Northeastern PA: Pocono Mountains, Lackawanna County

LocationReport

NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA

Woodloch Resort, Hawley, PA, in the Pocono Mountains

POCONO MOUNTAINS, PA

poconomountains.com

WHAT’S NEW

Millions of dollars recently invested in local facilities have made the Poconos just as amazing for conventions and corporate retreats as for vacations.

Kalahari Resorts and Conventions doubled its meeting space in early 2020, and Mount Airy Casino Resort has expanded the meeting space at its storied property, as well. Feature-rich Camelback Resort offers meeting facilities along with exciting on-site adventures such as skiing and snow tubing in the winter, an outdoor adventure park and outdoor waterpark in the warmer months, and a huge indoor waterpark open year-round.

Camelback Lodge and Indoor Waterpark Each of these properties features free parking, all the connectivity needed to meet either in person or remotely, as well as top-notch hospitality with staff who go above and beyond to make the guest experience safe and enjoyable.

At Camelback Resort, all 453 of its guest suites were recently modernized with rustic furnishings, new fabrics, rich woods and polished marble, as well as nature and landscape art created by regional artists. Camelback Lodge accommodations feature 16 layouts – many perfect for multi-generational vacations with full kitchens, fireplaces, balconies and spacious lofts.

A new resort app - available on IOS and Android - easily allows guests of Camelback to book their stay, plan itineraries, arrange for equipment rental, procure lift tickets, make dining reservations, reserve poolside cabanas, explore the property and secure real-time information.

New this summer at Camelback are guided Ultimate Terrain Vehicle (UTV) Tours, Summer Tubing and the challenging new Adventure Zone inside Camelbeach Outdoor Waterpark, plus a new Euro Bungee experience.

Visitors can discover waterfalls and panoramic views nearby at state and national parks or recharge with delicious meals at a wide variety of area restaurants. The Pocono Beverage Trail features breweries, wineries and distilleries throughout the region, too.

In addition, attractions such as Pocono Axe Works and Soarin’ Eagle Railtours (new in 2021) offer plenty of opportunities for team building exercises.

EXPECT MORE THAN MOUNTAINS IN THE POCONOS.

Make your vision a reality in the Poconos, where you’ll find the space you need to collaborate with your team and build a successful future. Up to date amenities and all of the latest tech make hosting your next meeting or conference in the Poconos a breeze. Email meetings@poconos.org to learn more. #MeetThePoconos

The Poconos’ approach to public health and safety has been a natural extension of the region’s long-time focus on ensuring the safety of guests as well as team members and the community.

The Pocono Promise is a voluntary pledge that hundreds of businesses, big and small, have adopted to abide by strict CDC and PA Department of Health guidelines with respect to sanitation, training and mitigation of COVID-19.

Meetings are returning, and events are going back on the calendar. This should be a major boost to the local psyche and the local economy, which is heavily reliant on tourism and convention business.

"The Pocono Mountains has been making every effort as a destination to place public health safety and peace of mind above all else for meetings of all shapes and sizes," noted Chris Barrett, president and CEO for the Pocono Mountains Convention and Visitors Bureau. "Our properties take that responsibility very seriously and are positioned well to offer plenty of space and access to technology to ensure successful meetings. We’ve made a promise and a Pocono Promise is one kept to help us all return to some normalcy."

As events and meetings return, Pocono hospitality providers will use the lessons learned over the past year to ensure the experience is second-tonone for planners and convention attendees. This can and will be done with the spirit of cooperation throughout the region that has helped everyone through a difficult 2020. Additional emphasis will be placed on providing tailored experiences for planners, their clients and guests, so that each event or meeting delivers the right experience in the right environment.

LACKAWANNA COUNTY, PA

visitnepa.org

WHAT’S NEW

In 2020, the Lackawanna County Visitors Bureau launched the Lackawanna County Pizza Trail. Visitors can taste their way through Lackawanna County's best pizza shops. It is delicious fun for the whole family.

Montage Mountain, home of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Montage Mountain Resorts, and Live Nation's The Pavilion at Montage Mountain added a new hotel, the Fairfield Inn and Suites Scranton Montage Mountain. LOOKING AHEAD

“I believe that Lackawanna County will emerge, PostCOVID, stronger than it has ever been,” said Curt Camoni, executive director of the Lackawanna County CVB. “Throughout these difficult times, our people have shown an enormous capacity to adapt creatively, reinvent themselves, and support our area's small businesses. Businesses found new ways to meet their customers' needs while adding amenities that were safe for their patrons under the difficult circumstances. This strength, flexibility, sense of community, along with new best practices, new and popular additions to long-established businesses, and a new sense of appreciation for what we have will be a solid foundation to build on as we put COVID in the rear-view mirror.”

View of Scranton, PA after dark; photo by Access Aerial; courtesy: Lackawanna County Visitors Bureau

LUZERNE COUNTY, PA

visitluzernecounty.com

Home to resorts, hotels, extended stays, and B&Bs, the area has over 3,600 hotel rooms, and an additional 3,500 hotel rooms regionally. Luzerne County plays host to large conventions, associations, religious and sporting events, meetings, and all types of social events.

Foodies will enjoy locally owned restaurants, breweries, and wineries throughout the county.

Attractions include first-rate entertainment and dining at Mohegan Sun Pocono Casino; exciting harness racing; AHL hockey action at the Mohegan Sun Arena, along with numerous concerts and events; plus the art-deco FM Kirby Center for the Performing Arts, as well as several other intimate theaters.

Catch a RailRiders baseball game, the New York Yankees AAA affiliate, in their new state-of-the-art stadium with activities for all ages along with great local fare.

Outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy the county’s wide-open spaces, which includes 22 waterfalls at Ricketts Glen State Park, hiking and biking trails, kayaking, and whitewater rafting. WHAT’S NEW

The Mary and Frederick Stegmaier Mansions, beautiful examples of Victorian architecture, were renovated as a unique meeting and wedding venue and a bed and breakfast.

A Residence Inn and Home2 Suites are being completed this year and an additional two hotels are planned for downtown Wilkes-Barre.

Visit Luzerne County is proud to announce that the Visitors Bureau and main Visitors Center will be moving to a new center in late 2021. The Wilke-Barre Station was built by the Central Railroad of New Jersey in 1868 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The revitalization of the station has been years in the making and will serve as the gateway to downtown Wilkes-Barre, where visitors and tours can stop for information.

Meeting spaces and event venues are conveniently located near to historic attractions and team building opportunities in the Lehigh Valley.

The third-largest metro region in the state, Lehigh Valley is where visitor spending is growing faster than the rest of Pennsylvania. It is the backbone of industrial history, preColonial buildings, and the largest brownfield conversion in the U.S. It is a region that is home to several of America's favorite brands (i.e. Martin Guitar, Crayola, Mack Trucks), as well.

WHAT'S NEW

By 2022, Wind Creek® Bethlehem will have three incredible ballrooms, exquisitely outfitted guest rooms, a high-end lobby bar, custom art installations, spacious swimming pool areas, a luxurious new spa, and an impressive 35,000square feet of additional meeting/events space that will add dynamic new experiences. Once complete, Wind Creek Bethlehem’s integrated resort will boast 60,000-square feet of combined meeting space and over 500 hotel rooms. Under one roof, guests also can enjoy various dining options, from upscale restaurants by world renowned chef Emeril Lagasse to classic favorites. The Wind Creek campus also offers well-known brands in their outlet shops, nightlife at the Vision Bar, concerts and famous acts in the Event Center, and the Wind Creek Casino.

Renaissance Allentown in downtown Allentown exemplifies rich history with a modern feel. The hotel’s design includes elements of the iconic and historic Dime Bank building incorporated into it as its lobby. Attached to the PPL Center, attendees have ease of access and also are just steps away from an outdoor function area at the ArtsWalk PocketPark.

The Americus Hotel by Wyndham in downtown Allentown is a newly renovated building from a glorious era where high ceilings and arched windows were the focal point of architectural design. It has been brought back to life and approved by the historical society and is scheduled to open later in 2021.

COMING 2022

Excitement is building for our beautiful new hotel featuring 550 rooms and 60,000 square feet of meeting space.

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

Hyatt Place/Hyatt House is scheduled to open in October of 2021. Its Aster Event Center can host up to 250 attendees.

Delta by Marriott Allentown Lehigh Valley offers one of the largest conference spaces in Lehigh Valley as well as overnight accommodations for large groups. The venue’s main hotel ballroom, called Venue 100, can seat up to 800 in banquet rounds and has four individual parlors.

In September 2020, Tru by Hilton & Home2 opened as an ultra-efficient, side-by-side hotel experience by Hilton in Easton.

Rendering of the ongoing expansion at Wind Creek Bethlehem; photo courtesy: Discover Lehigh Valley

LOOKING AHEAD

"We hope the return of meetings is a strong one for Lehigh Valley,” said Alicia Quinn, CTA, VP of marketing and strategic alliances for Discover Lehigh Valley. “The hotel developments speak for themselves. We are a mid-size destination for meetings and events with close proximity to large cities. Studies indicate that recovery in destinations like ours will look strong. Lehigh Valley has many unique meeting spaces, authentic experiences, and outdoor attractions that get attendees out of the conference room.”

READING, PA

visitpaamericana.com

Pennsylvania’s Americana Region offers travelers a convenient and beautiful place to visit. Its stunning backdrop of wooded mountains and rolling valleys provides a beautiful and inviting place to explore. Business and leisure travelers appreciate Reading and Berks County’s restaurants, unique attractions, outdoor recreation, and small-town feel.

WHAT’S NEW

The DoubleTree by Hilton is an award-winning, full-service hotel located across from the Santander Arena in downtown Reading.

A Residence Inn by Marriott Reading is under construction and scheduled to open in May 2021. Hampton Inn and Suites Kutztown also recently opened to serve nearby Kutztown University.

LOOKING AHEAD

“We feel very optimistic about the future of travel to Pennsylvania’s Americana Region,” noted Lisa Haggerty, marketing manager for the Reading and Berks County Visitors Bureau. “Berks County is blessed with resources that business and leisure visitors will appreciate as the country opens. We offer outstanding outdoor activities, attractions surrounded by wide open spaces, meeting venues that are perfect for smaller gatherings, and a drivable destination that allows travelers to avoid large crowds and long waits.”