 by Shadia Cook
The old adage about never mixing business with pleasure couldn’t be more unfounded in today’s world. While the Midwest is popularly noted for its residents’ strong work ethic, increasing demands on time have encouraged even this archetypical, hard-working regional breed to blend some fun and relaxation into business hours. From small-town companies to nationwide associations, stakeholders everywhere are seeing the benefits of bringing the family into the business agenda while still accomplishing their goals.
Here, Midwest Meetings gets the word from a few planners of various industries - planners who’ve executed successful, beneficial events at waterpark destinations throughout the region. Take five with Liz Huber, marketing coordinator for the family-owned Prince Corporation, Nancy Kavazanjian, communications director for the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association, and Linda Hale, meeting and event manager for the Wisconsin Credit Union League, and let their experiences inform your next site selection criteria.
 by Shadia Cook
If you’re reviewing your upcoming meeting agenda and see activities like a hula-hoop contest or waterslide races, you might be going to a waterpark hotel or conference center! In fact, these are actual agenda items from a past meeting group at one waterpark resort, and they’re just a taste of the variety you can offer your attendees at any of these venues across the Midwest.
Who better to share firsthand knowledge about the waterpark experience than the folks who represent these venues? Midwest Meetings spoke with Kevin Shanley, director of sales at Kalahari Resort & Convention Center in Wisconsin Dells, WI, and Jeff Wild, CMP, general manager at Arrowwood Resort Hotel & Conference Center in Alexandria, MN, along with Nick Edwards and Mandy Diamond, general manager and director of sales, respectively, at King’s Pointe Waterpark Resort in Storm Lake, IA. Here, these supply-side pros share the nitty gritty, ins and outs, and tips and tricks for creating an unforgettable event at a waterpark venue.
 Meeting planners are accustomed to intense pressure, deadlines, critical time frames, meeting content and more, so all planners should be impressed by the recent endeavor undertaken by multiple coalitions and associations involved with water safety.
The event, the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson (WLSL), was held on June 2, 2010 across the world, covering multiple continents.
The idea originated and grew out of a water safety program, National Water Safety Month in May. This program has been in place for over seven years and was organized by the World Waterpark Association, National Recreation and Park Association and the American Pool and Spa Association.
In addition to promoting water safety at the start of the season, these groups decided to create a more consumer-friendly event to promote swimming lessons and safety that can ultimately save the lives of individuals and families that enjoy water recreation.
 The world’s largest swimming lesson promotes safety first.
Meeting planners are accustomed to intense pressure, deadlines, critical time frames, meeting content and more, so all planners should be impressed by the recent endeavor undertaken by multiple coalitions and associations involved with water safety.
The event, the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson (WLSL), was held on June 2, 2010 across the world, covering multiple continents.
The idea originated and grew out of a water safety program, National Water Safety Month in May. This program has been in place for over seven years and was organized by the World Waterpark Association, National Recreation and Park Association and the American Pool and Spa Association.
 Over the past decade, numerous indoor waterpark complexes have sprung up across the nation, in particular in the Midwest. In conjunction, many of these parks have been built adjacent or even connected to hotels with state-of-the-art meeting and convention centers. These amenities have helped to attract a new demographic of clients that includes convention goers and corporate meeting attendees.
However, do these waterpark complexes fit in with today’s new business world? In a time of tight budgets, high expectations and no frills philosophy, how are they meeting the needs of convention and meeting planners?
Brian Fleming, Director of Sales and Marketing at PZAZZ! Entertainment Complex and Melanie Platt-Gibson, Director of Marketing and Communications of the Wisconsin Dells Visitor and Convention Bureau shared their findings and thoughts with us on the allure and benefits of holding your next meeting or event at an indoor waterpark.
 Q:How can I best prepare for a site inspection at a waterpark facility?
A: Pre-planning for your site visit(s) is as important as the visit itself. In addition to the numerous checklists available, here are a few ways to make your next site visit a success.
 One of the major draws of resorts as meeting venues is the opportunity for attendees’ families to come along and enjoy themselves as well. Rather than a “strictly business” atmosphere, resorts offer a vacation from the ordinary. And resort waterparks offer a great chance for attendees to involve their loved ones in leisure and recreation activities they might not get to experience at home.
by Shadia Cook  Liz Huber of Prince Corporation The old adage about never mixing business with pleasure couldn’t be more unfounded in today’s world. While the Midwest is popularly noted for its residents’ strong work ethic, increasing demands on time have encouraged even this archetypical, hard-working regional breed to blend some fun and relaxation into business hours. From small-town companies to nationwide associations, stakeholders everywhere are seeing the benefits of bringing the family into the business agenda while still accomplishing their goals.
Here, Midwest Meetings gets the word from a few planners of various industries - planners who’ve executed successful, beneficial events at waterpark destinations throughout the region. Take five with Liz Huber, marketing coordinator for the family-owned Prince Corporation, Nancy Kavazanjian, communications director for the Wisconsin Corn Growers Association, and Linda Hale, meeting and event manager for the Wisconsin Credit Union League.
by Shadia Cook  Jeff Wild, CMP, Arrowwood Resort In the past decade, the Midwest has seen plenty of developments at hotel and conference centers that now feature adjacent waterparks. From expansions to brand-new additions, the trend toward this “accommodations and entertainment” hybrid continues to build steam as the industry’s economic outlook improves.
Among hotels and resorts that have recently expanded or built from the ground up, Aleatha Ezra with the World Waterpark Association notes a big trend involving property-wide theming. From Caribbean, safari, and even prehistoric themes, the waterpark “flavor” can lend a unique ambience throughout an entire property, offering each destination its own individual flair. By choosing expansive environments made up of multiple-use areas such as restaurants, gift shops, arcades, spas, and conference spaces, planners are able to incorporate themed activities and functions suitable for young and old alike.
by Shadia Cook  Author Shadia Cook Q: I’d like to propose holding our next conference at a waterpark or casino resort. I’m concerned that I might meet a lot of resistance about it being too showy or too expensive, or that the environment will encourage attendees to think more about having fun than getting work done. How can I get my stakeholders on board?
A: As with all conference and event planning, the first step is to understand the demographics of your group and the goals of the event.
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