington, Newport, Independence, Sparta, Augusta and Maysville.

nkycc.com

OWENSBORO CONVENTION CENTER

Owensboro

into the open

of

and businesses to delight in the décor and activity within.

The Owensboro Convention Center is a full-service facility overlooking the Ohio River in downtown Owensboro. It has near ly 102,000 square feet of multipurpose space, including a 44,000-square-foot exhibition hall

Courtesy Northern Kentucky Convention Center

The premier event and meeting venue in Kentucky.

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

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

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

and the 8,900-square-foot Kentucky Legend Pier, which overlooks the river and can host 610 people for a banquet or 1,000 theater-style.

The center offers plenty of pre-function space and two large ball rooms. The West Ballroom is 13,283 square feet and can host groups up to 910 for a banquet or 1,913 attendees theater-style.

The German American Bank East Ballroom is also more than 13,000 square feet and can be divided into four rooms. It can host up to 910 people for a sit-down banquet.

Because of the convention center’s central location, meeting at tendees have plenty of options for shopping, dining or grabbing a drink. Nearby Western Kentucky Botanical Garden and Smothers Park offer meeting attendees a chance to get outside into nature. For bourbon enthusiasts, Green River Distilling Company is a must-vis it. One of the oldest bourbon distilleries in the world, Green River takes up 26 acres. Visitors can take a behind-the-scenes tour to learn how Kentucky bourbon is made.

The world-renowned Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum is within walking distance of the convention center. Visitors can learn about the history of bluegrass music, find out how it has grown and evolved and learn about the top musicians who made the genre great. There are also two hotels within walking distance of the con vention center: The Hampton Inn and Suites Downtown Owensboro Waterfront and the Holiday Inn-Owensboro Riverfront. owensborocenter.com

Turn Back Time

Whether it’s the intrigue of Daniel Boone’s adventures, the courage of civil rights activists, or the stories of our local citizens turned military heroes, Winchester-Clark County has plenty to show and tell through one of our community’s gems — the Bluegrass Heritage Museum. Stroll through levels of exhibits and artifacts as you learn more about Winchester’s prominent role in Kentucky history. Great information and fun for the entire family.

Check out a virtual visit to get a sneak peak of what you’ll find! visitwinchesterky.com

Courtesy Owensboro Convention Center

OWENSBORO CONVENTION CENTER

MEETINGS WITH A VIEW

Looking for a place to host your next meeting, conference or convention? Look no further than Corbin, KY. Conveniently located off of I-75 exit 25 in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Corbin is home to 2 premier meeting and conference centers. The Corbin Arena features a 31,250 square foot floor and a 19,261 square foot concourse, making it perfect for conferences and tradeshows. Directly below the Arena is the Corbin Center, a 20,000 square foot facility complete with an executive board room, five classrooms and an 85 x 63 square foot multipurpose space. After the meeting get out and enjoy the Original KFC, Cumberland Falls State Park, the Laurel Lake and our vibrant and eclectic downtown! We can’t wait to host you…..Corbin LOVES Company!

Meeting Guide

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

Meeting planners wanting to host their events outside of a major urban center have their pick of smaller Kentucky cities. Here are five destinations that boast amazing attractions, full-service hotels and unique meeting venues to satisfy the needs of any size group, and all within a short drive of Louisville, Lexington or Cincinnati.

GEORGETOWN

Sixteen miles outside of Lexington, Georgetown is a small town in the midst of horse country. Georgetown’s picturesque downtown is filled with local restaurants and shops offering unique Kentucky Blue grass experiences. Meeting attendees wanting to learn more about the state’s famous horses and Thoroughbred racing will want to make time to visit The Kentucky Horse Park and Old Friends.

The Kentucky Horse Park, a working horse farm, educational

Kentucky’s Scenic Suburbs

theme park and equine competition facility is the largest state-owned tourist attraction and the largest attraction in central Kentucky. It also is one of the top meeting venues in the area, hosting horse and trade shows, conferences, wed dings and concerts. Its indoor facilities can accommodate thousands of people.

The 1,224-acre park features dozens of different breeds of horses at work and at play. The park hosts daily equine presentations, offers horse-drawn wagon tours and has museums dedicated to the history of horses.

Old Friends, a 136-acre Thoroughbred retirement farm, is another big draw, allowing visitors to get up close and personal with some of the stars of horse racing, including Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm.

Georgetown has 1,191 hotel rooms, with an addition al 94 coming online this fall. It has two full-service hotels, the 108-room Hilton Garden Inn with 4,076 square feet of meeting space and Holiday Inn Express with 85 guest rooms and 6,500 square feet of meeting space. After hours, groups can enjoy craft beers, live music and trivia nights at

Courtesy Georgetown/Scott Co. TC

GROUPS CAN HAVE EQUESTRIAN ENCOUNTERS AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF UNIQUE MEETINGS SPACE AT THE KENTUCKY HORSE PARK NEAR GEORGETOWN.

SHEPHERDSVILLE

Shepherdsville-Bullitt County, just 20 minutes south of Louisville, is known as the birthplace of Jim Beam. People come from all over the world to visit the Jim Beam Visitor Center in nearby Cler mont, take tours of the distillery or participate in bourbon tastings or cocktail mixology experiences. The Kitchen Table restaurant onsite has a small dining area that can host smaller meetings.

The county is also home to Four Roses Bourbon, which offers dis tillery tours and an expanded visitor center in nearby Lawrenceburg, and four award-winning wineries. The Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest is a 16,140-acre nature preserve in Bullitt County that was donated to the people of Kentucky by the Bernheim family, which made its money in bourbon. It has beautiful art installations throughout, hiking trails and a green-built visitor center.

Meeting planners will not have a hard time getting attendees to visit the area. Not only is it just a few minutes’ car ride from every thing Louisville has to offer, but it has plenty of meeting space and lodging outside the hustle and bustle of the city. The Paroquet Springs Conference Centre has more than 20,000 square feet of indoor space that can host groups up to 2,000. The 12,000-square-foot Salt River Expo Hall can host 684 for a banquet. There is a full-service kitch en and outdoor meeting spots available. There are two hotels within walking distance, Sleep Inn and Suites and Country Inn and Suites. travelbullitt.org

RICHMOND

The seventh-largest city in Kentucky, Richmond is the site of Fort Boonesborough State Park, one of the earliest settlements in Kentucky, and Battle of Richmond Visitors Center and Battlefield Park, the site of the second-largest Civil War battle fought in Kentucky. About 23 miles outside of Lexington, Richmond is a nice option for meeting groups wanting to be near the larger city. Richmond relies on Eastern Ken tucky University for most of the conferences and events held there.

The Carl D. Perkins Conference Center on the EKU campus fea tures meeting, classroom and special event spaces for 20 people up to a banquet of 200. Other buildings available for rental on campus include Alumni Coliseum, Brock Auditorium, Keen Johnson Building and O’Donnell Auditorium. Ravine, an outdoor amphitheater, can host groups up to 5,000 people with greenspace and a stage.

White Hall State Historic site is managed by the university. It is a 45-room mansion built in 1791 by Green Clay, a prominent busi nessman, surveyor and slave owner. The home later passed to his son Cassius Marcellus Clay, a writer and politician known for his emancipationist views. The space is now a museum and event ven ue. Chenault Vineyards has a large reception hall that can seat 300 guests for dinner. The facility has a large patio with fire pits over looking the vineyards and surrounding farmland. Silver Creek Barn can seat up to 120 guests for a banquet. The vineyard’s Welcome

Georgetown’s own Country Boy Brewing or ride horses at Whisper ing Woods Riding Stable. georgetownky.com

Courtesy Shepherdsville/Bullitt County TCC

SHEPHERDSVILLE’S JAMES B. BEAM DISTILLERY

Courtesy Richmond CVB

A RICHMOND MURAL

Meeting

Center and Kirksville Saloon are also available for smaller events. Richmond has 15 hotels with 700 guest rooms.

visitrichmondky.com

SHELBYVILLE

Kentucky is known for its bourbon and Thoroughbred horses, and Shelbyville has both. The city is home to two bourbon distilleries, Bul leit Distillery and Jeptha Creed Distillery, which are within easy driv ing distance of all the distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. The city also has bourbon-themed lodging, shopping and dining.

Shelby County is home to more than 90 Saddlebred horse farms, earning it the moniker Saddlebred Horse Capital of the World. The Shel byville Horse Show is one of the most popular events in the area and is known around the world. Meeting planners wanting to take part in these very Kentucky activities have several meeting venues to choose from, including the 11,700-square-foot Shelbyville Conference and Welcome Center, which can host groups from 10 to 500 people. The center in cludes a large banquet hall and three smaller meeting spaces that can host up to 142 guests for a sit-down dinner.

Groups wanting to take a tour of local distilleries, wineries, farms and Kentucky’s only designer outlet mall can organize a ride on the Shel byville Trolley. Stargazer Plaza is an outdoor venue in the heart of down town Shelbyville. The venue is ideal for concerts, events and programs and includes a stage, restrooms and a small parking lot.

visitshelbyky.com

Courtesy ShelbyKY Tourism

AN EQUESTRIAN EVENT IN SHELBYVILLE

Creative Conventions, Inspired Meetings.

With globally-celebrated creative culture, Paducah’s amenities make it a memorable destination for meetings and your next event or trade show!

The Paducah-McCracken County Convention & Expo Center features approximately 100,000 square feet of flexible meeting space under one roof, and a variety of off-site venues range from historic spaces, hotels and beautiful parks to high-tech performing arts venues that are adaptable to your needs.

CONNECT & explore

Let the Paducah Convention & Visitors Bureau help you envision an exceptional event as your personal concierge and connection to our UNESCO Creative City!

Visit paducah.travel/meetings for creative ideas and planning inspiration.

Hello, Fort Wayne!

Meeting Guide

FLORENCE

The second-largest city in northern Kentucky, Florence is located off of Interstate 75, next to the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. Meeting planners wanting to host events in Florence not only have access to everything the city has to offer but also everything Cincinnati and nearby Kentucky towns have.

Some of the top attractions in Florence also make great meeting venues. Groups can take in a Florence Y’alls base ball game or watch a live horse race at Turfway Park, which has 17,000 square feet of indoor event space. Bourbon lov ers will want to take a tour of Boone County Distilling Co., and visitors to the area can’t pass up a chance to visit two of northern Kentucky’s most famous attractions, the Ark En counter and Creation Museum. There are 7,000 hotel rooms in northern Kentucky, and more than 3,000 of those are in the Florence area.

Because of its proximity to the airport, some of the top meeting venues in Florence and the surrounding area are full-service airport hotels, including Hilton Cincinnati Air port, with 7,000 square feet of meeting space; Holiday Inn Cincinnati-Airport, with 304 guest rooms and 13,000 square feet of meeting space; Hyatt Place Cincinnati Airport-Flor ence, with 126 sleeping rooms and 920 square feet of flexi ble meeting space; and the 302-room Marriott Cincinnati Airport, which has 11 event rooms and 10,593 square feet of meeting space.

meetnky.com

IN FLORENCE

By Victor Sizemore, courtesy Meet NKY

is a stunning work of architecture with easy access

Meeting Guide

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

Kentucky has an extensive state parks system that protects some of the most beau tiful scenery and historic locations in the state. Here are five must-see state parks that also feature lodging, fun outdoor ac tivities and beautiful meeting venues.

BLUE LICKS BATTLEFIELD STATE RESORT PARK

Carlisle

Less than an hour’s drive from Lexington, Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park is in northeastern Kentucky. The park commemo rates the final battle of the American Revolutionary War, which took place in Kentucky on August 19, 1782. A group of settlers and mili tia led by Colonel John Todd and famous frontiersman Daniel Boone fought and lost against the British and Native Americans during the battle, which is reenacted annually at the park.

Blue Licks has attracted groups for thousands of years, from pre historic animals and Native Americans to early frontiersmen and 19th

Park It in Kentucky

century vacationers who flocked to the area to stay at the popular Blue Lick Springs spa and resort.

In addition to the war monument, the park has five miles of hiking trails, miniature golf, canoeing, fishing and naturalist-led activities. Meeting planners wanting to uti lize the park for their conferences or events have several lodging options on property. There are 32 lodge rooms, in cluding two suites, one of which can be used as a hospitali ty center for meetings or reunions, as well as two two-bed room cottages and 51 campsites.

The park has three meeting rooms that offer their own unique settings. The Arlington Room boasts wide windows and can hold 300 theater-style or 143 for a banquet. The room is adjacent to the Hidden Waters Restaurant, which can seat up to 172 people. The Daniel Boone Room, which is 2,130 square feet, has a beautiful stone fireplace and a private patio with a view of the woods. The smaller Pavil ion Room is next to the Daniel Boone Room and can ac commodate 123 people for a banquet.

All photos courtesy Kentucky State Parks

A MUSEUM AT BLUE LICKS BATTLEFIELD STATE RESORT PARK DETAILS THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR BATTLE FOUGHT ON THE SITE.

DALE HOLLOW LAKE STATE RESORT PARK

Burkesville

Located in south-central Kentucky, Dale Hollow Lake State Re sort Park is in the Cumberland River Basin on the Obey River. The Dale Hollow Dam created a large reservoir that covers nearly 28,000 acres in Kentucky and Tennessee. The Resort Park is located on the Frogue Peninsula on the northern shore of the reservoir, offering forest-covered hills and excellent fishing opportunities. There is a marina and dock with boat slips, as well as a restaurant and gift shop. The park also has a pool, playgrounds and picnic areas. The park also boasts an 18-hole golf course, 15 miles of hiking trails, mountain bike trails and Cindy Cave tours.

The clifftop Mary Oaken Lodge was built of limestone and timbers overlooking the lake and surrounding woodlands. It has 60 guest rooms with private balconies and patios. There also is a 145site campground with six cabins and a country store next to a min iature golf course.

The Ray Mullinix Convention Center at Dale Hollow can accom modate up to 300 for a reception and 225 for a banquet. The meeting space can be split into three different meeting areas, and a covered terrace provides beautiful views of the reservoir. The convention center is connected to the main lodge, which has a private dining room that can be rented by the hour for meetings or meals. A large picnic shelter offers another opportunity to hold special events.

GENERAL BUTLER STATE RESORT PARK

Carrollton

Located along Interstate 71 in Carroll County, General Butler State Resort Park is situated between Louisville and Cincinnati. The 53-room hilltop resort sits where the Ohio and Kentucky riv ers meet and is named for General William Orlando Butler, whose family participated in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Mexican War and the Civil War. The lodge features an oversize stone fireplace, hardwood floors and large windows overlooking the surrounding forest. The park has 24 one-, two-, and three-bedroom cottages and 111 campsites.

Groups wanting to host events at the park can rent pedal boats, kayaks and canoes at the boat dock on the lake; play miniature golf or a nine-hole golf course; hike six miles of nature trails; mountain bike along 4.5 miles of trails; or play tennis. There is an outdoor swimming pool, as well as many team-building opportunities such as scavenger hunts, pedal boat races or cornhole tournaments. Croquet is available on the lawn of the park’s Butler-Turpin Historic House.

The General Butler Conference Center offers 7,500 square feet of space that can be divided into three separate rooms. It features a gas fireplace for colder weather and a covered out door terrace with wonderful views of the surrounding scenery. The combined space is large enough to host 400 for a banquet or 750 theatre-style. The lodge has some smaller meeting rooms that can host breakout sessions of 50 to 70 people each or smaller banquets of 24 to 40 people.

GOLF AT DALE HOLLOW LAKE STATE RESORT PARK

THE LODGE POOL AT GENERAL BUTER STATE RESORT PARK

Meeting Guide

KENTUCKY DAM VILLAGE STATE RESORT PARK

Gilbertsville

Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park is located on the shores of Kentucky Lake, not far from Paducah. It is also near Land Be tween and Lakes National Recreation Area, a 170,000-acre wooded peninsula bounded by Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. The park attracts people who love boating, water skiing and fishing. It has one of the largest marinas in the state offering watercraft rentals, overnight and permanent slip rentals and a fish-cleaning station.

The Harbor Lights Restaurant is near the water and offers fine dining for up to 200 people. There is an outdoor pool and six out door event or picnic shelters.

The 72-room Village Inn Lodge has a beautiful lobby featuring a copper-plated fireplace and floor-to-ceiling windows overlook ing the marina that makes a wonderful location for a welcome reception. There’s also a smaller meeting space just off the lobby.

The conference center, which is next door to the main lodge, has 6,336 square feet of meeting space that can accommodate 500 people theatre-style or 525 for a banquet or reception. The conference center can be split into three separate spaces that can host groups of 100 to 192 for a banquet or up to 160 theatre-style.

For smaller groups of 50 to 75, the Village Green Lodge offers 14 lodge rooms and a small meeting space that sits close to the cham pionship-style Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park Golf Course.

PINE MOUNTAIN STATE RESORT PARK

Pineville

Pine Mountain State Resort Park was Kentucky’s first state park, situated in the southeastern portion of the state. The citi zens of Pineville donated 2,000 acres to the project in 1924. The park has 15 miles of hiking trails that wend their way past beauti ful ferns and wild flowers, boulders and rock arches. Pine Moun tain still contains some of the original park features, including the Herndon J. Evans Lodge, nine log cabins and several stone and log picnic shelters. Since its founding, the state parks system has renovated and expanded the lodge, adding a wing of 30 guest rooms, each with either a private patio or a balcony to enjoy the surrounding scenery, as well as 11 cottages, a swimming pool, Wasioto Winds Golf Course and a nature center.

It also has one of the best conference centers in Kentucky’s State Park system, the C.V. Whitney Convention Center, which sports 3,900 square feet of meeting and event space that can host groups of 250 for a banquet and 300 theatre-style. There are three smaller meeting rooms that can host more intimate events from 25 to 75 people for a banquet, and the Mountain View Restaurant can seat 145 people.

Pine Mountain has two outdoor amphitheaters, the most pop ular being Laurel Cove Natural Amphitheatre, which sits in a natu ral forest cove that was converted into an open-air event space with seating for 489 and additional bench-style seating for 500. The out door theater is ideal for concerts, picnics, reunions, weddings and theatrical productions. The facility comes with public restrooms, a 1,200-square-foot portable stage and access to a large picnic shelter.

PINE MOUNTAIN STATE RESORT PARK

KENTUCKY DAM VILLAGE STATE RESORT PARK

Kentucky State Parks

Meeting Guide

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

Wisconsin is a spectacular location for resorts, with its beau tiful lakes, expansive forests and outdoor adventures yearround. Here are five of the top resorts in Wisconsin, featuring luxu rious accommodations, full-service meeting spaces, creative team building and all of the amenities you would expect from a first-class property.

GRAND GENEVA RESORT AND SPA

Lake Geneva

Located on the shores of scenic Geneva Lake about 50 miles southwest of Milwaukee, Grand Geneva Resort and

Waterfront at Wisconsin Resorts

Spa is one of the most popular getaway destinations in the state. The property recently underwent a renovation of its public spaces, includ ing the lobby and lounge as well as the Grand Café, the resort’s most central dining outlet in an area called The Landing. The Landing has views of the back of the resort, the lake and the 18th hole of The Brute Golf Course. The resort also plans to renovate its guest rooms, adding new bathrooms with stone vanities and marble-tiled showers. Those renovations should be complete by spring of 2023.

The resort has 356 guest rooms and villas a short walk from the main lodge that offer one-, two-, and three-bedroom options with full kitchens. A trolley can take guests between the main lodge, villas, golf shop, ski chalet and Timber Ridge Lodge and Waterpark, another property owned by the same company that is just down the road from Grand Geneva.

With 62,000 square feet of meeting space, the resort can host small board meetings up to large-scale events. The Forum Conven tion Center has more than 13,000 square feet of space and can seat up to 1,800 theater-style. There are five ballrooms, including the 7,680-square-foot Grand Ballroom, and smaller breakout rooms. The ski chalet can accommodate up to 500 guests with a full-service

Courtesy Grand Geneva

GRAND GENEVA RESORT’S SPACIOUS LOBBY LOUNGE OVERLOOKS THE SHORES OF GENEVA LAKE.

restaurant and bar, and the outdoor pavilion offers great views of the lake and countryside.

Grand Geneva offers extensive team building, including skiing and snowboarding on the ski hill, snowshoeing and cross country skiing. In the warmer months, the property offers hiking, biking, disc golf and e-bike tours.

grandgeneva.com

THE OSTHOFF RESORT

Elkhart Lake

The Osthoff Resort is perched on Elkhart Lake, attracting guests interested in water-based activities such as renting pontoon boats or taking sunset cruises. Centrally located between Appleton, Milwau kee and Madison, the resort offers 240 guest rooms and more than 38,000 square feet of function space, including the 10,000-squarefoot Grand Libelle Ballroom and the luxurious 7,500-square-foot Palm Garden Ballroom, all under one roof. All of the resort’s meet ing rooms are divisible, making them perfect for separating meeting sessions from the rooms that host meals and breakout sessions.

The Osthoff has first-class audiovisual capabilities and plenty of pre-function spaces. The resort’s banquet team handles every meal and even has a cooking school on property that offers team-building activities. The most popular is the food truck challenge, where each group is given a large amount of proteins, vegetables and breads and is asked to craft food for its own food truck in a head-to-head competition.

Other team-building activities include water sports, game shows, scavenger hunts, and yoga and meditation sessions through the spa. Nearby Road America allows groups to participate in a “sun set cruise,” a leisurely, low-speed three-lap adventure around the four-mile track with their own vehicles; or race go-karts around the Briggs and Stratton Motorplex.

Osthoff Resort Spa offers a complete range of treatments, includ ing massage, facials, pedicures, nail and salon services. Groups can rent bicycles on property, golf at a variety of nearby courses, play an 18-hole disc course or play foot golf at Marsh Park. osthoff.com

THE FOUR SEASONS ISLAND RESORT

Pembine

Al Capone slept here. At least that is part of the mystique that surrounds The Four Seasons Island Resort, which originally opened in 1905. It was built by the Wisconsin and Michigan Railroad as a get away for the private elite of Chicago and Wisconsin. The Miscauno Inn, as it was called, had 25 bedrooms and cost $1,500 for member ship. The original resort burned down in 1923, and a new one was built in 1925, around the original fireplace. It sits on 100-acre Mis cauno Island in the Menominee River, which divides Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. In 2005, a 55-suite hotel was added on. The resort’s buildings reflect the property’s original architecture but include modern amenities such as a salon and spa, a large saltwa ter pool and jacuzzi, a workout center and a full-service restaurant.

Courtesy Grand Geneva

GRAND GENEVA RESORT’S LAKESIDE GOLF COURSE

Courtesy The Osthoff Resort

THE OSTHOFF RESORT

Meeting Guide

The resort takes up 66 acres and includes a nine-hole golf course, tennis and kayaking. There are 600 miles of trails right off the island that offer ATV, UTV, snowmobiling, skiing, snowshoe ing, fishing and pontoon boating.

The resort has a boardroom and 9,000 square feet of banquet space, including four meeting rooms that can host groups from 50 to 400. There are three ballrooms with verandas and back porch locations. An in-house executive chef handles all of the ca tering on property, and groups can select from a preset banquet menu or customize one to meet the needs of attendees.

thefourseasonswisconsin.com

KALAHARI RESORT

Wisconsin Dells

Kalahari Resorts and Conventions is nestled in the heart of the Wisconsin Dells, about 45 minutes from Madison. Not only is the resort surrounded by natural beauty, but it also features so many fun activities, meeting planners won’t need to organize off-site events.

When groups aren’t in meetings, they can tap into their teen age selves by exploring Kalahari’s immense indoor and outdoor waterparks, which feature waterslides, lazy rivers and Master Blaster, a 570-foot water coaster. Tom Foolerys Adventure Park offers many opportunities for team building or free-time fun, with a six-story Ferris wheel, ropes course, zip line, climbing walls, laser tag, go-karts, miniature golf, a golf simulator and a 24-lane bowling alley. The resort also has the Wrath of Anubis and Bunker 57 escape rooms, an arcade and the Arena Ultimate VR Experience, a warehouse-scale, multi-player virtual reality gaming experience.

The resort has 760 guest rooms and 16 five-bedroom enter tainment villas to choose from. Its convention center was recently expanded to 212,000 square feet of flexible space, including three large ballrooms, 47 meeting rooms, four luxury boardrooms and

When groups aren’t in meetings, they can tap into their teenage selves by exploring Kalahari’s immense indoor and outdoor waterparks, which feature waterslides, lazy rivers and Master Blaster, a 570-foot water coaster.

Courtesy The Four Seasons Island Resort

THE FOUR SEASONS ISLAND RESORT

Courtesy Kalahari Resorts and Conventions

KALAHARI RESORT IN WISCONSIN DELLS

Meeting Guide

AUTUMN ON THE SHORES OF DELAVAN LAKE

21 meeting rooms specifically for smaller events. There are nine dining options on-site, from steak and a traditional breakfast buffet to coffee and pub food, including Double Cut Steakhouse, Redd’s Piano Bar and Lounge, Wisconsin Brew Pub, and Ivory Coast Restaurant and Lounge.

LAKE LAWN RESORT Delavan

The 271-room Lake Lawn Resort has been operating since 1878. It sits on 250 wooded acres on two miles of Delavan Lake shoreline. The resort has plenty of fun seasonal activities to par ticipate in and has three restaurants on property, including the new 1878 on the Lake. The resort also features the full-service Calladora Spa, 18-hole Majestic Oaks Golf Course, 165-slip ma rina, and one outdoor and two indoor pools.

The resort provides equipment for games and water and snow sports, including boating, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and ice skating.

The conference center has 32,000 square feet of event and meeting space that can accommodate up to 600 guests. The 5,170-square-foot Geneva Ballroom is the largest space, host ing 400 people at rounds or 600 theatre-style. Lake Lawn Room features vaulted ceilings and can host 330 for a banquet or 400 for a reception. Geneva Club also has vaulted ceilings and space enough for 160 banquet guests. There are several small er rooms for breakouts or smaller meetings, including the Courtyard Boardroom, outdoor event venues and several prefunction spaces.

The Lake Lawn Queen is a two-level, 76-foot cruise boat that is available for smaller meetings, luncheons or cocktail recep tions, with cabin seating for 78 guests. Team building activities include the Lake Lawn 500, where teams prepare a track-wor thy vehicle that can navigate through a challenge course or the Lake Lawn Regatta, where teams design, build and then attempt to race their seaworthy vessel across the pool or lake with only materials provided.

The Lake Lawn Queen is a twolevel, 76-foot cruise boat that is available for smaller meetings, luncheons or cocktail receptions, with cabin seating for 78 guests.

kalahariresorts.com/wisconsin

lakelawnresort.com

Photos courtesy Lake Lawn Resort

WATERFRONT DINING AT LAKE LAWN RESORT

Meeting Guide

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH W

isconsin has several unique museums that make wonderful venues for meetings and events. Here are some of the best, featuring the state’s expansive maritime and shipbuilding history, fa mous art collections, botanical gardens and a Civil War Museum that relays the personal stories of people in the Midwest who fought in the war.

DOOR COUNTY MARITIME MUSEUM

Sturgeon Bay

Door County Maritime Museum is located on Sturgeon Bay’s west ern waterfront between two downtown bridges. The museum is open year round and preserves the maritime history of the Great Lakes, with a primary focus on Door County. In the past year or so, the museum added the 10-story Jim Kress Maritime Lighthouse Tower, which offers interactive educational exhibits that highlight the people and maritime

Meet in Wisconsin Museums

history of the area. The tower also gives everyone, regard less of physical abilities, the opportunity to experience what a lighthouse is like, including the incredible views.

The museum also added a second story that expanded the legacy museum and museum store and added new meeting and event space. The Captain’s Quarters includes a catering galley and seating capacity of about 60. The Harder Family Deck overlooks the west waterfront promenade and Tug John Purves, a restored 103-year-old Great Lakes tugboat that is the largest artifact in the museum. It is available for tours May to October. Many of the docents that lead the tours are part of the team that spent five years and 35,000 hours restoring the tugboat from when it was received by the museum in 2003.

A new exhibit was added to the second floor landing of the museum in February 2020. “Built for Battle: Sturgeon Bay Ships in World War II” highlights warships constructed in Door County and the experiences of their crews during the 1940s.

The Bridge Room is a smaller meeting and event space, and there are opportunities to host events at the top of the Jim Kress Maritime Lighthouse Tower. dcmm.org

By John Nienhuis, courtesy Destination Door Co.

GROUPS CAN TOUR A RESTORED HISTORIC TUGBOAT DURING MEETINGS AT THE DOOR COUNTY MARITIME MUSEUM.

HISTORY MUSEUM AT THE CASTLE Appleton

The History Museum at the Castle was originally a Masonic tem ple built in 1923 in the Norman Revival style. Its rough-hewn stone, vaulted ceilings, heavy beams and leaded windows are reminiscent of medieval castles and churches. Located in the heart of downtown Appleton, the building was converted in 1985 into a museum focus ing on the history of the Appleton area.

One of the most popular exhibits at the museum, “AKA Houdini,” showcases the life and career of famous escape artist Harry Houdini, who spent some of his childhood in Appleton. The exhibit takes visi tors through his childhood, early career and rise to fame, and guests also have the opportunity to learn and perform some of his iconic illusions, including Metamorphosis. Another large exhibit space hosts temporary exhibits that change out every couple of months.

The museum has two main event spaces: the Siekman Room, which is located off of the museum’s lobby, and Ogilvie Hall. The historic Siekman Room features large, mullioned windows, terrazzo floors and two sets of French doors. It can host 50 guests at tables and 100 guests lecture-style. Ogilvie Hall originally was the main meet ing room for the Waverly Masons and features heavy beamed ceil ings, antique light fixtures, a Masonic mural and an intimate stage. A 1926 Austin pipe organ is available for use with the room’s rental. The space can host 120 guests seated and 165 guests lecture-style.

Groups that rent space at the museum are welcome to tour its exhibits or incorporate educational programming or workshops re lated to its exhibits.

myhistorymuseum.org

CIVIL WAR MUSEUM

Kenosha

Kenosha’s Civil War Museum opened in 2008 to commemorate the more than 1 million troops that came from Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota and Iowa that went south to fight. No Civil War battles were fought in Wisconsin, but the mayor of Kenosha at the time worked closely with Carthage College to find a way to make its private collection of Civil War artifacts more accessible to the public.

The museum houses that collection, and its interactive exhibits are built around the personal stories of the people who fought in the war as well as the men, women and children who stayed behind. A 360-degree film, “Seeing the Elephant,” shown on an 11-foot-tall screen, immerses visitors in an actual Civil War battle, marching, training and fighting with a Midwestern Civil War regiment.

Groups wanting to host meetings or events at the museum have many options from two to 200 people. There are conference rooms that can be set up boardroom style and larger spaces that can host semi nars, conferences and evening events. The Outdoor Terrace is popu lar, overlooking Lake Michigan and the lighthouse. The indoor spaces include audiovisual equipment, and all but one of them have windows overlooking Lake Michigan or the harbor. Groups that host events at the museum are also welcome to tour its exhibits, either on their own or with a guide.

Courtesy History Museum at the Castle

HISTORY MUSEUM AT THE CASTLE

Courtesy Visit Kenosha

KENOSHA’S CIVIL WAR MUSEUM

Meeting Guide

The Kenosha Public Museum, which is a natural history, science and fine art museum, is next door. It also can host groups up to 200 people.

museums.kenosha.org

THE PAINE ART CENTER AND GARDENS

Oshkosh

The Paine Art Center and Gardens is an estate, art museum and historic man sion that sits on nearly four acres of botanical gardens. It was the dream project of lumber baron Nathan Paine and his wife, Jessie Kimberly, the daughter of the co-founder of Kimberly-Clark. From the beginning, the couple wanted to design an estate showcasing exceptional architecture, furnishings, art and natural beauty that would one day be open to the public for educational and cultural purposes.

Construction of the mansion began in 1927, with the exterior completed by 1930. Because of the Great Depression, work stopped on the house in 1932 and wasn’t completed until 1948, a year after Nathan passed away. The rooms and hallways of the mansion display many items from the Paines’ collection of fine art and decorative objects, including French Barbizon and American landscape paintings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The gardens also feature several sculptures.

Groups can host meetings up to 200 people for events in the mansion, car riage house or conservatory. Outdoor spaces are also available for weddings and special events.

The gardens offer a beautiful backdrop year-round, with a dedicated horti culture team creating seasonal displays throughout the year. Groups meeting at the center can arrange docent-led tours of the mansion or gardens or, as well as talks from the curator.

thepaine.org

WISCONSIN MARITIME MUSEUM

Manitowoc

The foremost authority on Wisconsin’s maritime history, the Wisconsin Maritime Museum got its start in 1969 as the Manitowoc Submarine Memorial Association. It has since expanded its mission to cover the maritime heritage of the Manitowoc-Two Rivers area, the Great Lakes and the submarines built in the area during World War II.

One of the museum’s top exhibits is the USS Cobia, a submarine that was launched in 1943 from Groton, Connecticut, and was responsible for sinking 13 Japanese vessels in 1944 on her first of six war patrols. In July 1944, the sub attacked an enemy convoy heading for Iwo Jima and sank two vessels, including a troop transport carrying 28 tanks. The submarine was brought to Manitowoc as a memorial to submariners and was incorporated into the museum in 1986 as a National Historic Landmark.

Groups interested in maritime history can rent several spaces at the muse um, including the 3,100-square-foot rooftop deck that offers panoramic views of Lake Michigan and downtown Manitowoc. The Riverview Room is 1,800 square feet that can be divided into three separate rooms. It can host groups as large as 150 theater-style or up to 100 people for a catered event. The facility has cutting edge technology and is ideal for multimedia presentations. Riverview Room is on the museum’s main level and overlooks the Manitowoc River and the USS Cobia. The museum’s boardroom and theater are available for smaller groups between 16 and 35 people.

wisconsinmaritime.org

Connect, Collaborate, Celebrate.

It’snot just what we call our ballrooms, it’s what we want to happen inside them. Designed by Kahler Slater architects, no detail was overlooked in the construction of the Brookfield Conference Center. Custom loomed carpeting in each ballroom, polished Terrazzo floors, walls of channeled glass, abundant natural light, imported terra cotta wall treatments, elegant landscaping and an original art installation provide the perfect backdrop to any professional or social event. The open and modular concept of each space allows for a multitude of configurations to meet the client’s needs.

seating make this an inviting outdoor location for smaller gatherings.

No Details Overlooked

Fleming’s offer sophisticated party rooms for smaller groups. Whirly Ball, Marcus Movie Tavern, and Sharon Lynn Wilson Center o er “outside the board room” spaces for team-building activities or group entertainment events. Several hotels in the area also o er meeting space tailored for small groups or board meetings.

Your guests will appreciate the variety of palate pleasing restaurants and abundance of shopping just minutes away on Bluemound Road.

Our 2023 and 2024 calendar is filling quickly! Don’t wait to schedule a tour of the Brookfield

O ering 4 distinct gathering spaces:

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The Connect Ballroom with 18,000 sq. ft. of space and 11 di erent layout options is the centerpiece of the Brookfield Conference Center. It is beautifully appointed with custom loomed carpeting, modern lighting and state of the art audiovisual service.

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The Collaborate Ballroom o ers 6,000 sq. ft. and 3 space configurations. Banks of customdesigned channel-glass enhance the natural light. Custom loomed carpeting, modern lighting and state of the art audiovisual complete the look and feel of this space.

• The glass-encased Celebration Atrium is an 8,000 sq. ft. space for pre- or post-function gatherings, breaks, and more. Sleek design, modern sculpture and lofty ceilings add to the elegance.

• The Celebration Plaza offers 9,000 sq. ft of outdoor meeting space. Beautiful landscaping, Edison lighting and comfortable

Allow your guests to experience the best of everything at the Brookfield Conference Center: state-of-the-art audio-visual service, and restaurantquality meals, prepared by in-house Executive Chef Stephen DeGroot in an on-site Alto-Shaam expo kitchen. Our team of professionals provide seamless execution of your business or social event. Ample free parking and an attached Hilton Garden Inn with 168 rooms means you and your guests can relax and focus on the day, not the details. 386 additional hotel rooms are available within walking distance of the Conference Center, and 1,284 rooms are available within 2 miles of our facility.

In addition to the Brookfield Conference Center, the City of Brookfield also o ers a variety of non-traditional meeting spaces. Restaurants like Cooper’s Hawk and

Conference Center to secure the date for your next event. Conveniently located at I-94 and Moorland Road, just minutes from downtown Milwaukee. Contact us at 262-789-0220.

Brookfield

Meeting Guide

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

Wisconsin has done a great job of preserving its history, which dates back to the late 17th century. Meeting groups wanting to include a piece of that history in their events can rent space at these five historic sites, including Frank Lloyd Wright’s 800-acre estate, a former 1920s-era silent movie house, historic mansions and a site that has preserved 26 buildings from the state’s past.

CAPITOL THEATER AT OVERTURE CENTER FOR THE ARTS Madison

The historic Capitol Theater opened in 1928 as an opulent silent movie house with a beautiful Grand Barton organ, which underwent a $250,000 restoration in 2019. The theater existed as part of the civic center until the late 1990s, when a Madison resident donated more than $200 million to open what is now the Overture Center of the

Wisconsin’s Historic Venues

Arts. The Capitol Theater has seating for 1,089 people, while Overture Hall can house 2,255 people. Overture was built with a beautiful three-level grand lobby space with lots of windows overlooking the state capitol. The lobby can also serve as meeting and event space.

Meeting planners wanting to tap into the history of the Capitol Theater can use the lobby as a vendor sponsor space or reception location for 100 people or a sit-down dinner for 50 guests and then utilize other rooms in the building for breakout sessions. The second level of the Capitol Theater lobby can host receptions for 50. Groups can rent the stage area for meetings, banquets or cabaret-style shows. For a banquet, the stage can hold a maximum of 200 people with a spectacular view of the opulent theater. The Overture lobby can host receptions of 800 people and just over 400 for a sit-down banquet.

overture.org

MAXWELL MANSION

Lake Geneva

Maxwell Mansion is one of the original mansions of Lake Geneva. It was built in 1856 by Chicago surgeon Philip Max

Courtesy Overture Center for the Arts

GROUPS MEETING IN MADISON CAN HOLD ELEGANT EVENTS ON THE STAGE AT THE OVERTURE CENTER FOR THE ARTS’ CAPITOL THEATER.

well, who was one of Lake Geneva’s founding fathers. He only got to live in the home for three and a half years before he passed away. Since then, the mansion has served as everything from a summer home and rent al property to a sanitarium and retirement home, bed and breakfast and restaurant.

The new owners of the mansion have turned it into a 28-room boutique hotel with meeting and event space. Guest rooms are avail able in the mansion, carriage house and stables. The small ballroom can accommodate up to 45 people for a plated dinner or 30 people for a meeting. It is decorated in classic Victorian style with Tiffa ny blue walls and gold trim on the ceiling and walls. It features a beautiful chandelier, tall ceilings, four windows to let in natural light and mirrors to make the room feel bigger. There are also some small breakout spaces available.

The back terrace is 110 feet long and can be used for dinners or receptions of 100. There are a couple of firepits, and groups can add on fun activities to their rental, including mixology classes or cocktail competitions. Many companies like to do a full property buyout for events where they rent all 28 rooms and have it all to themselves.

The Apothecary Bar onsite creates its own infusions and syrups for craft cocktails. The Speakeasy Bar has a Prohibition-era vibe, and hotel guests need a password to get past the doorman. Corporate groups like to host cocktail receptions there.

staymaxwell.com

FAIRLAWN MANSION AND MUSEUM Superior

Fairlawn Mansion is a Victorian-era home that served as a private residence from 1890 to 1920. It was built for lumber and mining bar on Martin Pattison, his wife, Grace, and their six children. The home was completed in 1891 at the cost of $150,000. It features a four-story tower with a widow’s watch overlooking the bay of Lake Superior.

During the summer months, gardens pepper the expansive lawns. As a museum, the first floor of the mansion is fully restored to its former glory, with gilded murals and friezes on the ceiling, a grand entrance hall and open staircase, marble and tile fireplaces, and the original leaded and stained glass windows. The second floor includes access to the master bedroom suite that is furnished much as it was during the Pattison’s residency in the home, and the third floor of the museum details the era from 1920 to 1962 when the mansion served as a home for underprivileged children.

The opulent mansion can be rented for weddings, corporate holi day parties or events. The first floor can accommodate up to 60 peo ple for a seated dinner. If the mansion is used for a reception, it can host up to 100 people using multiple floors.

superiorpublicmuseums.org

HERITAGE HILL STATE HISTORICAL PARK

Allouez

Heritage Hill State Historical Park opened to the public in 1977 on 54 acres within the Green Bay Metropolitan area. The site has 26 orig inal and reconstructed buildings that represent historic and cultural

Courtesy Maxwell Mansion

Courtesy Fairlawn Mansion and Museum

MAXWELL MANSION

FAIRLAWN MANSION AND MUSEUM

Meetings meet Convenience

Meeting Guide

developments relevant to northeastern Wis consin from the 1600s to the present.

Heritage Hill preserves more than 9,000 artifacts that are displayed in the buildings, including original artwork, books, clothing and furnishings dating from the 17th cen tury. In 2006, the park built the Betsy Hen drickson and Lucyanna Hitch Education Center, which can be used for educational programs, business meetings, receptions and parties. The upper level of the education center can host seated groups up to 150, while the lower level can hold groups up to 80. The historic Town Hall building can host events up to 80 guests and is next to a beau tiful green space. The Garden Patio over looks the Fox River and can accommodate a larger tent and up to 200 seated guests.

heritagehillgb.org

TALIESIN

Spring Green

Located in the Driftless Region of south western Wisconsin, Taliesin is Frank Lloyd Wright’s 800-acre estate that preserves sev en buildings that span nearly every decade of his career from the 1890s to the 1950s, including his 37,000-square-foot home, studio and school. The famous architect’s property was designated as a National His toric Landmark in 1976 and became a UN ESCO World Heritage Site in 2019.

Originally built in 1911, Taliesin was damaged over the years by two fires, so some areas of the home are older than others. The home has been preserved to the year 1959, which was the year Wright passed away, with all of the furnishings and decorations as they would have been at that time.

Wright was born in Richmond Center, about 20 minutes away from the Wisconsin River valley near Spring Green, where he built his home.

Taliesin can accommodate groups from 15 to 100, depending on the spaces rented. In terior spaces are available in the Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center, his sister’s home Tany-Deri, Hillside Assembly Hall, Hillside The ater and Taliesin residence. Outdoor spaces are available at Tan-y-Deri and Hillside. taliesinpreservation.org

RECONNECT IN THE FOX CITIES

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

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

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

For information on the Get Meetings Going incentive program, contact Alison Hutchinson at ahutchinson@foxcities.org FoxCities.org/get-meetings-going

experience

A GREATER CONNECTION

There’s a special type of magic that happens when you gather people in the ideal space at the right time. What it generates is a feeling of togetherness and connectivity that inspires the best work, and the happiest people. Greater Ontario takes that magic and makes it soar with the perfect setting where you can get down to business, and moments later, you can set free on any adventure of your choosing. It’s all here for you, right now.

Are you ready to get connected?