Why is it that whenever planners are looking for U.S. meeting destinations, they immediately think east, west or south? Granted, there’s a lot to like about perennial favorites like San Diego, Orlando, Boston and San Antonio, but most attendees have been to these cities more than once, and you’re neglecting a big part of the country when you confine yourself to these regions.
The truth is, you can provide a unique meeting experience – and get a lot more for your budget dollar in these leaner economic times – by breaking the mold and turning your focus toward the nation’s vast mid-section, where cities like Detroit, Des Moines, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Omaha and St. Louis offer first-rate facilities, a variety of venues and a host of hotels and historic sites.
Easily accessible and known for its all-American friendliness, the Midwest is an ideal location for meetings of all types. And while a number of organizations have taken advantage of the region’s “off-the-beaten-path” charm and hospitality in recent years, the secret is now getting out, witnessed by the number of Midwestern cities that are currently reinventing themselves through the addition of new and enhanced facilities and venues. The upside of this building boom is that planners have more choices than ever before, including the following Midwest cities with new facilities on the ground or in the works.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
The 18,500-seat BOK Center opened in Tulsa in September. The BOK Center is the keystone of Vision 2025, a Tulsa-area project designed to grow economic and community infrastructure for future generations. With a state-of-the-art curtaining system, the BOK Center can accommodate numerous stage setups, including theaters for groups from 3,000 to 18,400. Adjacent to the BOK Center, the Tulsa Convention Center has broken ground for an expansion, scheduled to be completed in March 2010, that will include additional meeting rooms, pre-function space and a new grand entry, reminiscent of the BOK Center architecture.
SMERF groups especially enjoy meeting in Tulsa because “[It’s] a very affordable city with great value,” says Amy Marie Huntley, Director of Convention Sales and Marketing for the Tulsa CVB. “First-time visitors to Tulsa generally have either no prior impression of the city or they think it will be a small town set in the Old West. They’re so happy to find out that whatever their tastes [are], Tulsa takes them on a journey of discovery, while making them feel like family almost immediately.”
While in Tulsa, visitors especially enjoy the architecture – the city has one of the largest collections of art deco architecture in the world. The Philbrook Museum of Art features more than 30 permanent collections and 23 acres of gardens; the Gilcrease Museum houses the world’s largest, most comprehensive collection of art and artifacts of the American West; the Oklahoma Aquarium includes hundreds of species in 200 exhibits; and at the Tulsa Zoo and Living Museum, 1,500 animals thrive on 78 acres.
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Madison, Wisconsin
Meeting planners and attendees have more choices than ever in Madison, as new hotels arrive on the horizon and popular existing hotels expand and renovate. “Three of the city’s convention properties, the Sheraton Madison, the Best Western Inn on the Park and the Crowne Plaza Madison, have undergone multi-million dollar renovations,” says Stephanie Sabo, Public Relations and Communications Manager at the Greater Madison CVB. “All three properties are favorites among regional event planners and will now offer enhanced state-of-the-art meeting facilities and amenities.”
In addition, several new properties are expanding Madison’s hotel portfolio. New hotels include the Courtyard by Marriott Madison West, Holiday Inn Madison at the American Center and Hampton Inn & Suites and Homewood Suites by Hilton. Preliminary approvals have been given to two attractive, boutique-style hotels, which will open near downtown Madison within the next two years.
Sabo says that when groups come to Madison, “meeting planners are surprised to find such friendly, enthusiastic people who truly care about the outcome of their event and the commitment to doing whatever it takes to make their meeting a success.” She notes that attendees love downtown Madison because there’s so much to do – “and restaurants, museums and shopping are all within walking distance.”
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Cleveland, Ohio
In Cleveland, a new convention center has been approved and a site decision is “coming very soon,” says Kelly Brewer, Vice President of Sales for Positively Cleveland. “Proposed specifications for the convention center include 300,000 square feet of divisible exhibit space, ample meeting rooms and a state-of-the-art ballroom. The convention center will be connected to a medical mart, a permanent showroom for medical devices and instruments. The convention center will be positioned as a draw for large medical meetings, but will also be utilized by all of our familiar market segments including religious, hobby and other SMERF groups.”
While in Cleveland, visitors enjoy visiting the city’s numerous historic churches, the U.S.S. Cod – a WWII-era submarine that is a National Historic Landmark – NASA’s Glenn Research Center and the Steamship William G. Mather. Some groups like to plan specialty tours of the wineries of Lake County, the Professional Football Hall of Fame in nearby Canton, the presidential sites of Northeast Ohio, or Amish Country.
“Everything is in walking distance downtown, and there are plenty of family-friendly activities,” Brewer says. “Northcoast Harbor has the Great Lakes Science Center, Browns Stadium, the International Women’s Air & Space Museum and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.”
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Olathe, Kansas
In Olathe, a new Embassy Suites Hotel and regional conference center are in the works. John Q. Hammons Hotels and Resorts is planning the 11-story, $75-million hotel with an atrium-style interior, sports bar, Internet café, gift shop, fitness center and pool. The conference center, which will be owned by the city of Olathe, will be adjacent to the hotel. City officials say the community needs more space and capacity for a growing number of events. City and hotel officials expect to break ground this fall, and the hotel and conference center are scheduled to open in the spring of 2010.
While in Olathe, groups always enjoy the downtown outdoor sculpture exhibit, a permanent facility with annually-rotating works by famous sculptors. Another popular attraction is the Ensor Farmsite and Museum, a National Historic site that offers architecture typical of 1890s middle-income homes containing antiques, furniture, utensils, quilts, clothing and ham radio equipment. At the Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm (the only existing stagecoach stop on the Santa Fe Trail that’s open to the public), visitors can relive the adventures of early stagecoach passengers at this first station for westbound travelers.
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Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha continues to add new infrastructure and amenities for meeting groups. This year, five new properties have been added to the city’s inventory, bringing the total number of properties available for groups to 40. New hotels include Fairfield Inn & Suites Downtown, Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown, Homewood Suites Downtown, Holiday Inn West Omaha and the Hampton Inn West Omaha. In addition, several properties have recently been renovated, including the Omaha Marriott, Downtown Doubletree, Comfort Inn & Suites and the Holiday Inn Coco Key Water Resort, which includes a 60,000-square-foot indoor water park.
“Our new inventory, along with the renovated properties, gives meeting planners a wide variety of options,” says Deborah Ward, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for the Omaha CVB. “Each property offers a unique experience, as well as a sales staff that’s creative in meeting the needs of their clients. If a client requires a convention center, Qwest Center Omaha is conveniently located within three minutes of the airport. There are over 2,000 hotel rooms within blocks of the convention center, and more than 40 local restaurants within walking distance. The Old Market is Omaha’s historic art, shopping and dining district, also just blocks from the convention center.”
And after the meeting, there’s no shortage of attractions to keep attendees and their families busy. The Strategic Air Command Museum offers 300,000 square feet dedicated to the nation’s most prized and rarely displayed military aircraft, and Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha’s Botanical Center, offers more than 100 acres of lush fragrance and beauty, including a rare rose garden, Victorian garden and arboretum.
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Grand Rapids, Michigan
The first JW Marriott in the Midwest opened in September 2007 in Grand Rapids, with 20,000 square feet of versatile meeting space, including a 12,470-square-foot ballroom, one of the largest in the region. The hotel offers 340 guest rooms and is just a short walk from DeVos Place Convention Center. Marriott’s decision to open its first luxury meeting property is a vote of confidence for the city of Grand Rapids, and meeting planners are taking notice.
The new JW Marriott “further signifies the city’s emergence as an international hub for medical, academic, design and entrepreneurial ventures,” says Janet Korn, Vice President of Marketing for the Grand Rapids/Kent County CVB. The city now offers 1,100 hotel rooms connected by indoor walkway to the Convention Center, and will add to its premium hotel product with the opening of the Hyatt Place Grand Rapids, a LEED-certified property located in the new Metro Health Village Complex.
Korn adds that Grand Rapids offers groups affordability and accessibility, with a safe, walkable downtown, 60 restaurants and entertainment options and three museums all within a five-minute walk of the Convention Center. “Our compact convention campus feels like it was conceived under one ‘grand plan,’ even though it’s been years in the making,” she says. “Our friendly residents are proud to call Grand Rapids home, and they share their enthusiasm with our visitors.”
For a look at what’s new in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Michigan, check out our Midwest Meeting cover story in the Fall 2007 issue of SMERF Meetings Journal, available online at /Archives.416.0.html.
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