
• Breaking out of typical meeting or event spaces
• Spark new ideas around a campfire
• Incorporate an active meeting
Midwest hospitality never falls short when it comes to thinking outside the box and in the case of resorts and lodges, it’s a perfect opportunity to help planners think outdoors. No matter what time of the year or type of group, it’s always a great idea to bring your participants outside to gather and make the most of your time together.
Resorts and lodges come well-equipped to entice people to the great outdoors. As planners it’s a great way to reinvent a basic meeting that can sometimes become contrived and predictable. Getting people outside offers numerous benefits. People tend to let their guard down and be more open and sharing when moving into a more comfortable and relaxed environment.
Looking to get people in a creative, brainstorming zone? Consider taking it beyond outdoor lunches and receptions, try a breakout discussion in the evening around a campfire to spark new ideas. Incorporate a fun teambuilding or recreational activity to bring people closer together to create stronger relationships.
Lance Graves, Ethos Group, has had great results in taking his group outside in the Midwest at Sugar Lake Lodge in Grand Rapids, MN. Located in northern Minnesota, Sugar Lake Lodge is focused on offering an ideal setting to help corporate minds connect.

Fancy or rustic, depending on your group and your goals, it’s easy to find options that meet your needs during and after your scheduled meetings. Graves found that after a long day of meetings, the stocked fire pits outside offered a perfect ending for his guests. He also took advantage of the other outdoor amenities and shares, “The entertainment such as a boating trip on the lake, a round of golf, and especially the teambuilding program on the telephone poles was exciting. We could not have ordered a better conference.”

When it comes to meetings, there are a variety of ways to spice things up by simply moving the location to the lake or woods to get the impact and results you need.