The Cumberland Valley is particularly attractive to military and governmental groups, noted Oakley. “Our area is home to the U.S. Army War College and a large population of retired military... Our lodg- ing, meeting facilities and attractions are all familiar with the terms and rates that these groups are used to.”
In addition, she said the Cumberland Valley also is attractive to religious groups. “We offer three religious retreat facilities, (Bongiorno Conference Center, Mount Asbury Retreat Facilities, and Doubling Gap Center) that only serve non-profit reli- gious groups. These retreat facilities are easy to find, yet tucked away in our tran- quil natural settings.”
With regard to attractions in the area, Oakley said that
religious groups enjoy
outdoor and picturesque sites like Pine Grove Furnace State Park and Wishing Well Equestrian Center where they can enjoy hiking, biking, boating, horseback riding or other activities.
“Military and governmental groups enjoy the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center, the premier facility for army research, which includes museum space and an outdoor interpretive trail, as well as our downtown guided historical walk- ing tours,” she noted. “Other main attrac- tions in the Cumberland Valley include: the Appalachian Trail Museum, which is the only hiking museum in the country; Kings Gap State Park and Environmental Education Center;
Meadowbrooke
Gourds; Cumberland County Historical Society; and the shopping and restaurant districts of Carlisle, Boiling Springs, Mechanicsburg and New Cumberland."
Blair said that visitors to Delaware have a range of choices when it comes to attrac- tions. While the First State is widely known for its tax-free shopping and gam- ing opportunities, its three distinct coun- ties each are home to a number of unique offerings.
New Castle County is renowned for its his- toric and art attractions, the DuPont lega- cy, and the rolling hills of the Brandywine Valley. Kent County is rich in history and is best known for hosting two annual NASCAR races at the Dover International Speedway, home of the famous Monster Mile. Sussex County is recognized for the
36 July August 2011
pristine beaches and scenic coastline attractions of Southern Delaware.
In southern New Jersey, Lynch said there is something for everybody. “Victorian Cape May is just 20 minutes south of the Wildwoods, while Atlantic City is 45 min- utes to the north. Our island is completely surrounded by water, and it's a great place to just hang out on the beach, go crab- bing, walk the boardwalk or visit local attractions like Hereford Inlet Lighthouse, which has been around since the early 1900s and features magnificent gardens."
The Wildwoods attracts a lot of military and veterans groups, too,
Lynch noted.
Part of that attraction includes the town’s recently completed Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall - a 1/2-sized replica of the one in Washington, DC.
“The wall has proven to be very impor- tant, not just to veterans, but to the many patriotic Americans who have come to see it,” said Lynch. “Everybody seems to have known someone whose name appears on that wall."
Also home to a very rich Doo-Wop history, the Wildwoods offers tours of its famous Doo-Wop architecture.
The famous
Wildwoods Sign and Sculpture, located at Rio Grande and the boardwalk, is a place where people love to have their picture taken. “So many people visit this site,” said Lynch, “we have to repaint the decorative beach balls that are part of the sculpture a minimum of three times per year."
According to Baldassari, Skytop has much to offer when it comes to these special- ized markets. "The flexibility of our space, our recreational opportunities and our facility and service are what our clients tell us separates us from the pack. Everything you need is on site and avail- able. You don’t need to be shuttled miles away for a part of your meeting or to engage in recreation. You can walk to and from practically every facility and ameni- ty we have.”
Skytop Lodge features plenty of activities on site, including: indoor and outdoor swimming pools, lake swimming, award winning golf, fishing, shooting, rock climb- ing, paintball, kayaking canoeing, boating, tennis, lawn bowling, over 30 miles of hik- ing trails, nature hikes and presentations,
downhill and cross-country skiing, sled- ding, tobogganing, ice skating, snow-shoe- ing, dog sledding (even in summer), plus spa facilities and more.
Always looking to add new and exciting activities for guests, this year Skytop added whitewater rafting trips and paddle boarding, and Baldassari said the resort hopes to have zip lines installed soon. For those seeking even more adventure, Skytop offers an Adventure Center with activities like rock climbing, kayaking, whitewater rafting,
geo-caching and
more. “These activities have also become popular team building events, and our Adventure Center team can tailor a pro- gram to fit the group’s specific needs," said Baldassari.
Personal service is a huge draw for any meeting group, and SMERF, association and government groups are no exception. Kaminetsky said that Discover Lehigh Valley understands this very well. “We take a very personal approach with our clients. The planner who calls me isn’t ‘passed along’ to someone in conference services. If you start out working with me, you will continue working with me throughout the duration of your event. I will be there to help from start to finish."
"The meeting planner is with me before the site inspection, during the site inspec- tion, while choosing the site, the caterer and other vendors,” Kaminetsky added. “I make sure that all the welcome bags are waiting for attendees on the day of the event. That personal touch really makes a huge difference.”
He also noted that his past experiences act as a significant asset to a meeting planner, too. “I can relate past experiences with similar groups - what has worked well, and also what has not worked as well - all with the aim of helping them avoid potential problems while at the same time capitalizing on successes."
"I also like to offer to drive the planner around to the various venues during site inspections so that they can just relax and focus on the properties,” said Kaminetsky. “This gives us a chance to get to know each other and build on our relationship. Plus, I can help direct them to any servic- es they might need, from tent rentals to DJs to embroidery companies and more."
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