Up North - MyNorth.com
Transcription
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 #FE #SFBLGBTU 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[L3VTIHYK0SSPUVPZ -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.
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