Leelanau
The Homestead
COURTESY OF THE HOMESTEAD
When Bob Kuras, president of The Homestead, looked at what The Homestead had been offering for meetings, he knew he had to make some changes. The owner of “America’s Freshwater Resort” saw a setting that was world-class, but the meeting spaces didn’t reflect that aesthetic. With an opportunity to reposition The Homestead as a high-level site for groups to conduct business, he decided he and his team needed to find out what was driving the industry. “We researched what people want. It turned out they want to have comfortable settings for productive meetings and social activities that build on the experience,” Kuras said. “Groups want to meet, dine, recreate.” That led to a complete renovation of the meeting spaces at the Glen Arbor resort’s Welcome Center. Now meeting rooms offer state-of-the-art technology and a variety of seating and table arrangements. Capacity varies from 10 to 40 people. The tables and comfortable chairs are easy to move into whatever configuration best suits the attendees. “Tables used to be so heavy
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and ungainly. You can move these with one finger,” Kuras said as he demonstrated. The rooms themselves got a makeover, as well, with neutral colors and lighting that’s easily adjustable. Not to mention those big screens, which can be used in a multitude of ways, including splitting them between different displays. The rooms all offer natural light, enticing views and provide easy access to the outdoors. Kuras went so far as to have the lobby redone, too. “You never get a second chance to make a first impression,” he said. Several other gathering spaces expand the meeting possibilities at The Homestead. The Inn, Stony Bro Lodge, Crystal Lodge Conference Center, Camp Firefly and Mountain Flower Lodge offer a variety of settings, with capacity ranging from eight to upwards of 200, depending on the room and configuration. Social time and connecting attendees to the world outside the meeting room remains
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a priority, explains Barb Ellis, manager of group sales at The Homestead. “When people meet, they want to do a three-hour power session. After the meeting, they want to hike, play golf, go to the beach. We’ve even added a happy hour at the end of the meeting for some groups,” she said. As for those team-building activities, Ellis said they often take advantage of different areas at or outside the resort. “They do the dune climb or hike along the river,” she said. Lake Michigan, Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, the wineries that dot the rolling hills all help bring groups in and provide recreation when they arrive. It’s all about balancing hard work and enjoyable activities Kuras explained. “It’s not only the employee. Many bring their families,” he said.
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MyNorth Meetings 2018 • MyNorth.com/Meetings
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