Small Market Meetings July August 2022

PLANNING CARIBBEAN MEETINGS | STATE AND NATIONAL PARKS | KANSAS MEETING GUIDE JULY/AUGUST 2022

SETTING THE SCENE IN

y t i C n a e c O

G N I T E E M R U M A K E YO

MOUNT MAGAZINE STATE PARK

C I T S E J MA

MO UNT MAGAZI NE STATE PAR K

P E T IT J

Take your meeting to new heights at one of our six Arkansas State Park lodges. Offering first-class accommodations in the most scenic parts of our state, your private event or corporate retreat will truly feel like vacation.

Discover the possibilities at LodgesofArkansas.com

E A N STA T E PA R K

Book Your Meeting in Janesville • Fraction of the cost of larger cities • Variety of unique locations • Total combined meeting space: 46,517 sq ft • 900 hotel rooms • Easily accessible - right off I-39/90 • Free JACVB assistance every step of the way

janesvillecvb.com · (800) 487-2757 · 

Photo: Janesville Performing Arts Center ©Full Spectrum Photography

ON THE COVER: Dusk settles over the beach in Ocean City, Maryland.

Photo by Denis Tangney, Jr.

INSIDE VOLUME 23 | ISSUE 7

20

MANAGING International Meetings

24

IDEAS State and National Parks

32

Courtesy Visit Oxford

CITY Ocean City, Maryland

36

TOWN Brookfield, Wisconsin

D E PA R T M E N T S

INSIGHTS 6Fighting Back

Against Inflation

8 PROFILE Denise Humphrey

44

10 ONSITE Salem,

MEETING GUIDE Kansas

Oregon

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) 253-0503. 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 VP & Managing Editor

Kelly Tyner VP, Sales & Marketing

Donia Simmons Creative Director

Herbert Sparrow Executive Editor/Partner

Ashley Ricks Graphic Designer

Kyle Anderson Director, Advertising Sales

Rena Baer Proofreader

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Sarah Sechrist Controller/Office Manager

Puzzled Where To Meet?

(We’ll give you a hint: Kearney.)

Kearney, where the Heartland gathers.

Every year, Kearney hosts more than 1,350 events. From the Nebraska Shrine Bowl to conferences large and small, top-notch entertainment – heck, even a million Sandhill Cranes make sure to meet in Kearney every year. Why? 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, Nebraska.

WheretheHear tlandGathers.com

|

308 -2 37-3 178

INSIGHTS WITH VICKIE MITCHELL

CREATIVE

E-MAIL

HAND SHAKE

BRIEFCASE

JOIN THE RESISTANCE

J

EMPLOYEE

Fight Back Against Inflation’s Effects on Meetings Budgets

ust as in-person meetings and conferences ramp up, along comes a bully called inflation to knock the wind out of our recently unfurled sails.

While higher costs haven’t yet slowed summer vacationers, you have to wonder if they will cause some belt cinching as far as conference attendance. Will members of professionDECREASE FILE FOLDERS al or special-interest PAPERCLIP associations be willing or actually have the budgets to attend?

As we all look at ways to cut back on our growing grocery and gas expenses, meeting planners are thinking about how to deliver more for less and ways to remind attendees of how attending a conference can pay off in professional terms. Here are five strategies planners might consider for diminishing inflation’s impact.

BRAINSTORM

CALENDAR

Emphasize Value: Show How Conferences Pay Off

PENCIL STAND

6

can remind association members of what they miss FAXVaried marketing messages SCISSORS GROWTH

when they don’t attend. Association leaders might tweet about high-profile speakers and seminars; photos of fun gatherings from past conferences can be compelling Facebook posts. Invite members to share stories on social media channels about connections they’ve made or things they’ve learned at past conferences.

It’s also a good time to look for ways to add more value. Perhaps offer more CEU courses or poll members about which topics are most pertinent and find speakers to tackle them. Offering badges — digital credentials that can be added to social media IDs or email signatures — is another way to add value. MPI is offering badges for training and certification at its annual conference. As it points out, “badges have become popular among many different industry sectors because they provide a way for designees to visually display the achievements and skills important in today's competitive workforce.” Companies including credly.com and badgecert.com specialize in creating badges.

CACTUS

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

FICE

RIAHC ECIFFO

TCARTNOC

TNEMEGANAM

NOITATNESERP

REKAM EEFFOC

EEFFOC

LLAC

ROTALUCLAC

ECIFFO

Shake It Up: Try Something New EEYOLPME

ESACFEIRB

EKAHS DNAH

LIAM-E

EVITAERC

Using the same conference format and agenda structure year after year makes planning easier, but does it make anything better? This could be the year to shake it up. How could the look, feel and design of your conference work better and be more economical?

PUC AET PMAL KOOB SSERDDA MARGAID RADNELAC of a MRnational OTSNIARB SREDLOF ELIF PILCREPAP it make ESAERsense CED Instead conference, would to have regional meetings to make them more accessible to more members?

Since everyone is itching to take trips, could the conference be a “bring your family along” affair, allowing members to combine busiMANAGER PRESENTATION MANAGEMENT CONTRACT OFFICE CHAIR ness and pleasure? That strategy might earn points with host hotels, whichSUTlike booking the extraSRroom nights as families arrive a few days NAC HSART EGASSEM EMIT POTPAL CAC HTWORG OSSICS XAF DNATS LICNEP early or stay a few days longer to see the town, swim in the pool or chill out in a room that includes maid service. A hotel partner might offer discounts or extras to members who bring the family along.

OFFICE MANAGER PRESENTATION MANAGEMENT CONTRACT OFFICE CHAIR

REGANAM

FCASE

REGANAM

CREATIVE

E

ECIFFO

Be Flexible: Registration Options Mean More Attendees EMPLOYEE CALCULATOR CALL COFFEE

COFFEE MAKER

It might also be time, if you haven’t already, to offer different registration options. The AIA Conference on Architecture in June offered a range of registrations. At the top was ESACFEIRB EKAHS DNAH M-E EVITAERC EEYOLPME platinum level, with extras likeLIAaccess guest tickets for keynotes and private meet-andgreets with AIA award winners. A gold pass ($975 for members) offered standard access.

At the low end, members could buy a one-day pass for $415 or an expo pass for $80.

BRIEFCASE COFFEE This might alsoEMPLOYEE be a good time to CALCULATOR review conference costsCALL to keep registration fees in line with years past. Instead of three meals a day, cut back to two so attendOFFICE MANAGER PRESENTATION excuse to town RADNELAC ees Mhave ROTSNIARthe B SREDLOF EL IF explore PILCREPthe AP ESAEand RCED dine with selected peers. A meatless lunch or dinner might resonate with those who do meatless Mondays at home to STORM save money.

CALENDAR DIAGRAM ADDRESS BOOK LAMP cookIf you’ve convinced members to bring family along, host a casual out with hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, salad and lots of ice cream instead of a sitdown meal that requires banquet service.

‘So Long’ to Big Cities: Suburbs Mean SavingsCONTRACT DECREASE PA MANAGEMENT COFFEE MAKER

Think of your attendee’s budget as you choose a meeting destination. This TEA CUP might be the year to opt for a suburb instead of the big city. Arlington, Virginia, instead of Washington. Bloomington, Minnesota, instead of Minneapolis.

SUTCAC HTWORG SROSSICS XAF DNATS LICNEP Marietta, Georgia, instead of Atlanta.

Making a shift to a suburban area can be BRAINSTORM CALENDAR DIAGRAM ADDRESS BOOK LAMP TEA CUP Call for Assistance: Tap Into CVB Services more economical with savings most draFICE MANAGER PRESENTATION OFFICE C Most convention and visitors bureaus help out meeting plan- MANAGEMENT matic in CONTRACT terms of guest room rates and ners in tangible and often money-saving ways. A CVB’s convenparking fees. tion services department might make nametags, gift bags or welIn Chicago, hotel rooms at two conOWTH CACTUS LAPTOP TIME MESSAGE TRASH CAN come signs; some will line up registration staffing. Even though ference hotels were running $300-$350 there are sometimes fees for nametags and staffing, the service a night for a four-day stretch in July; PENCIL STAND will still save time and effort. CVBs can also supply, free of charge, parking overnight will add another $40videos, postcards, photography and stories about the destination. $70 per day.

In comparison, at the DouBRIEFCASE EMPLOYEE CALCULATOR CALL COFFEE Meet NKY, the marketing arm for northern Kentucky, offers a marbletree Hotel and Conference Center GROWTH keting toolkit CACTUS LAPTOP TIME logos, MESSAGE TRASH CAN with downloadable photos and promotional videos, Downers Grove, 20 miles from Chicago, social media links, promotional flyers and postcards, as well as restauroom rates for the same July dates were rant discounts that can be loaded on attendees’ phones. Visit Wichi$179-$210, with free parking and a free ta’s services include support staff for registration (fees possible); visitor shuttle within a five-mile radius. guides; visitor bags; discounts for shopping, food and attractions; area maps; a welcome booth; and digital welcome signs at the airport.

FCASE

EMPLOYEE

July/August 2022

CALCULATOR

CALL

COFFEE

COFFEE M 7

“My favorite thing about my job is talking with people, building relationships, and helping people plan their meetings and events, not sitting behind a desk.

MEETING LEADERS DENISE HUMPHREY

T

BY REBECCA TREON

here’s something special about people like Denise Humphrey of Discover Green Bay who champion their hometowns.

She grew up in Green Bay, went to the University of Wisconsin Green Bay and, shortly after graduating with a degree in communications, joined the team at the city’s convention and visitors bureau, where she has been ever since.

“I honestly didn’t really know what a convention and visitors bureau was — I had traveled before, but it wasn’t anything I had really utilized before,” said Humphrey. “When I interviewed and got hired, I realized all the fun that working in hospitality and tourism can be, and it ended up being a great fit for me.”

Humphrey loved planning events and discovered she could combine her natural trait of being a people person with planning travel by working in destination sales — all skills she had refined during her university studies in communications.

One of the things she loves most about her job is that there’s always variety to what she’s doing. “No day is ever the same,” she said. “I’m often working with new people, taking people on familiarization tours, or

TIPS FROM

DENISE HUMPHREY 8

writing emails to contacts to help coordinate and plan their events. I love traveling to experience other destinations and meeting people at conferences. Having things be different all the time makes it fun.”

One of Humphrey’s passions is helping locals discover the great things Green Bay has for them right in their own backyard. She says tourism is such a layered industry that most people don’t realize how many workers have a hand in it, whether directly or indirectly.

Hotels, restaurants and attractions affect the city as a whole, and Humphry is trying to educate the public about what her office does to serve the community.

She also encourages meeting attendees to experience the best things the city has to offer beyond their hotels and conference venues, whether that’s visiting a space nearby that has a rooftop bar or checking out a museum.

Humphrey’s goal is to give attendees something memorable they want to come back for.

“My favorite thing about my job is talking with people, building relationships, and helping people plan their meetings and events, not sitting behind a desk,” she said. “I was one of the lucky ones who joined the CVB shortly after college, and I get to be a ‘lifer.’ I just love my job here.”

EXECUTIVE PROFILE NAME Denise Humphrey TITLE Senior Sales Manager ORGANIZATION Discover Green Bay LOCATION Green Bay, Wisconsin BIRTHPLACE Green Bay, Wisconsin EDUCATION B.A. in Communication, University of Wisconsin Green Bay, 2007 CAREER HISTORY Discover Green Bay, 2008-present

• Every day offers a new opportunity to learn and develop as an individual and employee — embrace it.

• Think outside the box. There are job opportunities in all industries — you may be surprised where you end up.

• Volunteer with organizations that matter to you. You’ll meet like-minded individuals and maybe find a new industry or career path as well.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

WITH SMALL MARKET MEETINGS

ONSITE SALEM, OREGON Small Market Meetings readers discovered impressive scenery and hospitality in Salem, Oregon

SMALL MARKET MEETINGS READERS ENJOYED A TOUR AND WINE PAIRING DINNER AT THE BEAUTIFUL WILLAMETTE VALLEY WINERY NEAR SALEM.

T

owering forests, delicious cuisine and a welcoming spirit — meeting attendees can experience the best of the Northwest during conferences and events in Salem, Oregon.

That’s what 10 meeting planner and readers of Small Market Meetings discovered on a site inspection tour as guests of Travel Salem in May. Over the course of four days, they got to know the city, from the downtown convention center and numerous meeting hotels to historic sites, unique venues, signature restaurants and memorable outdoor experiences.

Home to more than 170,000 people, Salem is Oregon’s capital city.

It’s also situated in a convenient location in western Oregon, with Portland to the north, Eugene to the south and the Pacific coast to the west — each accessible within about an hour’s drive. But visitors don’t have to travel far to find natural beauty and exciting activities.

The Willamette River winds through the center of town, and the surrounding countryside is full of parks, farms and wineries.

Meeting planners will find that Salem has plenty of infrastructure and amenities to handle small and mid-size events. The Salem Convention Center and the adjacent Grand Hotel offer a full complement of meeting services. There are also smaller hotels with meeting space in other parts of the city, as well as a number of venues that add distinctive flavor and historic touches to meetings and events.

Finally, Salem’s culinary scene will wow visitors. Highlights include Cozy Taberna, a newly opened small-plates restaurant with delicious food, an imaginative cocktail list, Spanish wines and 24 beers on tap.

Other restaurants and cafes throughout the area showcase the abundant produce of the nearby Willamette Valley.

Follow along with the site-inspection group in the coming pages to discover the opportunities Salem offers for your meetings.

Photos by Brian Jewell except where noted

July/August 2022

11

IN SALEM

Salem Convention Center Voted Oregon’s best convention venue three years in a row, the Salem Convention Center offers 30,000 square feet of flexible meeting space that can accommodate groups of up to 1,500. Its architectural highlights include a large foyer with floor-to-ceiling glass windows offering sweeping views of downtown Salem and the surrounding area.

| The two-story convention center has a variety of meeting spaces. On the first floor, the 8,750-square-foot Santiam Ballroom features 16-foot ceilings and can be broken down into six spaces ranging in size from 1,000 to 2,300 square feet. Those spaces can be combined in numerous configurations for additional size flexibility.

On the second floor, the Willamette Ballroom features 24-foot ceilings and 11,400 square feet of space. The ballroom can seat 900 people at banquet rounds and up to 1,500 theater-style. It can be divided into four smaller spaces or combined with the 3,000-square-foot Willamette Foyer for an impressive pre-function space.

Also on the second floor are the Croisan Creek Room, a 3,240-square-foot space that breaks down into three rooms of 1,080 square feet each, as well as the Pringle Creek Room, a 900-square-foot space for smaller gatherings.

MEETING SPACES

WELCOME DINNER AT THE SALEM CONVENTION CENTER

A GALA EVENT AT THE SALEM CONVENTION CENTER

A RECEPTION IN THE FOYER AT THE SALEM CONVENTION CENTER

| Led by executive chef Tory Knaus, the food and beverage team at the Salem Convention Center focuses on the diverse bounty of the Northwest. They work with local growers and farmers to gather fresh seasonal ingredients. Full bar service featuring Oregon beers, wines and spirits (alongside national brands) is also available.

Courtesy Travel Salem

DINING

AUDIOVISUAL SERVICES | All audiovisual services at the Salem Convention Center are provided by an in-house team in cooperation with Allied Video Productions. Meeting planners have access to a full range of staging, lighting, sound and video equipment.

| The convention center is attached to the Grand Hotel, which has 193 rooms.

A SALEM CONVENTION CENTER BALLROOM

12

Courtesy Travel Salem

NEARBY ACCOMMODATIONS

MORE INFO SALEMCONVENTIONCENTER.ORG

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Reed Opera House

Willamette Valley Vineyards

Opened in 1871 as a performance venue, the Reed Opera House is now a multiuse facility in downtown Salem. Its 80 tenants include retail stores, restaurants, a coffee shop and nightlife venues.

Meeting planners can make use of several distinctive spaces within its walls.

Situated on a hilltop just outside Salem, Willamette Valley Vineyards is among the most picturesque settings in the area. Founded in 1983, the winery specializes in vintages grown in the valley. The winery offers tour and tasting opportunities, and the onsite restaurant can prepare elegant dinners with wine pairings for small parties or VIP groups.

| On the top floor of the opera house, The Reed Ballroom features a 4,950-square-foot space with impressive chandeliers, a full kitchen and huge windows offering views over downtown Salem.

The space can accommodate groups of up to 300. A nearby bridal prep suite can also serve as a green room for speakers and VIPs. A smaller space, the Verona Studio, has a stage and stadium seating for 60.

MEETING SPACES

MEETING SPACES | There’s a small boardroom in the winery’s barrel cellar (where more than 3,000 barrels of wine are aging) that makes a memorable setting for an executive team meeting. If the weather is good, attendees may want to spread out onto the patio with a glass of wine. The winery’s restaurant is also available for private events for groups of a few dozen and has its own impressive outdoor terrace.

MORE INFO

MORE INFO

THEREEDSALEM.COM

WVV.COM

Oregon State Fair and Expo Center At 185 acres, the Oregon State Fair and Expo Center is large enough to hold any crowd a meeting planner could conjure up. As the site of the annual state fair, it has a number of indoor and outdoor facilities — including barns, a horse stadium and two livestock pavilions — that can accommodate a variety of event types.

THE SALEM PAVILION AT THE OREGON STATE FAIRGROUNDS

REED OPERA HOUSE

MEETING SPACES | Seven distinct venues are available to rent. The Salem Pavilion, the newest building on the fairgrounds, is an indoor space with 5,000 fixed seats and 30,500 square feet of space on the arena floor.

Outdoors, the L.B. Day Amphitheater can accommodate up to 8,900 for concerts or other programming.

Cascade Hall is a 5,450-square-foot building that can break down into three meeting spaces.

MORE INFO OREGONSTATEEXPO.ORG

July/August 2022

THE DINING ROOM AT WILLAMETTE VALLEY WINERY

13

IN SALEM

Willamette Heritage Center

THE HISTORIC MILL AT THE WILLAMETTE HERITAGE CENTER

Located on five acres in downtown Salem, Willamette Heritage Center preserves the site of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill, which was established in 1889 and played an important role in local business for decades. Thirteen other historic buildings can be found at the site as well. Visitors can take a guided tour of the historic mill, part of which is now a museum. There’s also a great gift shop and a restaurant with a beautiful outdoor seating area.

| The largest meeting space at the heritage center is on the third floor of the mill building.

The 6,300-square-foot space can accommodate groups of up to 350. There’s also a smaller room for up to 40 people on the same level. The nearby Dye House seats 80-100 people and has audiovisual equipment and decorative lights. A 60-by-80-foot lawn is also available for rental.

MEETING SPACES

WILLAMETTE VALLEY PIE

OREGON AXE THROWING

MORE INFO WILLAMETTEHERITAGE.ORG

SALVATION ARMY KROC CENTER

Salvation Army Kroc Center Operating under the umbrella of the Salvation Army and funded by gifts from the estate of McDonald’s impresario Ray Kroc and his wife, the Salvation Army Kroc Center in Salem is an inventive community center and gathering space. The 12-year-old facility features a church sanctuary, classroom space, athletic courts, a fitness area, an indoor pool complex and numerous other amenities that make it popular for community members and meeting groups alike.

MEETING SPACES | A 230-seat theater, used on the weekends for church services, can host meetings and events at other times of the week. There are several small classrooms at the center, as well as four breakout rooms that can be combined to create a 4,000-square-foot space accommodating 250 at banquet seating.

MORE INFO RIVER FRONT PARK

14

SILVER FALLS STATE PARK

SALEM.KROCCENTER.ORG

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

ACTIVITIES

The Grand Hotel

Meetings in Meetings inSalem Clearwater offer attendees come with a wide abundant variety activity of activity options. options.From Fromthe beautiful soft white woodlands beaches to major and waterfalls attractions, to distinctive meeting downtown plannersparks enjoyed and attractions these recreation full of team-building experiences during opportunitheirmeeting ties, site inspection plannerstour enjoyed in Clearwater. these recreation experiences during their Salem site inspection.

Adjacent to the Salem Convention Center, the Grand Hotel is downtown Salem’s preeminent guest property. Within walking distance of the state capitol, River Front Park, and the city’s exciting restaurant and nightlife district, the Grand is a spacious, full-service property that reflects the natural beauty of the Willamette Valley.

| 193 guest rooms, including suites of numerous configurations

ROOMS

| The hotel serves as the primary accommodations for the Salem Convention Center, so it doesn’t have any large ballrooms of its own. There is a boardroom off the lobby available for rentals, and the breakfast room can be used for events in the afternoons or evenings.

MEETING SPACES

DINING | The Grand Hotel offers a chef-prepared hot breakfast buffet as part of its room rate for all guests.

Bentley’s, an onsite fine dining restaurant and lounge, features fresh Northwestern cuisine. It is scheduled to reopen this fall after closing during the pandemic.

RECREATION

|

The hotel features an indoor pool and whirlpool, as well as a state-of-the-art fitness center.

MORE INFO GRANDHOTELSALEM.COM

Courtesy Travel Salem

• Beach Activities — The entire shoreline of ClearBeach is owned by the and open to the •water WILLAMETTE VALLEY PIEcity — Using fresh, public, grown and a city concessionaire offers umbrella locally ingredients, the Willamette Valley and cabana rentals.

Meeting planners work Pie Company has been a favorite pastrycan purveyor with their host arrange throughout theproperties region for to years.

The beach bakeryactiviand ties and team-building opportunities. retail store on the outskirts of Salem isbeachchaman ideal ber.com place for visitors to grab a slice of pie and a cup of coffee and to relax while taking in the pastoral • Pier 60 Park— Near the center of Clearwater landscape.

Beach, Pier 60 extends 1,000 feet into the gulf wvpie.com and makes an excellent spot for walking, birding fishing.AXE The surrounding park offerscan games, •and OREGON THROWING — Visitors get in inflatables to keep family touch with and theirother innerfun lumberjack at thismembers indoor entertained duringteach a meeting. myclearwater.com attraction. Guides participants to throw axes at large wooden targets and can facilitate a num• Sugar Sand Festivaland — For 17 days in April, Clearber of competitions tournaments for small water Beach hosts the Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival, groups. Beer and snacks are available on site. a celebration of the area’s fine sands and amazing oregonaxethrowing.com sunsets. Visitors can explore dozens of sand sculptures created by world-renowned artists.

• RIVER FRONT PARK — Situatedsand downtown sugarsandfestival.com along the banks of the Willamette River, Riverfront Park is just steps from the Grand Hotel and • Clearwater Marine Aquarium —makes Made an famous the Salem Convention Center and ideal by the movie “A Dolphin’s Tale,” the Clearwater setting for a quick escape to nature. There’s also a Marine Aquarium is anart animal rescue rehacarousel, a community project and and a covered bilitation center where guests can see famous amphitheater available for rentals. residents such as the dolphins Hope and Winter. cityofsalem.net A major expansion opening next year will bring more thanFALLS 6,000 square of meeting and • SILVER STATEfeet PARK — About 20event miles space. seewinter.com southeast of Salem, Silver Falls State Park preserves 9,000 acres of a former logging camp. Sur• Spectrum — Clearwater’s resident ballrounded

by Field woodlands, the highlight of the park park is home to two professional teams: theisminor is a pair of waterfalls, the tallest of which about league Clearwater Threshers in summer the 200 feet.

Visitors can hike to the falls, orand along major Philadelphia during spring any of league the other numerousPhillies trails. Some gift shops training.

Groups can rent hospitality and and dining amenities at the park aresuites a short walk other large spaces for games.

Catering and bar from the falls. services are available. milb.com/clearwater stateparks.oregon.gov

THE LOBBY OF THE GRAND HOTEL

July/August 2022

15

IN SALEM

Hampton Inn and Suites Salem

Courtesy Travel Salem

Just off Interstate 5, the Hampton Inn and Suites Salem sits about three miles away from the city center.

This 10-year-old limited-service property features rooms and suites in Hampton’s signature style, as well as some meeting spaces for small groups.

HOLIDAY INN SALEM

Holiday Inn Salem Situated to the east of downtown, the Holiday Inn Salem is a full-service property within a short drive of several area meeting sites. The Oregon State Fairgrounds is only half a mile away; it’s a four-mile trip to the Salem Convention Center. The hotel also has its own meeting space and catering service.

| 86 rooms and suites in one-king or twoqueen configurations

ROOMS

MEETING SPACES | Meeting space can seat up to 58 attendees. A smaller boardroom has a table and 10 chairs, although additional seating can be brought in to accommodate up to 20 people.

DINING | A 24-hour pantry offers snacks, frozen foods and drinks. A variety of local and chain restaurants are accessible from the restaurant via a short drive.

| Guests can enjoy an indoor pool and fitness center, both of which have large windows that provide refreshing views of the outdoors.

RECREATION

| 150 guest accommodations, some of which are two-room suites with separate sitting and dining areas

ROOMS

| The hotel has a 10,000-squarefoot meetings area, complete with its own catering and banquet staff. There are a total of nine meeting rooms, the largest of which can hold up to 700 guests. Breakout spaces and a fourth-floor boardroom are also available.

MEETING SPACES

| The onsite Capitol City Grill is open for breakfast and dinner. It features classic American fare, with an emphasis on fresh regional ingredients. The grill also has a full bar and offers room service.

DINING

MORE INFO HILTON.COM

RECREATION | The hotel has a pool and fitness center for guest use.

MORE INFO IHG.COM

16

THE BREAKFAST AREA AT HAMPTON INN AND SUITES SALEM

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Portland

Tillamook

Salem

Corvallis

Eugene

yes! one block one stop salem Salem’s all-in-one place to meet, greet, wine, dine, stay and sleep. Easy walking to downtown sights and history. Amazing Northwest cuisine. Clean, green, tech-savvy.

Park for free, walk safely. Just off I-5, an hour from Portland or Eugene.

503.589.1700 SalemConventionCenter.org

503.540.7800 GrandHotelSalem.org

This ad is made possible in part by funding from City of Salem Transient Occupancy Tax. July/August 2022

SALEM CONVENTION CENTER THE GRAND HOTEL SALEM

Meeting space for 15 to 1500. 193 hotel rooms.

Say yes to Salem!

We’re ready to welcome you 17

IN SALEM

BEST WESTERN PLUS MILL CREEK INN

Courtesy Travel Salem

THE SITE INSPECTION GROUP POSING AT RIVER FRONT PARK

Best Western Plus Mill Creek Inn Located near the junction of Interstate 5 and Highway 22, Best Western Plus Mill Creek Inn is a family-owned hotel offering spacious accommodations, as well as meeting options and other amenities. It is located about three miles away from both the Salem Convention Center and the Oregon State Capitol.

TAKING IN THE VIEW AT WILLAMETTE VALLEY WINERY

ROOMS | 109 rooms and suites in one-king and twoqueen configurations

THE LAWN AT THE HISTORIC BELLEVIEW INN Courtesy Belleview Inn

| The hotel features a meeting room that can seat up to 160 guests theater-style. An air wall can separate the room into smaller spaces. An onsite staff provides audiovisual services.

MEETING SPACES

| The hotel is located next door to a Denny’s restaurant, and hotel guests receive vouchers for breakfast at Denny’s upon check-in. A variety of other restaurants are available within a short drive of the hotel.

DINING

ENJOYING THE ARTWORK IN DOWNTOWN SALEM

RECREATION | The hotel has an indoor pool complex

complete with a hot tub and outdoor sun deck, as well as a fitness center.

Travel Salem

MORE INFO BESTWESTERN.COM

18

DEBBIE MCCUNE 503-581-4325 TRAVELSALEM.COM

If you are interested in hosting a FAM for readers of Small Market Meetings, call Kyle Anderson at 866-356-5128

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

MANAGING

Island Time

EXPERTS SHARE TIPS ON TAKING EVENTS TO THE CARIBBEAN

A

BY RACHEL CRICK

n easy way to take an event to the next level is to incorporate the turquoise waters, white sand and warm sun of a Caribbean Island.

Island destinations elevate any meeting or event by combining business with leisure and are an exceptional choice for incentive travel and corporate retreats. While planning an event in the Caribbean does present certain challenges that a domestic event might not, it also comes with plenty of perks.

Here’s some insight from industry experts to help you reap the rewards and avoid the pitfalls of meeting in Caribbean destinations.

On the upsides of a Caribbean destination: “It opens people’s eyes to other cultures. That’s a great benefit.”

DEPEND ON A DMC It can be tricky to plan an event from another continent. Everything from local traffic changes to venue closures can become issues for planners to navigate.

And if these details are not handled correctly, it could spell disaster for an event. One way to increase your destination event’s chances for success is to use a destination management company, or DMC. DMCs are travel experts based in a destination; they manage anything inbound to the area and are knowledgeable about all things local, from hotels to transportation to activities.

“Rely on your destination management company,” said Andy Ortiz, president and owner of Global Incentive Management DMC, a DMC specializing in events in Mexico and the Caribbean. “We want the business to come to our destinations.”

DMCs are great resources for planners looking to source venues and suppliers for their events because they know the area well. They can secure good deals for planners when booking and offer helpful hints about events in the area. For example, if a planner arranges for their attendees to arrive at the hotel via a shuttle from the airport, it may be helpful to know the shuttle takes a lengthy route with 20 stops before it gets to the hotel; this is something a DMC agent would know.

“We often partner with DMCs for certain services at the destinations,” said Mike May, owner of Brightspot Incentives and Events, an event planning company specializing in incentive travel. “They’re going to know the best new restaurants; they’re going to know which transportation company provides the most modern buses.”

20

Terese Ternullo FOUNDER AND OWNER Hibiscus Travel Experience: 28 years

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

DMCs can also help when things go awry, because they’re usually based in the destination itself. If an attendee arrives a day earlier or later than anticipated, DMCs may be able to help make arrangements to accommodate them.

KEEP AN EYE ON THE BUDGET

“The beauty of the Caribbean is that it can offer a new experience for people and a change of pace.”

Mike May OWNER

Brightspot Incentives and Events, Inc. Experience: 21 years

July/August 2022

A Caribbean getaway doesn’t have to break the bank. While it may initially strike some planners as unaffordable, there are some approaches to make an event more doable.

One strategy for optimal pricing is choosing an all-inclusive property as opposed to piecing the event together a la carte. This is a major difference from meeting planning in the U.S., where all-inclusive properties are rare.

“When we do a meeting or incentive group in the Caribbean, we usually go with an all-inclusive; so it’s one price and there are no surprises,” said Terese Ternullo, founder and owner of Hibiscus Travel, an event planning company specializing in travel to Jamaica.

Ortiz also recommends choosing all-inclusive properties whenever possible because they include tax, gratuity and hidden costs that planners may not initially think about. According to Ortiz, some Caribbean or Mexican-Caribbean destinations now consist of mainly all-inclusive properties because they recognize the draw to planners.

“You don’t have to break it down,” said Ortiz.

“Everything is included in one package, and that’s very attractive to planners.”

A drawback to pricing in the Caribbean is import duties. According to May, fees associated with importing certain items for a destination event can double the cost. He added that food costs may be higher as well because ingredients have to be transported to the island.

Another factor impacting travel costs in the Caribbean is the post-COVID travel boom, which May refers to as “vacation inflation.”

“There’s a surge in demand, and at the same time there’s inflation, so it’s kind of creating a perfect storm of rising costs,” said May. To compensate for this, planners will want to keep a close eye on their budget.

TRAVEL CAN BE TRICKY One of the first questions attendees — and planners — ask when planning an event in the Caribbean is “How will I get there?” The answer, and the associated cost, will vary from group to group, which is something planners must consider.

The good news is that most attendees can secure their passports and get through immigration with ease because these destinations specialize in international tourism. However, any international

21

MANAGING

travel from the U.S. requires some level of planning ahead from attendees, so making them aware of any travel requirements such as documents, immunizations or local health codes is important.

Flight logistics are an element to consider. A group will have an easier time flying in from Florida than from the West Coast, for example. But if each attendee is responsible for their own flying arrangements, this may also change the level of thought a planner must put into designing the event.

“What we always think of first is airlift to the destination,” said May. “One of the downsides for the Caribbean is it has fewer direct flights.”

Fewer direct flights translates to higher costs, especially as fuel prices rise globally. Other problems such as cancelled flights or weather conditions can also cause headaches for event management, so an added layer of contingency planning is a must.

“We have a lot of airline problems that have been happening recently,” said Ternullo.

Ground transportation is something else that needs to be considered, because local transportation can vary greatly from island to island. Attendee arrival times can change what options for ground transport are available. It’s easier to arrange local transportation for a group arriving on one than for a series of people arriving on different flights over two days.

USE YOUR DESTINATION WISELY The Caribbean is ideal for incentive travel because it has what May calls “podium power,” meaning it’s a high-value destination for many prospective attendees when compared to a domestic destination. It attracts a lot of attention because of the luxury associated with it, making it a great reward.

“The Caribbean creates a certain branding or expectation for the meeting,” said May. This might mean less emphasis on work and more emphasis on vacation for the attendees.

Because of this association with the Caribbean and the cost associated with travel, it’s ideal for longer events rather than quick trips. It may not be ideal for a two-day conference because attendees want to be able to enjoy their time on the island.

Planners can often get more bang for their buck in the Caribbean, which can really add to an event’s charm. The island backdrop may help save on décor cost, and it only increases the luxurious feel of the resorts and hotels where these events are hosted. Ortiz said that certain aspects of an event often are higher quality in the Caribbean than domestically.

“Especially in the Mexican Caribbean, the service level, the price, the food, the people are 100% different,” said Ortiz.

“I can set up a beautiful sit-down dinner or private parties, and a lot of times this really wows the employees,” said Ternullo, who said these additions are sometimes made possible because of the savings in service costs.

Caribbean destinations are designed to impress, and because their money may go further there, planners should have no difficulty designing something that’s going to going to maximize the attendee experience.

22

Andy Ortiz PRESIDENT AND OWNER

Global Incentive Management DMC Experience: 35 years

On making Caribbean events successful: “Use a destination management company if you want your program to do well. Don't do it on your own.”

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

#MeetInChandll Located 20 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Award-winning hotels at a variety of price points to fit your budget Near-perfect weather with 300+ sunny days for outdoor activities and exploration An innovative community that meets the needs of today’s business traveler The team at Visit Chandler is ready to assist you through the entire process and help you plan your best meeting in Chandler, AZ.

July/August 2022

chandlermeetings.com (480) 782-3037

23

IDEAS

Courtesy Arkansas State Parks

SIGHT SELECTION Meetings in these park destinations come with unparalleled views

N

BY RACHEL CRICK

atural wonders, sweeping views and time on the water — that’s what planners can offer their attendees by hosting meetings at national and state parks.

Because of their beautifully preserved landscapes and their range of thrilling activities, these parks appeal to those looking to instill a sense of adventure into their events. However, the venues at these parks also cater to those planners building a peaceful retreat for their attendees with activities such as golf or hiking. Whether it’s a hidden gem or a bucket list item, each of these parks serves as a beautiful natural setting for meetings and events.

24

DEGRAY LAKE RESORT STATE PARK

BISMARCK, ARKANSAS DeGray Lake Resort State Park can be found in the Ouachita Mountains of western Arkansas. The area has a long history of residency by Native American tribes, most notably the Ouachita. In the 1960s, a reservoir was created off the Caddo River for flood control purposes, forming DeGray Lake, for which the park is named. The area was established as a state park in 1974, and today, it’s a popular tourism and recreation site known for its wide array of water activities, its 18-hole golf course and its beautiful Arkansas landscape.

Michael Sindelar, manager of the DeGray Lake Lodge, said the best part of hosting meetings at the park is it allows attendees to “get in touch with nature and connect with the folks you need to connect with, all in a beautiful environment.”

At the park’s lodge, located on an island off the lake’s shore, planners will find a conference center that seats up to 250, as well as breakout meeting rooms for smaller groups. The lodge is equipped with 90 guest rooms; and extra amenities such as a pool, hot tub and fitness center add a note of luxury to every guest’s stay.

Above: Surrounded by water and woodland scenery, the DeGray Lake Lodge at Arkansas’ DeGray Lake Resort State Park can accommodate 250 guests for a meeting an has 90 guest rooms.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

The lakeside Shoreline Restaurant provides beautiful lake views and handles all of a planner’s catering needs, from plated dinners to hors d’oeuvres.

Hiking trails, horseback riding, kayaking, boating and golf are all popular activities for attendees to enjoy as part of an event’s agenda or during their downtime. arkansasstateparks.com

ZION NATIONAL PARK

ST. GEORGE, UTAH Located in Southern Utah, Zion National Park is unique because of its ecological diversity. It preserves an area where the Mojave Desert, the Great Basin and the

“When planners are hosting meetings here, everybody wants to come; they know they’ll be able to extend their trip and experience these bucket list destinations at the same time.”

— Jacqueline Grena, Greater Zion Convention and Tourism Office

Colorado Plateau converge, meaning park visitors can see a variety of geological features and diverse wildlife.

It was established in 1919 to protect the Zion Canyon, the 1,000-foot-deep canyon carved by the Virgin River. The steep red canyon, sandstone arches and rushing water features are some of the many breathtaking sights that attract countless visitors each year.

“When planners are hosting meetings here, everybody wants to come; they know they’ll be able to extend their trip and experience these bucket list destinations at the same time as their conference,” said Jacqueline Grena, meeting and convention sales manager at the Greater Zion Convention and Tourism Office.

Planners will find a wide array of venues just outside the national park in St. George, Utah. The Dixie Convention Center is a full-service venue with 100,000 square feet of meeting space, including a ballroom that can seat 1,600 theater-style and 978 banquet-style.

Another popular venue offering a mix of indoor and outdoor spaces is the Holmstead Ranch Resort, which seats up to 160 and provides on-site lodging from individual cabins to campgrounds. The St. George area is also home to four conference hotels. nps.gov/zion

By Jay Dash, courtesy Greater Zion Tourism Office

Courtesy Arkansas State Parks

July/August 2022

By Joe Newman, courtesy Greater Zion Tourism Office

Clockwise from left: A meeting room at DeGray Lake State Resort Park; Zion National Park scenery; a dune buggy adventure in the Zion area

25

IDEAS

DALE HOLLOW LAKE STATE RESORT PARK

BURKESVILLE, KENTUCKY Nestled along the Kentucky and Tennessee border, Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park is known around the state for its beautiful 28,000-acre manmade lake, which was created in 1943. The lake and its surrounding forest offer a serene and secluded setting for park guests looking to enjoy time at the lodge or on the water. There are plenty of ways to explore nature in the park, with hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, boating and fishing being some of the most popular activities. Attendees can hike to Eagle Point Overlook for their chance to catch a glimpse of the park’s bald eagle population or enjoy a round of golf in the park’s award-winning 18-hole golf course.

Planners can find a stunning backdrop for their meetings at the Mary Oaken Lodge. The stone-andcedar lodge rests on a cliff overlooking Dale Hollow Lake. It has 60 rooms for overnight guests and a restaurant, which provides full-service catering for any event. The adjoining Ray Mullinix Convention

Center can accommodate up to 250 people, while the lodge dining room can seat 50. Outdoor meeting spaces include a covered terrace at the lodge overlooking the lake and a nearby picnic shelter.

“The meeting space is top notch,” said LaDonna Miller, director of marketing and sales at the Kentucky Department of Parks. “The dining room and the meeting rooms have beautiful views of the lake.” parks.ky.gov

HUESTON WOODS STATE PARK

COLLEGE CORNER, OHIO Located just outside of Oxford, near Ohio’s western border, Hueston Woods State Park opened in 1957. It is home to a national natural landmark, a large beech-maple forest that gives the park its beautiful autumn foliage. The site is well-known for the extensive fossils of marine life found in the park’s bedrock. Hiking, golf, hunting for fossils and visiting the scenic Hueston Woods Covered Bridge are popular activities within the park. The park’s 625-acre Acton Lake offers plenty to do on the water, including fishing, boating and swimming.

Courtesy KY Dept. of Parks

Clockwise from left: Golf at Kentucky’s Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park; the Dale Hollow meeting facility; Ohio’s Hueston Woods State Park

26

Courtesy KY Dept. of Parks

By Justin Harris, courtesy Hueston Woods State Park

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Kentucky State Parks

Get away from it all, to discover all we have. Whether for 20 or 500, we will help you find the perfect environment. From seminars and retreats to holiday events and weddings, one of our 17 state resort parks is waiting for you.

Speak to a group sales professional to learn more about Kentucky State Park opportunities and discover your next destination: jovan.wells@ky.gov or call 502-892-3341. parks.ky.gov/meetings-weddings July/August 2022

#kystateparks

27

IDEAS

The Hueston Woods Lodge and Conference Center overlooks Acton Lake and is an elegant and peaceful choice for meetings. Attendees can stay in one of the lodge’s 92 rooms, some of which feature balconies with lake views, or go for a swim in the lodge’s indoor and outdoor pools. The lodge features a total of 6,000 square feet of meeting space, giving planners a selection of meeting rooms to choose from. The lodge’s 3,404-square-foot Teepee Ballroom has a built-in stage that can accommodate up to 250 for a banquet.

The lodge also provides full-service catering for any event and an extensive list of team-building activities, from geocaching to tree-climbing to golf. huestonwoodslodge.com

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

WHITEFISH, MONTANA Though the glaciers for which the park is named have largely retreated, they left behind the stunning landscape of mountains, valleys and lakes that make up Glacier National Park. The park, situated in northwestern Montana near the Canadian border, was established in 1910 to protect the gorgeous wilderness carved by

glaciers over thousands of years. Today, the park’s meadows, vast forests and streams resemble what they did when the area was first discovered by settlers.

The park is home to several threatened or rare species such as grizzlies, lynx and wolverines. Visitors can enjoy it year-round, though heavy snows mean certain parts of the park are inaccessible during the winter months.

In the warmer seasons, visitors can enjoy hiking, fishing, boating, mountain biking and camping, while skiing and snowshoeing are popular in the winter.

The nearby town of Whitefish, Montana, offers many venues for planners to choose from, with 1,100 hotel rooms and 30,000 square feet of combined meeting space. Grouse Mountain Lodge has 11,000 square feet of meeting space in nine meetings rooms, as well as full-service catering and an onsite restaurant, Logan’s Bar and Grill. Another popular venue is the Lodge at Whitefish Lake, which has nearly 14,000 square feet of meeting space in 10 meeting rooms. Whitefish is home to many other full-service hotels, restaurants and shops that add to its small-town Montana charm. nps.gov/glac

Courtesy Explore Whitefish

Clockwise from left: Hueston Woods Lodge and Conference Center; Montana’s Glacier National Park; The Lodge at Whitefish Lake

28

By Justin Harris, courtesy Hueston Woods State Park

Courtesy The Lodge at Whitefish Lake

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

July/August 2022

29

The Lodge At Whitefish Lake, Whitefish.

INSPIRATION IS ON THE AGENDA Bring something new to the table in Western Montana’s Glacier Country. Inspiration meets innovation in this unique destination, where breathtaking landscapes offer vibrant mountain communities brimming with small-town charm and big-city amenities. Alongside branded convention hotels and luxury guest ranches, you’ll find modern urban locations, unique outdoor spaces and distinct lodging properties: Stargaze from a geodome or treehouse, get western at a luxury glamping retreat, or mix things up this winter at a ski resort. Gourmet culinary experiences abound here, and the craft beverage scene is top-notch. Montana’s great outdoors offer extraordinary teambuilding activities, off-site experiences and afternoon excursions: Think llama trekking, ropes courses, or a boat tour on the lake. Between Glacier National Park and the Bitterroot Mountains, our larger cities offer meeting options as awe-inspiring as our big blue sky.

KALISPELL Situated perfectly between Glacier National Park and Flathead Lake, Kalispell blends four-season adventure and soul-stirring beauty for an unforgettable experience beyond the conference room. Easily accessible from meeting hotels, Kalispell’s charming downtown offers Montana-inspired dining, spirits and local brews.

Kalispell Brewing Company, Kalispell.

FINN at the Doubletree, Missoula.

Downtown Whitefish.

MISSOULA Innovative ideas are inspired by nature and nurtured by unexpected sophistication in Missoula, where three rivers and seven wilderness areas converge. Montana’s second largest city pulsates with eclectic arts, culture, music and culinary scenes, making it a unique location for corporate events, retreats, conferences and conventions.

WHITEFISH Metropolitan flair meets ski-town vibe in Whitefish, with a perfect balance of modern amenities, outdoor recreation and lively arts and culture. Incredible mountain views beckon from around every bend, and lodging spans from boutique downtown hotels to lakeside convention hotels, luxury golf course retreats, and one of the top ski resorts in the West.

GETTING HERE Our two major airports, both expanding with new services and renovations, make it easy to access Western Montana. Missoula (MSO), servicing Missoula, and Glacier Park (FCA), servicing Kalispell and Whitefish, host eight major airlines offering 18 direct flights (some seasonal) arriving from major cities.

BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE We’re dialed in to host safe and productive meetings, events, retreats and corporate incentive gatherings. Expert AV and high-tech media companies are on hand for a hybrid element to help with live streaming, full-screen graphics, transitions from presenters, lighting and technical support.

Watch our three-part virtual FAM series to experience what it’s like to meet in Kalispell, Missoula and Whitefish. Learn more at meetings.glaciermt.com/fam.

Meetings.GlacierMT.com 800.956.6537 #GlacierMT | #MeetInMontana

s d n i F w Ne AND s e t i r o v a F d l O Ten miles of well manicured beaches make Ocean City a popular destination for meeting attendees and their families.

All photos courtesy Ocean City CVB

CITY

OCEAN CITY AT A GLANCE

Ocean City is undergoing a meetings renaissance

S

BY KATHERINE TANDY BROWN

tretching for 10 pearly miles, the beautifully maintained sand of Ocean City, Maryland, lies on a spit of land between Assawoman Bay and the bright blue Atlantic Ocean.

This beach town’s founding date is considered to be July 4, 1875, the day the Atlantic Hotel opened to become the first property of the Grand Boardwalk Hotels, sparking the city’s hospitality industry. Rebuilt after a fire in 1923, the venerable hostelry today pays witness to Ocean City’s burgeoning, wellplanned development, assuring fun and relaxation for continuing generations of beachgoers.

LOCATION: Southeast Maryland ACCESS: U.S. highways 1 and 50 and Maryland Rt. 528 (the Coastal Highway), Ocean City Airport, Salisbury/Ocean City Regional Airport HOTEL ROOMS: 11,000 CONTACT INFO: Ocean City Tourism and Convention and Visitors Bureau 410-723-8617 ococean.com ROLAND E. POWELL CONVENTION CENTER BUILT: 1997 EXHIBIT SPACE: 250,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space OTHER MEETING SPACES: 21 meeting rooms, including the 19,126-square-foot Bayfront Ballroom, plus the 16,000-square-foot Performing Arts Center MEETING HOTELS Ocean City Fontainebleau Resort GUEST ROOMS: 250 rooms and suites MEETING SPACE: 28,000 square feet Grand Hotel GUEST ROOMS: 251 MEETING SPACE: 10,000 square feet Cambria Hotel Ocean City-Bayfront GUEST ROOMS: 136 MEETING SPACE: 2,400 square feet WHO’S MEETING IN OCEAN CITY Maryland Municipal League ATTENDEES: 830 Maryland Firemen’s Association Convention ATTENDEES: 10,000

July/August 2022

33

Destination Highlights

DISTINCTIVE VENUES

An Ocean City vineyard

R

ife with bays, sand dunes, salt marshes, swamps and maritime forests, Ocean City also boasts Ferris wheels, a 1902 carousel, super thrill rides, the world’s first car coaster, go-karts, mini-golf and a famous three-mile boardwalk praised by the Travel Channel as America’s best classic wooden one, and by USA Today for having “one of the country’s best boardwalks for food.” Crab cakes, fried chicken, smoky pit beef and saltwater taffy are among visitor favorites there.

A year-round destination with multi-season activities, Ocean City is a tourist’s delight, with dozens of sightseeing jaunts, arts and cultural happenings, outlet and boutique shopping, flourishing nightlife and tide-to-table restaurants (about 200 total eateries) with water views and fresh seafood.

Visitor accommodations have evolved through the years from guest cottages and boarding houses to condos and hotels.

The area’s hospitality industry is thriving, thanks to the growing influx of leisure and business travelers.

“Ocean City is exploding with new properties, renovations, rehabs, purchases and name changes,” said Kim Mueller, director of sales for Ocean City Tourism and the Convention and Visitors Bureau. “One of our largest hotels, the Ocean City Fontainebleau Resort, with 28,000 square feet of meeting space, has been bought by HEI Hospitality and will undergo a multimillion-dollar renovation this fall.”

Distinctive Venues

V

Ocean City Boardwalk

34

DESTINATION HIGHLIGHTS

oted Best Small Town for Shopping and a Top American Main Street by USA Today, the village of Berlin — nine miles from Ocean City — has more than 60 shops, plus galleries and eclectic restaurants. For the past four seasons, 12.5-acre Windmill Creek Vineyard has hosted corporate parties and meetings here in its 1858 historic house (a buyout for 50 attendees). Charming outdoor event spaces hold 50 to 100 revelers.

“We try to do things differently than the typical winery,” said Brittany Mariner, who owns the business with her parents. “Our tastings are actually wine flights. There’s free live music every weekend, and we offer classes — yoga, cupcake making, candle pouring and jewelry making.” All just the ticket for spouse entertainment.

Known locally as “Jamaica USA,” Seacrets is a waterfront restaurant specializing in Caribbean cuisine with venues serving up to 2,000 guests.

This local favorite has four bars, four stages with live entertainment, a dance floor, and a distillery with a tour and tasting room.

Located at the south end of the Boardwalk, Harrison’s Harbor Watch Restaurant overlooks Assateague Island National Seashore, home of the wild ponies made popular in Marguerite Henry’s children’s classic “Misty of Chincoteague.” Fresh seafood, certified Angus steak and an award-winning raw bar highlight the menu, and 200 to 400 can gather for special events.

Ocean City offers competition opportunities including 17 championship golf courses, high ropes courses, paintball, sandcastle-building, beach Olympics, and city scavenger hunts up and down the Boardwalk.

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Major Meeting Spaces

AFTER HOURS

Sunset paddleboarding

L

eading the surge in property additions is the 250,000-square-foot Roland E. Powell Convention Center on Isle of Wight Bay. Built in 1997, the structure’s third phase added 30,000 square feet of expo space and a promenade in February 2022. Its Bayfront Ballroom — with breathtaking water views — can accommodate 1,900 for a reception and 1,070 for a banquet. Within the center, the Performing Arts Center provides a 1,200-seat, intimate setting for concerts, musicals, dance performances and general meeting sessions.

The new addition, said Mueller, “ups Ocean City’s ante in the level of service we provide in the meetings market and our overall vibe people are looking for. We have that big/small-town feel, a nostalgic touch combined with modern amenities and lots of hotel availability.

“Ocean City is surrounded by nature and it’s comfortable,” she said. “Once you cross the Bay Bridge, you breathe a sigh of relief and leave stress behind.

Attendees relax here, so they can be inspired.”

A waterfront property built in 2020, the 136-rooom Cambria Hotel Ocean City Bayfront shines with 2,400 square feet of meeting space and a rooftop wine bar with panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean. Amenities include an outdoor patio with fire pits, an outdoor pool with a tiki bar and cabanas, and a fitness center with inspiring water views.

Set to open in 2023, a 265-room Margaritaville Hotel and Resort on the Boardwalk will have three restaurants, three pools and 14,000 square feet of meeting space.

MAJOR MEETING SPACES

July/August 2022

Ocean City Performing Arts Center

After the Meeting

S

omerset County has miles of waterways and lush woodlands, presenting opportunities for fishing, crabbing, hunting, boating, biking and birding.

Ocean City is the White Marlin Capital of the World, and getting out on the water is easy. A charter boat can provide sport fishing galore — in the nearshore or back bays of the Atlantic, off Assateague or OC, or on the Pokomoke River, depending upon the fish an angler has in mind.

Rich with maritime tradition, OC still hosts races on skipjacks, watercraft once heavily used for oyster harvesting. These historic, classic boats compete each Labor Day. Groups can cruise to Tangier Island on Chesapeake Bay, where commercial fishing and crabbing are a way of life. Guests can stay overnight at the latter in a local bed and breakfast, rent a bicycle or golf cart to explore the island, or take eco- or sunset tours.

To learn more about the OC area, museums are the ticket. Built in 1891, the city’s Life-Saving Station Museum honors the heroic deeds at sea performed by the United States Life-Saving Service, part of which eventually merged into the U.S. Coast Guard. The Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art in nearby Salisbury features the world’s largest collection of decorative and antique hand-carved decoys and annually hosts the largest bird carving competition in the world.

Winner of many kudos, the Evolution Craft Brewing Company has a tasting room, pub and brewery. Next door, its Public House serves fabulous food. Evol’s dining room, barrel room and brewery are all available for group rentals.

35

TOWN

s ’ d l e i f k o Bro URBAN SUBURBAN

B

BY KATHERINE TANDY BROWN

rookfield, Wisconsin’s ace in the hole is its location. With a population of 40,000-plus, this western suburb of Milwaukee lies between the state’s two largest cities, the aforementioned “Brew City” and Madison, capital of the Badger State.

An affluent community, Brookfield is known for its higher-end shops, name-brand hotels, and lush greenspaces — parks, recreation areas and the city-wide, off-street Greenway Trail System, 11 miles of which have been completed to date.

“We call ourselves an urban/suburban destination,” said Nancy Justman, president and CEO of Visit Brookfield.

“We’re an easy access off I-94, to the Milwaukee airport, and to all the dining and shopping anyone might want — 150 restaurants and 3 million square feet of shopping. Brookfield has great meeting spaces, new and newly updated hotels, ample free parking and plenty to keep attendees busy within walking distance of their meetings. There are a lot of amenities without the big-city downtown concerns some people may have. All this, and a brand-new conference center.”

A collaboration between the City of Brookfield and Visit Brookville, the Brookfield Conference Center opened in 2020, cashing in on the area’s nature-based appeal with a 9,000-square-foot outdoor plaza/garden area that can accommodate 500 for an event.

“It’s an understatement to say how proud we are of the new center,” Justman said.

Proposed future development in the area will create a total of 2,500 sleeping rooms within a three-mile radius, ensuring guests for events of any size will have ample accommodations near the conference center.

36

THE BROOKFIELD CONFERENCE CENTER HAS 44,000 SQUARE FEET OF MEETING SPACE AND OFFERS ENTICING VIEWS OF THE OUTDOORS.

CELEBRATION PLAZA AT THE BROOKFIELD CONFERENCE CENTER

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

Meeting Spaces

Located off Interstate 94 within the Brookfield Square Mall Entertainment District, the Brookfield Conference Center (BCC) has 44,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting space with flexible modular designs. An 18,000-square-foot ballroom can accommodate 1,200 for a seated dinner and 2,000 theater-style, while a gorgeous glass-encased 8,000-square-foot atrium accommodates 400.

An elegant glass walkway connects the center to the 168-room Hilton Garden Inn Milwaukee Brookfield Conference Center, which has an on-site restaurant and indoor pool. Next door, the 389-room Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield Hotel adds another 21 meeting venues and includes a fitness center and indoor and outdoor pools.

Offsite Venues

BROOKFIELD WISCONSIN

A gem of a venue within 405-acre Mitchell Park, the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts hosts movies, dance and theater performances, art displays, and live music. The later includes a free summer outdoor concert series. Works of art integrate into the building’s design. Among the rentable spaces are an indoor 613-seat theater, an outdoor theater and a two-story grand hall for 200.

Connected to the city’s Greenway Trail, Mitchell Park boasts a beautifully diversified eco-system abutting the Fox River and a pavilion with indoor and outdoor seating.

Perfect for large-scale events, American Family Field, home of the Milwaukee Braves and the hilarious Famous Racing Sausages, is pure nostalgia and fine baseball.

LOCATION

Southeast Wisconsin

ACCESS

SHARON LYNNE WILSON CENTER FOR THE ARTS

Interstate 94, Milwaukee’s General Mitchell International Airport

MAJOR MEETING SPACES

Brookfield Conference Center, Hilton Garden Inn Milwaukee Brookfield Conference Center, Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield Hotel

HOTEL ROOMS

In the city 1,839 rooms; within two miles over 2,400

OFF-SITE VENUES

Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts, Mitchell Park and Pavilion, Milwaukee County Zoo

CONTACT INFO Visit Brookfield 262-789-0220 visitbrookfield.com

July/August 2022

All photos courtesy Visit Brookfield

37

TOWN

d l e i f k o o r B

Teambuilding Not your average teambuilding, Whirly Ball is wowing groups in Brookfield. Described as a combination of basketball, lacrosse and hockey played in bumper cars, this crazy “sport” is guaranteed to make participants — and observers — laugh aloud. A new complex also features bowling, broom ball on ice, laser tag and a rooftop dining terrace that overlooks the city.

In Game Show Battle Rooms — the first challenge of its kind in the nation — teammates in groups of six or more face off against coworkers answering questions proffered by game show hosts.

While at X-Golf Brookfield, teams compete on golf simulators that feature virtual world-renowned courses.

RESIDENCE INN BROOKFIELD

After the Meeting Groups looking to chill post-meeting can head outdoors with a stroll on the Greenway Trail or ogle the animals on an hour-long tour at 200acre Milwaukee County Zoo, where the Aquatic and Reptile Center can host functions for up to 125 people.

Two of Marcus Majestic Cinema of Brookfield’s 16 auditoriums are 72 feet wide, three-story Ultra Screen DLX concepts. They’re so immersive, multidimensional and lifelike that viewers feel like part of the on-screen action. One offers full-service, in-theater dining.

Another relaxing option is the Biloba Brewing Company, a microbrewery and beer garden with a tasting room inspired by old German-style beer halls.

A WHIRLY BALL OUTING

Not your average teambuilding, Whirly Ball is wowing groups in Brookfield. Described as a combination of basketball, lacrosse and hockey played in bumper cars, this crazy “sport” is guaranteed to make participants — and observers — laugh aloud.

GREENWAY TRAIL

38

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

The Brookfield Conference Center: Ready for Your Next Event!

Signature Food and Beverage

Fast Facts: • 40,000+ total sq ft of flexible meeting and event space • 18,000 sq ft. Connect Ballroom • 6,000 sq ft Collaborate Ballroom • 8,000 sq ft Celebration Atrium • 9,000 sq ft Celebration Plaza • On-site catering & beverage service Ideal Location • In-house chef • Complimentary surface parking • Attached Hilton Garden Inn • Convenient access from I-94

Flexible Function Space

Marquette Iron River

Minneapolis Wausau

Green Bay

Rochester

From small meetings to galas, the Brookfield Conference Center provides the perfect backdrop for any corporate or social function. Featuring modular ballrooms, elegant pre and post function space, and an experienced staff to make sure every event is a success.

Appleton

Dubuque

Madison

Milwaukee

General Mitchell Field

BROOKFIELD

Kenosha

Des Moines

Rockford

Chicago

Ideal Location

(262) 789-0220 • www.brookfieldconferencecenter.com

Grand

Downtown Mississippi

SPRING BRINGS ABUNDANT BLOOMS TO NATCHEZ’S CHARMING HISTORIC MAIN STREET.

M

Meetdieng Gui

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

ississippi is full of quaint and historic downtowns that make a perfect location for meetings or events. From Mississippi River towns to the Gulf Coast, meeting planners will find plenty of full-service meeting spots surrounded by fun attractions to keep attendees entertained.

NATCHEZ

Located on 200-foot bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River, Natchez is known for its beautifully maintained historic homes. Its downtown area is full of locally owned shops and restaurants, and visitors love that the town has a go-cup entertainment district that allows people to visit local establishments, buy an adult beverage and take it with them to enjoy the sunset over the Mississippi River.

Meeting planners will love that the Natchez Convention Center is right downtown with 32,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting and exhibit spaces that are also supported by an adjacent Community Center. Across

40

By Lee Laird, courtesy Visit Natchez

the street, the Natchez Grand Hotel has 119 rooms and a ballroom that can be divided into three rooms. Many groups hosting events at the convention center will use the hotel’s meeting rooms for breakout sessions.

The convention center has upstairs and downstairs meeting spaces, with most general sessions and luncheons taking place downstairs in the larger spaces and breakout sessions for up to 100 people in each of the upstairs meeting rooms. The second floor also features beautiful balconies that are perfect for watching the city’s famous Mardi Gras parades.

Nearby, the town has a Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express, and Hotel Vue, which sits high on the bluffs overlooking the river. All three have meeting space. Magnolia Bluffs Casino Hotel has 133 rooms and a ballroom that can be divided into three rooms. It also has a smaller room for board retreats. visitnatchez.org

BILOXI

Downtown Biloxi is experiencing a rebirth, with several new multi-use developments in the works, including

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

The District on Howard, comprising restaurants, shops and apartments. Howard Square, formerly a dairy and costume shop, is bringing nearly two dozen apartments to downtown Biloxi, with some overlooking MGM Park, where the Biloxi Shuckers minor league baseball team plays.

Once known as the Seafood Capital of the World, Biloxi is finding a new identity with visitors flocking to the area for its beautiful location on the Gulf Coast, miles of beaches and water-based activities.

Meeting planners wanting to tap into the burgeoning vibrance of the downtown area can host events at Beau Rivage Casino and Resort, with its 1,740 guest rooms and 50,000 square feet of meeting space. The Hard Rock Casino and Resort has 479 rooms, 47 suites and several meeting spaces, including Hard Rock Live, which contains a 9,000-square-foot theater and 4,000 additional square feet of space. Its Rock and Roll meeting room has 1,800 square feet of space. The largest meeting venue in Biloxi is Mississippi Coast Convention Center with 400,000 square feet of space.

Meeting attendees will enjoy taking a cruise with Biloxi Shrimping Trip and learning about the coastal fishery. The Biloxi culinary scene is thriving, with plenty of waterfront seafood spots serving fresh gulf seafood, as well as several hip bars and breweries within walking distance of the casinos. gulfcoast.org

TUPELO

Tupelo is steeped in Elvis Presley history. Not only is it the birthplace of the legendary singer, but there are several Elvis-related sites downtown, including Tupelo Hardware, where Elvis got his first guitar. Downtown Tupelo has the city’s largest meeting facility, Bancorp South Arena and Conference Center, which was renovated and expanded in 2021. The newly expanded conference center has 22,000 square feet of function space. The East Hall can accommodate up to 520 people for a banquet, while the West Hall can host 600 for a banquet and 1,000 theater-style. There are 14 meeting rooms altogether.

The conference center is attached to a Hilton Garden Inn, which has two smaller meeting rooms and 100 guest rooms. Across the street is a brand new 79-room boutique hotel that opened in February, Hotel Tupelo. It has a restaurant and bar onsite

THE BILOXI LIGHTHOUSE ON BEACH BOULEVARD

Courtesy Coastal Mississippi

July/August 2022

41

Meetieng Guid that serves surf and turf for dinner and brunch on the weekends. It also has a smaller meeting room.

The meeting venues are about one mile away from the Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum, which is Tupelo’s main attraction, and there are plenty of locally owned shops, art galleries and restaurants to explore throughout the downtown area.

The Birthplace and Museum has an event space that can host 160 people. There’s also a 126-seat theater for performances, movies and events, a boardroom and a full catering kitchen. tupelo.net

THE ELVIS PRESLEY BIRTHPLACE IN TUPELO

OXFORD

Despite being the home of Ole Miss, the University of Mississippi’s main campus, Oxford maintains its small-town charm. With four independent bookstores, the main square downtown is a major destination for anyone who loves books. It also has a robust culinary scene with more than 25 locally owned restaurants and unique shopping.

Visitors to the city can tour the area on a vintage 1958 AEC Routemaster double-decker bus imported from England, take in an Ole Miss sporting event or tour Rowan Oak, the home of author William Faulkner.

The Oxford Conference Center is two miles off the square with more than 25,000 square feet of meeting space and three hotels within walking distance: Hampton Inn, Towne Place Suites by Marriott and Tru by Hilton. There are several restaurants and attractions that are walkable from the facility, including a movie theater, bowling alCourtesy Tupelo CVB ley and coffee shops. On the square, Chancellor’s House hotel is a boutique establishment with 40 rooms and a 2,000-square-foot ballroom, boardroom, public areas and an outdoor terrace that can be used for events.

IT'S TIME FOR US TO GET BACK TO TAKING CARE OF YOU. Graduate Oxford has 136 guest rooms and a smaller meeting room. It also has a terrace, a rooftop bar and a coffee bar area that can be used for smaller events. The Inn at Ole Miss is located on campus, about a mile from the downtown square, with 146 guest rooms and more than 10,000 square feet of event space. visitoxfordms.com

Welcome Back!

PLAN YOUR NEXT MEETING WITH US VISITNATCHEZ.ORG/MEETINGS

LYNSEY GILBERT, DIRECTOR OF SALES LYNSEY@VISITNATCHEZ.ORG

42

601.492.3000

CLEVELAND

Cleveland is a very walkable Mississippi Delta town that was built along a railroad with buildings on both sides of the tracks.

Cleveland’s railroad tracks were converted into a greenway flanked by locally owned boutique shops and restaurants in renovated historic buildings.

Cotton House Cleveland, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, has 95 guest rooms and a ballroom that can host 200 guests for a banquet.

The lawn offers outdoor space adjacent to the

#VISITNATCHEZ

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

ballroom. The property, which overlooks the greenway, boasts a James Beard-nominated chef and a rooftop bar with incredible views and an outdoor firepit.

The Grammy Museum Mississippi is a couple of minutes away and makes a nice offsite venue for meeting planners wanting to escape the hotel ballroom. The museum can host groups of 250 for a standing reception or 130 for a banquet.

Cleveland is the home of Delta State University, so a college town atmosphere permeates the city. The Lyric Hotel anchors Cleveland’s West End District and is across from the university. It has 63 guest rooms and was built for meetings. The Gin event space is across from the main hotel and can host up to 450 people. The Clubhouse, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the hotel’s central courtyard and pool, has a pair of large meeting areas that can seat 70 people classroom-style or 80 for a banquet.

The Statehouse is a two-story mansion that features 13 suites, a wraparound balcony and veranda and an elegant double parlor that can host groups of 200. The front porch and lawn also serve as event venues. visitclevelandms.com

GRAMMY MUSEUM MISSISSIPPI IN CLEVELAND

business meets pleasure

Oxford Conference Center

Boardroom at The Inn at Ole Miss

Rooftop at Courtyard Marriott

Touted as the “Cultural Mecca of the South,” Oxford boasts venues that can host meetings of all sizes. Whether corporate retreats, trainings or conferences, there are facilities in Oxford that can accommodate you and your group’s needs.

For planning assistance, contact:

• Over 1,300 hotel rooms • Over 25,000 sq ft of meeting space • Historical & cultural landmarks • World class dining • Unique shopping experiences • Home of the University of Mississippi

Nadia Thornton Sales & Marketing Manager 1.800.758.9177 662.232.2477 nadia@visitoxfordms.com

V isitOx f ordM S. c om 1 0 1 3 J a c k s o n Av e . E a s t | O x f o r d , M S | 6 6 2 . 2 3 2 . 2 4 7 7 Courtesy Visit Cleveland Mississippi

July/August 2022

43

COLORFUL GLASS AND STEEL TOUCHES ARE ARCHITECTURAL HALLMARKS OF THE MUSEUM AT PRAIRIEFIRE IN OVERLAND PARK.

Meetdieng Gui

K

Overland Park Designed by Verner Johnson, the 41,000-square-foot Museum at Prairiefire cost $17.1 million to build. It was developed for traveling exhibitions in collaboration with

44

Courtesy Museum at Prairiefire

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

ansas has several architectural wonders that also make memorable meeting spaces.

Meeting planners looking for distinctive venues in Kansas should consider the state’s underground salt mine, two historic theaters, a unique round barn and an Overland Park museum that was designed to look like a prairie fire burning through grasslands.

MUSEUM AT PRAIRIEFIRE

Kansas Originals

the American Museum of Natural History. Using multi-colored lustrous stainless steel tiles mixed with dichroic glass for effect, the outside of the building resembles a fire burning across the Kansas prairie, reminiscent of the state’s penchant for controlled burns.

The inside of the museum is just as spectacular as the outside, with light playing through the different panes of colored glass. Meeting planners wanting to experience one of the most stunning buildings in the state can host events in the Great Hall, which includes access to the exhibits and some interactives. The room is ideal for large parties, lectures or receptions and can seat 300. The Wetlands Terrace is an outdoor patio space that is included with rental of the Great Hall. The terrace can hold 185 people.

The Innovation Zone and boardroom are ideal for smaller groups.

Planners can choose to add on experiences when they book space at the museum. The Exhibition Hall can be opened for meeting attendees to tour special exhibitions curated by renowned museums and cultural institutions. The space can hold 200. Groups can also utilize the Discovery Room for hands-on learning experiences such as smelling the moon, building a dinosaur or visiting the museum’s animal friends. The room can hold 80 people. visitthemap.org

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

MCPHERSON OPERA HOUSE

McPherson Built in 1888, the 132-year-old McPherson Opera House originally served as a vaudeville theater, hosting shows in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It was converted into a movie theater in the 1920s and 1930s, operating until the 1960s when it was finally closed.

It was slated for demolition in the 1980s until the wife of a bank president fell in love with the building and lobbied to preserve it.

The bank ended up donating the building, along with the $50,000 it had set aside to pay for its demolition, to the McPherson Opera House Preservation Company, which used the funds to kick off the restoration of the building. It took until 2010 to raise the necessary $8.5 million and complete the project.

The theater space, paintings, colors, stenciling and mural were all restored back to their original glory, said Jordan Bandy, producing director of the theater.

“It was very painstakingly restored,” he said. “It is really unique. It is amazing they decided to build a building of this magnitude.”

The Opera House now hosts touring Broadway shows and other events, but groups can rent out the theater and two small meeting rooms downstairs or the 100-person capacity Grand Ballroom upstairs. The Art Center downstairs can also be rented out for meetings or art classes. mcphersonoperahouse.org

New ! s t gh i l High

Scan for our new

FROMME-BIRNEY ROUND BARN

Mullinville Widely considered one of the most architecturally interesting buildings in Kansas, the Fromme-Birney Round Barn was built in 1912 as a place to feed and harness workhorses that were used to pull farm implements. There is enough stall space to accommodate 25 big Percheron workhorses. Workers would bring the horses in early in the morning, then feed and harness them before going out to the fields. At noon, they would be brought back in to eat and rest before returning into the fields.

In the evening, they would be brought back in, unharnessed and released out into the pasture.

Because of the strong western Kansas winds, the barn was built in the round, with eight sides. Visitors are usually stunned when they walk in the barn for a tour and look up. The intricacy of the ceiling pays tribute to the amazing engineering feat necessary to build a barn of this magnitude. Tractors ended up replacing the horses in 1916, so the barn wasn’t used for its intended purpose for very long.

The barn, which was renovated in 1995, is free to tour and available for rentals. It can hold 50 to 60 people for indoor events, but there are no modern conveniences inside besides electricity.

Most groups that host events there make use of the outdoors, which has picnic tables. Event planners also have the option to bring in portable restroom facilities. fromme-birneyroundbarn.org

July/August 2022

• Great Eats • Murals • Sculpture • Shops • Comfort • Music • Cool Spaces • Theatre • Museums • Friendly Faces!

• Family Fun

Visitors’ Guide!

eate We cr eting e me uniqu iences! exper Jo Ann McClure jmcclure@salinakansas.org 45

Meetieng Guid

EMPORIA GRANADA THEATRE

Emporia Built in 1929 in the Spanish Colonial Revival style, Emporia’s Granada Theatre cost the equivalent of $5.3 million in today’s money and was the last theater designed by Carl and Robert Boller. When it was first built, it could seat 1,400. Now it can seat 823. During the 1950s, the facility would show a newsreel, followed by cartoons and a feature presentation, such as a Western or drama. It also attracted vaudeville acts, Broadway shows and other performances.

In 1952, the theater’s organ caught fire, causing major damage.

After closing its doors in 1982, it was later added to the National Register of Historic Places, but by 1994 the building was slated for demolition. A local man purchased the theater for $6,000 and formed the Emporia Granada Theatre Alliance to save the building. Between 1995 and 2008, the building was restored to its former glory.

The theater is in the heart of downtown Emporia, surrounded by restaurants and shops. Meeting planners wanting to tap into this beautiful building’s past can host opening ceremonies, banquets, awards ceremonies, lectures, concerts or movies in the main auditorium. There is plenty of space for floor seating and banquet tables in front of the stage. Additional visitors can sit in the second-floor mezzanine. The theater can accommodate up to 100 people for a banquet. emporiagranada.com

EMPORIA GRANADA THEATRE

Courtesy Emporia Granada Theatre

Proud 2022 Small Market Meetings Host

Kind

YOUR OF PLACE TO MEET. Meet in Wichita, the heart of the country. The largest city in Kansas blends Midwest friendliness with the ingenuity of being the Air Capital of the World to create a truly unique place for you to gather. Groups love the amenities, affordability and welcoming spirit. Planners love how easy it is to work with Visit Wichita and our partners. And if 50-plus attractions and 1,200-plus eateries on top of all that kindness and energy sounds good, we’re just your kind of place to meet.

46

Learn more at VisitWichita.com or use this QR www.smallmarketmeetings.com code to request a Meeting Planners Guide.

STRATACA UNDERGROUND SALT MUSEUM

Hutchinson A former salt mine turned museum 650 feet below the earth’s surface, Strataca began welcoming visitors in 2007. The museum displays artifacts left behind by the salt miners who worked in the tunnels from the 1930s through the 1950s, including personal effects and heavy mining equipment. It takes 90 seconds to descend by elevator into the warren of tunnels and about two hours to tour. Groups can visit two different sections of tunnels via train or shuttle.

Because the salt mines are dry and stay a constant temperature, the climate is perfect for preserving records and artifacts of every kind. A company called Underground Vaults and Storage uses the tunnels as storage for famous movie memorabilia, including Hollywood movies, props and costumes. Much of that one-of-a-kind memorabilia is on display in the underground museum.

Meeting planners looking for an otherworldly experience can host meetings or events in a large underground event space that can accommodate up to 250 guests. The space is bigger than most visitors expect, with high ceilings and tons of space, which staves off claustrophobia. A recently completed restroom complex provides modern conveniences right outside the event space, and Wi-Fi is available for those who need it. Meeting attendees can visit the museum and tour the mines while they are there, which makes for a one-of-a-kind event. underkansas.org

MEET IN KANSAS CITY, KANSAS!

Discover nontraditional meeting venues that deliver the unconventional.

VisitKansasCityKS.com

n i t e Me

LEAVENWORTH

as s n a K

STRATACA UNDERGROUND SALT MUSEUM

Meet in the "First City of Kansas" for all your conferences, reunions, meetings, seminars, events, banquets, and more...only 20 minutes from Kansas City International Airport Courtesy Strataca

July/August 2022

VisitLeavenworthKS.com

47

New in Kansas

T

Meetdieng Gui

Courtesy Topeka Zoo

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

he pandemic couldn’t stop the pace of progress in Kansas. New meeting venues have opened and existing ones have been renovated and expanded over the past two years, giving meeting planners a variety of fresh reasons to consider the state for their events.

KAY MCFARLAND JAPANESE GARDEN AT TOPEKA ZOO AND CONSERVATION CENTER

Topeka Topeka Zoo opened the Kay McFarland Japanese Garden and Venue during the pandemic. Named after former Kansas Supreme Court Chief Justice Kay McFarland, the $6.6 million garden is filled with flower-lined trails, running streams, Koi ponds, bridges and waterfalls and is

48

THE NEW KAY MCFARLAND JAPANESE GARDEN AT THE TOPEKA ZOO FEATURES AN EVENT CENTER FOR GROUPS OF UP TO 200.

meant to foster serenity in visitors. The garden was named after McFarland because her living trust provided $4.4 million for the project.

The Japanese Garden has a contemporary event center that provides modern amenities and seating for more than 200 people at round tables. It has a dedicated bridal suite that opens to a secluded garden, and an open-air pavilion overlooking the largest pond in the garden is a nice location for a ceremony or additional seating for events. Groups that host events at the zoo can add a safari adventure to their bookings, offering up-close animal encounters, behind-thescenes tours and animal enrichment activities.

The Japanese Garden isn’t the only meeting venue at the zoo, but it is the newest addition. Meeting planners can host events at Camp Cowabunga and Dung Beetle Square, an outdoor venue that can host groups up to 152 for a banquet. Security Benefit Pavilion overlooking the giraffe habitat and the Northern Lawn on the shores of one of the zoo’s iconic ponds can also host larger groups.

Smaller groups can rent out the Gary K. Clarke Education Center, which can host up to 75 people. After-hours admission to the zoo grounds and exhibits can be included for an additional fee. topekazoo.org

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

COLBY EVENT CENTER

Colby Colby’s brand new $18 million Colby Events Center held its grand opening in July 2021. It was built to house local sporting events.

The north main gym holds 2,000 people, while the south gym holds 1,000. The facility is used for Colby Community College’s home basketball and volleyball games and for the local school district’s high school and middle school sports activities.

Colby, a small town of 8,500 people, is situated on Interstate 70 in the northwest corner of the state and is the biggest town within 100 miles. The community center it replaced was built in the 1950s. It only had one gym and a meeting room space downstairs. About five years ago, the city announced it wanted a new facility in town not only to support the local sports teams but to attract meeting groups as well. The public voted on whether to refurbish the old community center or build a new one closer to the interstate. Voters chose to fund a new facility through a sales tax increase.

Meeting planners wanting to attract attendees from Colorado and Kansas like Colby for its prime location. The community center has one meeting room that can fit 150 people comfortably or be partitioned into four cubes that fit about 40 to 50 people each. Groups have access to chairs and rectangular and round tables. Each cube has a 90-inch TV for slide shows and presentations. cityofcolby.com

COLBY EVENT CENTER

THE WINSLET

Wichita The Winslet is an event venue in Wichita’s waterfront district on the east side of town that was founded by Abbott Events, a company that has opened four very successful venues in the Kansas City area. Named after British actress Kate Winslet, the property was purchased during the pandemic and has been undergoing a full renovation since then. It opened to the public in June.

“We didn’t knock down walls; we just added new paint, trim and light fixtures,” said Ashlee Baysinger, venue manager. “It looks completely different than how it did before.”

The venue can host events of many kinds. It has three main rooms that can accommodate weddings, board meetings, holiday parties, anniversary celebrations and more. The front lawn can host family reunions or picnics.

The Winslet’s main ballroom is the largest meeting space, holding 200 people for a banquet. Two smaller rooms can hold 100 people each, theater-style. Meeting groups can set up the spaces however they like, with rounds, rectangles, conference room tables and chairs. A small bridal suite with its own bathroom can be transformed into a prep room for a conference keynote speaker.

Audio-visual service is available in all rooms except the small bridal suite, which has a small television. A main control panel sets the scene in every room to make sure all blinds are closed, screens come down and lights dim. thewinslet.com

Courtesy Colby Event Center

THE WINSLET IN WICHITA

Courtesy The Winslet

July/August 2022

49

Meetieng Guid

STONE PILLAR VINEYARD AND WINERY

Olathe Stone Pillar Vineyard and Winery is owned by one of the state’s oldest farm families that has been on the property for more than 160 years.

The vineyard was started in 2007, and a tasting room opened in May 2010. The vineyard grows several varieties of white and red grapes on five acres and has a contract for nine acres in Atchison. It makes all of its own wines and also supplies juicing grapes to other local wineries.

The company rents out its pavilion, which seats 99 people. The structure was renovated post-COVID, which “made things more efficient for us, nicer,” said owner George Hoff. “It is versatile. We can rearrange it in several different ways.”

The facility can be set up for concerts with the band on stage and a dance floor and seating in front of the stage. The room also can be sectioned off for smaller events. Stone Pillar organizes wine tastings for larger groups by appointment. Every Friday night, the winery brings in food trucks and live music. There is a huge outdoor patio with a fireplace out in the vines and enough seating for 200 people at picnic tables out in the vineyard.

The establishment handles corporate and customer appreciation events, weddings, bridal showers and bachelorette parties. Many smaller events like to piggyback onto Stone Pillar’s Friday night concerts to take advantage of the variety of local bands that perform there.

The only food option provided by the winery is charcuterie boards. stonepillarvineyard.com SmallMarketMeetings December.qxp_Layout 1 11/17/20 3:01 PM Page 1

BOOT HILL MUSEUM

Dodge City The Boot Hill Museum is located on the original site of the infamous Boot Hill Cemetery and tells the tale of Dodge City’s heyday as “the Queen of the Cowtowns.” Lawmen, cowboys and outlaws, including the likes of Bat Masterson, Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp, vied for dominance in this Western hub in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and the Boot Hill Museum tells their juicy stories. It also relates what life was like for the early settlers and Native Americans who lived in the area during that time.

The museum displays more than 20,000 artifacts in more than 30 exhibits. The Front Street exhibit is a replica of Dodge City’s original main street, with storefronts ranging from saloons and a drugstore to dry goods, clothing and hardware stores. Behind this façade lies a large building full of exhibits that can be rented out for meetings or events. The museum recently opened nine new interactive exhibits and the Mariah Gallery, a 3,000-square-foot exhibit space that can host groups up to 175 people.

Groups can bring in their own catering service or use the museum’s catering department. The Mariah Gallery has a high-quality screen and projector that can be used in any of the museum’s meeting spaces, and the Long Branch Saloon and Occident Saloon have sound systems.

Meeting planners wanting attendees to learn more about Dodge City’s past can set up food stations next to different exhibits in a simplified version of a dine-around, offering a variety of cuisine and beverages. boothill.org

Manhattan MEET IN

Our conference center expansion

continues to make Manhattan the

#1

walkable meeting destination in Kansas

Oh Manhattan !

VISITMANHATTANKS.ORG

50

www.smallmarketmeetings.com

unmistakable experiences

unmatched hospitality safe meeting resources

Convenient location 45 MINUTES FROM KCI AIRPORT WITHIN AN 8-HOUR DRIVE FROM 10 MAJOR CITIES

meetings@explorelawrence.com explorelawrence.com/meet

July/August 2022

51