Book your next meeting experience close to all the action – Henderson. With many options for groups and excursions of all sizes. Just minutes from all the action of the Las Vegas Strip.
• Minutes from the Las Vegas Strip
• Over 25 Hotels to Choose From
• Over 350,000 Square Feet of Meeting Space
• Easy access to Harry Reid International Airport and the I-15
Nine Championship Golf Courses
M Resort: Official Hotel of the Las Vegas Raiders
A Variety of Shopping
Water Street: Dining, Events, Live Entertainment
Lake Las Vegas
Courtesy Charlottesville Albemarle
CVB
Typically, Kearney hosts more than 1,350 events a year. Everything from large conferences, to regional sporting events as well as hundreds of smaller professional and educational meetings all host their events in Kearney. The reason is simple. Because Kearney has the best facilities between Denver and Omaha, experienced staff and wonderful volunteers that make sure every event that comes to town is taken care of.
If you’re looking for a host city for your next event, make sure you look at Kearney.
IN SIGHTS
WITH VICKIE MITCHELL
OLD AND NEW
Each year, Historic Hotels of America adds new members to its roster. Some are old faithfuls, like Colonial inns or century-old downtown hotels. Others are new properties situated in repurposed schools, department stores or other buildings with colorful pasts. Some are rebirths of once-popular hotels abandoned after business failures. Many of these HHA members are convivial gathering places, with meeting spaces, public spaces and guest rooms that reflect their personalities instead of the latest trends. So, if the search is on for a venue with personality, HHA members are a good place to start.
Here are five of HHA’s newest members, all located in second-tier and third-tier destinations.
Hotels with a past make for a colorful present
Abandoned Hotel Annex
Now Boutique Hotel
The recently opened Le Meridien Fort Worth is a transformation of what was once the hotel annex of the famed Hotel Texas, now the Hilton Fort Worth. That hotel, across from Le Meridien, opened in 1921, is a member of HHA and is, sadly, where John F. Kennedy spent the last night of his life. The annex had sat empty after Hilton bought the Hotel Texas in 2000 but passed on buying the annex. Years later, Blueprint Hospitality decided to turn it into a 188-room boutique hotel. Their timing was perfect for a property with 1960s architecture that’s back in style. The new hotel’s meetings spaces include a 2,555-square-foot divisible ballroom and three other small meeting rooms. Its restaurant, the Bouvier Brasserie, adds Southwest spice to French cuisine; a rooftop bar, Annex, sits 14 stories above the city. marriott.com
New Lessons at Old School
In a town as steeped in history as Frederick, Maryland, the Visitation Hotel Frederick is a fitting addition. The 65-room inn became the first new hotel in downtown Frederick in 50 years when it opened last year in an 1846 brick Colonial that was once a Catholic girls’ school. It also served as a temporary hospital during the nearby Battle of Antietam. From the front, the inn looks as serious as a nun. But behind the facade, guest rooms open to a large, landscaped courtyard. Reminders of its past pepper the property, like chains for Do Not Disturb signs that mimic rosaries and spare but striking rooms warmed by historic photos. The former chapel is now a gleaming bar, lit by sunlight that streams through stained-glass windows. Apple dumplings offered at the 66-seat restaurant are a nod to nuns who made the sweet treat for students. Meetings can opt for a 2,700-square-foot ballroom and a smaller meeting room; boards can choose among three private dining rooms for 10. visitationhotel.com
Colonial Inn is a Yankee Doodle Dandy
A long history precedes the Nassau Inn, the only full-service hotel in downtown Princeton, New Jersey. Today’s 188-room inn sits across from Princeton University on busy Palmer Square; the original Nassau Inn, opened in 1756, was a hangout for Paul Revere, Thomas Paine and other revolutionaries, many traveling to and from Philadelphia for the Continental Congress. Its ties to the Revolution inspired owners to hire Norman Rockwell to paint the mural for its Yankee Doodle Taproom when the new inn opened in the early 1900s. And although it is “new,” today’s inn looks as though it stepped right out of the 1700s, with a Colonial style that fits nicely with a collegiate downtown. Its traditional style is obvious in the largest of its 13 meeting spaces, the 2,800-square-foot Prince William Ballroom, where brass chandeliers dangle from coffered ceilings and windows peer onto Palmer Square.
nassauinn.com
Stars Splash Desert Skies
Back in the 1930s, the Southern California desert became a hot spot for tourists who hopped in their newfangled autos and headed to Borrego Springs to sit beneath dark, star-spangled skies. An attentive entrepreneur saw opportunity, and in 1937, opened a small resort seven miles from what is now the state’s largest park, Anza-Borrego. Though the La Casa Del Zorro Desert Resort and Spa has seen ups and downs, it has been on an up since 2013 thanks to enterprising new owners.
Today’s La Casa Del Zorro lets the desert again be the star, keeping lights low so dark skies sparkle. Its 48 guest rooms and 19 casitas (one to four bedrooms) and 6,225 square feet of indoor and outdoor venues make it a choice for small meetings that want to spark big ideas. Meeting spaces showcase the resort’s Spanish Colonial architecture with whitewashed walls, glowing fireplaces and timbered ceilings; French doors open to patios; and two dozen pools reflect strong sun. Groups can hike the state park’s trails and be reminded by the vivid plant life they see that the desert is a garden too.
lacasadelzorro.com
Spend the Night Where Richmond Shopped
In an Art Deco building where all of Richmond once shopped, visitors to the Virginia capital now stay the night. The 250-room Hilton Richmond Downtown incorporates the block-wide storefront that originally was home to Miller and Rhoads, a department store that began as a dry goods store opened after the Civil War.
Bankruptcy closed Miller and Rhoads in 1990, but luckily, investors later realized that the building could have a new purpose. The hotel opened in 2006 and recently underwent a major renovation. Once again a community gathering spot, the property has 17,634 square feet of meeting space, including a 4,720-squarefoot ballroom. Live jazz floats through its cocktail lounge; an upscale restaurant specializes in Northern Italian fare and an enclosed courtyard fosters conversations and cornhole competitions. hilton.com
MEETING LEADERS
LYNN LAWSON
GBY REBECCA TREON
rowing up in Iowa, Lynn Lawson was like a lot of girls in the 1980s, with big dreams of being a flight attendant for TWA.
“I was going to travel the world, and I did get hired by Northwest Orient,” she said. “But a funny thing for this business happened: I discovered I was scared to death of flying, so I decided being a flight attendant was not what I wanted to be.”
Lawson kept working for the airline as a gate agent before getting married. She decided she wanted to continue in the travel industry but didn’t want to stay with the airline, so she moved to a travel agency. She worked her way into management and started doing corporate travel for the Association of Academic Psychiatrists.
“I was initially just doing travel arrangements for their board members, but it slowly grew and grew,” she said. “After working with them for several years, the executive director of the association asked me to lunch. She was probably twice my age — a wonderful woman who was a former teacher and inspired me to grow personally — and she took me under her wing.”
At the time, Lawson was a single mother. At lunch, the executive director told Lawson she wanted to hire her, doubled her salary, and gave her and her children health insurance.
“I spent the next 15 years with them, and I loved every minute of it,” she said. “I started to go out on my own a little bit and eventually decided I wanted to try to do it myself.”
Lawson struck out on her own, moving to Denver and starting her own planning company in 2014.
“Working with the executive director made me into a very strong, confident woman — I
wasn’t worried about what people thought of me,” she said. “The business was the business, and I was very determined to be successful.”
Today, Lawson coordinates between 20 and 30 multi-day educational conferences each year for corporate clients, medical associations and clients in the SMERF market. She plans all the logistics from start to finish, from venue coordination to speakers, including managing on-site materials and the schedule during the event itself.
That’s not to say that event planning is without challenges. Lawson is transparent about the amount of hard work that goes into the event and the reality that things don’t always go as planned. The key, she said, is to be prepared for hiccups and have a contingency plan.
“There’s always a road bump,” she said. “The key is that you’re one step ahead of the problem. You have to pre-plan and know what could happen — and things do happen.”
Lawson encountered one such challenge when the ballroom that was supposed to house an event burned down. She was able to pivot and use her personal connections to find a different venue.
“I was able to use my connections within the industry, within the hotel but also within the city, knowing the CVBs,” she said. “That’s what makes it possible to fix road bumps. You have to have the knowledge of what you can do to make it happen, and that comes with experience.”
Despite the hard work and occasional mishaps, Lawson loves what she does — especially organizing events with under 1,000 attendees.
“I love events that have between 250 and 500 people; that’s the sweet spot,” she said. “They’re more intimate. You get to know the clients, you get to know the attendees, and you can really advocate for them and personalize everything in a more detailed way.”
“There’s always a road bump. The key is that you’re one step ahead of the problem. You have to pre-plan and know what could happen — and things do happen.”
EXECUTIVE PROFILE
NAME Lynn Lawson
TITLE
Owner
ORGANIZATION
EventPrep
LOCATION
Denver
BIRTHPLACE
St Paul, Minnesota
EDUCATION
University of Minnesota
CAREER HISTORY
• Corporate travel agent and event planner, 1981–95
• Director of meetings and conventions, Association of Academic Psychiatrists, 1995–2010
• Global account executive, Conference Direct, 2012–15
• Director of operations, Planning Partners International, 2015–16
• Owner, EventPrep, 2017–present
A FRESH TAKE ON SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY
Iva Popova
SENIOR SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
Kenes Group
Iva Popova is the senior social media manager at the Kenes Group, a global conference planning organizer dedicated to medical and scientific events. She earned her bachelor’s degree in advertising, marketing and applied communication at New Bulgarian University in 2020. While obtaining her degree, she completed an event marketing internship at All Channels Communication, then held sales and marketing roles before reentering the events industry. She’s also a member of PCMA’s 20 in their Twenties, Class of 2025.
What is the importance of social media marketing when it comes to events?
A:Social media is a very big part of marketing, and the way it relates to events is omnipresent. You have the strategy before, during and after the event, and that makes it so much more than the few calendar dates during the event. With the way the world is changing and evolving, social media is making it a whole new experience, a whole community outside the venue. You can offer people more, such as a behind-the-curtain look to show them what they can expect. You can tease people who weren’t able to attend and show people what they’re missing and post snippets of people during the event and make them feel like they’re part of the community. They get excited with you. In the context of events, social media is an integral part of achieving this, to make people have an experience and get more worth for their money.
How does social media marketing fit into the larger strategy of event marketing?
A: For me, it’s about the brand and not just the promotion of the event. We have the habit of thinking about social media and event marketing as promotion, which I don’t really like. It’s about building a brand, which then builds a community and a staircase to success. It starts with people recognizing you as a brand when they see a logo or design. They think, “What are they doing now?” You need to make people interested in you as a brand and push promotion to the side, because if people like what they see, they will register for that event. One post that’s relevant and data-backed is more useful in the long run than several reminders to register for an event.
A destination that delivers St. Joseph
Inspired Meetings Begin in Storied Spaces
Why settle for ordinary meeting spaces when you can host your event where history was made? In St. Joseph, Missouri, remarkable venues rich with character not only tell the stories that shaped America but are open for your small meeting. From historic Victorian homes to museums and memorials, you’ll find inspired places to inspire your attendees.
Beyond the venues, St. Joseph awaits discovery. From the Pony Express to the final chapter of Jesse James’ legendary story, your guests can explore museums, historic trails, and landmarks that tell the tales of those who shaped the West.
Let St. Joseph’s storied spaces turn your next small meeting into something extraordinary—start planning today at stjomo.com.
How do you measure ROI when it comes to event planning and social media marketing efforts?
A:To me, social media marketing is a must-have. But to be honest, stakeholders are still getting there. When you have someone in their 20s telling you that you have to have social media, some people wonder if it’s worth the money because they don’t always see a tangible return on investment. But the truth is, you have a lot of ways to track it and know if your efforts and strategies are successful. You can add traceable UTM links, and if someone registers because of a social media, that’s ROI. If you gain more followers, you get a better more positive sentiment on post-event surveys, that’s also ROI. To me, client satisfaction is a big part of it; in my work, I’ve seen people complain during an event on Twitter. They complain the coffee is too cold or there’s no water in the cooler. Then we can track that person down and ask how to make things right, to make sure they know the event organizers want them to have a good time. There are also polls and surveys, games or giveaways, and things you can do on-site to engage people. You can invite them to follow you, tag you in their pictures, participate in online contests, and collect their social media information or emails for your databases.
What
qualities do
you need to succeed as a social media marketer in events?
A:There’s a misconception that if you’re very active on social media you’re going to be a good marketing and social media manager, which is completely false. The best social media managers tend to be the ones who don’t even post on their accounts. A person who would be great for this role is someone who understands psychology. I’ll give an example: If you see a trend on TikTok or Reels that has an immediate hook and you understand why it’s funny, it’s because you know why people think it’s funny and how they think. You know what’s relatable, what’s relevant, what song is trending and will be perfect to boost the algorithm. It’s about connecting these dots to form a strategy. The best social media marketers are the people who are focusing on brand and how they present themselves and people who tailor content to specific interests.
What are some misconceptions about social media marketing jobs?
A:Everyone needs to know we’re not just people scrolling through Instagram all day. It’s hard for some to accept this person is actually working when they spend their whole day in front of an Excel Sheet. They need to see the value of the content we provide and the value of having us there. There’s ROI for your company, not just your event. Content is something that’s there forever. The pictures you post, the memories people have from the event are there forever. It’s not about posting 200 posts per day, it’s about doing something valuable, which is sometimes hard to explain to older generations. They are used to having things planned out, step-by-step, whereas marketing tends to happen very quickly. This trend is the hit of today, but tomorrow we need to start something new. We’re quick thinkers; we adapt every single day and what we do is not just publish aimlessly. It’s communicating, being present and listening to what people want and need.
In National Harbor and Baltimore, scenic waterfronts make a splash
BY VICKIE MITCHELL
Waterfronts always make a splash, and two major convention destinations in Maryland are making the most of theirs. Here’s a look at them.
NATIONAL HARBOR
In 2008, Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center opened on the Potomac River eight miles from Washington, D.C. and a major meeting destination, National Harbor, was born. Today, Gaylord National remains National Harbor’s centerpiece, but now it’s joined by some lively neighbors: five hotels, including a casino resort; a dozen blocks of restaurants and shops; and boat cruises, a 175-foot Ferris wheel and other amusements.
Gaylord National’s 1,996 guest rooms and more than half a million square feet of meeting space make it the largest noncasino resort along the East Coast, and its 178,787 square feet of exhibit space is the largest of any D.C. metro hotel. Other National Harbor hotels, including the Westin and the AC Hotel, have meeting space as well. The MGM National Harbor, a mile from National Harbor’s downtown, has 35,000 square feet of meeting space.
But even with all the development, the Potomac remains much of the focus in National Harbor. The river is the view from the Gaylord’s 1.5-acre atrium. Many of its meeting spaces and its rooftop bar also afford water views. A riverfront promenade invites strolls; paddleboats, water taxis and tour boats get visitors out on the water. And
restaurants are a marvelous mix — everything from Maryland crabs and milkshakes to hot chicken and tikka masala.
BALTIMORE
Baltimore’s Inner Harbor is a scenic, waterfront destination along the I-95 corridor. It is the centerpiece of the city’s walkable convention campus, home to the National Aquarium, the Maryland Science Center, delicious dining, restored historic ships, and water taxis to nearby neighborhoods like Fell’s Point and Baltimore Peninsula. Only a few blocks inland, Camden Yards, home of the Baltimore Orioles, and M&T Bank Stadium, home to the Baltimore Ravens, draw sports fans.
Only two blocks away from the Inner Harbor is the Baltimore Convention Center. The center has much to offer planners, with 300,000 square feet of exhibit space, 50 meeting rooms, a 36,600 square foot ballroom, and a 15,000-square-foot terrace. It is also connected to not one, but two downtown hotels: the 757-room Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor Hotel and the 488-room Hyatt Regency Baltimore Inner Harbor Hotel. Each has significant meeting space: 128,043 square feet at the Hilton and 35,000 at the Hyatt. And they are by no means the only nearby hotels. Baltimore has 8,000 hotel rooms downtown, and 2,300 of them are within a block of the convention center.
To learn more about National Harbor and Baltimore or other greater D.C. meeting destinations, visit meetinmaryland.com, a partnership of Visit Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, Visit Baltimore, Visit Howard County, Visit Montgomery, and Experience Prince George’s, five DMOs that work together to market Maryland meeting venues in the greater D.C. area.
Small Can Be Beautiful
MEETING PLANNERS DISCUSS PROS AND CONS OF STREAMLINING EVENT FOOTPRINTS
BY RACHEL CRICK
Go big or go home — this adage is used all the time in the business world.
But for event planning, it’s not strictly true. With the days of social distancing safely behind us and costs rising industry-wide, there’s a great case for event organizers to scale down their events’ footprints.
From increased attendee satisfaction to reduced costs across the board, shrinking a meeting has surprising benefits. But how can event organizers do this while maintaining high standards for aesthetic appeal and functionality?
Here’s what three event professionals had to say about the benefits of and best practices for reducing an event’s footprint.
SMALLER MAKES SENSE
Hosting an event in a smaller space may seem counterintuitive, especially as many organizations are still trying to build attendance up to pre-pandemic numbers. So why is shrinking the floorplan a solution?
For event organizers, the benefit is obvious: A smaller footprint can directly lead to cost savings. It’s less expensive to book one exhibit hall than to book an exhibit hall, four breakout rooms and a ballroom for a keynote speaker. There are fewer staffing and setup costs.
But indirect cost savings also can stem from cooperation with the venue. According to Sarah Buchbinder, regional director for the meeting broker division at Meetings Made Easy, hotels are more willing to negotiate prices for both guest rooms and meeting space if they can book other meetings simultaneously. Decreasing the space a meeting uses means event organizers ultimately have more choice in the venue selection process.
“If you have a large group and you want lots of breakouts and you’re spreading yourself over a huge footprint, the hotel can’t sell that space to other groups,” she said. “Often, hotels either don’t have or won’t offer the meeting space if it sets off their room-to-space ratio.”
In other words, a meeting that books only half of a hotel’s sleeping rooms but all its meeting space can cause the hotel to lose money, meaning it’s less
“Reducing
your meeting footprint gives you more options for hotels, can get you better rates, can get you fewer charges for A/V, for setup, for decorations, and can make your life easier as a planner.”
Sarah Buchbinder
REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE MEETING BROKER DIVISION
Meetings Made Easy
Experience: 19 years
On the results from reducing her meeting footprint: “We did find that people are staying on the floor more, attending seminars instead of going back to their hotel room. You know, they can run from an appointment to a session to a meeting. It’s really helped the energy on our floor.”
likely to bid to host a meeting or offer deals and promotions for the event.
Another major benefit to a condensed footprint is for the attendees. It’s easier and faster to navigate one exhibit hall than an entire convention center. This leads to more networking opportunities and fewer attendees leaving the show floor in favor of their hotel rooms or breakout rooms.
“It saves them a lot of travel time, walking,” said Dawn Pettus, executive vice president of the National Tour Association. “Some convention centers that we’re in can be very large and things are spread out. By having everything in that one exhibit hall, they can do a lot of different things in a short amount of time, because it is all right there at their fingertips.”
For sponsors, this increases opportunities to engage with attendees.
“That sponsor can network the whole day of registration when there are no appointments going on,” said Janine Emanuel, operations manager at The Group Travel Family, which puts on six conferences each year. “That sponsor has the opportunity at that time to network with all these buyers. I think the benefit is for the sponsors.”
SETTING UP
Dawn Pettus
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
National Tour Association
Experience: 25 years
If a planner wants to reap the benefits of a smaller footprint, what choices should they make about their event’s design?
One way to set up their event for success in a smaller space is to combine the exhibit floor with the stage and even registration. This eliminates the need for a separate room for speakers and can increase attendance of educational sessions and keynotes, as attendees on the floor are often drawn to watch or listen to the sessions.
“We are utilizing more of the space by putting our theater area in with the marketplace area, trying to get all of our sponsors within that same area so there can be networking going on all the time,” Emanuel said.
“We built two education stages within the exhibit hall,” Pettus said. “And the goal was for more people to be able to attend sessions because they didn’t have to leave the area where they were. If they were in between appointments, they could stop and catch part of a session that otherwise they wouldn’t have been able to attend. And it’s worked really well for us.”
Another way is to rethink booth design. While some booths (such as sponsor booths) may keep the 10-by-10, pipe-and-drape setup, some shows are moving toward a more modern, open feel.
“In 2018, we took down the pipe and drape in our appointment area, so that that was a completely open concept,” Pettus said. “People could see across the floor and find booths easier.”
Planners can also rethink booth size or style and instead replace some of the booths with tables or counters, or cluster booths in pods rather
than long rows. This can increase the number of exhibitors or sponsors an event can include on the floor and free more space for other elements of the event, such as networking or education sessions.
Another change to consider on the show floor itself is to add space for small meetings on the floor. Whether that’s with the clever use of dividers or small rooms to the side of the exhibit space, ensuring attendees don’t have to use a small breakout room on the opposite side of the venue is important.
“I’ve seen a lot of trade shows that utilize hidden interior rooms where you can have private meetings,” Buchbinder said. “You still have the same footprint but you’re able to utilize the space in different ways.”
REUSING SPACES
Beyond the initial setup, a big part of reducing an event’s footprint is finding creative ways to repurpose its spaces. The key to this is flexibility. When analyzing the meeting’s needs, consider the must-haves and what can be moved around, from the agenda to the floorplan.
“I think a lot of times planners have an idea of specific setup that they really need and that’s imperative to the success of the meeting,” said Buchbinder. “But if they were able to reuse a space they already have, they would find they can still have the meeting and have it be great.”
This is especially relevant when it comes to breakout spaces. One way to transform the event’s main, larger space into smaller spaces that will suit an event’s need for breakout spaces is with airwalls and room dividers.
If separate breakout spaces are required, it’s smart to stagger when these breakouts occur. If an event requires a total of 10 breakout spaces for various sessions or groups, instead of renting 10 rooms, organizers can book five and split up the breakout sessions so that each room can be used twice. Often, this can eliminate extra setup costs, as well as the need for additional A/V equipment.
Another creative way to use space involves using pre-function space. Instead of booking a separate ballroom for a sit-down banquet, organizers could instead plan a reception-style meal with high-top tables and light bites in the pre-function space next to the main hall.
No matter what a program’s needs are, implementing a flexible setup ensures each space can be used for multiple functions.
“We try to set rooms or areas with intention so that we can use them for multiple things,” Pettus said. “If we do have a meeting space that we’re using a breakout room, we try to set it one way at the beginning of the week and then put things in there that can be used in the next setup. That saves us money, because we’re not having to pay the convention center to reset space spaces.”
On why her company consolidates event space: “Our main focus is to keep all of our sponsors and our travel industry and all of our buyers in the same place so they can do the networking.”
Janine Emanuel OPERATIONS MANAGER
Group Travel Family
Experience: 17 years
South Padre Island – a tropical retreat
BY VICKIE MITCHELL
Texas is a big state with a little bit of everything, including a tropical retreat that’s as enticing to meetings as it is to vacationers.
South Padre Island, a barrier island on the Gulf 30 miles northeast of Brownsville, has everything a meeting requires right on the beach, from a convention center to resorts and hotels.
Two of those hotels are within a half mile of the South Padre Island Convention Center and its 45,000 square feet of meeting space. The 200-suite Courtyard by Marriott and its 15,000 square feet of meeting space, opened in 2020 just as its next-door neighbor, the 156-room Hilton Garden Inn, wrapped up a major renovation. It has over 12,000 square feet of meeting space.
In the next few years, South Padre Island will be able to welcome larger conventions. Plans to expand its convention center call for a 54,000 square foot exhibit space, an added ballroom, additional breakout rooms, an expansive lobby, and a 300-seat theater. Work is expected to start next year.
“With the expansion, our convention center will be able to accommodate larger meetings, conferences and youth sporting events,” said Mayra Nunez, sales and services manager, Visit South Padre Island.
EASY TO REACH AND NAVIGATE
At first, South Padre Island seems far removed, yet it is easy to access with three airports nearby: BrownsvilleSouth Padre Island (45 minutes); Valley International (60 minutes) and McAllen
VISIT SOUTH PADRE ISLAND
Mayra Nunez
Sales & Services Manager
mayra@sopadre.com
956-761-8389
sopadre.com
International (90 minutes). On the island, it’s easy to get around on a free shuttle that connects hotels, restaurants, shops and beaches. When groups meet at the convention center and stay at the Marriott and Hilton, attendees walk, take the free shuttle or ride to and from the convention center in golf carts that meeting planners rent.
Smaller meetings often opt for resort properties like the beachfront Isla Grand, with 400 cabana rooms, 65 condos and 10,000 square feet of meeting space. Five miles from the convention center, the Holiday Inn Resort and recently opened Margaritaville Beach Resort also welcome meetings.
AN ISLAND WITH A VIBE
South Padre Island easily adds its personality to meetings. What corporate board wouldn’t savor sunset over Laguna Madre Bay from the deck of Longboard Bar and Grill after a day in its private meeting room? SpaceX’s Starbase is two miles away on the mainland, so seeing a launch is a possibility. A sail on the bay aboard the catamaran Southern Wave, with an acoustic guitarist and dinner for up to 45, can be a chill way to end a day. Or, for a livelier night, there’s music up and down the beach in a destination known as a Music Friendly Texas community.
Nunez can help with inventive team building like sandcastle building or surfing lessons led by local experts, or pickleball competitions at public parks or at the Isla Grand, which just added new pickleball courts.
No matter what a planner needs, Visit South Padre Island can assist. Reminds Nunez, “South Padre Island offers the amenities and exceptional service of a premier destination, all with a welcoming, intimate feel.”
HOLY GROUNDS
These retreat centers make ideal settings for spiritual gatherings
BY RACHEL CRICK
Groups find common ground on holy ground. That’s why religious retreats are wonderful places to meet.
Retreat centers let attendees enjoy both the stillness of the natural world and the comforts of community. They combine simplistic accommodations with wholesome activities, often combined with a heaping helping of outdoor recreation to refresh and reinvigorate attendees. And while religious retreats often cater to specific events, such as church retreats, youth camps and nonprofit meetings, some are open to multi-faith or even nonreligious meetings and events.
Here are five religious retreats across the country for planners to consider for their next event.
MOUNT OLIVET CONFERENCE AND RETREAT CENTER
FARMINGTON, MINNESOTA
Just outside of the bustling Twin Cities, Mount Olivet Conference and Retreat Center hosted its first retreats in 1977. Set on 151 acres, the retreat’s natural surroundings include marshland, a lake, a forest and prairielands and create a serene setting for groups to gather.
“A lot of people choose us because we are outside of the Twin Cities and within a reasonable driving distance,” said Jeremy Bork, director of programming and communications at the retreat center. “It’s the best of both worlds where once you’re here you do really feel connected to nature and disconnected from the chaos and busyness of city life.”
The campus consists of three buildings. The Youngdahl Lodge is home to its main meeting rooms, which can accommodate between 50 and 75 attendees, as well as the dining room, which can seat 130. The chapel offers the largest event space, seating up to 200, and features three walls of floor-to-ceiling windows. A broad range of A/V equipment is provided. The third building contains the lodging, including
Above: Mount Olivet Conference and Retreat Center’s chapel can seat up to 200.
Courtesy Mount Olivet Conference and Retreat Center
hotel rooms and dormitory rooms. Up to 100 guests can be accommodated for overnight stays.
Meals are served either buffet-style or plated, and the center’s chefs are experts at accommodating a range of dietary restrictions. Ingredients are frequently sourced from the center’s garden in summer. The wide range of on-site amenities is also appealing for groups, from five miles of hiking trails to lawn games to an indoor pool, hot tub and sauna. Pricing is all-inclusive.
mtolivetretreat.org
“A lot of people choose us because we are outside of the Twin Cities.... It’s the best of both worlds where once you’re here you do really feel connected to nature and disconnected from the chaos and busyness of city life.”
— Jeremy Bork, Mount Olivet Conference And Retreat Center
WHEAT STATE RETREAT CENTER
AUGUSTA, KANSAS
For religious groups and organizations planning their meeting in the heart of the country, Wheat State Retreat Center ticks a lot of boxes. The Christian Retreats Network retreat center is in Augusta, Kansas, not far from Wichita.
The retreat’s largest meeting space is its Tabernacle, an auditorium that can seat up to 750 and comes equipped with a stage, lighting and A/V. It also has wall dividers that can create up to six breakout spaces. Northside Hall is a newly renovated space that can accommodate up to 100. The east half of the dining room can also be converted to a meeting room for 100; and an additional room overlooking the dining area seats 50. In addition to open field space for outdoor games, an open-air pavilion and a courtyard with picnic table are great places for groups to gather outdoors.
“Our biggest selling point is that the campus has a lot to offer,” said Ashley Haschemeyer, marketing manager at Christian Retreats Network. “People also like the Christian atmosphere and the way we bundle
Wheat State Retreat Center, clockwise from left: Retreatants playing dodgeball; a concert; a pickleball game
Photos courtesy Christian Retreats Network
our packages, because there’s no hidden costs. The onsite team here serves our guests well at a high-level.”
Retreat packages are per person and include lodging, meeting, dining and basic recreation. Lodging at the retreat is dormitory style with cabins for leaders or speakers, and the indoor meeting spaces come with basic A/V, including televisions. Dining is buffet style and can be adjusted to satisfy many different groups, from youth camps to adult groups.
wheatstateretreat.org
ROLLING RIDGE RETREAT AND CONFERENCE CENTER NORTH ANDOVER, MASSACHUSETTS
In northern Massachusetts, on the shores of Lake Cochichewick, the Rolling Ridge Retreat and Conference Center spans 38 acres. A 40-room, 1920s Georgian mansion and its surrounding estate, including gorgeous grounds with lake views and a formal garden, give groups a beautiful backdrop for a meeting, conference or company retreat. The retreat center’s core practices and values of contemplative spirituality and inclusivity create a reflective and peaceful atmosphere for attendees, while its hospitality and convenient meeting packages make it a great choice for planners looking in the Boston area.
Rolling Ridge’s meeting facilities include Tyson Hall, which can be found in the main house and can seat up to 60 theater-style, and the Moses Meeting Room, which also seats 60 and can be found in the Carriage House across from the mansion. A picnic space is available for outdoor meetings for up to 300 attendees, while several of the property’s smaller rooms, such as the library, Oval Room and board room, are great for breakout sessions.
Meeting packages can include features like pastry and hot beverage service, as well as a scratch-made meals prepared with ingredients from the retreat’s garden. Wellness experiences are available to be added on for the group. After the meeting, groups can wander the grounds, including the gardens, courtyard, walking trails and outdoor labyrinths to soak up the surrounding New England scenery.
rollingridge.org
Courtesy Rolling Ridge Retreat and Conference Center
AN AERIAL VIEW OF ROLLING RIDGE RETREAT AND CONFERENCE CENTER
FORT MOUNTAIN RETREAT AND CONFERENCE CENTER
CHATSWORTH, GEORGIA
In the mountainous region of northern Georgia, Fort Mountain Retreat and Conference Center is an easily accessible getaway and gathering place for Christian youth and adults to come together. While the center is owned by Global Youth Ministry and is excellent for youth retreats, it’s also a great place for women and men’s retreats, marriage and pre-marital retreats, training retreats or other events hosted by Christian organizations. Within the retreat’s conference center in the upper part of the campus, the largest space is an auditorium that can hold 350 people. It features a stage and tech support. Meeting rooms within the conference center and lodge are great for breakout sessions for between 10 and 100 people. The lower part of the campus, known as the Institute Campus, features an auditorium for up to 125 and several smaller venues for between 15 and 30 people. Basic A/V is available, along with tech support upon request.
Courtesy Global Youth Ministry
FORT MOUNTAIN RETREAT AND CONFERENCE CENTER
IDEAS
The retreat center offers lodging, ranging from cabins to dorms, for up to 400 overnight guests. Its recreational activities offer plenty of outdoor fun for attendees, from hiking to paintball to white-water rafting. There’s also an indoor pool and a gymnasium. globalyouthministry.org/fort-mountain-retreat
CHRISTIAN RENEWAL CENTER SILVERTON, OREGON
Just 10 minutes away from one of Oregon’s most renowned natural attractions, Silver Falls State Park, Christian Renewal Center (CRC) is a humble haven for events, conferences and retreats. The campus is set on 40 acres of hilly forest land and comprises several chapels, cabins and lodges. Christian Renewal Center has been offering a place for Christian groups, families and individuals to escape the pressures of everyday life and devote time to prayer for 53 years.
“CRC was founded by my grandfather Allan Hansen, a pastor,” said Peter Hansen, the retreat center’s director of operations. “He realized there would be
more personal transformation in folks’ lives if they got away from the distractions of life, and he felt led to organize and build a retreat center. We’re dedicated to serving the body of Christ and loving his people.”
CRC’s primary meeting space is the Rotunda, a round room with views on all sides of the surrounding forest. It can seat up to 100 attendees and features a television and whiteboard. The Main Lodge, the largest sleeping lodge, is also home to the dining room, which can accommodate 80. The Lamppost Coffee Shop can serve as a small meeting room for up to 20 attendees during nonbusiness hours. The Prayer Chapel is available for groups as large as 40. Groups can rent out certain lodges with the use of the Prayer Chapel and Rotunda.
CRC is renowned for its food, which is served buffet-style and is frequently scratch made. Other property amenities include an archery course and walking trails.
christianrenewalcenter.org
Christian Renewal Center, clockwise from left: Sunrise at CRC; the Good Shepherd Lodge; the Main Lodge
Photos by Peter Hansen, courtesy Christian Renewal Center
Soaring IMAGINATION
By Andy Rowe
All photos courtesy Destination Dayton except where noted
The Great Miami River runs through the heart of Dayton.
Creativity and innovation thrive in Dayton
IBY KATHERINE TANDY BROWN
n the 1800s, the river city of Dayton, Ohio, established itself as a leader in manufacturing and entrepreneurship. This proud city changed the world. Its short list of contributions includes the first practical airplane, the automobile self-starter, the pop-top/pull-tab can opener, the cash register, liquid-crystal display (LCD), the stepladder, the bar code and the first internationally acclaimed African American poet, Paul Lawrence Dunbar. By the turn of the 20th century, Dayton had more patents than any other American city.
“In addition to being innovative, super friendly and welcoming, Dayton is the city of the unexpected,” said Jacqueline Powell, president and CEO of Destination Dayton.
Dayton is full of surprises.
CITY
DAYTON AT A GLANCE
LOCATION: Southwest Ohio
ACCESS: Junction of Interstates 70 and 75; U.S. Highway 35; James M. Cox Dayton International Airport, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport; John Glenn Columbus International Airport, Dayton-Wright Brothers Airport
HOTEL ROOMS: 7,000 hotel rooms county-wide
CONTACT INFO:
Destination Dayton 800-221-8235
destinationdayton.org
DAYTON CONVENTION CENTER
BUILT: 1973; $45 million renovation completed April 2025
EXHIBIT SPACE: 150,000 square feet total meeting space and 63,000 square feet of columnfree exhibit space
Though a 60-foot-high historic marker now identifies the spot where Orville and Wilbur Wright made their first historic air flight in 1903 on a North Carolina beach, the brothers were Daytonians. The city is rife with reminders of its proud aviation history.
“Dayton is the birthplace of aviation,” Powell said. “Our city taught the world to fly.”
Along the Dayton Aviation Trail lie such wonders as the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, the National Aviation Hall of Fame, Wright Brothers National Museum, the Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center at the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historic Park and the renowned Dayton Air Show.
Visitors can even take flight in a modern replica of the Wrights’ B Flyer.
Dayton’s Oregon Historic District, the city’s oldest neighborhood, is home to art galleries, pubs, eclectic boutiques, exuberant nightlife and superb cuisine. Examples of city architecture from 1820–1915 line the brick streets of the 12-square-block area.
A thriving arts scene features organizations such as the Dayton Ballet, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Dayton Opera, and Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. Seasonal weekend outdoor concerts are free at the Levitt Pavillion.
“Part of our appeal to planners is how economical a meeting here can be,” said Powell. “We have lots of big city amenities that aren’t nearly as pricey as those in larger markets.”
By Bella Photography
Distinctive Venues
The oldest and largest of its kind in the country, the National Museum of the United States Air Force boasts 360-plus aircraft and missiles amid detailed American war history. A popular destination for military reunions, the museum has 10 event spaces that include an auditorium seating 490. Groups of up to 300 can enjoy “Dinner Under the Wings” in its aircraft-filled Presidential Gallery.
Dayton’s rich roots come alive at Carillon Historical Park, a 65-acre, open-air museum that covers “Gem City” history from 1796 to the present. The original 1905 Wright Flyer III, dedicated to Dayton by Orville Wright, is here, as is a replica of the brothers’ cycle company. A 151-foothigh carillon with 57 bells crowns the attraction.
Numerous historic buildings and exhibits supply chunks of Dayton’s past. Guests can enjoy Victorian teas and authentic hearth-cooked dinners. Carillon’s large ballroom accommodates more than 500 attendees.
A great way to see this extensive park is on a narrated tour around the property aboard an 1851 Locomotive replica that carries 120 riders.
Inspired by Italian Renaissance architecture, the grand Dayton Art Institute is recognized as having one of the finest collections in the Midwest, with 27,000 pieces that span 5,000 years of art history. Its distinctive meeting spaces include two cloisters.
“We can host your meeting here remotely with state-of-the-art tech in a 100-year-old building with a Monet down the hall,” said Mike Rice, director of external affairs. “We’re an unexpected intersection of cutting technology and classic beauty.”
Urban Krag Climbing Center
Major Meeting Spaces
“The city’s big meetings news is a $45 million renovation of the ASM Global-managed Dayton Convention Center (DCC) that’s due for completion in April 2025,” said Powell. “The project is transformative for our city, as it adds modern spaces with abundant natural light and outdoor options.”
Nearly every square inch of the center — at 150,000 square feet, it’s the community’s largest event venue — has undergone structural, mechanical and cosmetic updates. Additions include a VIP lounge with wall-to-wall windows that overlook the exhibit hall, a 17,800-square-foot “flex hall” and an outdoor terrace.
In conjunction with the center’s remodel, several new hotels are opening downtown.
Replacing a Crowne Plaza property, the Dayton Vitality Hotel opens April 15. Its Orville Room has a theater setup for 74 with gorgeous city views. The property connects to the DCC by a newly refreshed skywalk, a convenient extension for large groups or breakout sessions.
Part of Hilton’s Tapestry Collection, the boutique 118-room Hotel Ardent Dayton Downtown, completed in February, is two blocks from DCC and is in the Theater District. Its Bistecca Italian Steakhouse offers handmade pastas, wood-fired grill selections and signature cocktails.
A new Hilton Garden Inn is in the beautiful Atrium of Dayton’s revitalized, historic circa 1903 Arcade, one of the nation’s earliest indoor shopping centers, now home to businesses, entertainment, restaurants and meeting spaces. The hotel’s restaurant and bar overlook the Plaza at Courthouse Square. The Schuster Performing Arts Center, with gathering spots for 20 to 2,000, is nearby.
Everything good you can imagine is happening here: Capacity • Audio • Food & Beverage • Room Nights • Event Scope • Attendees • Space • Technology • Break Rooms • Catering • Amenities • Theater Set • Loading Docks • Event Management • Banquet Set • Prefunction • Classroom Set • Carpet • WiFi • Intuitive Floor Plans • Guest Rooms • Connectivity • Event Hosts • Drop-down Screen • Podium • Remote & Hybrid • Creative • Speakers • Centerpieces • Comfort Control • Accessibility • High Performance • In-house Sales • Guest Experience • Breakfast • Room Set • Trade Shows • Big Space • Customized • Ballrooms • Conferences • Overhead Doors • Restrooms • Hospitality
FOR PLANNERS:
» Full in-house Sales, Event Management, AV Technology, F&B, and Host services
» 225,000 sf of beautifully appointed space
» 18 versatile, fully appointed event spaces and intuitive floor plans
» 4 downtown full service hotels with garage parking
» Award winning service
» SAVE UP TO 15% vs. comparable cities! FOR ATTENDEES:
» Boutique shopping; live entertainment; vibrant arts & attractions
» Riverfront parks, trails, and activities for all ages and abilities
» Easy Midwest drive-to destination; Easy by air via FWA grandwayne.com |
| @GrandWayneCC
DOWNTOWN FORT WAYNE, INDIANA
MAJOR MEETING SPACES
Meagan Drabik Sales Manager
Dayton Arcade
Courtesy Dayton Arcade
After the Meeting
One of the country’s largest collections of Packard cars and artifacts is in the America’s Packard Museum housed at the former Citizens Motor Car Company. Located downtown in the heart of Dayton, this fun venue allows event guests to explore the collection and exhibits. The property, which was built in 1917, has an Art Deco Showroom for groups of up to 150 seated. Its Packard Pavillion seats 250.
When fresh air calls, Dayton answers with recreational options galore, many of which can serve as teambuilding possibilities. A few of those are kayaking, cycling, fly fishing, rock climbing, golf and disc golf. The Great Miami Riverway bike trail stretches for 99 miles. With 340 miles of paved, multi-use trails, Ohio’s Miami Valley region leads the nation.
Attendees who would rather sip a beer, eat a red hot and watch sports live can catch an outdoor game of the Dayton Dragons, a minor league affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds.
AFTER HOURS Day Air Park
Courtesy Dayton Dragons
THOMAS JEFFERSON’S
Charlottesville
BY TOM ADKINSON
Thomas Jefferson would be pleased with today’s Charlottesville, Virginia. The university he started (the University of Virginia) is highly regarded, the American wine industry he dreamed about has become reality, and Charlottesville remains modest in size and quite welcoming.
Although Jefferson probably never imagined the modern meetings and conventions business, a portion of an 1800 letter he wrote to a British scientist has a ring of foreshadowing for meetings: “We wish to establish… a University on a plan so broad and liberal and modern, as to be worth patronizing with the public support, and be a temptation to the youth of other States to come and drink of the cup of knowledge and fraternize with us.”
Charlottesville is strategically located in the mid-Atlantic region. It is 100 miles southwest of Washington, D.C., and 70 miles from Richmond in Virginia’s rolling Piedmont Plateau region. It is alongside Interstate 64, has Amtrak service and its own airport, despite its modest population of less than 50,000.
“We work well with meeting groups. Meetings of up to 500 attendees are our sweet spot. Weekend demand is through the roof here, so we have big opportunities midweek for meetings,” said Brantley Ussery, director of marketing and public relations for the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau. University events, weddings and outdoor recreation drive weekends.
Monticello, Jefferson’s ever-fascinating home, plus buildings he designed at UVA and the nearby home of President James Monroe, generate an aura of history for Charlottesville. Monroe’s home, Highland, is modest compared with Monticello, but the two destinations combine to tell stories of key figures at the heart of America’s formation.
Charlottesville’s modestly named Downtown Mall adds a contemporary touch to the community’s historic foundation. The Downtown Mall is a pedestrians-only mecca stretching for eight blocks in the heart of the city. It features more than 120 shops, 30 restaurants and the classic Paramount Theater (opened 1931). Street entertainers complement outdoor concerts at Ting Pavilion, the city’s top outdoor venue. Nationally touring entertainers appear at the Ting Pavilion and the Paramount Theater, and the seasonal Fridays After Five concerts at the Ting Pavilion are free to all.
All photos courtesy Charlottesville Albemarle CVB
CHARLOTTESVILLE’S HISTORIC DOWNTOWN MALL
ALBEMARLE COUNTY VIRGINIA
Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport; Interstate 64 and U.S. 29; Amtrak
MAJOR MEETING SPACES
Boar’s Head Resort, DoubleTree by Hilton, Kimpton The Forum, Omni Charlottesville
VENUES Monticello, numerous wineries, the Downtown Mall
Major Meeting Spaces
Charlottesville does not have a stand-alone convention center, so its major meetings are at four hotels with their own facilities. They are the Boar’s Head Resort (with 170 guest rooms and 22,000 square feet of total meeting space), DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel (239 guest rooms and 16,150 square feet of meeting space), Kimpton The Forum Hotel (198 guest rooms and 22,000 square feet of meeting space) and the Omni Charlottesville (205 guest rooms and 12,441 square feet of meeting space).
The Boar’s Head Resort is owned by the University of Virginia Foundation and includes the Birdwood Golf course. The DoubleTree is north of downtown, while the Kimpton is adjacent to UVA’s Darden School of Business and the Omni is adjacent to the Downtown Mall.
Coming in 2026 is another UVA Foundation property, the 217-room Virginia Guesthouse, a hotel and conference center with a 10,000-squarefoot ballroom and 25,000 square feet of meeting space.
Distinctive Venues
Simply touring Monticello, described as Thomas Jefferson’s autobiographical masterpiece, would be a highlight of any meeting, but this architectural wonder also has extraordinary event opportunities. Montalto, which Jefferson called “the high mountain,” offers event space for up to 300 in a venue with views of Monticello, the Blue Ridge Mountains and Charlottesville. Another example is the Jefferson Library, which can accommodate 50 for seated events or 145 for indoor receptions.
Choosing a vineyard or winery for an off-site event can be challenging, but only because the Monticello Wine Trail features more than 40 wineries. A civic bragging point is that Wine Enthusiast named Charlottesville and the Monticello American Viticultural Area its Wine Region of the year in 2023. Charlottesville was the only North American nominee that year. Among vineyards popular with planners are the Eastwood Farm and Winery (south of town), King Family Vineyards (east of town), Barboursville Winery (north of town) and Jefferson Vineyards (just up the road from Monticello).
The Dairy Market is an in-town and low-key alternative to a winery excursion. Food and Wine described it as an “elevated food hall.” The building, which evolved from an early 1900s ice cream company, has been a Charlottesville gathering place for decades. Today, it houses local merchants and food outlets, including Chimm’s for Thai street food, Starr Hill Brewery for local craft beer and — keeping with tradition — Moo Thru for ice cream.
“We
work well with meeting groups. Meetings of up to 500 attendees are our sweet spot. Weekend demand is through the roof here, so we have big opportunities midweek for meetings.”
— Brantley Ussery, Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau
CARTER MOUNTAIN ORCHARD OFFERS MOUNTAINTOP VIEWS AND FRESH CIDER TO GROUPS MEETING IN CHARLOTTESVILLE.
AlbemarleCounty
Popular Attractions
Beyond Monticello, Highland and the UVA campus, Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall is a major attraction. An evening on the mall might start with a reception at a venue such as the Old Metropolitan Hall, followed by a free-ranging dine-around and activities night. Restaurants and wine bars are plentiful. Just a mile from the Downtown Mall, an escape room attraction called Unlocked History plays on local characters. One room’s story involves saving Thomas Jefferson from British soldiers in the Revolutionary War, and another involves Edgar Allan Poe, who was a student at UVA for a short time.
When a meeting schedule permits an outdoor break, the CVB’s Ussery recommends visiting Carter Mountain Orchard. This mountaintop attraction offers expansive views, fragrant orchards, freshly pressed apple cider, and pick-your-own peaches and apples in season.
After the Meeting
Winery exploration and outdoor recreation are the two biggest activities after meetings adjourn. The Monticello Wine Trail provides guidance to more than 40 wineries spread through five counties. More than half of all Virginia wine grapes come from this region.
Farther afield, two of America’s most beautiful drives await. Barely 25 miles from Charlottesville are the northern terminus of the Blue Ridge Parkway and the southern terminus of the Shenandoah Skyline Drive. Both are National Park Service units. The Blue Ridge Parkway rolls 469 miles south to North Carolina, while Skyline Drive glides 105 miles north to Front Royal, Virginia. The Skyline Drive route delivers 75 overlooks — east to the Piedmont, and west into the Shenandoah Valley.
For those wanting more activity, outfitters offer canoeing, kayaking and paddleboarding on the Rivanna River, and hiking and biking trails are abundant. An example is the easy-to-sample Rivanna Trail, a 20-mile loop encircling Charlottesville.
BIRDWOOD GOLF COURSE AND BOAR’S HEAD RESORT
THE FORUM HOTEL BY KIMPTON
A VINEYARD ON THE MONTICELLO WINE TRAIL
MICHIE TAVERN NEAR MONTICELLO
THE DAIRY MARKET
The premier event and meeting venue in Kentucky.
Centrally located between Louisville and Lexington, the Shelbyville Conference Center combines versatility, beauty, and modern amenities to provide a welcoming and accommodating venue for events of all types.
Flexible floorplans and state-of-the-art technology allow for groups ranging in size to intimate executive meetings to company-wide conferences to gather together in the premier event and meeting venue in Kentucky. Charming and historic Shelbyville is just steps away, offering dining, shopping, acommodations, and more for attendees to enjoy. Visit shelbykyvenues.com to learn more.
