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Table of Contents (continued) Midwest Meetings


Summer 2011


26 28


Teambuilding Rewards Putting the focus back on the team.


Mix and Mingle The latest in teambuilding trends. 32


34 36 40


Score Big The Sports industry - not just a game.


Putting It All Together Sports events take special planning.


Go Fly a Kite! Really! Making alternative sports events a big hit.


Meeting States Find them here… Minnesota M North Star State 50 Summer 2011 49-64.indd 50 MIDWEST MEETINGS SUMMER 2011 WWW.MIDWESTMEETINGS.COM 5/12/11 3:13 PM Summer 2011 49-64.indd 51


innesota, the Land of 10,000 Lakes, is a fan- tastic summer desti- nation offering many enticing activities for groups. The state of- fers fi ne fi shing, over 400 breathtaking golf


courses, a bounty of hiking trails, intriguing tours of mines and caves and some of the best paved bike trails in the country. There are also scenic boat tours, fun-fi lled canoe and whitewater kayak routes and the truly amazing Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area.


And, while you are in the region, be sure to check out Mother Nature’s


true beauty in the Superior National Forest, Canal Park and on Spirit Moun- tain. Thinking your group would rather be in the city? The Greater Minne- apolis - St. Paul area is well-known for its excellent art, history and science museums, as well as its wonderful arts and entertainment venues. Planning an event in the Twin Cities this August? Be sure to consider tak-


ing in the Uptown Art Fair August 5-7 or the Minnesota State Fair August 25 - September 5. The Minnesota Renaissance Festival also starts on August 20 and runs on weekends through October. Seeking adventure? Customized Segway tours offer a terrifi c way to ex-


plore the Minneapolis region. This area is also home to Target Field where the Minnesota Twins, the 2010 Central Division Champs, play. Another perfect place for groups to visit is Mall of America®


, located 15 minutes away


from the Twin Cities. Attendees can shop until they drop in the most visited attraction in Minnesota. This massive mall is also home to the Nickelodeon Universe®


indoor amusement park and the amazing Underwater Adventures


Aquarium. More fun can be found in Minnesota at the Valleyfair Family Amusement Park in Shakopee, Como Park Zoo and Conservatory in St. Paul, or strolling through the vast Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley. In this spectacular state there is no shortage of great attractions.


Previous page top - East Vadnais Lake, Vadnais Heights Previous page bottom - Arrowwood Resort meeting space, Alexandria Above - Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, St. Paul Top - Target Field, Minneapolis


51 5/12/11 3:13 PM 64 Summer 2011 49-64.indd 64 MIDWEST MEETINGS SUMMER 2011


Arrowwood Resort & CC ................................... 52 Austin CVB ....................................................... 53 Concordia University ......................................... 60 Eagan CVB ....................................................... 55 Hyatt Regency Minneapolis ................................ 60 Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel ............................ 60 Maple Grove Community Center ........................ 60 Owatonna Area C of C & Tourism ...................... 61 Prairie’s Edge Casino Resort ............................... 56 Red Wing VCB.................................................. 57 Shooting Star Casino Hotel .......................... 58, 59 St. Cloud Area CVB ........................................... 62 St. James Hotel.................................................. 57 Stillwater & Oak Park Heights CVB ..................... 61 Twin Cities Gateway CVB ................................... 54 Visit Bemidji ...................................................... 53 Willmar Lake Area CVB ..................................... 62


Find them here… Amtrak® ........................................................ 66 Missouri Show-Me State 5/12/11 3:14 PM Minnesota ................50 Wisconsin Gathering of Waters 76 Summer 2011 65-96.indd 76 MIDWEST MEETINGS SUMMER 2011 5/12/11 3:02 PM 4


fun, most weekends from June through September. Groups can par- ticipate in Polish Fest, German Fest, and Summerfest on Lake Michi- gan’s lakefront or Wisconsin’s State Fair in nearby West Allis. Options are abundant and impressive when paired up with a Brewer’s Game at Miller Park or a visit to the Milwaukee Art Museum, Harley-Davidson Museum or Discovery World. Heading north? Everyone knows that Green Bay’s Lambeau Field,


I miss the 100th Summer 2011 65-96.indd 77


which is home to the 2011 Super Bowl Champions, is a terrifi c venue for groups. However, the city is home to another fantastic attraction, Bay Beach Amusement Park. This year, the park has added a new roller coaster, Zippin’ Pippin, which is an exact replica of Elvis Presley’s fa- vorite ride. It’s certain to leave your guests saying, “Thank you, thank you very much!” Looking for a one-of-a-kind bicycling experience? Then, consider


heading to Madison, Wisconsin’s beautiful capital city. The Madison Pedal Tavern has a 16-person bike that groups can rent by the hour for a different take on the pub crawl. Want to treat your attendees to some of Wisconsin’s local fare? Then let them stroll through Madison’s popu- lar farmer’s market, located around the Capitol Square every Saturday or have them take a walking tour down the eclectic State Street. Is your group interested in architecture? Then you won’t want to anniversary of Taliesin, the residence and workshop of


legendary designer Frank Lloyd Wright in Spring Green. It has a va- riety of special events, exhibits and tours taking place throughout the summer that are sure to keep your guests entertained and fascinated. No doubt about it… fun is abound throughout Wisconsin.


WWW.MIDWESTMEETINGS.COM


f you want to plan a meeting or event this year that will be a truly memorable adventure, look no further than Wisconsin. The state offers an abundance of attractions and special events that are sure to appeal to everyone in your group.


Is your group in the mood to have fun? Mil- waukee, the City of Festivals, offers non-stop


Find them here…


Brookfi eld CVB .......................................................81 The Clarke Hotel ....................................................91 Country Springs Hotel Waterpark & Convention Center ................................................91 Devils Head Resort & Convention Center ..................86 Fox Cities CVB .................................................78, 79 Glacier Canyon Lodge at the Wilderness ...........94, 95 Holiday Inn Neenah/Riverwalk ...............................80 Hotel Mead & Conference Center ............................96 Hyatt Place Madison/Downtown .............................86 Janesville Area CVB .........................................82, 83 JC Plaza Hotel .......................................................96 Jefferson Street Inn .................................................92 La Crosse Area CVB ...............................................84 Lakewoods Resort ...................................................96 Marriott Milwaukee West ........................................91 Middleton Tourism ..................................................86 Monona Terrace®


Convention Center .................05, 85


Potawatomi Bingo Casino .......................................87 Radisson Paper Valley ............................................80 Real Racine ............................................................88 St. Croix Casino Danbury Hotel ...............................89 Stevens Point Area CVB ..........................................88 Visit Eau Claire ......................................................81 Waukesha County Expo Center ...............................91 Waukesha & Pewaukee CVB .............................90, 91 Wausau/Central Wisconsin CVB .......................41, 92 Wisconsin Dells VCB ..............................................93 Wisconsin Rapids Area CVB ...................................96


cana with its world-famous Arch and the Museum of Westward Expansion located below it. This city is also home to the St. Louis Cardinals, the An- heuser-Busch Brewery, which offers group tours daily, the St. Louis Zoo, and the breathtaking Missouri Botanical Garden. Those looking for a real adven- ture should check out The City Museum, an exploratory for the senses that features endless creations to explore made out of recycled items. In the mood for gospel or country music, hits from the 1950’s or 1960’s,


T WWW.MIDWESTMEETINGS.COM Summer 2011 65-96.indd 65


comedy or magic? Branson, the “Live Music Show Capital of the World”, is home to more than 50 theater venues and hundreds of performers that will leave your group smiling. The region is also home to the Titanic Museum, as well as many great shopping venues including Branson Landing, which features dozens of specialty stores. More into history? Then, Hannibal is defi nitely worth visiting. There, you


can see the cave Mark Twain wrote about in fi ve books, tour his childhood home and shop on the streets he roamed as a boy. In the evening, groups can enjoy cruising down Twain’s beloved Mississippi River aboard the Mark Twain Riverboat Cruise. Also in this region, there is a splendid lake named in Twain’s honor. Finally, no trip to Missouri would be complete without a stop in Kansas


City, which rests on Missouri’s state line. There you’ll fi nd mouth-watering barbeque, world-class art museums and the American Jazz Museum. For those looking for family entertainment be sure to checkout, Oceans of Fun - one of the largest outdoor water theme parks in the Midwest. It offers over 60 acres of splashing excitement and fun for every member of the family or Worlds of Fun - one of the top amusement parks in the nation, featuring over 20 thrilling rides, ranging from tame to absolutely terrifying. Meet in Missouri and discover a world of history and entertainment.


Previous page top - Branson Scenic Railway, photo courtesy Branson CVB


Previous page bottom - Saint Charles Convention Center


Above - Missouri Botanical Gardens, St. Louis - Copyright© 2009 Missouri Division of Tourism Top - Dickerson Park Zoo, Springfi eld - Copyright© Missouri Division of Tourism


2009 65 5/12/11 3:00 PM


he Show-Me State is certain to show your group a great time with its many well- known destinations.


St. Louis, the “Gateway to the West”, is a fabulous destination


for groups. It offers a true taste of Ameri-


Best Western Branson Inn & Conference Center .................................... 67 Camden on the Lake ....................................... 69 Chateau on the Lake Resort, Spa and Convention Center ................................. 67 City of Independence ...................................... 68 Columbia CVB ............................................... 67 Greater St. Charles CVB ........................... 72, 73 Lake of the Ozarks CVB .................................. 70 Lumière Place ........................................... 74, 75 Tan-Tar-A Resort, Golf Club, Marina & Indoor Waterpark ..................................... 70 YMCA Trout Lodge ......................................... 71


Get in the Game 44


46 Safety First


An emergency action plan is a life saver.


An Experience of a Lifetime The biggest sporting event of the year comes to town.


Teambuilding 30


Stretching Your Teambuilding Budget Save money with these teambuilding ideas.


Paying it Forward Making a difference one bike at a time.


Missouri ................64


Previous page top - Rotary Botanical Gardens, Janesville - Photo courtesy of Rotary Botanical Gardens Previous page bottom - Grand Ballroom at the Radisson Paper Valley, Appleton Above - Tommy Bartlett Show, Wisconsin Dells - Photo courtesy of www.wisdells.com Top - Lake Winnebago, Neenah


77 5/12/11 3:02 PM


Wisconsin ............76 MIDWEST MEETINGS SUMMER 2011


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