Up North - MyNorth.com

meetings
Fall/Winter 2007
NORTH
PLANNING SUCCESSFUL EVENTS IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN
5 Fantastic and
spacious resorts
for large gatherings
7 Superb hideaways
for strategy sessions
10 Restaurants
your attendees will love
(and thank you for)
Up North
IDEA
BOOK
PLUS:
How to go green and save money too p. 11
News and deals for meeting planners p. 7
Meetings North • Fall/Winter 2007
C1
meetingsnorth.net
MEETINGSNORTH.NET
With over 70,000 square feet of flexible meeting space,
including a 45,000 square foot multi-purpose
entertainment hall, we’re ready to make any
sized event extraordinary. From 512
luxurious rooms and a full-service
spa, to decadent dining, exciting
gaming and world championship
golf nearby, your group will
always experience more
at Soaring Eagle.
From Vineyard Chateaux to Full-Service Resorts & Conference Centers...
...let us tailor your needs for an inspirational experience
- not just a meeting.
Call John Jessup, National Sales Manager, with your needs.
For a free Meeting Planning Guide,
call 800-940-1120 or log onto visittraversecity.com
Mt. Pleasant, MI
1-888-7-EAGLE-7
www.soaringeaglecasino.com
Traverse City Convention & Visitors Bureau
101 W. Grandview Parkway • Traverse City, MI 49684
(800) 940-1120 • Fax (231) 947-2621 • visittraversecity.com
GRAND. NEW.
.
.WHERE THE GUVS HANG OUT
By Jeff Smith
Editor’s
Note
[email protected]
w
NewGrandTraverseResort.com
|
ISTOCK
PRESENTING THE NEW GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT & SPA.
celebrate our stunning 14 million dollar
renovation. 600 smartly-appointed guest
rooms. three championship golf courses.
premier destination spa. wi-fi throughout.
magnificent grand lobby. private beach
club. 85,000 square feet of flexible
meeting space. and complimentary
transportation to our turtle creek
casino nearby. experience michigan’s finest.
ant your crew to party like the governors? Traverse City
Visitors and Convention Bureau chief Brad Van Dommelen
was happy to share where the guvs spent their time during
the annual National Governors Association meeting, held in Traverse City
this summer. Among those spots was a place so inspiring that former
Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor felt comfortable enough to
dance around the campfire to Jimmy Buffett tunes.
On Friday, the party was where they stayed, at the Grand Traverse
Resort & Spa. They held receptions both outdoors under the pavilions
and indoors up in the resort’s
smartly redecorated and renamed
restaurant, Aerie. “Very beautiful,”
Van Dommelen says.
Saturday, the guvs met all day, but
the spouses headed into downtown
Traverse City to the renovated
Traverse City Opera House for a
catered luncheon. The venue is a
marvelous testament to what a
community can accomplish with
devotion to a historical but functional ideal. Afterward they headed
out to the Sleeping Bear Dunes,
where the kids (and adults who still
know a good time when they see
one) did that Michigan classic, the
Dune Climb. Saturday evening
brought a tour of Dennos Museum
Center and dinner at the Hagerty
Center—both top-notch venues.
Sunday was a day on Old Mission,
Old Mission Peninsula
hitting such wineries as Brys Estate
and Chateau Chantal, followed by a
cookout and bonfire at Old Mission Lighthouse Park on the tip of the captivating peninsula. “It was a good old-fashioned Michigan cookout, with
hamburgers, hotdogs and s’mores,” Van Dommelen says. And yes, this
inspirational locale is where the Jimmy Buffett tunes moved Justice
O’Connor to sway to the music.
If this place can encourage a bunch of overworked government people to loosen up and communicate (across party lines, no less), it can
surely work some magic on your team. —J.S.
800.748.0303
Meetings North • Fall/Winter 2007
Proudly Owned & Operated by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians
MEETINGSNORTH.NET
3
meetings
NORTH
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meetingsnorth.net
ɩF QFSGFDU TFUUJOH GPS ZPVS
CVTJOFTT SFUSFBU
WWW7ELLINGTON)NNCOM
A Prism Publication
If your primary focus is
a high quality technology
based meeting space,
the University Center
at Gaylord is the only
place for you!
PRESIDENT/
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Deborah Wyatt Fellows
[email protected]
VICE PRESIDENT
EDITORIAL/EDITOR
Jeff Smith
[email protected]
MANAGING EDITOR
Elizabeth Edwards
[email protected]
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Emily Betz Tyra
[email protected]
Reservations Call Susie Marshall
800-705-3031 or E-Mail
[email protected]
ASSISTANT EDITORS Lynda Twardowski
[email protected]
When your
message is
first—
make it last
Emily Bingham
[email protected]
EDITORIAL INTERNS
ART DIRECTOR
PRODUCTION DIR.
Katie Holland
Christiana Schmitz
Excellent Location
Gorgeous Bayview
Deck Access from All Rooms
Food Purchase Offsets Room Charge
Holds 12–300 People
231-938-1100 · waterfrontconferencecenter.com
This is the meeting planner’s one-stop-shop for:
•Hotels
•Resorts
•Meeting Services
•Transportation
•Speakers
•Entertainment and more!
Come see the best of the Michigan meetings industry.
All regions of the state will be represented.
If Up North can make the nation’s governors loosen
up and start talking across party lines, imagine what
it can do for your team.
Theresa Burau-Baehr
Quick hits for meeting ideas and deals Up North.
[email protected]
ART ASSOCIATES
Bethany Kucera
Kelly Nogoski
[email protected]
TECHNICAL
ASSISITANT
Cory Hoeksma
11 Success Is in the Details
Sponsoring an environmentally friendly meeting is
easier and less expensive than you think.
[email protected]
ADVERTISING
SALES DIRECTOR
Jan A. Chapman
[email protected]
ACCOUNT
EXECUTIVES
Jim Driver
[email protected]
Ann Gatrell
14 Big Spaces
Thumbnail profiles of five venues with the space
and wherewithal to host your next large meeting
Up North.
[email protected]
Jill Hayes
[email protected]
Amy Artz Joslin
[email protected]
Candace Morse
[email protected]
20 Get Close
Small, intimate and charming, these seven relaxing
retreats will energize your group and spark your
brightest ideas.
John Roddy
[email protected]
[email protected]
May 11, 2007
9:00am - 4:00pm
Lansing Center
www.MichiganMeetingsExpo.com
231-941-8500
3 Editor’s Note
7 Meeting Insider
Cynthia Vozza
To make it last,
call us first.
Fall/Winter 2007 • Volume 3, Number 2
[email protected]
Diane Sundling Kolak
[email protected]
In planning events, your first
priority is getting your message
across. Whether you’re thanking star performers or teaching
new skills, custom publications
create a lasting experience. Set
expectations, capture enthusiasm,
reinforce learning and ensure a
lasting impression. With decades
of publishing, event planning
and marketing experience,
our team handles everything
from concept development,
copywriting and photography
through final printing and delivery.
.
. Table of Contents
MARKETING
DIRECTOR
Rachel North
[email protected]
CIRCULATION
FULFILLMENT MGR.
Jodi G. Simpson
[email protected]
MARKETING
COORDINATOR
26 Delicious Choices
10 Northern restaurants whose inventive food and
settings will please everyone in your entourage.
32 Advertiser Index & Map
Suzi Bicknell
[email protected]
800.678.3416
OFFICE MANAGER
Monterey Wheeler
[email protected]
CONTROLLER
Kirstin Gorney
[email protected]
FROM THE PUBLISHER OF
ON THE COVER:
Black Star Farms, photo by Brian Confer
THIS PAGE:
Editorial & Advertising Offices
148 E. Front St., Traverse City, MI 49684
Phone: 231-941-8174 Fax: 231-941-8391
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore,
photo by Todd Zawistowski
E-mail: [email protected]
©2007 Prism Publications.
Meetings North • Fall/Winter 2007
MEETINGSNORTH.NET
5
(Meeting Insider)
.
DISCOVER CREATIVE SPACES WITH UP NORTH
.FLAIR.
ISTOCK
IDEAS AND INSPIRATION FOR YOUR NEXT MEETING By Patty LaNoue Stearns
PATRICK WELLEVER
Great Wolf
Grows
A new 9,000-square-foot conference
center that will hold 273 people is
due in 2008 at Traverse City’s Great
Wolf Lodge, along with a ballroom
with retractable walls, live actionadventure games and an outdoor
Tour Big Mack at Its 50th
miniature golf course. It’s part of a
The Mackinac Bridge turns 50 this year, so get your crew in on the festivities. Groups
$4-million-plus expansion of the indoor
water park lodge, which opened in
of 20 or more can pre-board and get choice seats when traveling with Shepler’s to
2003. An onsite banquet team, AV
Mackinac Island (and in the shadow of the steel beauty) through October 28. The ferry
company offers historical cruises of Straits lighthouses through a partnership with the
systems and Wi-Fi are among the
upgrades. 3575 N U.S. 31 SOUTH, TRAVERSE CITY,
Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association as well as “Mack & Back” one-, two- and
three-day roundtrip packages. 231-436-5023 OR 800-828-6157, SHEPLERSFERRY.COM.
231-941-3600, GREATWOLF.COM.
8 HOMESTEAD
HAPPENINGS
venue/meeting space for up to 180, opened in August at Glen Arbor’s
Homestead Resort. Two large back-to-back fireplaces heat the great
COURTESY THE HOMESTEAD
M
ountain Flowers Lodge, the new 4,800-square-foot wedding
room as well as the patio.
Another large room, part of the original building, seats 80 and can be used for
cocktail receptions or wedding ceremonies. Watch for the resort’s new spa,
currently under construction, to open in late winter or early spring.
WOOD RIDGE RD.,
GLEN ARBOR, 231-334-5100, THEHOMESTEADRESORT.COM.
Meetings North • Fall/Winter 2007
MEETINGSNORTH.NET
7
.
Unplug &
Recharge
The resort’s “Civilized Wilderness” is ideal for strategic planning
and team building initiatives. The resort’s conference facilities can accommodate groups up to 100. Diversions after a productive
meeting include a peaceful round of golf on our championship course,
The Rock, shooting a round of sporting clays, touring the waters of
Potagannissing Bay by kayak or pontoon boat, bowling a couple of games
at Pins Bar & Grill, and reminiscing on the days events around a waterfront bonfire.
Bayside, our fine dining restaurant, overlooking the bay provides
world-class cuisine with cozy rustic charm. The same talented
culinary staff presides over all resort catering events.
Woodmoor Lodge with 40 rooms offers rustic Northwoods
ambiance and a welcoming gathering area with a fireplace, or
guests can stay in any of our 28 individual cottages with 1-5
bedrooms nestled on a pond, the bay, or the 18th fairway of
The Rock. Each of the cottages has a stone fireplace as well.
The vast and ongoing renovation
of Grand Traverse Commons (the
former state hospital) has
produced Mercato Marketplace,
just down the arched, brick-lined
corridor from Trattoria Stella restaurant. Take your group for
lunch and shopping at Gallery 50 for fine art, Premier Floral
Designs for fresh and silk bouquets, Jeanette Veeder Designs for
boutique clothes and tailoring, along with Tastes of Black Star
Farms, Red Hare Tack and Togs, and Silvertree Deli II. Sip awardwinning wines at Bryan Ulbrich’s Left Foot Charley, and smell
the coffee roasting at Higher Grounds. It’s all happening on
Cottagewood Drive in Traverse City. 231-941-1900, THEVILLAGETC.COM.
Boyne’s Boom
Boyne Mountain and Boyne Highlands resorts completed
$2.5 million in upgrades this season. Boyne Mountain’s
lower level, spruced up with pine and antiques, features
space for up to 300 people and dividing walls, which can
create up to seven breakout rooms for smaller meetings.
Drop-down projection screens are available in almost all
event areas.
Boyne Mountain also named Philip Kromer, a graduate
of New York’s Culinary Institute of America, as its executive chef.
At Boyne Highlands, there’s upgraded heating and air
conditioning in the Main Lodge, along with new tower
lobby furnishings and lavatories.
Foodwise, Boyne Highlands’ Aonach Mor Moonlight
Dinner is perfect for groups this winter. Take a sleigh ride
from the base of the mountain to the peak for dinner,
entertainment, a bonfire and views of the Mackinac Bridge
on clear nights. 800-462-6963, BOYNE.COM.
COURTESY TRATTORIA STELLA
Cool
Afternoon
at the Village
A Front
Street Fave
TODD ZAWISTOWSKI
Pizza magnate Tom Monaghan
developed this 2,000 acre corporate
retreat in the mid 1980’s for
Domino’s Pizza employees.
Discover for your next meeting
what Tom experienced the first time
he set foot on Drummond Island.
TASTY ESCAPES FOR YOU & YOUR CREW
ISTOCK
at Drummond Island
Resort and Conference Center
Meeting
Insider
It’s the 11th season for Traverse City’s
Amical restaurant’s Cookbook
Series dinners. One week out of
every month, from November until
May, recipes from a specific cookbook are the basis for Amical’s dinner menu. At press time the
schedule wasn’t decided, but we can vouch that these dinners are
always divine, and truly winter-blah busters. Amical’s Signature
Dishes DVD, with recipes and techniques for some of its most
popular dishes, is $12. Get it for your next team-building workshop.
Bon appetit! 231-941-8888, AMICAL.COM.
8 DINING AT THE AERIE
T
rillium is no longer. Grand Traverse Resort & Spa’s 16th floor restaurant’s new
name is Aerie, and its mission is premium casual dining with a locally driven
Don’t miss the boat when planning your next corporate meeting.
regional American menu from executive chef Ted Cizma, who joined the staff
COURTESY VIRTUALCITIES.COM
A ten minute ride on a 32-car ferry brings guests to the resort from
DeTour Village on the mainland. Or guests can arrive by plane at
Drummond Island Airport. A free shuttle service carries guests from
the airport to the resort.
in early 2007. The new decor is rich and spare, and there’s a swanky upper lounge for
private parties.
The Acme resort also received the 2007 Elite Certified Award for exceeding
industry standards in accommodations, activities, amenities, food and beverage,
Drummond Island Resort and Conference Center
Group Sales Department
www.drummondisland.com • [email protected]
800-845-7625
meetings facilities and service.
231-534-6000 OR 800-236-1577, NEWGRANDTRAVERSERESORT.COM.
Meetings North • Fall/Winter 2007
MEETINGSNORTH.NET
9
18th hole of
Cedar River.
.
MEETING ON THE GREEN
.
Success Is
in the Details
By Kim Corcoran
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY MEETINGS ARE EASIER (AND CHEAPER!) THAN YOU MIGHT THINK
:PaL!_
JVSVY
1VI
!:*9
• Ergonomic seating, special lighting and
in-room networking
• 4 championship golf courses with designs
by Tom Weiskopf and Arnold Palmer
+H[L!
UKWYVVMLY!
+H[L!
• Full-service business center and group
reception/registration area
:[L]LUZ;H[L0UJ‹ :/PNOSHUK(]L:\P[L‹3VTIHYK0SSPUVPZ
‹-H_
• 7,600 sq. ft. of dedicated conference space
7YVVMLKI`!
For meetings and conferences at any of our three
village resorts, call our Group Representative.
+H[L!
• State-of-the-art mountain resort conference
center on 4,500 acres
• Spa, fitness center, multiple lounges and
live entertainment
*SPLU[(WWYV]HS!
• Award-winning cuisine
1VI;P[SL!.YV\W(KZ
7\ISPJH[PVU!;YH]LYZL4HNHaPUL
0UZLY[PVU+H[LZ! 0UZLY[PVU
!
High-end meetings deserve peak
performance. Cedar River brings
the latest technology to the table.
First steps could include
energy-efficiency improvements in a meeting venue, such
as utilizing low-wattage light
bulbs. A bigger commitment
could be utilizing renewable
energy. Michigan’s very own
Crystal Mountain Resort is in
partnership with Renewable
Choice Energy to offer conference groups the option to
offset the carbon footprint
created during their event
by purchasing wind energy
credits. The purchase of these
wind energy credits makes it
possible for Renewable Choice
Energy to expand its capacity
for wind power. As a result,
clean sources of electricity will
be added to replace those
produced by the burning of
fossil fuels.
So is being green a huge
hassle? For planners, green
meetings involve looking at
the decisions we make every day and
putting them in a green light. When
inquiring about catering, ask for local
and organic options. Request use of
china and glass products instead of
paper products. You can also ask that
all condiments are served in bulk
(milk, creamer, sugar, etc.) instead of
individual packets.
Some might think that producing a
green meeting can be very expensive.
In reality, trimming waste actually
curbs costs. The earlier example about
reusable water bottles can save a bundle
on your water costs. Reducing the
amount of printed materials, designing
reusable signage and requesting locally
grown food can also be of great savings.
So check your wallet; being green can
save you some green!
This topic is moving very quickly,
so both planners and suppliers should
take note. Corporations and associaISTOCK
F
inally, Kermit the Frog is in
vogue. It’s all the rage to be
“green!” But what does it mean
to be green and to put on a green
meeting? In its simplest form, it means
creating an environmentally sensitive
meeting. Green meetings are about
increasing economic and environmental efficiency by minimizing the
use of resources and reducing the
amount of waste.
There are some very simple ways we
can work toward helping our environment in our everyday meeting planning.
Reducing paper waste is one of the
easiest ways to cut back. Conference
handouts can be made available on a
CD instead of being printed. Written
materials that are absolutely necessary
can be printed on recycled paper. And
session evaluations can be done electronically—either on site with audience
response systems or after the conference via an online survey.
Recycling is another sensible way to
create a greener meeting. We all know
to recycle our cans and our plastic
containers at home, so why can’t we do
the same at our meetings? Request that
your meeting facilities have recycling
stations in every meeting room and at
all food functions. Another great
idea—I personally love the thought of
reusable water bottles. At MPI WEC in
Montreal, everyone received a highquality reusable water bottle (sponsored, of course!) in the registration
bag. There were then water coolers
throughout the convention center
where attendees could refill their
bottles. At first it seemed like an imposition, but when I realized why we were
doing it, I didn’t mind taking the extra
step to cut down on waste and keep
expenses down.
A truly effective green strategy
requires that meeting planners, vendors
and venues work together to consider
energy and environmental impacts.
tions are feeling pressure from shareholders and members to demonstrate
environmental responsiveness and
corporate responsibility in their activities, including meetings. It is the attendees as well as the planners that are
pushing green meetings to the forefront. People want to do what is environmentally savvy. If more and more
planners start asking for green initiatives, the facilities will take notice and
put these practices into action. Kudos
to the venues that have already started
thinking green and are ahead of the
curve. Not to be confused with my
allegiances in college football, but on
this issue, I have to say, “Go Green!”
Kim Corcoran, CMP, is a professional
meeting planner with Meetings Up North.
[email protected]
BELLAIRE, MICHIGAN
866.408.5214 • ShantyCreek.com/mn
Meetings North • Fall/Winter 2007
MEETINGSNORTH.NET
11
GREAT ENCOUNTERS OF
THE KEWADIN KIND.
MORE WAYS TO PLAY. Know why convention and meeting planners love
a pool and a fitness center, award-winning dining,
Kewadin Casino? Because no meeting or convention is ever “all work.” And because Kewadin
national entertainment and more. You’re going to
Casino boasts the best of both worlds: a top-notch facility and
love how easy, convenient
countless sights to see and things to do. Amazing Las Vegas-style
and affordable planning a
gaming is only the beginning. Guests can enjoy a wide range of
successful, enjoyable event at Kewadin can be!
seasonal outdoor activities with some of the most breathtaking views
FOR EXPERT ASSISTANCE IN PLANNING
YOUR EVENT, CALL OUR SALES DEPARTMENT
IN SAULT STE. MARIE AT 906-632-0530
EXT. 53018, OR 800-539-2346.
in the country. With spectacular new facilities and decor, including 30,000 square feet of flexible
meeting space, we offer an impressive selection of tastefully appointed rooms and deluxe suites,
MICHIGAN:
SAULT STE. MARIE
ST. IGNACE
MANISTIQUE
HOTEL AND CONVENTION CENTER
kewadin.com
CHRISTMAS
HESSEL
BIG
SPACES
GRAND TRAVERSE
RESORT & SPA
in the North Country
The biggest conference center in the north, Grand Traverse
Resort & Spa can fit groups up to 2,500 people. Designated
meeting space divides into 34 rooms, but guest rooms convert to
extra meeting space (try it for casual break-out sessions).
When your party numbers in the hundreds,
these venues are ready to serve a healthy dose
of Up North vibe.
WHAT’S TO LOVE: Golf is king here, with three courses,
including The Bear, designed by Jack Nicklaus. The view from
the tower is hard to beat—you’ll get a panoramic look at Grand
Traverse Bay. There’s also a full-service spa, chef-led cooking
classes, golf school and boats to rent on the bay.The resort is all
under one roof, so you can avoid getting lost or dodging rain or
snow. Shopping’s here, too, plus a fully licensed daycare.
BRIAN WALTERS
BY HEATHER SHUMAKER
MEETING PLANNER’S GUIDE
Group size: 10 to 2,500
Meeting space: 85,000 sq. ft.
Biggest room:
2,500 people (Governors Hall)
Lodging capacity:
600 guest rooms/condos
Web site: grandtraverseresort.com
Phone: 800-236-1577
WHAT’S NEW: The regional fine dining restaurant, Aerie,
opened on top of the tower in June 2007. The Grand Traverse
Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, which bought the
resort in 2003, has extensively renovated all the guest rooms
and offers free shuttles to nearby Turtle Creek Casino.
LOCATION: Six miles outside Traverse City, with free airport
shuttles.
Meetings North • Fall/Winter 2007
MEETINGSNORTH.NET
15
GRAND HOTEL
On Mackinac Island, a brown-uniformed UPS driver may
deliver your meeting handouts—by horse and carriage. That’s
standard at the Grand Hotel, where more than half the visitors
are business groups.
Executive Retreats | Team Building Events | Wireless High-Speed Internet
On-site Audio Visual Equipment | Professional Staff | Experienced Conference Planners
RANDALL MCCUNE
Perfect Meeting. Perfect Place.
WHAT’S TO LOVE: If you’re looking to make an impact on
someone, stage a cocktail reception on the hotel porch.This 660foot-long porch is claimed to be the longest in the world and is
famous for its old-fashioned character, wicker rocking chairs and
sunset views of the Mackinac Straits. At the hotel there’s golf, a
spa and the half-million-gallon Esther Williams swimming pool.
Meals, refreshments, equipment and live banquet music are all
included in the price. Conferences here are well attended because
attendees typically flock to this Victorian setting.The island itself
charms visitors with horseback riding, hiking and biking, mostly
on state land, which covers 85 percent of the island. At nearby
historic Fort Mackinac, you can rent the fort after 7 p.m. for a
private dinner, complete with costumed guides, bugle calls and
rifle-firing demos.
MEETING PLANNER’S GUIDE
Group size: 10 to 1,000
Meeting space: 24,000 sq. ft.
Biggest room:
1,000 people (theatre)
Lodging capacity: 385 guest rooms
Web site: grandhotel.com
Phone: 906-847-3331
WHAT’S NEW: Tradition is the word here, including an
evening dress code. Still, the Grand moves with the times.
There’s now air conditioning in all guest rooms, free wireless
Internet, plus options for meals. Groups can choose whether
to go with the standard American plan (cooked breakfast and
five-course dinner included), full American (all three meals) or
European (room only).
LOCATION: Mackinac Island.Take the ferry from St. Ignace or
Mackinaw City, or fly into the small airstrip. Once on the island,
cars are banned. It’s all bicycles, walking or horse and carriage.
Don’t worry about lugging exhibits up the hill, though; everything’s delivered directly from the ferry by horse and carriage.
ODAWA CASINO RESORT
81-holes of championship golf designed by three renowned architects,
Robert Trent Jones, Sr., Tom Fazio and Rick Smith.
23 Downhill Ski Slopes | Cross-Country Skiing | Ski Instruction | Extreme Snow Tubing
Full Service Salon and Spa | Nautilus Fitness Room | Three On-Site Restaurants
Cyber Café | Award-Winning Children’s Adventure Center
The Perfect Place to Find Success.
Silver Medal Resort
3962 Wilkinson Road · Gaylord, MI 49735 · 1-888-TREETOPS · ww.treetops.com
Located off I-75 Exit 282. Three miles east on M-32 through downtown Gaylord.
Left on Wilkinson Road, two miles north to resort entrance.
Once known as the Victories Hotel, the
renamed Odawa Hotel is now part of the
Odawa Casino Resort, a brand new casino
and nightclub about a mile from the hotel.
Both properties are owned by the Little
Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians.
WHAT’S TO LOVE: Gaming at the
casino, national acts in Ovation Hall,
private fireplaces and pyrotechnics at the
nightclub, plus wine tasting at the newly
opened Sage Restaurant’s centerpiece—a
16-foot-tall glass-enclosed wine rack.
There’s no golf at the resort, but you can
find 10 golf courses within a half-hour’s
drive. Popular field trips: hunting for
Petoskey stones along Petoskey State
Park beach and shopping the boutiques
and galleries in Petoskey, Harbor Springs
and Bay Harbor.
WHAT’S NEW: Most everything.
Odawa celebrated a grand opening in
July 2007 and hopes to add pizzazz to
the meeting experience. They cater to
groups looking for something different.
MEETING PLANNER’S GUIDE
Group size: 10 to 1,000
Meeting space: 15,000 sq. ft.
Biggest room:
1,000 people (Ovation Hall)
Lodging capacity:
137 guest rooms
Web site: odawacasino.com
Phone: 877-442-6464
LOCATION: Less than two miles to
Petoskey (free 24/7 shuttle to downtown). Odawa Hotel also offers free rides
to the casino.
Meetings North • Fall/Winter 2007
MEETINGSNORTH.NET
17
A Meeting Place for Every Season.
Boyne Mountain is a four-season resort
with space for large conferences.You can
also link to Boyne’s other two properties,
Boyne Highlands and the Inn at Bay
Harbor, to add ski runs or golf games to
your event.
WHAT’S TO LOVE: Winter alpine and
Nordic skiing, or summer golf (two 18hole courses) and chairlift rides. Take a
dip in the resort’s Deer Lake, or set sail
on a Sunfish, canoe, kayak or paddleboat.
Indoors, sample a pedicure or stone
treatment at the Solace Spa or plunge
into the Avalanche Bay indoor water
park. Nearby find antiques shopping in
Petoskey’s Gaslight District or fun on the
big lakes—Lake Charlevoix and Lake
Michigan.
STUNNING. BREATHTAKING.
CHARMING. UNFORGETTABLE.
WHAT’S NEW: Boyne has added 220
guest rooms in the last three years, plus
the spa and indoor water park. They’ve
also remodeled the convention area in
their signature Swiss/Austrian style.
WORDS USED TO DESCRIBE MEETINGS
AT THE OTSEGO CLUB & RESORT
LOCATION: Boyne Mountain sits 17
miles from Petoskey and six miles from
Boyne City.There’s an airstrip at the resort.
Let us plan your next business event at the Otsego Club in
the Alpine Village of Gaylord, and we’ll give you
old world charm and world class service for groups from 4 to 400.
• A CULINARY EXPERIENCE THAT IS SECOND TO NONE
• FOUR CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF COURSES
• A FANTASTIC DOWNHILL SKI FACILITY
• 117 HOTEL ROOMS, SUITES AND TOWNHOMES
• NEW HILLTOP EXECUTIVE CENTER SCHEDULED TO OPEN JANUARY ‘08.
CONFERENCES
EXECUTIVE RETREATS GOLF GROUPS
WEDDINGS
SPECIAL EVENTS
Affordable, club style service is what we’re all about. We’re confident
we can make your next meeting, conference or special event
successful, stress free and memorable for your entire group.
After all we have been in business since 1939 and proudly continue to serve.
GOLF AND MEETING PACKAGES AVAILABLE
CHAT WITH ONE OF OUR CONFERENCE PROFESSIONALS TODAY, THEY’LL HELP YOU MAKE IT HAPPEN
1 800-752-5510 ext. 344 and mention MNF07 Promotional Code
1 mile East of Downtown Gaylord (Just East of I-75) 696 M-32 East Gaylord MI, 49734
www.otsegoclub.com
PHOTO COURTESY BOYNE USA RESORTS
LET US PLAN YOUR NEXT EVENT
MEETING PLANNER’S GUIDE
Group size: 10 to 800
Meeting space: 37,000 sq. ft.
Biggest room:
800 people (Upper Level)
Lodging capacity:
450 guest rooms/condos
Web site: boyne.com
Phone: 800-GO-BOYNE
PHOTO COURTESY CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN
BOYNE
MOUNTAIN
CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN
RESORT
If you’re looking for meeting space Up North, but not too far north,
Crystal Mountain offers a woodsy setting for up to 400 people.
WHAT’S TO LOVE: It’s IACC-accredited
(International Association of Conference
Centers), so you can count on attention
to smaller groups, ergonomic chairs, separate climate controls, a complete business
center and rooms without buzz and chatter
from meetings next door. Check out the
water park, skiing, golfing and climbing
wall. Crystal also loves art. Hike through the
Michigan Legacy Art Park to find 40
outdoor sculptures from Michigan artists.
Inside, more local art is on display, along
with Inuit art from the Hudson Bay for
far-North flavor. Lake Michigan’s beach is only 15 minutes away
in Frankfort, and nature-lovers can get lost in the Sleeping Bear
Dunes National Lakeshore or on the 57 inland lakes and rivers in
Benzie County.
MEETING PLANNER’S GUIDE
Group size: 10 to 400
Meeting space: 20,000 sq. ft.
Biggest room:
350 people (Exhibit Hall)
Lodging capacity:
265 guest rooms/condos
Web site:
crystalmountain.com
Phone: 800-968-7686
WHAT’S NEW: Crystal is going green. Conference groups can
opt to make their next meeting greener by purchasing wind credits
to offset the event’s energy cost (travel, heat, electricity). Guests
can choose to pay extra to cover their carbon footprint. Crystal also
buys credits itself—enough to power the main chairlift.
LOCATION: Crystal sits right off M-115 in Benzie County. The
resort is two hours from Grand Rapids, four hours from Detroit and
40 minutes from the Traverse City airport.
Meetings North • Fall/Winter 2007
MEETINGSNORTH.NET
19
{
Beautiful B&B ensconced in the vineyards of Old Mission, this is
the lovechild of congenial hosts Jay and Cindy Ruzak. The inn is
patterned after a farmhouse in the south of France, and for meetings, you can congregate on the trellised stone outdoor patio and
view their vineyards and the bay, or gather in front of the limestone
fireplace in the great room/library. Other options: group grapestomping at harvest time, sailing with captain Jay and gourmet cook Cindy around
the bay in their three-bedroom boat (they call it boat and breakfast), hiking the trails
through the nearby woods, or fondue parties. Afterward, sink into one of three stunning rooms—one with a Jacuzzi, queen bed, sitting room and sleeper sofa; another
with a fireplace; the last with a vine-draped poster bed and clawfoot tub. C’est
magnifique! W. RUE DE CARROLL RD., TRAVERSE CITY, 800-873-0652 OR 231-947-2214, GREYHAREINN.COM.
OPPOSITE: TODD ZAWISTOWSKI. THIS PAGE: COURTESY STAFFORD’S BAY VIEW INN.
BY PATTY LANOUE STEARNS
Grey
Hare Inn
Stafford’s Bay
View Inn
{
Small, intimate
and charming,
these seven
relaxing retreats
will energize your
group and spark
your brightest
ideas.
With that in mind, we’ve chosen
seven placid destinations for your
next team-building getaway.
Surrounded by natural beauty,
packed with creature comforts,
they’ll lower your blood pressure
and get your neurons firing.
{
{
get
{close}
Everyone knows that
when stress levels fall,
creativity starts flowing.
Genteel and elegant, this circa-1890 Victorian
inn with the wraparound porch on Lake
Michigan’s Little Traverse Bay offers several
options for meetings and events. Guest rooms
are plush, service is top notch and breakfast
comes with your stay. After October, the inn is
open on weekends only, but if you book six
rooms or more during the week, it’s yours.
Wine and dine your group in the Roselawn
Dining Room, gaze at the lake, and Chef
Gerald Gramzay will take it from there. 2011 WOODLAND AVE.,
PETOSKEY, 800-258-1886 OR 231-347-2771, STAFFORDS.COM.
Meetings North • Fall/Winter 2007
MEETINGSNORTH.NET
21
Cartier
Mansion
Bay View Inn • Perry Hotel
Pier Restaurant • Weathervane Restaurant
Built in 1903, this smoke-free B&B and
conference center is the neoclassical
manse of Ludington lumber baron
Warren Cartier. Rich with history and—
of course—lots of glowing wood, each
handsome room is done up in a different
wood species, and each
floor boasts beautiful original inlays. Six guest rooms
are available, including two
suites, and the inn can be
rented for full and half days
with Wi-Fi throughout.
Lake Michigan’s just a
stroll away. 409 E. LUDINGTON
For exceptional corporate events, meetings
and gatherings, Stafford’s means business.
{
Gorgeous water views, historic accommodations, modern amenities,
gourmet cuisine and unsurpassed service. Stafford’s remarkable
properties are northern Michigan’s premier destinations for
discriminating corporate event planners.
AVE., LUDINGTON, 231-843-0101 OR
877-843-0101, CARTIERMANSION.COM.
Harbor Lights Resort
Perry Hotel
Built in 1886, in the historic
landmark district of Bay View.
31 guest rooms. Four banquet
rooms for up to 200 guests.
800-258-1886
Built in 1899, in Petoskey’s historic
downtown Gaslight District with
79 guest rooms. Four banquet
rooms for up to 200 guests.
800-737-1899
Call our Sales Department at 231-348-6017
staffords.com
HARBORLIGHTSMOTEL.COM.
Black Star
Farms
{
Bay View Inn
BLACK STAR FARMS: BRIAN CONFER. OTHERS COURTESY THEIR RESPECTIVE BUSINESSES.
{
On the Lake Michigan beach between two historic lighthouses, this retreat
offers condos, luxury honeymoon suites with whirlpool tubs and Wi-Fi.
Meetings for up to 20 work fine in one of the three-bedroom condos, and
overnight groups can stay at any of the units next door. The indoor pool and
spa are just steps away, and you can walk into downtown Frankfort for meals,
or have yours catered onsite. 15 SECOND STREET, FRANKFORT, 800-346-9614 OR 231-352-9614,
This genteel country estate surrounded by
vineyards and just minutes from Grand
Traverse Bay provides a prime environment
for executive brainstorm sessions. Meet in the
relaxed but elegant dining room; kick back
later in Pegaus bar, the timber-framed on-site
tasting room that serves Blackstar’s awardwinning wines and liqueurs. Your team can
stretch their legs roaming the vineyards in any
season (snowshoes available for winter).
Reception area can accommodate 140 people;
eight rooms, each with private baths. Suttons Bay, just up the
road, serves up inventive boutiques, beach and marina. BLACK STAR
FARMS, 1844 E. REVOLD RD., SUTTONS BAY, 231-944-1255, BLACKSTARFARMS.COM.
Meetings North • Fall/Winter 2007
MEETINGSNORTH.NET
23
TOP COURTESY HORTON CREEK INN. BOTTOM: TODD ZAWISTOWSKI.
{
Horton
Creek Inn
Meet by the fire in the living/family room of this grand cedar
log home, or slip into the six-person hot tub in the garden
room, which also boasts a fireplace of its own. Any way you
look at it, David and Jeannie Babbitt’s woodsy spot with the
glorious outdoor gardens and comfy Up North decor is mellow for up to
16 guests, breakfast included, and just 20 minutes to activities at Boyne
Mountain. 5757 BOYNE CITY RD., CHARLEVOIX, 866-582-5373, HORTONCREEKINNBB.COM.
Chateau Chantal
Like a countryside villa in Italy or France, the neat rows of vineyards and cherry trees
spread out over the rolling hillside, and at the top sit a sumptuous B&B, winery and
tasting room with a panorama of both East and West Grand Traverse Bays—the
elegant etch of the shoreline, the intrigue of the islands. Accommodations at the 65acre estate include eight suites, two standard units and an apartment with
kitchen/dining area, fireplace, two decks, two bedrooms and two bathrooms. All rooms
have access to the great room and its two fireplaces and tasting bar. For meetings,
high-speed and wireless Internet, digital AV equipment and break-out suites are available. To sweeten your stay, sign up for fall and winter cooking classes, wine-appreciation seminars, conferences by the fire, catered wine dinners and local winery tours.
15900 RUE DE VIN, TRAVERSE CITY, 231-223-4110 OR CHATEAUCHANTAL.COM.
Meetings North • Fall/Winter 2007
MEETINGSNORTH.NET
25
You want to
meet for
a good meal,
and you need a quiet,
private place that will
treat your group like
kings and queens.
Delicious
Choices
That’s easy in the
unhurried off-season Up
North. Here are 10 great
spots that will impress
your guests and make
your next event sparkle,
shimmer and shine.
10 Northern
restaurants that
will make your
meeting one to
remember.
Tapawingo
This contemporary fine-dining restaurant on St. Clair Lake
has been lauded by Saveur magazine and the NewYork Times
(and, of course, Traverse) as one of the finest in the Midwest.
You can book the whole restaurant with dinner for up to 60
for your meeting October through April. Throughout the
year, the private chef’s table for a dozen guests by the fireplace is one of the most pampered, multisensory experiences
around. Another option: sign up for a two-day hands-on
cooking class with executive chef Jeremy Kittelson, offered
each month through April. It might be the most delicious
bonding experience your group can have. 9502 LAKE ST., ELLSWORTH,
866-588-7881, 231-588-7971, TAPAWINGO.NET.
Boone’s Long Lake Inn
This rambling meat-and-seafood emporium with its rustic logcabin interior can accommodate groups of 30 to 150 at no
extra charge. Order from the menu (18-ounce steaks, 22-ounce
prime rib, salmon and lobster are popular) or create your own
off-menu banquet. Boone’s offers linens and a micro-podium.
Add a sound system and entertainment, and you’ve got a party.
If desired, Boone’s will give your guests separate checks.
BY PATTY LANOUE STEARNS
7208 SECOR RD., TRAVERSE CITY, 231-946-3991, BOONESLLI.COM.
TAPAWINGO: BRIAN CONFER. OTHERS: ISTOCK.
Forest Dunes Golf Club
The Adirondack-style clubhouse is surrounded by 400,000 acres
of dense Huron National Forest, and the fine-dining room
features a soaring beamed ceiling and loads of light. Paul
LeFevre, the upscale club’s executive chef, can whip up a
banquet for up to 150 people that might include stations of appetizers or a full sit-down dinner. Aged Angus steaks and seafood
are specialties of his continental menu. Meeting rooms are
nearby, and the club rents out four houses for guests. 6376 FOREST
DUNES DR., ROSCOMMON, 866-386-3764, 989-275-0700, FORESTDUNESGOLF.COM.
Meetings North • Fall/Winter 2007
MEETINGSNORTH.NET
27
GET UP
NORTH
Whitecaps
The big-window panorama of Little Traverse Bay on the
upper level of this contemporary restaurant is superb for
events of up to 300 people, and in warmer months, the Lake
Street meeting room spills out to the side patio. The menu’s as
modern as the interior—artfully plated appetizers, huge
salads, seafood, steaks and wood-fired pizzas are some of the
faves—or have your event custom catered by Whitecaps culinary team. 215 E. LAKE ST., PETOSKEY, 231-348-7092, WHITECAPSRESTAURANT.COM.
IN A CLICK
destinationnorthernmichigan.com
Big Buck Brewery & Steakhouse
Parties from 15 to 500 are on tap at this rustic Gaylord institution, whose well-rounded menu includes everything from
venison beer sausage to huge slabs of ribs. Steaks, chops,
chicken, seafood, burgers and leafy salads go grand with Big
Buck’s robust brews. 550 S. WISCONSIN AVE., GAYLORD, 989-732-5781,
BIGBUCK.COM.
La Vigna at Shanty Creek Resorts
Hip design meets classic Italian cuisine in the resort’s Cedar
River Village complex. The upscale restaurant is quiet and
cool, featuring creamy pastas, steaks, chops, dreamy desserts
and a huge fireplace to warm your toes. The adjacent lodgestyle conference center offers four meeting rooms with
high-tech equipment for up to 160 guests. 5820 SHANTY CREEK
RD., BELLAIRE, 800-678-4111, 231-533-8621, SHANTYCREEK.COM.
northern michigan
DESTINATION
destinationnorthernmichigan.com
Check out our all-in-one resource to plan your Up North
meeting! Find hundreds of links to Northern Michigan shops,
restaurants and destinations.
PASTA: ISTOCK. OTHERS: TODD ZAWISTOWSKI.
The Boathouse
Restaurant
With gorgeous views of West
Grand Traverse Bay, nautical
decor, a toasty fireplace and the
sommelier/chef team of Mari
and Randy Chamberlain, this
fine-dining restaurant will dazzle your group. The menu
revolves around fresh, seasonal food, and the Chamberlains,
who starred at Windows on the Bay (now-shuttered) for many
years, can handle 30 to 100 people for sit-down dinner. For a
more private affair, afternoons can be booked, when the
restaurant is closed. 14039 PENINSULA DR. ON OLD MISSION PENINSULA,
TRAVERSE CITY, 231-223-4030, BOATHOUSEONWESTBAY.COM.
Meetings North • Fall/Winter 2007
MEETINGSNORTH.NET
29
Unforgettable Mackinac Island
meetings—it’s what we do.
Nonna’s Ristorante
at The Homestead
New executive chef Mario Deruda, a
native of Sardinia, Italy, is thrilling
Northern Michigan palates with his
simple, fresh, authentic cuisine—longstirred risottos, handmade pastas, light
sauces and fish. The restaurant is in the
center of the resort on the shore of
Lake Michigan, so your guests can
feast on five or six courses in this oldworld, fieldstone-walled eatery, then
walk to their nearby rooms. The upperlevel loft area is perfect for groups of
up to 60. WOOD RIDGE RD., GLEN ARBOR,
Mackinac Island isn’t
just another town, it’s
another time. This is a place
of history, beauty and where
horsepower is only found in
front of a carriage.
Mission Point Resort is the whole
Plus, state-of-the-art audio, video and
package; amazing locale, extensive, flexible
presentation technologies and a fully
meeting capabilities, accommodations
equipped business center.
of distinction, gourmet catering, a wide
Whether you’re arranging an intimate
variety of on and off-site activities, and
business meeting or a large corporate
superior event planning.
seminar, Mission Point pulls it all together
Our Conference Center has over 38,000
square feet of highly flexible meeting
space for 10 to 1000 guests at a time.
RIGHT: ISTOCK. OTHERS: COURTESY THEIR RESPECTIVE BUSINESSES.
231-334-5100, THEHOMESTEADRESORT.COM.
into a seamless, memorable presentation.
Call 800-833-5583 to speak with one of
our event planning specialists.
www.missionpoint.com
Trattoria Stella in the Village
at Grand Traverse Commons
Talented executive chef Myles Anton presides over this brickwalled, walk-down restaurant with spaces both intimate and
large. The trattoria is a magnet for lively, casual gatherings
around the wine bar, where a long communal table is the
centerpiece of the room. Anton’s cuisine is seasonal and
locally procured but counts on staples like salads, tomato
bruschetta, garlicky white pizza and creamy cavatappi with
grilled chicken breast. For more intimate rendezvous, book
the arches dining area. Groups from two to 150 can be
accommodated in the off-season, and catering stations and
AV screens are available. 1200 W. 11TH ST., TRAVERSE CITY, 231-929-8989,
STELLATC.COM.
Jamesport Brewing Co.
Tom Buchanan’s hand-crafted lagers and ales always make
for cheery meetings at this sprawling Victorian-era brew pub,
whose history dates to 1890. Like its early roots as the Red
Andrews Saloon, this friendly spot is big on ambience and
meal choices. Groups of up to 139 can select from a wide
array of salads, tasty apps, sandwiches and entrees, along
with a wine list for those who don’t dig suds. 410 JAMES ST.,
LUDINGTON, 231-845-2522, JAMESPORTBREWINGCO.COM.
Meetings North • Fall/Winter 2007
MEETINGSNORTH.NET
31
Advertiser
Directory
Park Place Hotel
Pictured Rocks NL
41
4
4
Christmas
Munising
Sault Ste. Marie
Brimley
Newberry
75
Manistique L.
Hessel
Manistique
2
4
4
Straits of Mackinac
LAKE MICHIGAN
Cheboygan
MAP AREA
Mullett L.
1
Harbor Springs
Petoskey
800-845-7625
www.drummondisland.com
Pam Darling
11
12
Great Meetings have been our
Tradition for over 76 years
1
Mt. Pleasant
Northport
Torch L.
Peshawbestown
800-748-0303 Ext. 6155
www.grandtraverseresort.com
Cheryl Ferguson
Black L.
Burt L.
Charlevoix
Walloon L.
GRAND
TRAVERSE
L. Charlevoix
BAY
Boyne City
7
3. Grand Traverse Resort
& Spa
131
10
Suttons Bay
Gaylord
8
13
75
Glen Arbor
Traverse City
9 14
4. Kewadin Casino Resort
Lewiston
3
Elk L.
Acme
Downtown Traverse City, Michigan
Kalkaska
31
800-KEWADIN
www.kewadin.com
Stephanie Sprecker
906-635-4925
Grayling
Crystal L.
Higgins L.
• 12,725 square feet of meeting & convention space
5. McGuire’s Resort
Manistee
5
Houghton Lake
• Groups of 5 to 500
Cadillac
AREA AIRPORTS
6. Mission Point Resort
800-833-5583
www.missionpoint.com
Lisa McFarland
LAKE HURON
Pellston
2. Drummond Island
Resort and Conference
Center
800-634-7302
www.mcguiresresort.com
Hallie Selfridge
Drummond
Island
6
St. Ignace
800-GO-BOYNE
Gladstone
www.boyneusa.com
Mark Homuth
Escanaba
Ext. 6034
2
Mackinac
Island
4
1. Boyne USA
Cherry Capital Airport
231-947-2250; tcvairport.com
AIRLINES: Northwest, Northwest Airlink,
American Eagle, United Express, Delta
Ludington
• Free wireless internet throughout
• Walk to downtown dining, shopping & beaches
• 140 luxurious guest rooms
NUMBER OF DAILY FLIGHTS TO:
7. Odawa Casino
877-442-6464 Ext. 544
www.odawacasino.com
Sandy Williams
11. Soaring Eagle
888-7-EAGLE-7
www.soaringeaglecasino.com
12. Staffords Hospitality
8. Otsego Club
800-752-5510 Ext. 344
www.otsegoclub.com
Trisha Chandler
9. Park Place
231-946-5196
www.park-place-hotel.com
Margaret Morse
10. Shanty Creek
800-678-4111 Ext. 7895
www.shantycreek.com
Deb Kresnak
800-737-1899
www.staffords.com
Angie Whitener
231-348-6017 (direct line)
13. Treetops Resort
888-873-3867
www.treetops.com
14. Traverse City Convention
& Visitors Bureau
800-940-1120
www.visittreaversecity.com
John Jessup
Detroit: 5; Chicago: 9; New York:
seasonal weekend service; Minneapolis:
1; Cincinnati: 1; Atlanta: seasonal weekend service
CAR RENTALS: Avis (800-331-1212), Budget
(231-947-3883), Enterprise (231-922-2800),
Hertz (231-946-7051), National (231-947-1560)
Enjoy these two establishments on the premises, as well.
&
THE BEACON LOUNGE
at the Top
of the Park
Pellston Regional Airport
231-539-8441; pellstonairport.com
AIRLINES: Northwest
NUMBER OF DAILY FLIGHTS TO:
Detroit: 3-6 daily (varies seasonally);
Minneapolis: 1 per week (in the summer)
Where meetings are memorable …
and service and ambiance is exceptional.
CAR RENTALS/TRANSPORTATION:
Hertz Rental Car (231Mackinaw Shuttle (231-539-7005)
and Wolverine Stages (800-825-1450)
Avis
(231-539-8302),
539-8404),
Call Our Group Sales Department 231-946-5196
or visit our website www.park-place-hotel.com
Your business is our pleasure!
• 137 guest rooms, including 10 luxurious suites
• 15,000 square feet of meeting space
• 5 flexible banquet rooms can accommodate private meetings
and large conventions
• WiFi service and audiovisual equipment available
• Experienced staff can facilitate all the details
of your special event
• Odawa Casino Resort features Ovation Hall - this facility has
12,000 square feet of function space and can accommodate
more than 500 guests banquet style!
Odawa Hotel can accommodate all your meeting needs!
CONTACT CONVENTION SALES TODAY AT (877) 442-6464.
Owned and operated by the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians.