• Hard Rock Rocksino Rocks Events

My name is Michelle Baker. I am the Special Events and Catering Manager for the Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park. I have been with the band since December 2, 2013.
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The Hard Rock Rocksino is a destination location where guests can find their rhythm with gaming, dining, and entertainment available 24/7. We also bring corporate and social events to the location.

At the Hard Rock Rocksino we specialize in “creating authentic experiences that rock!” It has been such an honor to be a part of this everyday. Here is a look at one of my days as a Special Events and Catering Manager

by Chisty Lamagna, CMP, CMM, CTSM

• Casinos are a sure bet for those who don't gamble
• Double down on entertainment value

If casinos traditionally haven’t held any allure for you or your group, don’t count them out before launching your next site search. Today’s Midwestern Casinos are a perfect destination for gamblers and non-gamblers alike.
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The reason? Unlike years ago, gaming hotels now spend equal parts of time catering to an expanded range of activities that include gourmet restaurants, back of house group tours, live shows, and more.

The Hoosier State is an intricate one with its largest city, Indianapolis, housing the state capital. Fort Wayne, Evansville, and South Bend, all hold some remarkable destinations; from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway where the Indy 500 is held to the Fighting Irish’s Notre Dame Stadium. Cities like Gary or Bloomington are packed with history and notability all giving Indiana much to offer for anyone who enters its borders.

Midwest Meetings had the chance to speak with Erin Erdmann, Director of Convention Sales & Travel Media at Visit Bloomington,where a diverse artist culture flows. From the conventional arts like vaudeville theater to the unrestrained passion of the folk punk community, Bloomington has an artsy heartbeat. ​Erdmann detailed some of the folk punk record labels that exist like Jagjaguwar, Dead Oceans, and Secretly Canadian, “they create this undercurrent to the city, it fosters a unique environment for people living in and visiting Bloomington. People who are interested in art, culture, fashion, music, it influences the way people spend their money or what causes they support, a lot of it goes back to the music scene.”

• Waterparks work hard for your safety
• H2O is essential

Spending fun days at Midwest waterparks is one of the great American pastimes for the young and old. Along with the fun, there are also necessary plans for safety that need to be considered. 

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in five people who die from drowning are children 14 and younger. For every child who dies from drowning, another five receive emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries.
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It takes a village to prevent harm at waterparks, from properly trained lifeguards to knowledgeable staff to maintain the quality and safety of the pools and other areas.

Midwest waterparks hold their staff and facilities to the highest standards to ensure fun and safe visits for everyone. 


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by Heidi Mayer-Kruse

• No need to gamble on great meeting and event space
• Get the 'house edge' - sometimes all under one roof

Casino Resorts have long been a favorite for business travelers, and there are a plethora much closer to home than the famed Vegas Strip. These Midwest facilities hold many key benefits for planners and attendees of corporate retreats. From quirky to sophisticated and historic to cutting edge, these facilities represent a full spectrum of ambiance and experience. 

by Christy Lamagna, CMP, CMM, CTSM

• How to place a wager on a horse race

Considering a day at the track or casino/racetrack venue? Grab your binoculars, sunscreen and these basic primers for a day of fun, fresh air, an adrenaline rush, and hopefully a bit of extra money in your pocket when you leave.

In the Midwest, while still holding true to the prairies and farms that built it all, Illinois is often considered a model of the country as a whole.

​The Land of Lincoln has a great deal of history that is both important to residents of the state as well as the history of the nation. 

Cities and towns throughout Illinois add to the rich culture of the entire state. Places like Waukegan, north of Chicago, have a community vibrance that Jonathan Jones of Lake County CVB explained and it became immediately apparent.

• Aquatic adventure can invigorate the spirit
• Groups can dive deep into meetings in these fun atmostpheres

No matter your age, the allure of an aquatic adventure can still invigorate your spirits and incite that youthful feeling of wonder you had as a child when the sprinkler was turned on in the front lawn and you jumped around for what seemed like hours. 

Take an inner tube down a giant water half pipe while screaming with delight, fight the currents in a wave pool, or take an exciting plunge down a waterslide, waterparks are a unique way to have a special kind of fun. With many hotels and resorts adding waterparks as amenities, they can be found all across the Midwest.

by Terry Matthews-Lombardo, CMP

• Recommendations for before you hit the gaming floor
• Easing first time jitters by seeking low-stakes tables

Do you feel slightly out of place when you enter a casino? Kind of like everyone in the room but you knows what’s going on at all the tables and slot machines? If so, let’s review some basic casino etiquette that might put you at ease without having to learn all those intricate and sometimes complicated rules and regulations of gambling that will come with time and experience. 

• Truly memorable events in cities along the shores
• Catering teams work to provide planners winning menus
• Tips for creating menus with restrictions

​Surrounding the majority of the great state of Michigan is the longest freshwater coastline in the US. These Great Lake shorelines provide spectacular views, water sports fun, and many unique venues and destinations for attendees to explore. No matter what part of the state you find yourself in, a ‘Pure Michigan’ experience awaits and to add to the fun and excitement are the many casino resorts offering planners prime locations for their meetings and events.

• The growth of charging stations from necessity
• Talking with SafeCharge about charging lockers

Smartphones have become more of a necessity. Many people would be lost without them, however, the constant use can find you draining the battery often. When you’re out on the event floor there’s no time to run up to your hotel to charge your phone and thankfully charging stations were invented to remedy this situation. A charging station is a bonus to attendees but being tethered to those charging stations can be bad for business. A few companies are now offering the option of charging lockers for events, a small locker you can put your phone in and either have it plugged in or sit on a charging pad. 

• Working together through waves of new experience

Most have wondered what it would feel like to surf, anticipating the swell of a big wave, finding your balance, and feeling the ocean spray on your face as you take the ride of a lifetime. While many participate in this often ‘extreme’ sport year-round, a countless number find ourselves landlocked or without the time and money to participate in the activity. Did you know that the Great Lakes area, known as the US’s “Third Coast,” has been a surfing destination for decades? Believe it or not, Sheboygan, WI was coined the “Malibu of the Midwest” in the late 1980s and still hosts many surfing events today.

by Shawna Suckow, CMP

• The future of our industry
• A new era where experimentation is acceptable
• Diverse formats to fit attendees' engagement needs

Are your meetings stuck in a rut? Did 1995 call and want their lecture format back? Are you struggling to update a tired meeting, but you’re getting pushback?

Our audiences have evolved, there’s no question. Our meetings largely have not. Our culture has changed more dramatically in the past 10 years than in the 40 years prior, thanks to technology. Audiences demand a better overall meeting experience, rich with interaction, fresh ideas, unique sessions, and more. There’s a reason why shows like SXSW® (The South by Southwest®) are hugely successful!
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Follow me on this stroll down the evolutionary lane of meetings…

• Be in the room where it happens with new renovated spaces
• Don’t throw away your shot of a great view

Spring of 2016 brought the unveiling of a multimillion-dollar renovation to the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel and one of the most highly anticipated rooftop bar concepts of the year, Raised. Located on the 3rd floor of the hotel with indoor/outdoor seating and accommodations, the vibrant city views are yours for the taking. 


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• How do you stack up?
• Facts and tips

Modern planners are focusing on collaborative tools and technology, not purely to save time, but also to develop the best event experiences according to Social Tables’ recent study Benchmarking Modern Meeting Planners. These experiences require teams of individuals delegating tasks and leveraging the right technology in order to keep communication flowing and planning processes manageable and repeatable.

• Municipal waterparks offer great amenities
• Urban cabanas and local beaches

When it comes time to plan a meeting, most professionals turn to their trusted partners in the hotel and convention center realm. But, where else can you look when trying to find unique places for people to meet, network, and get things done?

​Planners, look no further, local Parks and Recreation areas across the Midwest are offering fun and innovative options beyond the traditional meeting room. 

• A tequila twist on glazed pork belly found in a revitalized downtown space

Downtown revitalizations have become a staple in this renaissance period of the Midwest. And it is here, in Fargo’s revitalized downtown, that you will find the newest of North Dakota’s The Toasted Frog locations.
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The Toasted Frog is an eclectic restaurant and lounge in the heart of downtown featuring wood fired pizzas, hand-cut steaks, and fresh seafood. They also boast a wonderful list of refreshments from wine and beer to an extensive array of martinis. Groups can enjoy impeccable service and sophisticated furnishings while tasting an array of flavors.

• Meet Susan M. Diamond, CSEP, owner of Jigsaw Unlimited
• Loving the variety of events in the industry, remaining ethical and eclectic
• More than award winning - rewarding events

Susan M. Diamond, CSEP is the owner of Jigsaw Unlimited, an event promotion firm specializing in corporate, non-profit, association, and special events in Minneapolis, MN. She currently holds a position on the International Live Events Associations (ILEA) Board of Directors as the Director of Strategic Planning.

Her How Did You Get Here nomination came from Comedian Chris Shaw of Chris Shaw World who said, “In the past 15 years of attending her events, hiring her to stage events, as well as providing my services as a part of several of her events, I have seen her grow her business, not just by volume, but by the tremendous detail and scale she is able to produce.” 
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When Susan isn’t conducting site visits, meeting with clients, and coordinating the special details of another spectacular event you can find her enjoying time with her husband, Gary, while partaking in some of her favorite activities; gardening, cooking, and traveling to spend time with family and friends across the country.

• Giving back in the Gateway City
• Hyatt team participation making philanthropic impact in St. Louis
• Building strong communities and fostering sustainable practices

​Hyatt is an easily recognizable name in the hotelier industry having been one of the fastest-growing hotel chains in the United States at one time. Hyatt was listed in Fortune Magazine as 2016’s 47th-best US company to work for, and we can start to understand why after learning about what one Hyatt participates in for their corporate social responsibility initiative.

by Christy Lamagna, CMP, CMM, CTSM

• Active shooter protocols that should be in your event EAP
• Gather the facts that matter
• Have a plan, know the plan

Effective event strategists know the only constant in life is change. To be successful we must continuously adapt to ever-changing attendee preferences as well as changes in the world around us. Paradigm shifts dictate the planning environment. Just over a decade ago, green meetings, online registration, incorporating corporate social responsibility into agendas, and utilizing social media as part of our marketing strategy were just gaining traction. Today, they’re business as usual.

Beginning its second year, the Midwest Meetings Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) Scholarship program is offered to members in good standing of MPI Chicago Area, Heartland, Indiana, Kansas City, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, St. Louis, and Wisconsin chapters to assist financially so they may achieve their CMP. Two scholarships are offered each year, which cover the CMP exam fee.

The CMP program, offered by the Convention Industry Council (CIC), is an internationally recognized credential indicating excellence in the meeting, convention, exhibition, and event industry. Both a professional and personal achievement, individuals who earn their CMP are recognized as having achieved the industry’s highest levels of expertise and experience.

To find out more and apply for the scholarship visit www.MidwestMeetings.com/CMP-Scholarship.

For more information about the CMP requirements, visit
www.ConventionIndustry.org/CMP/AboutCMP.

Hear from Lisa Calhoun, Director of Sales at DoubleTree by Hilton Grand Rapids Airport, a 2016 scholarship recipient. bit.ly/CMPScholarship-Lisa 

by Heidi Mayer Kruse

• History and hot springs in South Dakota
• Invigorating attendees through a unique water experience

When most people think of waterparks, they envision rapid slides, lazy rivers, and drenching, spraying apparatus, few think of warm tranquil waters. Lo and behold, the Midwest is home to one such location, Evans Plunge in Hot Springs, SD, the only natural hot spring waterpark located in the Midwest.

Long before the Black Hills of South Dakota was dotted with tourist towns or even mining camps, the warm springs of the Southern Hills were highly valued and frequently visited.

by Christy Lamagna, CMP, CMM, CTSM

• Events, casinos, and raceways: the ultimate trifecta
• Race ahead for unforgettable events
• Teambuilders to horse around about

Smart planners know that holding an event at a casino has a host of built-in benefits, ranging from multiple dining outlets to a myriad of entertainment both on and off the gaming floor. Strategic planners, however, know that booking a raceway casino for their events raises the bar considerably higher. 

• Non-gambling casino experiences
​• Know when to 'Hold'em' - guests' attention that is

The Midwest is dotted with many great Casino resorts from racetrack hybrids to resorts with amazing golf and spa amenities, but unique casino experiences go beyond the lights and bells of the gaming floor, beyond beautiful greens, calming spas, and top-notch food and entertainment.