MidAtlantic Events Magazine July/August 2023 Issue

July|August 2023

Team Bonding, Team Building, Casino Dining, Sports Related Events and More are Slamming This Year!

This

year's Chester County Culinary Challenge was titled 'Breakfast in Bed'

MEETINGS

AT THE CENTER OF IT ALL

Our perfectly situated state is just a short drive from some of the most populated areas of the U.S. — and, as a top international airline hub, we’re an easy 昀ight away for the rest. No matter where you gather in New Jersey, you’re in close proximity to state-of-the-art conve ntion facilities, IACC-member conference centers, unconventional meeting spaces, 昀exible group accommodations, a well-connected transportation network, world-class dining, crowd-pleasing recreation and entertainment and 130 miles of shoreline. That’s how meetings and conferences in New Jersey offer unparalleled access… and success.

Start planning your meeting at VisitNJ.org/Meetings.

©Crystal Springs Resort

FEATURING

416 Guest Rooms

90,000 sq. ft. Exhibit Space

EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES

"While planning your next big event, don't settle for anything less than everything."

Conveniently located in the heart of the historical city of Lancaster, the Lancaster County Convention Center allows visitors to explore everything downtown Lancaster has to offer.

From local shops, museums, and art galleries to a diverse culinary scene – enjoy big city culture at a small town pace.

Jacyn H. Thompson

PAGE 74 - Kicking off with "Breakfast in Bed," the theme for this year's Chester County Culinary Challenge

This year's Chester County Culinary Challenge was titled 'Breakfast in Bed'

PAGE 12- A popular choice among corporate dining groupsOssu Japanese Tavern at Tropicana, part of Caesars Entertainment and Resorts in Atlantic City, NJ

PAGE 28 - Meeting room at The Lodge at Woodloch in the Pocono Mountains, a destination resort for meetings, retreats and team building

PUBLISHER & EDITOR

Jim Cohn

MANAGING EDITOR Rich Kupka

DESIGN & PRODUCTION

FEATURES EDITOR

Dana Kurtbek-MME Media

Lydia Young

TRAVEL EDITOR Ken Alan

EVENTS DIRECTOR

CONTROLLER

Jennifer Johnson

Robert Conrad

CONTENT CONTRIBUTIONS BY Center City District (Philadelphia), Old City Media, Valley Forge Convention & Tourism Board

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Opinions expressed in editorial submissions contributed to Mid-Atlantic Events Magazine are those of the individual authors exclusively and do not represent the opinions of Mid-Atlantic Events Magazine, its staff, its advertisers, or its readership. Mid-Atlantic Events Magazine and Tri-State Events Magazine, Inc. assume no liability or responsibility for independently contributed editorial submissions or any typographical errors, mistakes, misprints, or missing information within advertising copy.

Mid-Atlantic Events Magazine is the bi-monthly, Mid-Atlantic publication, bringing information about the Hospitality and Meeting Industry to Meeting, Seminar, Trade Show, Overnight Accommodation, Special Event, Conference, Convention, for Association, Corporate, Group and Individual Planners along with Hotel, Resort, Conference Center, Attraction, Banquet Facility General Managers, Directors of Sales, Catering and Conference Services.

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CAESARS MEANS BUSINESS

Corporate DiningCasinoat Properties

The Prime Rib Lounge at Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland

Casino properties boast a wide range of offerings for everything from entertainment to accommodations to meeting space to dining. Whether seeking something casual, trendy, unique or upscale, planners will find a variety of culinary experiences at these versatile venues.

Bally’s Atlantic City

Atlantic City, NJ

Guy Fieri’s Chophouse offers a unique take on the classic steakhouse, featuring a menu of popular signature dishes with a New Jersey flair, such as the Java Rubbed Ribeye Chop, Filet with Roasted Garlic and Brown Butter, Spicy Bloody Mary Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail, and Jersey Shore Clams Casino. Wines, craft beers, and spirits from a small batch distillery complement the menu while guests enjoy skyline views. Boasting a capacity of 350 people, its separate dining rooms make it ideal for a private corporate function, even when the restaurant remains open to the public.

Another option for fine dining is the new Jerry Longo’s Meatballs & Martinis, serving “Italian Soul Food” - unpretentious Italian cuisine that focuses on the finest imported and freshest local ingredients, custom-crafted cocktails, and an extensive wine selection. The restaurant is known for its ocean and skyline views, and the Meatball Salad, “A Longo Classic,” is a must try. With an authentic and approachable atmosphere, the restaurant can accommodate up to 200 people and can offer options for a more intimate or a large corporate gathering.

Both restaurants are located on the sixth-floor dining and meeting room level offering easy proximity from meetings to dinner. Alternatively, relax with a cocktail or glass of wine in one of the restaurant bars. “Either restaurant is available for a complete buyout, allowing the company to have the place exclusive to themselves for the evening,” notes Peter Ciccone, regional vice president of sales, Bally's Corporation, Bally’s Atlantic City.

Those in search of fine dining opportunities will find options that include everything from steak and seafood to Italian to Asian and more at locations throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions. Here are a few of the top offerings available.

Guy Fieri's Chophouse

Caesars Atlantic City Atlantic City, NJ

Experience the elegance of Nobu, a distinctly unique brand recognized worldwide. Chef Nobu brings his signature cuisine to Atlantic City in a stunning atmosphere that overlooks the beach and boardwalk. Having debuted this spring, Nobu Atlantic City is an iconic restaurant serving as the first-of-its-kind in the region and offering a multi-sensory journey transporting guests to a chic and glamorous setting. A Nobu Hotel within Caesars complements the signature Nobu dining experience.

Just steps off the casino floor, this renowned Japanese restaurant pioneers a new style of Japanese cuisine. Guests may enjoy cocktails at the bar with sweeping ocean views, or watch chefs craft their specialty dishes at the sushi bar. The menu features Nobu Matsuhisa's signature dishes like Black Cod Miso and Rock Shrimp Tempura, as well as other unique dishes that offer a memorable dining experience.

Harrah's Atlantic City Atlantic City, NJ

There is something to satisfy everyone’s palate at Gordon Ramsay Steak. Let Chef Ramsay, a 16-time Michelin Star recipient, treat guests to an unforgettable evening of dishes like his legendary Beef Wellington, prime beef aged to perfection, and seasonal seafood.

Gordon Ramsay Steak features a modern take on the English pub that marries contemporary design with a striking restaurant that includes a chic dining room full of vibrant color. Each meal is made with fresh ingredients that pass Ramsay’s personal taste test. Choose a vintage from the

restaurant’s 2020 Wine Spectator award-winning cellar, or complement dinner with a specialty cocktail. Gordon Ramsay Steak is perfect for groups both small and large.

Another great choice at Harrah’s is McCormick & Schmick’s, which offers a classic steakhouse experience. Select a world-class steak, succulent chicken, or something fresh from a list of more than 30 varieties of seafood. The restaurant’s warm wood-accented walls, soft lighting, and contemporary colors are easy on the eyes. Plus, the seating features inviting comfort.

Full of locally sourced items, the menu’s expansive selection entices guests to try something new with each visit, while McCormick & Schmick’s bar impresses with a wealth of classic mixed drinks made from fresh ingredients. Plus, seasonally-inspired recipes and regional cooking preparations reinforce its ties to local growers.

Resorts Atlantic City Atlantic City, NJ

At Resorts Casino Hotel, Dougherty’s Steakhouse & Raw Bar, steaks and chops share the spotlight. Its menu is paired with an expansive raw bar and a carefully curated wine list. Private dining options are available.

Resorts Casino Hotel also is home to Italian restaurant, Capriccio, a high-end dining option that was named “#1 U.S. Casino Restaurant” in USA Today’s 10Best.com Readers’ Choice awards in 2018, 2020, 2021 and 2022. From excellent service to prix fixe menus to its fine dining atmosphere to its views of Atlantic City and beyond, Capriccio long has been lauded by dining critics and guests alike.

DINING SO SPECIAL, IT’S A ONE OF A KIND EVENT.

With an award-winning staff and an unmatched variety of dining and entertainment options, Resorts Casino Hotel is the one of a kind choice for your next event. Enjoy the talents of our culinary masters at Capriccio, voted #1 U.S. Casino Restaurant by USA Today, Dougherty’s Steakhouse and Raw Bar and Eastwind. Let us help you plan your own unique experience in our 64,000 square feet of 昀exible space, with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean.

All in one of the most acclaimed locations anywhere, the famed Atlantic City Boardwalk, and featuring the quality, service and style of a Mohegan property. Just minutes from two international airports.

CALL 609.340.7850, VISIT MEETATRESORTSAC.COM OR EMAIL SALES@RESORTSAC.COM TO BOOK YOUR COMPLIMENTARY SITE VISIT.

SHARECARE HEALTH SECURITY VERIFIED® WITH FORBES TRAVEL GUIDE

Tropicana Atlantic City Atlantic City, NJ

Ranked as one of the top overall restaurants in Atlantic City by OpenTable, il Verdi has offered authentic Italian cuisine for over 40 years, including handmade pasta and other Italian delicacies. Now in a new, beachfront location, il Verdi boasts a timeless, modern design with ocean views. A new antipasti bar offers a collection of Italian cheeses, salumi, and verdure. Enjoy a culinary tour of Italy through the restaurant’s extensive wine and cocktail list, as well.

Tropicana’s newest restaurant, Ossu Japanese Tavern, provides a modernized take on traditional Japanese food, offering a selection of dishes that include yakitori, sushi, small plates, and an arrangement of 15 Japanese Sakes and 50 variations of Japanese Whiskeys in which to indulge, along with a signature cocktail list.

Ossu’s ambience and decor transports guests to Japan for an experience of promising flavor and fun. Step inside and the aroma of various dishes ignites the senses. Immediately surrounded by graphic murals and illuminated street signs, diners will feel the chaos and beauty of Tokyo. Enjoy live DJ entertainment every Friday and Saturday as the dining room transforms into a vibrant and exciting nightlife spot.

Mohegan Sun Uncasville, CT

Just off the Sky Hotel Lobby at Mohegan Sun is TAO Asian Bistro & Lounge, the newest addition to Mohegan Sun’s vast dining portfolio that offers a distinctive culinary experience in a dramatic setting. Guests can choose from a selection of Asian-inspired specialties, focusing on Chinese, Japanese and Thai techniques and ingredients.

The venue includes the Ink Lounge, a sushi bar, two private dining rooms, an expansive bar area and TAO’s signature 16-foot-tall Quan Yin statue anchoring the main dining room. Tao Group Hospitality is known for creating world-class guest experiences with leaders in the worlds of business and finance, fashion, entertainment and technology, and TAO Asian Bistro & Lounge lives up to that reputation.

Michael Jordan’s Steak House offers a brand new two-tier Steaksmanship menu. The Steaksmanship Series is an over-the-top dining experience providing an opportunity for guests to indulge in a legendary meal that lives up to the prestige of the NBA legend. From a warm, inviting, contemporary setting to USDA Prime steaks, chops, fresh seafood, and a Wine Spectator-recognized wine list, Michael Jordan's Steak House delivers a memorable experience.

Entrance of TAO Asian Bistro & Lounge at Mohegan Sun

Mohegan Pennsylvania Wilkes-Barre, PA

Rustic Kitchen Bistro & Bar at Mohegan Pennsylvania has over 250 seats in four distinct rooms. The restaurant can accommodate large events in its main dining room or small intimate dinners in its Private Wine Room. Its television broadcast studio kitchen is home to “In the Kitchen,” a one-of-akind entertainment and dining experience.

Mount Airy Casino Resort Mt. Pocono, PA

Also at Mohegan Pennsylvania, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, led by Executive Chef John Gorrick and General Manager Mark Massetti, is committed to crafting an extraordinary dining experience unlike anything else in Wilkes-Barre. Whether guests are celebrating a special milestone, entertaining clients, or simply enjoying a night out with friends and family, Ruth’s Chris delivers the finest steaks along with top-notch service and hospitality.

"Mount Airy Casino Resort is the only destination in the region where you can truly have it all," asserts Tracy Lynn Pagán, CHA, director of hotel sales, Mount Airy Casino Resort. "Whether it's relaxing in our luxurious indoor-outdoor pool and spa, the non-stop excitement of our casino floor, or enjoying a fine meal at Bistecca by Il Mulino, we have everything to make your corporate event a memorable experience."

Bistecca by Il Mulino prepares its menu offerings in the classic fashion of Abruzzo’s cuisine with all the comforts of a modern Steakhouse. Each of its meats is meticulously selected and hand-cut by the restaurant's Executive Chef and is complemented by a wine menu that features choice varietals from around the world. Bistecca Il Mulino's menu, together with its world-class service, combine to make this dining experience a popular choice.

Wind Creek Bethlehem Bethlehem, PA

Wind Creek Bethlehem has multiple on-site dining options that afford meeting planners the opportunity to host a wide-range of experiences, including everything from formal dining to quick-service eats.

The property’s signature steakhouse, Chop House at Wind Creek, offers pre-course menu options that are perfect for groups between 10 and 25 guests. The on-site banquet team also can host upscale, sit-down dinners with custom menus and personalized wine pairings in the property’s new Foundry Ballroom and other meeting spaces, accommodating up to 1,500 guests. Private groups of up to 50 guests have the option to enjoy post-dinner dessert and cocktails in the Chairman’s Lounge, a luxurious lounge located on the top floor of Wind Creek Bethlehem’s hotel.

For groups on the go, Wind Creek Bethlehem has additional options including a second signature restaurant, Urban Table, plus a buffet, quick-service bites, and more.

“Wind Creek Bethlehem recently unveiled its long awaited $160-million expansion of the property. The project includes an additional hotel tower - taking the total room count from 282 to over 550 AAA Four-Diamond rooms,” notes Amelia Tognoli, corporate communications manager for Wind Creek Hospitality. “Plus, the property now boasts over 60,000-square feet of combined meeting and convention space, a fitness center and swimming pool (opening soon), the Spa at Wind Creek (opening soon), and Mixx, a new upscale lobby bar.”

Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA

Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia offers guests two high-end dining options to enjoy while on property. “The Prime Rib, our #1 Zagat-rated steakhouse, is a contemporary fine dining restaurant, blending a historic steakhouse and cocktail lounge with distinctive twists,” explains Carmen Gonzales, executive director of communications, Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia. “Think white glove service without the white gloves... it’s hip - even a little provocative. Dinner at The Prime Rib is as exhilarating as winning big just steps away on the casino floor. Guests will experience a memorable, bespoke evening uniquely suited to their tastes

and preferences. They will even have the opportunity to choose their own steak knives, pristinely polished and proudly presented tableside by our expert team.”

The buzz of activity in the open kitchen of Luk Fu, the casino’s Asian-fusion destination, is the first thing that lures guests inside. Here, mealtime is showtime. The delicate and authentic flavors of traditional and modernized dishes have diners craving an encore. Chefs from Japan, Thailand, Korea, China, and Vietnam carefully weave together ingredients imported from their native lands with locally grown produce, poultry, seafood, and meats to create a menu that appeals widely and satisfies many.

Live! offers something to please every guest’s palate. “With all of these options, planning corporate gatherings is easy - we provide incredible culinary experiences within the casino walls, so guests never have to leave,” notes Gonzales.

The Prime Rib seats 365 guests and offers private dining options in The Wine Cellar to accommodate up to 20 guests. The venue features two separate bars and live music on select days of the week. Luk Fu seats 120 guests and includes two private dining rooms each able to accommodate 12-16 guests, which also can provide private karaoke experiences.

In addition, the Live! team can bring the flavors directly to guests. One option is to host a dynamic “dine around the casino” event that includes light bites and flavors of The Prime Rib, Luk Fu, Sports & Social and Termini Bros. to a meeting room or other gathering

spot on-site. Another option is to host dine-arounds outside of the Event Center - 10th Street Market is a lively place to set the stage for a more casual dine around that even has an off the street patio and separate entrance for guests.

“Finally, organizers might like to toast to their team’s hard work with cocktails and light fare in our Library Bar at The Prime Rib, capped off by sushi and private karaoke in the lounges at Luk Fu,” says Gonzales.

Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland Hanover, MD

“As a top destination in the region, Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland provides locals and tourists alike a resort-style experience. We strive to offer our guests the finest and most unique experience, consisting of luxurious entertainment, hotel, gaming, and dining amenities,” explains Brian Fountain, director of food and beverage, Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland.

The award-winning Prime Rib® at Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland offers guests a holistic, upscale dining experience with elegant service, style, innovative cuisine, and a finely cu-

rated wine list. As the region’s Zagat-rated #1 steakhouse, The Prime Rib® serves the best in USDA prime meats and fresh seafood. The energy of the casino flows into the lounge and throughout the restaurant, lighting up the space to create an enjoyable atmosphere.

Luk Fu incorporates the aromas and tastes of cuisine from across Asia, with chefs from Japan, Thailand, Korea, China, and Vietnam, weaving together foods imported from their native lands with local ingredients to create an inclusive and savory menu. As a restaurant at the center of the casino floor, dining time is showtime at Luk Fu.

David’s is an elevated dining option that brings a homelike feel to an upscale atmosphere. David’s takes an innovative approach, mixing a modern aesthetic with genuine hospitality. The restaurant stems from The Cordish Companies CEO David Cordish’s passion for gathering around food with friends and his humble approach to hospitality, which drives the emphasis on the

The Prime Rib at Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland

restaurant’s new, reimagined chef-driven menu of fresh seafood, steaks, and local, seasonal farm-to-table ingredients.

The new menu at David’s also features an upscale beverage experience with its G&T Your Way option. G&T Your Way allows guests to become their own mixologists and explore over 1,000 different Gin and Tonic creations.

The Prime Rib® at Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland consists of multiple spaces that can be utilized and reserved for private dining and corporate gathering events. For smaller dinners, guests can use the private space in the center of the restaurant’s main dining room, surrounded by an enclosed wine display. The Lounge offers guests a stylish and casual setting with the best of the iconic The Prime Rib® dining experience. The relaxed and sophisticated atmosphere allows guests to enjoy a signature cocktail with clients or colleagues.

The Prime Rib® also boasts a newly renovated enclosed outdoor patio space with a retractable roof. In the warmer seasons, guests can enjoy a private dinner or happy hour on a cool summer night. Smaller groups can indulge in cocktails and cuisine at the dining rooms or bar and lounge spaces at Luk Fu and David’s. Every weekend, these high-end restaurants host live entertainment, as well.

MGM National Harbor National Harbor, MD

Maryland natives and brothers, Bryan and Michael Voltaggio (who starred on Bravo’s Emmy-winning series “Top Chef”), present Voltaggio Brothers Steak House, a premium dining concept that interpolates nostalgic design elements and childhood photos from the Voltaggio family into the décor for a unique, home-like ambiance. Their twist on the modern steakhouse features wood-fired steaks, savory seafood, flavorful cocktails, and Maryland-inspired favorites.

The main dining room can accommodate over 250 guests, while the private dining room seats up to 14. According to MGM National Harbor’s Executive Chef, Anthony Cieplinski, “Voltaggio Brothers Steak House is a can’t-miss experience for MGM National Harbor guests. From interiors that offer the comfort of home to innovative tableside presentations and impeccable service, prepare for a meal to remember.”

“Our staff can outline your entire dining experience from start to finish,” notes the property’s executive director of sales, Sheila Hession. “MGM National Harbor features five one-of-akind restaurants offering elite dining options suited for group events from 15 people to a full buyout. Select from our group dining menus, or our culinary experts can handcraft a custom menu based on your needs. Our talented beverage team can provide custom cocktails based on themes such as seasons, DC-centered concepts like cherry blossoms, custom logo colors, and more.”

The arrival of the warmer months means that patio season is underway at MGM National Harbor. Take in panoramic views while sipping favorite cocktails or enjoying a sizzling appetizer in the resort’s outdoor dining areas. Al fresco dining is available at Voltaggio Brothers Steak House, Diablo’s Cantina, National Market, and TAP Sports Bar.

Each of these casino properties present enticing offerings for upscale dining and culinary experiences. Attendees will enjoy the variety of menu options, spectacular service, impressive views, and luxurious settings in these all-encompassing destinations.

The Latest in Team Building

For those in search of the latest and most effective ways to build strong team bonds, opportunities for team building exist in a variety of forms throughout the region. From ropes courses to culinary activities to stockcar racing to murder mysteries to bike building and more, team building takes many forms and brings groups together in a variety of ways.

The Aquatopia Water Park at night, Camelback Resort in the Pocono Mountains, PA

Groups have a wealth of options when they visit the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania. Team building exercises are a big part of the offerings from several properties here, including: Blue Mountain Resort; Camelback Resort; Skytop Lodge; Woodloch Resort and others. These resorts have dedicated staff who lead teams through exercises that help to strengthen bonds within groups.

“Experiences in the Pocono Mountains can be extremely memorable,” explains Leigh Velez, regional sales manager for the Pocono Mountains Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Hiking to overlooks at state or national parks together, kayaking or rafting down the river rapids, learning how farms and farmers produce fresh ingredients used in refined menus at cafes and restaurants, or even an excursion on a historic train can provide bonding opportunities for groups.”

Additionally, wellness offerings at several spas allow for mindfulness, mental and physical health, and stronger connections among groups. The Poconos has grown its offerings for this aspect of bonding for groups, including world-class spas such as The Lodge at Woodloch.

“You cannot visit the Pocono Mountains and not seize on the opportunity to spend time on the many trails, waterways and other natural settings that give groups a chance to increase their activity levels, focus on healthy living, and witness breathtaking views of the forests and lakes that are so picturesque,” says Velez. “Movement is proven to improve our ability to critically think, and groups will easily enjoy their experiences recreating in the Poconos whether they are a novice, intermediate or advanced.”

Some of the most popular group activities here include team building at mountain adventure courses and immersive spa experiences focused on wellness. Numerous golf courses provide great outings with spectacular natural settings. Team Pro Kart

Racing or Stockcar Racing at Pocono Raceway are great ways to get out and experience something new and thrilling in a group, as well.

“Group planners want to provide valuable experiences for individuals, companies and teams,” observes Velez. “This means quality accommodations, impactful programming, delicious meals, and overall, a sense that the activities are meaningful for groups.”

Camelback Mountain Adventures creates an ideal landscape for team building activities, asserts Molly Coneybeer, director of marketing for Camelback Resort. “Our 4,000-foot ziplines test bravery, and it is really fun to watch groups encourage each other to conquer the rush. Our

Wheels Around The World is a social responsibility team building program offered by TeamBonding

UTVs hold up to four people, so that is always a valuable - and exhilarating - opportunity for teams to work together while navigating the mountain.”

“We’ve recently curated some exceptional experiences including dueling pianos, splatter rooms and charcuterie-building workshops,” Coneybeer adds.

Many group planners want activities that are unique and will really “wow” their groups. To that end, there are several “out of the ordinary” options for meeting planners to explore at Camelback. The property’s mountainside setting provides many exciting offerings through which the resort can curate experiences that cater to each individual group. “I truly believe that’s what

sets our resort apart from others,” Coneybeer notes.

Kalahari Resorts and Conventions in the Pocono Mountains offers a variety of options on property and works with facilitators to help design and create team building activities for groups, but the resort’s most popular activities are hands-on culinary experiences, mixology classes, hiking, Gorilla Grove (ropes course and zip lining), miniature golf, and laser tag. Among the most sought-after activities for 2023 at the resort are culinary experiences and outdoor adventures.

Groups are interested in fun, handson, and interactive experiences for team building rather than standard

ice breakers and structured courses. Kalahari offers ample space and many activities, making it a great platform for creativity and ideas to customize a team building experience.

Mixology classes at the resort include creating themed cocktails, seasonal drinks, and more. Tasting dinners (multi course wine and food pairings led by the Kalahari’s culinary teams) are well-suited to groups of 25 or less. Hands-on cooking demonstrations can be themed, such as pastry creations, truffle making, seasonal meal ideas, and more.

Other options for team activities include miniature golf tournaments, escape rooms, laser tag, duckpin bowling, and more available for any type of weather. Scavenger hunts, hiking, and other ways to explore the resort grounds are popular here, too.

“Woodloch is fortunate to have many repeat customers, and they are always looking for something new so they are not doing the same team building activities year after year,” notes Matt Butler, corporate sales manager, Woodloch Resort in the Poconos. “Our newest

events - Figure It Out and Nailed It, a bakeoff style competition - have been the most popular requests for 2023, since many repeat groups have not tried those events yet. However, classics like boat building and scavenger hunts are always very popular for new and repeat groups alike.”

Groups are still trending toward outdoor activities, Butler adds. “Whether it is hiking on our miles of nature trails or relaxing in or on our pristine lake, groups tend to utilize the natural beauty and resources that Woodloch provides. Our visiting groups tend to come from metropolitan areas, so a lot of their employees do not get to experience the serenity and natural beauty that the Pocono Mountains offer on a daily basis. Groups really enjoy taking advantage of this while they are here.”

Among the team building options at Woodloch are: a campfire with s'mores and acoustic music; boat building; scavenger hunts; Amazing Race activities; Woodloch’s Ultimate Game Night; wine tastings; hiking; Nailed It; Figure It Out; mixology classes; and game shows like Family Feud.

Charitable bike building team building event at Woodloch Resort in the Pocono Mountains, PA

From an interactive murder mystery to a custom designed heist party, Without A Cue Productions promises a high level of engagement and memorability for events. Since 2001, they have been designing custom team building, parties, and more, finding new and inventive ways to bring people together.

In addition to standard packages available at Red Rum Theater in Philadelphia, Without A Cue also currently creates a heist themed wedding and an 11-day murder mystery cruise on the Nile.

Without A Cue’s Red Rum Theater is a Center City Philadelphia venue that can seat up to 100 attendees and of fers a variety of packages for group events. Planners can opt to bring in their own caterer, or choose one of Without A Cue’s varied food packages. As part of the Red Rum Theater’s murder mysteries, a group can add a team building exercise that as sesses the personality traits of participants, and then divides them into groups based on which “detective” they are. From there, it is a race to see which detective team can solve the crime the fastest.

Interactive murder mysteries - and other interactive, story-based events - allow groups to engage in a more active, but also structured, manner. Since Without A Cue’s events have story lines and goals, guests are guided through the adventure, rather than expected to self-initiate engagement with others. The structure of these events facilitates more social engagement than many traditional team building programs.

Without A Cue offers a host of interactive, entertaining, and immersive team building experiences

Without A Cue often is asked to create custom events, whether based on a specific storyline or specific to a location. Requests for smaller group activities among groups of 20 or fewer is more common today, as well.

TeamBonding looks at team building as a “win-win.” The company wins, and the employees win when they become more engaged, are happier at work, and get to know each other better while having fun as a team. Team building that involves giving back is a "win-winwin" because, in addition, the community benefits from the donation of time, energy, and materials that are received.

Corporate social responsibility programs have become extremely popular post-pandemic, and TeamBonding has added several new ones, including: Build a Birthday, which involves creating kits for homeless children; Clean Water Connection, where teams construct water filters to be donated internationally to locations suffering from compromised water quality; and Build a Wheelchair, catering specifically to dogs. These programs, alongside traditional Charity Bike Build and Operation Cancer Care, span virtual and in-person experiences, offering diverse opportunities to make a difference.

TeamBonding also has a corporate volunteer division that manages employee volunteer programs for For-

tune 500 companies, and organizing team volunteering opportunities for over 100,000 employees per year.

“The significance of incorporating social responsibility and giving back into team building goes beyond just bringing your team together in a fun and meaningful way,” explains David Goldstein, COO (Creator of Opportunities) for TeamBonding. “Engaging in these collaborative activities to build and donate meaningful items, and witnessing the impact on recipients, creates a profound and meaningful connection among the group.”

“In addition, individuals and teams are able to let their personalities shine and build friendships that last beyond the event itself,” Goldstein continues. “The ‘Do Good Bus’ offers a unique opportunity for team members to collaborate side-by-side, actively participating in hands-on projects at volunteer sites. This collective experience allows participants to shift their focus away from their usual work environment and channel their energy toward a different shared goal, fostering genuine connections while making a direct impact on the community.”

Goldstein says that, from personal experience, whether it is preparing a meal for the hungry, assembling bicycles for those who have never owned one, or building and donating teddy bears, TeamBonding knows that these activities bring people together through shared

experiences, leadership, empathy, and teamwork. “When we do this, our staff feels better about our company, just like our clients and their employees feel better about themselves.”

“Our events are constantly evolving, as there is a demand for fresh and unique experiences that set clients apart and leave a lasting impression,” says Goldstein. “At TeamBonding, we understand the importance of tailored outcomes and strive to meet our clients’ specific goals. With the current blend of remote and in-person teams, along with virtual and in-person events, we have dedicated program development managers who continuously create and refine new programs based on client requests and emerging trends. Being a part of a global network comprising of 50 team building companies across 94 countries keeps us on the cutting edge.”

In addition to its popular charitable programs, TeamBonding’s hands-on

Berrelli’s Italian Chophouse at Camelback Resort

culinary events provide an engaging, interactive, and tasty experience that taps into the senses. Additionally, programs that incorporate virtual reality and high-tech elements have been well-received, too, offering new, exciting, and cutting-edge team building opportunities. During the summer, outdoor events take center stage, allowing teams to engage in immersive experiences while also enjoying the beautiful weather.

“By continuously exploring new concepts and aligning with current trends, we ensure that our clients have access to innovative and captivating team building opportunities that meet their evolving needs in today’s dynamic work environment,” observes Goldstein.

“We are witnessing a growing preference for team building programs that cater to larger in-person gatherings, particularly outdoor experiences that allow teams to connect in natural environments, and a gradual shift away from virtual events,” Goldstein continues. “One exciting trend that has caught our attention is the increased interest in uniquely distinctive activities, where a group can collectively experience something entirely

H20ooooh Indoor Waterpark at Split Rock Resort in the Pocono Mountains, PA; photo courtesy: PoconoMountains.com

“Woodloch is fortunate to have many repeat customers, and they are always looking for something new so they are not doing the same team building activities year after year.”

-

Matt Butler, corporate sales manager, Woodloch Resort, Poconos

new. There is a strong desire for unity and collaboration, but above all, for fun.”

TeamBonding wholeheartedly embraces these trends and specifically designs programs to accommodate them, such as their Mystery Bus, where teams embark on an adventure packed day full of activities. “By providing immersive and engaging experiences, we empower teams with events that transcend the ordinary,” Goldstein concludes.

Each of these venues and companies provide planners with diverse offerings and a wide array of ways to bring people together in a number of settings. Continuously evolving and keeping up with the changing needs of their clients, these facilitators are bringing new and exciting experiences and opportunities to those seeking unique and entertaining ways of fostering unity and togetherness.

Boat building team activity at Woodloch Resort

Sports-Related Events & Activities

Sports and sports-related events and activities mean big business for a wide range of venues throughout the region, with many hosting a variety of youth sports tournaments, cheer and color guard competitions, events like professional wrestling, and more. Others act as centralized hubs for local fans and out-of-towners seeking a place to enjoy professional sports, whether in-person or on big screen TVs.

The location of the Blair County Convention Center in Altoona, PA is appealing as it offers a great deal of convenience to its guests, explains Garrett Giedroc, marketing and sales manager for the facility. “It is centrally located between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg and is easily accessible from every major highway interstate.”

While the facility may not have been built specifically to accommodate every sports-related event, Giedroc observes, the unique features of its ballroom and lower-level exhibit hall provide plenty of opportunities hosting a variety of sports and related events, such as wrestling and dance competitions, for example.

“We welcome many dance competitions from numerous dance team affiliates into our ballroom,” says

Giedroc. “The setup includes theater-style seating upward of 500 with a large, flexible stage and a dedicated space for audio-visual technical equipment.”

The Ken Chertow Gold Medal Training Camp returns annually to the convention center each summer for two-and-a-half weeks, drawing over 300 youth wrestlers along with their families.

“The sports-related market allows the Altoona and Blair County area to flourish, and we are pleased to be able to join the effort of providing a space and environment for sportsrelated events,” notes Giedroc.

These competitions often consist of 3- to 4-day events that require both lodging and food and beverage needs. In addition, participants and attendees look for fun and unique experiences during their free time. All of this adds up to a positive economic impact on local businesses and the community.

The Blair County Convention Center attracts sporting and sports-related activities through digital marketing efforts in the surrounding counties and in larger nearby metropolitan areas, Giedroc says. They also advertise in the guides and directories of surrounding counties’ chambers of commerce, and partner in efforts with the area’s destination marketing organization, Explore Altoona, and its economic development team, ABCD Corporation from the First Frontier, Blair County.

“All of our marketing efforts not only focus on our beautiful facility, but on the hospitality that Blair County consistently delivers to each special guest through the unique experiences of local attractions, restaurants, and lodging,” Giedroc asserts.

The February 2021 opening of Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia instantly transformed the city’s Stadium District into a full-resort destination that combines live sports, entertainment, and gaming with great dining and hospitality.

Live! Philadelphia’s central location in South Philadelphia’s Stadium District also makes it a gathering place for fans, whether before, during and after live events. “We developed the experience with that in mind,” asserts Carmen Gonzales, executive director of communications for Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia.

Sports & Social’s 52-foot LED display serves as its centerpiece, showcasing the biggest games on the biggest screen - an epicenter for fans to connect and catch all the action during both home and away games.

Live! Philadelphia is the only casino in the country located within walking distance of four professional sports teams. This makes it easy for meeting and event planners to plan excursions to see concerts, live shows, or to watch Philadelphia’s favorite sports teams play.

“Live!’s dedicated event planning team members can seamlessly connect you with group ticketing offices for all the major sports teams to help coordinate a memorable game-day excursion,” proclaims Gonzales.

Alternatively, guests can enjoy all the energy and action of game day right on-site at the casino. “Sports & Social, our one-of-a-kind sports restaurant, gaming venue and social lounge, is a hub for fans to cheer on their teams, whether they are playing at home or away. Sports & Social features signature cocktails and fanfavorite food along with Philly classics like cheesesteaks. Sports & Social has over 24 televisions, including the 52-foot LED big screen,” notes Gonzales.

Looking to ramp up the excitement? Guests can place bets on their favorite team at FanDuel Sportsbook & Lounge, which is connected directly to Sports & Social. Guests have multiple options on-site for wagering, including self-service kiosks and retail windows, all within sight of the big game.

“Live! Philadelphia also hosts gameday events and specials for guests and sports fans. For the Phillies’ home opener, we hosted a tailgate that included appearances by beloved Phillies alumni. We often host events for fans before and after Eagles games during football season, too,” Gonzales adds.

Whether planning a trade show or sporting event, the Roland E. Powell Convention Center in Ocean City, MD can easily accommodate a wide range of needs. Offering newly renovated rooms, water views, and a bayfront promenade, it features of variety of spaces to handle any occasion. The convention center accommodates various sporting and related events throughout the year, including wrestling, cheerleading, beach and indoor volleyball, basketball, and more.

Approximately 25-30 percent of the center’s business comes from this market segment, and bringing these types of events into town helps local businesses and provides the opportunity to share the beauty, versatility,

and unique offerings of Ocean City with new and returning groups.

By attending sporting conventions and destination showcase events, as well as through print ads in sports trade publications and on social media, Ocean City continues to build awareness of the Roland E. Powell Convention Center as a top destination for sports-related events and tournaments.

Valley Forge and Montgomery County, PA provides another outstanding destination experience for youth sports participants as well as their families. Besides quality tournament venues, there is much to do here with 1,800 restaurants, family-friendly attractions, world-class shopping, and more than 200 arts and cultural venues.

The region also provides value for those staying overnight. The hotel tax in Montgomery County is among the lowest in the region, and parking is always

free. Located just outside of Philadelphia, this suburban destination provides convenient access to major roadways, the Philadelphia International Airport, public transportation, and a host of regional attractions.

The Proving Grounds is a premier Mid-Atlantic multisport tournament complex in Conshohocken, PA. The facility features nine oversized linear turf fields with lights striped for men’s and women’s lacrosse, soccer, and field hockey.

Competitive Edge offers five hardwood courts with a 6,000-square foot SAQ area, facility rentals, catering, and a café in King of Prussia, PA. Two premier events coming to this venue in 2023 include Stonewall Sports 2023 Dodgeball and Volleyball competitions, and USA Dodgeball Premier Tour Philadelphia.

Reach Climbing and Fitness is a 23,000-square foot indoor rock-climbing facility in Bridgeport, PA, built and operated by lifelong Montco residents. This unique and

versatile facility has hosted several USA Climbing events since opening, and is a regular host of USA Climbing competitions. There are dedicated teaching and training walls, advanced competition walls, and the Northeast’s only Olympic-sized speed wall. The site also includes a weight room, fitness areas with cardio equipment, and a training room.

The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks, PA offers up to 240,000-square feet of space on one level with five distinct halls. The facility can accommodate various layouts, including the capacity to fit 16 full-size basketball courts and over 30 volleyball courts. In addition, the entire facility recently upgraded to 10G commercial grade Internet, and it has more than 5,000 free on-site parking spaces.

This complex also offers fun activities including indoor go-karts, laser tag, and an on-site arcade at Arnold’s Family Fun Center, located just across the parking lot from the Expo Center. Some of the sporting events held at the Expo Center include: USA Weightlifting; USA Wrestling; USA Taekwondo; basketball; volleyball; breakdancing; cornhole; as well as cheer and dance competitions.

The Event Center at the Valley Forge Casino Resort offers close to 100,000-square feet of total event space in King of Prussia. The casino property offers 45 meet-

ing rooms in total, four ballrooms, a 55,000-square foot Event Center, seven dining and entertainment venues, and more than 400 guest rooms. In 2023, the casino hosted the USA Masters Weightlifting Championship and actively seeks to host more sporting events.

Youth and amateur sporting events represent over $60million in economic impact annually, generating upward of 85,000 overnight rooms and support many local jobs, especially in the hotels, restaurants, shops, and attractions across all of Montgomery County.

The Valley Forge Sports sales team travels to 16 conferences per year (on average) to meet face-to-face with potential clients. They also advertise in a variety of sports media publications, including both print and digital.

The Wildwoods Convention Center in Wildwood, NJ is a 260,000-square foot facility offering one of the most spacious, flexible, innovative, and inviting locations for indoor sporting events. The convention center’s flexible indoor venue space lends itself to hosting all types of sporting events year-round and in any type of weather, with an emphasis on youth sports.

It has a 75,000-square foot arena with 30-foot-high ceilings and unobstructed views with bleacher seating for up to 5,500 attendees that can accommodate 28-

Youth sports such as volleyball tournaments are popular events at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center in Ocean City, MD

A youth wrestling tournament taking place at the Wildwoods Convention Center in Wildwood, NJ

wrestling mats, four indoor soccer matches, 12 Futsal matches, 12 volleyball games, and 2 full-court basketball games.

“Annually, the Wildwoods Convention Center hosts over two dozen sporting events and tournaments, ranging from wrestling, cheerleading, and basketball to gymnastics, Futsal, floor hockey, mixed martial arts, and indoor soccer competitions. The convention center also hosts dance and band competitions, as well as major sporting events like the Harlem Globetrotters and WWE live professional wrestling events,” says Michele Mendelson, sales manager for the Wildwoods Convention Center.

Offering impressive ocean views from its outside deck, main exhibit hall, and lobby area, the convention center features floor-to-ceiling windows along with a Teflon-coated translucent fabric roof that allows the entire building to be flooded in natural sunlight during the day.

The Wildwoods Convention Center also offers dining options for all groups and events. Their executive chef and expert catering staff meet the needs of any event host through an array of food service and concession services, catering, as well as

BIG CITY EXPERIENCE, SMALL TOWN PRICE

décor and theme consultations for meetings and conventions.

On average, the sporting events segment constitutes over 25 percent of the convention center’s annual total business, with more than 86 percent of those sporting events coming from the youth sports market.

“These sporting events attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to the destination each year, generating over 31,000 hotel room nights, over 281,400 dining opportunities, and providing an overall yearly economic impact of over $8-million. In 2022, the Wildwoods hosted 24 different

EXPECT MORE THAN MOUNTAINS IN THE POCONOS

Make your vision a reality in the Poconos, where you’ll find everything you need to inspire and motivate your team. Up-to-date amenities and all of the latest tech enhance your experience for optimal growth, learning and connection. After your meeting or conference, gather with your coworkers for happy hour with a view, or take a swing on one of our 13 golf courses. Email sales@poconos.org to learn more.

The Golf Course at Paupack Hills

Ledges Hotel

Kalahari Resorts & Conventions

Whitewater rafting group in the Pocono Mountains; photo courtesy: PoconoMountains.com

sporting events,” Mendelson explains.

Print ads in various sports trade magazines, email marketing to event organizers and producers, digital display ads, and social media marketing, along with direct outreach by the convention center’s sales team are ways that the Wildwoods Convention Center keeps itself at the forefront of the youth sports industry as a destination for these activities, events, and tournaments.

Each of these destinations have proven to be successful hosts for sports and sports-related activities in the Mid-Atlantic Region. The economic impact of these events is

felt in many areas of the hospitality industry, and planners are attracted to these destinations for their vast and varied offerings in addition to the ample accommodations available.

Sports and sportsrelated activities continue to be a strong, driving force for many cities and counties throughout the region, both large and small. This market presents ample opportunities and destinations such as these provide them with plenty of options for their events.

Lessons Learned in 2022 for 2026

By Jhona Ireland, Center City District

We might be three years away from 2026, but it will be here before we know it. And the time to start planning for what will be one of the largest global events isn’t 2025; it’s now.

What better way to prepare than through learning from the past? Center City District was excited to host the Premier League Mornings LIVE Fan Fest, right in the heart of the city and outside of the iconic City Hall at Dilworth Park in October 2022, and it provided us with insights as to what may come when Philadelphia returns to the national stage once again.

The magnitude of these events will encourage venues to host more guests and visitors to the region. Here is what we learned from our experiences, and some key considerations for any organization planning to host events of this scale.

Hosting The Premier League Mornings LIVE Fan Fest

The Premier League Mornings LIVE was a two-day family-friendly Fan Fest showcasing all the English Premier League’s tournament matches of the weekend on giant LED screens, with NBC Sports Commentators and celebrity guests broadcasting live. In addition, several other pop-up engagements occurred, including talent meet & greets, legendary player visits, merchandise sales, club mascots, an appearance by the Premier

League Trophy, brand activations and more.

For the Premier League team, the aim was to establish a communal space for enthusiastic club supporters and to showcase the Premier League experience for in-person attendees and broadcast viewers. To do so, this meant ensuring public safety and preparing a full risk management plan.

In our role, the Center City District team focused on ensuring collaboration between key stakeholders, including NBC Sports, the Premier League, event manager HudsonGray, Inc., and the City of Philadelphia. This included everything from propertywide access management to vendor and logistics coordination for power, janitorial services, waste management, security, branding, craft services, concessions, and tenting. This also meant planning in a way that minimized public disruption and interruption to civic operations like jury duty and court proceedings.

Thanks to our investment in planning, Premier League Mornings LIVE Fan Fest at Dilworth Park surpassed attendance records with 16,000 total attendees, a 175 percent increase in attendance on the first day and a 225 percent increase in attendance on the second day when compared to attendance in the prior six markets. Additionally, preparation and alignment with key City departments to manage essential services, including police and fire, a security firm, and the production team allowed us to mitigate risks and produce an event with minimal incidents and to develop plans and playbooks adaptable for future use.

The Need to Look Ahead – And How You Can Start Preparing Today

2026 is going to be a huge year for Philadelphia. Between confirmed events occurring around the FIFA World Cup, the MLB All-Star Game, and the Semiquincentennial celebration, along with other possibilities, such as sports team championships and annual events like the Philadelphia Flower Show, it is imperative for event planners to have a clear understanding of the events that are taking place, how they could influence each other, and what venues can do now to prepare. When working with the English Premier League at Dilworth Park, here are a few things we focused on that you should start considering now.

Line Management: Expect long lines! Enthusiastic fans arrive early and eagerly wait in line for hours. Build a plan for queuing people that includes where overflow lines can stand. At its height, the line for opening day of Fan Fest circled the perimeter of City Hall and stretched past the start of it, meaning that we needed to utilize space that crossed traffic lanes of the street and create additional barriers between fans and traffic.

Bathrooms: After waiting in line overnight to be the first in and get the best viewing spots for the games, as well as to scope out their favorite on-air personalities, fans will be looking for restrooms. Beyond knowing the anticipated guest attendance and number of hours of use, be sure to situate restrooms in locations that are

easily accessible, not only for fan use, but for servicing them, as well. They will undoubtedly need to be restocked and cleaned throughout the day.

Food: Fans will be coming in early and hungry. Plan ahead and make sure there are enough points of sale stations with staff, along with the necessary infrastructure like Internet and power connections to keep lines expedited. Additionally, produce clear signage that indicates menus and wayfinding to ensure people know where their favorite foods and drinks can be found.

Public Safety & Crisis Planning: Often, the infrastructure for communicating emergencies already exists when you are dealing with city and state services such as EMTs, police, fire, and others; so, let the pros take the lead. Utilize their knowledge and expertise of established protocols and integrate them with your specific event and venue, and establish a chain of command and communicate it with all designated points of contact to ensure those with boots on the ground know exactly what to do in the event of emergency. Wayfinding materials like maps and signage should clearly display emergency exits, lost and found for objects and people, and first aid. Finally, any crisis plan should be distributed and reviewed with team members to ensure understanding. The best plans will be obsolete if no one knows what they are.

Staffing: Undoubtedly, most entities will need to staff up for marquee events like those coming in 2026. That means planning and forming relationships now, including with potential outsourced vendors to supplement resources. Common areas to outsource include: brand ambassadors; culinary and catering staff; and security staff, as you can expect to need more staffing in each of these areas.

Get Ready, Philadelphia!

Philadelphia is no stranger to being on the global stage, and 2026 is an opportunity for job growth for the City. Lean into it, and start your planning today!

www.centercityphila.org

Photo Credits: Sean T. Smith / Simon Luethi

Planning Boutique

Meetings in Valley Forge &

Meetings and events are back in Valley Forge and Montg look and feel. Many meetings in the area are focused on experiences for attendees.

“At the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board (VFTCB), we’ve seen an increase in requests for smaller, more high-end meetings,” said Scott Higgins, Director of Sales for the VFTCB. “Our clients have been looking for a more personalized event for their attendees.”

Luckily, thanks to major renovations and the addition of high-end options, Montco has plenty to offer to help planners exceed expectations in creating boutique meetings, Higgins said.

For example, the Alloy, a Doubletree Hotel, recently completed a $20-million renovation and conversion, which moved the bar into the lobby, creating an exciting and welcoming atmosphere. The property features 25,500-square feet of meeting space, but ample smaller rooms offer options for different programs, according to Neal Yakupcin, Director of Sales and Marketing for the hotel.

“Client requests for executive boardrooms with advanced audio-visual capabilities and high-end seating are increasing,” Yakupcin said. “Hybrid meetings are here to stay, so we’ve equipped our boardrooms at the Alloy with Meeting Owl Pros. They work seamlessly with videoconferencing solutions, such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom, allowing those off-site to feel truly connected while attending meetings remotely.”

& Montgomery County, PA

County, PA with a different

more unique and intimate

The hotel also added X-Chairs, providing allday comfort with massaging, heating, and cooling capabilities at each individual seat, Yakupcin noted.

Montgomery County’s newest hotel, West and Main, a Tapestry by Hilton hotel, features a distinctive mixture of antique and modern attributes. Located in the heart of Conshohocken, the hotel’s incorporation of a historic firehouse as their hotel lobby and two restaurants – including a rooftop bar overlooking outdoor space – provides an elevated dining experience for meeting attendees.

Normandy Farm Hotel and Conference Center is one of Valley Forge and Montco’s most historic properties. A four-star independent property that has 30,000-square feet of indoor meeting space, the 290-year-old property offers even more outdoor space. The on-site restaurant, the farmer’s daughter, provides an advanced culinary experience for attendees. In addition, they offer Farm-

"Luckily, thanks to major renovations and the addition of high-end options, Montco has plenty to offer to help planners exceed expectations in creating boutique meetings," said Scott Higgins Director of Sales Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board.

Valley Forge Park Trolley Tours

house accommodations for groups of up to 25. The venue also offers the option to rent out entire buildings onsite for an even more close knit experience.

“Our customers continue to see the value and importance of meeting in person,” said Christine Jusino, Director of Sales for Normandy Farm. “They are looking for a way to create a new environment to promote productivity, boost creativity, and collaboration, and even bond over their culinary experience. The common theme in what our meeting planners are looking for is the ability to host the meeting, meals, and experiences all in one location. This not only saves them time, but simplifies the process. We have a one-stop shop approach offering a beautiful location that is rich in history, hotel accommodations, conference center, indoor-outdoor spaces, amazing food, and a variety of team building activities. Our team coordinates all these details for planners, making for a seamless, enriching, and unique experience.”

Normandy Farm also recently revealed the grand opening of a $5-million rebuild of the Historic Carriage House, a Montgomery County landmark that had been destroyed by fire two and a half years ago. The Contemporary Carriage House was recon-

Ribbon cutting for the opening of the rebuilt Carriage House at Normandy Farm Hotel & Conference Center in Blue Bell, PA; photo courtesy: ValleyForge.org

structed from the ground up, and features 21 new hotel suites spanning more than 18,268-square feet and three stories. The expansion provides 12 additional guest rooms, bringing the overall property capacity up to 153 rooms.

Plus, Montgomery County also offers several high-end steakhouses and other exceptional dining experiences, such as Capital Grille for dry-aged steaks, Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, Fogo de Chao for authentic Brazilian cuisine, Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse for handmade pasta, and Topchef Winner Nicholas Elmi’s Lark with rooftop views.

Valley Forge and Montco have a plethora of activities geared toward smaller groups, too, including: Elmwood Park Zoo; Cork and Candles’ BYOB custom candle pouring; Karamoor Estate Vineyard & Winery; a new Topgolf with climate-controlled hitting bays; and even private tours at Valley Forge National Historical Park.

In addition, the VFTCB’s Show Your Badge Savings Pass offers free, exclusive discounts for meeting attendees to some of the area’s most popular attractions, restaurants, and shops. The Savings Pass offers are sent directly to attendees’ phones and can be redeemed via text or email.

Group tours at Valley Forge National Historical Park; photo courtesy: ValleyForge.org

CONNECTICUT CTMEETINGS.ORG

OVERVIEW

Connecticut is known for its richness of historical and cultural arts attractions, most of which can be used as unique venues for events. The state has more than 1,500 sites on the National Historic Registry, and this abundance of locations appeals to groups and associations with specific industry themes or focus areas.

Scenic Connecticut is compact, yet offers many different types of meeting venues and hotels (including dozens of bed-and-breakfasts) in a wide range of picturesque locations. Its size makes it easy for groups to meet and daytrip to numerous off-site attractions.

Rendering of the ballroom at the new Bristol Event

Center, opening in Bristol, CT this September; photo courtesy: CTMEETINGS.org

“From the sandy beaches of the Long Island Sound to theaters and museums in exciting cities to entertainment at two of the world’s largest casinos to cruising on the Connecticut River to hiking the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains in Litchfield County, there is something here for everyone,” proclaims Robert Murdock, president of the Connecticut Convention and Sports Bureau (CTMEETINGS).

WHAT’S NEW

Opening in September 2023 is Bristol Event Center, just 19 miles west of Hartford in the town of Bristol, will feature a campus with state-of-the-art meeting space, the cornerstone of which will be its chic and innovative Century Ballroom. This new building will feature 50,000-square feet of flexible function space that includes a ballroom, two hospitality suites, a lecture room, and an expansive outdoor area. Two on-site hotels include the Bristol DoubleTree by Hilton, and the new Bristol Home2 Suites by Hilton.

Slated to open early 2025, the 549-room Great Wolf Lodge will be located on 13-acres adjacent to Foxwoods Resort and Casino and will feature an indoor water park and a family entertainment center with dining and shops.

The Delamar Mystic, a new luxury boutique hotel, the newest in the group of upscale Delamar hotels in the state, plans to open in the fall of 2024 along Mystic River on the Mystic Seaport Museum campus. It will offer 33 guestrooms and suites with floor-to-ceiling windows, a waterfront restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, plus a ballroom with waterfront event lawn. There are additional Delamar hotels in West Hartford, Greenwich Harbor, and Southport section of Fairfield, as well.

Hotel Marcel in New Haven opened in 2022 as the nation's first net-zero hotel, featuring iconic Brutalist design, curated artwork, and a sustainability-focused operation. Its carports and roof are covered with over 1000 photovoltaic panels that generate solar power for its very own microgrid. A Power-over-Ethernet lighting system and one megawatt hour of battery storage keep all operations running smoothly. The hotel also boasts 12 Tesla Superchargers and 12 level-two destination universal EV chargers to power electric cars.

Rainmaker Expo Center at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket is an 80,000-square-foot venue that opened in November, 2022. A new High Stakes Bingo Hall opened at the resort in July of 2022, as well.

Mohegan Sun in Uncasville kicked off the summer season on Memorial Day Weekend by inaugurating its new Sun Patio Bar. This new outdoor patio features a 50foot-long full-service bar, six hi-def screens, and plenty of outdoor seating for guests 21 and older to enjoy drink specials, on-site food truck meal options, and live music performances.

When it opens later this year, Pickleball America in Stamford will be one of the largest indoor pickleball venues in the U.S. with 28 indoor courts, taking over an anchor space in the downtown Stamford Town Center.

Dudleytown Brewing Company in Windsor will brew and serve craft beer on site in its taproom, and will feature a front-entry patio with a fire pit, a beer garden with fire tables, and a wood-fired pizza oven, all less than 10-miles north of downtown Hartford, adjacent to largest dedicated fastpitch softball complex in the Northeastern U.S. (with 11 fields) that draws thousands of athletes and their families for tournaments throughout the year.

THINGS TO DO

Numerous historic, arts, and science-related attractions include: Mark Twain House and Museum, Connecticut’s Old State House (site of the historic Amistad Trial), Connecticut Science Center, and the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford; Mystic Seaport Museum, and Mystic Aquarium in Mystic; the Maritime Aquarium

in Norwalk; Essex Steam Train and Riverboat; and the U.S. Navy Submarine Force Library and Museum in Groton.

Foxwoods outdoor adventure activities include ziplining and Monza World-Class Karting. Brownstone Adventure Sports Park in Portland offers swimming and water obstacles, zip lines, cliff jumping, rock climbing, kayaks and paddleboards, and more. Lime Rock Park offers street car, race car, or rental on the track driving experiences.

Argia Mystic Cruises in Mystic, Connecticut River Cruise and Charter in Middletown; plus, eagle-watching cruises, fishing boat charters, sailing excursions, and more are available, as well.

In addition, Connecticut’s Cornerstones Northeast Team Building has strong partnerships with meeting planners, hotels, and other business and academic institutions looking for high impact team building programs. Other venues throughout the state also offer an array of team building activities, as well.

Additional things to see and do in the state include opportunities to enjoy live theater, a variety of sports and recreational activities, major live music venues like Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater in Bridgeport, West Haven Music Bowl, XL Center and the Xfinity Theatre in Hartford, the Toyota Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, and the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville.

PLACES TO MEET

Connecticut offers a wide range of meeting and event venues, including: the 540,000-square-foot Connecticut Convention Center in downtown Hartford and, right next door, the Marriott Downtown Hartford; the Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale; Western Connecticut’s Ethan Allen Hotel; Stamford Marriott Hotel & Spa and the Hilton Stamford Hotel & Executive Meeting Center; Heritage Hotel & Conference Center in Litchfield Hills; Southeast Connecticut shoreline’s Saybrook Point Resort & Marina, the Water’s Edge Resort & Spa, and Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa; Mohegan Sun with its two convention centers, and Foxwoods Resort Casino.

Rendering of Dudleytown Brewing Co., currently under construction in Windsor, CT; photo courtesy: CTMEETINGS.org

FOOD & DRINK

Farm-to-table dining options have been popular in green Connecticut for the past decade and that trend is only growing stronger.

Every year, Connecticut pizza parlors are listed in top national rankings for best pizzas, especially the “Apizza” eateries on New Haven’s Wooster Street. An emerging, hands-on trend is “make your own pizza” experiences, including The Pizza Gavones’ New Haven Pizza School, offering pizzamaking classes for team building, classroom, and “lunch & learn” sessions.

Situated on the sparking Southern New England shoreline, fresh seafood is abundant here. Connecticut likes to celebrate its fish with public Oyster festivals and seafood boils. The Town of Windsor even hosts an annual parade, fishing competition, road race, and other related activities in honor of the American Shad – the State fish.

The state also is known for its ever-expanding variety of micro-breweries and its selfguided CT Beer Trail. There has been a recent surge of newly constructed breweries with full-dining menus or on-site eclectic food trucks, entertainment, and outdoor seating with firepits.

Food Truck Festivals and Food Truck Parks are popping up across the state, too, and meeting planners seeking something different for their attendees are hiring them for off-site social events.

Riverfront Recapture’s annual Food Truck Festival in Downtown Hartford, CT; photo credit: Andy Hart & Riverfront Recapture; courtesy: CTMEETINGS.org

NEW YORK

BUFFALO, NY

visitbuffaloniagara.com

Buffalo, the state’s second largest city, is a diverse community with great places for lovers of sports, the outdoors, food, architecture, and the arts. Options are all around, from the water’s edge downtown to nearby theaters, nightlife and restaurants, the newly renovated convention center and the nearby, expanded museum district.

Visit the re-imagined Buffalo AKG Art Museum, stay at the reopened, historic Richardson Hotel, and drive 30-minutes to see the natural wonder - Niagara Falls.

Buffalo boasts a unique history. The prosperity that came with the Erie Canal and the Gilded Age has led to a myriad of unexpected places that today make for great meetings. In addition to the new promenades and stops with culture and fun at the Canalside waterfront, just on the other side of the Buffalo River is the RiverWorks entertainment complex

The Buffalo AKG Art Museum; photo credit: Sharon Cantillon; courtesy: Visit Buffalo Niagara

with a brewery, restaurant, ziplining, axthrowing, a Ferris wheel and more.

Shea’s Seneca Banquets and Events features a former theater entryway, a patio, open seating, and intimate bar space. Downtown’s Ellicott Square Building has a sunlit central court lobby with a glass roof. At the city’s industrial waterfront sits the Powerhouse with room for sports, entertainment, and gatherings. A renovated convention center debuts there this year.

For dining, classic Italian and new Americana gourmet are complemented by eclectic offerings from Buffalonians who hail from the Philippines, Sudan, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Bangladesh. Entrepreneurs have found opportunity in the city’s food truck culture, as well.

ONEIDA COUNTY, NY oneidacountytourism.com

The Beeches, a landmark venue for decades before it closed in 2018, will reopen as a women-owned, state-of-the-art banquet hall in the town of Rome with scenic views, impressive, open floors, a lounge and restaurant area, and a new deck and patio.

In addition, Oneida County is home to five full-service properties that include: Delta Hotels by Marriott; Doubletree Hotel Utica by Hilton; Burrstone Inn - Ascend Hotel Collection; Vernon Downs Casino Hotel; and Turning Stone Resort Casino. The county also offers many unique, non-traditional venues, too, such as the Irish Cultural Center, The Stanley Theatre, and the Delta Lake Inn.

Dining here runs the gamut from finely crafted dishes and local farm-to-table cuisine to Italian, European, Asian, and Middle Eastern selections. Local favorites include Tavolo, Karam's, Sugarbeets, Zeina's, and Ocean Blue.

Local activities include visiting Munson or the Utica Zoo, touring the FX Matt Brewing Company, catching a show at The Stanley, or stopping at one of the county’s Heart of NY Craft Beverage partners like Woodland Farm Brewery.

Sylvan Beach Supply Co., a water sports and boat rental company in Sylvan Beach, NY; photo courtesy: Oneida County Tourism

COOPERSTOWN, NY thisiscooperstown.com

Cooperstown’s newest and most popular attraction is Rail Explorers USA, which offers custom railbikes equipped with electric pedal assist motors for journeys through farmlands and forests alongside the Susquehanna River.

Team building exercises are available at the Clark Sports Center’s High and Low Ropes Courses, as well as at the Cooperstown Escape Rooms. Golf is popular in Cooperstown, too, and includes one of the most scenic and challenging resort golf courses on the East Coast, Leatherstocking Golf Course at The Otesaga Resort Hotel.

The hallowed halls of the plaque gallery at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum can be utilized for a cocktail reception or event catered by The Otesaga Resort, which is under the same ownership, making this off-site excursion seamless.

The Otesaga Resort Hotel boasts recreation and relaxation in an elegant and picturesque lakefront retreat setting. Guests can enjoy a carefree swim in the pool or a soothing massage in Hawkeye Spa. Play a round at the award-winning Leatherstocking Golf Course, rent a canoe and paddle out onto Lake Otsego, or borrow a rowboat to go fishing.

TOP-The Palace Theater is home to the Albany Symphony and Park Playhouse; BOTTOM - C H Evans Brewing Co. at the Albany Pump Station; photos courtesy: Discover Albany

ALBANY, NY

www.albany.org

In the Upper Hudson Valley, the new Hyatt Place Albany Downtown will open later this summer. Nearby is a flourishing culinary scene, brewpubs, and walking paths along the Hudson River, plus world-class sports and entertainment at MVP Arena.

Albany also boasts world-class museums like the Albany Institute of History & Art, the second oldest museum in the country, and unique entertainment and performing arts venues such as The Egg Performing Arts Center and the Palace Theatre. Enjoy a Dutch Apple cruise and sightseeing tour on the Hudson River or view the Empire State Plaza's collection of Abstract Expressionist art.

Dick’s Sporting Goods is converting one of its larger Albany County stores into a Dick’s House of Sports. Opening fall of 2023, it will be a premier place for team building events, and for youth and adults to try equipment and have fun.

Albany’s Capital Complex includes the Albany Capital Center, the Empire State Plaza Convention Center, The Egg Performing Arts Center, the Times Union Center, and the Renaissance Albany Hotel, all of which are connected by a fully enclosed walkway. This complex is adjacent to 1,000 hotel rooms and offers more than 159,000-square feet of flexible meeting and event space.

Albany County's culinary scene is booming with locally-owned restaurants and craft beverage producers. Savor international flavors, pub fare, vegan and vegetarian cuisine, comfort food and much more. Favorites include Yono's modern American fine dining with Indonesian accents, Afro Caribbean and Asian Caribbean food from Umana Yana, local craft beer from Druthers Brewing Company, or the varied menu of the Albany War Room Tavern.

Albany is seeing a trend of high-end steak and seafood offerings in the finer dining category, such as 677 Prime, the new Sea Smoke overlooking the Hudson River, the new Scarlet Knife, and the coming Ruth Chris Steak House.

COLUMBIA COUNTY, NY columbiacountytourism.org

In the heart of the historic Dutch Village of Kinderhook, the Old Dutch Inn honors its 200-year history with a rejuvenated, luxurious boutique property.

The Pomeroy Family Railroad at the Copake Iron Works Historic District, Copake Falls, in June of 2023 welcomed a full-scale railroad train - a throwback to the railroad used in the 1800s.

Return Brewing in Hudson is creating accessible, traditional “Tavern style” beers alongside an extensive line of exploratory concepts. Union Street Brewing Co., also in Hudson, is expected to open this July with a craft brewery, taproom, and beer garden.

Catamount Mountain Resort in Hillsdale is a four-season resort that offers skiing, snowboarding, the longest zipline in North America, and one of the largest aerial adventure parks in New England.

American landscape painter Frederick Church’s Olana State Historic Site in Hudson features scenic grounds and a home overlooking the Hudson River. Art Omi in Ghent is an outdoor arts center featuring a Sculpture & Architecture Park and a contemporary art gallery.

The Ruins at Sassafras in New Lebanon is a newly renovated, 150-year-old Shaker chair factory that can accommodate small groups for workshops both indoors and outside in an event tent. Won Dharma Center in Claverack hosts events and retreats with panoramic views of the Catskill Mountains. The Copake Country Club in Copake offers golf, dining, accommodations, and event space on-site.

The Maker in Hudson is home to unique experiences like its Café (a tribute to coffee houses of Europe), its Lounge (a cocktail bar in a converted 19th century carriage house), or its Restaurant (in a glass conservatory).

Jackson’s Old Chatham House in Old Chatham is filled with history and offers banquet facilities for up to 250 people.

Hou de Sousa's Prismatic on view at Art Omi Sculpture & Architecture Park in Ghent, NY; photo courtesy: Art Omi

HIGHLAND MILLS, NY

Rushmore Estate, an elegant Spanish Colonial mansion and estate built more than a century ago for financier and attorney Charles E. Rushmore (Mount Rushmore’s namesake) has been transformed into an event venue and bed and breakfast in Ulster County. Nearby is premium shopping, a craft beverage scene and tourist destinations like the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the LEGOLAND® New York Resort.

ORANGE COUNTY, NY

Hutton Brickyards in Kingston, NY offers waterfront events space along the Hudson River. Meticulously restored historic industrial buildings offer over 40,000-square feet of flexible space. A waterfront pavilion provides a unique and invigorating setting for outdoor events. A variety of team-building activities, outdoor adventures, and wellness programs can be customized for groups, as well.

Open from April through October, Neversink River Resort in Godeffroy, NY offers a fresh take on traditional camping with a 70-acre restored riverside campground that is now open for bookings with accommodations ranging from yurts and cabins to classic tent sites and RV fields. The resort offers the pleasures of traditional camping with modern comforts and hospitality-led amenities and activities. Neversink can provide off-site team retreats, team building events, catering services, and dedicated meeting spaces, as well.

LONG ISLAND, NY

discoverlongisland.com

Discover Long Island, the region’s official and only accredited destination marketing organization, recently announced that legislation passed to increase in Suffolk County’s hotel and motel tax rate from 3 percent to 5.5 percent, benefitting local cultural institutions, increasing the budget for tourism promotion, and supporting infrastructure to build the region’s first ever convention center.

The legislation officially went into effect on June 1, 2023. Benefits of the additional revenues include: formation of funding mechanism for building Long Island’s first convention center; increased funding for Discover Long Island from $2-million to $6-million annually for tourism promotion; support for county museums, historical societies, parks, and cultural attractions and more.

“A convention center at the heart of our world-class destination is key to unlocking Long Island’s access to the multi-billion-dollar meetings industry,” said Discover Long Island president and CEO, Kristen Reynolds, CDME.

The 100,000-square foot convention center would be part of Midway Crossing development is slated to also include a 300-room connecting hotel and commercial space dedicated to attracting Life Sciences that will help to further solidify Long Island as a leader in health, science, and innovation. This proposed development will offer proximity to both Long Island MacArthur Airport and the Long Island Railroad (LIRR), with direct connection to Penn Station and Grand Central Station in

New York City.

Interior of Hutton Brickyards Cabin in Kingston, NY

NEW YORK, NY nyctourism.com

Gansevoort Peninsula will be Manhattan's first public beach, expected to open in summer 2023. Located on the shores of the Hudson River near Chelsea and the Meatpacking District, the beach will feature a large sports field, picnic tables, and walking paths.

Rockefeller Center continues to welcome new restaurants, including the recently opened Five Acres; an enhanced experience at Top of the Rock that features a new ride, Lunch Atop a Skyscraper; the return of Flipper’s Roller Boogie Palace; new shops; and the development of a Little Nell Hotel. The location also is reopening 610 Loft & Garden and Radio Park atop Radio City Music Hall in time for summer.

Bronx Point is a 530,000-square-foot mixed-use development in the South Bronx, opening in phases with housing, retail, public space, and cultural programming including the soon-to-open Universal Hip Hop Museum in 2024.

Major League Soccer’s New York City Football Club will build the city’s first professional soccer stadium with

TOP - James Beard Foundation curated market hall at Pier 57 in Manhattan's Hudson River Park, NYC (photo courtesy, Market 57); BOTTOM - Jacob K. Javits Convention Center rooftop view of New York City (photo credit, Julienne Schaer); photos courtesy: New York City Tourism + Conventions

25,000 seats. The Willets Point stadium will be part of a larger mixed-use development including a 250-room hotel, housing, a school, retail and more.

Moxy Williamsburg in Brooklyn opened in March 2023 with 216 rooms and a festive restaurant serving Israeli and Levan tine fare, a cocktail bar, an all-day café, a garden courtyard, and an indoor-outdoor rooftop bar.

The Gansevoort recently unveiled a multimillion-dollar, top-to-bottom renovation, nearly two decades after the hotel opened its doors in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District. The renovated property will debut three new food and beverage concepts this fall.

Formerly known as The Roger New York, the Hotel AKA NoMad is a new boutique hotel on Madison Avenue that has been reimagined and elevated to luxury accommodations and includes a seasonal, private outdoor cinema, wine bar, and luxurious amenities.

Renaissance Hotels will debut a new 211-room property in the heart of Harlem above the Apollo’s Victoria Theater, which is currently undergoing an expansion.

Located in the heart of the city, new 661-room Tempo by Hilton Times Square will serve as the global debut and flagship for Hilton’s newest lifestyle hotel brand when it opens in October. The hotel also will boast an outdoor terrace overlooking the city and a sky lobby bar and lounge.

The NY International Travel Show will return to the Javits Center October 26-28, 2023, offering the travel industry a chance to engage with meeting and events planners, travel advisors, group travel professionals, and frequent consumer travelers.

NYC Restaurant Week® is New York City Tourism + Conventions signature program that runs biannually, offering deals on lunches and dinners. The next iteration will take place from July 24 through August 20 and will return January and February of 2024.

Fogo de Chão, the internationally-renowned restaurant from Brazil, will open its third New York City location, joining one in Manhattan and another in Queens. The new restaurant is slated to open later this year at City Point, downtown Brooklyn’s mixed-use entertainment, shopping, and dining destination.

Montauk Brewing Company, a subsidiary of Tilray Brands, Inc., is celebrating their 11-year anniversary this year. Following Montauk’s Brew Barn premiere at Citi Field, the company continues to open new branded spaces in the state, including at both Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course, building off the original Brew Barn name. As the summer season comes full force, Montauk Brewing features a new product lineup, partnerships, and experiential opportunities.

Rendering of the Moxy Williamsburg Hotel in Brooklyn, NY; photo courtesy: Moxy Hotel

SULLIVAN CATSKILLS, NY

“The Sullivan Catskills is seeing a busy summer as new businesses open their doors,” notes Roberta Byron Lockwood, president and CEO of the Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association. “Bridge and Tunnel Brewery in Liberty, NY is family-owned and is the second location; their flagship is in Ridgewood, Queens. They were recently named the winner of the 2023 Tap NY Governor’s Cup.”

This summer, Resorts World Catskills will debut the Monster Golf Course, a world-famous green at their property in Monticello. Resorts World Catskills is an integrated casino resort that includes an all-suite hotel and a gaming and entertainment complex.

Bar Veloce, a wine bar with multiple locations in New York City, is opening a new location in Narrowsburg in the Catskills. Meanwhile, the recently reopened Roscoe Mountain Club is home to a 24room inn, golf course, restaurant, and activities.

Visit Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, located on the original site of the Woodstock festival. Today, the performing arts center includes an amphitheater and a museum that is open daily during the summer.

The Sullivan Catskills is a great place to become immersed in nature with ample opportunities to hike, bike, swim, horseback ride, and more. The Sullivan Catskills Dove Trail is an outdoor public art installation that provides a unique experience.

Some of the top places to meet here include: Resorts World Catskills; The Kartrite Resort and Indoor Waterpark; Villa Roma Resort; Bethel Woods Center for the Arts; Beaverkill Valley Inn; Callicoon Hills; The Eldred Preserve; and The Chatwal Lodge.

Check out local farm-to-table cuisine at area restaurants and enjoy dining from cafés to diners to microbreweries. The Sullivan Catskills Craft Beverage Trail includes over a dozen breweries, cideries, distilleries, and wineries.

SYRACUSE, NY

visitsyracuse.com

The construction of new meeting space in the Oncenter Convention Center adds approximately 2,500-square feet of additional meeting space to the center that can be used as five breakout rooms individually or made into various configurations using air walls. In addition, the Oncenter’s ballroom recently was renovated.

The Oncenter, Expo Center at the New York State Fairgrounds and The SRC arena are the largest meeting venues in the area. There also are many hotel options from brands like Hilton, Marriott, Choice, IHG, and Wyndham.

Syracuse offers plenty to do during all four seasons. Check out Green Lakes State Park, Beak & Skiff Apple Orchard, The Rosamond Gifford Zoo (which has the only set of twin Asian Elephants in the country), or go shopping at Destiny USA mall. Syracuse also can provide hub and spoke options, such as for visiting regional casinos and the Boxing and Baseball Halls of Fame, all within a day’s travel.

Onondaga County has a variety of restaurants, breweries, and wineries, too. Syracuse is home to the original Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, a quick-service lunch and dinner barb-que joint.

Salt City Market is a unique spot in downtown Syracuse with offerings like homemade cuisine from all over the world, consistent off hours, and weekend dining in the convention district, making it a great option for meeting and convention attendees.

Inside Salt City Market, Syracuse, NY; photo courtesy: Visit Syracuse

How Pop-Ups Can Create Unique Experiences

by Ray Sheehan

Retail locations clamber at the chance to host pop-up events. Not only do brands pay them to set up at their sites, driving additional revenue, but pop-up events and retail locations mutually benefit from cross-pollination as they tap into each other's target audiences.

On top of this, retail locations know that pop-up events - or brand roadshows - create engaging customer experiences. They frequently hand out sample merchandise, fun swag, food, or gift cards. When pop-up events come to a location they create excitement, boost energy, and generate a buzz.

So, how did pop-Ups come to be so popular? Well, the pandemic drove today's trend of pop-up events, causing brands like ours to rethink their entire marketing strategy.

For 20 years, Old City Media put on world-class events and large-scale festivals. We coordinated food trucks, craft beer stands, and all the other retail brands coming together for an event like an evening at a major league ballpark. In addition to food and drinks, we coordinated lifestyle brands to engage event attendees.

When COVID hit, the special events space tanked overnight. Realizing the problem was not going away, we shifted our focus from festivals to retailers like Ace Hardware, Menards, Lowe's, and Old Time Pottery, as

these establishments were continuing to see thousands of customers at their locations daily.

I went to the lifestyle brands I partnered with and told them, “This summer's boat show, local parade, and taco festival are not happening. We need to engage the community within a new framework.”

But how do pop-ups achieve the feel of a unique experience? Before setting up a pop-up event, you need to define your goals as a brand. Establishing specific key performance indicators will help you set the event's planning in motion. Afterward, those KPIs will be the scorecard that enables you to assess the event's return on investment.

For a pop-up event to succeed, it will need to achieve a necessary “wow” factor. During the planning process, think about ways to make the event a unique experience. When consumers see your booth or tent, what will attract them to it? Your draw might be as simple as letting them spin a wheel to win prizes or presenting cooking demonstrations.

Planning a memorable pop-up is about engaging people with a unique experience and ensuring that they walk away with something tangible in their hands.

Engaging customers is just the first step toward building lasting relationships, however. In addition to fun swag and literature, it is important to offer eventgoers something more. Offering a bottle of water on a hot summer day is a thoughtful gesture that shows you care. Customers are more likely to remember their interaction with you if you demonstrate that you are there to build a relationship, not just to talk about your brand.

As an ambassador for your brand at a pop-up event, it is important to avoid coming across as too sales-focused. A better tactic is to design a presentation or a display that is engaging enough that it makes consumers want to approach you. Once they do, make a concerted effort to have real conversations with them. Ask them genuine questions, and take time to understand their needs.

The truth is, the best salespeople never sell anything. They create solutions to help solve people's problems.

Pop-up events put you on the frontlines and allow you to meet your target audience face-to-face, giving you actionable data on your target customers and what they truly think of your product.

After the events, you can take that data and make the decisions that will help you best scale your business.

Ray Sheehan is the founder of Old City Media, an international marketing agency helping brands connect with target demographics through experiential marketing, helping companies leverage their assets to a brand looking for a niche audience, and offering more than 20 years of experience. OldCityMedia.com

"For a pop-up event to succeed, it will need to achieve a necessary ‘wow’ factor."

A COHNversation with Jim

Jim Cohn, publisher of Mid-Atlantic Events Magazine, talks to people.

HI BILL. GREAT SEEING YOU LAST MONTH. VICTORY BREWING COMPANY IS A WELL-KNOWN BRAND, SO LET’S JUMP RIGHT INTO IT, HOW WAS THE COMPANY FORMED?

Good seeing you too, Jim! Victory Brewing Company has its roots in Montgomery County, PA, where myself and my business partner, Ron Barchet, met on a school bus in 1973. My father later taught me to homebrew, and I gave Ron a homebrewing kit as a Christmas gift in 1985. The next year, he headed off to the Technical University of Weihenstephan in Friesing, Germany for formal brewing education and I completed the International Course in Brewing Studies at Doemens Institute in Munich in 1993.

Properly educated, we incorporated in 1994 and began selling shares in our S-corporation. When we were writing our business plan in 1994 there were only 460 breweries in the U.S. Today, there are over 9,800. We had to evolve our plan well before opening, as we faced the reality that beer wholesalers did not value an unknown product highly enough for us to find profit beyond our high costs of European malts and whole flower hops, so we opted to self-distribute. We were then convinced that we had to tell our story ourselves by direct delivery to retailers, by creating a 144-seat taproom, and by educating our hospitality staff.

Being mindful of the profile of consumers who would appreciate both the attributes of European quality beer served fresh, as well as the “hands on” ethic of local production, we chose to locate on the edge of where the Main Line becomes farms. Our revitalization of the Pepperidge Farm plant initially received curious, then enthusiastic, local support.

Bill Covaleski, Victory Brewing Company

WITH SO MANY BREWERIES OUT THERE, HOW HAVE YOU SO EFFECTIVELY BUILT YOUR BRAND?

Events! Honestly. Whether it was a family event or our participation in festivals like the Great American Beer Festival, we realized that our product was just a positive component in life's rich pageant. We endeavored to provide folks with great experiences that created attachments for them to our products.

Many companies market by broadcasting an ideal narrative of their product, but do little to engage. Our hospitality operations permitted us an opportunity to accept and process our customers' responses and guide our business operations. We created communitysupporting events like Downingtown FallFest, Amber Waves - an art and beer fundraiser with our friends at Dogfish Head Brewery, The Brewer's Plate, and so many more.

HOW DO YOU ATTRACT NEW CONSUMERS WHILE ALSO RETAINING YOUR LOYAL, EXISTING CUSTOMERS?

For me, a beer needs to accomplish only two things. It must provide both comfort and excitement and we maintain this simple perspective at a very high level to meet our consumers’ expectations. This dynamic applies to our taprooms, in that, part of their appeal to our established patrons is their consistency and familiarity with these patrons, i.e., their comfortability. Once we have them within our doors, we surprise and excite

them with new product releases, rotating community engagement events, entertaining themed events, and frequently updated cuisine offerings. The “buzz” is measurable on social media, and our reciprocal participation with users who share this content strengthens our relationship with these fans and puts this content in front of new audiences.

On the packaged beer side, our most notable strategy has been growing “The Monkey Franchise” beyond our top selling Golden Monkey. In 2022, Berry Monkey, a raspberry accented sour tripel, joined Golden Monkey and Sour Monkey in our portfolio to strong success. Next, Juicy Monkey is, right now, demonstrating great success in five target markets and is further differentiated from other members of the Monkey family as an IPA, not a form of Belgian tripel. This strategy excites a well-stablished legion of loyalists (Golden Monkey was first released in 1997) and their expressed enthusiasm stimulates trial and adoption in new customers who seek new flavor experiences.

Yes, beer consumers are so much better educated today; they understand a myriad of beer styles, ingredients and how those drive flavor. Growing a business through that time, we feel so blessed that they sup-

I KNOW BEER HAS BECOME ELEVATED SINCE I OPENED MY FIRST BOTTLE; WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON CONSUMERS AND THE INDUSTRY SINCE YOU STARTED VICTORY?

"We created communitysupporting events like Downingtown FallFest, Amber Waves - an art and beer fundraiser with our friends at Dogfish Head Brewery, The Brewer's Plate, and so many more."

ported this revolution and encouraged us to experiment with styles and flavors. Also important is how they came to respect beer as the culinary partner that it is. I recall how proud I felt when the Four Seasons in Philadelphia began stocking Prima Pils in their room minibars! About that same time (2010), we began working with Visit Philly to establish our Summer Love Ale as part of a craft beer awareness and tourism hook for Philadelphia - literally posting welcoming “postcards” from Philly as the back labels to our bottles of Summer Love distributed to over 20 states across the country.

More awareness for craft beer has brought more producers, expanding consumer options on retail shelves and in restaurants to a near saturation level. Therefore, I believe that consumers' behavior has been altered simply by circumstances. They have no reason to remain loyal to a brewery or style, as the allure of new flavor experiences - the thrill that first got them to step away from insipid macro brands - is always available to them now.

WHAT ARE YOUR NEXT STEPS FOR THE BEVERAGE SIDE OF THINGS, AS WELL AS FOR YOUR RESTAURANT’S GROWTH?

We consume, analyze, and deploy a significant amount of consumer trend data to sketch flavor targets for our R&D brewing team to point their creativity toward. Where all this brainstorming activity will land us next year, I cannot yet tell you, but I'm certain that it will be delicious and compelling.

On the taproom side, we are continuing to evolve in a manner that was first made apparent to us when we

combined forces with Southern Tier Brewing Co. and Southern Tier Distilling Co. to form Artisanal Brewing Ventures in 2016. Now, with Sixpoint Brewery and Bold Rock Hard Ciders in the ABV family, we have an exciting array of drinks with which to attract, entertain and retain customers.

As we have grown this fun family of delicious brands, we have broadened our perspectives as 12 taprooms flying the various ABV brand flags join with 4 Victory taprooms to provide us with experience and actionable data in markets ranging from Buffalo to Charlotte and west to Cleveland.

HOW ARE YOU SETTING VICTORY APART FROM OTHER TOP REGIONAL BREWERIES?

We have both the blessing and curse of having been in front of consumers for 27 years. In that time, we have established strong loyalties, while emerging 21-yearolds might think we are simply their father's beer and, therefore, not very compelling to them. We strive to leverage those hard-won loyalties into powerful referrals of support.

We also recognize that our most successful brands, Golden Monkey, Sour Monkey, DirtWolf and HopDevil, are personified on the labels and in the brand narrative and generate fun and friendly “characters” that you interact with. Judiciously, we expand our “cast” with exciting new characters. I do feel that this is a major point of difference in Victory over how some of our peers are marketed and perceived. Also, I believe area consumers would say that Victory is reliable, and our continual attention to quality over all has allowed us to earn the name Victory, by delivering a staggering number of “hits” over 27 years in ratio to very, very few “misses.”

Bill Covaleski • Brewmaster & Co-Founder • Victory Brewing Company

The only event in Delaware County promoting unique venues, hotels, restaurants, country clubs and event services to regional planners of corporate and association meetings, special events, travel, group outings, retreats, and more.

The Inn at Grace Winery

Thursday, October 19, 2023 | 4:00p.m. – 7:30p.m.

FEATURING

Christopher Chocolates • Drexelbrook

Fearless Restaurants/Autograph Brasserie/White Dog Café/Rosalie at the Wayne Hotel

Garces Events/Amada Radnor/Buena Onda • Gifford-Risely House

Harvest Seasonal Grill • Holiday Inn & Suites Philadelphia West - Drexel Hill

The Inn at Grace Winery • The Inn at Villanova University

Sage Catering • Wawa Catering

CHESTER COUNTY CULINARY CHALLENGE

June 8, 2023 – Malvern, PA – The very popular Chester County Culinary Challenge, hosted by Chester County Conference & Visitors Bureau connected over 80 regional meeting and event planners, executive assistants, and administrative professionals along with Chester County CVB hospitality partners as they teamed up putting their cooking skills to the test and battle against each other to compete for prizes and awards at the Desmond Hotel Malvern, A Doubletree by Hilton. The 'challenging' part of this culinary evening is that participants do not know what they are making or what 'pop-up' challenges will happen until the event starts. This year the theme was “Breakfast in Bed”. Teams worked together to first create a variety of breakfast dishes to wow the judges.

Photo Credits: Mario Oliveto Photography

Ben Fileccia of PRLA judging the competition

Naomi Blanco-Torres, Fairfield Inn & Suites, Melanie Wimmer, Boeing Corporation and Ashley Baptiste, Conferences Connect

Cindy Rossi and Leigh Sacco of the University of PA

Sydney Kuhn and Jean Fernandez of The Drexelbrook & Franklin Commons

Alicia Armento, Advanced Staging Productions, Kathy Remetta, WGP LLP and Belinda Harvey of W. L. Gore & Associates

Jamie Comisky Watson, Clockwise Consulting and Michele Sinclair, DaVita Corporation

Overall culinary winners: Justin Chan, Valley Creek Productions; Lauren Curtolo of the Jack Miller Center; Franzi Petermann, Frappe Events and Ronnie Anderson, Ronnie Anderson Events

Katelyn Weeks from Bishop McCann and Maureen Austin of BlankRome

The producers of the Chester County Culinary Challenge - Kevin Kessler, The Desmond Hotel, Jim Cohn, Mid-Atlantic Events Magazine, Andrea Fusula, Chester County CVB, Chef Chris Calhoun of The Desmond Hotel and Michelle Cope and Courtney Babcock, Chester County CVB

Bridget Graham of AFTD, Nancy Graham, Nancy's Catering and Laura Graham, the Jack Miller Center

EvEntMAkErs

DELAWARE

Newark - The Courtyard by Marriott University of Delaware has named Stephanie Barnes as their new Director of Sales.

Wilmington - Lauren Sapita has been named Director, Global Meetings and Events, Americas at AstraZeneca.

MARYLAND

Baltimore - The Baltimore Convention Center welcomed three new directors. Ethan Lang is the new Director of Facilities and Engineering; Keith Runk, Director of Public Safety; and Jennifer Guevarra, Assistant Director of Convention Services.

Cambridge - Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina has announced Shane Nicolopoulos as their new General Manager.

Lanham - The American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association has announced that Lin Guba started in the new position of Director, Education & Events.

NEW JERSEY

Mount Royal - Talley Management Group has named Maria Ramos as their new Director, Meetings & Events.

Summit - Summit House announced the hiring of award-winning and locally renowned chef AJ Capella as Executive Chef.

Wildwood - The Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority (GWTIDA) has announced Louis M. Belasco as their next Executive Director. Louis most recently served as the Deputy City Manager, Tax Assessor, Floodplain Manager, and CRS Coordinator for City of Cape May, NJ. He will succeed John Siciliano, who has retired as GWTIDA Executive Director/CFO after more than 27 years of service. Under John’s leadership, the Wildwoods have grown into a top tourism and meetings destination, including the construction and 2002 opening

of the Wildwoods Convention Center, which hosts numerous annual conventions, meetings, banquets, sports & youth events, and concerts.

NEW YORK

Flushing - Lynnette Camacho has started in a new position for the New York Mets as Director, Private Events.

New York - The Pierre NY announced the appointments of Christopher Cestari as Director of Luxury Leisure & Corporate Sales and Chef Michael Mignano as Executive Chef/Culinary Director.

New York - New York City Tourism + Conventions announced new appointments to the Tourism Market Development team. Robert Beckham will transition to the role of SVP of Tourism Market Development for Europe; Reginald Charlot will now serve as SVP of Tourism Market Development for Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the U.S., Luxury and LGBTQ+ markets; and Makiko Matsuda Healy will serve as SVP of Tourism Market Development. These operational changes expand the organization’s investment in critical inbound markets for New York City.

PENNSYLVANIA

Conshohocken - Mary-Ann Urbanovich has accepted a position as Manager, Congress & Events with Immunocore.

Garnet Valley - IMS Technology Services announced that David Coalter and Carey Gautreaux have joined the team as Production Designers.

Harrisburg - The Pennsylvania Association of Area Agencies on Aging has announced that Megan Wilkinson will be their new Event Specialist.

Palmerton - Blue Mountain Resort in the Pocono Mountains has named ski and snowboard industry veteran Luke Wynen to the position of Director of Sales. In this role, Luke will take charge of developing, overseeing and

coordinating all sales initiatives for the four-season resort. A former professional snowboarder, Wynen most recently served as the director of sales training and marketing manager for Buckman’s Ski and Snowboard Shops.

Philadelphia - Independence Blue Cross has hired Laurie Heinerichs as their new Senior Corporate Relations & Events Specialist.

Philadelphia - Motorola Solutions has hired Kacie Sheppeck Corbitt as their new Senior Event Planner, working remotely.

Philadelphia - The Sheraton Philadelphia University City Hotel has named Anthony Stagliano, Jr. as their new Director of Sales and Marketing.

Philadelphia - Justin Wusinich has joined Canvas Meetings & Incentives on the Sourcing & Marketing Team as Account Manager.

Philadelphia - Holy Family University hired Jason Fusco as their new Events and Meeting Services Manager.

State College - Scholar Hotels, owner/operator of the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center, announced that Ryan Cimei has as-

sumed the role of General Manager. Also, two of the Penn Stater's longest-serving team members, each with 25 years of experience, have been promoted - Dawn Nixon to Director of Sales and Andy Houser to Assistant General Manager.

Wayne - The Embassy Suites by Hilton Philadelphia Valley Forge has hired Meredith Homa as their new Director of Sales and Marketing.

Yardley - Health & Wellness Partners, LLC has promoted Madison Kelbaugh to Senior Meeting Manager.

VIRGINIA

Fairfax - Crestline Hotels & Resorts announced the continued expansion of its executive management team with the appointment of Alexander J. Belden as Vice President, Business Development.

Belasco

Capella Cestari

nicolopoulos

Camacho

stagliano

Wynen Cimei

Urbanovich

Fusco

Houser

nixon

kelbaugh

Around Th

Atlantic City Celebrates 45 Years of Gaming

Atlantic City, NJ – Atlantic City is marking 45 years since the first casino hotel outside of Nevada opened. “Atlantic City has been providing an outstanding gaming experience for 45 years,” said Mark Giannantonio, president of the Casino Association of New Jersey. “Atlantic City is an attractive and cost-effective destination for one-third of the U.S. population who can access the city by car.”

"Summer in Atlantic City offers the best the Jersey Shore has to offer for travelers looking to have some fun in the sun," said Larry Sieg, President & CEO of Visit Atlantic City. "The city has been busy over the last several months, and visitors this summer are in for a treat. Opening this summer is Spiegelworld's 'The Hook' and Island Waterpark at Showboat, and much more.”

visitatlanticcity.com

Wildwoods Tourism Announces Record-Breaking Visitor Spending

The Wildwoods, NJ – A recent Tourism Economics study prepared for The Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement & Development Authority announced a record-breaking tourism season for the Wildwoods in 2022 – one which resulted in $1.9 billion in visitor spending; 7,765 jobs created; and $167-million in state and local tax revenue generated.

“The Wildwoods continue to outperform industry benchmarks for tourism growth each year by developing strategic marketing and public relations initiatives aimed at communicating the major attributes that make the Wildwoods a truly unique family vacation destination,” said John Siciliano, recently retired Executive Director and CFO, Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement & Development Authority.

WildwoodsNJ.com

he Region

VFTCB Launches the Montco History Passport, New Comic Book

Montgomery County, PA - The Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board (VFTCB) has launched the Montco History Passport, a free, gamified program that highlights Montco’s rich history and historical locations. With 17 participating venues, the Montco History Pass leads visitors on a journey through historical homes, parks, and museums throughout the county.

“Montgomery County’s historical sites are the type of treasures that deserve to be shared,” said Justine Garbarino, VFTCB’s Associate Vice President of Marketing. “This pass is the perfect way for visitors and locals to explore them for the first time or get reacquainted and discover something new.”

VFTCB is partnering with Bandwango, a technology company in the travel space, to load into the mobile Montco History Pass offerings of local businesses. To activate and redeem, users can sign up for their Passport at www.montcohistorypass.org; a link is then sent to their mobile phone, which opens the passport and directs them to visit participating locations and virtually check in to start redeeming prizes.

Additionally, the VFTCB has released its fifth issue of Patriot Tales, a comic book series highlighting the history of Valley Forge National Historical Park and other historical locations in Montco, with a fictional story of children traveling back in time to meet George Washington and embarking on an exciting adventure to discover the area’s rich history.

www.valleyforge.org

ALL NEW CARRIAGE HOUSE

Blue Bell, PA - Normandy Farm Hotel & Conference Center has reopened their all-new Carriage House building two-and-a-half years after a devastating fire causing substantial damage to the original structure. The $5-million rebuilt contemporary Carriage House has been reconstructed from the ground up and features 21 hotel suites, an expansion providing 12 additional guest rooms bringing the overall property capacity to 153 rooms. New upgrades included private patios, fireplaces, and lounging areas in select suites and exterior grounds featuring a terrace and firepit area.

NormandyFarm.com

MORE ARE LIKELY TO STAY IN HOTELS, VACATION THIS SUMMER

Washington, DC – This summer, most travelers are more likely than they were in the summer of 2022 to stay in a hotel and take vacations, according to a new national Hotel Booking Index survey commissioned by the American Hotel & Lodging Association and conducted by Morning Consult.

“That is great news for the lodging industry and its employees,” said AHLA President & CEO Chip Rogers. “It’s also encouraging to hear most business travelers report that their employers have either returned to the pre-pandemic normal or increased amounts of business travel.”

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NEW TOURISM CAMPAIGN IN MARYLAND

Baltimore, MD – The Maryland Department of Commerce’s Office of Tourism has announced the launch of the state’s new “You’re Welcome” tourism campaign. Running through August in various northeast markets, the campaign invites travelers to discover new experiences and make stronger connections in Maryland.

To promote trip itineraries and invite exploring throughout the different regions in Maryland, the campaign highlights the state’s water experiences, Ocean City and the state’s numerous beaches, the Chesapeake Bay and its storytellers, as well as quintessential bay towns; local seafood and culinary experiences including a Crab & Oyster Trail; history and heritage with the Most Powerful Underground Railroad Storytelling Destination in the World ; unique scenic drives with 2,400 miles of byways; and outdoor recreation featuring Maryland’s Trail System Second-to-None.

VisitMaryland.org

HYATT REGENCY CHESAPEAKE BAY COMPLETES RENOVATION

Cambridge, MD – Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina has announced the completion of a multi-million-dollar renovation to its meeting and event spaces.

“We are thrilled to debut our enhanced meeting spaces here at our beautiful waterfront resort in Cambridge,” said Cari Ruppert, Director of Sales, Marketing and Events at Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina. “The renovation pulls inspiration from our Eastern Shore waterfront setting, from wavy calming patterns to blue tones for an inviting and sophisticated atmosphere.”

HyattRegencyChesapeakeBay.com

he Region

COLLABORATION FOR SUSTAINABLE CHOICES IN BUSINESS TRAVEL

Alexandria, VA – The GBTA Foundation, the non-profit, cause-led arm of the Global Business Travel Association, and Travalyst have entered into a partnership agreement to collaborate on the development of a harmonized framework for sustainable travel.

The Foundation's Sustainability Initiative aims to drive cross-industry collaboration among the users and providers of corporate travel services – including aviation, hospitality, ground transport, travel management and distribution – to support the deployment of solutions that help to manage and reduce carbon emissions from travel.

GBTAFoundation.org

NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER'S NEW FIRST AMENDMENT GALLERY

Philadelphia, PA – The National Constitution Center (NCC) has announced the projected opening date for its newest exhibit, The First Amendment. Coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the Center’s opening, The First Amendment will open to the public on September 6, 2023, and kick off the NCC’s long-term plans to reimagine the visitor experience.

“The National Constitution Center has a leading role to play in helping learners understand the centrality of the First Amendment in protecting our unalienable rights of freedom of conscience, which include the five freedoms of speech, press, assembly, petition, and religion,” said NCC President and CEO, Jeffrey Rosen.

The 1,500-square-foot exhibit will feature more than 20 artifacts, including handwritten case notes from U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis; the peace-sign armband at the center of the student speech case, Tinker v. Des Moines; and The New York Times’s publication of the classified Pentagon Papers.

CONSTITUTIONCENTER.ORG

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Philadelphia, PA - Gran Caffe L'Aquila has taken their truly authentic Italian restaurant and created a unique catering experience. Taste their authentic regional Italian food selections, from super premium salumi and cheeses, homemade pastas, antipasti, and meats to their mobile gelato window created by Italian gelato champion Stefano Biasini. Add in a mobile Italian bar with Italian speaking bartenders, featuring classic and premium Italian cocktails and wines selected by Wine Spectator award winner and culinary and wine director, Riccardo Longo, and finish with their award-winning Italian coffee service.

grancaffelaquila.com

CAMELBEACH OUTDOOR WATERPARK CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY

Tannersville, PA – Camelbeach Outdoor Waterpark, the award-winning family summer playground at Camelback Resort, celebrated its 25th anniversary season with the addition of the new Rival Racer slide.

Camelbeach’s new Rival Racer is where sliders race each other through twists and turns on enclosed tracks – designed for sliders who want to compete and race to the bottom of a slide that rushes 5,600-gallons of water per minute down a 400-foot slide with a vertical drop of 54-feet of eight twisting, turning, dropping, closed individual chutes converging at three different rallying points and at the finish line.

CamelbackResort.com

he Region

BORGATA CELEBRATES 20 YEARS

Atlantic City, NJ – Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa is celebrating its 20th anniversary this summer. The resort was part of a significant project that started in 1999 in Atlantic City connecting the AC Expressway to the Marina District, now known as the AC Connector Tunnel.

In preparation for the anniversary, the resort completed a $55-million redesign and rebrand of The Water Club, now renamed the MGM Tower, and has hosted its ongoing Summer Savor Borgata Culinary series with 11 intimate culinary events thoughtfully curated by Borgata’s acclaimed culinary team.

TheBorgata.com

AFTER HOURS IS BACK!

Philadelphia, PA - Di Bruno Bros. “After Hours” is a private, after dark tasting, learning, and shopping experience in either their Italian Market or The Franklin shop.

Get behind-the-scenes with their cheese mongers and enjoy an exclusive two-hour shopping experience. In addition to artisan cheeses, gourmet charcuterie and antipasti, the cheese experts will regale guests with wondrous facts and tales of life behind the cheese counter. Each event includes abundant antipasto, six perfect cheese pairing dishes, and the ability to sample just about anything in the store and to shop at a discount. Celebrate even more by selecting a curated wine package or shop the Bottle Shop store before the event.

DiBruno.com