®MEETINGSANDCONVENTIONS

®

THE POWER OF INFORMED PLANNING

mcmag.comMARCH 2013

ATTENTION!How to cope with multi-tasking attendees P. 31

WELLNESS ATCONFERENCE

CENTERS P. 61

TESTING THE ALL-INCLUSIVE

CONCEPT P. 45

THE ALLUREOF SUBURBAN

RESORTS P. 53

MEET IACC’SNEW CEO P. 67

■ CARIBBEAN/BAHAMAS P. 79

■ DENVER P. 71

■ OKLAHOMA CITY P. 73

■ SOUTH FLORIDA P. 75

A gadget-addicted culture thrives at Box, says Doug Landis, VP of sales productivity for the cloud-services fi rm.

®GSMEETINGSANDSS CO O SCONVENTIONS

®

THE POWER OFINFORMED PLANNING

mcmag.comMARCH 2013

P. 31

WELLNESSWELLNESS ATATCONFERENCE

CENTERS P. 61

TESTING THE ALL-INCLUSIVEALL-INCLUSIVE

CONCEPT P. 45

THE ALLUREOF SUBURBAN

RESORTS P. 53

MEET IACC’SNEW CEO P. 67

■■ /CARIBBEAN/BAHAMAS P. 79

■■ DENVER P. 71

■■ OKLAHOMA CITY P. 73

■■ SOUTH FLORIDA P. 75

A gadget-addictedculture thrives at Box, saysDoug Landis, VP of salesproductivity for the cloud-services fi rm.

84 M E E T I N G S & C O N V E N T I O N S / M C M A G . C O M M A R C H 2013

When planning a ski meeting, there are important

things to consider, says Penny Smith, a Ski.com

mountain vacation specialist for 37 years, who plans

ski programs for the medical industry. “Here are the

top fi ve concerns my clients focus on regarding site

selection.”

1. Size of meeting space. The ski resort must easily

accommodate the size of your meeting.

2. Details of accommodations. Know the size of

units, the bedding arrangements (for families),

price, and location in relation to the slopes.

3. Reputation of ski resort. Meeting attendees are

more likely to want to attend if the destination is

popular. Though this is for business, there is still a

bragging rights element.

4. Accessibility. In most cases, the ideal location is

close to an airport with direct fl ights from major

gateway cities.

5. Good amenities for skiers and non-skiers.

Destinations with shopping, spas and other off-

the-slopes activities tend to me more popular than

those without.

Don’t let the “ski” in ski meetings fool you.

Meeting planners who arrange such programs

understand the importance of getting down

to business to achieve intended goals. “Most

attendees are enthusiastic about beginning their

working sessions early,” says Smith, “so they can

get outdoors.” A typical day will have meetings

from 7am – 10am, offering outdoor ski/ride

activities from 10am – 3pm, which can consist of

various events such as a group race and slope-side

picnic. Sessions will begin again from 3:30pm

– 7pm. “ Attendees love getting out in the fresh,

mountain air and the camaraderie and enthusiasm

gives them incredible energy to learn and share

from each other.”

Andy McNeill, CEO of American Meetings,

Inc, plans lots of incentive and CME programs

and believes the best way to integrate the ski

environment is to place the educational component

during the week, allowing attendees to enjoy the

skiing destination after the conference. “Typically we

include a three-day seminar Tuesday-Thursday with

a three-day ski trip over the weekend.”

SKI IN …PARK CITY, UTAHPark City, just a 35-minute ride from Salt Lake

City International Airport, is bestowed with three

renowned resorts—Canyons Resort®, Deer Valley®

Resort and Park City Mountain Resort—all ranked

among the top ten best ski resorts in North America.

Winter activities are a major draw for meetings,

with Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, horse-drawn

sleigh rides, dog sledding, zip lines, alpine coasters

and more. A wide selection of unique venues adds

to the mountain experience for attendees. Historic

Main Street offers fi ne restaurants, quaint galleries,

eclectic shops and the Park City Museum, providing

an authentic journey back in time with original prison

cells. Many of these venues can be used for events.

At Canyons—home to the 350-key Grand

Summit Resort, 150-unit Hyatt Escala Lodge, 190-

unit Silverado Lodge, Sundial Lodge and iconic

Waldorf-Astoria, and Westgate Park City—planners

can organize a multitude of regional experiences

such as fi ne dining with locally sourced ingredients

at the award-winning The Farm, or take a trip

on a gondola to the scenic mid-mountain Red

Pine Lodge for a meeting or catered event. The

resort is also home to the new Zip Tour Adventure

and Bistro at Canyons, the fi rst American kosher

restaurant located at a ski resort.

Deer Valley Resort features a variety of lodging

styles, from rustic cabins to upscale condominiums

and luxury brand hotels, all designed for maximum

comfort. Deer Valley’s full-service Group Sales

Division can assist in planning events in their varied

day lodges: the 15,000-sq.-ft. Snow Park Lodge

and outdoor amphitheater; Silver Lake Lodge, home

to renowned Mariposa restaurant and Royal Street

SKI MEETINGSGet down to business while riding high on the slopes

Planning a ski meeting is a great way to accomplish goals while rewarding a team with an opportunity to enjoy the fresh mountain air, the vast beauty of snow-frosted slopes and adrenaline-pumping activities. A ski setting offers more

than just skiing, however. Depending on where you choose, many ski destinations are complemented by stylish boutiques, fi ne dining, impressive spas and winter recreation that combine with well-equipped meeting space to create the perfect environment for fostering adventure, collaboration and pure enjoyment.

Team-building races in Alberta, Canada

Alberta gatherings always result in smiles.

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86 M E E T I N G S & C O N V E N T I O N S / M C M A G . C O M M A R C H 2013

Café; and Empire Canyon Lodge with its dramatic

mountain setting at an elevation of 8,300 feet.

Park City Mountain Resort features the new

Gorgoza Tubing Park, opened November 2012.

Add to that zip lines, varied ski trails, alpine coaster

rides, and ski lift access to and from Main Street.

The 7,975-square-foot Legacy Lodge is available,

year round, for corporate events.

Nearby Utah Olympic Park offers guests the thrill

of racing down the bobsled track at 80 mph, and

watching top athletes worldwide compete in ski

jumping, bobsled, and luge events. Private events

are easily accommodated.

Additional off-the-slope venues include the

10,000-square-foot, LEED-certifi ed Swaner

EcoCenter, accommodating private gatherings for

up to 200 people, while the lively Jupiter Bowl

Entertainment Center hosts exciting corporate

events for up to 600 guests.

For more information, call 800.453.1360 or visit

www.parkcitymeetings.com.

SKI IN…ALBERTA, CANADAFor a taste of champagne—champagne powder

that is — meeting delegates can experience what is

regarded as some of the best snow in North America,

found in Alberta, western Canada’s mountain

wilderness playground. Bordered by the Canadian

Rocky Mountains, this province is home to Banff and

Jasper National Parks, where breathtaking landscape

and winter wonderland possibilities are waiting to

inspire and invigorate any business agenda. Planners

will fi nd thrilling opportunities to build camaraderie on

the slopes, skiing, dog sledding, snowshoeing, tubing,

the possibilities are plenty.

Three main ski resorts are found in the Banff/

Lake Louise area: Sunshine Village, Lake Louise

and Mount Norquay.

Sunshine Village, located 1.5 hours from

Calgary International Airport, offers a remote

setting and unique corporate packages to fi t varied

budgets. Fun group activities can include a guided

moonlit snowshoe tour of the resort’s natural

surroundings, private group ski and snowboard

lessons, and group races on customized courses.

Sunshine Mountain Lodge’s newer west wing

offers meeting space for 50 people, boardroom

style, or 70, classroom style, plus two breakout

rooms. More intimate space for up to 20 can

be found in the Assiniboine Room in the original

structure.

Lake Louise is a spectacular haven for ski

meetings. Group activities offered include the

memorable Torchlight Dinner and Ski, a great way

to cap off the day. Attendees start mid-mountain

for après ski drinks, then take to the mountain

for a fi rst tracks, after-dusk run down the slopes

where a full buffet of dining and live entertainment

await. Other activities include dog sledding,

snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, skating,

ice-walking, sleighrides, heli-sightseeing or skiing,

snowmobiling, gondola tours, and more. Ideal

accommodations and meeting space can be found

in such properties as the spectacular Fairmont

Chateau Lake Louise and Lake Louise Inn.

Mount Norquay is located right at the edge of

Banff and an hour from Calgary. Attendees will

enjoy a memorable ski experience that includes an

extensive snow tube park, the only one of its kind

in the area. On-mountain meetings can be held

at Norquay’s 24,000-square-foot lodge, boasting

beautiful views and timbered ceilings.

Banff National Park is also home to the iconic

Fairmont Banff Springs. The hotel celebrates

its 125th birthday in June 2013. Year-long

special events and promotions will be available

to commemorate the anniversary. Leading up to

the occasion, recent renovations were completed

on the Royal Suite and the hotel’s two signature

Terrace Suites, as well as The Rundle Lounge

and Waldhaus Restaurant & Pub, the original golf

course clubhouse.

The 43-acre campus of the multi-faceted

Banff Centre sits within Banff National Park. The

facility offers full-service meeting, conference and

convention facilities for groups from fi ve to 1,000

people. More than 400 guestrooms are available

onsite in the Professional Development Centre

and Lloyd Hall. The newest venue, Kinnear Centre,

offers 17 high-tech meeting rooms.

For more information contact Travel Alberta,

Kyla Knudson, USA Business Development Director,

703.802.6967; Kyla.knudson@travelalberta.com

www.travelalberta.com/meetings. ■

THE ST. REGIS DEER VALLEY—ELEGANT. EFFICIENT. EFFECTIVE.

Spectacular settings, breathtaking views, and renowned personalized service make The St. Regis Deer Valley an exquisite year-round meeting site. The St. Regis’ coveted location on the slopes of Deer Valley®, makes it the ideal Ski Meeting destination, with seamless access to the renowned slopes, attended by a host of attentive St. Regis ski valets. An on-site Jans Mountain Outfi tters shop is there to serve guests with recreational equipment, apparel, accessories and guides in every season.

MEETING SPACEWith over 10,000 square feet of premier interior meeting space outfi tted with state-of-the-art audio/visual meeting technology, The St. Regis Deer Valley provides every meeting and event with a dedicated Meeting Manager. Unique meeting venues are available including the private Chef’s Table, the intimate Wine Vault, and the Spa Tranquility room. An additional 7,500 square feet of outdoor meeting space is situated on two terraces, offering spectacular mountain views and a memorable atmosphere for meeting breaks and special banquets. All outdoor spaces can be tented for winter or summer use.

The culinary offerings of world-renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s J&G Grill, the well-stocked St. Regis wine vault, and Remède Spa’s customized treatments encourage guests to relax onsite. Guests also enjoy the year-round pool with hot tubs, and the fully equipped Athletic Club.

UNIQUE GROUP ACTIVITIESThe St. Regis Deer Valley strives on creative excellence, which is refl ected in the distinctive group activities offered. Here are just a few of them: Bordeaux Blending allows attendees to work as a team to create their own blend. Groups can tour and taste whiskeys at High West Distillery, located on Historic Main Street. Groups can take part in a cooking class with The St Regis Executive Chef on the actual line in the kitchen. A group Painting Class provides paint, canvas and step-by-step instruction to create a fi nished work of art, while enjoying beverages and light appetizers. CONTACT: Andrea Heffner; email: Andrea.heffner@stregis.com; 435.940.5721; www.stregisdeervalley.com

...or indoors—either location offers fantastic views.

At the St. Regis Deer Valley, groups can gather outdoors....

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REMINDER: IT’S NOT THEHOURS AT THEOFFICE YOU’LLTREASURE

+49 17’ 41.93” N -114 25’ 55.57” W travelalberta.com/meetings

Kyla Knudson, CASEBusiness Development Director, East Coast USAt: 703.802.6967 e: kyla.knudson@TravelAlberta.com

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Pamper

ALL MIXED UP

8 8 M E E T I N G S & C O N V E N T I O N S / M C M A G . C O M M A R C H 2 0 1 3

ON-SITE

Get insider tips on other great destinations at mcmag.com/on-site

By Sarah J.F. BraleyM&C’s Meeting & Incentive Summit, Lake Tahoe, March 14-17

March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lion in the moun-tains, so snow activities still are on the docket at this time of

year. Aside from the fi ne skiing available on offer at Squaw Valley (above), site of the eighth Winter Olympics, there’s dogsledding with Wilderness Adventures, and snow-shoeing and cross-country skiing from the Nordic Center. squaw.com

GOOD FOR BODY AND MIND. The 422-room Hyatt

Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino offers

soothing sanctuary in its Stillwater Spa. Choose from

a full menu of treatments

such as the 50-minute

Moor Mud Detox Wrap,

the 80-minute Anti-Aging

Indulgence Facial and

the 50-minute Golfer’s

Massage. The resort also

offers a total of more than

80,000 square feet of in-

door and outdoor event

space. bit.ly/X07dPR

SOUVENIR STATION. Bring home me-

mentos of your trip from The Potlatch,

known for its extensive selection of

local crafts. You’ll find everything

you need and more, from colorfully

kitschy place-branded items to beau-

tiful American Indian jewelry and

unique pieces of art. (775) 833-2485;

potlatchlaketahoe.com

Bite American

Tapas, a favorite in

North Lake Tahoe,

offers small plates

of creative com-

binations such as

dyed-green eggs,

ham, deviled eggs,

wasabi tobiko

(fish roe) and

prosciutto. Sliders

include “hand-

pattied” cheese-

burgers, and ahi

with arugula, pick-

led ginger and

wasabi aioli.

bitetahoe.com

HISTORY LESSON: At nearby Donner Memorial State Park, the Emigrant Trail Museum celebrates those who trekked across the country in the mid-1800s, including the infamous Donner Party. bit.ly/UXPO9M IL

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