“The secret is not spending too much time or energy getting to the fun. We provide all of the necessary tools to refresh, re-energize with teambuilding and networking at Cragun’s.”
- Kathryn Stotka, Cragun’s Resort
Cragun’s Resort My favorite special activity is when we suggest Breakfast at the
Zoo and we incorporate an outdoor function just steps from our animal park and before attendees head back to the meetings, they spend some time feeding the giraffes, kangaroos or any of the 345 animals. This is truly unique to this resort. At the resort, we do a ‘Beyond the Slides Tour’ which features meeting with our managers in areas not seen by most guests. We have teambuilding pros on property who have created scav-
enger hunts that included the unique parts of this themed resort and woven the corporation’s messages and question and answers into the event. RS: The Abbey has a complete in-house activities department
that offers a full menu of teambuilding activities for our group guests. Our activities director and her team are also available to customize activities for each individual group. Recently we had a group from the liquor ‘spirits’ industry. They were looking for a dy- namic teambuilding event, so our activities director developed a mixology and videography event. Using various liquors, mixers, garnishes and mixing tools, each
group collaborated to create their own unique drink, gave it a name and determined the key demographic to which they would market. Each group then received a video camera and further instructions to direct them in developing and filming a commercial to promote their drink. Culminating in a round of drink tasting and evaluat- ing with prizes for the winning team, the event reached a peak as the teams viewed their final commercial creations heightening the camaraderie and hilarity of the experience. As you can tell we take teambuilding seriously! KS: We host one of the largest annual events for our soldiers
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and their families Memorial Day weekend with assistance from Camp Ripley and others. Silent auction tables line our meeting rooms, which raises over $30,000 for the families in the state of MN. Cragun’s is also the first official drop site for the military fami- lies in MN. MM: Do you have any plans or goals for the future to draw more meeting planners to your resort? MB: We recently announced a 120,000 sq. ft. addition, which
will bring Kalahari’s convention center total sq. ft. to 215,000 and will include a 38,000 sq. ft. grand ballroom/expo center, a 12,000 sq. ft. junior ballroom, 14 meeting rooms, a 4,000 sq. ft. themed outdoor plaza connected to an indoor ballroom and 30,000 sq. ft. of pre-function space. The expansion is scheduled to open in De- cember 2011. RS: We offer meeting planners familiarization (FAM) visits throughout the year. We also would like to continue to host annual meetings with Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and the Wisconsin Society of Association Executives (WSAE) when we can in the future. KS: Cragun’s has completed renovating all lodging rooms. We
have a newly installed phone-reservation system that adds effi- ciency to incoming calls and confirmation responses, which aids calls from attendees quickly. Our 24-hour security, welcoming and guarding the only road into the resort, is staffed with experienced, trained staff. We offer enclosed facilities with walkways to lodging, meeting rooms and the Sports Centre. We also have expanded the free, high-speed wireless access to all areas of the resort. Also, for our first quarter conference media program, we are introducing the iPad giveaway to attract new planners to Cragun’s resort.
MIDWEST MEETINGS SPRING 2011
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