Meetings
» IRON FISH DISTILLERY
CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN
PHOTOS FROM LEFT: MAE STIER // COURTNEY JEROME
TH OM P SO NVI LLE
Crystal Mountain has long been a beloved meetings destination. With copious traditional event space (from boardrooms to banquets), abundant lodging, an on-site golf course and ski resort, spa and recreation amenities plus a robust food and beverage tradition, it’s a no-brainer for meeting the needs of any traditional meeting planner. But Crystal Mountain has been thinking outside the ballroom box for more than 20 years, and it’s the perfect place for any organization looking to do the same—especially if they want to embrace the Michigan outdoors. “This is a wellness place,” says Sammie Lukaskiewicz, director of public relations. “It can work for anybody, but we can really tailor things to that. You can’t be in this setting without taking advantage of the outdoor and recreational opportunities.” In fact, outdoor adventures shape a lot of meeting agendas. For example, Arah Johnson, director of sales, notes her clients frequently plan sessions in the morning, leaving 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. open for skiing in winter, or hiking and biking in summer, then regrouping later for a short evening work session. Want to team-build? They’ve got staff on hand to facilitate activities galore, including Michigan’s only alpine slide and a short aerial adventure course. If you want to process and reflect, there are quiet spaces, walking trails and the forested Michigan Legacy Art Park, a 30-acre sculpture park tucked into the surrounding woods. The best part about Crystal Mountain and its all-at-one-site amenities, says Johnson, is that it’s turnkey—meeting planners don’t have to worry that they’re going to lose attendees to off-site distractions such as bar crawls or shopping. “We make it easy to plan activities that keep the meeting going—inside the boardroom and beyond.” CASE STUDY Johnson convinced a group of conservative, high-level insurance execs to book a mountaintop reception and the alpine slide for attendees’ families. “I warned them the adults would love it, too,” Johnson says. And she was right. The SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL FEATURE
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adults had a great time at their event but were quick to abandon the grown-up activities and take over the slide for an uproarious night. It was such a hit that when the group planned their meeting for the next year, they had vendors fighting to outbid each other to sponsor the slide activity for the evening. NEW IN 2020 Additions include a rooftop terrace with twinkle-light seating, Bru Bar (“brew bar” with specialty coffees and a full bar) and 25 new lodging rooms. LOCALS LOVE Iron Fish Distillery and its farm-to-table spirits (the barn makes for awesome additional event space) and nearby Frankfort’s popular Stormcloud Brewing Company for craft beer and bites like flatbread pizzas. HOT TIP “Have a winter meeting if you can,” Johnson says. Winter is considered peak season, but in midweek there are great deals to be had. “There’s no better place to be than at a ski resort, and it’s not just for skiers. Fat tire biking, cross-country skiing, the spa, roaring fires ... the energy, activity and vibe are just perfect.” QUICK FACTS » Meeting space range of size: 300–6,500 square feet » Meeting space total square feet: 21,629 » Heads in beds: Resort sleeps 1,500 people, but ideal meeting capacity is 10–350 » Getting there: 30 minutes from Cherry Capital Airport, Traverse City
Find more things to do at MyNorth.com/Thompsonville
MyNorth Meetings 2020
15
3/13/20 2:56 PM
