13 minute read
Unique Places and Spaces
Unique Places
& Spaces
For those in search of places and destinations that are out of the ordinary for their upcoming meetings and events, the MidAtlantic Region offers a wide range of memorable options that are sure to inspire, motivate, spark conversation and creativity.
Unique sites can be found in just about any setting, from urban to rural, by the water or in the mountains, providing planners with a wide range of options and opportunities for their groups and functions.
Unique venues offer a great opportunity to get out of the typical office environment and go to a place that can make your group feel united, notes the events department of the Lambertville Station Restaurant and Inn, Lambertville, NJ.
Conducting events outside of “traditional spaces” can allow teams the opportunity to bond in new ways. Selecting a unique location that offers different experiences demonstrates an investment in the individuals involved and in the growth of the company, the Lambertville Station events team adds. New spaces inspire innovative and creative ideas.
Lambertville Station Restaurant and Inn offers 46 contemporary rooms and suites, the latter of which have been enhanced with a fireplace. The inn’s stately lobby features a master fireplace and honor bar, while its Creekside Room is a unique function space overlooking Swan Creek. Its riverside Ballroom hosts events for up to 200 guests and features floor-to-ceiling windows and views of the Delaware River.
A ceremony space and outdoor cocktail area on the banks of the river are additional options at the venue. Housed within a restored 19th century train station, the property also boasts several private rooms for memorable meetings, conferences, retreats and more. Uniqueness and creativity are not limited to a venue’s architecture and décor. The chefs at Lambertville Station, for example, are known for their innovative American Cuisine. Their attention to detail creates a dining experience beyond that of standard banquet fare, the events team proclaims. “The experience, professionalism, and friendliness of the staff assure impeccable and flawless service,” they add.
The events team at Lambertville Station add that they provide professional event planners, customized catering menus, ample free parking, a business center and complimentary Wi-Fi in a location that is an easy drive or train ride to and from both New York City and Philadelphia.
The surrounding town of Lambertville, NJ and New Hope, PA on the other side of the river, meanwhile, together offer opportunities to get out and explore with activities like antique and boutique shopping, biking, canoeing, carriage rides and more.
“I think a unique venue can really elevate a typical event or meeting to one that is memorable and more enjoyable for people,” observes Hans Schreiber, director of sales and marketing, Lancaster County Conven-
tion Center and the Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square in Lancaster, PA. “A lot of venues are good, but I think what makes a venue great and stand out from the rest are the unique features that cannot be replicated elsewhere. Here at the Lancaster Marriott and Lancaster County Convention Center, we have plenty of those unique features.”
The Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square and Lancaster County Convention Center is a unique property in that the hotel and convention center are seamlessly integrated on one property, making it ideal for hosting events and meetings. Lancaster itself is a unique destination in that it is centrally located and driving distance from a number of major cities, Schreiber adds. “I think our magnificent architectural and historic features also are unique; it’s not typical for a convention center to also have an official site of the Underground Railroad, but we have that here at the Lancaster County Convention Center.”
The Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy is a historic site and former home “Our advice to those looking to plan events at unique venues for the first time would be to select a location that supports you in taking that leap. Remember that your priority should always be your team, and your venue should be there to support you in that effort.”
- Lambertville Station Restaurant and Inn Events Team
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and business of anti-slavery and pre-Civil War Congressman Thaddeus Stevens. Currently in development, the historic site will transition into a museum that shares the story of two remarkable Americans and the pivotal role that Lancaster and the surrounding region played in the operation of the Underground Railroad.
The Lancaster Marriott also is housed within the façade of the 110-year-old former Watt & Shand Department Store building, which was at one time on the list of the National Register of Historic Places. Also located within the convention center is the William Montgomery House, dating back to 1804 and referred to by historians as one of Lancaster’s great Federal Period mansions.
“A unique venue can inject fresh life into a meeting and drive attendance,” explains Susan Corrigan, director of sales and operations for the Cork Factory Hotel. “If an activity is planned, there is often something that cues into the history or specific identify of the property to give the event an interesting flavor.”
Cork Factory Hotel, built in 1865, occupies a building in Lancaster, PA that once housed Lancaster Cork Co. and features authentic industrial character throughout the mixed-use complex. “In any of our function spaces, you may find brick walls, iron fixtures, cork accents or pressed copper ceilings and, most important to all-day meetings, all spaces have natural light,” Corrigan exclaims. “Our small, highly-experienced staff and proximity to both downtown Lancaster and highways make Cork Factory a great choice for successful events.”
When booking a unique venue, Corrigan advises that planners go in with an open mind and that they ask their sales contact about what kinds of experiences the property can provide that attendees wouldn’t find at a traditional hotel. A unique venue likely will have creative options that can be incorporated into the itinerary to give a program an unusual twist and make it the one still being talked about the following year.
“From lessons in throwing atlatl darts to mushroom hunts, ghost hunts and dogsledding, you never know what a venue might have in store for you and your group, so be open to the possibilities,” Corrigan adds.
Hosting an event at a nontraditional venue can help to deliver an unparalleled guest experience, asserts Christina Mayo, director of sales, All About Events, LLC. Event sites like museums, aquariums, theaters, public markets and sports facilities are generally not designed to accommodate private events as their primary purpose. However, each of these venues offer a very unique atmosphere for hosting a memorable affair.
“Hosting an event at a unique venue will boost guest attendance through guest curiosities,” Mayo explains. “When looking back on our favorite memories, we recall our surroundings and the environment that we were in. That same concept applies to producing a memorable event at a
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- Hans Schreiber, Lancaster County Convention Center & Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square
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nontraditional venue. Guests will remember the event due to their fascination of where the event was held.”
Mayo adds that a unique environment also serves as a topic of conversation. At events in these venues, there are more opportunities for guests to engage on social media, too. “Having an innovative, never-before-seen event space will encourage attendees to share their experiences online, and such an online presence will generate traffic to websites and social media pages, as well as build brand awareness for the professional vendors involved in producing the event.”
“Untraditional venues might have a few restrictions that might relate to time constraints or to ensure the historic character of their building, space, and grounds remain authentic and preserved. As planners, make sure to inquire about potential guidelines or spe‐cial considerations when taking a unique venue into account. Examples of special considerations might include: event start time; load‐in; set up and breakdown; installation; sound levels; flash photography; red wine limitations; and use of candles.”
Use of a unique venue has another added benefit – a stunning backdrop. The exterior architecture and interior elements, such as a grand statue, stained glass windows, or an exposed industrial ceiling help to turn a nontraditional venue into an event space where planners can get creative, asserts Mayo. “The venue’s builtin ambiance also will help drive home the intended aesthetic and brand of the event.”
Housed in a National Historic Landmark building, the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, PA is one of the oldest and largest public markets in America. “Having the chance to hand-select Reading Terminal Market merchants to remain open, to serve a miniature and made-to-order menu item for a private event cannot be replicated at another Philadelphia venue,” says Mayo. “This ‘out of the box’ and unmatched experience of receiving fresh, prepared food from iconic merchants is what we call an ‘interactive dining experience.’ It’s an unmatched experience and the transformation from a public market to a private event is impeccable.”
“Guests might have visited a tourist attraction before,” Mayo explains, “but have they savored a five-course meal next to historic artifacts or sipped cocktails in a professional sports locker room? These are exciting immersive experiences that turn a good event into a memorable experience.”
“Retreats, small meetings and events flourish in venues that offer unique destinations,” states April Doughty, director of marketing for Jamestown Hospitality Group. Attendees are able to experience something new and exciting together in a location that is not the norm, helping to create long lasting memories.
Jamestown Hospitality Group is a Wilmington, DEbased hospitality and event company with a diverse portfolio of upscale nightlife and restaurant venues. The large main dining room of Deep Blue at Kitty Knight on the waterfront in Georgetown, MD overlooks the Sassafras River and offers access to a private bar with seating for up to 100 guests. “Two farmhouse tables in our Parlor can seat up to 24 guests with access to a private covered porch and a semi-private bar,” says Doughty. “The Tavern can accommodate up to 40 guests with private entrance, bar and a smart TV."
“We have an 11-room inn that has been recently upgraded,” Doughty continues. “Delmarva Craft is a shuttle service that can take guests on day trip excursions to local breweries, wineries, downtown Chestertown, Rock Hall, and more… We partner with three local wineries to offer tasting tours, the marina directly below us offers paddleboards and water activities, and in-season there is a small tour boat charter that can provide excursions on the river.”
“We speak with guests every day that reminisce about their time at this property,” Doughty adds. “The connections they have made, the friends, the experiences and the memories. There is something about the amazing backdrop and its connection with nature that leaves an indelible imprint on the lives it touches and truly captures the memories.”
- Susan Corrigan, director of sales and operations for the Cork Factory Hotel “Our primary tip for planners would be to keep an open mind on what a unique event space can offer your team, and never make assumptions on what we can or can’t make happen. Most importantly, prepare to be wowed by the experience.”
Choosing a unique event space provides an entirely new environment and platform in which employees can meet and explore new ways to engage, observes Leemor Daskal, vice president of Spare Time, Inc. “Multi-faceted venues provide guests memorable experiences that foster higher individual expression, greater working relationships, and positive experiences. Overall, hosting an event at an outside-the-box venue encourages greater work productivity, creativity, and loyalty in the long term.”
Daskal represents both North Bowl (a 17,000-square foot bi-level space) and South Bowl (a 25,000-square foot bi-level space with a 5,000-square foot outdoor entertainment venue) in Philadelphia, PA, describing them both as dynamic, vibrant, colorful entertainment complexes with a modern, yet retro motif.
“The interior spaces shock people in the best ways possible,” proclaims Daskal. “Our venues provide much more than just bowling, including dedicated private event spaces boasting top-of-the-line audio-visual equipment, catering services, arcade games, pinball, seasonal batting cages, pool tables, foosball, and air hockey. For meeting planners looking to book an event with bowling, friendly or competitive, South Bowl offers 26 bowling lanes, while North Bowl offers 17 bowling lanes.”
"Additionally,” says Daskal, “our menu packages feature buffet-style service and drinks fully customizable for any size party or celebration. Food options range from wood-fired pizza to elevated pub fare, including burgers, wings, tacos, and vegetarian options. Event packages are curated for groups as small as 20 or larger groups up to 200. Our unique spaces allow people out of their everyday mold and shake up their monotonous and stagnant work routines.”
“Work meetings and events held in our venues, coupled with a game of bowling and other entertainment, provide a distinct one-of-a-kind team building experience that stimulates energy, connection, and ease while supporting employee innovation,” Daskal adds. “We pride ourselves on the competitive fun and camaraderie that the game of bowling offers which is a great ice breaker, or excellent way to end a long day. At our South Bowl location, we also have an outdoor space called The Yard, which is open seasonally and hosts even more activities including batting cages, bocce courts and shuffle puck.”
North Bowl and South Bowl also offer a dedicated onsite event planner to help take the stress out of planning an event. “From start to finish, we want clients to know that every choice and detail is tailored to our client's needs, and our team will be by their side for all questions,” Daskal assures.
Each of these venues has their own distinct features and characteristics that set them apart as being out of the ordinary. Presenting planners with many options, these properties help to turn any event or meeting into something that will inspire, excite, motivate and be long remembered.
