• 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.
Courtney Munday, Conference Services Manager with Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, MO, capitalizes on their beautiful Midwest location and unique outdoor spaces. Whether it’s directing groups to hit the open water on their yacht or gathering people to connect at the Outdoor Academy, people respond well to moving beyond the typical meeting room setting. Munday touts some of the benefits of getting outside, “Getting out of the normal ‘banquet’ room can help with participation, keeping energy levels up, and just breaking out of the mold of your typical meeting or event space.”
©Grand View Lodge - Nisswa, MN
Planners like Stephen McNally, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Tamko Building Products, Inc. have found success in utilizing the ability to integrate the outdoors at Big Cedar Lodge to create impactful and memorable experiences for his groups. “Over the years we have used the Big Cedar properties for numerous customer events each year. The spectacular views from Top of the Rock restaurants, cruising Table Rock Lake on a dinner cruise aboard Lady Liberty, guided fly fishing at Dogwood Canyon, or watching the beautiful sunsets at the Outdoor Academy make this venue a must for a customer business event.”
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.
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.
Sugar Lake Lodge - Grand Rapids, MN Graves sings praises on their experience, from the setting to outdoor relationship building opportunities. “Our group gets together about three times per year at different locations throughout the country depending on the season and what type of atmosphere we want to experience. Our region works with clients located primarily from the Midwest extending up the New England states. We chose Sugar Lake based on a recommendation from one of our clients. We meet to discuss each of our areas and exchange ideas on how we can help improve the effectiveness and efficiencies of our clients. We have met in places such as the mountains of Colorado, the Gulf beaches in Florida, and big cities such as Chicago. Sugar Lake by far, has been our favorite.”
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.”
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.”
©Grand View Lodge - Nisswa, MN At the Grand View Lodge in Nisswa, MN they’ve placed a strong emphasis on wellness and have created and encouraged related experiences for guests, including getting people outside! Kelli Wawro, Senior Event Planner at Grand View Lodge describes, “We’ve focused on wellness and have worked to incorporate activities and healthy options for both social guests and meeting attendees. For example, we offer a ‘Break at the Lake’ where groups take a break from their meeting room, walk down to the lake, and enjoy beverages and snack items. We also encourage and can assist in setting up outdoor discussion groups and walking meetings. Groups may take advantage of our covered porches, deck areas, and lawns to step outside the meeting room to have a productive group discussion. We also have walking paths weaving throughout the grounds, providing a great environment for work and exercise.”
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.
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.
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