Small Market Meetings November/December 2023 by The Group Travel Leader, Inc.

BETTER TEAM BUILDING | WYOMING’S SMALL TOWNS | LINCOLN, NEBRASKA NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023

Wisconsin

SOAK IN THE SCENERY

Hello, Fort Wayne! INDIANA

Grand Wayne Center is a stunning work of architecture with easy

access to hotels, restaurants and entertainment. Our members were impressed with how clean, modern, walkable, and friendly downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana, proved to be. Dallas. W. Johnson, North American SCRABBLE® Championship

WHAT EVENT PLANNERS AND THEIR GUESTS LOVE ABOUT US: • Full in-house services for In-person, Hybrid, or Remote conventions and meetings for all-inclusive event planning • 225,000 sf. of beautifully appointed space and intuitive floor plans • 50,000 sf Convention & Expo Hall • 18 carpeted, fully equipped event rooms • Capacity for up to 4,500 theatre; 3,100 banquet; 2,900 classroom • In-house Sales, AV, Catering, and complimentary Event and Guest Experience management • 3 adjacent hotels with garage parking • 60+ walk-to restaurants & pubs, boutique shops, galleries, riverfront parks

Easy Drive-To Destination!

Easy by Air via FWA

>> SAVE UP TO 15% versus comparable cities!

Meagan Drabik

BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN FORT WAYNE, INDIANA

Sales Manager mdrabik@grandwayne.com

GRANDWAYNE.COM | 260.426.4100 | @GrandWayneCC | #yourGrandWaynestory

SO MUCH. SO CLOSE. SO NEVADA. Trek along hundreds of miles of trails. Cruise or cast a line on the waters of Lake Mead. Paddleboard, jet pack, or kayak at Lake Las Vegas. Play at one of our nine championship golf courses. All of this, just minutes from the Las Vegas Strip.

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ON THE COVER: Yacht cruises on Wisconsin’s Geneva Lake can make for memorable meeting moments. Photo courtesy Lake Geneva Cruise Line

INSIDE VOLUME 24 | ISSUE 10

MANAGING Better Team Building

IDEAS Destination Casinos

CITY Lincoln, Nebraska

TOWN Jekyll Island, Georgia

D E PA R T M E N T S

6 INSIGHTS 8 CONFERENCE 20 PROFILE Resolutions for a better 2024

Small Market Meetings Conference Coverage

MEETING GUIDE Wisconsin

Steve Griffith

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) 253-0503. 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.

TO ADVERTISE CALL KYLE ANDERSON 859-356-5128 kyle@smallmarketmeetings.com Mac T. Lacy Publisher/Partner

Brian Jewell VP & Managing Editor

Kyle Anderson Director, Sales & Marketing

Donia Simmons Creative Director

Herbert Sparrow Executive Editor/Partner

Ashley Ricks Graphic Designer

Bryce Wilson Advertising Account Manager

Rena Baer Proofreader

Rachel Crick Staff Writer/Project Coordinator

Sarah Sechrist Controller/Office Manager

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Puzzled Where To Meet? ACROSS 2. Hike and bike trails pass through here. 3. Has the best facilities between Denver and Omaha. 6. 1,350 of these happen every year.

DOWN 1. Downtown Hub for eats and drinks. 4. Historical monument on 1-80. 5. A campus of conference, events and hotels. 7. Every year 1 million of these migrate through 8. HS FB All-Star game.

(We’ll give you a hint: Kearney.)

Kearney, where the Heartland gathers. Every year, Kearney hosts more than 1,350 events. From the Nebraska Shrine Bowl to conferences large and small, top-notch entertainment – heck, even a million Sandhill Cranes make sure to meet in Kearney every year. Why? Because Kearney has the best facilities between Denver and Omaha, experienced staff, and wonderful volunteers that make sure every event that comes to town is taken care of. If you’re looking for a host city for your next event, make sure you look at Kearney, Nebraska.

WheretheHear tlandGathers.com

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INSIGHTS WITH VICKIE MITCHELL

A NEW RESOLUTION

f you make and then rarely keep New Year’s resolutions, you are not alone. Research shows hardly anyone sticks with them long, if at all. One study, in fact, found that only 9% of us stick with a resolution more than a month. So why don’t we take a different approach, one that might actually work? Drop the term “resolution,” and instead make our lives a little better, personally and professionally, by taking a series of small steps, bite-size changes that are easier to swallow and involve a specific action? Here are a few ideas for small steps meeting professionals can take for a better 2024.

Consider these small steps toward a better year

Take a look at how you travel.

Let resolutions guide meeting design.

Resolutions most often focus on mental health, fitness, diet and weight. You can help attendees attain those resolutions through your meeting content. For example, add a session on a mental health topics. For ideas, look to mental health conferences like the Low Country Mental Health Association’s conference. When it meets in July in Charleston, South Carolina, country singer Chase Bryant will be a speaker, discussing how depression impacted his life. Help attendees who have resolved to eat more healthfully by working with caterers that focus on fresh and healthy foods. Check out meal suggestions offered by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (eatright.org) and other organizations. For those who’ve resolved to exercise more, offer early morning group yoga, walks or spin classes or organize a flag football game (a new Olympic sport, by the way) or pickleball tourney. Physical activity has added bonuses for meeting attendees — it improves mood, increases alertness, and when done as a group, builds connections and friendships. 6

Many resolutions center on physical and mental health. And as much fun as travel can be, it makes demands on body and mind. Meeting professionals travel a lot, so if trips are wearing you down, evaluate what specifically makes them difficult or stressful. It could be as simple as getting new gear. I used to have a rolling bag that fell over constantly — it was quite frustrating. Simple solution? Buy a better — and lighter — bag. Even an inexpensive investment like a travel blanket or silk eye mask can make travel more enjoyable. If you always feel anxious when you get to the airport, commit to arriving 30 minutes earlier so you have time to breathe. And speaking of breathing, hop online and learn about simple breathing techniques that can take your stress level down. Try the Indiana University medical school’s eight-minute YouTube video on belly breathing exercises to calm body and mind.

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Make a resolution to seek help.

Do our resolutions include asking others for their advice or assistance? Probably not, but they should, because going it alone is not healthy or fun. Getting help from others can ease burdens and help prevent burnout. Connecting with peers is a good way to start. Meeting professionals have many professional organizations to choose from: MPI, ASAE and PCMA, as starters. There also are more targeted organizations for college event planners, tradeshow professionals, wedding planners, Black (NCBMP) and Hispanic (IAHMP) meeting professionals and others. Many have state or local chapters. Or you could create your own informal group by meeting with planners and suppliers in your area for lunch or dinner. Peers are the best resource for fresh and effective ways to tackle tasks and challenges. Other ideas for assistance? Ask your board or volunteers to pitch in and help more. And always take advantage of convention and meeting services offered by CVBs and DMOs in meeting destinations.

Make yourself uncomfortable.

Resolutions focus on changes we want to make in ourselves — giving up smoking, losing 20 pounds, working out. But if we’re honest, they can sometimes seem like punishment. What if we find a new way to approach change that challenges us as it changes us? Take some cues from the “Seek Discomfort” movement (but skip the T-shirts and other marketing hoopla). The idea is to get out of your comfort zones regularly to build confidence and resilience. So make a pledge to do something that scares you a bit: Try out for a play, go to a community meeting where you know no one, take a hike with complete strangers, join a choir, make a speech. Discomfort doesn’t feel good in the moment, but it will, over time, better equip us for daily life, which loves to throw curve balls and put potholes in our path. As one writer put it, instead of “standing on the sidelines of life,” by seeking discomfort, we meet new people, have new experiences, learn something new and feel a sense of achievement. Studies show that stepping out of our comfort zones also makes us more creative problem-solvers and more willing to listen to and learn about others’ views.

November/December 2023

Hone your home life.

A lack of balance in professional and personal life is a problem for many working people. Achieving it can be especially hard for women, who often bear most of the load at home. One way to feel less stress at home is to literally buy free time by hiring others to do things — house cleaning and lawn care are naturals, but there are others like using grocery delivery services and buying homemade, premade meals from local chefs. If you haven’t already, set up all your bills for automatic payment so you aren’t spending time each week wrangling bills. Take the free time you create and invest it in yourself — join a book club, learn how to do something new or simply schedule a weekly night out with friends. Evaluate your kids’ activities: Does your daughter really need to play baseball, take violin lessons and be a Girl Scout? Aiming for a home-cooked meal every night is admirable, but is there any harm in designating one night “Hooray for Take Away?” If you can figure out how to get 45 minutes of free time back each day, at the end of the week, you’ll have gained about five hours for yourself. 7

CONFERENCE

SMALL MARKET MEETINGS CONFERENCE SETS THE STAGE FOR SUCCESS BY H ERB S PA R ROW

llethia Atkins and Loretta Grissom both attended their first Small Market Meetings Conference September 27–29 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. And both had similar feelings about their experience. “Everything makes us feel informed and comfortable,” said Grissom, who represents the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists in Atlanta. “It was more than I expected,” said Atkins, who is also based in Atlanta and works with Theme Ladi Kreaton Events. “It was homey and comfortable.” The 14th Small Market Meetings Conference drew more than 250 meeting planners and industry suppliers to the gleaming Double Tree by Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Complex, Iowa’s newest convention center. It was the largest attendance for the conference since the COVID pandemic.

A GREETING FROM CEDAR RAPIDS COUNCILMAN DALE TODD

CEDAR RAPIDS TOURISM’S JULIE STOW WELCOMES DELEGATES

MAKING CONNECTIONS

Attendees were also impressed with the conference’s format. The centerpiece was a marketplace with individual appointments for meeting planners to talk with representatives of destinations, convention centers, hotels and attractions in second and third-tier towns who came looking to attract meetings. “It is more than what I expected,” said first-time attendee Darrell Watson of the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corp. in Washington, D.C. “I like this concept. The supplier comes to you. “It’s the destination that draws people. When I go to second- and third-tier towns, I get more participation, and the rates are better. I have made good contacts that I will follow up with.” “I like the size,” said Brett Stevenson of Hotel Lobbyists, which is also based in Washington. “You can connect with everybody.” Stevenson, who books more than 500 meetings a year into client hotels, said he also liked meeting with smaller destinations that give him alternatives to larger areas. “My clients have expectations that cannot always be met,” he said. “I like to have alternatives that I can book at the last minute. I am making good contacts for that.” “I love how you can interact with everyone,” said Jane Kantor of Visit Bellevue, in Washington state. “All are in the same place, and all are small destinations.”

smallmarketmeetings.com

EMILY THOLE OF CEDAR RAPIDS TOURISM GIVES INFORMATION WITH A SMILE

IOWA CITY LIGHTS UP ITS SPONSOR BOOTH

A WARM WELCOME AT THE NATIONAL CZECH AND SLOVAK MUSEUM

THE IOWA MEETINGS INDUSTRY OUT IN FORCE

All photos by Herb Sparrow, unless otherwise noted

November/December 2023

HEADING TO A MEAL FUNCTION

CONFERENCE

“I like that we get to be seated,” said Denia Tackett of Ardagh Glass in Indianapolis. “I’ve made great contacts. It’s been great.” “I like the format and the intimacy,” said Toby Word, sales manager for the Chesapeake, Virginia, Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It is quality over quantity.” The conference also featured educational sessions, sponsored meal functions, arranged sightseeing tours of Cedar Rapids and held after-hour events.

CEDAR RAPIDS SHINES

The expansive exhibit hall for the marketplace was an easy walk past floor-to-ceiling windows with views of downtown Cedar Rapids to the connected host hotel, the 16-story, 267-room Double Tree by Hilton Cedar Rapids. The entire complex — hotel, 9,600-seat arena and convention center — is managed by one company, which helped with coordinating the event. Delegates were impressed with the venue, the food and the staffs of the convention center, Cedar Rapids Tourism and The Group Travel Family. “Both the vendors and planners talk about how it’s family,” said Tracy Coleman of the Kettering/GMI Alumni Association in Greenville, Indiana. “The staff has done a wonderful job.” “The food was good, and the local facility and transportation were well done,” said Rob Cohen of Alliance Benefits in Amelia Island, Florida. The venue even earned praise from competitors. “The staff has gone above and beyond,” said Don Hoeppner, director of sales and marketing for the recently expanded Waterloo Convention Center in Waterloo, Iowa. “It has been awesome, one of the best I have been to,” said Jaya Dillard, of the St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and The Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau in Florida. “The food and variety have been wonderful. I have heard so many people say the same thing.” “The tourism office has been amazing,” said Chesapeake CVB’s Word. Julie Stow, associate executive director of Cedar Rapids Tourism, who had worked on planning for the conference for several years, was thrilled with the response and outcome. “It exceeded our expectations,” Stow said. “Everyone has been so gracious and kind and enthusiastic.”

GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS

MAKING CONNECTIONS DURING A BREAK

‘FIVE LAWS OF HOSPITALITY’

The conference kicked off September 27 with an enthusiastic and informative presentation by hospitality consultant Bob Pocanovsky, who presented his five laws of hospitality. Pocanovsky, who has catered more than two dozen induction banquets for the National Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, said the laws of connection, engagement, trust and appreciation are designed to lead to the fifth law — the law of wow. “In the customer experience, the missing link is how to retain,” he said. “There is an art to making a personal, emotional connection. “You want your customers to be brand ambassadors who can’t wait to tell stories to others and how they felt.”

LOCAL HOSTS

AN INNOVATIVE BREAKFAST SETUP

smallmarketmeetings.com

A SCARY OPENING NIGHT EVENT

JEN AND JANINE CLOWN AROUND ON OPENING NIGHT BOB POCANOVSKY INTERACTS WITH DELEGATES SHAKING IT UP AT NEWBO CITY MARKET

ASM SPONSORS A LUNCHEON

CEDAR RAPIDS SHINES WITH DELEGATES

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A BREAK

HAPPY AUCTION WINNERS

RANDI THOMPSON HANDS OUT “BIG BUCKS”

AN ANIMATED PRESENTATION

November/December 2023

AN AWE-INSPIRING WINNING BID

LOCAL HOSTS A FUN AND INFORMATIVE GAME WITH JOY AND RANDI

CONFERENCE

BUSINESS MEETS FUN

lthough the central focus of the Small Market Meetings Conference is the two-day marketplace, which includes 60 six-minute appointment slots between meeting planners and vendors, several other opportunities are available for delegates to develop important contacts that could lead to business. Lounging areas with large sofas and padded chairs, as well as workstations around the marketplace floor, let delegates meet when they have a break between appointments. Meal functions are another great avenue to network. The evening functions not only provide the host city a chance to showcase off-site venues but also a way for the delegates to let down their hair after a hard day and to meet other delegates in a relaxed atmosphere. “I made some very good connections,” said Rob Cohen of Alliance Benefits in Amelia Island, Florida. “You can develop relationships, which is the old school way that works.” “I am most satisfied with the meeting planners,” said Sean McAllister, sales manager for the Akron/Summit, Ohio Convention and Visitors Bureau. “I think I will get RFPs [requests for proposal] when I get home. I have met people two or three times. The networking is fantastic.” “I have met a lot of people in a short amount of time,” said Sylvia Woodall of the Abilene Convention Center in Abilene, Texas. “I have a lot of people to follow up with.”

WELCOME TO THE FARM

The opening night event was a ghoulish hit at Bloomsbury Farm, a large family-run agritourism attraction with a large variety of farm-themed activities augmented for Halloween with a cast of scary characters, from spooky clowns to a bloodsoaked butcher. After a downhome buffet meal, delegates watched pumpkin chuckin’, shot apples from cannons, rooted for their favorite in a piglet race, toured a haunted slaughterhouse, sipped wine slushies, danced to a live band, and oohed and aahed at a large and impressive fireworks display. The next evening, a buffet at the Newbo City Market in

downtown Cedar Rapids featured samples of the variety of foods from different cultures available in the market’s many food stands. There are also several retail stands throughout the building. “I loved the networking opportunities, especially Newbo City Market,” said Toby Word, sales manager for the Chesapeake Convention and Visitors Bureau in Virginia.

MEMORABLE MEAL SESSIONS

The conference breakfasts and luncheons provided more networking opportunities, and the meeting planners could learn about additional destinations through presentations by the sponsors. The breakfast sponsors were Visit Williamsburg and Visit Greenville, South Carolina. Thursday’s lunch was sponsored by ASM Global, which manages more than 350 meeting venues around the word. Representatives of several new or expanded ASM properties made presentations. It was followed by the popular auction of prizes sponsored by Destination Lake Winnebago Region in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Director of sales Darcie Holte gave an animated and personable demonstration of the prizes as the meeting planners bid against each other with “hundred-dollar bills” passed out by various sponsors at their booths. Friday’s closing luncheon was sponsored by Greater Zion Convention and Tourism and Wittwer Hospitality in St. George, Utah, which will host next year’s Small Marketing Meetings Conference in scenic southwestern Utah near Zion National Park. Joy Schroeder, meeting, convention and event sales manager for Greater Zion and Randi Thompson, regional sales manager for Wittwer, emceed a fun and raucous trivia game about the Greater Zion area that was a modified form of the childhood game hot potato. While it was a fun closing to the conference, it also drove home facts and information about the destination for the delegates.

smallmarketmeetings.com

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!

November/December 2023

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606-528-886

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CONFERENCE SILENT AUCTION POSING WITH SURGE

TASTING CEDAR RAPIDS

elegates literally got a taste of Cedar Rapids on the five sightseeing tours offered on the Thursday afternoon of the Small Market Meetings Conference. While one group headed 10 miles south of town to tour the Cedar Ridge Winery and Distillery and taste its award-winning bourbon, another group was sampling the popular beers brewed by Lion Bridge Brewery in the historic Czech Village near downtown. Across the street from Lion Bridge Brewery, delegates sampled authentic Czech kolaches and Slovakian and Czech beer and wine before perusing the fascinating exhibits at the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library. Delegates who chose to tour the historic Brucemore Mansion and play croquet on its expansive lawn also got to taste local wines and hors d’oeuvres. The final sightseeing option was outside town at the Indian Creek Nature center, where delegates not only cuddled baby llamas but also purchased honey produced on the grounds in the center’s beehive. It was a fun, informative and tasty afternoon, followed by drinks and food at a reception in the Double Tree Hotel’s 16thfloor 350 lounge, with its sweeping views of downtown Cedar Rapids lit up at night.

THE NATIONAL CZECH AND SLOVAK MUSEUM AND LIBRARY

ALICIA MONEE ENTERTAINS

GETTING FRIENDLY AT INDIAN CREEK NATURE CENTER

ENJOYING A MEAL IN THE PARTY BARN AT BLOOMSBURY FARM

Photos by Caleb Howard, courtesy Cedar Rapids Tourism

smallmarketmeetings.com

November/December 2023

CONFERENCE

JEN REWARDS VERNON

HONORING EXCELLENCE

he Double Tree by Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Complex — which includes the hotel, an arena and convention center — is managed by Hilton, which stresses customer service with its staff. “We want everyone to go above and beyond,” said Travis Faust, director of catering and events. One innovative incentive is the gratitude stone, which is given to one behind-thescenes staff member at the end of a conference. Management is not eligible. The recipient is chosen by the conference staff. The stone is then exchanged for a $25 gift card and recognition on a poster throughout the complex. A third-time winner receives $100. The Small Market Meetings Conference staff was unanimous in selecting Vernon (management only gives first names for the award), a member of the catering and banquet department who was an agreeable and smiling face from the initial pre-conference setup to the final luncheon. “Vernon not only did his job but also went above and beyond his job in helping us without being asked,” said Jennifer Ferguson, conference general manager, in presenting the stone to a surprised Vernon at the closing luncheon.

HERE’S WHAT WE HAVE

TAPING A VIDEO

LET ME POINT OUT

VIBE ROCKS AT BLOOMSBURY FARM Photos by Caleb Howard, courtesy Cedar Rapids Tourism

smallmarketmeetings.com

CUSTOM CONTENT

New All-Electric Conference Center is One More Reason Ithaca Shines on the Meetings Map BY VICKIE MITCHELL

thaca, New York, has long been on planners’ radars, but because its meeting spaces were limited, some meetings that wanted to land there couldn’t. That changes in spring 2024, when the Ithaca Downtown Conference Center and its 15,000-square feet of meeting and pre-function space open. At a recent tradeshow in Albany, planners expressed their excitement. “People shared that they had wanted to come here in the past, but we just didn’t have the capacity for a group their size,” said Jason Humphrey, general manager of the conference center.

ITHACA – WHERE GREAT MINDS MEET THE GREAT OUTDOORS

If you haven’t been to Ithaca, you might not understand what makes it so appealing. For one, it’s a college town twice over, home to Cornell University and Ithaca College, which sit on hills above a downtown anchored by a busy, hip pedestrian mall called The Commons. Water and wine flow freely in the region. More than 150 waterfalls, several of them downtown, tumble through gorges gouged by glaciers.

Ithaca Downtown Conference Center

Cayuga Lake, one of the 11 Finger Lakes, is the backdrop for this hidden gem community. Humphrey describes his hometown as “forward-thinking, diverse … a small town with a big-city-mentality.” Some 30,000 college students from across the globe “keep us fresh,” he said.

PIONEERING SUSTAINABILITY: AMERICA’S FIRST ALL-ELECTRIC CONFERENCE CENTER

The new conference center reflects Ithaca’s thoughtfulness about the future. It will be the first fully electric conference center in the United States, in line with Ithaca’s goal to be carbon neutral by 2030. The center encompasses the first three stories of a new 12-story high-rise, around the corner from The Commons. Apartments will fill the other floors. Meeting spaces are on the first two levels; administrative spaces are on the third floor. Meeting space includes a 10,800-square-foot divisible ballroom with 18-foot ceilings; a 3,800-square-foot divisible junior ballroom and a 520-square-foot boardroom with built-in AV and views of downtown. Operated by ASM Global, the center is owned by a nonprofit created to drive downtown economic development. Running an all-electric facility will be an exciting endeavor. The new chef for

CUSTOM CONTENT

“The conference center being fossilfree reflects our community values. We want to respect nature and ensure future generations will enjoy it as well.” — PEGGY COLEMAN, CVB DIRECTOR South Hill Cider

the conference center didn’t even flinch at an all-electric kitchen. He’d been a chef on cruise ships, where kitchens are always all-electric for safety reasons. “The conference center being fossil-free reflects our community values,” said Peggy Coleman, vice president of tourism and director of Visit Ithaca, the local CVB. “We want to respect nature and ensure future generations will enjoy it as well.”

LEAVE YOUR CAR BEHIND: THE CONVENIENCE OF DOWNTOWN ITHACA

Everything meeting attendees need, from guest rooms and restaurants to shopping and entertainment—is a few paces away from the conference center. “We are a park once, pedestrian-friendly destination,” said Coleman. Four downtown hotels have a total of 564 rooms, all a short walk from the center. The 159-room Ithaca Marriott Downtown on the Commons, opened in 2015, has 3,000 square feet of meeting space. The newest hotel, the 123-room

Honeybee Embassy

Canopy by Hilton Ithaca Downtown, has two small meeting rooms. The renovated 170-room Hotel Ithaca has 6,000 square feet of meeting space. The Hilton Garden Inn, opened in 2005, has 104 guest rooms. “Our downtown hotels work well together,” said Coleman. “It’s a collaborative relationship and all are about equidistant from the conference center.” Another meeting option, on Cornell’s campus, is The Statler Hotel at Cornell University. The 153-room hotel has 11,000 square feet of meeting space and is a learning lab for students from the university’s hospitality school. “The Statler is as engaged in hosting meetings that aren’t related to the university as it is in supporting meeting business at Cornell,” said Coleman. In addition to hotel meeting spaces, downtown theaters can supplement the conference center’s meeting space. The State Theatre of Ithaca, a 1,600-seat beauty, and Cinemapolis, a modern, five-screen theater complex, can be used for lectures during off hours. When events like graduation or game days put pressure on downtown hotels, the CVB will support meetings at the conference center with shuttle service to the 1,300 hotel rooms beyond downtown, Coleman said.

UNCOMMON FUN AT THE COMMONS

It’s likely meeting attendees will spend their spare time exploring the four sprawling blocks of The Commons, popping in and out of more than 100 local businesses like bookstores; a record store; bike, skateboard and guitar shops; a glass art gallery; vintage clothiers; and a “green” home store. When hunger hits, restaurants along downtown’s Restaurant Row on Aurora Street will suit any palette with a plethora of cuisines to choose from.

A sunset cruise on Cayuga Lake

Cayuga Lake

Bet the Farm Winery

Birdwatching in Ithaca

“People think Ithaca must be rural, and while we do have the beauty of a rural setting, it is also very urban,” said Coleman. Visitors will also notice Ithaca’s commitment to sustainability and knack for reuse goes far beyond recycling and composting. One store downtown resells leftover fabrics and yarns; another markets used clothing while still another salvages and resells building materials. Farm-to-Fork dining is the norm as many establishments grow their own fresh produce and incorporate it into seasonally inspired menus. The shoreline of Cayuga Lake in Ithaca is also lined with places to explore. The Ithaca Farmers Market at Steamboat Landing, showcases the region’s rich agricultural economy. You can catch a boat tour on Discover Cayuga Lake at several locations along the lake shore. Stewart Park also has plenty of outdoor lakefront space including an accessible nature trail and playground. This park also was home to a studio used in the silent film industry which will be renovated and repurposed as a Silent Film Museum, showcasing Ithaca as the birthplace of silent films.

ONE CONNECTION AWAY: ITHACA’S ACCESSIBILITY

Although New York planners are familiar with Ithaca’s accessibility, meeting planners beyond the state might not be. Ithaca is not on an interstate highway, but good secondary roads link it to Interstate 81 and Interstate 86, each about 30 minutes away. New York City is a four-hour drive; Buffalo and Albany are three hours in either direction and it’s about six hours to either Washington, D.C. or Boston. The local airport, Ithaca-Tompkins International Airport, recently achieved its international status and has direct nonstop flights daily to JFK and Newark. “For any destination, we are one connection away from all of the U.S.,” said Coleman. Just one more reason Ithaca is now on a lot of meeting planners’ radars.

Taughannock Falls State Park

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

VISIT ITHACA Lisa Conarton Conference Sales Manager 607-272-1313 (o) 570-954-9443 (c) Lisa@visitithaca.com visitithaca.com meetinithaca.com

“We’re a third-party company that makes people happy by negotiating their contracts and finding ideal locations for them. I’ve now worked with clients large and small.”

MEETING LEADERS STEVE GRIFFITH

BY RE B E CCA TRE ON

iving in South America wasn’t in Steve Griffith’s plan. But it changed his life. The son of a physician in Winter Haven, Florida, Griffith got an undergraduate degree in political science and planned to go to law school. But what was supposed to be a trip to visit two sisters from Brazil turned into a 15-year stint living in Rio de Janeiro. “I went to the University of South Florida, but in the summertime, I worked as a lifeguard at the school, where I met two sisters from Brazil,” Griffith said. “Their father was the Alitalia [ITA Airways] manager for Brazil, and in the marvelous 1970s, Brazil was a mecca for musicians and movies, and travel was becoming easier. They convinced me to teach English as a second language at the Pontifical Catholic University of Brazil in Rio. Someone told me about a tour company called Brazil Safaris and Tours. Tourism was becoming in vogue and the incentive market had just taken off, so I became a tour guide for them.” The new market for destination tours was flourishing, with eager Americans flocking to exotic destinations like Brazil but wanting to have an insider’s perspective on the ground. Griffith soon became a manager at Brazil Safaris and Tours, then went to work for Los Angeles-based Delta Cruise Lines Tourism, managing passenger services in their Brazil and Argentina markets. Griffith then decided to pursue an opportunity working with Time Warner to oversee the distribution of Time magazine throughout

Brazil, but between the interview date and start period, he had several months to kill. Enter a new adventure and opportunity. Through a friend, he was offered the chance to sail from Brazil to Miami on a 40-foot ketch. Along with four other people, Griffith made the journey from one side of the equator to the other over four months in 1983. “During my time living in Rio, I had become friends with a couple of the trip directors from Maritz, a company that works in incentive and rewards travel,” said Griffith. “And when I got to Florida, I needed work. so I called that friend who referred me to the president of the company, Jeffery Reiberg, who needed trip directors. I called him, and without even having an interview, they hired me to be a flight trip director.” For the entirety of 1984, Griffith traveled the world as a trip director, bouncing around the globe, spending five weeks in Hong Kong and five weeks in Monte Carlo and the Cote d’Azur. He traveled to London, the Bahamas, Brazil and Argentina. At the same time, a company that stemmed from Brazil Safaris and Tours was starting up in the United States, working within a network of cities across the country including San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Seattle, Honolulu, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale. The person heading up U.S. operations quickly tapped Griffith to come work for him. “Along the way, I really got tired of working and doing tours,” said Griffith. “I wanted to do something else, and because of my destination management company experience and my incentive work, I went to work

on the opening team of the new, awesome resort going up in Puerto Rico, the El Conquistador Resort and Country Club, even though I had no previous hotel experience.” Griffith managed the offices of Williams Hospitality, the company behind the resort, in South Florida. During his tenure, the company became Wyndham and added two more hotels. Griffith encouraged people who might normally lean toward vacationing in the Cayman Islands or St. Thomas to explore Puerto Rico instead. Around that time, a new Gaylord Palms Hotel was opening in Orlando, and Griffith was offered the job of executive director of sales there. “We opened the Gaylord Texan and the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Washington, D.C., and having that hotel experience is what led to my role at HPN, since everyone who works with HPN has hotel experience,” said Griffith. “We’re a third-party company that makes people happy by negotiating their contracts and finding ideal locations for them. I’ve now worked with clients large and small.” Griffith has led a life of adventure, travel and working to make people’s travel experiences great. He speaks fluent Portuguese, as well as passable Spanish and French, allowing him a unique capacity to communicate with a range of clients from different backgrounds. “I’ve been in this business for more than 40 years and I enjoy it thoroughly,” said Griffith. “What makes a tour great is having a guide who has local experience with the culture. You’re giving them an experience they wouldn’t really be able to do on their own.”

smallmarketmeetings.com

EXECUTIVE PROFILE NAME

Steve Griffith TITLE

VP Global Accounts O RGA N IZ AT IO N

HPN Global LOC AT IO N

Winter Haven, Florida B I R T H PL ACE

St. Augustine, Florida E DU C AT IO N

BA in political science C A R E E R H IS TO RY

• Various tourism jobs, 1976-90

STEVE GRIFFITH HAS LED GROUPS ON TRAVEL ADVENTURES ALL OVER THE WORLD.

• Director of incentive sales, El Conquistador Resort, Puerto Rico (1991–99) • Executive director of sales, Gaylord Palms Resort, Orlando (1999–2010) • VP global accounts, global sales, HPN Global (2012–present)

TIPS FROM

STEVE GRIFFITH • Be nice and kind to everyone. • Maintain good eye contact when speaking with others. • Speak first and last when communicating.

November/December 2023

WITH SMALL MARKET MEETINGS

r o f g n i l Fal

CORBIN

Cumberland Falls is home to one of just a few regularly occurring moonbows in the world.

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This Kentucky destination brings the outdoors to meeting groups

BY R AC H E L C RI C K

here’s more to Corbin, Kentucky, than meets the eye. Its seasonally decorated downtown is flanked by the same train tracks that have been used to carry coal out of the Appalachian Mountains since the city was incorporated in 1895. Corbin, a town of about 7,000 in the foothills of the mountains, grew with the railroad and became known as an outdoor adventure destination buoyed by the surrounding beauty of Cumberland Falls, Laurel Lake and the Daniel Boone National Forest. It’s also a capable and flexible meeting destination with some of eastern Kentucky’s most spacious and well-equipped venues. Corbin’s convenient location off Interstate 75 between Lexington, Kentucky, and Knoxville, Tennessee, makes it a logical choice for events in the Southeast, while its affordability and signature charms ensure planners can pull off an event like no other.

All photos courtesy Corbin Tourism and Convention Commission, unless otherwise noted

SIGNATURE CORBIN

November/December 2023

Cumberland Falls is one of Corbin’s — and Kentucky’s — greatest claims to fame, earning the nickname “The Niagara of the South.” The falls create a regular moonbow, or lunar rainbow, when light from a full moon is refracted in the mist from the falls to produce an optical illusion similar to a rainbow. This sight draws plenty of spectators and occurs on full moons and in the two-day period leading up to and following the full moon. Even during the daytime, people take in the falls’ beauty and power, with 3,600 cubic feet spilling over the edge each second. The cascade measures 68 feet tall and 125 feet wide, making it the second largest waterfall in the eastern United States.

IN CORBIN

Cumberland Falls State Resort Park has 17 miles of hiking trails and several lookouts suitable for guests of all ages. Attendees at Corbin meetings must make the short trip to the park to see the falls and hike a trail. If they’re visiting the area around a full moon, a nighttime excursion to see the moonbow is a must. Corbin is home to another American cultural treasure, the Sanders Cafe and Museum, which is known locally as the Original KFC. The historic restaurant is the birthplace of Colonel Harland Sanders’ signature fried chicken recipe, which launched the popular fast-food chain. The cafe and museum were renovated in 2019, and an addition was built to house even more KFC exhibits and memorabilia. Exhibits cover the chain’s journey from a gas station with a hotel and restaurant to an international billion-dollar chain, as well as Colonel Sanders’ life and likenesses over the years. Artifacts include Colonel Sanders memorabilia, such as his famous white suit. “What it comes down to is it’s a pop culture icon,” said Maggy Monhollen, executive director of the Corbin Tourism and Convention Commission. “The Colonel is as American as apple pie.” When meeting in Corbin, attendees will enjoy a group outing to the museum to enjoy fried chicken and the story of how the restaurant chain came to be. The Colonel is everywhere in Corbin. Sanders Park, a small brick square on Main Street, tells the KFC founder’s story and contains a life-sized bronze statue of Sanders. The park is flanked by a secret recipe herb garden containing some of the 11 herbs and spices used in the signature chicken recipe, as well as an alley with a mural of the chicken tycoon.

MAJOR MEETING SPACES

The Corbin Center offers nearly 20,000 square feet of meeting and event space just off Interstate 75. The halls inside are decorated with works from Appalachian artists and photographers. The center’s largest room is the Multipurpose Room, which has a capacity of 360 guests and can be divided into quarters. The Glass Room, just off the lobby, features plenty of windows and can accommodate up to 83 attendees. “Groups love this space because of the windows and natural light,” said Whitney Powell, managing assistant at The Corbin Center.

A mural by Sanders Park

Sanders Cafe

Sanders Park By Rachel Crick

By Rachel Crick

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The Corbin Center Conveniently located off exit 25 on Interstate 75, the Corbin Center is Corbin’s 20,000-squarefoot convention venue with flexible and affordable meeting and convention space. From 2023 through the first quarter of 2024, it will be undergoing a renovation and expansion that will bring the total square footage to 32,000 and bring the addition of a 112-room adjacent hotel connected by a covered walkway.

MEETING SPACES | The center’s multipurpose room is its most spacious room, with space to comfortable accommodate up to 360 attendees. The room can include a stage for presentations and can be divided into two, three or four sections to accommodate breakout sessions or smaller meetings. The spacious lobby features high, arched ceilings and natural light, making it an excellent setting for pre-function and registration space. Off the lobby, the Glass Room is extremely popular for small or medium sized meetings for up to 83 attendees and features walls of windows on two sides. The boardroom has a capacity of 44 and contains a kitchenette. Four additional classrooms are available, one of which has a sink with running water. These classrooms can hold between 36 and 56 attendees each. DINING | The Corbin Center comes equipped with a full kitchen and can provide a list of preferred local caterers for any type of event. The center also offers beverage service.

A multipurpose room at The Corbin Center

AUDIOVISUAL SERVICES | The facility offers

free WiFi to all guests, and the stage, podium and audiovisual amenities are available as add-ons.

NEARBY ACCOMMODATIONS | The upcomThe Corbin Center entrance

ing 112-room hotel will be constructed adjacent to the Corbin Center and connected via a covered walkway. Other nearby accommodations include the Holiday Inn Express Corbin and Best Western Corbin Inn, with 64 and 61 guest rooms respectively.

The boardroom at The Corbin Center Photos by Rachel Crick

MORE INFO THECORBINCENTER.COM

November/December 2023

IN CORBIN

The facility also has a boardroom and four additional meeting rooms, one of which has a sink, as well as a catering kitchen and a lobby that offers pre-function space. During the last quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, the Corbin Center will be undergoing a renovation and expansion that will bring the facility to approximately 32,000 square feet, as well as providing upgrades to the interior and exterior of the building. During the first quarter of 2024, a 112room hotel will also begin construction adjacent to the center and will be attached via a covered walkway. The Corbin Arena is just up the hill from the Corbin Center. At 100,000 square feet, this multipurpose facility has hosted large events, from a Snoop Dogg concert to the 2023 Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) Summit. With nearly 7,000 seats and plentiful parking, it’s one of the largest venues in the region. The arena has a full curtain system, which can divide the space into smaller configurations for smaller expos, trade shows or events. Two hotels close by The Corbin Center offer overnight accommodations for attendees. These include the Holiday Inn Express, with 64 newly renovated guest rooms, and the Best Western Corbin Inn, which has 61 guest rooms. A newer event venue in downtown Corbin offers a charming, rustic setting for banquets and receptions. The Pennington has two spaces, a downstairs studio with a capacity of 75 for banquets, and a loft with exposed brick and wooden beams that can accommodate up to 150 banquet-style.

CULINARY DELIGHTS

Fried chicken isn’t the only cuisine found in Corbin. In addition to Sanders Cafe and Museum, the city has an array of restaurants catering to different palettes and different meetings. From hosting a meeting over a meal to catering at an event venue or even providing a lively location for an off-site gathering, these Corbin eateries are sure to impress. Seasons, a restaurant in downtown Corbin, is perhaps one of the most exotic meeting venues one will find in the city. Its menu features upscale fare ranging from prime rib to bourbon-glazed salmon, but perhaps its biggest claim to fame is the opulent décor that creates an unforgettable backdrop for an event. The restaurant’s main dining room is

Moonbow at Cumberland Falls

By Dylan Wilson

Laurel Lake

A view of downtown Corbin

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The Corbin Arena Just up the mountain from the Corbin Center, the Corbin Arena is a multipurpose venue that’s one of the largest in Eastern Kentucky. With 100,000 square feet of space, this impressive and modern venue built into the mountain has nearly 7,000 seats in total and plenty of free parking. It’s one of the largest venues in the region and hosts events like concerts, sporting events and regional events, such as the 2023 Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) Summit.

The floor of the Corbin Arena

MEETING SPACES | The arena floor is 31,250

square feet, while the arena’s concourse offers nearly 20,000 square feet perfect for trade shows and exhibits. The arena is equipped with 7,000 total seats, an 1,800-square-foot meeting room and a spacious lobby with a ticket booth for registration or pre-function space. The venue also comes with storage, dressing rooms for performers and direct entry from the arena floor to one of the spacious parking lots.

DINING | The Corbin Arena provides flexibility to planners regarding catering and can recommend local businesses to cater events of any size. By Rachel Crick

The Corbin Arena

AUDIOVISUAL SERVICES | In addition to the

professional sound and lighting systems, the arena has a full curtain system that can divide the facility into two sections to offer full and half-house shows.

NEARBY ACCOMMODATIONS | The 64-room Holiday Inn Express Corbin and the 61-room Best Western Corbin Inn are each less than a mile away from the Corbin Arena. The upcoming 112-room hotel being built adjacent to the Corbin Center will also provide accommodations.

MORE INFO THECORBINARENA.COM

November/December 2023

IN CORBIN

OFF-SITE OPPORTUNITIES

The Christmas Room at Seasons

In addition to its restaurants, Corbin’s downtown has several off-site venues. At Campbell’s Ceramics, attendees can get artsy by painting their own pottery. This can be used for team building or networking, as well as providing them their own souvenirs. For an unconventional happy hour, Tomahawks offers axe throwing and cornhole for groups in addition to its bar. The facility can also be rented out for private events. The Pinball Museum of Corbin on Main Street unlocks each attendee’s inner child with its rows and rows of vintage and custom pinball machines and other arcade games such as Pac-Man, air hockey and ice ball. They can play games and win prizes at the museum for a memorable after-hours activity or team-building excursion. The facility can host pri-

By Rachel Crick

decorated seasonally, but there’s also a year-round Christmas-themed room. Another room features an eclectic assortment of themed alcoves ranging from “Alice in Wonderland” to African safari, complete with life-sized safari animals. Two ornate private dining rooms are great for smaller meetings. The Wrigley Taproom and Eatery, another downtown Corbin restaurant, serves a rotating menu of farm-to-table Appalachian dishes using fresh, seasonal ingredients. Popular menu items range from hearty burgers to salads and bowls using in-season, local produce. Also on the menu are distinct craft cocktails, a rotating selection of craft beers and more than 60 bourbons. The elevated fare in the relaxed setting makes for an excellent off-site or social event for attendees. Austin City Saloon, just down the street from the Wrigley Taproom and Seasons, is a western-themed eatery with live music on a weekly basis and a rooftop dining area. Favorite items among customers include classics like barbecue pulled pork sliders and chicken wings but also more unique signature dishes, such as the elk burger and the Texas cheesesteak sandwich. Bubby’s BBQ is a local staple that’s well known for its buffet and for catering local events, but the restaurant itself has plenty of space for a group meal. It’s renowned for its country cooking, serving dishes like fried catfish, fried green tomatoes, barbecue ribs, slow smoked pulled pork and fried chicken.

Sheltowee Trace Adventure Resort

Axe throwing at Tomahawks

By Rachel Crick

By Dylan Wilson

The Pinball Museum of Corbin

By Rachel Crick

smallmarketmeetings.com

vate events and even arrange catering. If attendees are interested in an outdoorsy offsite event, Sheltowee Trace Adventure Resort is the place to go. They’re an outfitter for whitewater rafting, kayaking and canoeing. Attendees can also zipline, rent bikes or e-bikes, and take guided hikes in the area. Another popular activity at Sheltowee Trace is a riverboat cruise onboard the Cumberland Star. The 65-foot, double decker riverboat can be chartered from May to October for breakfast, lunch, dinner or sightseeing cruises. Hot and cold menu options are offered. “This is where people come to get away from everything,” said Dania Egedi, owner of Sheltowee Trace and captain of the Cumberland Star. Egedi narrates these cruises as they drift along the river, pointing out wildlife, interesting landmarks and facts about the local ecosystem. “There’s a bit more of a connection when you learn about what you’re seeing,” Egedi said. The newest addition to the off-site venues in Corbin is the Mint Gaming Hall and Cumberland Run Racetrack, a harness racing track, bar and gaming destination. Attendees can watch the races, cast their bets and enjoy a cocktail at this brandnew facility.

Cumberland River

By Dylan Wilson

WITH SMALL MARKET MEETINGS

CORBIN TOURISM AND CONVENTION COMMISSION

MAGGY MONHOLLEN 606-528-8860 MAGGY@CORBINKYTOURISM.COM CORBINKYTOURISM.COM

A meal at Wrigley Taproom and Eatery

If you are interested in hosting a FAM for readers of Small Market Meetings, call Kyle Anderson at 859.356.5128

Paddleboarding in front of Cumberland Falls

Courtesy Kentucky Tourism

November/December 2023

By Rachel Crick

MANAGING

Eye Rolls Not Included EXPERTS SHARE TIPS FOR BETTER TEAM BUILDING

BY R ACHEL CRICK

eam building has the potential to go very wrong — think ropes courses for those with a fear of heights, public speaking activities for introverts or a happy hour where some attendees get a little too happy. That’s why the term “team building,” even though it has the noble goal of encouraging positive relationships in the workplace, frequently elicits groans or eyerolls. Done right, though, team building can be an effective reward and a means of creating a cohesive and positive workplace culture, which is especially important now that remote work is more common than ever. So how can it be done better? Whether they’re designing a team-building event on their own or using a team-building company, here’s what industry experts said planners should keep in mind to create better team-building experiences.

“It’s taking a break from the reality in the work environment and being able to spark the excitement to create memories.”

WHAT DOESN’T WORK When it comes to team building, what doesn’t work provides insight into what will. One reason staff may be hesitant or downright hostile to the idea of team building is that the activities are frequently run of the mill, cheesy or boring. Ice breakers, trust falls and personality quizzes are perceived as cliché and a waste of valuable time to workers, so if there’s a team-building activity, it’s best to commit to making it truly impactful. “People think of trust falls or sitting around a campfire and learning basic things about people,” said Seth Felix, an event producer with The Go Game, a San Francisco-based team-building event company that produces and facilitates custom team-building games for groups. “But they don’t have to be boring.” Something else that doesn’t work is making attendees participate in something they don’t like … or worse, something they fear. “Team building is often times where something has been forced, like a ropes course,” said Lisa Jennings, chief experience officer at Wildly Different, a team building company based in Orlando. “I have seen people crying up on ropes courses. Or, the CEO might love golf, therefore we’re all forced to a golf outing.” If someone is deathly afraid of heights, a

Seth Felix EVENT PRODUCER

The Go Game Experience: Nine years

smallmarketmeetings.com

“It’s extremely important to company culture, especially today when people are coming together for meetings less often.”

ropes course is traumatic, not groundbreaking. It’s important to remember the difference between being nudged out of one’s comfort zone and being put into their danger zone. The final mistake that produces a lackluster team-building event is a lack of originality. While the team may enjoy something like bowling, happy hour or gathering around a campfire, there’s the potential to go above and beyond and enjoy better results. “When people say, ‘we do team building all the time,’ and it’s bowling or happy hours, I ask, ‘What did you gain from that experience? What did you really learn about your team?’” said Felix.

THINGS TO KNOW

Nicole Banek SENIOR SALES MANAGER Tanque Verde Ranch Experience: 10 years

November/December 2023

When crafting a team-building experience, the most important thing to have is a thorough knowledge of the team and the objectives for the event. Team building exists for all sorts of reasons. It can be a small segment of an annual company meeting, or it can be the whole event. It can be a reward for a job well done, part of onboarding for a new employee or even part of company training. The event will change depending on its purpose. “We check in with the group and see what their needs are,” said Nicole Banek, senior sales manager at Tanque Verde Ranch, a resort in Arizona known for its extensive range of team-building activities. “They may have meetings they need to do as well, so we tailor [activities] around their schedule.” Prepare to find out a lot about the team, too. “If you’re ever tasked with organizing a team-building event, do your research,” said Jennings. “Ask what’s been done before, what wasn’t successful, why wasn’t it, what type of people will be attending.” Jennings said this can include questions about the group’s personalities, ages and other key demographics. Omitting these questions may lead to mixed results. For example, if a group includes members visiting from other countries, a game that requires a mastery of the English language may not be suitable. Don’t skip over questions about the logistics of the event, either. Like any event, it’s important to note how long it should be, if the location is fixed or flexible and what the budget is.

MANAGING

HALLMARKS OF A GOOD TEAM BUILDER

“It’s to forge those relationships, those connections and those understandings amongst your colleagues. It’s just really something to see people open up and understand we’re all human beings.”

Because there are often many different personality types, interests and strengths within a group, good team-building activities should be inclusive. “The way to make them appeal to a vast audience is to incorporate different types of activities that are going to help everybody stand out as the star,” Felix said. This can look like an activity that incorporates a variety of clues into a table-top escape game or scavenger hunt. “You might be great at solving one clue because you’re a math person. But then someone else might solve another clue that takes out-ofthe-box thinking and creatively approaching the problem,” Jennings said. “It’s trying to find those events that will have something for everybody.” Another way to make the team-building activity stand out is ensuring it’s creative and fun. Tanque Verde Ranch offers a wide selection of out-of-the-box activities like a salsa/margarita challenge, where groups compete to make the best-tasting salsas and margaritas in a time crunch. They also offer team penning, where the group works together on horseback to corral cattle. “The great thing we have out here at the ranch is that the activities will get people out of their comfort zone, which is scary at first, but people get something out of that,” said Banek. That’s why games are popular team-building activities. One of The Go Game’s most popular team-building activities is the Adventure Scavenger Hunt, which is a custom scavenger hunt throughout the group’s city that encourages teams to engage in some friendly competition. There are also escape rooms, game shows and other puzzle games. Finally, leave the group with something to remember. CHIEF EXPERIENCE OFFICER “Do a recap at the end,” said Felix. “We do Wildly Different a fun finale where we show photos and videos Experience: 35 years they create during the game, and they get to experience it again.”

Lisa Jennings

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IN DUBUQUE IT’S ABOUT...

more than the meeting

Located along the mighty Mississippi river, Dubuque is the ideal setting for your next meeting. WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF THIS...

State of the art facilities feature 2,000 to 86,000 square feet of space! Our walkable and sustainable community welcomes meetings and conventions of 3 to 3,000 to gather along the Mississippi River any time of the year. ...AND A LITTLE BIT OF THAT.

Dine alongside stingrays, cruise the Mississippi River, dream at the iconic Field of Dreams Movie Site and more with a multitude of off-site opportunities. MEET JULIE KRONLAGE If you need any help finding the fun, the unique and the amazing locations in Dubuque to make your event a success, contact Julie. Call 563.845.7698 or email jkronlage@traveldubuque.com.

MANAGING

TRENDS IN TEAM BUILDING

The Facilities, The Lodging The Fun ... Just Perfect! Located along the Ohio River directly adjacent to Ohio and Kentucky, our proximity to Cincinnati means we’re close to big-city amenities with all of the meeting customization and service a smaller location can provide. Home to Hollywood Casino and the Lawrenceburg Event Center, we’re ideal for small and mid-size meetings and conventions of all types, offering: ✦ Large, customizable meeting and event space ✦ 15 miles to the Cincinnati International Airport ✦ 468 hotel rooms ✦ Walkable Main Street offering casino gaming, destination dining, entertainment options, historic tours, riverfront access, outdoor recreation, trails, winery/brewery properties, and more

Ready to get started? Scan the QR code to the right!

The Perfect Place To Meet

e! er H t e e M Le t’s

REQUEST RFP

www.visitsoutheastindiana.com/meetings-conventions

Virtual team building has gained significant ground in the past decade but particularly since the pandemic. Now, with more people than ever working remotely some or all the time, team building has never been more important. “A lot of people are working remotely and don’t get to connect as human beings,” said Jennings. “They do still have that desire to do something fun with their team.” This can include an entirely virtual team-building activity or game with virtual components, such as the virtual aspects of the mobile scavenger hunts designed by The Go Game. In some ways, a virtual team building event is even easier to arrange than a physical team building event because no one has to worry about logistics like venues or catering. Virtual games can be as simple as logging on, working in breakout sessions with your team to solve a fun puzzle, tallying up the score and recapping at the end. Another trending team building activity is charitable events. At Wildly Different, these events are extremely popular. “It has that double advantage of people are having fun and working together but also working toward a common good,” Jennings said. This can include something like assembling snack packs for children experiencing food insecurity or assembling care packages for families in need. This opportunity to engage with the community and give back resonates with many teams and brings them together in the process.

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CUSTOM CONTENT

Eugene, Cascades & Coast: Seeking like minds

BY VICKIE MITCHELL

n the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region of Oregon, sustainability, accessibility and inclusivity are core values. “They are the lenses through which we view all of our work,” said Juanita Metzler, senior director, conventions, at Eugene, Cascades & Coast, the area’s DMO. “They are among our organization’s specific goals, and we seek planners who share those values.”

COMMUNITY LIVES ITS VALUES

Evidence of those values is all around in a region that’s proud and protective of its natural beauty and its diverse population. A decade ago, Eugene banned plastic bags and began turning food waste into compost and biogas through Love Food Not Waste. Eugene’s goals to cut fossil fuel use in half and reduce greenhouse gases are part of city code. Major event venues have achieved LEED certification. Parks and gentle paved paths are designed so everyone can enjoy waterfalls and woods. Bike share stations provide inexpensive, fuel-free transportation. A popular challenge course is accessible to all. The importance of inclusivity is noted in many ways: through city and university equity programs, arts alliances that support diverse artists; events that celebrate LGBTQ+ citizens, bike and walking routes that incorporate the area’s Black history.

EXPANDING SUSTAINABILITY

The region is constantly strengthening its core values.

EUGENE, CASCADES & COAST Juanita Metzler, CMP, CGMP, SEPC 541-743-8758 or 800-547-5445 Juanita@EugeneCascadesCoast.org EugeneCascadesCoast.org/meetings

One way is by making Eugene more accessible through expanded use of hearing loops — a technology that improves hearing aid function. Eugene, Cascades & Coast is helping fund installation of hearing loops in conference centers, hotels, the airport and other public buildings. Instead of creating volunteer projects for visiting conferences, the DMO instead matches them with ongoing legacy projects that need a boost. “That way,” says Metzler, “they help sustain something and bring an infusion of energy.” Another new program was originally created to cut back on the waste that would have resulted as Eugene fed thousands of athletes at 2022’s World Athletics Championships. The Sustainable Events Services Program is now available for all events. For less than it costs to buy disposable dinnerware, quality, reusable dinnerware is delivered to an event, picked up afterward and cleaned off site. “With this, we aren’t even putting compostable plates into the planet,” said Metzler. It’s all part of living those shared values. “We want our clients to know they are valued and have made the best choice,” said Metzler. “They will feel our values because they are their values.”

NO SALES TAX AND AN INCENTIVE MEAN BIG SAVINGS

Meeting in Eugene, Cascades & Coast can mean cost savings, thanks to Oregon’s lack of sales tax and a meeting incentive offer of $5 per room night (up to $3,500) paid direct to planners with new meetings of 200 room nights or more. “It recognizes the value we place on planners and the relationship we have with them,” said Metzler. “This lets planners know we understand their needs and want to help them rebuild after these last few difficult years.”

IDEAS

Courtesy Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe

ACE UP THEIR SLEEVE These casino resorts deal meeting planners great hands BY R ACHE L CRICK

asino resorts have more than an ace up their sleeve; they’re equipped with world-class amenities, a wide selection of dining options and plenty of chic meeting space. To boil them down to their slot machines and table games is to sell them short. Add gorgeous natural scenery, local culture and distinct activities to enjoy after the meeting, and a casino conference venue can turn into a prime getaway destination. Meeting planners can sweeten the pot by hosting their next event at these casinos with destination appeal.

HYATT REGENCY LAKE TAHOE RESORT, SPA AND CASINO

INCLINE VILLAGE, NEVADA The vivid blue waters of Lake Tahoe create a breathtaking backdrop for meetings, while the area’s abundance of outdoor activities from skiing to water sports to hiking make it a leisure and adventure destination that will impress any attendee. On the lake’s north shore, Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino offers luxury accommodations and entertainment for guests. The resort’s 65,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space includes a 7,000-squarefoot Regency Ballroom that can be divided into six sections; seven additional meeting rooms ranging in size; and two outdoor venues that show off the region’s natural beauty. The resort’s culinary team uses locally sourced ingredients to cater events. Audiovisual equipment is provided by the resort, and an on-site team can provide production assistance. Adventure specialists are available to arrange programs for attendees, ranging from yoga classes on the beach to guided hikes. Additionally, guests can game in the Grand Lodge Casino, relax in the

Above: The Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino has an abundance of amenities, including a pool deck for attendees to enjoy.

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resort’s spa or heated pool and dine from their choice of four restaurants. “We have anything and everything to offer planners and their guests,” said Ashlee Barton, director of sales and marketing at Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe. “We offer a one-of-a-kind experience due to our natural setting of the great outdoors, the top tier amenities and activities we offer groups.” hyatt.com

“We offer a unique experience for guests to allow them to experience not only a four-diamond, beautiful property but our tribal history, culture and artwork throughout the property.” — Tracy Goolsby, Tulalip Resort Casino

TULALIP RESORT CASINO

TULALIP, WASHINGTON With 370 guest rooms, 200,000 square feet of gaming and 30,000 square feet of meeting space, Tulalip Resort Casino is an appealing option for meetings in the Pacific Northwest. The property is owned and operated by the Tulalip Tribes native to Washington. “We offer a unique experience for guests to allow them to experience not only a four-diamond, beautiful property but our tribal history, culture and artwork throughout the property,” said Tracy Goolsby, director of sales and hotel operations at Tulalip Resort Casino. The resort offers 13 total meeting rooms, including a 15,000-square-foot ballroom that can be divided into three 5,000-square-foot sections. Each section can accommodate conventions, conferences or events with up to 500 guests. There’s also a 4,800-square-foot junior ballroom and 6,000 square feet of pre-function space. The resort features an indoor pool, a luxury spa and an entertainment venue. All catering is handled in-house by a seasoned

Photos courtesy Tulalip Resort Casino

November/December 2023

Tulalip Resort Casino scenes, clockwise from left: the Orca Ballroom; the Evergreen meeting room; the Orca prefunction area

IDEAS

culinary team, and the in-house audiovisual team works with state-of-the-art equipment to take care of any meeting’s production needs. The resort is just outside of Seattle, so attendees can take advantage of the city’s numerous attractions while enjoying the resort’s lower price point. Aviation enthusiasts can head to Boeing’s Future of Flight Aviation Center and even tour the Boeing plant. Nearby, there are also whale watching cruises and experiences. tulalipresortcasino.com

MOHEGAN SUN

UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT In a region of southeastern Connecticut known as Mystic Country, Mohegan Sun is a massive casino resort owned by the Mohegan tribe, which has been in the area since before the pilgrims arrived. The casino sits on the Thames River and is just a short drive from the New England Coast and the Mystic Seaport area, which features museums, restaurants and an aquarium.

Mohegan Sun scenes, clockwise from left: the Sky Hotel lobby; the Earth foyer; the Sun Patio

The resort features 1,600 guest rooms and 275,000 square feet of meeting space in two convention centers, as well as 40 restaurants, 30 shops, two pools and two spas. In the Earth Expo and Convention Center, there’s a 120,000-square-foot expo hall, a 20,000-square-foot ballroom and 12 meeting rooms. The Sky Convention Center features a 38,000-squarefoot ballroom that can be divided into 10 rooms and

“We purposefully have designed it so all those areas are available for groups to utilize but they don’t interfere with the business, so the property is very thoughtfully designed.” — John Washko, Mohegan Sun

Photos courtesy Mohegan Sun

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GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-522-4700.

20 additional meeting rooms. The resort also contains multiple entertainment venues, including a 10,000-seat arena, a theater and two casinos with a combined 300,000 square feet of gaming. “We’re different than other properties that force you to walk through the casino,” said John Washko, vice president of sales and marketing at Mohegan Sun. “We purposefully have designed it so all those areas are available for groups to utilize but they don’t interfere with the business, so the property is very thoughtfully designed.” All the resources a planner could need can be found in-house, from audiovisual support to a transportation services team. Mohegan Sun offers an extensive catering menu to accommodate any meeting, from breakfast buffets to receptions. mohegansun.com

M A K E O A K L AW N YOUR MEETING D E S T I N AT I O N

OAKLAWN RACING CASINO RESORT

HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS Home to one of only a few casinos in Arkansas, Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort began as a horse-racing venue in 1904, but it eventually added a casino. In 2020, a new hotel tower with 198 guest rooms and a convention center was built. The event center is 18,000 square feet, including a 15,000-square-foot ballroom that can split into three sections. An additional four meeting rooms each seat between 40 and 50 attendees, while the boardroom accommodates up to 20. The event center’s pre-function space is known for its high ceilings and tall windows, which give it a chapel feel. Catering is exclusively handled in-house, and audiovisual equipment is provided. “It’s a brand-new conference center with all the most up-to-date, modern technology available you would need to make a meeting successful,” said Adrienn Massaglia, director of sales at Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort. “After the meetings, people don’t have to worry about where to go to have fun because we have six restaurants on-site, we have the

With more than 18,000 sq. ft. of traditional and unique meeting spaces and a seven-story hotel, Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Arkansas is your ideal meetings destination. Our talented hospitality team is here to assist with everything you need, from delectable plated or buffet food choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner to fun, themed decor to customize your event (or, bring in your own decorators — we offer that option, too). LIVE RACING DECEMBER 8 - MAY 4

RACING / SMOKE-FREE CASINO / HOTEL / SPA / EVENT CENTER / DINING VISIT OAKLAWN.COM TO BOOK YOUR MEETING.

November/December 2023

IDEAS

casino, we have an outdoor pool, and we have a spa and all the great amenities.” Other amenities at the resort include a gym, three Top Golf Swing Suites, axe throwing, shuffleboard and two gift shops. Outside the resort, Hot Springs is known for the beauty of the surrounding Ouachita Mountains, as well as its historic bath houses. Attendees can take a ranger-led walking tour of the city, visit the historic bath houses and explore museum’s detailing the area’s extensive history. oaklawn.com/resort

FRENCH LICK RESORT

FRENCH LICK, INDIANA Two historic hotels nestled in the scenic Hoosier National Forest form the sprawling French Lick Resort, a stunning meetings destination and relaxing getaway rolled into one. The French Lick Springs Hotel, circa 1845, has 443 guest rooms, while the West Baden Springs Hotel has 243. Between the two hotels, the resort’s amenities include a casino, 11 restaurants,

Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort scenes, clockwise from left: the Oaklawn Event Center; racing at Oaklawn; an exterior view of Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort

two spas, five swimming pools, three golf courses, horseback riding, hiking trails, archery and bowling. “Hoosier hospitality is at its finest here,” said Adina Cloud, director of sales at French Lick Resort. “We have over 1,000 associates, and we all work very hard to create wonderful experiences for our guests. We created our meeting space with meeting planners in mind.”

“After the meetings, people don’t have to worry about where to go to have fun because we have six restaurants on-site, we have the casino, we have an outdoor pool, and we have a spa and all the great amenities.” — Adrienn Massaglia, Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort

Photos courtesy Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort

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with a capital P. When you come to Baton Rouge, you’ll make the most of every minute – both on and off the clock. Because down in Louisiana, we know how to have a good time and there’s nowhere more “Louisiana” than Baton Rouge - Louisiana’s Capital City. Plan your stay at VisitBatonRouge.com

IDEAS

The resort’s total meeting space amounts to 163,000 square feet. French Lick Springs Hotel provides 105,000 square feet, with 27 meeting rooms, including a 31,600-square-foot exhibition hall, three ballrooms totaling 42,000 square feet and 18 breakout rooms. West Baden Springs Hotel has 11 meeting rooms, including the hotel’s opulent, 35,000-squarefoot atrium. Additionally, the properties contain other distinct venues, such as the Pete Dye Pavilion, which features distinctive views of the golf course, and Stables Pavilion, an outdoor venue. Catering and audiovisual services are provided in-house, and attendees can also participate in team-building activities hosted by the resort, such as culinary challenges or games. Off the resort, activities like a visit to the nearby Wilstem Wildlife Park, French Lick Winery and Distillery, and Patoka Lake are a must. frenchlick.com

THE ATRIUM AT WEST BADEN SPRINGS HOTEL Courtesy French Lick Resort

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Flexible space for up to 1500, EV charging, free parking, 300+ rooms, attentive service from exceptional people.

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Clean, green, tech-savvy. Downtown Salem, Oregon, all-in-one block with hotel, ﬁne dining at Bentley’s. Stroll to shopping and sights.

This ad is made possible in part by funding from City of Salem Transient Occupancy Tax.

503.589.1700

Book your space smallmarketmeetings.com

MOUNT MAGAZINE STATE PARK

h t i w s g n i m Me e t

w e i V v A MO UNT MAGAZI NE STATE

PAR K

STATE PAR K MO UN T MAGA ZIN E

Plan your meeting at one of our six Arkansas State Park lodges. Offering first-class accommodations in the most scenic parts of our state, your meeting, private event or corporate retreat will truly feel like vacation. Discover the possibilities at LodgesofArkansas.com

HOSTING

d n a l t r a e H IN THE

The Haymarket District is the historic center of Lincoln’s entertainment scene. All photos courtesy Visit Lincoln except where noted

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CITY

Lincoln welcomes meeting groups to explore its vibrant locales

BY CL AIRE HA NNU M

ocated in the heart of the country, Lincoln, Nebraska, has something for every event planner. This cheerful destination is less than a day’s drive from several major cities, including Minneapolis; Chicago; Omaha, Nebraska; Kansas City, Missouri; and Denver. It also has its own airport and is located off a major interstate. But Lincoln’s perks go far beyond its mere logistics. The city offers top-of-the-line venues, abundant access to the outdoors and a friendly local culture. “Our citizens take great pride in welcoming visitors, which is something that we have been recognized for,” said Kelsey Meyer, assistant director of sales at Visit Lincoln. “When groups come to town and they’re traveling in from outside the state and region, they’re surprised by the warm welcome of the locals here.”

LINCOLN AT A GLANCE LOCATION: Southeast Nebraska ACCESS: Lincoln Airport, Interstate 80 HOTEL ROOMS: 5,465 CONTACT INFO:

Visit Lincoln 402-436-2350 lincoln.org

LANCASTER EVENT CENTER BUILT: 2001 EVENT SPACE: 400,000 square feet OTHER MEETING SPACES: Two multi-purpose

arenas, three multi-purpose pavilions MEETING HOTELS Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel GUEST ROOMS: 300 MEETING SPACE: 46,000 square feet Embassy Suites Lincoln GUEST ROOMS: 252 MEETING SPACE: 12,000 square feet Graduate Hotel Lincoln GUEST ROOMS: 231 MEETING SPACE: 5,555 square feet

WHO’S MEETING IN LINCOLN Iowa Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association Ag Expo ATTENDEES: 1 0,000 Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses District Convention ATTENDEES: 5,000 November/December 2023

Destination Highlights

DISTINCTIVE VENUES

Scarlet Hotel

DISTINCTIVE VENUES

Pinnacle Bank Arena

incoln is on the leading edge of high-profile events but maintains a relaxed, small-town feel. While this isn’t an easy balance, it’s one that this city has succeeded at again and again. This past August alone, Lincoln broke two major event records. First, Lincoln pulled out all the stops to host 340,000 guests for the largest spectator event in the city’s history: an airshow featuring two days of performances by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels. Then, just a week later, the city made history with a record-breaking women’s volleyball match between the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Cornhuskers and the University of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks. A whopping 92,003 spectators watched the game — the most to ever attend a women’s sporting event worldwide. Whether hosting a conference, a small meeting or a globally significant sporting event, Lincolnites are eager to get to know their guests and join in on public-facing parts of the events. “Our local dignitaries are very supportive to groups coming in and hosting their events,” Meyer said. “They love to participate in the events and welcome visitors from all around.”

DESTINATION HIGHLIGHTS

Morrill Hall

Distinctive Venues

DESTINATION HIGHLIGHTS

Centennial Mall

lanners hosting their event at the NIC Conference Center will find fantastic supplemental space in the Scarlet Hotel, which is right next door to the center. The hotel includes three on-site event rooms with 1,328 square feet of gathering space. The Scarlet’s chic rooftop bar, complete with custom Nebraska-themed cocktails, is available for buyouts. The Pinnacle Bank Arena is the centerpiece of Lincoln’s West Haymarket Redevelopment Project, an initiative bringing new life to an underutilized corner of the city. The arena just celebrated its first 10 years of operation, which included hundreds of concerts and sporting events. The arena features a whopping 470,400 square feet and can seat as many as 16,000 guests. With meeting space for events of any size and full food and drink service, it’s the perfect place for planners who are looking to go big. The Lied Center for Performing Arts’ breathtaking main auditorium seats 2,200 guests and offers over 21,000 square feet of space. It’s an ideal place for performances, panels or other seated events.

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Major Meeting Spaces

AFTER HOURS

Robber’s Cave

AFTER HOURS

Memorial Stadium

he Lancaster Event Center is an expansive indoor/outdoor facility with capacity for events of all sizes, from major corporate events to small gatherings. Groups of anywhere from five to 5,000 people will have a comfortable space among the center’s 400,000 square feet, which include two multi-purpose arenas, and three multi-purpose pavilions. Another popular meeting space is the NIC Conference Center, located on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Innovation Campus. The NIC is not your average conference space. Housed in a historic building with soaring ceilings, it’s surrounded by the idea-driven energy of a bustling university campus. The center includes a 400-seat auditorium with full A/V capabilities, a 400-seat banquet room and eight breakout rooms, as well as other collaborative spaces throughout the building. The Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel is an iconic local favorite. In the heart of downtown Lincoln, the 300-room hotel offers 46,000 square feet of meeting space and 27 meeting rooms — the largest of which is 10,500 square feet alone. The hotel can accommodate up to 1,100 attendees. Embassy Suites Lincoln is conveniently located near hotspots like the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus and the city’s Historic Haymarket District. The hotel features 12,000 square feet of space with 16 meeting rooms and can accommodate up to 1,490 event attendees. Located just beside the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus, the Graduate Hotel Lincoln is a thoughtfully crafted boutique hotel that will be adored by Cornhusker fans, UNL alumni or any group that appreciates a beautifully designed space. The Graduate boasts 5,555 square feet of meeting space, 12 meeting rooms and capacity for up to 650 event attendees.

By Scott Bruhn, courtesy Husker Athletics

MAJOR MEETING SPACES

Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker

After the Meeting

incoln is home to a thriving downtown, charming historic enclaves, Nebraska’s largest university and a wide expanse of the great outdoors. When meeting events conclude for the day, guests will find no shortage of activities. Attendees looking to get to know the Lincoln community will enjoy a visit to the city’s Telegraph District, a new array of shops, meeting spaces, cafes and restaurants. The district is close to some of Lincoln’s treasured hiking, biking and running trails — the city boasts 131 miles of trails overall. Lincoln is also home to several museums. Morrill Hall, a natural history museum, has an intriguing fossil collection and a mesmerizing planetarium. The Sheldon Museum of Art features nearly 13,000 works. Adventurous travelers may enjoy a visit to Robber’s Cave, Lincoln’s oldest — and only underground — tourist attraction. And of course, Lincoln is a haven for NCAA sports fans. As home to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Cornhuskers, the city regularly plays host to major football, volleyball, and basketball games and other sporting events.

November/December 2023

TOWN

A GOLDEN ISLES

y a w a t e G S

BY K AT HERINE TA NDY BROWN

tretching along Georgia’s southern coastline, the Golden Isles have intrigued adventurers for generations. Jekyll Island in particular spoke to the East Coast ultrawealthy — with family names like Rockefeller, Morgan, Vanderbilt and Pulitzer — the likes of which built an exclusive hunting club there in the late 1800s Gilded Age. In 1910, the nation’s Federal Reserve System and Bank were established in that club, which evolved into the Jekyll Island Club Resort. In 1947, the state of Georgia purchased the island, designating it Jekyll Island State Park. Acting governor M.E. Thompson declared it a “playground” for every Georgian. At the time, he likely had no idea it would become a destination that lures 3 million visitors annually. No surprise there. Ten miles of pristine ocean beaches include Driftwood Beach, consistently voted America’s most enchanting beach. Exciting activities abound, from kayaking to horseback riding, birdwatching, sport fishing, exploring the Jekyll Island Museum and trying one’s luck at the Emerald Princess Casino. The surrounding Atlantic Ocean teems with pods of playful bottlenose dolphins, and a dolphin tour through coastal waterways, into salt marshes and past wild beaches offers lovely views of Jekyll and frequent sightings of sea life. One of the country’s largest historic areas, the Jekyll Island National Historic Landmark District covers 240 acres with 34 historic structures. Fascinating history becomes clear on concierge-led tours, trolley tours and carriage tours. The district has been the setting for movies, including “The Legend of Bagger Vance,” and hosted stars Will Smith and Matt Damon during filming. The island is pure magic and a shoo-in for meeting attendees to bring their families for beach time, island shopping, ghost tours and ranger-led kids programs. “Several major draws entice planners to choose Jekyll Island as a meeting destination,” said Kathryn Hearn, marketing communications manager for the Jekyll Island Authority. “The island’s unspoiled natural surroundings provide a refreshing, inspiring setting. It’s home to the Jekyll Island Club Historic Landmark District, which offers elegant, historic venues for meetings. “A range of accommodations from beachfront resorts to budget-friendly hotels give options to accommodate planners’ preferences. And the island’s focus on sustainability and environmental conservation makes it green-event friendly.”

GEORGIA SEA TURTLE CENTER

Photos courtesy Jekyll Island Authority

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THE JEKYLL ISLAND CONVENTION CENTER HAS 78,000 SQUARE FEET OF MEETING SPACE.

Jekyll Island Convention Center

The Southeast’s only oceanfront convention space, 128,000-squarefoot Jekyll Island Convention Center (JICC) can host meetings for 200 to 2,000. Built in 1929 as an indoor tennis club, its Morgan Ballroom, named in honor of J.P. Morgan, was renovated to become part of the JICC in 2012. Today, the LEED-certified center has 78,000 square feet of meeting space. With a 45,140-square-foot ballroom, 11 breakouts and in-house catering, JICC features wide ocean views to relax the busiest of corporate minds. Today’s Morgan Ballroom, which has more than 4,200 square feet of ground-level meeting space, a mezzanine, foyer and an outdoor terrace, is ideal for gatherings of up to 500 guests.

Meeting Hotels

JEKYLL ISLAND GEORGIA LOCATION

Georgia’s Atlantic Coast within the chain of the Golden Isles ACCESS

Interstate 95; Jekyll Island Airport, Brunswick-Golden Isles Airport, Savannah International Airport, Jacksonville International Airport, St. Simons Island Airport MAJOR MEETING SPACES

Jekyll Island Convention Center, Jekyll Island Club Resort, Jekyll Island Ocean Club, Westin Jekyll Island HOTEL ROOMS

1,400 OFF-SITE VENUES

Georgia Sea Turtle Center CONTACT INFO

Jekyll Island Authority 912-571-2636 jekyllisland.com

November/December 2023

The Jekyll Island Club Resort — with its adjacent Island Cottages — treats guests with a gracious, late-19th century charm, offers historically inspired accommodations and affords direct access to the National Landmark Jekyll Island Historic District. The AAA Four-Diamond, all-suite Jekyll Island Ocean Club shines with Atlantic views and ocean lifestyle. Together, the two properties have 200 recently renovated rooms, including 10 suites in the former and 40 oceanfront suites in the latter. The resorts share 14,500 square feet of meeting space, use of pools and beach, all amenities, restaurants and bars, and complimentary shuttle service between the two.

Georgia Sea Turtle Center

More than 1,500 patients — all turtles — have been rehabilitated and released since the Georgia Sea Turtle Center opened in 2007. Created and operated by the Jekyll Island Authority, it is a conservation-focused, interactive education, research and rehab facility. Groups can learn about nesting sea turtles, see reptilian patients being rehabbed in hospital tanks and hear about state-of-the-art veterinary care. Groups of more than 50 can take 45-minute tours, while six or fewer can venture behind the scenes to see the center’s inner workings. And at a Critters and Cocktails event, animal ambassadors, such as turtles and snakes, illustrate the importance of protecting the ecosystem.

Team Building Georgia’s largest public golf facility, the Jekyll Island Golf Club, boasts three 18-hole courses and one nine-hole course — a remnant of the original 1926 seaside course — as well as miniature golf, a full-service clubhouse and practice resources. A Jekyll Island Authority Golf Improvement Plan has reclassified coastal prairie land to enhance the viewshed. Teams can enjoy the Jekyll Island Tennis Center, Summer Waves Water Park, a beach run or walk, croquet, a historic cottage crawl, fishing charters or cycling on 24 miles of bike paths.

O N E - S T O P D E S T I N AT I O N

The Marcum at Miami U

BY REBECCA T REON

he Marcum Hotel and Conference Center is not your average meeting resort. Situated on the campus of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, the Marcum combines school spirit with boutique hospitality and ample meeting space to create a functional and memorable setting for events. “We are certainly a retreat from distractions,” said Paula Green, senior director for conference and event services at the Marcum. “We’re away from the main beltways, and that really allows our guests the opportunity to get focused, knock out their agenda and then enjoy their time for the rest of their stay. We think our clients highly value the concept of a one-stop resort, where they can get everything they need through a personal planner. That streamlines their time, and we enjoy the relationships built through those efforts.” Despite being housed on campus, the Marcum operates independently from Miami University. Funded by donor dollars, it is owned by the university and specializes in smaller conferences and private events. The boutique hotel features just 55 rooms but more than 8,350 square feet of meeting and event space on the main floor — perfect for an intimate retreat or small meeting. “We’re the size that you can come in, feel very comfortable — it’s your event,” said Green. “We design it around that concept — we want guests to feel at home and showcase what it is they are here for.” The Marcum offers easy access to Oxford’s downtown retail and entertainment district, but also to the hiking, water sports, golfing and horseback riding available at nearby Hueston Woods State Park. As an added bonus, guests of the hotel have full access to the university, including its world-class fitness center.

AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE MARCUM ON THE CAMPUS OF MIAMI UNIVERSITY IN OXFORD

Photos courtesy the Marcum Hotel

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

TULIPS ADORN THE ENTRY LAWN OF THE MARCUM HOTEL AT MIAMI UNIVERSITY IN THE SPRING.

The Marcum has 10 flexible meeting spaces that create a total of 8,350 square feet of venue area. The building is horseshoe shaped, with meeting space on the main floor and the accommodations — 55 hotel rooms total —on the second floor. “Our conference space flows seamlessly into the hotel rooms, and large format conferences or events like weddings flow easily from room to room, into the adjoining hallway or across the courtyard,” said Green. “It makes it a very inclusive event.” The conference rooms vary in appearance, which gives meeting planner options when it comes to how the space will be used. Various configurations include classroom-, theater-, hollow square-, chevron-, conference- and banquet-style. The setups can accommodate from six to 275 guests.

AMENITIES As a hotel located on a university campus, the Marcum is different from the average chain. It’s popular as a wedding venue, conference site and reunion destination and is also a favorite with alumni and parents. The rooms include five double queens, 38 single kings, four accessible single kings, four king suites and four double-queen suites. The Marcum provides free parking, a daily continental breakfast, daily housekeeping and high-speed Wi-Fi. It also allows guests access to Miami University’s state-of-the-art fitness center. “Part of our hotel amenities is to offer the university to you,” said Green. “That includes daily membership to our facilities, including the rec center, which has an Olympic-sized pool, an indoor track, basketball courts and a climbing wall. Those become a part of your stay.”

DINING

THE MARCUM HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER LOCATION

Oxford, Ohio GUEST ROOMS

55 MEETING SPACE

8,350 square feet in 10 flexible spaces ACCESS

Highways 73 and 27; close to interstates 74, 70, and 275; Cincinnati and Dayton airports CONTACT INFO

513-529-6911 miamioh.edu/the-marcum

November/December 2023

Apart from serving its continental breakfast each day, the Marcum doesn’t have on-site dining facilities. Rather, it relies on Miami Catering, the university’s full catering services, for events. The Marcum offers a dedicated event planner on-site to not only secure and configure space and other meeting needs but also order food as needed throughout the event, from breakfast to evening receptions. Miami University’s campus sits just a mile from what’s known in Oxford as High Street, the main commercial district, which is full of dining options. A few of Green’s favorites include Steinkeller, a German restaurant serving traditional fare like soft pretzels, schnitzel and wurst, and Sorisso Osteria and Bar, a secluded Italian restaurant.

OUT AND ABOUT The Marcum has great relationships with local businesses that offer after-meeting and team-building activities. Their experienced planners have several partners to help build those experiences, whether on-site or off-site. “This includes everything from horseback riding to candle making,” said Green. “We have a baker who comes and teaches a cake-decorating class and competition as a team-building activity. Or we have a local company that comes out and teaches everyone to build their own custom charcuterie boards.” Just north and south of Miami University are beautiful local public golf courses. Hueston Woods Golf Course is located within a state park by the same name that also features hiking trails and is home to Acton Lake, a popular place for birding, boating, fishing and swimming.

Wyoming’s Small Wonders

GROUPS MEETING IN LARAMIE CAN MAKE USE OF SEVERAL FACILITIES AND VENUES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING.

Meetdieng Gui

Courtesy Visit Laramie BY PAU L A AV EN GL A DYCH

ome of Wyoming’s biggest possibilities are found in its small towns. Wyoming is known for its wide-open spaces, blue sky that seems to go on forever, spectacular natural wonders, outdoor recreation and Wild West past. Meeting planners wanting to tap into all that makes Wyoming a great destination should consider hosting events in these five smaller destinations. LARAMIE

Founded between two rugged mountain ranges, Laramie attracts hordes of outdoor enthusiasts wanting to hike, bike, climb, fish, canoe or kayak through its incomparable scenery. In the winter, visitors can ski, snowshoe, cross-country ski or try their hand at snowmobiling. Another big attraction to the area is the University of Wyoming, the state’s only fouryear institution, which also happens to offer several large conference facili-

ties and classroom-style meeting options for groups of all sizes. “Campus is gorgeous and historic in its own way,” said Scott Larson, executive director of Visit Laramie/Albany County Tourism Board. “I think that is a draw.” The Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center is the University of Wyoming’s welcome center, offering state-of-theart technology, inside spaces and two outdoor plazas that can be used for intimate lunches or banquets of up to 600. The McMurry Foundation Grand Atrium is a wonderful gathering place for groups. The UW Events Center is an 8,000-square-foot ballroom with banquet seating for 560. The 135-room Hilton Garden Inn Laramie is across the street from the Gateway Center. It features 3,483 square feet of meeting space. The Grand Teton Ballroom is 2,130 square feet and can host 120 for a banquet or 230 theater-style. Steeped in western history, Laramie also has a lot to offer when it comes to arts and culture. Groups should make a point of visiting the Wyoming Territorial and Historic Prison, the only prison to ever hold Butch Cassidy, and the Historic Laramie Union Pacific Train Depot. visitlaramie.org

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GILLETTE

The energy capital of the nation, Gillette sits in the northeast corner of Wyoming, nestled among some of the nation’s most famous monuments, including Devils Tower National Monument, Mount Rushmore National Memorial and the Big Horn Mountain Range. Visitors come to tour the Eagle Butte Coal Mine and learn more about the area’s coal mining history. The Durham Bison Ranch, founded in 1965, is home to more than 3,000 bison. Groups coming to the area for meetings or conventions can set aside time to tour the working ranch from May through early fall. Groups looking for meeting locations in Gillette will want to explore Cam-Plex, which has an ice arena, theater, outdoor arena, indoor arena and multi-event center. The Energy Hall Ballroom has 21,000 square feet of space that can be divided into eight individual rooms. Three conference rooms adjoin the space. Wyoming Center offers 78,899 square feet of contiguous space that can be divided into three halls and lobbies. The Best Western Tower West Lodge is the only full-service hotel in the area, with 190 guest rooms and a conference center that can hold 300. Frontier Auto Museum can host groups of 50 to 75 people for a meet-and-greet among the vintage cars. visitgillettewright.com

A WATERFRONT FESTIVAL IN GILLETTE INSIDE BLOOMINGTON’S FAMOUS MALL OF AMERICA

CODY

Cody attracts many visitors annually because of its wonderful outdoor recreation and its proximity to Yellowstone National Park. Cody feeds into two of Yellowstone’s five entrance gates. Meeting groups wanting to attract a larger attendance for their events will offer guided tours of the park that travel through one gate and exit through the other. Groups wanting to tap into an authentic Western experience can host events in the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, which hosts five Smithsonian-affiliated museums under one roof: the Whitney Western Art Museum, the Buffalo Bill Museum, the Cody Firearms Museum, the Draper Natural History Museum and the Plains Indian Museum. There are 14 guest and dude ranches in the area that offer authentic Western experiences and team building for groups of different sizes. Cody has 2,500 hotel rooms, campsites and guest-house options to cater to the needs of various groups, as well as several hotels and conference centers. The Holiday Inn and Convention Center offers finished banquet space for up to 250, along with several breakout rooms and exhibition space. It has 186 sleeping rooms, a restaurant and lounge, and catering services. The Cody Cattle Company has space for up to 500 people, including a kitchen, a stage, a bar and audio-visual equipment. The Riley Arena and Community Events Center has 25,000 square feet of open exhibit space from April through October. It offers event setup and table and chair rentals; a kitchen and snack bar are available with local catering for groups. Cody Trolley Tours can take groups on hourlong explorations of town before or after their meetings. Groups can visit the Heart Mountain World War II Interpretive Center, the site of a Japanese-American internment camp where more than 14,000 people were incarcerated during the war. codyyellowstone.org

Courtesy Visit Gillette

BUFFALO BILL CENTER OF THE WEST IN CODY

Courtesy Cody Yellowstone

November/December 2023

Meetieng Guid

ROCK SPRINGS

Rock Springs attracts visitors from across the country because of its spectacular scenery. Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area is right outside town. It includes Lake Flaming Gorge, which is the size of Lake Powell and offers premiere aquatic activities. Just north of Rock Springs, the Killpecker Sand Dunes are the second-largest active sand dune field in the world, covering 109,000 acres that stretch 55 miles east from the Green River Basin across the Continental Divide into the Great Divide Basin. Visitors can tackle the dunes with off-road vehicles like ATVs or hike the dunes and slide down them using skis or sleds. Some of the dunes are 100 feet tall. The area is famous for its interesting geologic formations, including Boar’s Tusk, an ancient volcano that rises 400 feet above the valley floor. If groups have time, they should seek out the area’s petroglyphs or try to catch a glimpse of a rare desert elk herd that is found nowhere else in North America. Rock Springs has plenty of meeting spaces for groups of up to 300. Broadway Theater can hold 350, while the 100-room Best Western Outlaw Inn can accommodate up to 250. The 106-room Hampton Inn and Suites in Green River can host groups of 250. Sweetwater Events Complex has a 20,000-square-foot exhibit building and a 42,480-square-foot agricultural complex. tourwyoming.com

our yours

Jackson Hole is the gateway to Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, so the area has always attracted adventure seekers, from skiers, hikers, bikers and horseback riders to rock climbers and rafters. Group visitors can experience the wildlife and scenery of the area on a guided safari that takes them through less crowded areas of the nearby parks to observe and learn about everything from bears, wolves and elk to bison, moose, and pronghorn and bighorn sheep. Meeting planners wanting to experience all that Jackson Hole has to offer can plan events at dude ranches or stay at national park lodges, luxury resorts or historic hotels. The Lodge at Jackson Hole offers 154 guest rooms and plenty of meeting space at the Jackson Hole Conference Center, which has 10,000 square feet of event space. Bridger Ballroom can host up to 420 guests. Nearby Wyoming Inn offers an additional 69 rooms and suites. Teton Mountain Lodge and Spa has 145 guest rooms, 5,000 square feet of meeting and event space, and event-planning services. Its largest space can accommodate 162 guests. The resort is located slope side to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and at the south gateway to Grand Teton National Park. Snake River Lodge and Spa offers 6,000 square feet of meeting space, including a ballroom, seven meeting rooms and a gorgeous outdoor deck. It is located on the slopes of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. visitjacksonhole.com

on the ground

Take a Load Off

JACKSON HOLE

We all know how much work goes into planning meetings.

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There’s no better place to host your next meeting or event than the Energy Capital of the nation. Not only will you find hospitable venues, but Wyoming’s natural paradise will inspire all of your attendees to gather and connect. And with its location just an hour from Devils Tower, pre- and post-meetings will be nothing short of epic. Start planning your next meeting at visitgillettewright.com.

Wisconsin Waterfronts

EAU CLAIRE’S PRIMARY MEETINGS DISTRICT SITS AT THE CONFLUENCE OF THE EAU CLAIRE AND CHIPPEWA RIVERS.

Meetdieng Gui

By Megan Zabel Holmes, courtesy Visit Eau Claire

BY PAU L A AV EN GL A DYCH

aterfronts may be Wisconsin’s most valuable resource. With abundant rivers and more than 800 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, Wisconsin has more than its share of beautiful waterfront destinations. Here are five small Wisconsin cities that take full advantage of their waterfront locations to get meeting attendees out of the ballroom and into nature. EAU CLAIRE

Located at the confluence of the Eau Claire and Chippewa rivers, Eau Claire offers visitors plenty of opportunities to get out on the water, including canoeing, kayaking or renting pontoon boats.

Hikers and bikers can explore along the Chippewa River State Trail, which follows the river, or enjoy paddling or tubing excursions. The Pablo Center at the Confluence downtown features multiple art galleries and a theater that presents Broadway shows. The facility also has several spaces available for events, including RCU Theatre, which can seat 1,200 people or 220 on the stage. JAMF Theatre can accommodate 400 proscenium-style or 300 for a seated dinner. Marilyn Schaefer Riverfront Hall offers Chippewa River views and can seat 100 for dinner, while the Market and Johnson Clearwater Recital Hall offers sweeping views of the confluence and Haymarket Plaza. Eau Claire Event District, a multi-building event venue, offers both indoor and outdoor event locations and can accommodate groups of up to 1,000 guests. The 11,000-square-foot Crescent building can host 650 seated guests, and the 18,000-square-foot High Country Building

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can accommodate 1,000 seated guests. The site includes 133-inch projector screens, state-of-the-art A/V and full-service catering. The County Materials Complex, which is scheduled to open in May 2024, will include the 172,502-square-foot Sonnentag Event Center, with a capacity of 5,000, and the John and Carolyn Sonnentag Fieldhouse, a 100-yard artificially turfed fieldhouse. The largest meeting hotels in Eau Claire are The Lismore Hotel, a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel with 14,000 square feet of event space; Metropolis Resort and Conference Center, with 8,350 square feet of space; and Sleep Inn and Suites Conference Center, with 6,400 square feet of event space. In their free time, attendees can enjoy the largest sculpture tour in the nation, which features more than 150 sculptures on display, or visit the Chippewa Valley Museum. visiteauclaire.com

STURGEON BAY AND DOOR COUNTY

Sturgeon Bay and Door County are situated on the Door Peninsula, which juts out into Lake Michigan. Most visitors to the area come for the 300 miles of shoreline, beaches and outdoor adventure. Visitors can take guided kayak tours or rent jet skis or pontoon boats to enjoy the county’s gorgeous scenery from the water. There are 34 named islands in Door County, the largest being Washington Island, which is the only one with a year-round population. Visitors enjoy crossing the lake by ferry to reach the island. Once there, groups can take trams around the island, stopping at key points of interest. The 161-room Stone Harbor Resort and Conference Center in Sturgeon Bay has the largest meeting spaces in the county and can accommodate groups of 300 to 350 for a banquet. The Landmark Resort, farther up the peninsula in Egg Harbor, has 291 guest rooms and nine small meeting spaces. Egg Harbor Room has 2,394 square feet and State Room has 1,463 square feet. The Door County Trolley offers a variety of private group tours for up to 28 people, from lighthouse tours to winery and haunted tavern tours. Tour boats that leave out of Sturgeon Bay and Sister Bay take groups on narrated expeditions past lighthouses, Death’s Door, many islands, bluffs and beaches. Sister Bay Scenic Boat Tours also offers Sunset Live Music Cruises. Many meeting planners will incorporate a fish boil into their events. Locals cook white fish in a large pot over an open flame and then flash-finish it with kerosene to burn off all of the oil before the meal is served. doorcounty.com

STURGEON BAY IN DOOR COUNTY

WAUWATOSA

Wauwatosa, a charming village of 49,000 residents, is right in Milwaukee’s backyard on the Menomonee River. The village center is modeled after a European town, evoking Old World charm. The city is very walkable and offers boutique shopping, a variety of restaurants and a series of outdoor murals.

A FISH BOIL AT PELLETIER’S RESTAURANT Photos by Mike Tittel, courtesy Destination Door Co.

November/December 2023

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SUNSET IN WAUWATOSA

For fun, meeting attendees can walk or bike along the Menomonee River Parkway, which begins at Currie Park. The Oak Leaf Trail, which also follows the Menomonee River, is a 100-plus-mile trail that is perfect for cycling. Groups can also book a round of golf at Hansen Park Golf Course or Currie Park Golf Course. Because of its proximity to Milwaukee, Wauwatosa is also a great location to take in a Milwaukee Bucks game at Fiserv Forum or take a 20-minute drive to enjoy all that Lake Michigan has to offer. Renaissance Milwaukee West Hotel is one of the largest meeting facilities in Wauwatosa. The 12-story hotel, which opened during the pandemic, offers 9,864 square feet of event space, with the largest space able to accommodate groups of 550. The hotel’s restaurant, Eldr+Rime, offers space for more intimate gatherings with two private dining rooms. Milwaukee County Zoo is only 2.5 miles from Wauwatosa and features several unique meeting options. The Peck Welcome Center, which is on zoo property, features a spacious indoor ballroom with large windows, terrazzo floors and an outdoor patio. It can seat 320 for an event. The Zoofari Center, which is located outside the zoo grounds, has a permanent stage and dance floor that can host up to 300 guests. There are several smaller spaces within the zoo that allow guests to view the animals while they dine. The Sonesta and Radisson both have ballrooms, and several other hotels in the area feature smaller boardroom spaces. discoverwauwatosa.com

By Bridget Kesner, courtesy Discover Wauwatosa

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WAUSAU

A suburb of Milwaukee, Wausau is not only an outdoor lover’s paradise but also has a thriving cultural and arts community. Meeting attendees can spend time before or after their events partaking in the outdoor adventures the area is known for, including biking, hiking, skiing and paddling. The city was built along the Wisconsin River and Lake Wausau, which was formed when the Eau Claire and Rib rivers merged. The county has 863 miles of snowmobile trails, 42.7 miles of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Dells of the Eau Claire River State Natural Area and more than 120 parks and forests to explore. The Hilton Garden Inn Wausau in Rib Mountain is the city’s premier hotel, offering sweeping views of Rib Mountain State Park. The 108-room hotel is just two miles from the Granite Peak Ski Area, and local shopping, dining and entertainment are only five minutes away. The Hilton has 5,847 square feet of meeting space. The Grand Hall can accommodate 210 for a banquet and 387 theater-style. There are also four conference rooms and a small boardroom.

Wauwatosa, a charming village of 49,000 residents, is right in Milwaukee’s backyard on the Menomonee River. The village center is modeled after a European town, evoking Old World charm.

There’s nowhere quite like it

CONNECT IN THE FOX CITIES Start planning for your next meeting or event in the Fox Cities. With a wide variety of spaces and places, we have the perfect venue to inspire any group to get down to business. Looking for a modern, state-ofthe-art option with room for a crowd? Check out the Fox Cities Exhibition Center - 38,000 square feet of thoughtfully designed space built right into the hillside of Downtown Appleton.

Ask about our incentives starting at $500 for events booked and held in the Fox Cities.

Contact Alison Hutchinson at ahutchinson@foxcities.org November/December 2023

to plan your original event.

Meetieng Guid The Jefferson Street Inn is just two blocks from the Wisconsin River and one mile away from the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, which is a major attraction in the city. The inn has an 8,000-square-foot event center, including the Grand Ballroom, which features a bar, dance floor and stunning Palladian windows overlooking Wausau’s historic district. The Grand Theater has several spaces that can be rented out for events, including the theater itself, which seats 1,200 guests. The Great Hall offers 4,300 square feet of event space that can accommodate 400 people or 220 for a sit-down meal. visitwausau.com

OSHKOSH

INSIDE WAUSAU’S HILTON GARDEN INN Courtesy Visit Wausau

Some of Oshkosh’s most notable attractions also make great meeting and event locations. The city, which sits along the Fox River, is home to a top-notch aviation museum and the Paine Art Center and Gardens. One of the most extensive aviation museums in the world, EAA Aviation Museum features more than 200 historic planes. Visitors can take a ride on a vintage airplane at Pioneer Airport or learn about space in the Willan Space Gallery. EAA AirVenture Grounds and Expo Hangars have 179,000 square feet of space that can be used for events, conventions, shows or festivals. Outdoor exhibit space is also available. The Paine got its start as an English-inspired country estate. The mansion is the centerpiece of the facility, along with four acres of garden galleries that change displays with the seasons. The Paine’s art collection features more than 1,000 paintings, sculptures, decorative objects and furnishings. Meeting groups of up to 200 can utilize several spaces for their events, including: the conservatory and adjoining carriage house; the mansion; and the studio, which offers a comfortable space for professional development, workshops and meetings. Several venues are situated on the waterfront, including the Oshkosh Convention Center, which is connected to the Best Western Premier Waterfront Hotel. The convention center has a capacity of 2,200 and features 14 flex meeting spaces. The Waters, a wedding venue and event space on Lake Winnebago, features a screened porch and balcony. The facility can accommodate a maximum of 300 guests, and its grand ballroom can seat 172 people. The Howard is a three-story Old English/Tudor Revival mansion with 33,000 square feet of space that has been fully restored into an event venue. The building has a 7,000-square-foot concert hall and a ballroom that spans two floors and can hold up to 450. The facility also features a vintage 10-lane bowling alley. visitoshkosh.com

INSIDE BLOOMINGTON’S FAMOUS OUTSIDE THE GRAND IN OSHKOSH MALL OF AMERICA Courtesy Discover Oshkosh

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Pictured: Genisa Wine Bar

Book Your Meeting in Janesville • Variety of unique locations • Fraction of the cost of larger cities • Total combined meeting space: 45,759 sq ft • 987 hotel rooms • Easily accessible - right off I-39/90 • Free JACVB assistance every step of the way

janesvillecvb.com · (800) 487-2757 · 

November/December 2023

Uniquely Wisconsin

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GROUPS OF UP TO 500 CAN MEET AMONG THE 211 ACRES ON HOSRTMANN HOMESTEAD IN WEST SALEM. By Nancy Christine, courtesy Horstmann Homestead BY PAU L A AV EN GL A DYCH

isconsin is famous for its cheese, but that doesn’t mean meeting planners have to incorporate it into their events (although who doesn’t like a good cheese curd?). These five unique Wisconsin venues go far beyond dairy to tap into the state’s agricultural past as well as take advantage of its incomparable scenery. HORSTMANN HOMESTEAD FARM AND EVENTS

West Salem The Horstmann family has owned their farm in the Driftless region of Wisconsin since 1869. The property is four miles from West Salem and just a 15-minute drive to Onalaska or Lacrosse, where most of the hotels are. When the family first began homesteading, they raised dairy cows, pigs, sheep and chickens. The more recent generations raised beef cattle and grew crops to support them. A few years ago, the homestead’s

fifth-generation owners Brian and Patricia Horstmann decided to convert the barn into a wedding and event venue because, at the time, they were both working full time, and it was very difficult to run a beef operation on the side. Switching gears allowed them to generate a new revenue stream and keep the barn in the family. The barn underwent a complete overhaul that included new floors, ADA-compliant bathrooms, new electrical, a front patio and a back deck. The facility can hold groups of 200 people for a sit-down function and as many as 500 guests for a reception. Tables, chairs and table linens are included with the rental, and two attendants are on staff to make sure events go off without a hitch. The back deck overlooks a beautiful valley, and the Horstmanns built a pavilion for wedding ceremonies to take advantage of the view. The pavilion can seat 180 guests. The former henhouse is available for the bride and her attendants to get ready, and the former bullpen is available for the groom and his groomsmen. The Homestead Farm sits on 211 acres surrounded by beautiful hills that offer scenic views from all directions,

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and guests can enjoy the area’s natural beauty while sitting around a bonfire. The couple’s oldest daughter runs a DJ service for the property, while their youngest daughter is a professional photographer. Other add-ons include bar service and a day-ofevent coordinator. horstmannhomesteadevents.com

HEIDEL HOUSE HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER

Green Lake The 114-room Heidel House Hotel and Conference Center sits on the shores of Green Lake. Originally founded in 1890 as a private estate, the property became a resort in 1945. In 2019, the property closed. It reopened in 2021 under new management. The entire facility has been reimagined, and the new owners invested $11 million into a full renovation of everything from the meeting spaces to the guest rooms. All the meeting spaces offer spectacular views of the lake, no matter what time of year it is. Dartford Ballroom is the largest of the facility’s three ballrooms, making it work well for large weddings, conferences and lectures. It can hold groups of 300 comfortably. Sandstone is a lower-level ballroom that can accommodate groups of 120, while Pleasant Point Ballroom can easily seat 180 and has a built-in stage. Pleasant Point is connected to Waves Pub and Grill. All three ballrooms have expansive windows and walk-out terraces overlooking Green Lake, allowing groups to incorporate a little bit of nature into their events. The hotel offers an expansive catering menu but can work with groups that request specific meals that are not on the menu. Hotel staff will help groups plan everything from the menu and signage to the agenda. The hotel partners with several rental companies in the area to bring groups out on the water. Green Lake Marina offers pontoon and ski boat rentals, and another marina offers kayak, paddleboard and e-bike rentals. Departing from the hotel’s dock, Escapade Yacht is a 60-foot boat that seats 36 at tables in the air-conditioned main cabin and 24 on the open-air upper deck. The hotel caters for events held on the Escapade. In their free time, groups can plan golf outings at Tuscumbia Golf Course, book a fishing charter or enjoy a spa day at Evensong Spa, which is adjacent to the hotel. heidelhouse.com

HEIDEL HOUSE HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER IN GREEN LAKE Courtesy Heidel House Hotel and Conference Center

LAKE GENEVA CRUISE LINE

Lake Geneva Lake Geneva Cruise Line celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2023. It got its start as a transportation company, shuttling people to and from their vacation homes on the lake. By 1873, larger boats were commissioned to carry as many as 700 passengers around the lake at a time. In 1879, John A. Wilson purchased two large steamers and formed The Anchor Line, the predecessor to Lake Geneva Cruise Line. The charter boat service can take groups of up to 500 out on

THE LAKE GENEVA CRUISE LINE FLEET

Courtesy Lake Geneva Cruise Line

November/December 2023

Meetieng Guid private tours of the lake, using many of its boats at one time. The highlight tour takes groups around the perimeter of the lake, giving a narrated history of the many beautiful and historic mansions and homes that have been built there since the late 1800s. Some of the biggest names in Chicago — including the Wrigleys, Vanderbilts, and Mortons of Morton Salt fame — built homes in the area in the late 19th century. Most of the estates are only occupied for a month or two during the year before their owners head back to their primary residences. Many of the homes were built by Chicago beer barons, and one of the most popular cruises offered by Lake Geneva Cruise Line is the brewery cruise, which allows guests to sample different kinds of beer as they learn about the homes surrounding the lake. Considered the Newport (Rhode Island) of the west, Lake Geneva is a popular summer vacation spot. The cruise line owns a lakefront restaurant called Pier 290 that features architectural items reclaimed from area mansions that were torn down. Many groups host cocktails on their cruise and then get off at the restaurant, where they have dinner, dessert, drinks and coffee before getting back on the boat. cruiselakegeneva.com THE STELLA HOTEL AND BALLROOM IN KENOSHA

THE STELLA HOTEL AND BALLROOM

Kenosha The Stella Hotel and Ballroom is in a historic structure built in the early 1900s that used to house the Heritage House Inn and the

Courtesy the Stella Hotel and Ballroom

Connect, Collaborate, Celebrate. It’s not just what we call our ballrooms, it’s what we want to happen inside them.

4 distinct gathering spaces: • The Connect Ballroom has 18,000 sq. ft. of space.

We invite you to tour the Brookfield Conference Center before you plan your next event. Located at I-94 and Moorland Rd., just minutes from Milwaukee.

• The Collaborate Ballroom offers 6,000 sq. ft.

Voted 2023’s Best Conference Center by Smart Meetings Magazine.

• The Celebration Atrium is an 8,000 sq. ft. space for pre- or post-function gatherings, breaks, and more. • The Celebration Plaza offers 9,000 sq. ft of outdoor meeting space.

No Details Overlooked Our team provides seamless execution of your business or social event so your guests can experience the best of everything at the Brookfield Conference Center. A variety of palate pleasing restaurants and an abundance of shopping options for your guests are just minutes away.

www.brookfieldconferencecenter.com • Contact us at 262-789-0220.

smallmarketmeetings.com Brookfield

Kenosha Elks Club. A few minutes away from the shores of Lake Michigan in downtown Kenosha, the full-service hotel features 80 guest rooms, 12 suites and plenty of meeting space. The 3,942-square-foot ballroom can comfortably seat 225 at round tables for a banquet. The room has a natural wood floor, adding a touch of elegance, and large windows and beautiful chandeliers that are original to the building. The Elks Meeting Room can accommodate up to 65 for a banquet. The room once held a large swimming pool, and the blue mosaic tiles that cover the room’s pillars reflect that part of the room’s history. Several windows allow in natural light. The Heritage Meeting Room can handle up to 40 guests. There is a small boardroom, and the Card Room at the 1844 Table and Mash restaurant is perfect for more intimate gatherings of up to 40 people. French doors separate it from the rest of the establishment. A small bridal suite overlooking the ballroom can be used for weddings but can also serve as a base of operations for corporate events held in the ballroom. The Café at the Stella, which serves coffee, pastries, breakfast and lunch, teamed up with the Lemon Street Gallery to exhibit artwork throughout the hotel’s public spaces. The 1844 offers seasonal cuisine and features a vintage-inspired bar and lounge to enjoy cocktails or appetizers. The bar features more than 30 different types of whiskey, 12 craft beers on tap and signature cocktails. The Crow’s Nest Rooftop Bar offers panoramic views of Kenosha’s historic downtown and Lake Michigan. At night, it is the perfect spot to view the sunset while enjoying cocktails around the firepits. The Crow’s Nest is available for private events of up to 60 people. stellahotel.com

FARM WISCONSIN DISCOVERY CENTER

Manitowoc An agricultural education facility, Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center shares the wonders of Wisconsin agriculture with all guests who walk through its doors. Visitors explore 10,000 square feet of exhibits that help them

November/December 2023

WHERE CITIES MEET...

AND PEOPLE DO, TOO.

PLANNI NG TOGETHER.

Come see what makes Waukesha Pewaukee the place where people meet. With ample space and venues to welcome you, exciting activities and a convenient location, you can count on us to be your planning partner.

LET’S GET PLANNING! visitwaukesha.org/meet-more

Meetieng Guid

FARM WISCONSIN DISCOVERY CENTER

learn where their food comes from and the different types of technology that keep food production efficient and food safe. Wisconsin is known as America’s Dairyland, so visitors can learn about how a modern dairy operation works and how farmers work hard to care for their animals. Wisconsin is also one of the most diverse agricultural states in the nation because of its range of climate, landscape, soil and seasons. It grows everything from alfalfa to zucchini. Guests can enjoy a virtual tour of a local dairy farm and watch a calf being born in the Land O’Lakes Birthing Barn, which is attached to the Discovery Center. The facility has a conference center attached that can host groups of up to several hundred. Very large groups can rent out the entire facility and even erect tents outside to capture the overflow. If meeting groups arrive by bus, the center can take them to a local dairy farm down the road for an in-person tour. The center will also make sure to have cows onsite the days a meeting or event is planned at the center so attendees can experience the Birthing Barn firsthand. The Wisconsin Café on-site will cater breakfast, lunch and dinner for groups in-house and provides tables and chairs for any events held there. farmwisconsin.org

Courtesy Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center

s g n i t ee

how GROW YOUR M TO

Wondering how to attract more attendees to your meetings? Get expert tips with our FREE download How to Grow Your Meetings. In this free guide, you’ll hear insights from meetings industry leaders and creative thinkers on growing your meetings. SMALLMARKETMEETINGS.COM/GROW

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Darcie Holte WI Chapter-MPI Supplier of the Year 2022-2023

• • • • • • • • • •

10 reasons to meet in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

Walkable downtown Traditional and unique meeting venues Over 900 sleeping rooms One-of-a-kind family owned restaurants Where you’ll be embraced as one of our own Hand-crafted hometown experiences Team building opportunities everyone will enjoy Community wide partnerships that make planning simple One hour from four international airports And of course dog friendly trails and hotels Check out what’s happening in Fond du Lac!

Darcie Holte Director of Sales dholte@fdl.com 920-923-3010

GO where your team can CONNECT and CREATE

The cities of Greater Ontario offer a unique and connected meeting experience with its vibrant community, countless activities and authentic charms. Picture your teams day hiking in the San Gabriel Mountains and sharing high fives when nightlife comes alive at the Toyota Arena. For fun, adventure and value, connect with our team to learn about competitive rates and ways to stretch your budget further to create a truly memorable event.

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So much. So close. SoCal.