Small Market Meetings January 2019

SMALL MARKET

MEETINGS

TEAM-BUILDING ADVENTURES | LIED LODGE | HEARTLAND MEETING GUIDE JANUARY 2019

a m o h a l Ok City

A RIVERFRONT RENAISSANCE

Restrooms

Located along the I-94 corridor, between Milwaukee and Madison.

Pre-Function Restrooms

Link to Hilton Garden Inn

Home to 150 restaurants, 16 hotels, and 3 million sq. ft. of shopping.

18,000 and 6,000 sq. ft. ballrooms.

Ballroom 18,000 sq. ft.

Outdoor Courtyard 9,000 sq. ft.

State of the art boardroom.

Ballroom 6,000 sq. ft.

Receiving

10,000 sq. ft. pre-function atrium and 9,000 sq. ft. outdoor plaza.

On-site catering, beverage service and attached Hilton Garden Inn.

Kitchen

Boardroom

168 attached rooms and 2,512 sleeping rooms within a 3-mile radius.

800-388-1835 brookfieldconferencecenter.com

Let’S StArt PLAnning John S. Knight Center | AKron, oh

15 Minutes Away From CAK

Staff Is 87% Friendlier Than The Other Guys

8 Out Of 10 Visitors Rate Food “Excellent”

99% Chance Of A Successful Event*

35 Minutes Away From CLE

(the other 2 think it’s “Really Good”)

John S. Knight Center

123,000 Square Feet For Convening, Collaborating, Dining & Even Dancing.

279 Combined Years Of Employee Service

79 Steps To Some Great Guacamole

Whether it’s a one-night event or week-long conference, our professional staff at the John S. Knight Center is here to ensure a top-notch experience both inside and out.

Call 800.245.4254 or visit johnsknightcenter.org for more information and to reserve your space.

Akron, oH

* 1% accounts for the unlikely event of a volcanic eruption

ON THE COVER: Oklahoma City’s revitalized Bricktown district is full of riverfront fun. By Denis Tangney Jr.

INSIDE VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 1

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IDEAS Team-building adventures

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CITY Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

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Courtesy Destination Toledo

HOTEL Lied Lodge

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MEETING GUIDE America’s Heartland

D E PA R T M E N T S

PROFILE 12 MANAGING 8 INSIGHTS 10 John Cychol CVB Marketing

Going Beyond Golf

Assistance

SMALL MARKET MEETINGS is published monthly by Pioneer Publishing, Inc., 301 E. High St., Lexington, KY 40507, and is distributed free of charge to qualified meeting planners who plan meetings in small and medium size towns and cities. All other meeting industry suppliers may subscribe by sending a check for $39 for one year to: Small Market Meetings, Circulation Department, 301 East High St., Lexington, KY 40507. Phone (866) 356-5128 (toll-free) or (859) 225-1452. Fax: (859) 253-0499. Copyright SMALL MARKET MEETINGS, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of editorial or graphic content in any manner without the written consent of the publisher is prohibited.

TO ADVERTISE CALL KYLE ANDERSON 866-356-5128

kyle@smallmarketmeetings.com

Mac T. Lacy Publisher/Partner

Brian Jewell Editor

Daniel Jean-Louis Account Manager

Christine Clough Copy editor

Herbert Sparrow Executive Editor/Partner

Ashley Ricks Graphic designer

Kyle Anderson Account Manager

Rena Baer Proofreader

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

STEP

ONE

Exclusive Advertising Packages!

CHOOSE 3 ISSUES

FEBRUARY Hotel Amenities Sports Meetings Southern Meeting Guide

JUNE CVB- Dine Arounds Convention Centers California Meeting Guide

OCTOBER Finding Sponsors Waterfronts Illinois Meeting Guide

MARCH Creative Breakouts High-tech Destinations Rocky Mts Meeting Guide

JULY Increasing Attendee Engagement Meetings at Historic Hotels Florida Meeting Guide

NOVEMBER CVB- Using Volunteers Family Destinations Wisconsin Meeting Guide

APRIL Green Meetings Religious Meetings Texas Meeting Guide

AUGUST Site Selection Tips Meetings at Museums Nebraska Meeting Guide

DECEMBER Spouse Events Casinos Directory Issue

MAY Negotiating Contracts College & Universities Carolinas Meeting Guide

SEPTEMBER CVB- Creative After Hours Off-Season Meetings New York Meeting Guide

STEP

TWO 1/6 Page 2.5” x 4.5” $2,200 net total for 3 ads 1/3 Page 5” x 4.5” $3,300 net total for 3 ads 1/2 Page 8” x 4.5” $4,400 net total for 3 ads Full Page 7.5” x 9.25” $6,000 net total for 3 ads

STEP

THREE

SELECT YOUR SIZE ADDED VALUE: • Your ad is also included in our digital edition that is emailed each month to additional online readers and your ad is automatically linked to your website.

• You will receive your own Advertisers Page in our online lead generation program, SiteVisit which includes contact information and logo, links to your facebook, twitter and pinterest pages, photos and itineraries. Our meeting planners can email you directly from your SiteVisit Page

• Free Partner Link with Logo on www.smallmarketmeetings.com • Disclaimer - Package Rates available for new insertions only, not valid on any previously placed insertion orders.

RATE TOTAL INCLUDES 3 AD INSERTIONS!

CONTACT US! Call or Email Kyle or Daniel to secure your space! kyle@smallmarketmeetings.com daniel@grouptravelleader.com 866-356-5128 www.smallmarketmeetings.com

SMALL MA

KET MEETIRN GS

TEAM-BUIL DING ADV ENTURES | LIED LOD GE

| HEARTL AND MEETI NG GUIDE JANUARY

A RIVE RFRO

Oklahoma City

NT RENA ISSA

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2019

INSIGHTS

Do You Plan Regional or National Meetings?

Here’s how our readers’ meetings activity breaks down: Small Market Meetings' readers are responsible for planning events that take place in smaller cities and sites across the United States. In a recent survey, we asked whether they plan national or regional events, and over 76 percent reported that they plan national meetings. About 68 percent said they plan both regional and national meetings, while 14 percent plan only regional events.

CUSTOM CONTENT

REDDING’S FINANCIAL INCENTIVES GET MEETING GOERS OUT AND ABOUT

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here’s much to entice meetings to Redding, California, 162 miles north of Sacramento and 120 miles south of the Oregon border.

For starters, there is an abundance of lakes, rivers, waterfalls, mountains and caverns. Free parking and reasonable prices at every turn in a city rated the sunniest in California.

And, for meeting planners, financial incentives designed to encourage attendees to explore the town of 91,000.

“A GREAT PLACE … TO DO SOMETHING ELSE”

The Redding Convention and Visitors Bureau began to offer incentives for off-site events for several reasons, according to Jennifer Fontana, industry relations and group coordinator.

“There is a trend with meetings--they want to do something different,” she Together, they are a capable venue for larger meetings, like the associations said. “And, we know this is great place for meetings that want to do something and other groups that migrate north from the capital city Sacramento. else. We decided to throw our hat in the ring.”

The city’s newest hotel, the Sheraton Redding at the Sundial Bridge, Getting groups to explore is important for Redding’s economy, and there’s opened in early 2018, with 130 guest rooms, and it is the chain’s smallest also a payoff in camaraderie and team building, as attendees get better North American property. Local owners chose local art and other touches that, acquainted in relaxed settings, Fontana said. coupled with its 4-star designation, make the hotel feel like a boutique property.

Like most financial incentives offered by CVBs, Redding’s weighs a In addition to sitting adjacent to the non-profit Turtle Bay Exploration Park, all number of factors, such as room nights and a meeting’s potential to bring of the Sheraton’s profits are donated to support that organization, which espeadditional business to town. When groups qualify, incentive offers are taicially appeals to organizations tied to wildlife, the environment and conservation. lored, from the amount of support to the kind of off-site event suggested.

“We do them on a case-by-base basis,” said Fontana. “It could be WHAT’S OUTSIDE COUNTS IN REDDING as small as an off-site reception at one of our local restaurants. We are With a weather forecast that’s almost always good and abundant outdoor flexible and we are always going to provide ideas that appeal to the group.” activities (the CVB’s motto, after all, is “What’s on the OUTSIDE counts too”), Among the off-site event options are receptions at Turtle Bay it seems wise to offer incentives that get meeting attendees out and about.

Exploration Park’s museum, jet boat tours on the Sacramento River, “We’re the sunniest city in California,” Fontana reminds, “so we’re able to offer kayaking or paddle boarding and a variety of winter sports. visitors the chance to do all kinds of outdoor year-round activities.”

AN OFF-SITE THAT’S THREE ADVENTURES IN ONE

Thanks to the Redding CVB’s incentive program, attendees at a recent meeting there toured Shasta Caverns, dazzling limestone caves near Shasta Lake that are estimated to be 250 million years in the making.

“The caverns are about 10 minutes from the city, and it is three trips in one,” said Fontana. “You take a trip on a catamaran across the lake, go up the mountain in a bus and then down into the caves.”

Groups can expand upon the caverns tour by adding a sunset cruise or a seated meal for 50 aboard the 88-passenger catamaran that takes them across the lake, according to Fontana.

NEW SHERATON HAS BOUTIQUE VIBE

Redding’s meeting mainstays are the Holiday Inn Redding and the Red Lion Hotel Redding, two hotels that share a parking lot.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Redding Convention and Visitors Bureau 530-225-4010 www.visitredding.com

INSIGHTS WITH VICKIE MITCHELL

FAREWELL TO THE FAIRWAY?

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djourning to the golf course for the afternoon is a long-standing tradition at meetings and conferences.

But it isn’t the only way — or even the best way — to simultaneously unwind and connect.

For one, golf is a difficult game, and those who don’t play aren’t likely to give it a shot during the company sales meeting. It’s also pricey: The median cost for a round at a private course is about $50, but at a highend resort it could be much more, For example, courses at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort Naples in Florida cost around $295 and, at the Stadium Course at TPC Scottsdale, almost $350.

And that doesn’t include cart fees, caddies and gratuities.

Here are five ideas for group activities that may be more inclusive and less expensive.

Give these five alternative sports a shot.

This fast-growing sport has nothing to do with condiments.

Pickleball has been around since 1963, yet this mishmash of badminton, tennis and table tennis has taken off like a sprinter in the last five years, fueled by retiring baby boomers wanting an easy and social sport. According to the USA Pickleball Association (usapa.org), about 6,000 pickleball courts exist nationwide, and 100 are added each month. Most are in public parks, but some notable resorts, including the Pinehurst in North Carolina, the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island in Michigan and the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado, have added them. Also, a tennis court can easily be turned into a temporary pickleball court, or a local CVB can help find available public courts.

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www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Got a lawn? Grab a racquet or a mallet.

Lawn sports are perfect for fair-weather meetings at a hotel or resort with greenspace. Combined with cocktails and snacks, they are an easy-going option, requiring minimal athletic skill. And today’s possibilities go far beyond traditional favorites like croquet and badminton. Cornhole is a favorite at picnics, family reunions and tailgates and can be played just about anywhere, including a long hallway. It requires little more than an arm and an aim. Lawn versions of traditional games like checkers, chess and dominoes can be found online, as well as some wacky options like Flickin’ Chicken, where players toss a rubber chicken at a target.

Got an ax to grind — or throw?

Hurling a hatchet at a target is not just for Vikings anymore; the 35-and-under crowd is flocking to venues to sharpen their ax-throwing prowess.

Urban Axes, Flying Axes (www.flyingaxes.com), Bury the Hatchet (www.burythehatchet.com), Bad Axe Throwing (www.badaxethrowing.com), Battle Axes (www.battleaxesky.com) and other chains are opening locations across the country. Ax throwing is wisely done in a controlled environment with “ax-perts” to monitor and train participants. Some venues also have a bar. The cost varies from chain to chain; a two-hour session at Bury the Hatchet is $40.

Bowling is still rolling.

More people bowl each year than play golf, and if your meeting is in a midsize or larger city, odds are good that at least one of the country’s 5,000 bowling alleys will be nearby. Some hotels and resorts also have their own alleys: There’s the six-lane Pluto’s Alley at the French Lick Springs Hotel in Indiana; the upscale Rec Room at the Kimpton Cardinal in Winston-Salem, North Carolina; and the 50-lane alley at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada. Many alleys are aiming beyond blue-collar toward a hip crowd, adding upscale bars, better food and gimmicks like “cosmic” and “disco” bowling. The unfashionable, required shoes are still cheap to rent. Where else can you have so much fun for under $50 per group of four?

January 2019

Pingpong’s back in a big way.

If you grew up playing pingpong, aka table tennis, in the basement, you’ll be thrilled to know that pingpong clubs are popping up all over the place. Some, like Portland, Oregon’s Pips and Bounce (www.pipsandbounce.com), are for-profit ventures. The best-known of those is SPiN, founded by actress Susan Sarandon with locations in New York and other major cities. These venues combine a cool bar with pingpong tables for lively, noisy social occasions. The list (butterflyonline.com) is even longer for table tennis clubs. These no-frills spots take the sport more seriously with league play, but many also book special events. Pingpong is the great equalizer: Eighty-somethings routinely take down teens in a sport where strategy and mental sharpness trump strength and athleticism.

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Courtesy Visit Fort Worth

CONFERENCE

MEETING LEADERS JOHN CYCHOL JOHN CYCHOL HAS EMBRACED THE CULTURE AND HERITAGE OF TEXAS, WHERE HE HAS MADE A CAREER IN FORT WORTH.

“Our role is telling a story and developing relationships with local businesses, and making sure everyone feels like we’re on the same team when it comes to increasing tourism and the impact it has on our economy.”

“I

BY MOLLY PHILLIPS

t’s not just rates and space — it’s people who really make the place.”

John Cychol, vice president of meeting sales at Visit Fort Worth, is confident of his destination’s personality. In a city that has a lot of people — nearly 1 million — that’s a strong statement to make. However, despite Fort Worth’s being the 15th-largest city in the country — and expected to gain three spots to No. 12 by the 2020 census — Cychol insists the metropolis still feels like a small town.

“We’re the Texas that people think of when they think about Texas,” he said, noting the twice-daily cattle drives still held downtown. Seeing people dressed head-to-toe in chaps and riding gear everywhere from the grocery store to the city’s fine-dining restaurants, he said, is a common occurrence.

Based on Cychol’s passion and enthusiasm for the central Texas destination, you’d never guess he’s not a native Texan.

“Texas was supposed to be a short stop for us,” he said, “but my wife and I have had two boys here, who have now grown up here, and

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we can’t really imagine ever leaving now.”

Cychol’s migration south began after high school in Illinois, when he went to college at Arkansas State University on a scholarship.

There, he thrived in his fraternity and rose to a leadership position, organizing meetings and events for his chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon. He enjoyed the role so much that he transitioned to a full-time position with the fraternity at the national level after graduation. He learned the business of hotel sales and built relationships on the customer end, which ultimately opened the door for him to work in hospitality.

Cychol's first hotel sales job was in Dallas.

“Dallas to me was different,” said Cychol, “and I was at a point in my life where I figured, why not try it?”

The Lone Star State stuck.

Cychol moved up the ladder through several hotel sales positions, taking the helm of sales at properties such as the Loews and the Fairmont hotels in Dallas. After four years with the Fairmont, a colleague pointed Cychol toward a position on the destination side in Irving.

“I threw my hat in the ring, and out of 100 candidates, they picked me,” said Cychol. “I’ve

never looked back.”

Working in destination marketing, Cychol said one of the things that motivates him most is that he sees a direct connection to the work he is leading and the greater good of the community. “You have so much more influence on the entire economy of a region, not just the profits of one hotel,” said Cychol.

“Our role is telling a story and developing relationships with local businesses, and making sure everyone feels like we’re on the same team when it comes to increasing tourism and the impact it has on our economy,” he said.

Like many of America’s cities, Fort Worth is undergoing a bit of a renaissance. Building on its roots as a cattle town, the city is finding a new identity in farm-to-table eateries, co-working spaces in renovated warehouses and revitalized neighborhoods full of bungalow-style architecture.

For a glimpse of the city’s old-meets-new flavor, Cychol recommends checking out brunch at the Cat City Grille or the vegan comfort food at the Spiral Diner. Both are close to his family’s home in the up-and-coming Southside area, and you might just run into him at either place on a Saturday morning, cup of coffee in hand.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

EXECUTIVE PROFILE NAME

John Cychol

TITLE

Vice President, Sales

ORGANIZATION Visit Fort Worth

LOCATION

Fort Worth, Texas

BIRTHPLACE Phoenix, Arizona

EDUCATION Marmion Military Academy and Arkansas State University

CAREER HISTORY • Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity after college • Registry Hotels and Resorts in Dallas, beginning in 1984 • Loews Anatole, Hyatt and Fairmont, all in the Dallas area • Irving CVB beginning in 1997; Visit Fort Worth, since 2007

TIPS FROM

JOHN CYCHOL • If you’re going places, failure is just part of the deal.

• In sales, ask customers what their wants and needs are, and start from there. Too many people want to start selling from the beginning. I remind my team to think of themselves as consultants and to sell features.

• Listen, listen and listen.

January 2019

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MANAGING

Call in the Cavalry

CVBS CAN SUPERCHARGE YOUR MEETING’S MARKETING PLAN

BY SAVANNAH OSBOURN

Y

ou don’t have to market your meetings alone.

Marketing meetings can be a daunting task, especially if you don't have a marketing background or access to designers to create advertisements and collateral. But if you find yourself in this situation, destination experts around the country are ready to provide professional marketing materials to help you drive interest in and registration for your meetings and events.

Convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs), also known as destination marketing organizations, are an indispensable resource for meeting planners. From the beginning of the planning process, CVBs can assist, providing planners with all the materials, guidance and contacts they need to organize a successful event.

To learn more about ways that CVBs work with planners to promote their meetings and create an impactful marketing plan, we spoke with CVB professionals in conference destinations across the country. Here’s what they had to say.

“Marketing is not only about the content; it’s about the excitement that can be drawn from the city or destination and using that as a selling point.”

REGISTRATION INCENTIVES Some CVBs offer registration incentives, which planners can use to boost attendance. For example, Explore Asheville in North Carolina provides gift cards from local businesses and specialty shops to those who register early. Many of these venues or services are located near the convention center, such as the popular French Broad Chocolates and the historic Asheville Trolley, making the prizes even more desirable for attendees.

MARKETING MATERIALS After event planners settle on a host city or destination for a meeting or conference, they can collect welcome bags, brochures and other materials from the CVB to begin promoting the destination to attendees.

This is a chance to highlight everything the city has to offer beyond the conference content and venue, such as attractions, entertainment or other selling points.

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Jamie Koshofer VICE PRESIDENT OF CONVENTIONS

Huntsville/Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

“We’re here to help planners create a memorable event.

There have been times that I have gone to a planner’s annual conference the previous year to help announce and promote their conference, handing out guides, brochures and other materials about our destination.”

In addition to providing these materials, the CVB service team will often work with planners to turn the content into e-blasts, savethe-date cards, flyers and more. Some CVBs will even ship tabletop banners, promotional magnets, visitors guides and other giveaway items for planners to use at their conferences the year before they are scheduled to meet in that destination.

Planners can also use resources and content available on the CVB website and incorporate that into marketing materials. As they send out registration reminders and other e-blasts, planners can remind attendees to visit the site and connect with the CVB to make the most of their visit.

ONLINE SUPPORT

Sarah Barnard CONFERENCE SERVICES MANAGER Traverse City Tourism

January 2019

Convention and visitors bureaus make online marketing easy by giving planners access to top-quality images, videos and written content aimed at the meetings market, highlighting the destination’s best features from both a tourist and attendee perspective. In some cases, CVBs have a dedicated social media specialist who can work directly with planners to market this information online through social media channels like Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook and Twitter. As the event’s marketing campaign begins to roll out, these specialists can help monitor online activity, create catchy hashtags and cultivate new ideas on how to reach a wider online audience.

Another online service that many CVBs offer is building a customized landing page or microsite for the event to welcome attendees and provide additional details about local hotels, restaurants and attractions. The site typically features a personal welcome to the group with a provided logo, along with any other content the planner would like to include. Planners can email the link to attendees during e-blast campaigns, as well as showcase the link on registration homepages.

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IDEAS

GROUPS CAN TACKLE CHALLENGES INSPIRED BY “NINJA WARRIOR” AT SKY ZONE TRAMPOLINE PARKS. Courtesy Sky Zone Lexington

ADD SOME ADRENALINE These team-building activities include some thrills

T

BY SAVANNAH OSBOURN

eam-building activities are a great way to break the monotony of meetings and conferences while creating deeper ties between attendees and co-workers. For anyone looking for fresh ideas on how to enrich their meeting experiences, here are five innovative activities guaranteed to keep your attendees talking for years to come.

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POCONO WHITEWATER RAFTING

JIM THORPE, PENNSYLVANIA Nestled in the densely wooded Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, Pocono Whitewater Rafting encourages team building through action-packed adventure. In addition to whitewater rafting excursions, this popular outfitter offers more than 30 miles of scenic bike trails as well as a world-class 750-acre paintball facility.

Although the team-building program follows a similar format as regular rafting trips, corporate groups can supplement their experience with staffled discussions and teamwork activities, such as raft races with water guns. One of the most popular games is a communication activity in which everyone in the raft except the captain is blindfolded, and the group must follow the captain’s directions to navigate toward a floating object in the water.

“If you don’t work together when you’re on a raft, then you’ll never get down the river,” said Terry Breslin, one of the company’s lead facilitators. “We try to

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

“Dodgeball is our No. 1 team-building activity. It’s always fun to take out your secret aggressions on your co-workers.”

—Chad Pannunzi, owner of Sky Zone Lexington

give people some helpful hints. If they get out there and wipe out on their first attempt, we’ll pull everyone aside and ask them what happened, what could we do better to communicate, etc.”

Afterward, the facilitator often conducts an awards ceremony, giving out titles like MVP or Person Most Likely To Be a River Guide. The group can then gather around a fire pit by the river to enjoy some food and drinks.

Meeting groups can also take advantage of Skirmish Paintball, which spans a diverse terrain of fields, woods and creeks, and is an excellent setting for team-building games like Capture the Flag.

Groups can opt for the Battles and Paddles combination package to enjoy the best of both paintball and rafting activities. www.poconowhitewater.com

Photos courtesy poconowhitewater.com

Teamwork and leadership exercises with Pocono Whitewater Rafting

January 2019

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IDEAS

TAHOE TREETOP ADVENTURE PARK

TAHOE CITY, CALIFORNIA Meeting planners can take team building to new heights at Tahoe Treetop Adventure Park, an aerial adventure facility just behind Granlibakken Resort in the beautiful waterfront city of Tahoe City, California. The century-old Granlibakken Resort provides a wonderful wooded retreat for meeting groups at its all-inclusive Lake Tahoe Conference Center, which can accommodate groups of four to 400 with nearly 24,500 square feet of space.

The aerial adventure park caters to all ages and athletic abilities with 10 different courses, 97 tree platforms, 27 zip lines and more than 60 aerial obstacles. Over the course of two and a half hours, groups can push their limits as they take on rope swings, moving bridges, tightropes, swinging logs, climbing logs and more.

Tahoe Treetops has been leading bonding and team-building activities for almost 20 years, encouraging corporate groups to take a break from the boardroom and explore the dynamics of leadership, communication and problem-solving in a natural setting. The team-building program begins with a safety briefing and several low-to-the-ground events

Courtesy Tahoe Treetop Adventures

to lay the foundation for teamwork and trust. Afterward, participants can choose their own course based on the level of difficulty with which they feel comfortable.

Groups can take advantage of other team-building activities at the facility, such as snowshoe tours during the winter and a team orienteering class on how to navigate in the wilderness using a map and compass. During the Search and Discover program, groups break into teams and use a compass to navigate the woods in search of different stations with specific tasks and challenges. www.tahoetreetop.com

ESCAPE GAME DALLAS

GRAPEVINE, TEXAS Meeting planners can leave their attendees talking for years to come with a trip to one of the nation’s best escape game facilities. Based in Grapevine, Texas, Escape Game Dallas is the eighth location for the Nashville-based company and one of the top-tier escape rooms in the industry, providing the perfect off-site activity for those attending a meeting or conference at the Grapevine Convention Center.

“Our games are excellent for team-building activities because they force everyone to work together to

Clockwise from left: An aerial challenge course at Tahoe Treetop Adventures; “The Heist” at Escape Game Dallas; Tahoe treetops from the ground

Courtesy Escape Game Dallas

Courtesy Tahoe Treetop Adventures

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www.smallmarketmeetings.com

accomplish a singular goal,” said Max Magura, marketing manager at Escape Game. “Not only are they bonding in that way, but you really have a chance to learn about your coworkers based on how they interact in the room and what puzzles they go after.

We’ve had somebody actually come in before and use the games as a hiring process to see if somebody was a fit for their team.”

During the games, larger groups can split into teams of two to eight and choose one of four escape room challenges: Prison Break, Gold Rush, the Heist and Playground. Teams must work together to solve a series of puzzles and clues to “break out” of the room before the one-hour time limit. Each theme features different clues and obstacles with varying degrees of difficulty.

“When groups go in there, they’re really transported to another world,” said Magura. “The level of immersion we put into designing the atmosphere of our games is unreal.” www.theescapegame.com/dallas

“PRISON BREAK” AT ESCAPE GAME DALLAS IN GRAPEVINE

Courtesy Escape Game Dallas

DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EVENTS University of Kentucky Healthcare Experience — 12 years

Downtown Views.

Uptown Service.

Centrally located in vibrant downtown Boise, the newly expanded Boise Centre has a variety of customizable meeting spaces, modern amenities, exceptional culinary services and a warm and hospitable staff ready to make your next meeting an unforgettable experience.

January 2019

• Seven minutes from Boise airport • Over 20 direct flights • Nine hotels within walking distance • Downtown Location • Close to outdoor recreation LEARN MORE:

boisecentre.com

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IDEAS

SKY ZONE TRAMPOLINE PARK

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY One of the leading brands of trampoline parks in the nation, Sky Zone Trampoline Park offers more than 200 locations in the United States. Meeting groups can take advantage of one of its newest facilities in the fantastic midsize destination of Lexington, Kentucky.

Lined wall to wall with trampolines of many shapes and sizes, this state-of-the-art adventure attraction features a dodgeball court, a freestyle jump area, basketball hoops, a foam pit and a course modeled after the obstacle courses on NBC’s hit show “American Ninja Warrior.” During their visits, guests can cheer on their friends as they attempt to navigate the Ninja Warrior course, practice their free throws on the sky-slam hoops or challenge their peers to an ultimate dodgeball tournament.

“Dodgeball is our No. 1 team-building activity,” said owner Chad Pannunzio. “It’s always fun to take out your secret aggressions on your co-workers.”

Meeting planners can use a spacious lounge area upstairs with big-screen TVs to host a meeting or bring in a catered meal. Though the park is easy to navigate on one’s own, Sky Zone staff can help facilitate certain activities, such as dodgeball compe-

titions or Ninja Warrior races, as well as help stir up excitement among the players. Sky Zone Lexington also offers fitness classes called Sky Fit, which can be modified according to the needs of the group.

“We have people who come in who work out six times a week and people who haven’t worked out in six years, and they all leave smiling and sweaty,” said Pannunzio. www.skyzone.com/lexington

WATSON ADVENTURES' SCAVENGER HUNTS

Founded by Bret Watson, a veteran writer and stand-up comedian, Watson Adventures' has worked with more than 2,000 corporations across the United States to organize fun, quirky and educational scavenger hunts in over 30 major cities. Though many scavenger hunts focus primarily on completing tasks, Watson Adventures adds more creative flair by posing tricky and humorous questions about different sites and items throughout a destination, challenging teams to solve clues and learn about local landmarks in the process.

For groups meeting outside the company’s designated locations, Watson Adventures offers Grab ’n’ Go Scavenger Hunts, which can be customized for Clockwise from left: Conquering the wall; Dodgeball at Sky Zone; Watson Adventures' Scavenger Hunts

Courtesy Sky Zone Lexington

Courtesy Sky Zone Lexington

Courtesy Watson Adventures

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www.smallmarketmeetings.com

any city. During this classic challenge, teams must race to achieve objectives such as finding three items that rhyme, choosing a trophy for the scavenger hunt victors and creating an amazing new food by combining two unlikely foods.

Team photos are another entertaining component of the game. Rather than taking numerous group shots of everyone standing and smiling in front of various landmarks, the photo challenges are often more humorous and creative approach, such as treating a staircase like a carnival ride or miming a superpower. Throughout the day, participants can upload the photos to the Watson Adventure sharing site so that teams can follow one another’s progress.

Each player receives a link to all the photos at the end of the day as a souvenir.

Watson Adventure also helps facilitate several specialty events for indoor settings, such as a Trivia Slam and a Murder Mystery Mayhem Scavenger Hunt. www.watsonadventures.com

WATSON ADVENTURES' SCAVENGER HUNTS

Courtesy Watson Adventures

10 REASONS TO MEET ON THE

©Lovetrolux

NORTHSHORE

Check out our website for 10 Reasons to Meet in St. Tammany Parish Location, unique facilities, a full-service sales department, and customized itineraries are just a few reasons to plan your meeting on Louisiana’s Northshore. See our website for more.

Contact Zondra at 800-634-9443 for more information.

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w e N s ' l l A IN OKC

A new convention center and 605-room Omni hotel are slated to open in Oklahoma City in 2020.

All photos courtesy Oklahoma City CVB

CITY

OKLAHOMA CITY AT A GLANCE

Oklahoma City is a dynamic, evolving meetings destination.

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BY ELIZABETH HEY

t’s hardly an exaggeration to say that Oklahoma City will soon be a brand-new meetings destination. In the works are a state-of-the-art convention center (to replace its current 50-year-old facility), a hotel, a recently completed downtown streetcar and more. Add in outstanding museums, downtown’s riverfront and world-class sports facilities that offer team-building activities, and groups will be pleasantly surprised with the multiplicity of this Southwestern city.

Location: Oklahoma City ACCESS: At the crossroads of interstates 35, 40 and 44. Thirty daily nonstop flights at Will Rogers World Airport.

HOTEL ROOMS: 17,670 citywide; 3,163 downtown CONTACT INFO: Oklahoma City CVB 405-297-8912 www.visitokc.com OKLAHOMA CITY CONVENTION CENTER

BUILT: To be completed in 2020 EXHIBIT SPACE: 200,000 square feet OTHER MEETING SPACES: 30,000-squarefoot ballroom and 45,000 square feet of additional meeting space MEETING HOTELS

Omni Hotel (opens in 2020) GUESTROOMS: 605 MEETING SPACE: 78,000 square feet Skirvin Hilton Hotel GUESTROOMS: 225 MEETING SPACE: 18,500 square feet 21c Museum Hotel GUESTROOMS: 135 MEETING SPACE: 14,000 square feet WHO’S MEETING IN OKLAHOMA CITY

National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds ATTENDEES: 1,500 Paddlesports Retailers Show ATTENDEES: 2,000 National Baptist Association ATTENDEES: 25,000 January 2019

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Destination highlights

MAJOR MEETING SPACES

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ntermingling a rich Western and Native American heritage with contemporary amenities, Oklahoma City offers both culture and sophistication. Oil, discovered in 1929, remains the bedrock of the economy. The state capitol is the only one in the country with a working oil well on its grounds. The state’s largest destination, with approximately 1.5 million residents, Oklahoma City also enjoys 30 daily nonstop flights from the Will Rogers World Airport.

The Oklahoma City area averages more than 300 days of sunshine per year, and meeting groups can take advantage of this fair weather with kayaking and whitewater rafting at the Olympic Training Center, as well as zip lining and seasonal riverfront entertainment in the Boathouse District. Restaurants, boutiques and nightlife offer after-hour diversions in Bricktown. Oklahoma River Cruises hosts specialty cruises from April to December, and the Spokies bike-share program invites visitors to explore.

In 2021, the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum will open with cultural demonstrations celebrating Oklahoma’s original people groups, as well as an outdoor cultural park that highlights the plains, prairies and wetlands of Oklahoma.

“Downtown is currently undergoing an exciting renaissance with numerous projects opening in the next several years,” said Keith Talbert, associate director of sales for the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau. “With all of the development happening throughout the city, it’s also an opportunity for meeting planners and attendees to experience something new.”

National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum

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DESTINATION HIGHLIGHTS

A rendering of the upcoming Oklahoma City Convention Center

Major meeting spaces

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lated to open in 2020, the new $288 million Oklahoma City Convention Center will feature 200,000 square feet of exhibit space, a 30,000-square-foot ballroom and 45,000 square feet of additional meeting space. Directly adjacent to the convention center and opening in late 2020 will be a 605-room Omni hotel. The Omni will provide approximately 78,000 square feet of additional meeting space, four restaurants, a full-service spa and a rooftop pool.

Completed in December, the six-mile OKC Streetcar line will connect the new convention center, the Omni hotel and Scissortail Park. It’s the most extensive of its type in the nation. Along its route, attendees can access attractions, dining and nightlife in the City Center, Automobile Alley, Midtown and Bricktown districts.

Located in the historic Arts District in the former Fred Jones Assembly Plant, where Model Ts were once produced, the 21c Museum Hotel doubles as an attraction. Anchored by a contemporary art museum that showcases works of living artists, “21c” stands for 21st century. In addition to 135 rooms and a chef-driven restaurant, this ultramodern property offers 14,000 square feet of meeting space, a ballroom that seats 240 guests, a conference room and a private rooftop suite with downtown views.

The elegant and historic Skirvin Hilton Hotel, also downtown, was completely remodeled in 2016. This 225-room property offers 18,500 square feet of dedicated meeting space; the space is the city’s largest after the convention center. Amenities include a full-service restaurant and the Red Piano Bar, which is popular for after-meeting get-togethers.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Distinctive venues

AFTER THE MEETING

Paseo Arts District

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he headquarters of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic training site for canoe and kayak, the Boathouse District is also home to Riversport Rapids, a $45.2 million whitewater rafting and kayaking center, which is within walking distance from downtown hotels and the convention center. Attendees can spend an hour or the day on the Oklahoma River participating in team-building activities.

For high-flying team-building activities, the Sandridge Sky Trail in the Boathouse District delivers. The trail’s 80-foot structure features six challenge levels that include a free fall and four of America's tallest dry slides. There’s also a 700-foot zipline across the Oklahoma River.

The National Cowboy Western and Heritage Museum exhibits fine art to firearms and Native American objects. Adorning the walls of its 16,500-square-foot banquet space are five triptych paintings by renowned artist Wilson Hurley. Each is 18 feet tall and 46 feet long and depicts Western landscapes. The museum’s Prosperity Junction event space replicates a turn-of-the-20th-century cattle town where attendees can order a drink in the Silver Dollar Saloon, take a selfie at Osborn Photography and explore 19 buildings on Main Street.

Elsewhere, 15 acres of gardens at Myriad Botanical Gardens and Tropical Conservatory make a lovely backdrop for events. Inside, the Park House seats 120 for a terrific “Plan B” during inclement weather, with floor-to-ceiling windows and garden views. Vast, a two-story upscale restaurant and event space, sits at a height of 726 feet in the Devon Energy Tower, with stunning views of the city and beyond. The Cattlemen’s Steakhouse, the city’s oldest continuously operating restaurant, has garnered numerous awards. Receptions can be held upstairs, and the adjacent Cattlemen’s Event Center seats approximately 150 for steak dinners.

DISTINCTIVE VENUES

January 2019

Myriad Botanical Gardens

After the Meeting

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ature is easily accessed in downtown.

Directly across from the convention center, construction will be completed this year on a 40-acre section of Scissortail Park, with the lower 30-acre portion set to open in 2021. Connecting downtown to the banks of the Oklahoma River, it will offer recreational activities that include trails, picnic sites and concerts.

After hours in Bricktown, restaurants, pubs, live music and attractions are steps away from downtown meeting space and hotels. The milelong Bricktown Water Taxi has a fun narrated tour and drop-off points within the district. A must-see along the canal, the Centennial Land Run Monument features 45 of the world’s largest bronze sculptures, heroic figures frozen in motion as they race to claim new homesteads.

Spanish Revival architecture graces the growing Paseo Arts District, home to more than 80 local artists. Most of the artists live in the district and work out of their studios. JRB Art at the Elms, a resident art gallery and studio built in 1920, was the first of its kind in Oklahoma City.

Intermingled among the art, attendees will find trendy restaurants, a coffeehouse and boutiques.

Housing one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of Dale Chihuly glass, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art displays over three decades of his work. Chihuly is considered the most important glass artist since Louis Comfort Tiffany. Third Thursday events take place in the galleries, on the grounds and on the roof terrace with live music, food and beverage.

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HOTEL

Nebraska Lieds the Way

BY KRISTY ALPERT

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ooted in a passion for nature and legacy of conservation, the Lied Lodge and Conference Center at Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City, Nebraska, has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world since it was dedicated in 1993. Nestled within Arbor Day Farms, land once owned by Arbor Day founder J. Sterling Morton before it was designated as a National Historic Landmark, the center was originally designed to be a gathering space for like-minded individuals to commune among the 260 wooded acres where the center still stands.

The Lied Lodge and Conference Center underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation in 2015 and now features 140 spacious guest rooms and suites with more than 14,000 square feet of flexible event and meeting space. The center is home to two on-site dining facilities, the Library Lounge and the Timber Dining Room, and one of the best spas in Nebraska. Guests can spend the day exploring the nearby Arbor Lodge Mansion, playing in a 50-foot-tall treehouse, touring the on-site Greenhouse and Fuelwood Energy Plant or taking a few laps in the Olympic-size swimming pool. Arbor Day Farms grows a variety of grapes on-site, making delicious wines that can be sampled in the Lied Lodge lobby most Friday and Saturday evenings.

As part of the Arbor Day Foundation, the Lied Center’s commitment to sustainability and eco-friendly practices exceeds even the strictest standards, from locally grown food served during meetings and events to six all-masonry fireplaces that surpass Environmental Protection Agency requirements for wood-burning particulate emissions.

The original environmental ethos that gave root to this ecological lodge has sprouted over the years into a passion for growing inspiration and inciting fresh ideas among its overnight and meetings guests. Today the lodge is frequented for family reunions, business conferences, weddings and more, offering event planners a serene location in the heart of America.

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Photos courtesy Lied Lodge and Conference Center

A BOARDROOM AT LIED LODGE

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

M E E T I N G S PAC E S LIED LODGE SITS ON 260 ACRES OF WOODLAND AT ARBOR DAY FARM IN NEBRASKA CITY.

The lower-level conference space at the Lied Lodge and Conference Center features 14,000 square feet of flexible meeting space.

Spaces and their capacities are the Rosenow Room, 380 guests; the Steinhart Room, 350 guests; the Marcotte Room, 50 guests; the Terrace Room, 70 guests; the Executive Boardroom, 10 guests; and the Steinhart Lodge, 210 guests. A couple of cozy spots within the guest room wing offer small conference spaces perfect for business meetings. In addition to the conference spaces, the Historic Morton Barns, Steinhart Lodge and Tree Adventure are set along the acreage and are venues that can bring the farm experience to life.

C AT E R I N G The food and beverage team at the Lied Lodge and Conference Center strives for excellence, serving locally sourced food and beverages in the restaurants and meeting spaces throughout the venue. The team can create special menus with personalized touches to serve any size group, but also offers a range of preset menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner to make the selection simple. Alcohol is offered during mealtimes in the Timber Dining Room and the Library Lounge, and the center offers in-room portable bar options for group gatherings.

Lied Lodge serves specialty brews and Arbor Day Farm creations.

EXTRAS

HOTEL FACTS LOCATION

Nebraska City, Nebraska

TYPE OF VENUE

Off-site, farm and conference center

CAPACITY 380 guests

ACCOMMODATIONS On-site

CONTACT INFO 402-873-8717 www.liedlodge.org

January 2019

Although groups are allowed to bring in their own entertainment, the events team at the Lied Lodge and Conference Center has a comprehensive list of options that include music, team-building activities like life-size Jenga and make-and-take canvas painting activities in the orchards. There’s always a unique experience at the Arbor Day Farm Tree Adventure, such as a murder mystery dinner at the mansion or a wine-and-cheese tasting in a treehouse. Groups willing to get their hands dirty can opt for a cooking class with the culinary team or take part in a commemorative tree-planting ceremony. Most tours include a free tree for guests to take home to plant.

O N T H E FA R M Before and after events, groups meeting at the Lied Lodge and Conference Center can catch a hayrack ride to the Morton Oak Bonfire area and share s’mores, or schedule a trolley ride for the team to enjoy the city tour and catch the beautiful lights each night around the town. The on-site team of naturalists at Arbor Day Farm specializes in personalized guided hikes and custom tours of the farm.

Groups can also arrange behind-the-scenes tours to learn about the farm’s sustainability practices.

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America’s Heartland Suburbs

ST. CHARLES BLENDS HISTORIC CHARM AND MODERN AMENITIES JUST OUTSIDE OF ST. LOUIS

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Meetdieng Gui

Courtesy Greater St. Charles CVB

BY ROBIN ROENKER

ften just minutes from major metro downtowns, suburbs can offer the best of both worlds: easy access to urban amenities with the added bonus of ample parking and hotel rooms, direct interstate access and the space to showcase large-scale attractions.

In America’s Heartland, meeting planners will find exciting venues like water parks, amusement parks and America’s largest mall to help attract attendees to their events.

CHICAGO NORTHWEST

For visitors flying into Chicago via O’Hare International Airport, accessing the 10,000 guest rooms and meeting facilities in Chicago Northwest — the communities of Elk Grove Village, Arlington Heights, Schaumburg and others — takes 10 to 15 minutes, “faster than they can

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arrive in the Loop and the city of Chicago itself,” said Dave Parulo, president of Meet Chicago Northwest.

The area includes 14 hotels with at least 3,000 square feet of meeting space, as well as the Schaumburg Convention Center, a 100,000-square-foot, column-free convention center that often offers financial incentives for firsttime meeting and convention bookings.

While in the area, guests should make time to visit the famed Arlington International Race Course, known as one of America’s most beautiful thoroughbred racetracks. In nearby Arlington Heights, finding a post-meeting dinner option is easy, thanks to the more than 20 restaurants that fill its easily walkable, two-block downtown.

Shopping opportunities abound as well, especially in Schaumburg, home of the Woodfield Mall, Illinois’ largest, as well as the Streets of Woodfield and Woodfield Village Green, all of which are connected by a free trolley service.

“The trolley makes it easy for visitors to get from one shopping experience to another.” Parulo said. www.chicagonorthwest.com

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Meetieng Guid

BLOOMINGTON, MINNESOTA

Part of the Twin Cities metro area, Bloomington sits just south of Minneapolis-St. Paul on Interstate 35.

“You’re at the doorstep of the airport essentially, here in Bloomington,” said Dan O’Neil, vice president of strategy and sales for the Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Bloomington boasts 9,300 hotel rooms across 43 brands and price points, the largest concentration in the state, more even than Minneapolis or St. Paul, O’Neil said, with five new hotels in the pipeline that will bring an additional 1,000 rooms to the community by 2022.

Bloomington is perhaps best known as home to the Mall of America, the largest mall in the country. The massive, bucket-list shopping destination is a great after-meeting activity for convention attendees — or a good excuse for family members to tag along on the trip. Even those who don’t love to shop can find things to do there, since it’s home to Sea Life Minnesota Aquarium, which features 10,000 aquatic creatures, and Nickelodeon Universe, which boasts indoor roller coaster rides, mini golf and more.

Though the city does not have a convention center, its many hotels offer meeting and convention space that can accommodate groups of up to 2,000, O’Neil said. Parking is free throughout Bloomington, though driving is optional once there, since all the hotels provide free shuttle service to and from the airport and Mall of America. www.bloomingtonmn.org

INSIDE BLOOMINGTON’S FAMOUS MALL OF AMERICA

Courtesy Bloomington CVB

ST. CHARLES, MISSOURI

Just eight miles from the St. Louis Lambert International Airport and on the Missouri River, St. Charles combines quaint downtown history and charm with state-of-the-art meeting and convention spaces.

The 95,000-square-foot St. Charles Convention Center can accommodate groups of up to 3,500 and is connected to an Embassy Suites hotel that features 296 suites, all of which were renovated in 2018.

Also within walking distance of the convention center are two new hotels: the Drury Plaza hotel and a Tru by Hilton. Both are in a booming entertainment district known as The Streets of St. Charles, home to Prasino, “a farm-to-table-type restaurant that’s been voted the No. 1 restaurant in St. Louis,” said Joanie Ohlms, director of sales for the Greater St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau.

In all, the city has more than 2,600 hotel rooms within three miles of the convention center, with just over 4,000 rooms in St. Charles County.

While in the area, guests should make time to stroll through St. Charles’ historic downtown, home to more than 100 specialty shops and restaurants. They can also try their luck at the city’s Ameristar Casino or plan a day trip to the nearby Missouri wine country.

The city is also home to Missouri’s first state capitol, which is open for tours, and was the starting point of Lewis and Clark’s westward expedition. The CVB can connect groups with guided tours of the downtown Main Street historic district. For those who enjoy meandering on their own, it also offers self-guided audio tours and maps. www.discoverstcharles.com

EAGLEWOOD RESORT IN CHICAGO’S NORTHWESTERN SUBURBS Courtesy Meet Chicago NW

January 2019

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Meetieng Guid

MASON/WARREN COUNTY, OHIO

FLINT HILLS DISCOVERY CENTER

VALLEY VINEYARDS IN MORROW

Home to King’s Island amusement park and Great Wolf Lodge indoor water park resort, Mason, Ohio, offers visitors two opportunities for a fun escape. Just 30 minutes from downtown Cincinnati and roughly 40 minutes from downtown Dayton, Mason is easy to reach from either interstates 71 or 75.

In addition to indoor waterslides, a wave pool, a lazy river and more, Great Wolf Lodge of Cincinnati/Mason has 410 guest suites and more than 20,000 square feet of meeting space, including 15 breakout rooms. A pedestrian walkway connects the property to nearby King’s Island, which has its own water park and more than nine miles of roller coaster track.

But the fun doesn’t stop in Mason. Warren County has plenty to see and do. In Lebanon, the Golden Lamb Inn and Restaurant, opened in 1803 as a stagecoach stop, is Ohio’s oldest continuously operating business.

“They have several rooms where they can host groups in a private meal,” said Linda Smith, senior sales manager with the Warren County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

For those looking for nontraditional meeting venues, the YMCA Camp Kern in Oregonia can accommodate groups for up to 300 in its 10,000-square-foot Schiewetz Assembly Hall, and groups can work with camp facilitators to integrate

Courtesy Warren Co. CVB

MAKE HISTORY

WITH A MEETING AT MPM Meeting spaces • Breakout sessions On-site coordination • Evening receptions Custom experiences • 80,000 square feet

Photo Credit: Front Room Photography

MILWAUKEE PUBLIC MUSEUM 800 West Wells Street | mpm.edu/rentals

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www.smallmarketmeetings.com

team-building activities such as ropes courses and equine adventures into their events.

Other options include Valley Vineyards Winery and Brewery in Morrow, which can accommodate 160 for meetings in its Cabernet Room, and Bonnybrook Farms in Clarksville, which offers “chuck wagon dinner rides with a big camp fire, a really good option for groups that’s very family friendly,” said Scott Hutchinson, the CVB’s senior communications manager. www.ohioslargestplayground.com

Good events make good memories and there’s no better Midwest venue than Grand Wayne Convention Center in downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana, as the backdrop for your story. INSIDE: 225,000 square feet of fully carpeted, beautifully appointed, versatile space | OUTSIDE: 3 full-service, adjacent hotels and a million amazing experiences!

Let’s create

“In Lebanon, the Golden Lamb Inn and Restaurant, originally opened in 1803 as a stagecoach stop, is Ohio’s oldest continuously operating business.”

THE GOLDEN LAMB, A FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN THE CINCINNATI SUBURB OF LEBANON Courtesy Warren Co. CVB

January 2019

grandwayne.com • 260.426.4100 The Midwest’s Favorite Drive-To Destination!

Easy by Air via Fort Wayne International (FWA).

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WAUKESHA, WISCONSIN

Meet

Part of the Milwaukee metropolitan area, Waukesha is roughly 20 miles to the west of Brew City. Though it does not have a dedicated convention center, its Ingleside Hotel, which reopened in September under new branding and after a complete renovation, offers an indoor water park, 194 guest rooms and suites and more than 40,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space for groups of up to 720 attendees. Additionally, the Milwaukee Marriott West has 281 guest rooms, 12,000 square feet of meeting space and a large ballroom, said Tammy Tritz, executive director of the Waukesha Pewaukee Convention and Visitor Bureau.

During meeting downtime, guests can visit one of the city’s many museums, including Ten Chimneys, the estate of former Broadway stars Lynn Fontanne and Alfred Lunt.

“It’s a very eclectic estate and world-class museum, which also has space for events, allowing planners the option of hosting an off-site banquet or social function there,” Tritz said.

For rock music buffs, the Waukesha Historical Society and Museum offers a permanent exhibit on native son Les Paul, known as a pioneer in the development of the single-body electric guitar.

“When people visit, they are often surprised at the amount of history and preservation here and at the charm of our downtown, which is full of art galleries, shops and restaurants,” said Tritz. “We are lucky to have a very quaint walking district that offers the opportunity to buy unique, handmade things from the area.” www.visitwaukesha.org

MEETING IN A HISTORIC WAUKESHA COURTHOUSE OUTSIDE MILWAUKEE

Come for the meeting...

Stay for the woods, wine, and the adventures in between.

Only Carbondale.

618-529-4451

carbondaletourism.org Courtesy Waukesha Pewaukee CVB

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www.smallmarketmeetings.com

*

January 2019

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GROUPS MEETING IN LAFAYETTE AND WEST LAFAYETTE CAN IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN PURDUE SCHOOL SPIRIT.

Heartland U

Meetdieng Gui

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Courtesy Visit Lafayette-West Lafayette

BY ROBIN ROENKER

ollege towns have their own vibe: full of school pride, youthful energy, eclectic dining and entertainment options and easy access to sporting events and cultural opportunities that only universities can provide.

America’s Heartland has no shortage of great university towns, where college spirit mingles with stateof-the-art venues and facilities, making them a great option for your group’s next meeting destination.

CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS

Home of Southern Illinois University, Carbondale offers visitors a chance to enjoy Saluki pride while meandering within a bustling, vibrant community. Easily accessed by car, thanks to its location just 25 miles west of Interstate 57, or by train — Amtrak offers daily “Saluki Express” service between Chicago and Carbondale — the town has

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multiple meeting venues, including the 8,000-square-foot Carbondale Civic Center and the Varsity Center, a historic downtown movie theater that can seat 650.

On campus, the SIU Student Center has more than 21,000 square feet of meeting space, including a ballroom; on-site catering; AV services; and 28 multifunction meeting rooms that can accommodate groups of 12 to 300 guests.

For groups looking for team-building opportunities, the Touch of Nature Environmental Center offers facilitated team experiences on its 3,100 acres of rolling, forested land and more than 8,200 square feet of indoor meeting space.

During downtime, meeting attendees can enjoy the nearby Shawnee Hills Wine Trail and the Shawnee National Forest. In town, Jordan Wren, executive director of Carbondale Tourism, advises visitors to take a few minutes to enjoy Carbondale’s signature fare.

“A few must-do items are having the delicious pink cookies at Cristaudo’s bakery and grabbing a slice of pizza at local favorite Quatro’s Pizza,” Wren said. www.carbondaletourism.org

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

LAFAYETTE-WEST LAFAYETTE, INDIANA

Home to Purdue University, the side-by-side communities of Lafayette and West Lafayette, Indiana, come alive with Boilermakers pride during football and basketball seasons. But when it comes to meetings, summer can be an ideal time to visit, since the communities’ various meeting venues have added flexibility to work with groups, said Ashley Gregory, director of sales for Visit Lafayette-West Lafayette. Purdue classrooms and even 7,500 residence hall beds are available to groups for rental between June 1 and August 1.

On campus, the Purdue Union Club Hotel, built in 1929 and set to soon undergo a $30 million revitalization, has 192 guest rooms and is connected by underground tunnel to nearby conference facilities at Stewart Center, Fowler Hall and the Purdue Memorial Union, which together can accommodate groups of from 10 to 6,000 with 40,000 square feet of meeting space. Off-campus, several area hotels, including a Courtyard by Marriott, DoubleTree by Hilton and Four Points by Sheraton, offer conference and meeting facilities.

While in the area, guests should make time to visit Wolf Park — a research and education facility that is home to wolves, coyotes, foxes and bison — and the Tippecanoe Battlefield Museum, which explains the history of the 1811 battle between William Henry Harrison and Native Americans forces affiliated with Shawnee chief Tecumseh.

“We also have more than 100 pieces of public art in our downtown area and lots of art galleries and art museums as well,” Gregory said. www.homeofpurdue.com

AMES, IOWA

In Ames, home to Iowa State University, the so-called “Town and Gown” city-campus partnership is strong, so strong that the convention and visitors bureau there serves both the campus and the city through a joint initiative known as CYtes of Ames, a nod to the university’s mascot, Cy the Cardinal.

“We’re very lucky to have this collaboration between the city and the university,” said Eve Lederhouse, communications director for the Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau, which can help meeting planners secure venue space both on and off campus. “People often talk about experiencing ‘Iowa Nice,’ and large groups tend to book their events with us year after year because of the hospitality and customer service they receive here.”

On campus, planners can host events at one of several venues, including the Hilton Coliseum, which features 30,000 square feet of pillar-free meeting space, and the Iowa State Center, which includes the 2,600-seat Stephens Auditorium.

Off campus, the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center has 16,000 square feet of event space that can accommodate groups of up to 850. In all, Ames has more than 1,500 hotel rooms, with three additional hotels slated to open in 2019.

Easily reached via Interstate 35 or Des Moines International Airport, 40 minutes away, downtown Ames has a host of boutique shopping and dining options, offering an enjoyable way to spend a free evening. www.thinkames.com

DOWNTOWN LAFAYETTE Courtesy Visit Lafayette-West Lafayette

A MEETING AT IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY’S MORRIS HALL

Courtesy Ames CVB

January 2019

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ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA

Home to the world-renowned Mayo Clinic and the affiliated Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, as well as the University of Minnesota-Rochester, with its degree paths exclusively in the health sciences, Rochester, Minnesota, is a health-conscious sort of town. This fact is driven home by the 100 parks and 85 miles of paved trails that wind through the city.

The area has become a hot spot for medical and health services conventions, which often use Rochester’s community of professors and physicians as keynote speakers, said Megan Malugani, communications manager for Experience Rochester MN. In 2017, the Mayo Civic Center, Rochester’s downtown convention center, underwent an $84 million expansion and renovation that added a new ballroom, the largest in the state of Minnesota, and 23 breakout rooms. It now has more than 200,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space, including outdoor areas that overlook nearby 11-acre Mayo Park.

“Since our winters can be harsh here, our convention center is attached via enclosed skyway and underground walkways to all of our downtown hotels and restaurants, as well as entertainment and shopping,” Malugani said. In all, some 2,000 of the area’s 6,000 total hotel rooms are connected to the Mayo Center by climate-controlled passageways.

For those hearty enough to brave the Minnesota chill, February’s annual SocialICE winter ice-bar festival lets visitors expe-

ROCHESTER’S MAYO CIVIC CENTER

By Time into Pixels, courtesy Explore Rochester MN

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www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Meetieng Guid rience Rochester’s downtown alongside ice sculptures, music and signature cocktails.

Accessible by car via Interstate 90 or by plane to Rochester International Airport or the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport, 90 miles away, Rochester brims with after-meeting entertainment options, from local craft breweries to downtown shopping boutiques and cafes. www.minnesotasrochester.com

UNIVERSITY SQUARE IN ROCHESTER

"The area has become a hot spot for medical and health services conventions, which often use Rochester’s community of professors and physicians as keynote speakers."

— Megan Malugani, Experience Rochester MN

By AB-Photography, courtesy Explore Rochester MN

Faces & Places That Help Us Thrive!

Offering meeting planners numerous choices: 278 Different Restaurants • 55 Meeting Venues 15 Art Galleries • 8 Golf Courses 5 Conference Hotels And 1 Lafayette-West Lafayette Meeting Expert ready to assist you from the first step to the last!

January 2019

Ashley Gregory

Director of Sales, agregory@homeofpurdue.com 765-447-9999 or 1-800-872-6648

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Meetieng Guid

TOLEDO, OHIO

SEAGATE CENTRE FLINTTOLEDO’S HILLS DISCOVERY CENTER

Courtesy Destination Toledo

Home to the University of Toledo and its roughly 16,000 students, Toledo is a city with something for all ages, often surprising first-time visitors with its accessibility, affordability and wealth of attractions — including the Toledo Zoo and Aquarium and the world-renowned Toledo Museum of Art “One of the things that makes Toledo stand out is that it’s a midsize city with big-city attractions,” said Cathy Miller, director of tourism for Destination Toledo.

Toledo has an array of unique meeting venues. The 50,000-squarefoot Lancelot Thompson Student Union on the University of Toledo campus features breakout meeting rooms for groups of 32 to 1,200.

Other interesting options include the Malawi Event Center at the Toledo Zoo and the architecturally iconic, 63,000-square-foot Glass Pavilion at the Toledo Museum of Art, where groups of up to 200 can enjoy glassblowing demonstrations and even try their hand at glassblowing.

More traditional meeting space is available at the SeaGate Convention Centre in downtown Toledo, where nearly 75,000 square feet of unobstructed meeting space can accommodate groups of up to 9,000. For sports fans, the convention center couldn’t be better located: It’s adjacent to the Huntington Center, home of Toledo Walleye Hockey, and a short walk from Fifth Third Field, home to the Toledo Mud Hens minor league baseball team.

“We call it the trifecta,” said Miller. “There’s a real synergy between those three downtown entertainment centers.” www.visittoledo.org

“One of the things that makes Toledo stand out is that it’s a midsize city with big-city attractions.”

— Cathy Miller, Destination Toledo

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www.smallmarketmeetings.com

January 2019

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Outdoors in the Heartlands

Outdoors in the Heartlands

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THE BOB KERREY PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE SPANS THE MISSOURI RIVER IN COUNCIL BLUFFS

Meetdieng Gui

Courtesy Council Bluffs CVB

BY ROBIN ROENKER

ometimes, an afternoon unplugged and immersed in the outdoors, whether it's a quiet walk in the woods or an adrenaline-fueled slide down a zip-line course, can be just the thing to clear the mind and fuel creative thinking and team building. It’s no surprise, then, that destinations best known for their outdoor appeal make good meeting and retreat venues.

Here are five great places in America’s Heartland to bring the outdoors into your meetings.

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COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA

Situated on the Missouri River, Council Bluffs, Iowa, offers ample opportunities for outdoor fun. Home to the trailhead for the Wabash Trace Nature Trail, a 60-milelong converted railroad right-of-way closed to motorized vehicles, the community has limitless opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, bird-watching and more.

With three casinos in town, there are plenty of indoor entertainment options as well.

The city is well equipped to handle groups, with 90,000 total square feet of meeting space, including a 66,000-square-foot convention center. There are over 2,300 hotel rooms in Council Bluffs, with 1,300 of those within one mile of the convention center, said Alicia Frieze, director of sales for the Council Bluffs Convention and Visitors Bureau.

For those looking for a less traditional meeting venue, Council Bluff has no shortage of options. Its River’s Edge Pa-

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

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BROWN COUNTY STATE PARK FLINT HILLS DISCOVERY CENTER

vilion in Tom Hanafan Park, which opened in 2017, overlooks both the Missouri River and ample green space. It can accommodate just under 70 guests in its ground-floor enclosed space or 120 on its rooftop deck. First-floor decks can accommodate guests as well, and the entire pavilion can handle around 315 attendees.

While in town, guests should make time to visit the Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge spanning the Missouri River. “That’s always very fun.

It’s on people’s bucket list when they’re here. You can actually stand on the bridge and be on the border between Iowa and Nebraska, and be in both states at the same time,” Frieze said. www.unleashcb.com

BROWN COUNTY, INDIANA

It’s not hard to become immersed in outdoor beauty in Brown County, Indiana, home of The Hoosier State’s largest state park, a state forest, a national forest and several nature preserves. Area guides can lead groups on treks to bird-watch, hike, canoe, mountain bike, zip line, kayak, horseback ride and more.

When it’s time to harness all the outdoor-infused creative energy into productive meeting sessions, many of the area’s hotels, including the Brown County Inn, Creekside Retreat and the Abe Martin Lodge in Brown County State Park, among others, offer meeting space on site.

The Seasons Lodge in Nashville, Indiana, operates a conference center and can seat groups of up to 1,000, or 600 for banquets, in its eight dedicated meeting rooms.

For meeting venues that are especially outdoor-focused, planners may want to consider Rawhide Ranch, "an Indiana dude ranch complete with private cabins to rent, as well as hotel rooms fashioned from the second floor of a 32-stall horse barn, where cowboy games l ntrl v l , n are incorporated into group members’ stay as i ei lc m team-building exercises,” said Aubrey Sitzman, i o s public relations coordinator for the Brown ri h h C County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

For those who want an even more rustic feel, Explore Brown County offers primitive Janesville offers a variety of meeting spaces cabins and tent camping, along with a meetand a wide selection of hotels, restaurants and ing hall to host large groups. attractions including many affordable options “Explore Brown County is really a mecca that provide you with great value. Janesville for outdoor activities,” Sitzman said. “You can is easily accessible - right off of I-39/90. Call zip line, play paintball or arrow tag, go on an the Janesville Area Convention & Visitors ATV tour and more there.”

Bureau today at (800) 487-2757. www.browncounty.com

Courtesy Brown Co. CVB

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Janesvillecvb.com

January 2019

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TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN

SLEEPING BEAR DUNES NATIONAL FLINT HILLS DISCOVERY CENTER LAKESHORE IN TRAVERSE CITY

Courtesy Traverse City Tourism

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Hugging the shores of Lake Michigan, Traverse City, Michigan, is known for its stunning natural scenery. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore has been called one of the most beautiful places in the country. It’s also easy to get outside for fun there: From fishing or Jet Skiing in the summer to fat biking, cross-country skiing, snowboarding and tubing in the winter, Traverse City is a year-round outdoor destination.

Several resorts in the area offer conference and meeting facilities, including the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, which features 86,500 square feet of flexible meeting space and 600 guest rooms, and Shanty Creek Resorts, where guests can enjoy 36,000 square feet of meeting space and 400 guest rooms.

There’s no shortage of nontraditional meeting venues, including the downtown City Opera House, built in 1891 and now restored to its original beauty; the 160-acre Black Star Farms Winery and Vineyard; and the Hagerty Conference Center, which can accommodate groups of up to 340 for unparalleled views of Grand Traverse Bay. There’s no bad time to visit the area.

“Spring is a popular time,” said Jenny Jenness, public relations manager for Traverse City Tourism. “May is when we have all of our cherry blossoms in bloom — Traverse City is known as the Cherry Capital of the World. We also offer wine packages, and May is Michigan Wine Month, where guests are encouraged to explore our area’s more than 40 wineries. Then, in September and October, we also have fall color tours and wine harvest itineraries.” www.traversecity.com

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LAKE OF THE OZARKS, MISSOURI

With more than 1,150 miles of shoreline covering 54,000 acres, it’s no surprise that Lake of the Ozarks offers unlimited opportunities for boating, fishing, water skiing and more. Visitors flock to the area not just for watersports, but also for the natural beauty of the region.

“We have the beauty of the lake but also the nearby rolling hills,” said Lagina Fitzpatrick, director of sales for the Lake of the Ozarks Tri-County Lodging Association and Convention and Visitor Bureau.

The region’s Ha Ha Tonka State Park, home to ample hiking and mountain biking trails, was named the most beautiful spot in Missouri

by Condé Nast Traveler and the No. 4 Best State Park in the Nation by USA Today. USA Today also ranked Lake of the Ozarks among the best spots in the nation to enjoy foliage and dubbed its lake the top recreation lake in the U.S. in 2016.

The area includes more than 200 resorts with over 350,000 square feet of meeting space. The Tan-Tar-A Resort, for example, has its own golf club, marina and indoor water park, along with over 90,000 square feet of meeting space and 32 meeting rooms to accommodate up to 3,500 guests. Camden on the Lake Resort has 116 guest room suites, 19,000 square feet of meeting space and a ballroom with panoramic lakefront views.

There’s a festival on the lake nearly every month of the year, from the Dogwood Festival in April to an air show in September to holiday lights in November and December, making it an exciting year-round destination. www.funlake.com

Meetings meet Convenience

LAKE OF THE OZARKS

Courtesy Lake of the Ozarks CVB

Complimentary services

Unique lakeside dining

Team & social activities

Conveniently located directly off I-94, between Milwaukee and Madison in Wisconsin, we offer complimentary personalized services to help make your meeting a success. Additionally, our area offers:  More than 100,000 square feet of affordable, flexible meeting space  1,100 guestrooms with complimentary parking  Plenty of after-hours dining and entertainment options for your attendees

Learn more at visitwaukesha.org/meetings January 2019

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WISCONSIN DELLS, WISCONSIN

HO-CHUNK CASINO IN WISCONSIN DELLS FLINT HILLS DISCOVERY CENTER

Wisconsin Dells dubs itself the Waterpark Capital of the World, and for good reason. It’s home to six major indoor and outdoor water parks, including the largest one in the country: Noah’s Ark Waterpark. There are numerous smaller water parks, too. In all, guests can swoosh their way through more than 200 waterslides during their stay in the city.

But Wisconsin Dells has more than waterslides to keep visitors busy. The region is also home to an array of wineries and breweries, six golf courses, zip-lining courses, horseback riding trails and more.

Even the meeting facilities there do their best to bring the outside in.

“Our beautiful scenery along the Wisconsin River is really what originally put us on the map,” said Rhonda Parchem, assistant director of marketing and communications for the Wisconsin Dells Visitor and Convention Bureau. “So a lot of our meeting facilities try to capitalize on incorporating those views into their meeting rooms.”

The city’s Kalahari Resorts and Conventions hotel, which has 756 guest rooms, is being expanded, and in 2019 will add 112,000 square feet of meeting and convention space, including a 52,000-square-foot ballroom, bringing its total meeting space to 212,000 square feet.

While there, guests should make time for a Dells boat tour on the Wisconsin River, which Parchem called the best way to take in the area’s stunning rock cliff formations. The CVB can assist meeting planners with incorporating river cruises for groups of up to 200 into their itineraries. www.wisdells.com

Courtesy WI Dells VCB

“Our beautiful scenery along the Wisconsin River is really what originally put us on the map, so a lot of our meeting facilities try to capitalize on incorporating those views into their meeting rooms.”

— Rhonda Parchem, Wisconsin Dells Visitor and Convention Bureau

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The Fox Cities offer convenience, versatility and venues for every type of meeting. An array of exceptional dining options, 3,500+ room choices and group activities, along with our walkable downtown areas will complete your experience. ©ADAM SHEA PHOTOGRAPHY; TOWN COUNCIL, NEENAH, WI

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