MyNorth Meetings 2015 by MyNorth

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IDEAS TO MAKE YOUR UP NORTH MEETING GREAT • 2015

Connect, Relax, Inspire ON A CORPORATE RETREAT IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN

Meet on the Water! WAYS TO GET YOUR CREW ON THE H2O

Go Big!

RESORTS THAT SHINE WITH LARGE MEETINGS

Ideas for the Goodie Bag LOCALLY MADE GIFTS

Cafe Manitou at The Homestead Resort

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Gather at a Wine Tasting Room

5 SWEET MEETING SPACES AMONG THE VINEYARDS.

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Dear Meetings and Events Planner, As you plan the location and venue of your upcoming events, I would like to invite you to consider Mission Point Resort. As I enter my fourth season on the island, I am tremendously excited with the momentum we have built at the resort, and would be delighted if you were a part of it. Building on our outstanding east waterfront location and relaxed, welcoming ambiance, we are a great choice for groups of all sizes. Mission Point offers a wide range of guest rooms and suites, and a large variety of ďŹ&#x201A;exible meeting and event space including a 35,000 square foot Conference Center. With an intense and growing focus on locally sourced foods, Mission Point offers excellent and creative choices for catered dinners in our event spaces, or at our three restaurants: Chianti (Italian), Round Island Bar and Grill (American pub fare) and Bistro on the Greens (eclectic American bistro, al fresco). For free time, Mission Point Resort has a large variety of onsite activities and amenities, including bike rental, tennis, swimming pool, spa, movies, kidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s arcade, and lawn games. Please do not hesitate to contact our dedicated Group Sales team at 800-833-5538 to further assist you. I hope to see you on the morning side of the island! With kind regards, Bradley McCallum General Manager 906-847-3002

The Perfect Northern Michigan Choice For Groups And Events 800-833-5538 | www.missionpoint.com | info@missionpoint.com

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Editor’s Note

ANGELA BROWN

More Fun, Better Meetings Let’s meet Up North! Yes, the statement is a simple, friendly, casual notion, but “let’s meet Up North” is also a powerful idea in the world of meetings, because Northern Michigan is a potent place that inspires clear thinking, camaraderie and creativity—the top goals on any meeting planner’s mission list. This issue of Meetings North serves up a rich collection of ideas for harnessing the power of this place, this landscape, these waters, for your next meeting. Start with lodging. We serve up 13 of the north’s biggest resorts for planners who need some capacity and don’t want to forego the connection to setting. From The Inn at Bay Harbor, right on the Lake Michigan shore, to Crystal Mountain, tucked into a wonderfully wooded valley, to the legendary Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, each has a richness of personality that will create an inspired backdrop for your meeting. Water big and small is at the core of the Up North allure, so we also offer suggestions for getting your group out on the H2O. Stay warm and dry on

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a big ferry touring the shore at sunset or get right in the wet with a standup paddleboard outing. Northern Michigan’s soil and climate have given rise to a nationally renowned agricultural region, with award-winning wineries and a burgeoning local foods industry. We tap into our ag scene in two ways that can make a meeting better. We talk with Traverse City–based meeting planner Allison Beers for tips when hosting an event in a winery tasting room, and we have suggestions for super tasty locally made foods—jams, preserves, more—to make the goodie bag even goodier. Let’s meet Up North!

Jeff Smith Editor, MyNorth Meetings SMITH@TRAVERSEMAGAZINE.COM

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T H E

K I N D

O F

P R ODUCTIVITY you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t achieve

OV E R

C O N F E R E N C E

C A L L

With beautiful views outside the windows and the stresses of the office miles and miles away, things were clicking. Holding our meetings at Crystal Mountain had the teams in sync and focused.

MAKE IT YOUR MOMENT C RYSTA LMO U NTAIN.CO M

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855 .74 6. 6733

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Meetings mynorth.com/meetings

A MyNorth Media Publication PRESIDENT/ EDITOR IN CHIEF

VICE PRESIDENT EDITORIAL/EDITOR MANAGING EDITOR

ART DIRECTOR PRODUCTION DIRECTOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER WEB DIRECTOR WEB DEVELOPER MEDIA PROJECT COORDINATOR VIDEOGRAPHER

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Deborah Wyatt Fellows

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Table of Contents 2015 • Volume 11, Number 1

1 Editor’s Note More Fun, Better Meetings.

Jeff Smith

SMITH@TRAVERSEMAGAZINE.COM

Elizabeth Edwards

LISSA@TRAVERSEMAGAZINE.COM

Heather Gray

HGRAY@MYNORTH.COM

Theresa Burau-Baehr

THERESA@TRAVERSEMAGAZINE.COM

Rachel Dorie

RDORIE@MYNORTH.COM

Todd Zawistowski

TODD@TRAVERSEMAGAZINE.COM

Michael Thompson

MICHAEL@TRAVERSEMAGAZINE.COM

Roger Lamb

ROGER@TRAVERSEMAGAZINE.COM

Dana Allen

DANA@TRAVERSEMAGAZINE.COM

Kris Riley

KRILEY@TRAVERSEMAGAZINE.COM

Jim Driver

JDRIVER@TRAVERSEMAGAZINE.COM

Ann Gatrell

ANNG@TRAVERSEMAGAZINE.COM

Lisa Gillespie

LGILLESPIE@TRAVERSEMAGAZINE.COM

Jeff Hale

JHALE@TRAVERSEMAGAZINE.COM

Jill Hayes

5 Find Answers Near Nature

Dr. Greg Holmes discusses why meeting in a beautiful place makes us more creative and better communicators.

8 Big Venues Up North

Thumbnail sketches of meeting amenities at 13 of Northern Michigan’s largest resorts.

11 Oh, That Bodacious H2O

Stay dry in a big boat or get wet on a paddleboard, either way your team will love the break.

15 Goodie Bags Gone Goodier

Tasty, local concoctions from one of America’s richest agriculture regions. Flavorize your gift bag.

17 Tips for Events in Wine Tasting Rooms

Event planner Allison Beers shares advice for wine country gatherings.

20 Map N Stuff

JHAYES@TRAVERSEMAGAZINE.COM

Amy Artz Joslin

AMYJ@TRAVERSEMAGAZINE.COM

Cyndi Ludka

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Candace Morse

CMORSE@TRAVERSEMAGAZINE.COM

Drew Warner

DREW@MYNORTH.COM

Ben Fellows

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MARKETING DIRECTOR CIRCULATION FULFILLMENT MANAGER MARKETING COORDINATOR

THIS PAGE: ANGELA DOSTER BROWN. ON THE COVER: MISSY LUICK

TICKETING DIRECTOR

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Rachel North

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FROM THE PUBLISHER OF

Editorial & Advertising Offices

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meetingsnorth

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3 Memorable Resorts | 75,000 Sq Ft of Flexible Meeting Space 1,000+ Sleeping Rooms | 30 Distinct Food & Beverage Options 171 Holes of Golf Spanning 11 Spectacular Courses Michiganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Two Largest Largest Ski Resorts Ski Resorts with with OverOver 850 850 Skiable Skiable AcresAcres 15 Unique Team Building Activities Certified Meeting Professional Staff

Harbor Springs, Michigan

Bay Harbor, Michigan

Boyne Falls, Michigan

877.423.8281 | BOYNE.com/meetings

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Places to Meet

Find Answers Near Nature

Science is validating what our intuition tells us: ideas and communication flow more smoothly in a beautiful, natural place. Meeting in a beautiful place near nature offers benefits beyond just seeing pretty stuff. We ask psychologist Dr. Greg Holmes to discuss how and why the boosts in creativity and camaraderie are real. So, is there any proof that there’s really something to this, that being near nature can free our creativity and allow us to connect with others? Sure. I mean, there’s proof in our everyday lives. You take a few days off and spend them in quiet places looking at trees and nature and you feel better. People intuitively know that and value that. But, yes, there is also scientific proof that that intuition is correct. What are the scientists finding? There is still so much we do not know about the brain, but the more we do know, the more we know that the brain needs a break from routine. Think about it. The brain never really stops, right? Even when it’s on vacation, the brain is working. It never really goes on vacation. But the brain seems to need differences in types of stimulation to achieve a kind of rest, to stay healthy. That old puritanical idea about work, that if you aren’t at your desk you aren’t working, is just not true. Give some examples from our daily lives. If you think about how people come upon epiphanies, it’s often not at their desk at all. It’s in the shower or in their nighttime dreams, or just daydreaming. There is proof that breaks from routine help people in the long run with attention and problem solving. The idea that daydreaming and not paying attention should stop, they’re finding evidence against that notion.

What about idea sharing between people, not just benefits for the individual, but in communication? Definitely. There is evidence to show that when stress level drops, your communication increases. And not just the frequency of communication, but important for meeting directors, the quality of communication. The more stressed we are, the more we don’t have time and space to communicate. It becomes truncated, abrupt, lacks empathy, not a recipe for good communication or team building. Getting away from the workplace has a lot of benefits for that. Any suggestions for what meeting planners can weave into their plans? Of course it depends on the group and goals of the meeting and all of that, but for some people the idea of journaling, keeping a small journal, is valuable. Keep track of thoughts that might occur to us during the time away. Pay attention to your thinking, not just conscious thinking, but daydreams too. Don’t censor yourself in a journal. Write down dreams. Also, activities can be very simple. Like take people on a simple walk. Go where it’s quiet and people can join together. Going on a sail can be a wonderful idea. I also like wrap-up activities, where people talk about what they have learned. Dr. Greg Holmes is available as a meeting speaker and facilitator. tcparadox@gmail.com Jeff Smith is editor of Meetings North and Traverse, Northern Michigan’s Magazine. smith@traversemagazine.com

ANGELA BROWN

Is there a specific study you can think of that makes the point? There is a famous 2012 study from the University of Utah and the University of Kansas about backpackers and how scores on a creativity test were 50 percent higher among people who had been backpacking

for four days to six days than among people who hadn’t gone backpacking. [Web search: Utah backpacker creativity study.] Also the study subjects weren’t allowed to have any electronic technology with them during that time. So the scientists weren’t really sure if it was just being in nature or having no technology or some combination of the two that led to the higher results.

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Meeting success in any season

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Why Choose Grand Traverse Resort and Spa? It’s the surprising destination that has it all: expansive meeting space, exceptional golf, exciting group activities, delicious food and drink – and a staff that excels at successful meetings. But it is more than that. It’s the convenience of the Traverse City region that beckons our guests to shop downtown, taste local wines, and experience year-round activities that encourage your attendee’s participation and help you achieve your meeting goals.

800-748-0303 | grandtraverseresort.com/meetings Owned & Operated by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians

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Big Meetings

Big Venues Up North Clip and save: Snapshot profiles of 13 of Northern Michigan’s largest meeting venues. The Homestead Resort Hunker down with your team at this fourseason resort, spa and ski hill in the heart of scenic Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. With four hotels and condos plus five dedicated meeting spaces for as few as six people or as many as 180, there’s room to accommodate groups of all sizes. Planning is easy, with clearcut, fixed-price packages, and optional addons like fine dining at on-site restaurants or cook-outs catered just for you. Lake Michigan, the Crystal River, and the charming villages of Glen Arbor and Leland are just moments away. 231.334.5000, THEHOMESTEADRESORT.COM.

Crystal Mountain This family-friendly ski, golf and spa resort, tucked amid the forested hills of beautiful Benzie County, sets a high bar for amenities and customer service—not to mention recreation opportunities to recharge your team. The award-winning Crystal Center, with space for up to 350 guests, is lauded as one of the finest conference spaces in the Midwest and has the accouterments to satisfy your crew: a fantastic AV system, rooms acoustically designed with quiet in mind, special break-out meeting space ranging from cushy fireplace lounges to a slopeside outdoor terrace, and even eighthour ergonomic chairs. After work? Hit the links, the slopes, the hiking trails, or the spa; it’s all just steps away. A wide range of onsite lodging and dining options, too. 855.995.5146, CRYSTALMOUNTAIN.COM.

Grand Traverse Resort The Grand Traverse Resort’s 17-story glass tower is a striking landmark and a beacon of luxury, design and exceptional service—for proof, just look at the resort’s high-profile conference clients, from the Detroit Red Wings to the National Governors Conference (which the resort has hosted twice). There’s more than 86,500 square feet of meeting space here, with room to accommodate intimate groups up to conferences with more than 2,000 attendees. When it’s time to unplug, the options are pretty endless: enjoy a few rounds of golf on three championship

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courses, unwind in the 7,000-square-foot spa, or request a teambuilding event like yoga on the beach or a company 5K race. 800.236.1577, GRANDTRAVERSERESORT.COM.

Shanty Creek A seasoned, attentive service staff and a broad menu of retreat options make the event planning and execution easy at this Bellaire ski and golf resort. Get your group’s creative juices flowing with a teambuilding exercise like a GPS scavenger hunt or a murder mystery party, or unwind with a round of golf (four courses onsite), a ski sesh (Summit Mountain’s slopes are directly behind the resort’s Lakeview Conference Center), or maybe a field trip to Short’s Brewing Co. (the Michigan craft brew mecca is just seven minutes away). State-ofthe-art AV equipment, 36,000 square feet of flexible event space, and million-dollar views all around. 800.678.4111, SHANTYCREEK.COM.

Boyne Mountain A happy team is a productive team, so if you choose to tap into the bonanza of fun activities waiting at this four-season Boyne Falls resort, your crew will no doubt be whipping right through company challenges—and having a great time, too. In addition to epic skiing and outstanding golf, there’s also horseback trail rides, sleigh rides, disc golf, a zipline adventure course, paintball, kayaking and canoeing, the state’s largest indoor waterpark, and the awardwinning Solace Spa (25-minute targeted neckand-shoulder massage, anyone?). When it’s time to get down to business, there’s event space for up to 800 attendees and a veteran staff ready to help you make your meeting a success. 800.862.6963, BOYNE.COM.

Boyne Highlands Take a break from drab boardrooms and make this legendary golf and ski resort, situated in the glacier-carved hills surrounding Harbor Springs, the eye-popping backdrop for your next gathering. Much of the meeting space offers spectacular views of the mountainside and surrounding golf courses—which of course

will beckon your crew outdoors to loosen up after nailing each day’s objectives. There are plenty of options for fun group outings, too: dinner theater, a zipline course, scenic chairlift rides, a complementary nine-hole, par-3 course, and more, depending on the season. Event space for up to 600 attendees and lots of great options for dining, too. 800.862.6963, BOYNE.COM.

Grand Hotel Victorian-era elegance meets state-of-theart convention facilities at this iconic hotel overlooking the Straits of Mackinac. A personal convention manager appointed specifically to your group will help smoothly steer everything from personalized reservation forms to island travel logistics to properly setting up the AV equipment. The two-story, 16,000-squarefoot Woodfill Conference Center is just steps from guest rooms and has space for up to 800 attendees, with smaller rooms nearby for breakout sessions or smaller groups. Of course, the entire island is a memorable setting for a group retreat, and your team will love relaxing with timeless activities like horse-drawn carriage rides, bicycle trips, and golf at the historic Wawashkamo Golf Club. 800.33GRAND, GRANDHOTEL.COM.

Inn at Bay Harbor When it comes to events, they’ve thought of every last little detail at the Inn at Bay Harbor. This luxurious resort on the shores of Little Traverse Bay offers top-notch catering, exemplary service, indoor and outdoor meeting spaces for up to 200 guests, group activities like lawn chess and tournament croquet, and even shuttle service to nearby downtown Petoskey. Reward your team’s productivity with a guided fly fishing trip, or give everyone a free afternoon to book appointments at the resort’s spa, kick back poolside, or hit up one of Bay Harbor’s three distinct nine-hole golf courses. 855.688.7023, INNATBAYHARBOR.COM.

Mission Point Resort This red-roofed beauty on the sunrise side of Mackinac Island boasts frontage right on the4

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Big Meetings

Straits and extensive, flexible conference space— more than 38,000 square feet. There’s plenty of break-out rooms and lounges to accommodate smaller brainstorming sessions, plus space for up to 750 attendees to sit theater-style for presentations in the well-appointed Sound Stage room. Dazzle your crew with a company celebration in the Main Lodge’s Summit banquet room—the food and panoramic water views are unforgettable. A photo-op bicycle tour around the island’s easy eight-mile perimeter is a great way to stretch the legs in between sessions. 800.833.7711, MISSIONPOINT.COM.

Evergreen Resort Your team will be fresh and ready to tackle your meeting’s mission after plenty of outdoor playtime at this four-season golf resort just outside of historic Cadillac and a short distance from a half-million acres of Manistee National Forest. Seasonal activities include cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, hiking, fishing, and of course, golfing on two award-winning courses. Get the whole group together for a cookout, a bonfire, a company golf tournament—or just set everyone loose to get their nature fix.

Evergreen offers indoor event space for up to 150 people and an outdoor tent for up to 250 guests. 800.634.7302, EVERGREENRESORTMI.COM.

Park Place Hotel When your conference is at this historic hotel, all of downtown Traverse City is your post-meeting playground. Walk to shopping, dining, brew pubs, the beach, a yoga studio, bike and kayak rentals, entertainment at institutions like City Opera House and the State Theatre, and tons more. Just don’t miss out on a great tradition at the Park Place itself: Unwinding with a stellar sunset view, piano jazz and cocktails in the hotel’s 10th story Beacon Lounge. Conference details: Nine meeting rooms totaling more than 12,000 square feet of functional space, room for up to 500 attendees, a broad range of catering options. 231.946.5000, PARK-PLACE-HOTEL.COM.

Odawa Casino Resort Hop from the boardroom to the blackjack table and back again— conferences at this Petoskey institution are sophisticated, thrilling, and a novel way for your team to connect and kick back. Six banquet rooms ensure comfortable

accommodations for groups of all sizes, from the Michigan Room, suitable for up to 14 people, all the way to Ovation Hall, with space for 1,000. Cap off the day with cocktails in the Rendezvous Lounge, or head to the O Zone nightclub to catch live music or stand-up comedy. 800.585.3737, ODAWACASINO.COM.

Little River Casino Resort Situated just a stone’s throw from Lake Michigan, Little River is a lovely spot to gather your group for an event that strikes the right balance between focus and fun. There’s meeting space for groups as small as 10 and as large as 1,000, plus a full-service casino with five slot rooms and table games like roulette, blackjack, and Texas Hold ’em. For group bonding time beyond the poker table, take a hike at C.S. Mott Nature Preserve, schedule a tee time at Arcadia Bluffs Golf Course, or head into downtown Manistee to amble along the Riverwalk and picnic on the beach. 888.568.2244, LRCR.COM.

Emily Bingham is a freelance writer and editor. emilyebingham.com. meetingsnorth

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Of fish, ponds & meetings. You’ve heard the adage about the little fish and the big pond. You probably haven’t thought about it when planning a small meeting. We have. Small meetings are swallowed up when a big meeting lurks nearby. Service suffers. So does productivity. We offer meeting facilites designed exclusively for small groups. They are luxuriously furnished and fully equipped. The service sparkles and the food is memorable. The beach, spa and golf are unmatched.

Come cast about. You’ll be hooked!

Glen Arbor, MI 49636 | thehomesteadresort.com | 231 334 5000 2015 MYNORTH MEETINGS #2.indd 10

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Meet on the Water

Oh, That Bodacious H2O

Tap into the rejuvenating power of water by scheduling a team trip on one of the North’s rivers, lakes or bays.

ANJANETTE MERRIWEATHER

Nauti-Cat: If you’re looking for a memorable experience to kick start or cap off a day of brainstorming with your company’s team, check out the Nauti-Cat, the Great Lakes’ largest commercial sailing catamaran. With room for up to 40 people, the boat is available for private cruises, with or without catering, around beautiful West Grand Traverse Bay. Bonus: The boat sails just steps from downtown Traverse City, making it possible for your crew to seamlessly transition from the excursion to a post-cruise meal or evening entertainment at an establishment downtown. Morning, lunchtime, mid-afternoon and sunset cruises available—just pick your pleasure and get ready for a laid-back, no-worries trip. 231.947.1730, nauti-cat.com.

Ferry rides: It’s important to build in time for unwinding at corporate retreats, and

you’d be hard-pressed to find a better way to do that Up North than on a Great Lakes cruise. In Leland, Manitou Island Transit offers sunset cruises along the Manitou Passage through Good Harbor Bay (part of the breathtaking Sleeping Bear Dunes shoreline); the 1.5-hour evening trips include views of landmarks like Pyramid Point and North Manitou Shoal Light. The trips run four times a week from late June through mid-August. 231.256.9061, manitoutransit.com. If a daytime trip is a better fit for your retreat schedule, consider a Mackinac Straits lighthouse tour with Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry. Choose from several options; each cruise is a peek into regional maritime history and offers views of historic lighthouses and other landmarks like the Mackinac Bridge, Mackinac Island and islands in the Les Cheneaux Archipelago. A portion of lighthouse cruise proceeds support historic preservation efforts by Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association. Schedule available online. 231.436.5023, sheplersferry.com. meetingsnorth

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True Inspiration

(800) 940-1120 | TraverseCity.com

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Meet on the Water Stand-Up Paddleboard: It’s a well-touted fact of corporate event planning that group challenges result in stronger bonds. With a group stand-up paddleboarding lesson, though, you’ll not only be challenging your team to learn something new together, you’ll be introducing them to a physical activity they might just fall in love with for a lifetime—and as studies show, active employees are more productive and less stressed. As its name suggests, stand-up paddleboarding involves standing on a large floating board (not unlike a surfboard, but generally larger and more stable) and propelling oneself across the water’s surface using a long paddle. It’s incredibly relaxing, a great total-body workout, requires minimal gear, and it offers a fresh way of exploring the water and shoreline. Bona fide outfitters offer rentals and lessons. In Traverse City, The River 231.883.7890, therivertraversecity.com. Charlevoix, Schulman Paddleworks 231.437.3157, schulmanpaddleworks.com. Empire, Sleeping Bear Surf and Kayak Shop 231.326.9283.

Canoeing: Paddling the North’s winding, scenic rivers offers an escape from the everyday, and might be just the tonic your group needs to balance out all that time in the boardroom. The shallow, sleepy lower reach of the Platte River makes for a gorgeous canoe trip, as it weaves through Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore before ending at a beautiful Lake Michigan beach and Platte Bay. The lower Platte, with its gentle current, is ideal for group canoe or tubing trips; find rentals at Riverside Canoe Trips in Honor. 231.325.5622, canoemichigan.com. The Manistee River is another Northern favorite; it has a moderate current and long stretches of sandy bottom perfect for wading or swimming. Find rentals at Chippewa Landing in Manton. 231.313.0832, chippewalanding.com. Remind your team to dress accordingly and slap on plenty of sunscreen; no one wants to be the one suffering from sunburn during any subsequent presentations back at the conference center.

Emily Bingham is a freelance writer and editor. emilyebingham.com.

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Goodie Bags

Goodie Bag Gone Goodier

By Jeff Smith

Put some true goodness into the goodie bag this year with flavors of locally made Northern Michigan foods.

1. Strawberry Basil Preserves, Food for Thought If you don’t know Northern Michigan strawberries, well, then, you don’t know. None better, seriously. Taste the terrior expressed within this jam. 231.326.5444.

2. Pickled Asparagus, Fire Stix Crisp, not over-cooked. Hot, but not overspiced. Just right. Try not to eat the whole jar in one sitting. (Hmm … think I might have just one more …). MIFARMMARKET.COM. 3. Sweet Jalapeno Glaze, Old Beck You will be tempted to just eat this with a spoon, but we recommend going for the full-on glory of spreading on a pork tenderloin or roast. MIFARMMARKET.COM. 4. Kickin’ Kream Mustard, Brownwood Farms One of the most beloved mustards north of, well, anywhere. It’s kickin. It’s creamy. And it’s ready to yum up your sandwich. Let it. 888.772.9444.

5. KaBob’s Kicken’ Hot Sauce, Cherry Republic We just keep finding new foods to try thi on. But it’s hard to beat drizzling over the trusty taco. Or a chicken wing. Or a bowl of chili … 800.206.6949.

TODD ZAWISTOWSKI

6. Lemon Honey Creme, Sleeping Bear Farms Pure joy from one of the North’s premier beekeepers. Expect a blast of lemonhoney sweetness that will have you diving the spoon back in. Great on vanilla ice cream. 231.882.4456.

Jeff Smith is editor of Traverse, Northern Michigan’s Magazine and MyNorth Meetings. smith@traversemagazine.com meetingsnorth

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Park Place Hotel

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Receptions in Winery Rooms

Tips for Events in Wine Tasting Rooms Advice from wine-region events planner Allison Beers. Want to really turn the stuffy corporate retreat stereotype on its head? Host your meeting at a winery. The North’s renowned wine country is home to a couple dozen tasting rooms, and many proprietors are happy to help you plan a dynamic—and delicious—gathering. We asked Allison Beers, owner of Events North, to walk us through the basics.

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MyNorth Vacation Guides are produced by the award-winning team at Traverse, Northern Michigan’s Magazine.

3/20/15 3:20 PM

Receptions in Winery Rooms To start: Why choose a winery for a business meeting or retreat? We love picking wineries because they offer two things. First, it’s such a unique venue and is such a great way to unplug and get creative and get your team together. Second, I love all things food and beverage in Northern Michigan, so when we can take people to a meeting place that offers local wines, it’s an added bonus.

How popular are wineries as meeting spaces? It’s not uncommon, but it’s a cool thing to do because not everyone’s doing it yet.

What size group does a winery event work for? We have such a wide range in Northern Michigan. From somewhere like Black Star Farms, where you can bring 150 people, all the way down to somewhere like Shady Lane Cellars—a small group of 12 to 15 would be great in that space. Each winery offers such a unique space and size, there’s a perfect fit for whatever your goal is.

What should business owners know about planning an event at a winery? One thing we always have to let people know is that you can’t bring in beer or liquor. It is a winery, you’re there for wine. And it’s also always good to keep in mind that may be there are employees who don’t drink, so would it be a good fit for them or not? That’s always good to keep in mind.

Other than wine tasting, what sort of activities can a group plan at a winery? During the harvest season, some places offer team building where you can go through the harvest process. You can also do private tours, which is really cool. Chateau Chantal offers a great tour through their production facility. The other one I like to do is offering dinner in the vineyards. At Bowers Harbor, you can “dine in the vines.” That’s kind of a cool, unique opportunity. There’s also the element of education—you can always bring in your group to learn more about wine tasting or the different varietals of grapes.

5 Wineries for Corporate Events, from Allison Beers Black Star Farms: Exceptional wines and customer service, set against the gorgeous Leelanau countryside. Beers: “I love their farmto-table-style food, and they have a variety of venues.” 231.944.1270, BLACKSTARFARMS.COM. Shady Lane Cellars: Award-winning wines in a lovely, century-old stone building. Beers: “They have a beautiful new patio that is just phenomenal.”

Is there a time of year that’s best for planning an event at a winery?

231.947.8865, SHADYLANECELLARS.COM.

Outside of the Northern Michigan busy season—so, not between May and October. But it also depends if it’s an off day. On a Tuesday morning in, say, June, a winery may be really happy to have you. It’s really just a matter of talking to the winery about what your needs are and finding out if it’s a good fit for them.

Brengman Brothers: Biodynamic Leelanau winery, just fi e miles from T.C. Beers: “Just the most hospitable and accommodating group in the world.” 231.946.2764, BRENGMANBROTHERS.COM.

Say we’re ready to make it happen. How do we start the planning process? It’s a matter of finding which winery you’re looking for. Some are ready for events right away, and for others, it’s more of a unique step for them. There are several wineries that are really used to hosting events and are ready and waiting for you. All of them, though, make it as easy as possible and will be happy to have you. For more information contact: Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail lpwines.com and Wineries of Old Mission, wineriesofoldmission.com

Left Foot Charley: Sleek, spare tasting room at the historic Grand Traverse Commons in downtown Traverse City. Beers: “Awesome place; they do a great job and I love the urban tasting room.” 231.995.0500, LEFTFOOTCHARLEY.COM.

Chateau Chantal: Stunning hilltop winery and B&B on Old Mission Peninsula. Beers: “The best views; they’re so accommodating and they offer lodging as well.” 231.223.4110, CHATEAUCHANTAL.COM. meetingsnorth

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Map N Stuff

NORTHERN MICHIGAN AREA AIRPORTS

Pictured Rocks NL

Cherry Capital Airport

231.947.2250; tvcairport.com AIRLINES: Delta, United, American Airlines

Christmas Munising

Sault Ste. Marie

DAILY FLIGHTS TO:

Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis Seasonal service: Atlanta, Denver, LaGuardia, Newark CAR RENTALS: Avis (231.946.1222), Budget (231.947.3883), Enterprise (231.922-2800), Hertz (231.946.7051), National/Alamo (231.947.1560)

Brimley

Newberry

Hessel

Manistique

Mackinac Island

Drummond

Island Regional Airport Pellston

St. Ignace

LAKE HURON 231.539.8441; pellstonairport.com

Gladstone

AIRLINES:

Escanaba

LAKE MICHIGAN

Cheboygan

PELLSTON REGIONAL AIRPORT

MAP AREA

Pellston

Avis (231.539.8302), Hertz (231.539.8404), Mackinaw Shuttle (231.539.7005) and Wolverine Stages

Petoskey

(800.825.1450)

Charlevoix GRAND TRAVERSE BAY Boyne City

Manistee County Blacker Airport

231.723.4351; flymanistee.com PublicCharters/North Country Sky

Northport

AIRLINES:

Peshawbestown

131

Gaylord

Suttons Bay

NUMBER OF DAILY FLIGHTS TO:

Lewiston Acme

Manistee

MANISTEE COUNTY BLACKER AIRPORT

Service to Chicago Midway

Traverse City 31

Detroit: 2-4 daily (varies seasonally) CAR RENTALS/TRANSPORTATION:

Harbor Springs

Mt. Pleasant

Delta Connections

NUMBER OF DAILY FLIGHTS TO:

CHERRY CAPITAL AIRPORT-TVC

CAR RENTALS/TRANSPORTATION:

Mowry Rental (231.723.4351)

Kalkaska Grayling

Houghton Lake

Cadillac

Ludington

ADVERTISER DIRECTORY

Boyne USA (Page 4) 877-423-8281 boyne.com Mark Homuth, Ext. 1 Cadillac Area Visitors Bureau (Page 18) 800- 225-2537 cadillacmichigan.com

Grand Traverse Resort & Spa

(Page 6 & 7) 800-748-0303 grandtraverseresort.com

Grandpa Shorterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (Page 14) 231-347-2603 grandpashorters.com

Mission Point Resort

The Homestead

Park Place

Traverse City Tourism

(Inside Front Cover) 800-833-5538 missionpoint.com

(Page 16) 231-946-5000 park-place-hotel.com Margaret Morse

Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa (Page 2)

Little Luxuries of Mackinac Island

Sojourn Resort

(Page 14) littleluxuriesofmackinac.com

(Page 14) 985-370-7873 sojournlakesideresort.com

Grand Hotel

Little River Casino Resort

Taste Bud Branding

855-746-6733 crystalmountain.com/meetingshome

(Back Cover) 517-349-4600 grandhotel.com/meetings

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(Page 10) 888-568-2244 lrcr.com

(Page 10) 231-334-5000 thehomesteadresort.com

(Page 12) 800-940-1120 traversecity.com Mary Winowiecki

(Page 14) 231-947-7000

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READY FOR A

CONFERENCE?

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PUT YOURSELF IN OUR PLACE! Little River Casino Resort offers space, accommodations, and catering to suit any event, accommodating groups of half a dozen to hundreds. We have a variety of meeting spaces, a 14,000 square foot multifunctional event center, state-of-the-art AV equipment and support, and a first class hotel with 292 guest rooms. Plus, you can enjoy wonderful dining in any of our three restaurants. Then experience the finest in casino action with over 1,500 exciting slot machines and table games! Give us a call today at 1.888.568.2244 and let us make your next event a success!

Manistee, MI | Corner of US 31 and Conference - Michigan M&E ad 02-14.indd 1 2015 MYNORTH MEETING COVER.indd 3

| 888.568.2244 | lrcr.com 2/12/14 11:19 AM 3/20/15 1:48 PM

A   . Offering our Complete Meeting Package This inclusive package includes accommodations, a full breakfast and five-course dinner daily and an evening cocktail reception. All meeting spaces are located within the hotel and come with AV equipment, Wi-Fi, coffee breaks, free golf greens fees (cart fee required) and a dedicated convention manager. Book 10 rooms or more and receive a complimentary room with meals. For rates and availability, email meetings@grandhotel.com or call 517-349-4600. Join our quarterly meetings eNewsletter at grandhotel.com/meetings.

180033GRAND • gr andhotel .com

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