Small Market Meetings September 2021

SUSTAINABILITY REDEFINED | SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA | MCKINNEY, TEXAS SEPTEMBER 2021

p U m e ‘ d n u o R AT RANCH MEETINGS

DAYTON

:

• Accessibility—within a day’s drive of 60% of the U.S. population • Multiple full-service properties with extensive meeting space • FREE site visits* • 7,000 hotel rooms • Unique meeting venues and 150,000 sq. ft. Dayton

Convention Center • Numerous complimentary CVB Services • World-class FREE attractions like the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Contact the CVB to Submit an RFP and Receive a Special Gift*!

Crystal Walker, Director of Sales & Services cwalker@daytoncvb.net | 937.226.3162 *Certain restrictions may apply.

Kentucky State Parks Get away from it all, to discover all we have. Come for the rich history, natural beauty, and varied meeting spaces. Linger for the hospitality, scenic views, and un-meeting spaces.

Speak to a group sales professional to learn more about Kentucky State Park opportunities and discover your next destination: jovan.wells@ky.gov or call 502-892-3341. parks.ky.gov/meetings-weddings

ON THE COVER: Meeting groups can enjoy trail rides and other Western-themed activities at Tanque Verde Ranch in Tucson, Arizona.

Photo courtesy Tanque Verde Ranch.

INSIDE VOLUME 22 | ISSUE 8

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MANAGING Redefining Sustainability

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IDEAS Farms and Ranches

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CITY Shreveport, Louisiana

D E PA R T M E N T S

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INSIGHTS 8 CONFERENCE 16 ONSITE 6 Agricultural Small Market Oxford, Activities

Meetings Conference Preview

MEETING GUIDE Florida

Mississippi, Site Inspection

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 (866) 356-5128 (toll-free) or (859) 253-0503. Fax: (859) 253-0499. Copyright SMALL MARKET MEETINGS, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of editorial or graphic content in any manner without the written consent of the publisher is prohibited.

Courtesy Visit Oxford

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TOWN McKinney, Texas

TO ADVERTISE CALL KYLE ANDERSON 866-356-5128

kyle@smallmarketmeetings.com

Mac T. Lacy Publisher/Partner

Brian Jewell VP & Managing Editor

Kelly Tyner VP, Sales & Marketing

Donia Simmons Creative Director

Herbert Sparrow Executive Editor/Partner

Ashley Ricks Graphic Designer

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Welcome back.

(Lists are not comprehensive.)

Kearney, where the Heartland gathers.

Everyone knock on wood, but we’re back. Back to hosting more than 1,350 events a year. Back to networking, shaking hands, and having events. Back to being where the Heartland gathers now that we can gather again. Also, back to wearing actual pants. If you’re looking for a host city for your next event, look at Kearney. Kearney has the best facilities between Omaha and Denver and hosts everything from large conferences, and regional sporting events as well as hundreds of smaller professional and educational meetings.

Everyone grab your pants; we’re going to Kearney.

WheretheHear tlandGathers.com

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308 -2 37-3 178

INSIGHTS WITH VICKIE MITCHELL

OFF-SITE, ON THE FARM

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hen cities are small, they’re usually more connected and physically closer to their agricultural roots. A visit to those farms can bring a local touch to a meeting or convention. They can be a breath of fresh, sometimes fragrant air — ever been to a hog farm?

Most of us live in cities now, so a trip to a farm might be a wake-up call for our dulled senses. Maybe you learn the difference between a Holstein and a Hereford, you meet chickens like the ones that lay your daily scrambled egg, you walk next to fields of your future food: These new experiences make brains expand like Indiana popcorn.

Farmers can also teach city slickers a lot about business. One business strategy many of 2 million farms are trying is diversification, and that includes opening their gates for tours and finding ways to make their working farms places people want to visit. Here are a few things farms are doing in that respect.

Visiting an agricultural business can add unexpected joy to your next event

Field of Dining Dreams

Fargo, North Dakota, and its sister city Moorhead, Minnesota, sit in the Red River Valley, a highly fertile region known as the Breadbasket of the World. So it’s fitting, in fine weather — not winter, obviously — to take an opening reception or a final banquet into a field around there. A number of farms offer up their fields to groups that hunger for an eating experience that leans on locally grown foods like Wild Acres chicken thighs or duck bacon, catered by Fargo’s Luna restaurant.

It’s also possible to have an agricultural experience within Fargo’s city limits at picturesque Bear Creek Winery, with a pond, a farmhouse and vineyards that small groups can tour as they sample the maker’s dry red and white blends, made from grapes that weather Northern winters.

Slightly south of Fargo, the Solberg Farm has been around a century but sure isn’t oldschool. If anyone’s up for an afternoon yoga session followed by a snack of cider and local cheeses, this sheep and fowl farm on the Wild Rice River is happy to host it.

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How Now With the Holstein Cows

Sample creatively named ice cream flavors like How Now Brown Cow or Heavenly Holstein at the Falls Overlook Café in downtown Sioux Falls, South Dakota, then head to Stensland Farm, barely over the border in Iowa, to tour and meet about 200 Holstein cows whose milk makes the cool treats possible. Like 98% of America’s farms, this one is family operated and has a great story to tell of its revival 20 years ago, spurred by two grandsons looking for a way to earn money for college.

Tours can delve into diversifying a business: Owners talk about branching into ice cream and innovation as visitors see cows step into three robotic milkers that not only milk them but collect tons of production data.

After the tour, groups can sample Stensland Farm goodies such as homemade soups; sandwiches; salads; and ranch, garlic or white cheddar flavor cheese curds.

Garden Spot Grows

Like most gardens, the Woodstock Resort’s garden plot snowballed in a few short years from one acre to three on a former dairy and horse farm a mile from the resort in Woodstock, Vermont. Vegetables, fruit, herbs and cut flowers grown in the garden are all used at the resort. Three years ago, two 19th-century barns became venues for dinners and for classes in cooking and flower arranging.

The gardens are open to the public in-season, and visitors can hop on scheduled guided tours that focus on how to garden sustainably or which flowers are best for bouquets and how to grow them.

A Toast to Agritourism

With more than 40 wineries within 25 miles of Charlottesville, Virginia, viticulture is a big part of agritourism. The wineries’ natural beauty and individuality make them naturals for off-site venues. Not to mention, they always have ample wine to pour at receptions and dinners.

At Blenheim Vineyards, part of the draw is the fact that musician Dave Matthews owns the place. Matthews even designed the tasting room, with a goal of having as little impact on the environment as possible, which will be of great interest to meetings that focus on sustainability or architecture. Groups of 35 can even book the tasting room for private events. A huge lawn has room for lots of picnic tables for outdoor events with views of the mountains and valleys in this beautiful slice of Virginia.

Over at Pippin Hill Farm and Vineyard, the Vintner’s Table is a great choice for executive lunches. There, beneath an open-air pavilion, groups of eight to 16 have anything but a light lunch, as they enjoy a four-course or five-course meal, each course accompanied by one of the vineyard’s wines.

September 2021

Lincoln’s Greatest Pumpkin Patch

Fall means heading to the pumpkin patch, and in Lincoln, Nebraska, Roca Berry Farm reigns as the greatest pumpkin patch of them all. It’s a far cry from the 1980s, when Roca Berry was a humble berry and pumpkin farm.

Today, the farm is where carnival meets corn. Beyond the expected hayrides, farm animals and corn maze, there are duck races, a corn corral, a zip line, a low-ropes course, Rocamotive Railroad, a giant rocking horse and more. Kids of all ages can’t help but have fun. In the evening, the farm will set up a campfire for groups, complete with skewers for s’mores. Its two event barns welcome dinners or receptions.

Over at Lakehouse Farm’s Prairie Plate Restaurant, groups can conclude a farm tour with dinner in its lakeview farm-tofork restaurant, where 85% of the produce used is grown on the certified organic farm.

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CONFERENCE

AUTHENTIC CHEYENNE STARS AT UPCOMING SMALL MARKET MEETINGS CONFERENCE

BY DAN DICKSON

I

t is almost time for the next Small Market Meetings Conference, the gathering of meeting planners and destination providers who represent smaller cities and sites.

CHEYENNE FRONTIER DAYS IS THE COUNTRY’S FOREMOST RODEO EVENT, TAKING PLACE OVER THE COURSE OF 10 DAYS.

The conference takes place September 26-28 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, a modern community of 65,000 people with memories of its place in the great history of the Old West. This important assembly will be staged at the official conference hotel, the Little America Hotel and Resort. The planners and travel industry representatives will meet in two marketplace sessions to discuss potential event opportunities.

The Little America property has 188 guest rooms for the delegates to enjoy. Meeting planners will be interested to know that the site has 16 meeting rooms that can be configured for different purposes, for a total of 38,000 square feet of available space. The Little America has the configurations, equipment, staff, accommodations and food service that make life easier for meeting planners. The resort is just minutes from downtown Cheyenne, the state Capitol, various history museums, Cheyenne Frontier Days Park and Warren Air Force Base.

FAST YET FUN

The annual Small Market Meetings Conference is always a fastpaced, jam-packed event. A lot gets done in a short amount of time.

The format calls for planners to participate in up to 50 six-minute “get to know you” meetings spread out over two days. This is where planners and travel site providers decide if they have enough interest in each other to book future business. If the initial marketplace meeting doesn’t provide enough time to strike a deal, the two sides can continue to chat during several conference meal functions, on a sightseeing tour or in a lounge after hours. Follow-up contacts after the conference are also vital to help land the contract. In short, the Small Market Meetings Conference brings together the best people to get All photos courtesy Visit Cheyenne

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UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD DEPOT

CHEYENNE STREET RAILWAY TROLLEY

much to be gained by participating. “I came to help us move forward with planning and holding live meetings again,” said McBroom. “There is no better way to develop relationships, drill down to what people are looking for and win the next set of meetings.”

Conference attendees will arrive by car and by air. Many will fly into Denver’s airport and shuttle 90 miles north to Cheyenne. Others will fly directly into Cheyenne Regional Airport, just a few miles from the conference hotel.

SITES TO SEE

CHEYENNE DEPOT MUSEUM

meetings booked at interesting sites around the nation.

Jim Walter is vice president and director of sales and marketing for Visit Cheyenne, the local convention and visitors bureau. He says he will be pleased to host 100 or so meeting planners, who have the power to book future meetings in his home city. “Planners will be sitting down with our representatives from Cheyenne but also with many fine people from various cities and attractions throughout the U.S,” he said.

Travel industry representatives also found value in attending the past Small Market Meetings Conference.

William McBroom of St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and the Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau in Florida sees

September 2021

Being a true Western city, Cheyenne will offer attendees a lot of frontier history but also many modern attractions during planned sightseeing tours of the area.

“We are an authentic Western community but with the modern amenities you hope for, including great downtown nightlife,” said the CVB’s Walter. “It’s a great place to host meetings and to give people a unique destination experience.”

A great way to see a lot of Cheyenne in a hurry is to hop on the Cheyenne Street Railway Trolley for an introduction to the city’s most interesting sites and buildings with lively, knowledgeable guides narrating along the way.

The trolley is fantastic for groups. They can be booked for Wild West, holiday lights and ghost tours, to name a few.

Cheyenne is full of history at every turn, especially in the downtown area. Many buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The city got its name from the Cheyenne Native American people, but the railroads put the town on the map when they chose this location as the launching point for the laying of tracks over the Rocky

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CONFERENCE

group Bison Ranch Tours

Gillette, Wyoming's CAM-PLEX Multi-Event Facilities can facilitate any size meeting, conference, convention, rally . . . or herd.

After the meetings . . . group coal mine tours

haunted & historical

walking tours

70+ restaurants

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devils tower

craft brewery & meadery

Mountains and into the American West. The restored Cheyenne Depot has an interesting museum. The Wyoming State Capitol building had a four-year $300 million renovation that returned it to its former glory. It is open to visitors. The Nelson Museum of the West and the Cowgirls of the West museums are two more choices. The historic Governor’s Mansion and the State Museum are nearby, too.

Other area attractions include the Terry Bison Ranch, which has 2,400 head of bison and offers an unusual train ride right into a herd of bison so visitors can see the beasts up close and even feed them. There are horseback rides and other fun outdoor activities to do on the ranch. Big Boy 4004, the largest steam locomotive in the world, is displayed in Holliday Park. Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, with its spectacular gardens and floral arrangements, is the pride of the city and worth a stop.

The conference’s host city always enjoys feeding and entertaining its conference delegates, and the attendees won’t be let down when they get to Cheyenne. In addition to sightseeing tours of the area, Visit Cheyenne will provide conference delegates with a special treat.

Following a hearty opening night meal, guests will view a mini rodeo in the arena. Each July, Cheyenne hosts Frontier Days, considered the world’s largest outdoor rodeo and Western celebration. As part of the Small Market Meetings Conference, delegates will sample the event by watching cowboys and cowgirls from the local community college race, rope and perform other tricks on horseback. There might even be a little bull riding and steer wrestling thrown in. In any event, the night will be colorful and exciting. This event will be interactive. Walter’s message to all conference delegates: “Be sure to bring your Western boots.”

INSPIRATION AND INFORMATION

Change makes many people uncomfortable. Unexpected change in the business world can be especially nerve-racking. But the Small Market Meetings Conference’s keynote speaker will try to convince attendees that change can make them happier and more successful if they learn to manage it well. Motivational speaker Johnny Campbell encourages audiences to embrace change, not run away from it. Known in the trade as “The Transition Man,” he will deliver an enthusiastic message to offer delegates the tools they need to handle change.

DAILY jet service TO AND FROM DENVER

Plan your most unique event ever at

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Campbell says to improve your life you must reframe how you see change happening in you. That depends on how you see your life, the changing situation in front of you and yourself responding to it.

“People create, manage, react and respond to change,” said Campbell in one of his website talks. “In order to cope, people must transition through the change. Transition is the process that guides people through it. This is what determines success or failure.”

In addition to Campbell, various destination providers will address the delegates. These well-known travel industry representatives will be offering their sites as future meeting locations or suggesting ideas for group travel. Several of these sponsors will show beautiful videos of their cities and sites and will be available to answer questions and hand out materials at the sponsor booths that ring the floor of the marketplace.

our yours

on the ground

Take a Load Off

September 2021

THE SMALL MARKET MEETINGS CONFERENCE IN CHEYENNE WILL FEATURE A MINI RODEO.

We all know how much work goes into planning meetings.

That’s why we believe YOU deserve to enjoy the event, too!

Deliver an authentic Western experience to your attendees, just 90 minutes from Denverwhile our team helps wrangle the details onsite. Experience our famous Wyoming hospitality in the areas that matter toYOU!

Plan your next meeting wit

11 Cheyenne.org/meetings

CONFERENCE

“We are an authentic Western community but with the modern amenities you hope for, including great downtown nightlife. It’s a great place to host meetings and to give people a unique destination experience.”

— Jim Walter, Visit Cheyenne

These travel companies and destinations bring added value and are an important part of every conference.

“A sponsorship at Small Market Meetings Conference delivers added exposure to the destination marketing organization and puts their destination or venue squarely on the meeting planner’s radar screen,” said Charlie Presley, chairman and founder of The Group Travel Family and a partner in the Small Market Meetings Conference.

DON’T MISS IT

Visit Cheyenne’s Walter is looking forward to the Small Market Meetings Conference, which, he says, unfolds at just the right time of year, the beginning of fall. “Our weather out here will be spectacular, and the trees will be turning red and gold,” he said.

The site of the 2022 Small Market Meetings Conference will be announced at the closing luncheon, which is hosted by that city’s convention and visitors bureau.

A DOWNTOWN MURAL

A CHEYENNE SPORTS BAR

CALF ROPING IN CHEYENNE

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“I love helping people find what works for them because everyone is so different, and it takes a special type of person who gets energy from being around people instead of being drained by them.”

MEETING LEADERS TAYLOR RHEINHEIMER

F

BY REBECCA TREON

or Taylor Rheinheimer, creating a career in the hotel world didn’t come from a course of study in hospitality or working her way up through the ranks. It came from having moxie, or what she calls “getting Kanye cocky.”

“You know, Kanye West is always very sure of himself and even cocky,” she said. “I had a moment where I essentially went into the interview very confident, not even knowing exactly what position I was interviewing for, but knowing the property had a lot of potential if they had the right person in leadership — and I told them, ‘I want to work here, and this is what I think would be best for this place,’ and they went for it.”

Rheinheimer grew up in Fort Collins, Colorado, a college town roughly 90 minutes north of Denver. She considered being a nurse and worked as a certified nursing assistant until an injury pushed her to work in a salon in a managerial role. From there, she took a position with wellness chain Massage Envy. Even though she loved her hometown, when she met her husband, they relocated to Indiana to be closer to his family, where she started working in hotels.

She fell in love with Blue Gate properties in Shipshewana and wanted to make a difference when she saw that their sales and marketing were lacking; she believed that her people skills would have a positive impact on the hotel.

“I found hospitality as a fluke,” she said. “I started working in the sales department, became the sales manager and, finally, the national sales director. I loved that job, and throughout my career, the consistent thread has been loving to work with people. I love helping people find what works for them because everyone is so different, and it takes a special type of person who

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gets energy from being around people instead of being drained by them.”

Rheinheimer has paved her own path in hospitality, driven by her positivity and people skills, and taken it to the Potawatomi Inn and Conference Center at Pokagon State Park near Angola, Indiana. The property is unusual because although it’s within a state park, it has a state-of-the-art conference center.

“It’s a retreat conference destination,” she said. “This is the ideal location for people who want time to get away and rejuvenate but also need to have meeting time. We have hiking and biking trails, horseback riding and a toboggan track in the winter. We have a pool/ hot tub and back right up on Lake James and are only 10 minutes from town. We offer great amenities for groups, but it also works really well for attendees’ families to join and come enjoy the location at the same time.”

One of the things Rheinheimer loves most about her job is being able to work with groups and the teams of resort staff to create diverse, fully customized, one-of-akind retreats, conferences and events. The Potawatomi Inn was built in 1927, and accommodations range from tent camping facilities to deluxe, newly renovated cabins. It is part of a state park and is surrounded by nature, yet it has all the amenities one would expect at a resort at a fraction of the cost.

Rheinheimer advises people to forge their career paths rather than be tied to a specific course of study or job.

“Create what works for you — not every place is going to have the exact job title you want. Just be tenacious, get your foot in the door and work hard,” she said. “Get out there, network, volunteer when you can and make friends in the industry — it goes a long way.”

EXECUTIVE PROFILE NAME Taylor Rheinheimer TITLE Assistant General Manager ORGANIZATION Potawatomi Inn and Conference Center LOCATION Angola, Indiana BIRTHPLACE Fort Collins, Colorado EDUCATION Heritage Christian Academy, Fort Collins, Colorado CAREER HISTORY Sales manager, sales director and assistant general manager at various properties, including Blue Gate, Shipshewana, Indiana (Blue Gate Garden Inn, Restaurant, Music Hall, Theatre and Amish Tours)

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TIPS FROM

TAYLOR RHEINHEIMER • Know what is important to you. Whether your ideal location is a big city or a third-tier destination, know what your nonnegotiables are. Hosting a meeting or conference should benefit all parties.

• Communication is key. Don’t be afraid to communicate what your wants are. After selecting the venue that meets your needs, take some time to define the goals and desires of your program.

• Work with CVBs and other local partners. CVBs are a great resource to meeting planners and providers alike. They provide information on unique local activities for a variety of interests and introduce you to contacts to round out your program.

TAYLOR RHEINHEIMER AND HER HUSBAND, NATHAN

COMING

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To book your next meeting, call Dan Mies at 484.777.7928 or email at Daniel.Mies@windcreek.com

September 2021

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WITH SMALL MARKET MEETINGS

ONSITE OXFORD Small Market Meetings readers experience a cultural gem in northwestern Mississippi.

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SMALL MARKET MEETINGS READERS SHOPPED AT THE NATIONALLY KNOWN SQUARE BOOKS, WHICH ANCHORS OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI’S HISTORIC DOWNTOWN SQUARE, DURING A RECENT SITE-INSPECTION VISIT.

W

illiam Faulkner distinctively captured a sense of place in his writing, which made him a giant in American literature and a recipient of the Nobel Prize for literature. Faulkner’s fictional town of Jefferson and Yoknapatawpha County were based on Oxford and Lafayette County, Mississippi, where he grew up and spent the last 32 years of his life writing at his Rowan Oak estate.

Meeting planner readers of Small Market Meetings magazine experienced this special place on a recent familiarization trip hosted by Visit Oxford.

“It was eye-opening,” said Denise Adam, a HelmsBriscoe meeting planner from New York. “I can market it now that I know about it. This is incentive heaven.”

Located in northwestern Mississippi, a little more than an hour’s drive from Memphis, Oxford is home to the University of Mississippi. It easily blends smalltown charm and ambiance with a thriving literary, musical and artistic scene that has earned it the moniker the Cultural Mecca of the South.

A CULTURAL MECCA The town’s literary credibility was established by Faulkner, expanded by John Grisham — who churned out his first novels while teaching at the University of Mississippi’s law school — and solidified by the numerous writers who journey to the nationally renowned Square Books, where their signed photos line the walls.

Square Books anchors the downtown square, the economic and social hub of Oxford where boutiques, restaurants, live music venues and the South’s oldest department store surround the historic Lafayette County Courthouse and provide great free time opportunities for meeting attendees.

The cultural scene coexists with surprisingly diverse culinary offerings anchored by several James Beard Award-winning and -nominated chefs and restaurants that the meeting planners got to sample and enjoy.

Elizabeth Heiskell prepared a delicious lunch for the group in the gas-lit dining room at the historic Isom Place and displayed the offbeat and humorous personality that has made her a regular on NBC’s “Today Show.”

BEST CHEF IN THE SOUTH The planners also dined at three of the four Oxford restaurants owned by John Currence, who has won the James Beard Award for Best Chef in the South.

The culinary scene extends just outside Oxford to the small town of Taylor, where the Grit restaurant catered a fantastic final evening meal on the covered porch of Wonderbird Spirits, a distiller of rice-based gin.

The town has a full-service conference center and several hotels with meeting space. The beautiful campus of Ole Miss is a short distance from the downtown square and adds another element to the meeting possibilities in Oxford.

“Full of history, culture and endless culinary experiences, Oxford is the perfect setting for small to mid-size groups,” said Donna Masiulewicz with Timeline Meetings and Events in Phoenix. “I can’t wait to return.”

“I’m not sure Oxford knows how good they have it,” said Adam. “It’s a hidden gem.”

September 2021

17 Photos courtesy Visit Oxford unless noted

IN OXFORD

Oxford Conference Center

MEETING SPACES | The Oxford Conference Center has more than 25,000 square feet of bookable space, including 11,000 square feet of column-free space in Oxford Hall that can be divided into five rooms. The center also has a fully equipped 282-seat auditorium, an outdoor terrace, classrooms and an executive conference room.

Courtesy Chancellor’s House

The Oxford Conference Center can accommodate everything from small corporate and association meetings and conferences to midsize exhibitions and consumer or trade shows.

THE CHANCELLOR’S HOUSE LOBBY

Chancellor’s House

MEETING SERVICES | The center has a full catering

kitchen, a business center, free on-site parking, highspeed wireless internet and state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment.

The luxury boutique Chancellor’s House features memorabilia and photographs of author William Faulkner, including a couple of his typewriters, in the comfortable Tea Room/Library off its lobby.

| Three on-site hotels — the Hampton Inn by Hilton, Towneplace Suites Marriott and Tru by Hilton — provide a total of 287 rooms. The Hampton also has 1,300 square feet of meeting space.

LODGING

| The Chancellor’s House’s 38 rooms include six suites with private balconies. Rooms come with monogrammed terrycloth robes, and some have clawfoot soaking tubs.

ROOMS

| The 2,000-square-foot ballroom can host multiday conferences. Board meetings and VIP retreats can take advantage of the Tea Room or the Library.

MEETING SPACES

MORE INFO

| The Chancellor’s Grill offers upscale dining, and creative cocktails are mixed in the Chancellor’s Lounge. Guests can enjoy drinks on the outdoor patio terrace or in the Library.

DINING

OXFORDCONFERENCECENTER.COM

| The Chancellor’s House is a short walk from Oxford’s downtown square with its variety of shops and restaurants.

OUTDOOR TERRACE AT THE OXFORD CONFERENCE CENTER

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Courtesy Oxford Conference Center

RECREATION

MORE INFO CHANCELLORSHOUSE.COM

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In the heart of the beautiful University of Mississippi campus, the Inn at Ole Miss is just 150 feet from the tree-shaded Grove, famous for its pre-football game tailgating, and just one mile from the Square in downtown Oxford.

ROOMS

THE LOBBY AT GRADUATE OXFORD

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The Inn’s 146 guest rooms are a mix of basic and deluxe rooms, two-bedroom executive suites and one-bedroom tower suites, along with a president’s suite with full kitchen and dining room.

Graduate Oxford

MEETING SPACES | Included in the more than 10,000 square feet of flexible meeting space are the 5,600-square-foot Gertrude C. Ford Ballroom, which can be divided into four soundproof sections; two boardrooms; and a 50-seat auditorium in the nearby Triplett Alumni Center.

Opened in the fall of 2015, the Graduate Oxford is part of a chain of university-themed hotels. Its 3,000-square-foot lobby, stocked with vintage books, pulses with the energy of Ole Miss students who use it to study. All details of the hotel reflect the university or Oxford.

DINING | The newly opened McCormick’s Bar and Grill, formerly a breakfast room, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The wooden bar top is being built

by Ole Miss alumnus Ben Napier of the HGTV show “Home Town.”

RECREATION

Courtesy Graduate Oxford

Inn at Ole Miss Hotel and Conference Center

ROOMS | The 136 rooms include standard guest rooms and suites with patios.

| The Graduate has nearly 1,800 square feet of meeting space that can be divided into the 600-square-foot Mae Room and the 1,200-square-foot Helen Room. A private terrace and courtyard allow for expanded seating. A boardroom is also available.

MEETING SPACES

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The inn has a state-of-the-art 24-hour fitness center and a seasonal outdoor saltwater pool.

Nightly shuttle service runs to the downtown square.

MORE INFO

DINING | Along with two on-site restaurants, there is a creative culinary team that oversees catering and custom event menus. The Coop rooftop bar and restaurant has great views of the downtown square, and the firstfloor Cabin 82 cafe pays homage to the Neshoba County Fair. There is also a lounge bar.

THEINNATOLEMISS.COM

| The Graduate has a 24-hour fitness center and offers complimentary bike rentals and shuttles. It is within walking distance of the downtown square.

A CONFERENCE ROOM AT THE INN AT OLE MISS

September 2021

Courtesy Inn at Ole Miss

RECREATION

MORE INFO GRADUATEHOTELS.COM

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IN OXFORD

Courtyard by Marriott

ACTIVITIES

There are many opportunities for meeting attendees to immerse themselves in literary, culinary, musical or artistic culture in Oxford on their free time or as part of a meeting.

The Courtyard by Marriott opened in 2016 near both the downtown square and the University of Mississippi campus.

ROOMS

• THE SQUARE — One of the iconic and most popular sites in Oxford is the historic Square that surrounds the Lafayette County Courthouse in the center of town. The Square is filled with shops, boutiques, art galleries, restaurants and coffee houses, including Square Books, whose walls are lined with autographed photos of hundreds of authors.

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There are 121 rooms, with a mix of standard rooms and eight two-story suites, including a two-bedroom presidential suite.

| The Courtyard by Marriott has two meeting rooms totaling 6,000 square feet and can hold meetings for up to 350 people. The rooftop terrace can also be used for events. State-of-the-art audiovisual equipment is included.

MEETING SPACES

• WONDERBIRD SPIRITS — Opened in 2019 less than 10 minutes south of Oxford, Wonderbird Spirits is north Mississippi’s first distillery. It uses Mississippi Delta rice as a base for distilling gin — the only distillery outside Japan that makes gin from rice. The distillery offers tours, tastings and private event space for catered dinners.

| The Bistro Restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner. Starbucks coffee is served all day. The Green Roof Lounge is open for dinner.

DINING

| There is an indoor pool and a fitness center, and tennis courts are just a half-mile away. The hotel is within walking distance of the square.

RECREATION

• DOUBLE-DECKER BUS TOUR — An original red double-decker bus imported from England in 1994 offers guided tours of the University of Mississippi campus, historic Oxford sites and sites associated with author William Faulkner, including his grave.

• FORD CENTER — Attend a concert, ballet or musical performance at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of the University of Mississippi.

In 2008, the Ford Center hosted the first presidential debate between Barack Obama and John McCain.

MORE INFO MARRIOTT.COM

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Courtesy Courtyard by Marriott

THE ROOFTOP TERRACE AT THE COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT

• ROWAN OAK — William Faulkner lived in this antebellum house for more than 30 years while writing works based on the surrounding area that won him Pulitzer and Nobel prizes. On tours of the house, you can see the small writing desk where he wrote most of his books and the outlines of a novel he wrote on the walls of his study.

• LYRIC OXFORD — The Lyric Oxford was renovated in 2019 into an event and concert space with multiple bars and state-of-the-art equipment. Located just off the Oxford square, it offers a regular schedule of concerts and is available for receptions and meetings.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Ole Miss Athletic Facilities

| The basketball arena seats 9,500 with an additional 1,700 premium seats and more than 225,00 square feet.

Courtside Club: can hold 220 guests.

Pavilion Club: can hold 184 guests.

All-American Club 1-4 and All-American Club 5-8 are suitable for small board-type meeting of up to 28.

PAVILION AT OLE MISS

A FORMAL DINNER AT THE JEFFERSON

The Jefferson

| The football home of the Ole Miss Rebels seats 64,038, the largest stadium in the state of Mississippi.

South Club: can hold 316 guests along with 144 drink rail seats.

Rebel Club: can hold 154 guests along with 96 drink rail seats.

Field Club: can hold 195 guests.

VAUGHT-HEMINGWAY STADIUM

The Jefferson was built in 2016 from a variety of reclaimed materials about five miles from downtown Oxford on 90 acres that includes an eight-acre lake and small forest.

| Oxford-University Stadium at Swayze Field is home to the Ole Miss baseball team seats 10,715.

Diamond Club: can hold 230 guests.

Dugout Club: can hold 104 guests.

OXFORD-UNIVERSITY STADIUM

MEETING SPACES | Three indoor meeting spaces and a covered porch total 14,075 square feet. Indoor features are a 7,200-square-foot Grand Hall, 2,600-squarefoot Lakeside Room and 2,400-square-foot Faulkner Room. The Grand Hall has a 20-by-167-foot built-in stage.

Waterfront walkway and lawn can be used for outdoor activities and concrete patio may be used for a tent. The site can accommodate groups of 50 to 1,700.

| The Starnes Athletic Training Center is just north of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

M-Club: can hold 79 guests.

STARNES CENTER

MEETING SERVICES | Catering prep space is available for approved caterers, and full-bar service is available at a 40-foot bar in the Grand Hall. Three portable bars are available. There is parking for 650 cars, with 500 overflow spaces available.

MORE INFO

VAUGHT-HEMINGWAY STADIUM AT OLE MISS

Courtesy University of Mississippi

OLEMISSSPORTS.COM

September 2021

By Taylor Square Photography

All rentals include the furniture in the clubs. There are additional fees for cleaning, security and outside catering if not using Centerplate/Aramark.

MORE INFO THEJEFFERSONOXFORD.COM

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IN OXFORD

A FINAL EVENING AT THE WONDERBIRD SPIRITS

1 RESTAURANTS

Oxford is a culinary treat, with several James Beard Award-winning and nominated chefs and restaurants adding complexity and diversity to traditional Southern meals.

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1. SIPP ON SOUTH LAMAR — A wine and tapas bar located on the historic Oxford square, the Sipp pairs innovative seasonal cocktails with one of Oxford’s most extensive wine lists and more than 100 whiskeys. Its private dining room seats up to 30.

2. CITY GROCERY — One of four local restaurants

by James Beard Best Chef South winner John Currence, City Grocery features a rotating menu of innovative fine Southern dining in a casual atmosphere of exposed brick and pine floors in a historic 19th-century building in downtown Oxford.

WILLIAM FAULKNER’S ROWAN OAK

3. SNACKBAR — Another Currence restaurant features James Beard nominated chef Vishwesh Bhatt, who uses his Indian roots to inspire many of his seasonal dishes using local ingredients. Raw oysters and innovative cocktails are served at the restaurant’s cozy bar.

4. BIG BAD BREAKFAST — Start the day off next door to Snackbar with a hearty breakfast with innovative options such as house-cured Tobasco brown sugar bacon and bruleed grapefruit at another Currence restaurant.

THE LAWN AT THE HISTORIC BELLEVIEW INN CELEBRITY CHEF ELIZABETH HEISKELL, Courtesy CENTER, COOKED FOR THEBelleview GROUP.Inn

5. SAINT LEO — A 2017 James Beard Award semi-finalist for Best New Restaurant, Saint Leo features wood-fired Italian cooking from locally sourced ingredients just off the Oxford Square.

6. AJAX DINER — The funky Ajax Diner has served up Mississippi cuisine for more than 20 wyears on Oxford’s downtown Square. It is known for its comfort food like chicken and dumplings, turkey and dressing, and classic casseroles.

7. BOTTLETREE BAKERY — A long-time Oxford feature, the bakery serves sandwiches, soups, salads and breakfast items in addition to its delicious homemade European-style pastries and breads baked daily from scratch.

Visit Oxford Mississippi 662-232-2477 VISITOXFORDMS.COM

If you are interested in hosting a FAM for readers of Small Market Meetings, call Kyle Anderson at 866.356.5128

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

MANAGING

Rising to the Challenge

SUSTAINABILITY EXPERTS SHARE INSIGHTS ON LOW-IMPACT MEETINGS

T

BY RACHEL CARTER

he events industry has been slow to act when it comes to climate change, said Natalie Lowe, founder of the Sustainable Events Forum and Celebrate Niagara. The 2020 Voice of the GM survey found that hotel general managers believe that more than half of their hotel guests are neutral about sustainability or consider it unimportant. Yet, the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication found that over 72% of U.S. citizens think global warming is happening, and 61% think it will harm people in the U.S. — and 56% say it already is.

Lowe, a meeting planner in Canada’s Niagara region, co-founded the Sustainable Events Forum as a resource for planners. It is centered around four pillars: educate, collaborate, inspire, act. She believes that smart changes and proactive measures can help the meetings industry plan events that will meet attendees’ demand for sustainability while still succeeding in its core missions.

We spoke with Lowe and two other leaders in the sustainable events movement to get their perspectives on how meeting planners should approach the environmental impacts of their gatherings. Here’s what they had to say.

On planners starting with sustainable events: “Once you get started and once you have a sense of accomplishment for one thing, it drives you forward; it’s almost self-propelling.”

PEOPLE, PLANET, PROSPERITY To start, planners should think about the event objectives and think holistically about making the best choice for people, planet and prosperity, said Mariela McIlwraith, vice president of sustainability and industry advancement for the Events Industry Council (EIC).

Planners should find some aspect of sustainability that’s meaningful to them and “that’s going to motivate you and that you’re passionate about,” she said. “Maybe that's on the environmental side or the social justice side; there are 17 U.N. sustainability goals and even more targets.”

Planners can also look at their own organization’s or client’s mission, vision and values to determine what is meaningful to their stakeholders, which “helps you get the support you need to get them engaged and your extended supply chain,” McIlwraith said.

Organizers should also understand that sustainability is important to attendees, said Mark

24

Mariela McIlwraith VICE PRESIDENT SUSTAINABILITY AND INDUSTRY ADVANCEMENT Events Industry Council Experience: 20-plus years

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

On self-education for sustainable events: “Sustainable meetings are not a new thing. However, meeting planners today have more tools available than ever to help educate themselves and measure effectiveness.”

Cooper, CEO of IACC. Attendees will notice a lack of effort and won’t feel comfortable about seeing excess waste, unnecessary materials, single-use plastics and more.

“If you want to have an effect on the experience of attendees, believe me, these areas can be more important than having a wow factor by an entertainer or gift in the room because it means more to today’s attendees,” he said.

WHERE TO GO TO GATHER An important part of creating a sustainable approach to meetings is determining what those events should entail. Can they be a series of smaller, regional meetings that would allow attendees to drive in, perhaps even via carpool or motorcoach? If distances are shorter, the events can take a hub-and-spoke approach, Lowe said.

Groups should also dig into what makes a destination sustainable.

Does the city get most of its power from coal, or does it use wind, solar, geothermal or hydro power? They should also consider factors like waste management. Many cities run their own waste services and offer comprehensive recycling and composting programs; many leave waste collection to private companies that don’t. Transit is a huge piece of a destination’s environmental footprint, and planners should look for cities where attendees can use light rail, bus or trolley service.

IACC chose Brussels as the host city for a 2019 event because Eurostar train access meant “so many people could take the train there rather than fly,” Cooper said. For the IACC Americas Connect 2021 event in July, organizers chose Delaware because of the train that connects to New York and other major East Coast cities.

START WITH THE RFP

Mark Cooper CEO

IACC Experience: 33 years

September 2021

EIC’s most recent sustainability survey included questions about supplier and planner expectations, McIlwraith said. The survey found a gap between planners expecting to see sustainability components in requests for proposals and suppliers waiting to be asked.

“Planners need to ask in the RFP process, and suppliers should bring it forward right off the bat,” she said.

Lowe pointed to a recent conversation with an audiovisual person who explained that a power drop costs $20,000, whereas using solar power generators, with no power drop, costs $10,000 — but planners don’t know that.

“Right off the bat, you save money and you’re off the grid,” she said.

The Sustainable Events Forum has created an RFP that asks sustainability questions and offers it free on its website.

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MANAGING

Look for venues that have some kind of sustainability certification, like LEED or IACC Green Star certification. IACC Green Star is a set of best practices and certification standards for event venues that cover 60 tenets in areas like energy efficiency, waste management, recycling, water conservation, air quality, and food and beverage (F&B).

Planners need to ask for venues’ credentials; if you’re not asking about venues’ credentials, it’s impossible to measure, and you’ve lost the opportunity to compare venues, Cooper said.

Venues that excel in areas such as social responsibility and the environment are also more likely to excel in other areas, like customer service and attendee experience, he said.

“When you’ve got that mindset and that culture as an organization, it tends to equal excellence in other areas,” he said.

Even if a venue isn’t certified, try to get a sense of whether the team is committed to creative solutions because “there’s always more than one way to achieve an outcome when it comes to sustainability,” McIlwraith said.

On incorporating sustainability in the RFP: “You need to have a team around you to help you. You need that chef on your side; you need that maintenance person on your side.

That is why you have to start at the RFP. It’s a negotiation before the contract; after the contract, it’s called begging.”

FIVE R S One of the biggest issues for meetings is excess: swag bags and paper pamphlets and overflowing buffets. When Lowe created a sustainable events webinar for MPI, she looked at the three Rs — reduce, reuse, recycle — and added refuse and replace.

“But here’s the catch: They have to be done in order — refuse, replace, reduce, reuse, recycle,” Lowe said. Planners need to “just say no” to unnecessary, optional extras, which could save money to be used in other areas.

The industry’s greatest opportunity to reduce waste is by reducing food waste. F&B minimums are “one of the greatest sins of our industry because it encourages you to order more food than you need,” Cooper said.

Lowe suggests connecting with the chef and maintenance person at the venue to talk about what comes in and what goes out. Work with the chef on how to manage food waste, which could include making less food, using less meat, having one less break, doing plated meals instead of buffets, not topping up buffets and donating leftovers. Organizers should also talk with the maintenance person about the venue’s waste recovery processes, like whether the venue composts.

Planners should also take the extra step of making sure compostable plates and utensils are compostable in the destination; if not, you might be better off with reusables because compostable could just become “expensive trash.”

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Natalie Lowe PRESIDENT, FOUNDER

Celebrate Niagara and the Sustainable Events Forum Experience: 36 years

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

IDEAS

Courtesy Flathead Lake Lodge

SADDLE UP! Farms and guest ranches make memorable settings for meetings and events

P

BY RACHEL CARTER

erhaps open sky and open spaces help open minds. That’s what seems to happen when planners take their meetings to a dude ranch, working farm or lakefront lodge.

Gathering at a farm or ranch gets groups out of the conference room and around a campfire. It gets people away from PowerPoints and into cattle pens.

It gets attendees out of the chair and into the saddle.

These farms and ranches help meeting groups disconnect from the world and connect with each other.

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FLATHEAD LAKE LODGE

BIG FORK, MONTANA The Flathead Lake Lodge sits on the northeastern shores of Montana’s Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi in the lower 48.

The lodge has about 2,000 acres, with the main lodge and accommodations on the lakefront; the remainder of the acreage — where guests take trail rides and shoot sporting clays — sits just across state Highway 35.

The Flathead Lake Lodge offers meeting groups exclusivity and connection because “when we do a group, it’s basically a property buyout, and we can tailor things to what they want to do,” said group coordinator Deb Kampsula. The lodge welcomes corporate groups from mid-May to early June and again in fall. Accommodations include about 20 one- to three-bedroom cabins, as well as individual rooms in three lodges, so groups of 60 to 70 people work well. The South Lodge has 15 guest rooms as well as a “beautiful central lobby with a fireplace and sofas,” said Kampsula, that works well for receptions.

The property’s 5,500-square-foot conference center includes the 2,400-square-foot Ponderosa Room, which has lake views and a stone fireplace,

Above: Meeting groups can arrange a steak fry cookout at Montana’s Flathead Lake Lodge.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

and a smaller breakout space. The Main Lodge has a boardroom, and a barn can accommodate dinners and barn dances.

All meals are included, and groups can work with the chef to coordinate their food and beverage.

During a steak fry cookout, guests load up in the lodge’s fire truck and ride to the mountain camp to grill steaks over a charcoal fire while listening to a country singer croon.

“[Meeting groups] want to get away from doing the same thing all the time. Coming to a dude ranch is something very different than what people are used to.”

— Mary Ellen McBee, Tanque Verde Ranch

Groups can have lakeside campfires; take lake cruises; go mountain biking, paddleboarding, canoeing, kayaking and fishing; and play basketball, tennis, beach volleyball and more. flatheadlakelodge.com

TANQUE VERDE RANCH

TUCSON, ARIZONA Meeting groups come to Tanque Verde Ranch, which sits on 166 acres bordering both the city of Tucson, Arizona, and Saguaro National Park, because “they want to get away from doing the same thing all the time,” said director of sales Mary Ellen McBee. “Coming to a dude ranch is something very different than what people are used to.”

The 153-year-old working dude ranch has 69 guest rooms housed in lodging buildings situated in a U-shape around the property. Quail Hollow has 12 rooms that surround a grassy courtyard where groups can gather around a campfire.

Though the ranch can host events for up to 400 at the Barn, which opened in 2019, the average size for multiday meeting groups is about 30 to 40

Photos courtesy Tanque Verde Ranch

September 2021

Tanque Verde Ranch scenes, clockwise from left: desert surroundings; the resident herd running; an inviting pool deck.

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IDEAS

KD GUEST RANCH Courtesy KD Guest Ranch

Medora Convention & Visitors Bureau | MedoraND.com | 701.623.4830 330 Pacific Ave. Medora, ND 58645

@VisitMedora

people. Event spaces include a variety of meeting rooms, dining rooms and boardrooms, such as the 2,300-square-foot Saguaro Room, with a stone fireplace and wood beam ceilings, that can be divided into three separate rooms.

Cottonwood Grove sits along Rincon Creek, with cottonwood trees, bistro lighting, picnic tables, fire pits, cornhole and horseshoes, and is where ranch guests have dinner Wednesday and Saturday nights.

Thursday and Sunday mornings mean cowboy cookout breakfasts at the original homestead, and groups can arrange a private breakfast ride, which includes a trail ride to the old homestead for a pancake breakfast.

Team penning is popular with corporate groups, which can also take riding lessons and loping rides.

Other activities include mountain biking, hiking, archery, tennis and guided fishing. Groups can also arrange an off-property Jeep rally or rent RZR and all-terrain vehicles for guided adventures in the national park. tanqueverderanch.com

“You’re tucked out here in the woods where the biggest distraction is looking outside at the greenery.”

— Dave Burkey, KD Guest Ranch

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KD GUEST RANCH

ADAMSVILLE, OHIO Kari and Dave Burkey have been the “K” and “D” of KD Guest Ranch in Adamsville, Ohio, since 2007.

The husband-wife duo run the 50-acre working guest ranch, which sits in the middle of Kari’s family farm of about 600 acres.

“You’re tucked out here in the woods where the biggest distraction is looking outside at the greenery,” Dave said of meeting groups that gather at the ranch.

The main lodge houses the dining room, kitchen, office, general store, library, saloon, game room and conference rooms. Meeting spaces include a classroom/movie theater next to a boardroom; groups also use the saloon area and the dining room, which can accommodate about 20 attendees for drive-in meetings.

The ranch has two cabin triplexes, for a total of six separate rooms that can each sleep four to six guests, plus one guest room in the main lodge.

The ranch offers roping demonstrations and can put on private rodeos. Team penning is a popular

A TRAIL RIDE AT KD GUEST RANCH Courtesy KD Guest Ranch

Now Open

plan a well

September 2021

crafted experience

In Kentucky, we consider this center a small batch location full of the unique flavor and service your guests are searching for. The new Shelbyville Conference & Welcome Center is open for business and ready to welcome attendees.

VISITSHELBYKY.COM | 219 7th Street | SHELBYVILLE, KY | 502.633.6388

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IDEAS

A LUXURY TEEPEE AT WESTGATE RIVER RANCH RESORT

group activity, and there’s “nothing like seeing a group of salesmen working together to pen a cow,” he said.

Groups can also gather around bonfires, play foosball and basketball, or hop on the ranch’s fleet of mountain bikes to ride down country roads.

The ranch is basically all-inclusive, with three meals a day in the lodge, along with snacks and appetizers for break times. Because it’s an operating ranch with its own beef herd, “95% of our beef product comes from us,” and guests can even buy some beef to take home with them. kdguestranch.com

WESTGATE RIVER RANCH RESORT AND RODEO

Courtesy Westgate River Ranch Resort

RIVER RANCH, FLORIDA Westgate Resorts started an exhaustive redevelopment of Westgate River Ranch Resort and Rodeo in River Ranch, Florida, several years ago, and “from the moment we redeveloped the property, it was built with groups in mind,” said Jared Saft, Westgate Re-

“When you’re at River Ranch, there are only two places to end up: the campfire or the saloon.

For meetings and events, it really creates the ability to connect.”

— Jared Saft, Westgate Resorts

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www.smallmarketmeetings.com

sorts’ chief business officer. That started with new accommodations, new activities and reinvestment in the rodeo. Westgate has meeting spaces in major cities, but unlike a conference in Las Vegas, “when you’re at River Ranch, there are only two places to end up: the campfire or the saloon,” he said. “For meetings and events, it really creates the ability to connect.”

Most amenities and meeting spaces are clustered at the core of the 1,700-acre resort, with lodging spread out from there. Accommodations include Conestoga wagons, glamping tents, luxe tepees, a 100-room guest lodge and a variety of cottages and cabins.

The resort has 16,500 square feet of flexible meeting space, including the 2,744-square-foot Longhorn Center, the 2,500-square-foot Grand Hall and a conference center with six meeting rooms.

The ranch hosts a rodeo twice a week and can arrange private rodeos for groups. During a cattle drive, six or seven “city slickers” — usually executives, board members or VIPs — drive cows from one end of the

September 2021

WESTGATE RIVER RANCH RESORT Courtesy Westgate River Ranch Resort

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IDEAS

ranch to the other on horseback, followed by a high-end wine tasting or meal. In the ranch’s Amazing Race experience, guests hop in golf carts and go on a scavenger hunt throughout the property. Other activities include cookoffs, horseback riding, archery, trap shooting and airboat rides. westgateresorts.com

FAIR OAKS FARMS

FAIR OAKS, INDIANA Fair Oaks Farms is one of the largest dairy farms in the U.S., and the Indiana-based dairy produces milk for Coca-Cola’s ultrafiltered milk brand Fairlife. But the farm is also a major agritourism attraction, where visitors “can make the connection between a farmer and the food in their refrigerator,” as co-founder Sue McCloskey has described it.

The farm features three interactive, immersive experiences: Crop Adventure, Dairy Adventure and Pig Adventure. In the Dairy Adventure, groups can learn about the future of dairy farming in the robotic dairy and watch calves being born. In the Pig Adventure, visitors can learn about raising pigs, see piglets and try out the indoor ropes course.

During harvest season, groups can walk through sunflowers and zinnias in the flower field and pick apples in the apple orchard.

Fair Oaks Farms opened its first overnight accommodations in January 2019: the 99-room Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott. The hotel resembles a massive red barn and has two silos that house family, bridal and business suites.

The hotel connects to the Farmhouse Restaurant, Pub and Conference Center, which features farm-to-table fare and nearly 11,000 square feet of event space. The largest function space is the divisible 3,500-square-foot Fair Oaks ballroom, and the property has several classrooms, conference rooms and boardrooms, as well as outdoor venues. fofarms.com

FAIR OAKS FARMS Courtesy Fair Oaks Farms

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N EST LED

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N AT UR E

CaesarsMeansBusiness.com | 855-633-8238

SET YOUR SIGHTS ON

t r o p e v e r h S Several large gaming resorts sit on the banks of the Red River in Shreveport.

All photos courtesy Shreveport-Bossier CTB

CITY

SHREVEPORT AT A GLANCE

This Louisiana city hits the target for amenities and affordability

W

BY PAT HENDERSON

hen meeting and event planners think Louisiana, their first thought is likely New Orleans. And although the Big Easy has a lot to offer, it is far from the only place in the state that knows how to put on a good convention.

Take Shreveport-Bossier City in northwestern Louisiana. The cities, which are separated by the Red River, have a lot of attractions and amenities that ooze charm. Plus, they deliver another important characteristic for convention planners and attendees: affordability.

LOCATION: Northwest Louisiana ACCESS: Shreveport Regional Airport, interstates 20 and 49 HOTEL ROOMS: 11,000 CONTACT INFO: Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau 318-222-9391 shreveport-bossier.org SHREVEPORT CONVENTION CENTER

BUILT: 2007 EXHIBIT SPACE: 350,000 square feet MEETING HOTELS

Hilton Hotel Shreveport GUEST ROOMS: 313 MEETING SPACE: 95,000 square feet Sam’s Town Hotel and Casino GUEST ROOMS: 514 MEETING SPACE: 13,000 square feet Eldorado Resort Casino Shreveport GUEST ROOMS: 403 MEETING SPACE: 5,916 square feet WHO’S MEETING IN SHREVEPORT Society of American Travel Writers — Central States Chapter ATTENDEES: 75 Gold Wing Road Riders Association ATTENDEES: 6,000 Louisiana Association of Nurse Practitioners ATTENDEES: 1,100 Louisiana Society of Association Executives ATTENDEES: 200

September 2021

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Destination Highlights

MEETING SPACES

Shreveport Convention Center

“W

e are two cities — Shreveport and Bossier City — connected by the Red River,” said Brandy Evans, vice president of communications for the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau. “We promote the idea of a two-mile bubble because there are so many things you can find within that radius around the convention center.”

Among the top options in the bubble are the Louisiana Boardwalk Outlets in the East Bank District on the Bossier City side and the gaming properties in downtown Shreveport. “And farther up Texas Street, you can check out the Robinson Film Center or grab a cocktail on the balcony at Abby Singer’s Bistro,” Evans said.

Two other local attractions, the Sci-Port Discovery Center and the Shreveport Aquarium, are also near the convention center. These science-themed places have tons of hands-on activities and interactive areas where visitors can learn more about the natural world. Both attractions help tell the story of the importance the Red River has played in the development of the region and the state, especially economically.

Evans said another thing that makes Shreveport so appealing is the people.

“I love how friendly and warm people are here, and when meeting planners come they experience that, too,” she said.

“You get to be a big fish in a little pond here, and we will treat your group like royalty.”

DESTINATION HIGHLIGHTS

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East Bank District

DESTINATION HIGHLIGHTS

Shreveport Mardi Gras

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Major Meeting Spaces

MEETING SPACES

Hilton Shreveport

T

he Shreveport Convention Center is the hub of action for meetings and events. Located downtown overlooking Cross Bayou, the 14-year-old facility has more than 350,000 square feet, including 100,000 square feet of uninterrupted space on the main floor. The layout works well for major trade shows, as well as more intimate events such as corporate banquets and private receptions.

There is a rotunda room for smaller meetings, and part of the space pours out onto the balcony with views of the downtown area. The center also has an on-site museum that highlights athletes and sports figures from the area, including Pro Football Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw, NBA great Robert Parrish and broadcaster Tim Brando.

“Two things meeting planners love is that it is very easy to get around here and it is super affordable,” Evans said. “At many other convention destinations, you may encounter room rates of $250 or $300 with a two-or three-night minimum. That isn’t part of what you get in Shreveport because there are places to stay right by the convention center with reasonable room and parking rates.”

One of the main options convention-goers choose is the Hilton Hotel Shreveport. This full-service property, which is connected to the convention center, has 313 rooms spread across 12 floors and offers meeting spaces of its own.

Two downtown gaming properties — Sam’s Town Hotel and Casino and the Eldorado Resort Casino Shreveport — give convention planners more choices.

Sam’s Town has 514 rooms and 13,000 square feet of event space, and the Eldorado has 403 rooms and just under 6,000 square feet for meetings.

Press

Play! r, LA

in Shreveport-Bossie

Press Play on a meeting where everyone wins big.

It’s time to take in-person meetings off pause and Press Play on an unforgettable get-together in ShreveportBossier, Louisiana. Our easy accessibility, affordable accommodations and flexible meeting venues will give your attendees a one-of-a-kind experience that you will love. And our riverboat casinos and soulful dining scene are sure to keep them entertained after a productive day of meetings.

Press Play on an unforgettable meeting!

September 2021

www.Shreveport-Bossier.org/Meetings

39

DISTINCTIVE VENUES

Artspace

Distinctive Venues

I

f ever there was place that lived up to the oft-overused phrase “hidden gem,” it is the Pavilion at Cross Lake.

“I’ve been living here 23 years, and I just discovered that there is a little island in Cross Lake which a family turned into an events venue,” said Evans. “It is a great off-site venue that is quintessential Louisiana with the cypress trees and the water with the Spanish dripping moss.”

A 15-minute boat ride takes visitors to the island, where they will find a pavilion for meals and receptions along with other great outdoor spaces. For another typical local experience, they can go on airboat rides around the lake.

Evans said three downtown spots — Artspace, The Lot and the Sci-Port Discovery Center — are great options for after-hours functions or receptions. An anchor for Shreveport’s thriving arts community, Artspace has two floors of galleries that feature works by local and regional artists.

“Recently I hosted a meeting there, and we had a reception upstairs with appetizers and live music; then we went downstairs for a sit-down dinner in the art gallery,” said Evans.

The Lot is a combo outdoor and indoor venue. The building, which served as Shreveport’s bus depot for decades, and its grounds have been transformed into a multiuse entertainment venue. Evans said there is live music from Thursday through Sunday outside along with food trucks. The indoor space includes a bar and has a stage that has been used for everything from smaller performances to a boxing event.

“We’ve also used Sci-Port and done things like scavenger hunts there that take advantage of their huge space,” said Evans. “That is a super fun and interesting place, and they love having groups there for special events.”

The Pavilion at Cross Lake

40

DISTINCTIVE VENUES

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After The Meeting

T

hree other renowned aspects of Shreveport culture worth discovering before you “leave the building” are food, roses and music.

“A fun activity for groups is a culinary experience at Us Up North restaurant,” said Evans. “Chef Hardette Harris serves a meal featuring products grown and raised on local waterways and farms — think fried fish, sweet potatoes and collard greens — that locals eat at home.”

Harris also does culinary tours that start at Us Up North and then continue on to some of her favorite places, where hungry visitors can sample more foods that represent northern Louisiana.

The American Rose Society (ARS) chose to make its home in Shreveport because the climate allows for two growing seasons, one in April and one in October. Evans recommends a group experience called All About Roses, during which participants learn about the society and the gardens, sample rose-flavored jelly and tour the beautiful grounds at the ARS headquarters.

Did you know Elvis’ first live performance was in Shreveport? That story and many others are part of a backstage music tour through downtown that includes a stop at the Municipal Auditorium.

“Elvis actually got his start here on ‘Louisiana Hayride,’ which you’d equate to our present-day ‘American Idol,’” said Evans. “As part of ‘Hayride,’ bands performed at Municipal, and on October 16, 1954, Elvis gave his very first performance.

“The story goes that during a concert at the Hirsch Memorial Coliseum after he’d made it big, there were as many people outside the building as inside,” she said. “To help keep things under control, an official said, ‘Elvis has left the building’ at one point, which is where the phrase originated.”

When groups visit Municipal Auditorium on the tour, they hear more about the venue’s rich musical history. In addition to going behind the curtain, members can get up onstage and belt out a tune. There also is an appearance by an Elvis impersonator, who performs some of the King of Rock ’n’ Roll’s top hits.

“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

NOW BOOKING 2022 and beyond!

Missy Eppley | Sales Manager

WHAT YOU’LL LOVE ABOUT US:

• Full in-house services for In-person, Hybrid, or Remote meetings • 225,000 sf. of beautifully appointed space • 18 carpeted, fully equipped event rooms • 4500 theatre; 3100 banquet; 2900 classroom • 3 adjacent hotels with garage parking • In-house Sales, AV, Catering, Event management, and Guest experiences • 60+ walkable restaurants and pubs, boutiques, and riverfront parks • Easier event planning & guest navigation >> SAVE UP TO 15% versus comparable cities!

Easy Drive-To Destination!

Easy by Air via FWA

DOWNTOWN FORT WAYNE, INDIANA | grandwayne.com | 260.426.4100

@GrandWayneCC #yourGrandWaynestory

American Rose Center

September 2021

AFTER HOURS

41

TOWN

AUTHENTIC

s a x Te

CHARM

H

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

istory is everywhere you look in McKinney, Texas.

Founded in 1848, McKinney didn’t come into its own until the railroad arrived in 1872.

After that, settlers flocked to the area where cotton, farming and milling were king. Fast-forward to 2021 and many of the city’s original buildings have been repurposed as the Historic Downtown McKinney Cultural District, one of the best-known historic districts in Texas, with 120 unique shops, an extensive and diverse culinary scene, two wineries, bars, and live music on the weekends.

“Our downtown cultural district is the true gem of McKinney that draws so many people here,” said Dee-Dee Guerra, executive director of Visit McKinney. “Its authentic charm enhances the experience, from the exceptional dining and shopping, walking tours of the historic retail district, murals and public art.”

Just a 30-minute drive from Dallas, McKinney has all the amenities of a larger destination but caters to groups that prefer a more intimate setting. At the crossroads of Texas state highways 75, 121 and 380, McKinney is easy to get to for those close enough to drive, and state Hwy. 121 takes visitors directly there from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. For corporate and private jets, McKinney National Airport is a full-service north Texas general aviation hub.

The city’s main full-service meeting facility is the Sheraton McKinney Hotel and Conference Center, which has 187 guest rooms and 23,761 square feet of meeting space. The facility plays host to events of all sizes. Its 7,665-square-foot Throckmorton Ballroom can hold up to 824 people theater style or 610 for a banquet. The city also has plenty of distinctive venues — from a historic cotton mill to the city’s performing arts center.

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Courtesy Visit McKinney

ADRIATIC CROATIAN VILLAGE

By Xtreme Heights Productions

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

THE MCKINNEY CULTURAL DISTRICT HAS MORE THAN 120 SHOPS, AS WELL AS TWO WINERIES AND OTHER FOOD AND DRINK ESTABLISHMENTS.

“Our downtown cultural district is the true gem of McKinney that draws so many people here. Its authentic charm enhances the experience, from the exceptional dining and shopping, walking tours of the historic retail district, murals and public art.”

— Dee-Dee Guerra, Visit McKinney

MCKINNEY TEXAS

CHESTNUT SQUARE HERITAGE VILLAGE

LOCATION

30 miles northeast of Dallas

ACCESS

State highways 75, 121 and 380; Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport; McKinney National Airport

MAJOR MEETING SPACES

Sheraton McKinney Hotel and Conference Center, Holiday Inn and Suites McKinney-Fairview, Grand Hotel and Ballroom

HOTEL ROOMS 1,564

OFF-SITE VENUES

McKinney Cotton Mill, Adriatica Village, Heritage Village at Chestnut Square

CONTACT INFO

McKinney Convention and Visitors Bureau 214-544-1407 visitmckinney.com

September 2021

By Steve Estes, courtesy Visit McKinney

43

TOWN

y e n n i K Mc The Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary not only makes a great offsite venue, the museum is also a wonderful spot to spend the day or complete teambuilding activities.

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN MCKINNEY

Top Meeting Hotels

Though it doesn’t have a standalone convention center, McKinney has four convention hotels. The Sheraton is the largest, followed by the Holiday Inn and Suites McKinney-Fairview, with 99 rooms and 2,614 square feet of meeting space, and the Grand Hotel and Ballroom, a historic downtown boutique property with 44 rooms, a 2,500-square-foot ballroom and three small meeting spaces. Fairfield Inn and Suites-Dallas McKinney is set to open this month, with 964 square feet of meeting space and 85 guest rooms, adding hotel space to an area of the city that didn’t have that amenity before.

Area Attractions

The Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary not only makes a great off-site venue, but with its ropes course, guided trails hikes through the Heard Sanctuary and many wildlife, nature and science exhibits, the museum is also a wonderful spot to spend the day or complete teambuilding activities. Groups can rent space in the museum’s Science Resource Center, Laughlin Hall or the outdoor native plant garden. The McKinney Performing Arts Center, which is housed in the historic 1872 Collin County Courthouse, features theater productions, concerts and juried art shows. Meeting groups can rent out the courtroom theater, gallery and three smaller rooms there.

Local Tours Meeting groups can sign up for the Bad Boys and Desperados of Old McKinney Trolley tour, a one-hour tour of famous outlaw sites and hangouts around old McKinney that leaves from Chestnut Square. They can also take self-guided residential or downtown historic walking tours using downloadable maps from the Visit McKinney website. The website also has an interactive Historic Building Walking Tour map. Free guided tours, which leave from the visitors center, give visitors a peek into McKinney’s history, telling stories of the events and people that shaped the city.

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www.smallmarketmeetings.com

THE

WILD WEST COMES TO LIFE IN THE 806

From bright orange sunsets to the vast landscapes across the South Plains, Lubbock, Texas paints a perfect picture of the wild west. As a region known for its relentless spirit and can-do attitude, Lubbock shows off the best of its agricultural heritage during events. See how you can bring your next meeting to life in West Texas!

MCKINNEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

VISITLUBBOCK.ORG

#LIVELOVELUBBOCK

SPINNING AT CHESTNUT SQUARE HERITAGE VILLAGE Photos courtesy Visit McKinney

September 2021

45

HOTEL

‘A Magnificent Beauty’

T

BY KRISTY ALPERT

here’s a sense of regency at the Williamsburg Inn. Located just across the street from the world’s largest living-history museum — Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia — this stately inn was brought to life by America’s first “royal” family shortly after preservation work began on Virginia’s colonial capitol. John D. and Abby Aldrich Rockefeller dreamed of creating a “magnificent hostelry” for anyone traveling to visit the historic streets of Colonial Williamsburg, and when the hotel opened in 1937, it did just that. The inn’s regal Neoclassical architecture and notable Southern sensibility created a cozy yet luxurious experience for its earliest guests, and it has continued to retain that legacy of hospitality well into the present.

Today, the Williamsburg Inn offers 62 exquisite guest rooms and suites that have played host to political dignitaries, celebrated artists, movie stars and more over the years, including Winston Churchill, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Emperor Hirohito, Salvador Dali, Shirley Temple and Betty White. The most notable guest earned her own namesake suite after her two visits, in 1957, and in 2007 to celebrate the 400th anniversary settlement at Jamestown; Queen Elizabeth II’s likeness can be found in the menagerie of photographs adorning the walls of the elegant and dignified Queen’s Suite. Two other themed suites are available for booking, the Rockefeller Suite and the Churchill Suite; a wide range of other accommodations include superior suites warmed with working fireplaces and spacious suites with adorning parlors for entertaining.

The inn is great for gatherings. A 2017 renovation expanded event and meeting spaces throughout the property. Four indoor meeting spaces are equipped to accommodate meeting groups with variable room arrangements and sizes, and an outdoor social terrace provides a welcome extension for gathering al fresco or for offering guests the space to stroll through the landscaped gardens and view its gorgeous new water feature. Meeting guests have access to 24-hour room service and Wi-Fi. They can spend free time enjoying a round of lawn bowling, mingling in the courtyards and gardens or exploring this historic and scenic slice of American history.

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Photos courtesy Williamsburg Inn

A BANQUET IN THE ROCKEFELLER ROOM

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

M E E T I N G S PAC E S The Williamsburg Inn’s four meeting rooms range in size from intimate boardrooms to elegant ballrooms. The Regency Room is the crown jewel of the Williamsburg event venues. It features an outdoor terrace overlooking the golf course as well as a built-in dance floor for up to 250 guests. The relaxed yet luxurious Goodwin Room, for up to 85 guests, is located nearest the dining facilities at the inn, and the Perry Shaw Hepburn Room provides an intimate space for gathering or dining in private for up to 15 guests.

The impressive and elegant East Lounge, for up to 170 guests, allows for indoor and outdoor options, since it includes access to the Queen’s Terrace and the surrounding lawn.

C AT E R I N G The on-site catering team at the Williamsburg Inn executes a range of menus and packages. Breakfast often begins with freshly brewed Royal Cup coffee served with fresh cream and rock candy swizzle sticks and is accompanied by hot and cold dishes, either buffet style, plated or grab-and-go style. Brunch is a can’t-miss experience at the inn: Build-your-own bloody mary or mimosa bars set the stage for elaborate spreads of delicious pastries and brunch delicacies. Specialty breaks and afternoon tea packages are available for the afternoon, and the Working Lunch option is popular among business guests.

Dinner remains the main event, with elaborate displays, chef-tended stations or formal plated dinners leading the way to sweet treats or customizable craft cocktails and cigars.

GROUPS CAN HOLD ELEGANT OUTDOOR EVENTS ON THE SOCIAL TERRACE AT THE HIGH-END WILLIAMSBURG INN.

HOTEL FACTS LOCATION

Williamsburg, Virginia

EXTRAS Add-on packages offered by the inn allow meeting planners to set up a cigar-rolling station or bring an authentic fife-and-drum corps to their receptions. The on-site meeting planners can also arrange exclusive experiences for groups that include competing in their own Colonial Olympics, taking part in a military drill or even learning how to fire a flintlock musket. Teambuilding experiences take place at Colonial Williamsburg and inside the surrounding area, where groups can tackle a ropes course together or take part in the build-a-bike competition that donates back to a local children’s charity.

SIZE

62 guest rooms

MEETING SPACE

More than 6,500 square feet

ACCESS

Five miles from the WilliamsburgJamestown Airport and less than 20 miles from the Newport News/ Williamsburg International Airport

CONTACT INFO

855-231-7240 colonialwilliamsburghotels.com

September 2021

BEFORE AND AFTER Guests of the Williamsburg Inn have access to the award-winning Spa of Williamsburg, as well as the fitness center and the indoor and outdoor pools. Active groups can take advantage of the Golden Horseshoe Golf Club, which has 45 walkable holes, and the Williamsburg Inn Tennis Club, where the eight courts are just steps from the historic area. All guests of the inn receive two complimentary lengthof-stay tickets to Colonial Williamsburg, giving groups the option to tour the historic grounds between meetings or before and after events. Guests also have access to the Colonial Williamsburg Arboretum, the only Level 2 Certified Arboretum in Virginia.

47

Florida’s Meeting Resorts

F

Meetdieng Gui

Crystal River Surrounded by natural beauty, including seven rivers, Plantation on Crystal River has enough attractions on-site to keep visitors happy, including a vintage 27-hole golf course that was built in 1962 and is shorter and more rugged than today’s championship courses. There’s also a spa and a full-service marina where people can rent kayaks, pontoon boats or paddleboards to observe the abundant wildlife plying

48

Courtesy Plantation on Crystal River

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

lorida is known for its beautiful sunny days, crystal-clear water, sandy beaches, lazy rivers and swamps, wildlife viewing and theme parks. That is also what makes Florida a popular destination for meetings and conferences.

From golfing and boating to swimming with the manatees, these Florida resorts will have attendees excited to come to your next meeting.

PLANTATION ON CRYSTAL RIVER

MEETING GROUPS FIND PLENTIFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AT THE PLANTATION ON CRYSTAL RIVER.

the Crystal River. The estuary is full of manatees, and many groups enjoy being with the gentle giants; visitors can swim near them but are encouraged to keep a respectful distance.

Groups can also go on a scalloping mission.

An on-site adventure center helps meeting planners organize boat excursions for fishing, diving and snorkeling.

And because the resort is right on the Kings Bay Estuary on the Crystal River, groups can explore more than 40 named springs in the area. The resort property has an activities lawn complete with horseshoes, shuffleboard courts and croquet. Groups can also challenge themselves to a match with the property’s giant checkers and chess sets.

The resort has 196 guest rooms and 12,000 square feet of indoor meeting spaces, including three ballrooms. The Magnolia Ballroom is the largest, with 3,000 square feet. It can host 225 people for banquets or 300 for receptions or theater-style. The Sable Ballroom has 2,776 square feet and can host banquets of 200 people, and the Palm Room has 2,304 square feet. Any of the ballrooms can be split into smaller spaces, and outdoor venue options abound. plantationoncrystalriver.com

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

BY THE SEA RESORTS

Panama City Beach In Panama City Beach, By the Sea Resorts is an enclave of 11 resort hotels and two retreat centers — all but three of which sit on the white sand beach — as well as five restaurants. Meeting planners looking for a plethora of indoor and outdoor meeting venues plus lodging to fit any budget will find that at By the Sea Resorts.

The resort works with visiting groups to offer hotel combinations, meeting spaces and discounts to some of the area’s best attractions, such as SeaWorld Orlando and WonderWorks. Groups can host an outdoor reception at The Green at Beachcomber, which has 33,000 square feet of beachfront lawn, or a conference at Travelodge

by Wyndham Sports and Events Complex, with 25,000 square feet of event space. It includes a banquet facility that can host 300 people and a 4,700-square-foot auditorium with a built-in stage and several breakout rooms.

The beachfront Travelodge is the largest hotel in the resort community, accommodating up to 1,000 people in both lodge and dorm facilities. It has two outdoor pools, basketball and volleyball courts and a coffee shop. The facility is close to shopping, dining and entertainment at Pier Park mall, dolphin and sea lion shows at Gulf World Marine Park and sporting events at Frank Brown Park.

The Radisson Panama City Beach-Oceanfront has 139 guest rooms and a small meeting room that can accommodate 40 people theater style. It offers a more intimate setting and easy access to the white sand beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. Attendees can head to St. Andrews State Park, take a dolphin-watching tour or visit the undeveloped shoreline of Shell Island in their free time. bythesearesorts.com

PANAMA CITY BEACH’S BY THE SEA RESORTS

Courtesy By the Sea Resorts

REUNION RESORT AND GOLF CLUB

REUNION RESORT AND GOLF CLUB

Kissimmee At the headwaters of the Everglades, Kissimmee ticks all the boxes for meeting planners. It is minutes from Orlando’s theme parks and attractions but is also a premier outdoor destination. Meeting planners that book the Reunion Resort and Golf Club can choose from vacation homes, condos or more traditional lodge rooms. The 2,500-acre property has 275 vacation rentals and 270 lodge rooms.

With 25,000 square feet of meeting and event space, Reunion can comfortably host groups of 300 people. Eleven, a rooftop restaurant on the 11th floor of Grande Tower, has 6,400 square feet of rentable space with a pool, a deck, a fireplace and stunning views. The facility offers an excellent vantage point to watch Walt Disney World’s nightly fireworks show while sipping cordials and cocktails or eating dessert and can hold up to 130 guests.

The 8,160-square-foot Grande Ballroom can be split into five breakout rooms, and meeting planners have access to an on-site registration office to help them seamlessly run their event. The Heritage Ballroom provides over 4,000 square feet and can host groups of up to 460. Groups can also put up a tent and host events for up to 350 people on the Grand Falls Lawn behind Grande Tower, overlooking the driving range and the stone waterfall fountain. The waterfall can Courtesy Reunion Resort and Golf Club

September 2021

49

Meetieng Guid OMNI AMELIA ISLAND FROM ABOVE

be branded with the meeting group’s logo. Smaller spaces are also available.

For free time, the resort has a water park with a waterslide and a lazy river, five swimming pools, an on-site spa, three championship golf courses and a tennis center with pickleball courts.

There’s also a dedicated course for footgolf, which is played like golf but with soccer balls that participants kick into the holes instead of using clubs, as well as a miniature golf course. reunionresort.com

OMNI AMELIA ISLAND RESORT

Amelia Island Amelia Island is on the northeast coast of Florida, about a 35-minute drive from the Jacksonville airport. The Omni Amelia Island Resort sits on 1,300 acres and is part of a private community on the south end of the small barrier island, which more closely resembles Charleston or Savannah, with large oak trees and hanging Spanish moss, than a typical Florida vacation spot.

The resort has 402 oceanfront guest rooms and more than 300 one-, two-, and three-bedroom villas.

The Omni has 80,000 square feet of meeting space, including some unique outdoor locations. The resort has two large ballrooms and several smaller breakout rooms in the main conference center, which is connected to the hotel by a breezeway.

There is a smaller ballroom in the hotel building and four additional meeting rooms in the Racquet Park Conference Center, where the tennis center is located. Groups can host events on Magnolia Terrace and Garden, which is outside the conference center, or hold a reception on the lawn next to the greenhouse at the Sprouting Project. The project includes an organic garden; an apiary with 2.5 million bees that produce 5,000 pounds of honey; chicken coops; and the barrel room, where the chefs age honey, ferment hot sauce and infuse specialty vinegars.

Oak Marsh, an 18-hole golf course, is a great place to blow off steam, and another 10-hole course is set to open in October.

The in-house recreation department works with groups to plan team-building activities, like local service projects and scavenger hunts. The resort also has a tennis center with 23 tennis courts, a full health and fitness center with an indoor lap pool, and a spa. omnihotels.com/hotels/amelia-island

A BEACHFRONT EVENT AT OMNI AMELIA ISLAND

At the headwaters of the Everglades, Kissimmee ticks all the boxes for meeting planners. It is minutes from Orlando’s theme parks and attractions but is also a premier outdoor destination.

Photos courtesy Omni Amelia Island

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www.smallmarketmeetings.com

WHY THE

“FOOT OF THE LAKE” SHOULD NOW BE AT THE TOP OF YOUR LIST.

Hotel Retlaw Lobby | thehotelretlaw.com

Dedicated to meeting excellence and exceeding expectations.

Fond du Lac's Downtown District features a $30 million, exquisitely refurbished historic Hotel Retlaw, recently recognized by US News and World Report as a top 15 Wisconsin getaway. With 121 guest rooms, 10,000 square feet of dedicated event space, casual fine dining, and a lobby-level bar. All in the heart of our vibrant downtown.

Fond du Lac's Conference District features the recently remodeled Radisson Hotel and Conference Center with 24,000 square feet of event space and a full-service restaurant and bar. Within a one-mile radius, planners will find Hilton, Marriott, and IHG flagged properties totaling 500 rooms all in an easily accessed district tucked in near the interstate.

Fond du Lac is within an hour's drive of all the major Wisconsin cities, the Milwaukee International Airport, and 90 minutes from the outer Chicago suburbs.

Thinking (and meeting) outside the box.

Beyond the traditional, Fond du Lac and the Lake Winnebago Region offers meeting planners a variety of creative (and memorable) event venues.

Most prominent among these venues is the world-class Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts (just one block from the new Hotel Retlaw).

Check out our website for more unexpected venues! If you dream it, Fond du Lac can make it happen.

And that thing about all work and no play?

Fond du Lac and the Lake Winnebago Region Featuring Legendary Wisconsin Hospitality!

The fact is, there’s no more convenient meeting location in Wisconsin than Fond du Lac — within an hour of 70% of the state’s major population centers.

That means less time on the road, and more time for work and play (or is it play and work?).

That concept doesn’t exist in Fond du Lac and the Lake Winnebago Region. We know that the success of business events is often just as much a function of the fun attendees have after hours — fun they take home with them, and share with their peers.

Fond du Lac doesn’t disappoint with one of the largest fresh water lakes in America for fishing, boating, sailing and other water sports.

There’s also the natural beauty of Kettle Moraine State Forest and Horicon Marsh.

Spectacular golfing, scenic biking and hiking trails, boutique shopping, adventurous dining.

A downtown that lights it up with arts, entertainment and nightlife.

Enjoy a FAM tour of the Region, take a tour of our new luxury hotel, hear about the $5 million in new construction and remodeling in our Conference District and enjoy all that’ll put Fond du Lac and the Lake Winnebago Region at the top of your meeting destination list.

FDLmeetings.com | 800.937.9123 x104