Small Market Meetings November December 2025

REDUCING EVENT ATTRITION | SUSTAINABLE VENUES | SAVANNAH, GEORGIA

SO MUCH. SO CLOSE.

Book your next experience in Henderson, Nevada. Just minutes from the action with resort accommodations.

• Over 4,500 hotel rooms

• Over 300 miles of scenic hiking and biking trails

• Water recreation and resort amenities at Lake Las Vegas

• 10 Championship golf courses

• Easy access to Harry Reid International Airport and the I-15

“YES”

SIGHTS

WITH VICKIE MITCHELL

IACC centers are often unconventional IN

A FARM, A SHIP, A SEASIDE RESORT A

bout 100 of the 400 members of the International Association of Conference Centers (IACC) are in the United States. These conference venues are far from cookie-cutter — some IAAC centers are at colleges, others in urban office towers. Many are part of a hotel or a resort; several had other purposes in a past life, like the Queen Mary ocean liner.

The variety offered is just one of IACC’s upsides. Each member had to prove it’s committed to things meeting planners and attendees value, like sustainability, guest service, professionalism, leading-edge equipment and technology. IACC members also offer complete meeting packages, a time-saver and stress reliever for meeting planners.

Each year, a few more properties pass the test and become IACC members. Here are six of its newest members.

Convenient location in a Texas college town

Hilton Hotel and Conference Center at College Station College Station, Texas

The Hilton Hotel and Conference Center at College Station, a mile from the Texas A&M campus, takes its conference business up a notch, with 10 meeting planners to handle business for its 32,000 square feet of meeting space. The largest ballroom, the Bluebonnet, has 11,360 square feet of space; its smaller 4,800-square-foot Oakwood Ballroom features a built-in stage and tiered floor. A variety of smaller spaces includes the Brazos Amphitheater, which seats 150. Ten minutes from the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library, the 301-guest room hotel also has a free shuttle to take guests around College Station. Although it is in the city, the Hilton takes advantage of Texas’s sky and sun, with a rooftop bar and upscale dining by its outdoor pool.

Get down on the farm in Franklin Southall Farm and Inn Franklin, Tennessee

About 45 minutes south of the Nashville International Airport, Southall Farm and Inn is a working farm on 425 acres. Its meeting spaces — 62 guest rooms and 16 cottages — border the farm’s Lake Miskin, with views of land and lake through large windows. Indoor spaces abut patios and event lawns, and unexpected event spaces, such as a speakeasy and a covered bridge, can make for memorable evenings.

And while the pastoral setting can slow the pace, the conference center has provided the solid connectivity meetings require by installing 4 gigabit internet and a 1 gigabit backbone to make 5G bandwidth seamless. Although it’s doubtful anyone will feel the need to venture beyond the farm, downtown Franklin is nearby, offering a historic small town crammed with cute shops and local restaurants.

Meet at America’s newest national park

The Lookout Post

Lansing, West Virginia

A conference at the Lookout Post comes with this perk: The meeting venue is perched at the top of New River Gorge, the nation’s newest national park.

The Lookout Post is part of Adventures on the Gorge, one of the first resorts developed on the heavily forested gorge rim about 1,000 feet above the New River. The conference center and accommodations’ log cabin-construction fit the wooded setting.

The center is a flexible space, which can be divided into up to five breakout spaces or used as one open space, and is connected to a roomy deck with gorge views. There’s room for up to 90 guests in one to four-bedroom cabins, hotel-style cabins and vacation homes scattered in the woods nearby. Adventures on the Gorge has a full menu of outdoor activities, from ziplining and rafting trips to hikes and rock climbing.

History reigns at these California sites

The Queen Mary

Long Beach, California

Asilomar Conference Grounds

Monterey, California

The Queen Mary no longer sails the high seas, but even docked in Long Beach, the Transatlantic ocean liner continues to dazzle.

The ship is huge, with 80,000 square feet of meeting and event space, as well as 250 guest rooms, all decked out in the Art Deco décor. Staff point out that in her day, the Queen Mary had the latest in technology, and as the ship steps into a new role as a hotel and conference center, its technology has been updated to the height of 2025 capabilities.

Lovers of architecture and nature are sure to be enamored with Asilomar Conference Grounds, designed by the esteemed Julia Morgan, architect of 700 buildings in her home state. Morgan was attuned to nature and carefully fit Asilomar among local forests at the edge of the Pacific Ocean. There are 313 guest rooms in all, and the ones Morgan designed in the early 1900s are in style today with their hardwood floors and rustic furnishings. There are 313 guest rooms in all. The conference center’s 30 venues, from handsome boardrooms to dramatic ballrooms, provide plenty of options.

Hudson River center now welcomes all Windrose on the Hudson Ossining, New York

This summer, the former Crotonville Conference Center, a private leadership institute that had long been a fixture in this town an hour from New York City, became Windrose on the Hudson. The venue offers 52,000 square feet of meeting space and 248 guest rooms to a wider audience, including meetings and conferences of all types.

On 60 acres just off the Hudson River, Windrose is an easy getaway from the city, and it emphasizes the outdoors, with 10 miles of hiking trails and outdoor gathering spaces. Its 65 meeting rooms include an auditorium, executive breakout rooms, advanced audiovisual technology — including multi-direction projection — and writable walls and virtual collaboration rooms. The 11,000-square-foot Greenhouse, a standalone building, can be set up for 100 or in rounds. For executives who need to pop in from the city, there’s a helipad on site.

Valor Hall is booking for 2026!

Valor Hall offers over 10,000 square feet of regular meeting space along with 6,000 square feet of glass enclosed prefunction space. Located just outside the gates of Ft. Campbell on the Tennessee/Kentucky state line, the center is the perfect solution for any shows, reunions, military balls or conventions wishing to reach a diverse population. From wedding receptions to trade shows and beyond, this facility is set to be the most dynamic meeting place in the region. If you are planning an event from afar, that's okay, we have an online tour, and our event coordinators would be happy to walk you through everything over a call.

Se habla español.

SMALL MARKET MEETINGS

CONFERENCE CONTINUES GROWTH IN Buffalo

EL PASO PREVIEWS NEXT YEAR’S CONFERENCE

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Buffalo hits it out of the park as Small Market Meetings Conference host

BY HERB SPARROW

The Small Market Meetings Conference in Buffalo, New York, September 16–18, continued its steady growth since the COVID pandemic five years ago.

“Our attendance was up 12 percent with meeting planners and 8 percent with the industry over last year,” said Jennifer Ferguson, general manager of the conference. “We had a lot of new planners; a lot of new faces this year. They came from all over the country, and we even had a couple of international planners.”

The 16th annual SMMC at the Buffalo Convention Center drew more than 250 attendees, who spent three days holding business appointments, listening to informative speakers and sampling the many options Buffalo, which is also on the rebound, has to offer meeting planners.

The opening night included a warm welcome at the Hofbrauhaus Buffalo, with a German band, a beer-mug-holding contest, chicken dancing and plates of hearty German food.

The next night was a 1990s-themed event at RiverWorks, a redeveloped entertainment center at former grain silos along the Buffalo River. Attendees rocked to a band playing ’90s music and socialized

CO NFERENCE

on the outdoor patio while large grain barges passed by within touching distance.

Four sightseeing tours the afternoon after the opening marketplace on Wednesday took attendees to Niagara Falls; on a double-decker bus tour of downtown’s rich architecture; on a bar hop to experience the city’s famous wings and breweries; and to the Buffalo Bills’ Highmark

— Brenda Glass

Stadium. Some stayed over to attend the Bills’ Thursday night football win over the Miami Dolphins.

“Buffalo hit it out of the park,” said Ferguson. “They gave a taste of the city and a warm welcome.”

“I like the hospitality,” said Darryl Cohen of the North American Law Summit in Atlanta. “I only knew the city by word of mouth. Everyone was hospitable.”

“It was my first time in Buffalo,” said Donna Masiulewicz of Timeline Meetings and Events in Mesa, Arizona. “It is a big city that feels like a small city. I enjoyed it.”

“I was here 11 or 12 years ago, and it has really changed,” said Jeanne Escher of Eerie Expos in Winter Garden, Florida. “I was pleasantly surprised. It pays to have been here and seen it in person instead of just looking at photos.”

The delegates were equally complimentary of the conference.

“I love it 100%,” said Patricia Stinson of SEEvents in Atlanta. “To be in one room with so many suppliers at one time saves so many trips to scout locations.”

“I like the face-to-face and networking and connecting with friends you have met along the way,” said Masiulewicz.

“Buffalo is my favorite,” said Brenda Glass, an independent planner from New Port Richey, Florida, who has been attending SMMC since it started 15 years ago. “Small Market Meetings Conference is big enough you meet new people but small enough you see people from the past and keep up with them.”

“A lot of thought went into the planning.” said Ferguson.

The delegates were able to use a covered walkway to the convention

center from the host hotel, the Hyatt Regency Buffalo Downtown, to register and attend conference functions.

Sponsors also played a key role in making the conference a success. Meal functions were sponsored by I Love New York, Legends Global and Visit Berkeley.

The opening session featured Ally Meyers, a certified executive and positive psychology coach from Saratoga Springs, New York, who outlined her five building blocks to build resilience.

The first is managing negativity — don’t assume that people are having negative thoughts about you.

“Catch it, question it and reframe it,” she said.

The other building blocks are mindfulness, cultivating the positive, investing in relationships and setting goals.

Many attendees were decked out in their favorite football team’s jerseys for the final day’s marketplace to keep in style with the theme. The most popular jerseys seemed to be the Pittsburgh Steelers and the hometown Buffalo Bills.

Destination El Paso, Texas, the host of next year’s Small Market Meetings Conference, sponsored the closing luncheon. Janel Trajo, convention sales manager for Destination El Paso, extended a warm invitation to the attendees and promised an unforgettable Western experience October 6–8, 2026.

Scan the QR code to register for the 2026 Small Market Meetings Conference in El Paso, Texas.

CO NFERENCE

WHAT DESTINATIONS ARE SAYING

We have been seeing bleisure for a while. We have a lot of recreational scenes and agriculture scenes that a lot of people don’t have at home. We also have Penn State, which for meetings is a hook.

Dave Gerdes

Happy Valley Adventure Bureau Pennsylvania

We see a lot of bleisure, especially in our neck of the woods, the New Orleans area. We see a substantial number of people who travel with their families and explore the area. Big thing is food. Also swamp tours. Some will stay if it is a Saints weekend. It’s a big thing for sure.

Randall Michel

Visit Jefferson Parish Louisiana

Since COVID, we have seen quite a bit of bleisure. We have a huge waterpark in the summer and lots of history museums, including the U.S. Marshals Museum. The Bakery District is in an old foundry that was saved from destruction. It now has a bakery and coffee shop.

Amy Jones

Discover Fort Smith Arkansas

In our area, they do [bleisure] a lot since we are so close to Branson. I do military reunions and they often bring children or especially grandchildren and they are definitely looking for bleisure. In the Springfield area, we have the headquarters of Bass Pro Shop and the original one. It has more than 1 million square feet (the average Bass Pro Shop has 180,000). It includes an aquarium and meeting space. We have Fantastic Caverns, the only drive-through caverns in the country, and a Route 66 museum.

Melissa Martelli

Visit Springfield Missouri

They do bleisure in Daytona Beach — come early, stay late. It is a different feel; a good place to have a meeting and have time at the beach. One thing about Daytona Beach, you can stay here and drive an hour and be in Disney World, or one hour south and be at the Kennedy Space Center or north and be in St. Augustine. In Daytona Beach, we have the Speedway, the Smithsonian-affiliated Arts Center and a turtle rehab center.

Brenda Redmon Daytona Beach Area CVB Florida

Since COVID, meeting attendees spend time at the beach, and we have Pinehurst golf and Raleigh. We have a lot of groups book shoulder days.

Isaiah Griffin Fayetteville Area CVB North Carolina

We do get bleisure a lot. We always recommend private horse farm tours. In April and October, we have racing at Keeneland. Bourbon lovers can visit distilleries. And, if there is interest, there is the Kentucky Castle. And there is the Bite of the Bluegrass, a walking culinary and history tour.

Becca Rogers VisitLEX Kentucky

We are seeing some one- to two-day upticks, especially with smaller meetings. About 25 to 30 percent come in a day early. It’s a pretty good trend. They can do the Toledo Museum of Art, the zoo, the National Museum of the Great Lakes and Hollywood Casino, which is just across the bridge.

Eric Heinemann

Destination Toledo Ohio

When your meeting’s in Buffalo, it’s easy to strike the right balance. Kick off in venues with character. Dine in the same spots locals eat. Stroll our walkable convention district and a waterfront that begs you to explore. Your attendees will love how easy it feels, and you’ll love how far your budget goes.

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WHAT PLANNERS ARE SAYING

We have one single annual festival. 700 jugglers with 1,300 room nights, Monday to Saturday. Boston and Miami don’t need us in July.

Jake Darrow

International Jugglers Association Kissimmee, Florida

I did 64 meetings last year, $17 million in room nights. I have booked 33 so far this year. I do corporation and financial, some associations. I book all over. Small markets offer better prices, more support from the CVB, less traffic, and are safer, etc.

Emiko Beck HelmsBriscoe Orlando

We meet all over. I have sports. Rodeo, corporate and international groups. I do 15 to 20 meetings a year. My corporate meetings will be from 80 to 120. I do some small markets because of the personal touch. They respect groups and you get more attention. You get called back.

Jen

Totten

MeetUs Eagle, Idaho

I do a lot of product launches and training luncheons. About half domestic and half international. They are two to three days with an average of 200 people.

Jason Morrison FED-COM International Washington, D.C.

Right now, I have eight corporate accounts and nine churches, and I do a lot of family cruises. Just had a meeting in Branson with 294. I have a few around 160. I meet all over the place.

Jackie Wilson New Journeys 2 Travel Irving, Texas

I have been an independent planner for 21 years. I plan all types of events all over. I do corporate and association events. I focus on the design, strategy and production of events. I do 10 to 11 a year with average attendance of 500 to 750.

Patricia Stinson SEEvents Atlanta

I am responsible for all of our national conventions and some district meetings. I do five national meetings and four to five district meetings. The attendance varies from 40 to 2,000. We have four missions — mentoring 8- to 18-year-olds; education; health and welfare; and economic importance.

Kevin Patterson 100 Black Men of America Atlanta

I do small associations up to Fortune 500 companies. I average 100 a year with an average attendance of 200 to 250. We meet all over the world.

Ariel Adam HelmsBriscoe Port Washington, New York

MEETING LEADERS

RAEANN THOMAS

RBY REBECCA TREON

aeAnn Thomas hasn’t strayed far from home — in fact, she lives in the house where she grew up.

Thomas was born and raised in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, just a short drive from Manitowoc, where she is the destination sales and marketing manager for Visit Manitowoc. She’s been married to her husband, Jim, for 22 years, and they have three children.

Thomas didn’t start her career in tourism. Growing up, she always wanted to work in law enforcement. Thomas spent eight years in Milwaukee, serving in the United States Army National Guard as a petroleum supply specialist.

By the time she left the military, her dreams of being a police officer had faded, and she returned to Manitowoc, launching a career as a business development partner and staffing consultant. In that role, she handled recruitment and honed her expertise in sales. It was then that she became involved with the chamber of commerce, which eventually changed the trajectory of her career.

“I became part of our local chamber, and within that, I became an ambassador,” she said. “That was in 2005, and that was the opportunity that led me to the tourism industry.”

Thomas continued to work in staffing. Meanwhile, in 2021, the city relaunched its convention and visitors bureau as Visit Manitowoc, and Thomas got an opportunity to join the organization to help build the new brand.

“It’s been quite a roller coaster, but sales has always been my passion, and this is a completely different way of selling,” she said. “Coming from a competitive sales market to what I

call a fun sales job, it’s really nice that everyone works closely together, and it’s not competitive. The tourism industry is like nothing else.”

As destination sales and marketing manager, she oversees meeting and conference groups, tour groups, sporting tournaments and other events happening in Manitowoc. Thomas’ outgoing personality made her a great fit for her role at Visit Manitowoc.

“I’ve always very much been a people person and a social butterfly, so sales has always come very naturally,” she said. “I kind of knew that was where I was meant to be, but it was realizing that I didn’t have to be a police officer to give back to my community. You can be in a sales position to give back to your community, too.”

With her strong background in sales and customer service, Thomas was chosen over other applicants for the role in spite of the fact she had never worked in tourism. Thomas says the organization took a chance on her, and she has worked hard to prove that decision was worthwhile.

“In the first year, I really exceeded the expectations of growth and economic impact that my sales efforts were having within our community,” she said. “It’s the best job a person could ask for.”

Thomas said that people interested in working in a similar role should focus on being good communicators and being involved in the community they’re representing.

“Communication skills are key — listen to what people are looking for and be honest,” she said. “Some sales and marketing knowledge is helpful, but you have to know everything your community has to offer and have a passion for your community.”

“Communication skills are key.... You have to know everything your community has to offer and have a passion for your community.”

EXECUTIVE PROFILE

NAME RaeAnn Thomas

TITLE

Destination Sales and Marketing Manager

ORGANIZATION

Visit Manitowoc

LOCATION

Manitowoc, Wisconsin

BIRTHPLACE

Two Rivers, Wisconsin

CAREER HISTORY

• U.S. Army National Guard, petroleum supply specialist, 1998–2006

• Americollect, senior collector, 2004– 2008

• SEEK Careers/Staffing, business development partner/staffing consultant, 2008–2016

• IQ Resource Group, account executive, 2016–2019

• Manitowoc Visitor and Convention Bureau, sales manager, 2019–2022

• Visit Manitowoc, destination sales and marketing manager, 2022–present

• Take advantage of marketing grants. Some DMOs can help offset event marketing costs.

• Take advantage of DMO services. We provide hands-on support.

• Tap into unique venues. Manitowoc offers venues perfect for receptions, breakouts or off-site experiences.

Contending with Cancellations

TRY THESE TIPS FOR REDUCING ATTENDEE ATTRITION

BY RACHEL CRICK

The call of the sweatpants is compelling.

After years of remote work, tightened budgets and shifting priorities, workers are hesitant to forego comfort in favor of a convention attendance, and that is one of an event planner’s biggest challenges.

Even more concerning are the sky-high attrition rates. While the reasons behind this troubling trend may vary from changing attitudes to overbooked schedules, when attendees RSVP and then don’t show up, it interferes with venue contracts, disappoints clients and confounds an event’s bottom line. Here’s how three industry experts recommend fighting back against attendee attrition.

REEVALUATE YOUR EVENT

Increased attrition forces planners to reevaluate the way they think about several event components. The first is pricing.

While growing costs and shrinking budgets are one reason people may choose not to come to events in the first place, that doesn’t mean the answer is to reduce price. It may seem counterintuitive, but free or low-cost events are the easiest for attendees to change their minds about.

“The higher the price tag, the more likely they are to show up,” said Vanessa Loney, owner and head of global planning at Blue Ribbon Events. “There’s more that’s been invested into the event, so you’re not going to get people who simply don’t show up if they’ve paid quite a bit.”

If the event is typically free, planners can consider adding a nominal fee, even if it’s just a small increase, to ramp up the attendee’s investment.

The second thing to reconsider is digital components to in-person events. Attrition for digital events is notoriously high, because despite good intentions, the stakes for not attending aren’t very compelling, especially if attendees can watch recorded sessions or download slide decks later.

If in-person numbers are important to the event, consider cutting the hybrid features. But if it’s a digital event, planners should offer an incentive to be there the day of.

“If we, as event professionals, want attendees to show up to these types of events, there has to be a value that the attendee can only get in real time,” said Mary Davidson, founder and event director of EP Events.

“Attrition

is definitely something that’s gotten worse over time. What we try do now is plan around it, knowing it’s going to happen, and be diligent in tracking it.”

Jackie Baker

FOUNDER, CEO Spark Events Experience: 25 years

“People are being more choosy with how they spend their time, and so we’re seeing later decision-making and delayed commitment.… Now it’s about them considering if the event is worth their time and resources.”

TURN UP THE FOMO

Fear of missing out, or FOMO, drives a lot of decisions, and it can drive up event attendance, too. The first step to address this is to get to know the event’s target audience.

“You have to really do the research and understanding the attendee profile so that you can create that FOMO experience,” said Loney.

This is true for both the event’s content and generating pre-event interest; if the conference is geared toward botanists, plant-themed trivia might be just the thing to engage the target audience and entice them to come.

Likewise, announcing speakers and content early can be a great hook for the event marketing.

“The sooner you can announce your full speaker lineup, the better, because then people can see the value in attending all those different sessions or breakouts,” said Jackie Baker, founder and CEO of Spark Events.

Planners should use cross-platform marketing to keep the event on their attendees’ minds early and often, whether that’s a countdown to the start day, a countdown of the number of tickets still available, or even a calendar embed feature on a digital invitation that lets attendees plug the event directly into their schedules.

Mary Davidson

OWNER, EVENT DIRECTOR

EP Events

Experience: 10 years

“Having really strong communication with them helps people understand what will be happening at the event and makes them feel like they’ll be missing out if they’re not there,” Davidson said.

Advanced tech can also turn up the FOMO with features like social media integrations. Some registration pages offer the option to connect to an attendee’s LinkedIn network or even share that they’ll be attending.

“Those types of social media hooks work as well, because it gets the word out and adheres that person to attending the event, since they’ve already told everybody they’ll be there,” said Baker.

THE CARROT VERSUS THE STICK

Incentivizing attendees to show up for an event can be reinforced with either a carrot or a stick, depending on the industry or the company culture.

While many companies think of the event’s content as rewarding in and of itself, the rewards of attending must outweigh the many other priorities attendees have in their lives — or simply the inexplicable feeling of relief many people feel when cancelling plans.

One great reward to build into a program is the opportunity to feel a strong sense of community.

“The real reason a lot of people go to events is networking, so we try to create really meaningful networking opportunities,” said Loney. “We have a lot of things that you can only get if you attend in-person. For example, we use an interactive mobile app that offers small group meetups within it to really create that community.”

Another way to increase the rewards of attending is with a bribe.

“Another thing is to have some credit for attendance,” said Davidson. “Maybe people get a gift when they come or some type of event money they can spend on site.”

Gifts, whether in the form of swag or even a raffle for a larger prize, can motivate attendees to follow through and show up. Just make sure the gifts are selected with a lot of thought; no one needs another stress ball, but a high-quality insulated cup, a hilarious T-shirt or a unique tech gadget might excite attendees.

“It doesn’t matter what a big deal you think you are, everyone loves to get a gift,” said Baker. “It should be something that you have to be there to get.”

On the other hand, sometimes people are less likely to register and not show up if there’s some kind of consequence for doing so.

Cancellation policies can act as the proverbial stick. If refunds beyond a certain point are limited or simply unavailable, attendees might be more likely to prioritize showing up.

Another way to handle cancellations to give them the option for their cost to be credited toward a future event. If they’re unable to attend this year’s, at least they can attend in the future.

USE DATA AS FEEDBACK

While the days following the event may feel like a good time to breathe a sigh of relief, meeting planners know their job isn’t entirely done. This is the perfect time to collect and analyze the attendee data to evaluate what went well, what didn’t and what can be done better in the future. The same is true for attendance and attrition numbers.

Event data can help planners recognize trends and patterns in overall attendance, which can also help them source a venue of appropriate size, prepare adequately for catering needs and adjust their clients’ expectations for the event.

“It has absolutely been a game changer,” said Baker. “If you have an event where 1,000 people RSVP and only 600 people show up, that’s great data for the executive team to have year-over-year. You can’t make a budget just on vibes — you have to have the data to back up the vibes.”

Post-event communication with attendees is also a great way to lessen attrition for future events because it reminds them to register early.

“Something wonderful to do six months postevent is to send follow-up emails reminding them about what they experienced at the event so that they’re thinking about it again,” said Davidson. “Maybe they would be more likely to sign up a little bit sooner.”

Likewise, if they missed out on last year’s event, using photography from the event to induce FOMO in anticipation of next year’s event can put it on their radar and make them more likely not to skip out this time.

“When it comes to the attendee experience, you have to ask, ‘Why would somebody continue coming?’ That’s the part where you have to understand what makes them tick.”

Vanessa Loney

OWNER, HEAD OF GLOBAL PLANNING

Blue Ribbon Events Experience: 16 years

Winter in Eugene is Not for Hibernation

BY VICKIE MITCHELL

When winter comes, no one feels the urge to hibernate in Eugene, Oregon. Instead, they plunge into hot springs, watch Gray whales migrate, ski the slopes or take in the symphony. There’s much to do in this slice of Oregon, where a temperate climate makes winter a perfect time for meetings.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

With the Oregon Coast an hour west, the Cascade Mountains an hour east and reliable public transportation going in either direction, groups can easily spend a free afternoon whale watching, tax-free shopping and dining on the coast in Florence or skiing and tubing at a ski resort in the Cascades. Those who don’t ski or shop might prefer a soak in one of the hot springs near Eugene, like the six pools at Terwilliger Hot Springs or the hot springs at Belknap Hot Springs Resort.

OUT AND ABOUT DOWNTOWN

Being outside is pleasant most winter days so instead of gathering at the hotel bar, groups can hop from one downtown wine tasting room to another — Eugene Wine Cellars, J. Scott Cellars, and Oregon Wine LAB to name a few. With 700 performances and events at the Hult Center each year, odds are good that there will be something to see — perhaps the Eugene Ballet, a Broadway series show or the Eugene Symphony. The Hult’s striking theaters are

EUGENE, CASCADES & COAST

Heidi Albertson

Heidi@EugeneCascadesCoast.org

541-743-8761

541-484-5307 (Main)

EugeneCascadesCoastMeetings.org

also available for meetings and events. Another bright spot, the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, is known not only for its Asian and Middle Eastern collections but for a building that is a piece of architectural art.

TUCK IN AT PERSONABLE HOTELS

The city’s two conference hotels brim with personality any time of year and are especially warm and bright in the winter. The Graduate by Hilton Eugene’s décor celebrates the home team with University of Oregon memorabilia and school colors throughout its 275 guest rooms and 35,000 square feet of meeting space. An enormous wooden duck pull toy, a salute to the UO Mighty Ducks, greets guests in the lobby. The hotel’s Topgolf Swing Suite makes for an energizing evening of virtual golf, baseball or Zombie dodgeball.

The Valley River Inn, long a local favorite, is even more admired after a major renovation. The inn’s location on the Willamette River is used to advantage, with water views from much of its 15,000 square feet of meeting space, its restaurant and many of its 250 guest rooms and suites. Meetings and receptions can spill onto riverfront patios; when the weather is cool, a lobby fireplace adds warmth. Like the Graduate, Valley River Inn celebrates local ties. Beautiful wood used throughout reminds of the logging industry; vibrant rugs and colorful art reflect Native American culture. Travel Lane County has long offered incentives to meetings and conventions. Now, for qualified meetings booked November to March, it is offering an added incentive. Planners are encouraged to contact Travel Lane County to learn more about having a meeting in what is, in Eugene, an invigorating time of year.

GROWING GREENER

New and improved venues are raising standards on sustainability

BY RACHEL CRICK

For venues across the U.S. and the world, green is the goal.

Strides toward sustainability are no longer just an extra perk for venues to offer planners — they’re a necessity. That’s because more attendees are mindful of avoiding wasteful practices, and, as a result, management companies and independent venues alike are striving to reduce their carbon footprints and implement greener practices. All those efforts across thousands of events a year can add up to big changes.

From massive convention centers to boutique hotels, here are some newly built, recently renovated and up-and-coming sustainable venues planners should consider for green events.

PORTOLA HOTEL & SPA MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA

Central California’s first LEED-Certified hotel, Portola Hotel & Spa has always prioritized sustainability. Opened in 1977 near downtown Monterey, it’s just a short walk from Fisherman’s Wharf, making the bayfront property an excellent choice for coastal meetings and events. When combined with the adjacent Monterey Conference Center, it offers 60,000 square feet of indoor event space, nearly 60,000 square feet of outdoor event space and 379 guest rooms.

In 2024, the property underwent a $1.83 million renovation to its De Anza and Bonsai Ballrooms and De Anza Foyer, including aesthetic upgrades like new carpeting and light fixtures. The hotel’s restaurant and beloved local craft brewery, Peter B’s, also reopened recently after a $2 million renovation. But, beyond the cosmetic improvements to its meeting and dining spaces, the Monterey hotel has made greater strides toward sustainability.

In summer 2025, it announced the creation of a Reduced Waste Conference Program, in collaboration with sustainability consulting firm Blue Strike Environmental. The program strives to eliminate single-use plastics whenever possible; source seasonal ingredients from local farms; and implement water- and energy-saving measures throughout the

Above: Portola Hotel & Spa is Central California’s first LEED-Certified hotel and is adjacent to the Monterey Conference Center.

property. It will also promote a digital-first approach to signage and provide groups of 30 or more with a sustainability report following their event, which will document how many resources they saved by hosting their event at Portola Hotel & Spa. portolahotel.com

AUSTIN CONVENTION CENTER

AUSTIN, TEXAS

Known for its bustling live music and culinary scenes, Austin, Texas, has plenty for the meetings

In summer 2025, Portola Hotel announced the creation of a Reduced Waste Conference Program, in collaboration with sustainability consulting firm Blue Strike Environmental.

market. But its offerings are about to get even better: in early 2025, the Austin Convention Center released details and renderings for Unconventional ATX, a renovation and expansion project.

The goals are ambitious — it’s set to be the world’s first certified zero-carbon convention center. That means it will be powered by 100% renewable energy, built with recycled and low-impact materials, and have little to no carbon emissions on-site, thanks to all-electric operations. Many of its materials are being sourced from the demolition of the current convention center. According to the Austin Convention Center Department, the building is on track to earn LEED certification. It’s also set to provide plenty of aesthetically appealing green spaces, plazas and pedestrian walkways within Austin’s downtown.

In addition to meeting the city’s sustainability needs, the new convention center is also set to increase its capacity for events. The $1.6 billion renovation, estimated to be completed in late 2028, will take the structure from 365,000 square feet to

Renderings of the upcoming Austin Convention Center, clockwise from left: Outdoor event space outside of the lobby; an event plaza; an aerial view

IDEAS

620,000 square feet of rentable space. The improved event capacity is projected to bring an estimated $285 million of additional economic impact for the city of Austin, as well as 1,600 tourism jobs.

austinconventioncenter.com

HOTEL VERDANT RACINE, WISCONSIN

Just blocks away from the shores of Lake Michigan in a historic building in downtown Racine, Wisconsin, Hotel Verdant opened in late 2023. Green is in the name, so it’s no surprise that the hotel’s sustainability practices are top of mind.

Inspired by the natural surroundings of Racine and “hygge,” a Danish concept that combines simplicity and coziness, the hotel is decorated throughout with warm earth tones and contemporary furniture. The boutique property features 80 rooms, an Italian restaurant, a rooftop cocktail lounge with a botanical garden, and meeting space.

Its 3,500-square-foot Belle Ballroom has space for a reception for 125 guests and is divisible into two spaces. A boardroom and the rooftop lounge are also available to be rented. The hotel can handle on-site catering and A/V, and supplies planners with meeting packages.

Hotel Verdant’s commitment to sustainability has earned it an official LEED Gold Certification. Some of its green features include a geothermal heating and cooling system, smart sensors throughout that reduce

Scenes from Hotel Verdant, clockwise from left: A boardroom; the hotel exterior; rooftop solar panels

energy use, solar panels and wind turbines, and a green roof covered with vegetation to reduce stormwater runoff and the urban heat island effect. The hotel has electric vehicle charging stations and offers rentable bikes. It also uses environmentally friendly cleaning products and provides guests with sustainable toiletries and bedding products.

hotelverdant.com

GAYLORD NATIONAL RESORT AND CONVENTION CENTER

NATIONAL HARBOR, MARYLAND

Located just outside of Washington, D.C., in National Harbor, Maryland, the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center offers attendees easy access to all the amenities of a waterfront hospitality and entertainment district, as well as the nation’s capital. It’s the largest non-gaming hotel and conference center on the East Coast, with an impressive 2,000 guest rooms.

The AAA Four Diamond resort features more than 500,000 square feet of meeting space, including the 50,000-square-foot Potomac Ballroom, a 178,000-square-foot exhibit hall, and many other breakout rooms and boardrooms. It also has a 19-story atrium, multiple dining options, an indoor pool and an award-winning spa.

IDEAS

The Marriott Bonvoy property recently announced plans to invest in renewable energy with the addition of a rooftop solar array on the resort’s convention center. It’s expected to include nearly 4,700 solar panels that will cover 3.5 acres. The addition of solar panels is expected to supply up to 3.4 million kilowatt-hours of energy each year, which equates to about 20% of the resort’s total energy requirements. That’s also equivalent to reducing greenhouse gas emissions of carbon dioxide by nearly 2,400 metric tons each year. The project is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026.

marriott.com

ISLANDER RESORT ISLAMORADA, FLORIDA

Set on 24 acres on Islamorada in the Florida Keys, Islander Resort is a stunning beachfront property with excellent meeting and event facilities for up to 1,000 attendees. The resort offers guests a chance to reconnect with nature and enjoy the tropical climate with many indoor-outdoor spaces. It features 114

bungalows and suites and 25 two-bedroom villas, as well as multiple dining options, a private beachfront and tropical pool, complete with private cabanas.

The property’s event areas total 110,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor function space. Indoors, Hibiscus Hall offers 2,700 square feet for up to 220 attendees and some additional pre-function space. However, the outdoor function space is where Islander Resort really shines; venues like the Palm Terrace, the oceanfront Coral Point and the Great Lawn let attendees enjoy the island’s tropical atmosphere.

In early 2025, the resort unveiled an expansive, property-wide renovation that revamped everything from its lodging to its event spaces. These upgrades included several sustainability-oriented projects, including the largest solar installation on Islamorada, an on-site water collection system for irrigation and a new air conditioning system. Other initiatives include the use of LED lightbulbs, recycled and biodegradable materials, and a more energy-efficient laundry system.

islanderfloridakeys.com

Scenes from Islander Resort, clockwise from left: A beach firepit; poolside

Nebraska’s natural setting for unforgettable events.

Surround your group with beauty and meaning at Arbor Day Farm. With versatile spaces, treetop adventures, and charming accommodations at Lied Lodge, your gathering is seamless, sustainable, and truly memorable.

• 260 acres of orchards and forests to explore

• Full-property buyouts for private, distraction-free retreats

• Comfortable lodging steps from your sessions

• Farm-to-table dining and cider tastings

• Team-building experiences and conservation tours

Host with purpose — your event helps plant trees. Start planning today.

arbordayfarm.org/meetings | 402-873-8705 | sales@arbordayfarm.org

ESSENCE South OF THE

Savannah blends history, charm and first-class venues

MBY RACHEL CRICK

eetings, meet the hostess city of the South.

Savannah has long held the attention of leisure travelers, but thanks to some recent upgrades, it’s also gaining notoriety as a great spot for meetings and events. Cobblestone streets and vibrant nightlife combine with capable hotels and brand-new venues to give planners and attendees a seamless experience.

“It’s such a fun, friendly city,” said Stephanie Muehlher, destination services manager at Visit Savannah. “It has great accessibility with the Savannah airport, and we’ve worked really hard on getting 30 direct flights from major destinations.”

CITY

SAVANNAH AT A GLANCE

LOCATION: Southeastern coastal Georgia

ACCESS: Savannah Airport; interstates 95 and 16

HOTEL ROOMS: Over 14,000

CONTACT INFO: Visit Savannah

912-944-0455 visitsavannah.com

SAVANNAH CONVENTION CENTER

BUILT: 2000; $276 million renovation completed February 2025

EXHIBIT SPACE: 660,000 square feet total, 200,000 square feet exhibit space

OTHER MEETING SPACES: 40,000-squarefoot ballroom, 25,000-square-foot ballroom, 32 breakout rooms

MEETING HOTELS

Hyatt Regency Savannah

GUEST ROOMS: 351

MEETING SPACE: 33,000 square feet

JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District

GUEST ROOMS: 419

MEETING SPACE: 17,000 square feet

Perry Lane Hotel

GUEST ROOMS: 176

MEETING SPACE: 9,195 square feet

WHO’S MEETING IN SAVANNAH

Student and Youth Travel Association

ATTENDEES: 1,200

Georgia Municipal Association

ATTENDEES: 2,000

Destination Highlights

Known for its historic squares filled with Spanishmoss-draped live oak trees, bubbling fountains and iconic statues, Savannah is one-of-a-kind in the South. The city’s charming scenery is easily recognizable from iconic books and films, like “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” and “Forrest Gump,” among others. Its plantation homes, inns, cemeteries and churches have abundant stories to tell visitors on topics ranging from architecture to Black history.

Some of its top attractions in the historic district include Forsyth Park, the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Bonaventure Cemetery and River Street, complete with the original cobblestones. There’s also the American Prohibition Museum, the only museum of dedicated to the topic in the country, as well as the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force in Pooler, just minutes from the airport.

No trip to Savannah is complete without a historic trolley tour. Walking tours, including cemetery tours, history tours and even ghost tours, are also a signature part of the Savannah experience.

Nearby Tybee Island, nicknamed Savannah’s Beach, provides all the fun on the water travelers could ask for, from dolphin tours to a marine science center to lazy days spent lounging in the sand.

Distinctive Venues

W“ith Savannah being such a historic city, we have a lot of historic venues for hosting main events or fun offsites,” Muehlher said.

Several historic properties function as multi-use venues for everything from elegant banquets and weddings to trade shows. Savannah Station, a former train depot, offers 6,000 square feet of rustic, climate-controlled space for up to 300 guests. The Trustees’ Garden Kehoe Iron Works Building offers 8,000 square feet of space in a historic setting with river views for both large and small events.

Many of the city’s most distinct museums double as venues for a range of events, from corporate meetings to weddings. The Telfair Museums’ Jepson Center, a hub for the city’s art, contains an atrium, an auditorium and multiple galleries that can host events. Old Fort Jackson, dating back to 1808, is a great place for an off-site or outdoor event.

Another distinctive spot to meet is on the Savannah River, onboard the Georgia Queen with Savannah Riverboats. With multiple climate-controlled decks, scrumptious Southern cuisine and top-notch local entertainment, these river cruises are one of the city’s signature experiences. Meeting groups can do a full buyout of the boats or simply attend one of the many lunch, dinner or sightseeing cruises offered daily.

Major Meeting Spaces

The crown jewel of Savannah’s meeting and event venues is the magnificent Savannah Convention Center, which debuted a $276 million expansion in February 2025. Located on Hutchinson Island on the Savannah River, and visible from River Street, the convention center is accessible by ferry. It has 660,000 square feet, with over 200,000 square feet of exhibit space, two ballrooms, a 900-space parking garage and 32 breakout rooms. Its design combines plenty of natural light and views of the Savannah Harbor with functional features like charging stations throughout and the addition of private rooms for attendees to use for phone calls or one-on-one meetings.

“It is really a gorgeous space,” said Muehlher. “It’s new, but it’s fresh and user-friendly. It also incorporates some of the unique vibe of Savannah. They brought in bricks from historic Savannah to incorporate into the design.”

The convention center is connected to the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort and Spa, which features a golf course and 403 guest rooms. In addition to the Westin, another convention center hotel broke ground in 2025. The Signia by Hilton Savannah, slated for completion by 2028, will be 18 stories and add another 444 guest rooms.

MAJOR MEETING SPACES

After the Meeting

Savannah’s variety means meeting attendees will find plenty to keep them entertained once the day’s program is over. They can start by sampling some of the city’s signature cuisine. In addition to Southern fare, which can be found at the famous historic restaurant The Pirate’s House, Savannah has an eclectic food scene featuring everything from Asian fusion to upscale steakhouses found in local inns.

Plentiful seafood and rooftop bars can be found along River Street, especially at the JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District, an upscale hotel spanning three buildings in the heart of Savannah’s riverfront. Attendees should check out the Electric Moon, one of its rooftop spaces, that brings the vibe of an adult-sized playground with plenty of live music. Myrtle and Rose, an adjacent rooftop bar, offers a more refined rooftop experience. Both spaces are among many of the JW Marriott’s meeting and event offerings.

If they want to take the fun on the go, attendees will also find barhopping in Savannah is made easy because it’s an open container city. They can peruse the shops along Broughton Street, meander through the squares of the historic district and enjoy Savannah’s charming atmosphere.

“It’s such a fun city,” Muehlher said. “It’s historic, but it’s hip and fresh and so walkable. It also has great food.”

Ozark

CENTRAL

ABY CYNTHIA

bundant natural beauty, plentiful opportunities for outdoor recreation, exceptional affordability and an attractive economic environment have helped the Northwest Arkansas region become one of the country’s fastest-growing metropolitan areas. In the heart of it all is Springdale, a relaxed city of around 90,000 nestled on the Ozark Mountains’ Springfield Plateau that’s located just 30 minutes from both the Missouri and Oklahoma borders.

Visitors will find a thriving arts scene, a growing local food culture and access to hundreds of miles of trails for hiking and cycling. Blending smalltown charm with big-city opportunity, Springdale is an ideal destination for business, meetings and four-season fun.

The heavily forested land was home to the Osage and Cherokee peoples before white settlers arrived in the 1830s. Originally named Shiloh, the town of Springdale was incorporated in 1878 and became a hub for transportation and agriculture. Today, it’s the home of Tyson Foods, one of the nation’s largest meat producers, and it has been proclaimed by the state as the “Poultry Capital of the World.” That industry has attracted workers from around the globe, and Springdale now boasts a vibrant population that includes one of the largest Marshallese communities in the United States.

“We have a lot to offer,” said Jared Sullivan, director of communications and marketing for the Springdale Chamber of Commerce. “Springdale has a vibrant, walkable downtown containing many small to midsize venues that are perfect fits for meetings. We have great excursions and activities, and our scenery — especially when the leaves are changing — is just gorgeous. And I’d really like to highlight our affordability: the state of Arkansas is affordable, Northwest Arkansas is affordable and Springdale is the most affordable city in Northwest Arkansas. So, Springdale gives you a central location and the lowest rates for your group.”

Sullivan is also excited about plans for downtown’s new Sundry Hotel. The boutique property is part of Hilton’s Tapestry Collection and set to open in 2027 with five stories and 124 guestrooms. It will also feature a modern Italian restaurant with wood-fired pizza and fresh handmade pasta; 2,250 square feet of flexible meeting space, including board and breakout rooms; high-speed Wi-Fi; A/V capabilities; and in-house catering.

SPRINGDALE ARKANSAS

Destination Highlights

Northwest Arkansas is rapidly becoming a cycling mecca, and cyclists, skaters, walkers, families and wheelchair users will enjoy exploring the 40-mile Razorback Greenway. One of the most innovative trail systems in America, the paved network connects the communities of Fayetteville, Johnson, Springdale, Lowell, Rogers, Bentonville and Bella Vista, allowing visitors to enjoy entertainment, shopping, historic sites, lakes, art projects and cultural experiences along the way.

Major Meeting Spaces

The Holiday Inn and Northwest Arkansas Convention Center is the city’s largest, with 61,000 square feet of flexible function space. Suitable for meetings of 10 to large-scale conferences for 3,000 attendees, the property offers a dedicated event staff, creative catering options and on-site AV. The recently renovated Arkansas Ballroom has a combined size of 10,952 square feet, seats up to 1,800 people and can be divided into seven separate meeting rooms. The 35,000-square-foot convention center has four separate halls and is ideal for various functions such as trade shows, large dinners, dances and receptions.

Springdale

Distinctive Venues

Sassafras Springs Vineyard and Winery’s 60-acre estate has a variety of venues guaranteed to make events memorable. The European-inspired Chapel Ruins are perfect for picturesque dinners, and the former stables can accommodate up to 400 guests inside at tables, up to 500 additional guests theater-style, or 300 guests at tables on the deck and veranda, which overlook the vineyards. Downtown, the ornate Apollo on Emma, a beautifully renovated 1940s theater, has a ballroom with capacity for 495 and other areas perfect for smaller groups.

After the Meeting

Art lovers will want to make the 20-mile trip to Bentonville to visit the Crystal Bridges Museum of Art. Located on more than 100 pristine Ozark acres, the museum features trails, stunning architecture and art ranging from Rockwell to Warhol. Springdale’s calendar provides year-round events including the Rodeo of the Ozarks, which is ranked as one of the best in the country. Ride the rails during a three-hour trip through the scenic mountains of Northwest Arkansas on the Arkansas and Missouri Railroad, or catch a game at Arvest Ballpark, where the Arkansas Naturals, a Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, play.

“The state of Arkansas is affordable, Northwest Arkansas is affordable and Springdale is the most affordable city in Northwest Arkansas. So, Springdale gives you a central location and the lowest rates for your group.”

— Jared Sullivan, Springdale Chamber of Commerce

New in Arizona

Meeting Guide

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

Arizona is one of the fastest-growing states in the U.S. due to its year-round warm climate, culture, affordable housing, job market and beautiful desert landscapes. Those same characteristics make it a desirable spot to host meetings or events.

Here are five new Arizona venues that have recently opened, or will open soon, from resorts and hotels to new attractions and eateries.

party island that will include white-sand beaches, tempera ture-controlled, clear-blue water and Mediterranean cuisine. Guests can soar 130 feet up into the air to Konos Sky Bar to soak up the panoramic desert views while drinking cocktails.

The resort will have 11 dining options, eight with waterfront views. It will also have 27 bar and cocktail experiences and celebrity chef restaurant concepts, including Bar Mar, Chef José Andrés’ first restaurant in Arizona. During its second phase, the resort will build a 2,000-seat indoor theater and the first-ever Mattel Adventure Park that will include Hot Wheels, Thomas and Friends, and Barbie-themed rides and experiences.

Once the resort is completed, meeting planners will be able to utilize over 90,000 square feet of indoor event spaces, including ballrooms, conference rooms and pre-function areas, and 30,000 square feet of rooftop space at the VAI Conference Center.

vairesort.com

THE REMI SCOTTSDALE, AUTOGRAPH COLLECTION

Scottsdale

The REMI Scottsdale, Autograph Collection is a boutique hotel in the Entertainment District of Old Town Scottsdale that opened in July. It features 161 guest rooms, including 22 suites, a rooftop pool on the 12th floor, spa services, VIP access to Maya Day + Nightclub next door, and a partnership with W Scottsdale across the street for overflow rooms and meeting spaces for groups.

The REMI has four restaurants, including Kauboi — pronounced “cowboy” — that blends Japanese tradition with modern Western influences. It specializes in rare whiskeys. F/Sixteen is a reimagination of a classic diner that serves comfort food and boozy shakes. Allegra is a Moroccan-inspired bar next to the rooftop pool. REMI Lobby Bar offers crafted drinks and space for gatherings or people-watching.

For meetings, The REMI has a boardroom with a classroom capacity of 15, while its partner, W Scottsdale, offers 3,500 square feet of meeting space and a maximum classroom capacity of 120.

Meeting attendees wanting to explore Scottsdale will want to visit Desert Botanical Garden, which highlights 50,000 desert plants on more than 140 acres, as well as the Phoenix Zoo or Phoenix Art Museum. The nearby Heard Museum is known for its American Indian art, live events, museum shop and café. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West is only 12.8 miles away.

marriott.com

TRAILBORN GRAND CANYON

Williams

Trailborn Grand Canyon is a newly renovated hotel on Route 66 in Williams, the gateway to Grand Canyon National Park. Williams is home to the Grand Canyon Railway, a daily train that runs to the South Rim of the canyon.

The 96-room hotel has a southwestern vibe that blends well with the historic town. It offers family-friendly programming and immersive experiences like stargazing, guided hikes and helicopter rides over the Grand Canyon.

Meeting groups can bring their families along with them. The hotel has a children’s play area with bocce ball, cornhole, a kid’s scavenger hunt, pool and hot tub. Trailborn also has newly redesigned event spaces, including Camp Hall, which features classic saloon doors, vaulted ceilings with exposed beams and wooden wheel chandeliers, and a stage for live entertainment. The room also has space for games, including darts, shuffleboard and ring toss. A catering menu is available with a range of food and drink options, and it can hold receptions for up to 190 people or dinners for 150.

Miss Kitty’s Bar and Restaurant is a Southwest-inspired steakhouse and grill that can host events for up to 87 guests. It features an outdoor deck and patio for an additional 26 people.

Other event spaces include the outdoor pool area for 35 people and event lawns with outdoor fireplaces that are perfect for large outdoor events.

marriott.com

ELECTRIC PICKLE

Tempe

Electric Pickle opened in January as a pickleball entertainment venue. It features nine pickleball courts, two bocce ball courts, cornhole and ping pong tables. It also has a stage and fun things for children to do out on the lawn.

The décor is Tulum-inspired, giving the facility a resort vibe. It has an extensive food and drink menu, from tacos and pot stickers to sushi and pizza. All of its beverages are sweetened with fruit juice instead of artificial sugar.

The entire restaurant can host groups of 12 to 1,000, and each of the pickleball courts has a little casita cabana behind it with seating for up to 12 guests. Every court can host up to 16 people.

Electric Pickle also has private spaces. The second floor of the venue, called The Top Shelf, can host 120 people for meetings or events and includes a private bar, restaurant and two Full Swing Golf Simulators. The balcony overlooks the entire venue.

The Outdoor Cabana Bar and Covered Courts can accommodate 150 guests with cabana bar seating and courtside lounge seating. It also has private restrooms and access to four pickleball courts.

The Ace Room and Backcourt can seat 22 inside and 36 on the outdoor patio. It has TV and A/V access, and the private patio includes heaters and misters.

All food for events is catered in-house, and there are many packages available that cater to different tastes and dietary restrictions. Portable A/V equipment is available. electricpickle.com

INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY DISCOVERY CENTER

Fountain Hills

The International Dark Sky Discovery Center is being built in Fountain Hills, about a 30-minute drive from Phoenix, which is recognized by DarkSky International as an official dark sky community. That means that the city manages its light pollution so that the night sky continues to be a place of wonder.

The center, which is expected to be completed by the middle of 2026, will have an observatory, planetarium and theater. It also will have an exhibit hall that tells the story of why dark skies are important. Groups can learn the history of how humans from different cultures around the world have interacted with the sky, from stories about the sky and constellations to how people have used the stars to navigate across great distances.

The 150-seat theater with LED screens will show educational programs and NASA documentaries. It also can serve as a private event space, and there will be classroom space available as well as a smaller multipurpose room. The center’s large lobby will be the facility’s primary rental space with a capacity of 150.

Groups that rent the space will have to bring in their own vendors for food, tables and chairs, but the center does have a warming kitchen for caterers. If groups rent space at the center, they can add a planetarium show as part of their event.

darkskycenter.org

INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY DISCOVERY CENTER IN FOUNTAIN HILLS

The International Dark Sky Discovery Center is being built in Fountain Hills, about a 30-minute drive from Phoenix, which is recognized by DarkSky International as an official dark sky community.

Wisconsin’s Meeting Resorts

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

Quartzite cliffs, sea caves, forests and abundant parks all make Wisconsin an ideal setting for a resort. Throughout the state, beautiful hotel properties offer abundant space for meetings, as well as activities and surroundings that will make guests want to extend their stays. These five resorts are not only family-friendly — with waterparks, zip lines and miniature golf — but they also offer more adult activities, like horseback riding, full-service spas, skiing and golf.

AT GRAND GENEVA

Lake Geneva

On the campus of Grand Geneva Resort, TimberRidge Lodge and Waterpark offers several fun activities for families and groups. The 50,000-square-foot waterpark has 35-foot-tall water slides, a lazy river and Tiny Timbers for toddlers. There is also an arcade, a nine-hole mini golf course and mini bowling at Bruce’s Bowl-A-Rama.

Less than an hour from Milwaukee and 90 minutes from both Madison and Chicago, Lake Geneva is easy to reach.

The benefit of being on the 1,300-acre Grand Geneva campus is that guests can take advantage of everything, including skiing, championship golf and water adventures on Lake Geneva. The lodge is next to Dan Patch Stables, which offers pony rides, trail rides and hayrides, and has a petting farm.

The all-suite resort has 225 rooms with full kitchens, fireplaces and either balconies or private patios. The Cascades Ballroom can host up to 240 guests for a banquet or be subdivided into three spaces. Groups can also utilize Grand Geneva’s meeting and event spaces.

Groups hosting events at TimberRidge can add team-building activities to their events, including competitions with a donation component for local nonprofits, pickleball tournaments, rock climbing or corporate golf outings and game nights.

The lodge’s lobby was fully renovated in the past year, along with Moose and Maple, a Northwoods-themed restaurant that offers breakfast, lunch and dinner fare.

timberridgelodge.com

CHULA VISTA RESORT

Wisconsin Dells

Chula Vista Resort is in the Wisconsin Dells, a beautiful area of the state that is known as the waterpark capital of the United States. The 620-room resort offers a mix of traditional hotel suites, condominiums and villas situated along the Wisconsin River.

The resort has indoor and outdoor waterparks that include 27 waterslides. Lost Rios Indoor Waterpark features Rio Rapids Action River, Matador Mat Racers waterslides, Mt. Montezuma’s Mayan Temple play structure and the Croc Walk Water Crossing. Rainbow Rapids, the resort’s newest waterslide attraction, takes guests through a kaleidoscope of colored lights. The outdoor waterpark includes extreme slides, an adventure lagoon, a waterpark splash pad, a sport pool and a wave pool.

The resort has an 18-hole golf course, 18 holes of miniature golf, Dells Zipline Adventures and the one-mile-long River Walk Trail, cross-country skiing trails and sledding routes. To relax, attendees can take advantage of the resort’s large outdoor hot tub or get a massage at the spa.

Chula Vista has six restaurants and over 80,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. The Grand Ballroom can host 400 for a banquet or 600 theater-style. The 11,300-square-foot Riverview Ballroom can be divided into two smaller rooms. The atrium offers stunning views of the river and access to the Riverview Solarium Deck, with direct access to boat docks and outdoor seating for up to 100. chulavistameetings.com

DEVIL’S HEAD RESORT

Merrimac

Devil’s Head Resort is a full-service ski resort in the heart of the glacier-formed Baraboo Bluffs in South Central Wisconsin. Only three hours from Chicago, an hour from Madison and two hours from Milwaukee, the resort is perfect for meeting planners

Chula Vista Resort is in the Wisconsin Dells, a beautiful area of the state that is known as the waterpark capital of the United States.

who want to include downhill or cross-country skiing, golf and other fun outdoor activities as part of their events.

The resort has 253 hotel accommodations: 138 in the main lodge and 109 in the inn, and also six three-story Glacier Ridge condos located right on one of the property’s two 18-hole golf courses. The resort also has indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a sauna and two hot tubs.

Devil’s Lake State Park is less than two miles from the resort, situated along the Ice Age Trail. It features miles of hiking trails, swimming areas, and mountain bike and cross-country ski trails. Visitors can rent canoes or kayaks to get out on the lake. Parfrey’s Glen is half a mile from the resort. The ravine was cut by glaciers and is nearly 100 feet deep.

The resort has 20,000 square feet of banquet and meeting space that can host groups of 20 to 600 attendees. A 5,400-square-foot flexible meeting space can be divided into four rooms for breakout sessions. There is a beautiful deck off the conference facility that allows groups to incorporate the outdoors into their events. Groups can sit on the patio during breaks or make use of the outdoor event spaces. In-house catering services also are available.

devilsheadresort.com

THE FOUR SEASONS ISLAND RESORT

Pembine

The Four Seasons Island Resort is a 55-room, all-suite resort on Miscauno Island in the Menominee River, which divides

Island Inn was first built by the Wisconsin and Michigan Railroad company to house railroad workers. That original building burned down in 1923 and was rebuilt in 1925.

Miscauno Island is unique in that it has two bridges, one on the Michigan side and one on the Wisconsin side. Because of its unique location in the middle of the river and about eight miles off the highway, it served as a hideout for gangsters such as Al Capone in the 1920s, ’30s and ’40s.

Said to be haunted, the resort leans into its history by offering ghost tours and 1920s-themed events.

There are 11 banquet and event spaces at the resort, which has two entrances. The lobby on the Wisconsin side has a big fireplace, making it a nice spot for gathering. This historic space features a 300-foot staircase and one of Al Capone’s vehicles. Most of the banquet space is on the third floor.

The Spring Salon and Summer Salon can both host up to 140 guests. The Autumn Salon can accommodate 60 people inside and 25 on the porch. The 1905 Steakhouse can fit about 60 with an additional 40 on the porch. The lounge porch has room for up to 100 guests.

For fun, groups can play tennis or pickleball, rent pontoon boats or kayaks or take a guided fishing or waterfall tour. There are also ATV rentals on property and a nine-hole golf course. thefourseasonswisconsin.com

Miscauno Island is unique in that it has two bridges, one on the Michigan side and one on the Wisconsin side. Because of its location in the middle of the river, it served as a hideout for gangsters such as Al Capone in the 1920s, ’30s and ’40s.

Nestled between the towering bluffs and the mighty Mississippi, the La Crosse Region offers a setting as inspiring as the people you’re bringing together. From colorful arts and culture to endless outdoor adventures, this region combines natural beauty with world-class amenities. Whether you're exploring historic downtown, cruising on the Mississippi River or scaling new heights, elevate your next rendezvous in the La Crosse Region.

We speak fluent event planner.

FOR PLANNERS:

» Full in-house Sales, Event Management, AV Technology, F&B, and Host services

» 225,000 sf of beautifully appointed space

» 18 versatile, fully equipped event spaces and intuitive floor plans

» 4 downtown full service hotels with garage parking

» Award winning service & nearly 80% rebooking rate

» SAVE UP TO 15% vs. comparable cities!

FOR ATTENDEES:

» Walkable, safe, enjoyable downtown

» 60+ walk-to restaurants, pubs, cafes, coffee & dessert houses

» Boutique shopping; live entertainment; vibrant arts & attractions

» Riverfront parks, trails, and activities for all ages and abilities

» Easy Midwest drive-to destination; Easy by air via FWA grandwayne.com | 260.426.4100 | @GrandWayneCC

DOWNTOWN FORT WAYNE, INDIANA

METROPOLIS RESORT AND CONFERENCE CENTER

Eau Clare

Metropolis Resort and Conference Center in Eau Clare is a family-owned property that is easily accessible to Minneapolis and Chicago via Interstate 94. The resort features 111 hotel rooms and suites and is known for its fun, family-friendly activities.

Chaos Water Park has two water slides, an activity pool, a lazy river, an indoor aquatic playground and a hot tub. Action City Fun Center has a trampoline park, indoor and outdoor go-kart tracks, an arcade with over 150 games, a 19-hole mini golf course, bumper cars, the Soaring Eagle Zipline, a laser tag course, mini bowling and a laser maze vault.

The resort has 10,000 square feet of event space. The Metropolis banquet room, which can be divided into four smaller spaces using airwalls, is connected to Action City on the ground floor and is next to an outdoor pavilion.

The Skybox Banquet Hall is on the second floor of the hotel, overlooking the water park. It has nearly 4,000 square feet of space that can accommodate 400 theater-style or 250 for a banquet. It also features a full-service bar, and catering is available.

Fun is a main priority of resort, and many meeting groups will incorporate go-kart races or laser tag games during conference breaks. Team building options include competing on a Ninja Warrior course, jousting, dodgeball or slam-dunk contests in the trampoline park.

City Eats is a family-friendly restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. The resort also has City Pizza Co., City Coffee Co. and a Dairy Queen.

metropolisresort.com

On Campus in Wisconsin

BY PAULA AVEN GLADYCH

In Wisconsin, college towns are the places to be. Campus communities are wonderful spots to host meetings or events because student life brings an energy and diversity that attracts vibrant shops and restaurants. Campus performing arts and sports programs also help promote school spirit. These five Wisconsin college towns check all the boxes for meeting planners.

La Crosse is home to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Viterbo University and Western Technical College, which bring around 20,000 students to the city every year.

The city is spread out along the Mississippi River Valley in an area known as the Driftless Region, meaning it was never touched by glaciers. It is known for its bluffs and rolling hills and is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream, offering water sports of every kind, as well as fishing, hiking and biking trails. The walkable downtown features more than 50 restaurants and locally owned shops, and it is home to the area’s largest convention center.

The La Crosse Center offers 165,000 square feet of meeting and event space that includes exhibition halls and two ballrooms, one of which offers panoramic views of the Mississippi River. UW-La Crosse has meeting and events spaces for groups up to 3,000 participants, and it also offers summer housing for 2,500 and performance stages.

There are seven hotels within a four-block radius of the La Crosse Center with nearly 1,000 rooms. Groups hosting events in the city can tap into the universities for guest speakers or buy

Eau Claire’s downtown is within walking distance of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire campus, making it very accessible to groups coming to the city to host conventions.

group tickets to college sporting events. UW-La Crosse and Viterbo have outstanding performing arts and music programs. Groups can bring in university quartets or choirs as entertainment for their events.

The La Crosse Queen paddlewheeler offers scenic and private event cruises on the Mississippi River for up to 150 guests. explorelacrosse.com

EAU CLAIRE

Eau Claire’s downtown is within walking distance of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire campus, making it very accessible to groups coming to the city to host conventions. The Sonnentag is the university’s brand-new indoor event venue that includes the 5,000-seat event center, and the 84,000-square-foot John and Carolyn Sonnentag Fieldhouse is ideal for groups.

The Pablo Center at the Confluence, which can host up to 1,200, is a popular event space downtown because of its location on the Chippewa River. The Lismore Hotel Eau Claire, a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, is a block away from the Pablo Center. It has 112 guest rooms and nearly 14,000 square feet of flexible event space. Its largest ballroom setup can accommodate 439 for a banquet or 1,000 for a reception. The Oxbow Hotel has 30 boutique rooms and two smaller event spaces.

Groups hosting events in the city can book tickets to one of the university’s basketball, football or volleyball games. Some attend games just to see the highly rated marching band. Attendees can walk the city’s sculpture tour trails and take in murals or take advantage of the area’s 77 miles of interconnected paved trails for hiking and biking.

The Phoenix Taproom and Kitchen is a large, self-pour taproom offering 72 beers, wines, seltzers, ciders and non-alcoholic options. Across the street, 2 Roots Art and Wine Gallery offers over 100 wines by the glass.

visiteauclaire.com

STEVENS POINT

Stevens Point is strategically located in the middle of Wisconsin, making it a convenient city for meeting planners. The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is seeing its largest first-year class in 40 years, which is a boon for the community and its businesses.

Groups wanting to host events on campus can take advantage of two ballrooms and several breakout spaces in the Dreyfus University Center. The University Center can host groups of 300 for a banquet, and there are several other meeting spaces across campus.

Meeting groups looking for guest speakers for their events can tap into the expertise at UW-Stevens Point. For fun, they can add tickets to sporting events or concerts on campus.

The Holiday Inn and Convention Center offers 38,000 square feet of meeting space. The hotel has 149 guest rooms with an additional 66 rooms across the street at the Holiday Inn Express.

SentryWorld offers the largest event space in the city — 51,354 square feet — and it can accommodate groups of up to 3,000. There are two additional meeting facilities and a boutique hotel, The Inn at SentryWorld, on-site. The event spaces are next to the golf course.

CREATE Portage County recently moved into a former convent space in Stevens Point. The facility has a large space that can be rented

out to groups. Mid-State Technical College also has event space in its LEAD Center, along with breakout facilities across campus.

Stevens Point is home to the second oldest continuously operated brewery in the nation, Stevens Point Brewery, which was founded in 1857. Groups can take a tour of the brewery or sit outside on the huge patio and listen to live music.

stevenspointarea.com

KENOSHA

Carthage College, the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Gateway Technical College and Herzing University all call Kenosha home. Carthage, a private Lutheran school, is closest to downtown and Lake Michigan. It hosts many public events, and visiting groups can enjoy seeing art exhibits, live theater and sporting events on campus.

Kenosha is on the last stop of Chicago’s North Metra Line, making it convenient for visitors who want to include Chicago as part of their visit. There are five museums, a community theater and plenty of restaurants, shops and craft breweries downtown.

Carthage College has several meeting spaces available that can accommodate groups of 40 to 4,000. UW-Parkside can host groups up to 400 in its University Ballroom, Cinema and conference rooms.

Kenosha can comfortably host groups of 10 to 250 at The Stella Hotel and Ballroom. It has 80 guest rooms and over 8,000 square feet of event space, including a two-story ballroom with large windows and an outdoor balcony.

The Parkway Chateau has nearly 11,000 square feet of banquet space for up to 600 guests. The largest area is the Grand Hall at 4,000 square feet, and the facility has four additional spaces.

The 109-room Wyndham Garden Kenosha Harborside Hotel is the city’s only lakefront hotel property and features 4,500 square feet of event space that can accommodate up to 250 for a banquet.

Off-site venues include the Kenosha Public Museum, the Civil War Museum and the Kemper Center. visitkenosha.com

APPLETON

The city of Appleton owes its founding to Lawrence University, a liberal arts college that was established on the banks of the Fox River 178 years ago. The university is on the east side of downtown, with many diverse restaurants and boutique shops that cater to students, residents and visitors.

The Warch Campus Center offers 10 gathering spaces that are available for rent year-round. The facility, which overlooks the river, can host groups up to 300.

Groups wanting to add some college spirit to their events can purchase tickets to a football game or hire musicians from the music department to entertain at a dinner or reception.

Fox Cities Exhibition Center is Appleton’s downtown convention center. It overlooks Jones Park and features 38,000 square feet of flexible event space and a 17,000-square-foot outdoor plaza that can host events of up to 2,000.

Hilton Appleton Paper Valley, which is attached to the exhibition center and across the street from Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, is the city’s largest conference hotel, with 388 guest rooms and over 38,000 square feet of meeting space.

Poplar Hall, a large concert and event venue on the banks of the Fox River, can accommodate up to 190 guests. The Courtyard by Marriott Appleton Riverfront is next door. Offsite venues include the Appleton Public Library or The History Museum at the Castle, which is a former Masonic Temple.

foxcities.org

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Start planning for your next meeting or event in the Fox Cities. With a wide variety of spaces and places, we have the perfect venue to inspire any group to get down to business.

Looking for a modern, state-of-the-art option with room for a crowd? Check out the Fox Cities Exhibition Center— 38,000 square feet of thoughtfully designed space built right into the hillside of Downtown Appleton.

We are pleased to offer incentives starting at $1,000 for group bookings made in 2025 and beyond.