Two major highway systems provide fast and easy transport between downtown and other parts of the city, including the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. Meeting spaces abound in the four corners of the city surrounding downtown. Each area offers its own unique personality, from an outdoor adventure-oriented northwest corner to a southeast corner dominated by one of Michigan’s busiest commercial districts.

Grand Rapids has earned international recognition as an arts destination. Every autumn, the city hosts 2,000 artists and 300,000 spectators for ArtPrize, the world’s richest art competition. Frederik Mejier Gardens & Sculpture Park has been named one of the world’s top 30 must-see museums, while downtown is jam-packed with outdoor public art. The city is also adept at the art of dining, thanks to a renowned culinary school and a rich agricultural bounty that ensures fresh, delicious, farm-to-table cuisine.

Other major attractions include Lake Michigan, named one of the world’s top 25 shorelines; Michigan’s Adventure Amusement Park, home to one of the world’s top 10 wooden roller coasters; and John Ball Zoo, a classic urban zoo just five minutes from downtown.

A city with an enduring faith tradition, Grand Rapids is home to such belief-based organizations as Zondervan, Family Christian Stores and  IFCA International. It’s a very comfortable site for religious meeting planners and attendees, as evidenced by the city’s acclaimed hosting of RCMA 2009.

For more information, click here or call 800-678-9859.

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1. Rhode Island School of Design Museum
A concentration of colleges—Brown University, Johnson and Wales University, Rhode Island College, Providence College, Rhode Island School of Design, (or RISD)—adds to the intellectual and youthful capital of the city. Planners can tap into a variety of top-notch resources from speakers and museums to artists and high-tech meeting centers. You can build in time for attendees to visit the RISD museum where they’ll find a distinguished mix of works from the art and design world, or you can plan an elegant evening in its event space.

2. Federal Hill
Culinary students from Johnson and Wales and other colleges have fanned out around the city, adding new twists to the ethnically influenced neighborhood restaurants that have thrived in the city for generations. Federal Hill is Providence’s Little Italy, and invites walking tours past pastry-filled windows, boutiques and coffee houses. At Trattoria Zooma, you can watch fresh pasta being made in the front window. A chef’s table gives your group a close look at the restaurant’s distinctive take on traditional Italian dishes.

3. Convention Center Rotunda
With its high windows overlooking the city, Rhode Island Convention Center’s rotunda showcases the facility’s flexible space and dramatic good looks. More importantly for planners, the center’s management team prides itself on its in-house catering, work rules and regulations. The 100,000-sq.-ft. convention space is directly connected to the 564-room Westin Providence Hotel; Dunkin Donuts Center, which hosts sporting events, concerts and shows; and Veterans Memorial Auditorium, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Also on the register is the Renaissance Providence Hotel. While the hotel’s façade reflects its history, its interior is a mix of modern artistic elegance and state-of-the-art technology. The hotel earned R.I. Green Certification.

4. Johnson and Wales Culinary Arts Museums

Food as art, history and fun is on view at this funky little museum. You can rent the entire museum for a seated dinner of up to 160 guests or a reception for up to 350. Or plan a casual event in the 1950s diner which features retro-style tables and chairs, as well as a soda fountain bar.

The outdoor market at Paseo Colorado

Paseo Colorado

Across from the convention center campus, this Mediterranean-themed development’s central design feature is an esplanade that connects a mix of shops, restaurants, a movie theater and other commercial spaces along Colorado Boulevard to the Civic Auditorium, creating outdoor space for large events like concerts.

Pretty in Pink

The Langham Huntington, a landmark since 1907, is for those special guests. The hotel’s rooms, public spaces and service are comfortable and enchanting. Set off by views of the San Gabriel Mountains, the 23-acre property encompasses a conference center with 50,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, including three ballrooms, 15 meeting rooms and three boardrooms. Its 380 guest rooms, including private cottages, are surrounded by lush gardens, a pool and tennis courts. Highlights include the Langham’s afternoon tea, a patio surrounding a fountain that’s perfect for small gatherings day and night, a luxurious spa and the Michelin Star dining room with an outdoor terrace featuring inspiring views.

Sports and Arts

The annual Tournament of Roses draws hundreds of thousands to its famous parade and the Rose Bowl football game. But the city is also know for its cultural attractions, ranging from performances at its legendary regional theater, the Pasadena Playhouse, to its many museums, including the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens, as well as its scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology.

Outdoor dining in Old Pasadena

Eclectic Old Pasadena

The downtown business district is a lively, pedestrian-friendly center with pricey boutiques, ethnic restaurants, outdoor cafes, coffee houses, museums, galleries and music events. There’s easy access to parking and public transportation for those attendees arriving from nearby Los Angeles, who will be pleasantly surprised as they leave the traffic behind.

And maybe it is. The city is home to Churchill Downs, which features the “most exciting two minutes in sports” every May during the Kentucky Derby. Visitors take pictures with the world’s largest baseball bat at the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory. They can cruise along the Ohio River through downtown aboard the Belle of Louisville, the oldest operating steamboat in the nation. The “Possibility City” is loaded with opportunities to mix and match the area’s traditions and legacies, or stick to a theme and go all out.

Churchill Downs and its world-famous Kentucky Derby can easily be the main event, whether you are in town for the horse race itself or not; the city has year-round attractions dedicated to the “Run for the Roses.” The Kentucky Derby museum, which features more than 20,000 artifacts, reopened this past April after suffering severe damage following a flood in August 2009. New interactive exhibits give an inside look at the celebrities and fashion of the derby, as well as stories about the horses, jockeys and owners. Free historic guided walking tours of Churchill Downs are also available. Some tours include visits to the grave sites of famous past Derby winners, and others go behind the scenes to areas such as the stalls, jockeys’ quarters and press box.

While the official bat of Major League Baseball is certainly the highlight of the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, visitors can also step into a batting cage, see all kinds of baseball memorabilia and get the inside scoop from famous players in videos. Custom tours can highlight a favorite team, city or era, and visitors receive a free mini bat. The museum is located on Main Street’s Museum Row along with eight other stop-worthy highlights. Check out yet another sports icon at the Muhammad Ali Center, which celebrates the hometown hero with exhibits, civil rights footage and inspiring stories. The Louisville Science Center lets kids dive into the scientific world around them through permanent and temporary exhibits.

Near all the activity and attractions in downtown Louisville is Kentucky’s largest hotel, Galt House. The property has 1,290 guest rooms, including 650 suites, and a newly renovated 16,000-sq.-ft. ballroom that is part of the hotel’s 124,000 square feet of meeting space. The hotel is connected to the Kentucky International Convention Center by skywalk. Rivue Restaurant and Lounge is the hotel’s rooftop restaurant featuring two rotating dining rooms. It has views of downtown and the waterfront and consistently ranks as one of the city’s best restaurants. If that’s not enough, Galt House has six more restaurants and bars.

Another property option is the 21c Museum Hotel, but it isn’t just a place to stay. The 90-room boutique hotel is also the only museum dedicated solely to 21st-century art. Maybe it’s the 5,000 square feet of art-filled meeting and event space, iconic red penguins or 9,000 square feet of curated exhibit space by a full-time museum director that helped the hotel win a first-place ranking among Condé Nast Traveler readers in 2009. Travel & Leisure also labeled it “one of the most ambitious unions of art and hospitality ever undertaken.”

Kentucky is known for its bourbon. Heaven Hill Bourbon Heritage Center, Maker’s Mark, Jim Beam and Buffalo Trace distilleries offer tours. An Urban Bourbon trail features a different kind of tasting trek with a series of stops at Louisville bars and restaurants overflowing with the nation’s only native spirit. Each stop along the way boasts 50 different labels, bourbon flights, bourbon cocktails and all the expertise you need to complete the experience.

It might be too late. Between the newly renovated Battelle Grand multi-functional room in the Greater Columbus Convention Center and news of the $140 million Hilton Convention Hotel planned for completion by fall of 2012, the Midwestern city is already on the meetings map.

The city’s special touches for groups and meeting attendees come in the form of “experiences.” Experience Columbus, the city’s CVB, has partnered with hand-picked community businesses to package hands-on, interactive activities, which planners can mix and match to satisfy groups of any size, age and interest. They range from hands-on seminars with the Columbus Zoo to culinary delights at the North Market.

Meeting Facilities:

Battelle Grand

• Greater Columbus Convention Center: 410,000 square feet of exhibit space, three ballrooms and 65 meeting rooms

• Nationwide Arena: 18,000-seat arena

• Ohio Expo Center: 1 million square feet, 360-acre multi-use complex

• Veterans Memorial: 110,000 square feet of exhibit space

celebrates an inspiring recovery. |By Regina McGee

Less than nine months after Hurricane Ike swept through Galveston causing some $3 billion in damages, this Texas resort celebrated its remarkable recovery with Re-Birth Day festivities in the downtown area in May. Weekend activities included tours of the newly re-opened Tremont House. The return of the historic hotel, a Galveston icon, was the latest in a series of recovery milestones.

Over Memorial Day weekend, thousands of visitors enjoyed the island’s famous beaches, restored after a $10 million effort. Hundreds of shops and restaurants in the downtown area are now open for business, though recovery is still underway in parts of the Strand, famous for its beautiful Victorian architecture.

Thanks to the city’s seawall, much of the island’s tourism infrastructure was left in tact following Hurricane Ike. This includes the Galveston Island Convention Center, located at the San Luis Resort, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. The center’s resort-like ambience is complemented with state-of-the-art facilities, including a 43,100-sq.-ft. exhibition hall. Parking at the center and anywhere on the island is complimentary – as is the shuttle to and from contracted hotels. With 700 hotel rooms adjacent to the center and another 1,400 within two miles, the island accommodates citywide events averaging 1,200 people.

Recently, Galveston was voted the top Texas tourist destination for out-of-state leisure travelers in a survey conducted by the state’s Office of the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism. Indeed, this 32-mile-long island continues to offer a an amazing diversity of attractions.

Moody Gardens boasts everything from a world-class aquarium and a Discovery Museum to a spectacular hotel, spa and convention center. With its huge array of aquatic attractions, the Schlitterbahn Waterpark is a mecca for families. The island’s many treasured historic attractions include the Grand 1984 Opera House, a jewel of Victorian-era theater, and Bishop’s Palace, a castle-like home now one of the island’s most visited museums.

“The pace of recovery is a testament to the resiliency of the people of Galveston,” remarks Meg Winchester, CMP, director of sales, Galveston Island CVB. Galveston continues to be an excellent choice for religious conferences, she says. “Our whole philosophy is that groups have the best experience possible.”

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is considering adding an onsite hotel or resort due to a boost in attendance. Big draws such as baby elephant Beco and waterpark Zoombezi Bay attracted more than 1.9 million visitors in 2008 and turned the zoo into a two-day attraction.

Zoo officials drafted Hotel & Leisure Advisors of Cleveland to conduct a study that will help the zoo decide whether to pursue the project in May. The study will recommend the number of rooms the proposed treetop lodge should offer, as well as whether a restaurant or meeting space should be included.

The zoo’s attendance data is an important piece of the hotel study, along with analysis of the performance and occupancy of existing hotels in the northern Columbus market.

By Christine Born

1. Know who you are.

A comprehensive Request for Proposal should provide an overall evaluation of your meeting, says Donn Oswald, associate director of sales for the Greater Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Think of a resume, which offers job experience, references, history, etc.”
What are you using the space for? Be specific and thorough, advises Rachel Swartzendruber Miller, associate director of convention planning, Mennonite Church USA. “Remember the old real estate axiom—location, location, location? Well, think instead: communication, communication, communication.”

The more information you collect and provide for the venue or destination, the more options you’ll discover. Do you use volunteers? What do you use them for? What are the demographics of your group? Are they largely men who are looking for sports activities? Or women who want shopping?

What are their values and makeup? Are they financially conservative? If so, they’ll be more likely to go out for ice cream than steak dinners. If you have lots of high school students, a catering package might be more filling. Are you bringing in kids, or are you bringing
in bishops?

2. Communicate what you need.

Reach out and don’t be afraid to go after the city you want. You don’t have to wait for a FAM trip. “But keep your cards close and do your shopping first,” advises Stephen Hahn, director, Western Region Market Sales, Marriott International. “Don’t declare your top choices right away.”

3. Think like a venue.

Understand how a property values your business and be ready to explain how you’re helping the bottom line. “There is no Magic 8 ball or behind the black curtain stuff here,” says Frank Kuhns, sales manger for the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel. Flexibility and pattern are key words. Be aware of an area’s seasons: What are the peaks and shoulders?

If a property can squeeze you between two events, there’s more room to negotiate on price. What is your arrival need? Can you come in on Tuesday rather than Sunday? Can you fit your meeting into two days rather than three when the meeting needs to be scheduled  during a peak period?

Be sure to base your meeting space needs on move-in and move-out days rather than show days. What is your set-up time? Will you need to take up a ballroom on a day when you have booked no room nights? That will make a difference to the facility.

4. Know your room block percentage.

Having a low-risk group (97 percent pick-up rate over three to five events) could be a huge negotiating tool. “Be realistic,” Miller cautions. “If anything, be conservative.” How many double-doubles, kings, etc., do you need? How many room keys? Again, be very
specific.

5. What is the event’s F&B contribution?

Catering expenditure per room night can make the difference between good business for a hotel versus just average.

6. What other ancillary revenue does your meeting bring?

Does your group have heavy audio-visual requirements? Does it have bar sales?

7. Know your credit history.

CVBs share detailed reports on reportable meetings held in their cities, using a database called MINT (Meeting Information Network). A meeting is reportable if the following criteria are met: the event uses 50 or more rooms on peak; it rotates between at least two cities or states; and it is held on a regularly scheduled basis. “When you leave an event, make sure to ask the bureau for a copy or your credit history and check it for accuracy,” Oswald advises.

8. What’s your total dollar value?

This measurement is more important to a city than room nights. The cost per delegate (activities, dining, etc.) reflects the total economic impact of your conference.

9. Who’s the boss?

The venue will also want to know about your decision process. How long does it take to make a decision? Who are the decision makers? Being able to make a fast decision can be a leverage tool.

10. What other space considerations do you have?

What kind of breakouts—from classroom to half-moon set-ups? Are you willing to use outside meeting space? If a hotel has limited space, challenge them to help you find options.

Some extra tips:

• If it’s a new meeting, it is important to understand the risks involved for a property. There is always room for new meetings, but you’ll need to work with venues to find the best space and fit.

• Planners have to be flexible to find the best deal. What are the terms and conditions you can operate under?

• Build your relationships. The more relationships you have with suppliers, the better prepared you’ll be to deal. In a tight market, relationships and having choices are king.

What Constitutes Value Now?

It’s a buyer’s market, at least that’s the word on the street. Popular destinations, cruise lines, and even luxury hotels that wouldn’t have looked at some meetings in the past are promoting deals to lure groups and put heads in beds. But before you jump into a sweet-sounding offer, make sure it fits the demographics of your group and the needs of your meeting.

Traditional second- and third-tier cities may still be the best bet for faith-based conferences, which accrue the biggest value from being the only game in town. The impact of large meetings in mid-size and smaller cities is greater than in first-tier cities, meaning you’re in a position to negotiate better rates.

Maybe as important, visitor bureaus, convention centers, and hotels will bend over backwards to make sure your attendees have a great experience and will want to return again. Usually, everyone from hotel staff to retailers and wait staff will know you’re in town and will offer a warm and personal welcome. (Be sure to inquire about special offers and discounts for your group.) You also won’t have to worry about a conflicting or potentially incompatible group running into your attendees in the hotel lobby.

Overall, the cost of living in second- and third-tier cities is lower than in first-tier destinations, translating into savings for your group. Accommodations, restaurants, shopping, and attractions are often nearby, which can mean lower transportation costs. Local professionals (from universities, churches, or industries) can be good, inexpensive resources for presentations. The same holds true for entertainers. The city’s daily or weekly newspaper might be interested in covering your meeting.

Planners should contact the local CVB as early as possible to find out what incentives might be available for convention groups. Some cities offer grants specifically for faith-based and other nonprofit groups to help offset meeting costs. Then, work closely with the convention bureau, identifying local services and opportunities that can help reduce expenses.

Religious groups can enlist volunteers from area churches, as well as offering attendees the opportunity to give back by working on a community project. The CVB can help with these options.

Top Value Cities

Most travel websites agree that the country’s top value cities for the past few years have been Phoenix, Dallas–Fort Worth, Orlando, Denver, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Washington (D.C.), Kansas City, Miami, and Milwaukee, based on wide-ranging interests, affordability, and a plethora of accommodations and activities for travelers. This year, you’ll find even more special offers in most of them.

There also are many cities surrounding these metropolitan areas and in other regions with convention centers, new hotels, first-class amenities, compelling attractions, and often a distinctive cultural flavor that offer added value to planners.

Some cities are loaded with freebies that every person in your diverse group can enjoy—from chocoholic to history buff. There are free museums and museums that have at least one free day during the week. There are interesting tours of historic sites, churches, and local manufacturing facilities. The convention and visitors bureau will know which ones offer samples to groups, too. So, in these days of belt-tightening, go local and go free.

The Springfield, Missouri, CVB site has extensive “Free to See” listings that include the Assemblies of God National Headquarters, the Battle of Springfield Driving Tour, the Civil War Library at Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield, the Railroad Historical Museum, the Candy House Gourmet Chocolates (tasting tours), the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, and tours of the Grizzly Industrial Showroom.
Outdoor activities can add value to meetings in Springfield and Joplin, Missouri—both cities have major lakes, numerous clear-water streams, and plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventure.

Joplin combines  the area’s natural beauty with city vitality. Once a mining center, Joplin has been hosting meetings since 1839 when the first settlers came to the area and gathered for small church and religious meetings. Today, the city’s convention center and adjacent Holiday Inn offer 40,000 square feet of meeting space and can accommodate up 2,500 delegates. The CVB offers services that can save planners money, including free goodie bags for all conference attendees.

Another affordable, yet exciting and hospitable meeting destination in the middle of the country is Topeka. Kansas’ capital city has first-class convention facilities, including the Kansas Expocentre with 116,000 square feet of meeting space. Free tours include the State Capitol building, where visitors can learn the state’s history in its dramatic murals and visit the House and Senate chambers. Another big attraction is Old Prairie Town, a 5.5-acre  pioneer village on the Oregon Trail.

If you’re looking at a more northern location, Lansing, Michigan, boasts Midwestern hospitality and a proud history. The Lansing Center, situated within view of the Capitol building along the Grand River, is thoroughly modern from its architectural design to the wireless Internet service throughout the facility. The   center has more than 120,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space. Moreover, attendees can walk through history and get a sense of a simpler past at the nearby Lansing City Market.

For planners considering the West Coast, San Jose, California, has been popular with conference groups for years. Besides the favorable climate, an abundance of facilities, and a convenient light rail system, the area’s historic missions add to its potential for faith-based groups.

Rapid City, South Dakota, may not come to mind immediately but the city is equidistant from both coasts and is serviced with direct flights from Minneapolis, Chicago, Denver, Salt Lake City, and Las Vegas. Surrounded by the Black Hills and a two-million-acre ponderosa forest, the city has thousands of hotel rooms, large meeting facilities, fine dining, and plenty of shopping. Activities range from a buffalo safari to tours of monuments. Mount Rushmore, of course, and the Crazy Horse Memorial are favorite family adventures.

San Antonio and Fort Worth, Texas, both are compact cities, with hotels and attractions within walking distance. The Alamo and River Walk in the center of San Antonio offer enough activities to keep your group busy for days. Fort Worth, with plenty of shopping centers and museums to attract visitors, offers excellent meeting space and is close to most Dallas landmarks and attractions as well.
Historic sites and natural attractions, including Dixie and Lurie Caverns, are popular destinations in Virginia’s Roanoke Valley, which has more than 6,000 first-class guestrooms, two civic centers, and an IACC-approved conference center.

If you’re looking for beaches and want to give your landlubbing group some adventure, head to North Carolina’s Cape Fear Coast. Citywide events can be accommodated in a headquarters hotel and nearby properties. Tours range from a World War II battleship to a pirate tour through historic Downtown Wilmington.

Photos: Greater Lansing Michigan CVB; VisitTopeka.travel

From waterfront adventures to historic sites, shopping and ethnic dining, these cities offer choice, ease, and charm on a budget.

By Christine Born

It may be a global world, but small cities in this country are enjoying a revival as visitors rediscover the history, main streets, neighborhoods, and other charms of these special places. The renewed interest is attributable to changing travel patterns and preferences, and maybe some spillover from the “go local” movement. For meeting planners, these charms also include value, accessibility, security, variety, and hospitality.

Whether on the outskirts of metropolitan areas or situated amidst smaller towns in more rural areas, these cities are all within a six-hour drive of one-third of the country and served by airlines offering inexpensive flights. One savvy traveler calls them “all-American” cities, because when you visit any one of them, you encounter an individual character and an independent streak.

Each city has museums, shops, restaurants, and outdoor activities, many in walking distance of hotels and meeting facilities. You’ll find room for your events, and your attendees and their families can explore local color and history, enjoying new sights, stories, traditions, cuisines, and crafts. Conscious of the importance of religious meetings and events, these cities also offer special services and activities for your needs.

Albany

“We use the word “access” a lot,” says Gina Mintzer, director of sales for the Albany Convention & Visitors Bureau in New York. “We’re accessible to most of the Northeast, Washington [D.C.], and Montreal. There are cheap flights in and out, and we’re on Amtrak’s busiest corridor.

“We also have access to media coverage while your group is here, because you’re a big fish in a little pond,” she adds. “Your guests see coverage in the local paper, or hear about your event on the radio.”

And, to continue her point, she lists access to otherservices, including a welcome to your event by a city official, the right letters for your program, volunteer help, and dine-around evenings and tours organized by the bureau.

According to Mintzer, religious groups didn’t look at the city until it landed its first Promise Keeper gathering in 2002. Attendees were so pleased, they returned again the following year, followed by a Women of Faith conference, which came back three years in a row. “The first year, they had 14,000 people and had budgeted for 9,000,” says Mintzer. Women of the Word and the female ministries of the Seventh-day Adventists brought events to Albany, too.

“The women are tougher and more demanding than men,” she says, mainly in terms of amenities and price, but they were pleased with what they found in the capital city.

Shopping is popular and plentiful, with two major malls in the area central to hotels and close to downtown. The 1.8-million-square-foot Crossgates Mall has more than 250 stores as well as the area’s first IMAX theatre. Colonie Center Mall has one of only two L.L. Bean stores in the state, along with the popular Christmas Tree Shops and The Cheesecake Factory. “Women left a Women of the Word conference early to get to the Talbots Outlet,” Mintzer says of another popular shopping mecca.

At the Albany Institute of History and Art, a special exhibition, “Hudson River Panorama: 400 Years of History, Art, and Culture,” commemorates the narratives of the Hudson River. Among the current exhibitions at the New York State Museum is “Rockwell Kent: This Is My Own,” which chronicles the artist’s life and work; it continues through May 17, 2009. The history of Albany can also be traced in much of its robust 19th- and early-20th-century architecture. The most visible example is the New York State Capitol sitting atop one of the seven hills that shaped the city’s landscape. There are other architectural treasures, including four historic homes that are featured on one tour.

The Albany Aqua Ducks are a popular attraction in season; two state-of-the-art amphibious vehicles take guests on a 90-minute guided tour to see the sites of historic Albany by land. Then the vehicles take to the Hudson River for the waterborne portion of the tour. The 42-seat Ducks also take students on educational field trips. The Albany Trolleys conduct tours all year, with group packages including entertainment venues and restaurants. The USS Slater, restored to WWII configuration, is the only destroyer escort afloat in America. “It appeals to all generations, and has been attracting bigger crowds than ever,” Mintzer says. The ship is available for group tours and overnight camping for youth groups. Fun runs on the riverfront footpaths, a walk from downtown properties, are popular add-on activities.

May is tulip time in Albany, with more than 200,000 bulbs in bloom, offering a natural theme for some meetings. Another popular draw for attendees who arrive early or stay after the conference is the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, 80 minutes away.

Fast Facts:
•    Room for up to 1,500 in convention center
•    Room for 5,000-14,000 in arena
•    800 hotel rooms downtown
•    5,800 committable rooms in area

Chattanooga

Rated one of the top tourism destinations for families in the Southeast by Disney Family Travel, Chattanooga has enough attractions to rival most theme parks, but is a living, walkable, comfortable city. In fact, you’ll be surprised by the number of families strolling the streets around the Tennessee Aquarium and downtown riverfront park during the day and into the night, when there often are free outdoor concerts.

One of the best features for visitors is that, upon arriving downtown, they can park their car and walk to everything. For those too foot-weary to walk, the city has free electric shuttle buses running from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. with stops close to restaurants and shops. The Tennessee Aquarium has added a new boat to its fleet, which can host receptions. The River Gorge Explorer is a 70-passenger high-speed catamaran that cruises into “Tennessee’s Grand Canyon,” winding along 26 miles of the Tennessee River. An aquarium naturalist points out wildlife and historic points of interest along the way. Chattanooga Riverboat has added to its complex with Pier 2, a docking facility that’s actually a stationary boat offering two decks that can handle 1,200 people for events. The Southern Belle departs from the dock for sightseeing tours, dinner and moonlight cruises, and special Dixieland and Gospel Cruises.

Adding to the downtown attractions, a complex with 12 stadium theaters and shopping is being planned for a location across from the aquarium. More artists have moved into the area around the historic Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel complex and are opening galleries beside new restaurants. In 2009, the Choo Choo celebrates its 100th anniversary, and is planning several events and offering special packages throughout the year.

The Chattanooga Convention Center, a state-of-the-art, one-level, 185,000-square-foot facility, has received its “green rating.” Other offsite function venues include the Chattanooga African-American Museum’s Bessie Smith Performance Hall, the Tivoli Theater, and the Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Auditorium. Within walking distance of downtown Chattanooga, the historic Bluff View Art District has galleries, landscape arts, restaurants, and space for small meetings. The River Gallery exhibits fine art and crafts from local, regional, national, and international artists and a whimsical sculpture garden is located on a hill overlooking the river. You can watch artisans bake breads, make chocolates, or roast coffee in the shops around the square and then enjoy the results in Rembrandt’s Coffee House. Just below the hill is the Hunter Museum of American Art, built on a 90-foot limestone bluff overlooking the river. A 1904 classical revival mansion and a striking contemporary structure house a small but fine collection of American art.

If you want to venture outside the downtown district, the Buttonwillow Church Civil War Dinner Theater serves Southern cuisine based on authentic 19th-century recipes.

The Outdoor Chattanooga Visitor’s Center is a new one-stop place for groups looking for adventure. There’s whitewater rafting on the Oconee River, world-class rock climbing, mountain biking on Raccoon Mountain, biking along river paths, and kayaking from downtown river launch areas.

“Religious groups, especially those that are targeting young people, find what they are looking for here,” says Steve Genovesi, vice president of sales for the Chattanooga Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “There’s also an amusement park at Lake Winnepesaukah about 30 minutes away.”

In addition to the key downtown attractions, Lookout Mountain now has an upscale venue, where groups “get that retreat atmosphere,” he says.

Fast Facts:
•    185,000-square-foot convention center
•    Room for 11,000 in UTC Arena
•    9,000 guestrooms in metro area
•    Room for 3,500 at Camp Jordan Arena in East Ridge

Huntsville

This Southern city has built its reputation as America’s space capital since 1950, when Dr. Wernher von Braun and 117 German scientists arrived to develop rockets for the United States Army. History wasn’t made until 1958 when the first American satellite, Explorer I, was launched into orbit. The city, also known as Rocket City, celebrated the 50th anniversary of the launch with a new pavilion housing a 363-foot Saturn V rocket, at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, a museum and popular family attraction. 

This year Huntsville was named one of the top green cities in the country by Popular Science magazine, partially for its air quality, electricity use, and transportation habits, but also in the category of “green living,” which recognizes the city’s outdoor spaces.

“One of the great things about Huntsville is that there are so many things to see and do,” says Charles Winters, vice president of marketing for the Huntsville/Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It’s very easy to get around—no more than 10 to 15 minutes to get from one place to another.”

Winters is referring to the diversity of attractions in the area, from the technology at the space center to the living history museum, Alabama Constitution Village, and a myriad of outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, and watersports.

“Groups here enjoy progressive dine-around evenings with activities at themed restaurants,” Winters says. “They can plan a reception at one attraction, dinner at another, and close at another.”

The area’s connection to the German scientists who settled here is reflected in the German restaurants and bakeries in the downtown area, but there are also restaurants that feature Southern, Greek, and French cuisine, as well as barbecue and upscale steak and seafood places, includingThe Chophouse and Ruth’s Chris Steak House.

The Von Braun Center is a multipurpose entertainment venue that houses major concerts, Broadway performances, ballets, symphonies, and sporting events. The 9,000-seat  arena, 2,153-seat Concert Hall and 502-seat Playhouse Theatre also can be used as meeting areas for conferences or seminars.

The 112-acre Huntsville Botanical Garden has venues for special events.  In addition to its aquatic, perennial, and annual displays, the garden features a festival for every season of the year and the largest season butterfly house in the nation.

Huntsville’s blend of cultures can be sampled in the wide range of themed tours a group can experience in the city and the surrounding region, including:  “Historic Churches and Stained Glass” (1859 Episcopal Church of the Nativity, 1859 First Presbyterian Church, 1869 First United Methodist Church,
St. Mary of the Visitation Church, Mooresville Brick Church, and Mooresville Church of Christ); “White Columns & Historic Architecture” (Normal Historic District, Twickenham Historic District, Old Town Historic District,
Burritt on the Mountain, and Weeden House Museum); “African-American Heritage” (Oakwood College, Alabama A&M University, Alabama State Black Archives, Research Center and Museum, and Imhotep Art Gallery); “Adventures in Shopping” (Madison Square Mall, Parkway Place Mall, Boaz Outlet Centers, and the Unclaimed Baggage Center, which features lost treasures from around the world); “Civil War” (Historic Huntsville Depot, Twickenham Historic District, and Maple Hill Cemetery); and “A Space Odyssey” (U.S. Space and Rocket  Center, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, Spacedome IMAX Theatre, and Sci-Quest).

Visitors to Harmony Park, a nature preserve with free-ranging exotic and endangered animals, can drive a two-mile route to see zebras, zebus, antelope, buffalo, ostriches, pythons, and crocodiles.

The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, which encompasses 21 courses in eight cities in Alabama, begins  in Huntsville at the 54-hole Hampton Cove Golf Course.

Fast Facts:
•    170,000 square feet in Von Braun Center
•    10,964-square-foot ballroom in new Westin Huntsville
•    6,200 guestrooms, with another 400 under construction

Branson

The Ozark Mountains destination claims only 8,000 residents, but draws eight million visitors a year to its 52 live performance theaters, three pristine lakes, 12 championship golf courses, international award-winning theme park, attractions and museums, shopping, and dining options.

Branson, Missouri, is less than a day’s drive from one-third of the United States’ population, and in 2009, the new Branson Airport, eight miles from downtown, will provide low-cost commercial flights from major U.S. cities.

“Groups choose Branson because there are so many sights, attractions, and shows that are family oriented,” says Debbie Philpot, sales and convention services manager of the Branson/Lakes Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. “You don’t have to worry about content or offending anyone. Groups can come and truly relax.”

Religious groups are targeted with shows like Noah—The Musical, at the Sight & Sound Theatre. The Bible-based show has more than 50 live animals and 50 animatronic animals onstage, set on a four-story stage that is the Ark. “It looks as if you’re sitting in the Ark itself,” says Philpot.

Another show that is part of Branson’s “Christian Broadway” is The Promise, a look into the life of Jesus Christ. The show, held at the Mansion America Theater, places a pious spin on big-stage song and dance.

Shopping is another major activity, and Branson runs the gamut from craft shops to factory outlet malls. Historic Downtown Branson calls itself Hometown USA. You can step back in time at Dick’s Old-time 5&10 and Branson Mercantile. Jewelry and clothing boutiques, as well as quilt, glassware, collectible shops, and restaurants, line the streets, which also offer more than 20 historical sites for visitors to tour.

Two blocks away is the new outdoor mall at Branson Landing on Lake Taneycomo, with three miles of shopping and restaurants, including the Midwest’s only Bass Pro Shops, where you can live-test boats and fishing equipment on the lake. Branson Landing Cruises has daily excursions aboard a 100-foot yacht or authentic 100-foot paddlewheel riverboat. There are also concerts and a dramatic water-fountain, synchronized to light, sound, music, and fire.

The Grand Village Shops has themed restaurants and a collection of specialty stores located on “The Strip” near the Grand Palace, including Kringle’s, Missouri’s largest Christmas Store, and a Thomas Kinkade shop. 

The Branson Mill Craft Village is a 60,000-square-foot shopping center and working village where visitors can watch demonstrations of glass blowing, leather carving, china painting, wood carving, and other crafts. There are 30 individually owned shops in the Engler Block, featuring Ozarks craftsmanship and artistry. Wood-carver Steve Engler, famous for his hand-carved Santas, started the tradition by carving his pieces as his customers watched. Father Time Clocks has one of the largest for-sale cuckoo clocks in the world. Silver Dollar City features the new Culinary & Craft School, with handcrafted items from the park’s master craftsmen, heirloom displays, demonstrations, hands-on activities, and classes.

Locally caught catfish and trout are featured on many menus, especially the waterfront eateries throughout Branson Landing, including The White House River Fish House. Steak, seafood, and a variety of cuisines are available at the Liberty Tavern at the Promenade Hilton, Ernie Biggs Chicago Style Dueling Piano Bar, Garfield’s Restaurant & Pub, Loredo, Waxy O’Shea’s Irish Pub, and more. All the shopping areas have numerous restaurants, including barbecue and family friendly buffets.

The Branson Convention Center, opened in September 2007, has 220,000 square feet of space in a state-of-the-art setting. A curving, exposed-timber pedestrian concourse gives visitors a view of the lakefront as they travel between the center’s facilities and the adjacent Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel. The 12-story hotel has 293 rooms, including 194 traditional rooms and suites, and 99 condotel units available for nightly rental.

“There are hotels, shows, and activities for every budget,” Philpot says. “We want to help planners be good stewards of their group’s money.”

Fast Facts:
• 220,000-square-foot convention center
• More than 200 facilities with 18,000+ guest units
• New website for planners: meetinbranson.net

By Kate Capleton

Rather than getting lost in the shuffle in a top-tier metropolis, a group is more likely to make an impression in a smaller community, perhaps even attracting the attention of local media. And with air access continually improving, as airlines add more direct and nonstop service to traditionally underserved destinations, bringing your meeting to a smaller city is getting easier all the time. New carriers such as Allegiant Airlines and Skybus serve city pairs such as Duluth, Minnesota, and Orlando, as well as Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Columbus, Ohio, while major airlines beef up their own service in smaller markets like these to compete.

Easier access is only part of the appeal. One of the primary reasons planners choose a smaller market, of course, is the cost savings. And that’s no small thing. According to data from Smith Travel Research, the average daily room rate in the top 25 markets in the United States was $126 through September 2007, led by New York City at $304 a night. Compare that with the average rate for the other markets in the country-about $91 a night, and you can already see the cost savings. Investigating individual cities can show even greater savings. Baton Rouge, for example, offered an average daily rate of $82 per night through September 2007. Such vast disparities in room prices can go a long way toward stretching meetings dollars.

Many small cities also have the option of offering a unique venue or sidetrip that a metropolis can’t match: After all, there’s only one Mount Rushmore (near Rapid City, South Dakota) or Baseball Hall of Fame (near Oneonta, New York). Still, for all their attributes, smaller cities often struggle to get noticed in the competitive meetings business. Understanding that some smaller cities have fewer resources to market to and serve the meetings industry, several spots are taking the unusual step of pooling marketing resources to reach a wider audience.

One such partnership, launched this fall, pairs Madison, Wisconsin, with Hartford, Connecticut and Spokane, Washington. Designed to drive convention business to all three cities, the partners expect to take advantage of groups that rotate their conferences among West Coast, East Coast, and Midwest destinations. Other cities with marketing alliances include the trio of Portland, Oregon, Pittsburgh and Milwaukee. Virginia Beach, Virginia, has had a two-and-a-half year informal partnership with San Jose, California, hosting several joint client events and receptions. The two destinations, which have similar-sized convention centers, benefit from groups that like to move from one coast to the other. It’s worked out well so far, with one client from San Jose learning about Virginia Beach at a joint event and later booking 4,000 room-nights at the East Coast facility.

Aside from the obvious benefits, small cities can often surprise planners with amenities found more often in top tier destinations. Rejuvenate magazine has uncovered some such unique attractions and facilities across the country.

Jackson: A Convention Complex

Jackson, Mississippi, is in the midst of a major downtown revitalization-more than $1 billion in projects are either under way or recently completed, with many more announced, including retail, restaurants, hotels, and cultural centers. This development boom includes the new Jackson Convention Complex, which combines the Mississippi TelCom Center, opened in January 2006, with the new Capital City Convention Center, slated to open in January 2009. Together they will offer more than 340,000 square feet, including more than 110,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space. The two facilities, designed to integrate seamlessly, will feature state-of-the-art technology, including WiFi and plasma-screen monitors. Natural light will illuminate the main exhibit areas of the convention center through a glass façade that mirrors that of the TelCom Center.

The new convention center will also be notable for its flexibility: each banquet hall will have a series of boxes tied into a central grid, with outlets for natural gas, electricity, and water, to accommodate a variety of food prep needs.

To complete the package, the main doors of the convention center are directly across the street from the brand new Mississippi Museum of Art, a striking facility designed by the convention center’s architect and intended to look like an extension of the rest of the complex. The museum, which opened this summer with indoor/outdoor meeting space that can serve as a great off-site meetings venue, has beautifully landscaped grounds with water features and outdoor café dining, as well as the Viking Palette Café, which can accommodate attendees from the Convention Complex. Many other restaurants are also within walking distance.

About 2,000 of Jackson’s nearly 5,000 hotel rooms are downtown. Those will soon be joined by two new hotels at the convention center. One project, the $209 million dollar Capital City Center, will connect to the Convention Complex via skywalk and offer an upscale extended-stay hotel. The other project will take the King Edward Hotel, a historic property that has been vacant for 40 years, and return it to its former glory, with 155 hotel rooms, along with condos, restaurants, and a spa.

Valley Forge: Shopper’s Paradise

Everybody knows that Valley Forge is rife with natural beauty and revolutionary history, from Valley Forge National Historical Park, where Washington’s army encamped during the winter of 1777, to the National Center for the American Revolution, scheduled to open in 2008 as the first museum to cover the entire history of the Revolution. What you may not know is that the region is also a major shopping destination, anchored by the King of Prussia Mall, the only mall in the United States featured on Forbes.com’s list of the world’s 10 largest shopping malls, and the newly opened Philadelphia Premium Outlets, which debuted last month and is already expanding.

King of Prussia Mall may not have the theme parks and other attractions offered by some other well-known shopping destinations, but it boasts more than 400 luxury retailers and 2.9 million square feet of retail space. Two Louisiana Superdomes or five of the Great Pyramids could fit inside the acreage occupied by the facility.

Valley Forge area also offers a 2 percent hotel room tax and a wide variety of sleeping options, with nearly 7,500 first-class guest rooms and 60 hotels, inns, and extended stay properties, including 14 full-service convention hotels. The area also has more than a dozen state-of-the-art conference centers-the largest concentration in the nation. Convention facilities include the Valley Forge Convention Center, with more than 108,000 square feet of subdividable space, two adjoining hotels, a dinner theater, nightclub, and three restaurants. For larger events, consider the 270,000-square-foot Fort Washington Expo Center-the largest suburban exhibition center along the mid-Atlantic corridor.

Kissimmee: Fun in the Sun For Less

With the average daily room rate for Orlando hovering around $90 through September 2007, according to figures from Smith Travel Research, groups might find a welcome respite in a $73 ADR in Kissimmee, with the access to all the area’s attractions and amenities, from theme parks to boat tours. Accommodation variety can meet a wide range of budgets, from motels to full-service hotels. One particularly striking property amidst the 19 meetings properties in Kissimmee is Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center, a 1,406-room resort with a 4.5-acre glass atrium that houses the largest hotel-based exhibit hall in the state of Florida at 175,000 square feet. With a total of 400,000 square feet of meeting space, the Gaylord Palms can accommodate a wide variety of different events while giving visitors a taste of the many parts of Florida under one roof, from St. Augustine to the Everglades and the Keys. The resort also boasts a Canyon Ranch SpaClub and on-site recreation options like beach volleyball, an executive putting course, and separate swimming pools for families and adults.

In addition to the obvious attractions like Disney World, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld, lakes and other natural attractions in Kissimmee and nearby allow attendees to enjoy hiking, canoeing, and wildlife watching at the area’s varied preserves year-round. In fact, fishing or scenic eco-tours of Lake Tohopekaliga (better known as Lake Toho) depart right from downtown Kissimmee. The Kissimmee area also has many faith-based attractions, including Holy Land Experience and WordSpring Discovery Center, as well as denominational and non-denominational churches and religious organizations, including Florida Christian College.

Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge: Inspirational Scenery

Nestled in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, with a year-round population of just 3,500, Gatlinburg boasts a surprising amount of state-of-the-art convention space, including some 300,000 square feet at the Gatlinburg Convention Center. The center’s Great Hall provides 67,000 square feet of exhibit space. The Convention Center Gallery area is 38,200 square feet, including 18 meeting rooms, prefunction space, two private parlors, and a special VIP/media suite. The facility, designed to bring mountain views inside with natural light, wood finishes, and stone work, completed an expansion in March 2006, adding 50,000 square feet with the opening of the W.L. Mills Conference Center. Replacing the outdated W.L. Mills Auditorium, this additional space includes a 17,000-square-foot ballroom and 8,800-square-foot auditorium. Gatlinburg offers more than 12,000 sleeping rooms in a wide variety of options, from full-service and limited-service hotels and motels to condominiums, quaint chalets, cabins, and campgrounds. The downtown area is lined with unique shops and restaurants, the 1.3-million-gallon Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, and even street performers. Visitors can also ride the country’s largest aerial tram to the top of Tennessee’s only ski resort, Ober Gatlinburg. Five miles down the road, Pigeon Forge offers an additional 8,500 guest rooms, from nationally known hotel properties to large group chalets. Many of these facilities have special amenities just for church groups. The town is also home to the Dollywood theme park, featuring rides, games, shows, old-fashioned Southern cooking and crafts, and more than 40 other attractions and activities. What makes this area truly special, though, is its location at the gateway to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most-visited national park in the United States. When the meeting is over, attendees can take advantage of one of the last tracts of unspoiled wilderness in the eastern United States.

Green Bay: Go Packers

Green Bay is the smallest city in the country with its own National Football League team, and the Packers are the only team in the NFL to be owned by the fans. Understandably, “Cheeseheads,” as Packer fans call themselves, are incredibly proud and fiercely loyal. Organizing a group outing to a Packers game requires considerable advance planning-games are always sold out-but there are many other ways to add a bit of Cheesehead fun to a meeting in Green Bay. Following a $295 million redevelopment project in 2003, storied Lambeau Field, where the Packers play, has been transformed from a football stadium to a year-round tourist destination with many new attractions. In keeping with its 50-year history, the renovation retained the stadium’s retro feel, while adding attractions like the 18,000- square-foot Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, which features more than 75 exhibits including a re-creation of legendary coach Vince Lombardi’s office; a children’s area where kids can dress up in Packers uniforms; and many other unique attractions. The stadium also offers numerous dining, entertainment, and retail options, as well as free WiFi at the Lambeau Field Atrium. Of course, Lambeau Field itself is also available for events-the facility offers more than 75,000 square feet of meeting space, and is very popular with faith-based meeting planners. In fact, Leap of Faith brought 10,000 attendees to Lambeau Field this summer. There are seven hotels within walking distance of Lambeau Field, and more than 4,000 guest rooms in the city, including those downtown near the KI Convention Center, which features 46,000 square feet of flexible meeting and convention space.