ConventionSouth Cover Story - July 2012

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VOLUME 28 NUMBER 12

ConventionSouth more than one hundred

Ways To Create An Event Experience Like No Other

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differentia: A culinary experience in the South is like no other—and it’s not just fried foods. In fact, the region is known for its innovative chefs who use farm fresh food, produce & succulent seafood.

Throughout this issue, you’ll find insight on how & where to plan meetings that are one-of-a-kind in order to provide a memorable experience for attendees—or as we like to call it “the differentia.”

small markets BIG on personality and meetings

Small & mid-sized markets in the South have a group appeal that’s especially fit for today’s economy (they’re affordable & accessible) but they’re also able to intrigue attendees with their charming flair that can’t be replicated.

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Meeting Site Showcase

Planner Resources

19 small markets & their differentia

interesting bits:

6 7 8 50

perspectives Get to know us & why weʼre very different.

different headlines news from across the South Guide to Sponsor Meeting Sites

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Destination Showdown:

Atlanta, Georgia

big & small sites with cool x-factors

34

37

Dallas, Texas

Miami, Florida

Jackson, Mississippi

41

44

47

Savannah Georgia

Virginia’s Blue Ridge

30 Chattanooga, Tennessee

www.conventionsouth.com online: your 24/7 planning resource

Nominate

Peers & Sites We’re accepting nominations for our 2013 Meeting Planners to Watch recognitions as well as our 2012 Readers’ Choice Awards that honor meeting sites, hotels and venues.

Or, scan this QR code to make a nomination with your mobile device.

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differentia: To spice up your next event, have the volunteers and/or service staff break into a “mob-styled flash dance.” Visit our website or the digital edition of this issue to watch a YouTube video showing the “thrill” of a dance routine during a wedding reception.

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putting it in

perspective What Makes Us Different? We live in the South & promote it with a genuine passion! differentia: ConventionSouth Media Group is not your typical meeting planning resource and Iʼm not your typical Associate Publisher and Editor. We work hard to be different and “jump out” from the other resources to provide you with the most detailed, accurate information. Thatʼs also why we use a frog as a symbol for our magazine and to say, “Look to us before you Leap into planning an event.” Along with our hip-hopping frog, weʼre different because we have a unique audience of readers (yes, you) that are located throughout the U.S., but all of whom plan events in the South. And weʼre the experts when it comes to meetings held in the South as we exclusively share insight and information on 14 states from Virginia to Texas. Not only that, we are actually based in the South. We live here (Iʼve lived in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi and currently, Alabama) and have a passion for the states we represent. Our team travels throughout the region on a monthly basis in order to bring you deeper insight on what makes our meeting sites and venues unique. The South—we live it and love it!

mbundock@coveypubs.com

Marlane has worked for ConventionSouth for 8 years, loves the ʼ80s & is a proud mommy of her 2-year-old son Thatcher.

Laura English

MARKETING SERVICES MANAGER

(AL, MS, LA, TX, OK, AR)

MARKETING COORDINATORS

Beth Strickland Kelsey OʼConnor

Kris Wise

ACCOUNTANT

Latricia Nall

CIRCULATION MANAGER

Ashley Brokowsky

DATA ENTRY SPECIALIST

Stephanie Eckman

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Janis Helton Marcia Bradford

(WV, KY, TN, GA)

DESIGN SERVICES MANAGER

Kelly Williams

INTERACTIVE MEDIA COORDINATOR

Jennifer Kelly

MANAGER, TRAFFIC & PROMOTIONS

Dorothy P. White

Jenny Anderson, CMP Nat. Assn. of College & University Business Officers David Bruce, MMP, HTS CMP Meeting Services

Dorothy has worked for ConventionSouth for 13 years & says her dog Barney loves reading the magazine.

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Jeff Hurt, Velvet Chainsaw Consulting Robert Mandelbaum PKF Consulting

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Our Dynamic Vice President & SportsEvents Associate Publisher Kristen McIntosh’s differentia: Kristen has been part of the ConventionSouth family for nearly 20 years and is currently the editor of our sister publication SportsEvents. This dedicated wife and mom of three spends much of her time on four wheels, transporting her kids to various sporting events. And she admits that she secretly wishes to roll around on rollerskates as part of a roller derby team because “it seems like a great way to relieve stress.”

Carrie has worked for ConventionSouth Media Group for the past 15 years, but we are starting to wonder what her real motives for being here are.

Thatʼs because, when she shared what makes her different she told us that she is fluent in Russian and interviewed twice with the CIA. (VA, NC, SC, FL)

ADDRESS

TELEPHONE

Editorial Advisory Board:

differentia:

Talty started ConventionSouth in 1983 in order to provide national meeting planners with a reliable planning resource, especially for booking events in the South.

While Taltyʼs fun-loving personality can capture an audience, he admittedly shares that he is not an actor. Although, he was once approached to play a leading role on the 1980ʼs daytime soap opera “Ryanʼs Hope.”

Our Marketing Services Manager Carrie O’Connor’s differentia:

meet our entire dedicated staff: DIRECTOR OF SALES

Our One-Of-A-Kind Publisher John “Talty” O’Connor’s differentia:

Meg Slentz Nagy, CMP Meetings To Order Sue Walton May & Williams Ltd. James Hobbs Meeting Expectations Loriann White, CMM, CMP American Express Meetings & Events

E-MAIL FAX WEBSITE

2001 West First Street Gulf Shores, AL 36542 (251) 968-5300 info@conventionsouth.com (251) 968-4532 www.conventionsouth.com

ConventionSouth (ISSN 1074-0627) is published monthly by Covey Communications Corp., P.O. Box 2267, Gulf Shores, AL 36547. It is mailed under Standard mail rates. POSTMASTER: CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED TO ConventionSouth Subscription Office, P.O. Box 2267, Gulf Shores, AL 36547.

Editorial and advertising offices are located at 2001 West First St., Gulf Shores, AL 36542. Editorial ideas and manuscripts are welcomed. However, all unsolicited manuscripts and photographs must be sent with return postage; otherwise ConventionSouth cannot be responsible for returning them. Copyright 2012 by Covey Communications Corp. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without express written permission of the publisher is strictly forbidden.

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weird

Meeting Site Showcase

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exciting

meetings riveting

rare

small market wowdifferentia grand fellowshipdiverse groups south experiences

refreshing

creative charming

fabulous

fun

personality unequaled

destinations

unique activities

elegant lively sophistication progressive

calming

flexible

relationships

attendees wholesome

safe picturesque

happy moments

historical tasty

x-factor eclectic hip

welcoming cosmopolitan

differentia: (n.) Things that set meeting sites in the South apart and make them a unique draw for your group events.

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s small market BIG on personality…& meetings

By Marlane Bundock

Small and mid-sized markets in the South have

But that’s not to say that smaller markets like Pigeon

increased appeal to many meeting and event planners

Forge are not filled with excitement. The city is home

in today’s economy due to their affordability and acces-

to big-time attractions and plenty of teambuilding

sibility. In fact, the majority of planners surveyed for

opportunities like Dollywood and the Smoky Mountains

our 2012 Meeting Trends in the South report said they

National Park. “The city has a fun personality that’s not

are hosting more and

found anywhere

more events within

else—and groups

second- and third-tier

like that,” Downey

markets. And while

said.

these destinations may

And Pigeon

accommodate fewer

Forge is not the

meetings than cities

only small market

like Atlanta, Dallas

in the South that’s

and Miami—they are

big on personality

often just as well

and meetings.

equipped with space,

We’ve found a

rooms and service

host of markets

to handle most any

that have one-of-

sized group.

a-kind differentia

For example, in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.,

that create Flyaway Indoor Skydiving

Leon Downey, the executive director of the city’s tourism arm, said while they can suit any group’s needs, they’re especially opening their doors to organizations that would typically meet in mega-meeting-plexes like Vegas. “We offer meeting attendees an opportunity for what we like to call ‘wholesome indulgence,’” he said. “We’re a fun destination that will attract attendees, but we also have that family-

differentia: Let your attendees reach new heights at Flyaway Indoor Skydiving in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. This attraction provides “the sensation of skydiving in a 21-foot-tall vertical wind tunnel with 120 mph winds. Just about anyone of all ages can fly and experience freefalling without having to make that jump.”

unique experiences for attendees. The map on the following pages showcases just some of the one-of-a-kind things to do and see in small markets in the

friendly/ affordable appeal.” Downey explained that

South that will surely leave lasting impressions on your

Pigeon Forge is a safe destination and that it’s not

attendees. And, we’re presenting a showcase of small

going to cause people to raise their eyebrows with

markets in the South that have all submitted informa-

concerns of over-indulgence such as Las Vegas may.

tion on why they’re different and spectacular. ■

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19 small markets & their differentia This map and the following pages showcase some of the small markets in the South that are ideal for meetings and are beaming with personality. Enhance your attendees’ experiences and check out their differentia:

Be Entertained Bricktown-Style in Oklahoma City By 1980, the city’s Bricktown area had become a cluster of abandoned buildings. But now, these former warehouses are home to one of the country’s hottest entertainment districts. Catch a RedHawks game at the ballpark, savor the steaks at Mickey Mantle’s Steakhouse, then take a water taxi tour.

Read more about Oklahoma City on pg. 16

Witness Cajun Culture in Alexandria

See Art In Action in Bentonville

Stop by the pawn shop where the hit TV show “Cajun Pawn Stars” is filmed and then taste an authentic Cajun dish like grilled crawfish tails at Bistro on the Bayou.

Read more about Alexandria on pg. 7

Emerse yourself in art at the newly opened Crystal Bridges Museum of Art, an artfully designed venue that takes its name from the natural spring that feeds into the museum’s ponds and from the walking bridges that connect the galleries.

Encounter The Unusual in Lubbock Unusual things have been “discovered” in Lubbock.

Flying lights seen in the 1950s spurred one of the country’s first great UFO cases. And, groups can explore an archeological site where ancient people and extinct animals roamed millions of years ago.

‘Drive’ Cattle in Frisco texas.gov www.frisco

The days of cattle drives come to life with the longest continuous-themed bronze sculpture collection in the U.S. with longhorns, cowboys and a chuck wagon.

Read more about Frisco on pg. 19

Find Black Gold in Beaumont Back in the early 1900s, oil gushed from the fields of Beaumont and sparked an oil boom in Texas that continues today. Visit SpindletopGladys City Boomtown Museum that commemorates the city’s oil boom and let the staff reenact the “blowing of the gusher.”

Read more about Beaumont’s Ford Park on pg. 22

Get Swamped in Lafayette Explore the bayous of Louisiana by taking a swamp tour or guided fishing trip. Then, relax in a floating guest cabin at McGee’s Landing for a real bayou-living experience.

Read more about Lafayette on pg. 23

Stroll The Historic Strand in Galveston Galveston’s National Historic Strand District is filled with great stores and restaurants, and great history too. Walk the streets to see old Victorian architecture from the 1800s. Look carefully and you may even find evidence of the The Great Storm of 1900. If you crave more, The Strand has a variety of museums like a Mardi Gras museum and the tall ship Elissa.

Read more about Galveston’s historic Tremont House hotel on pg. 14

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Make A Toast in Louisville Visit some of the 20 bars and restaurants along the Urban Bourbon Trail and partake in the Kentucky bourbon tradition.

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Remember Titanic in Pigeon Forge Loved the movie “Titanic?”

Experience a re-creation of the ship first-hand or plan an event at the Titanic Museum.

Read more about Pigeon Forge on pg. 24

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Blow Glass in Norfolk Learn to blow glass at the Chrysler Museum of Art, which is home to 30,000 works of art and a museum devoted to the art of glass.

Read more about Norfolk on pg. 18

Rev Your Engines In Concord In 1984, Hendrick Motorsports started with an unsponsored car. Today, the organization has evolved into one of NASCAR’s top teams. Inside the Hendrick Motorsports Museum, see their most famous stock cars, sports car exhibits and championship trophy displays.

Wear A Bow Tie in Columbia Ask Lucky Levinson to teach the men in your group how to tie a bow tie. The employee at Brittons clothing boutique is considered a world-wide expert.

Tailgate Then Use A Mulligan in Auburn Auburn is home to Auburn University and is a college that takes its football seriously, but if golf is more your attendees’ sport, the area is also home to award-winning golf on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.

Read more about Auburn on pg. 20

Travel The Emerald Tunnels of Tallahassee Take a drive down one of Tallahassee’s four “canopy roads” where the Live Oak treetops form a “emerald tunnel” over the road. And, grab a sandwich or burger at the Canopy Road Café.

Read more about Tallahassee on pages 3 & 17

Toss A Fish in Orange Beach Rock Like ‘The King’ in Tupelo Elvis Presley, a.k.a. “The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll” grew up and belted his first tune in Tupelo. His childhood home and church are open for tours.

Orange Beach is home to the famous FloraBama Lounge and Package, which hosts the annual Interstate Mullet Toss. This beachfront festival allows participants to throw a mullet fish across the Alabama/ Florida state line.

Read more about Orange Beach on pg. 21

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Drive Like The NASCAR Racers in Daytona Beach Richard Petty Driving Experience at the Daytona International Speedway puts you in a NASCAR race car for an adrenaline pumping thrill of a lifetime. Since opening in 1959, the racetrack has been the home of the Daytona 500, one of the most prestigious races in NASCAR.

Fly Like ‘The Aces of Yesteryear’ in Kissimmee Fly WWII fight trainers like the North American T-6 TEXAN at the Kissimmee Air Museum & Warbird Adventures Flights. Meeting attendees can experience aviation first hand and interact with the planes and pilots.

Read more about Kissimmee on pages 15 & 51

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