Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland

Ohio is making a comeback as a meetings and tourism destination. Columbus is the state capitol. Cincinnati is famous for its big river, baseball and beer. Cleveland has the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Akron, where Goodyear is headquartered, is known as the city of inventions. All four cities are on the rise, as more companies view Ohio as a great destination for doing business.

Cincinnati

Situated along the Ohio River, across from Kentucky, Cincinnati has retained its Southern charm while remaining decidedly Midwestern. Some of the nation’s top corporations have facilities or offices in Cincinnati, including automobile, banking, food, energy, telecom, and construction firms.

With big companies come big meetings. Cincinnati accommodates them with large hotels from Hilton, Hyatt, Westin and Marriott that offer 21,000–40,000 sq. ft. of event space.
The city is famous for historic venues and boasts a somewhat rowdy past grounded in baseball, football and beer. Cincinnati USA, the city’s CVB, recommends exploring the preprohibition lager tunnels that reflect the city’s brewing heritage. Or visit one of the city’s prospering microbreweries. MadTree Brewery, one of the most popular in town, offers a 50,000-square-foot facility for private events, with seating for 120–250 guests. There’s also Taft’s Ale House, once Cincinnati’s oldest protestant church.

Orchid’s Palm Court at Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza 

For refined dining in Cincinnati, there’s Orchid’s Palm Court AAA Five Diamond restaurant, located at Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza. Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse serves prime-cut beef and fresh seafood. Nada, a local favorite, is known for adventurous Mexican cuisine.
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) has connecting flights to major airports and regional hubs. Numerous airlines, including American, Delta, United, Frontier—and soon, Southwest—fly into the airport.

Cleveland

Cleveland is accessible, visible and growing. Sixty percent of the nation’s Fortune 500 companies have a presence in the city, according to Destination Cleveland, the city’s CVB. The city has undergone a massive $3.5 billion redevelopment devoted to improving the downtown district. A walkable downtown area provides greater accessibility to Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland, which has a 225,000-square-foot exhibition hall, more than 140,000 sq. ft. of meeting rooms and a 32,000-square-foot ballroom.
Along with the expansive convention center, Cleveland’s 18 downtown hotels offer more than 5,000 guest rooms. These include properties from Hilton, Westin, Renaissance, Marriott and Hyatt.

Sharon Gronowski, vice president of convention services for Destination Cleveland, describes the area as “eclectic, unpretentious and gritty, yet sophisticated.” With world-class art museums, award-winning restaurants, professional baseball and football teams, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, it’s an apt description.

In Cleveland’s downtown University Circle, visitors can explore 45,000 works of art on display at Cleveland Museum of Art. They can attend a classical music concert at Severance Hall or enjoy a performance at Playhouse Square.

For dining, James Beard Award-winning chefs Michael Symon and Jonathon Sawyer pamper business travelers at Lola and The Greenhouse Tavern. Other renowned restaurants are Urban Farmer Steakhouse at the Westin Cleveland Downtown and Blue Point Grille, a seafood establishment.

Columbus

Ohio’s capitol is the 15th-largest U.S. city. Columbus is considered affordable, which explains why the city is a destination for open-minded millennials. It was one of only 38 U.S. cities to score a perfect 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Municipal Equality Index in 2015.

The city offers plenty of outdoor paths for running, hiking and walking. Five on High, a five-mile span of High Street, connects the downtown districts. Visitors will find cool galleries in the Short North Arts District, meticulously designed Victorian homes, and fun places to eat, drink and celebrate in the Ohio State University District.

Greater Columbus Convention Center, Ohio

With more than 1.7 million sq. ft. of event space, Greater Columbus Convention Center is undergoing a $125 million expansion. Scheduled for completion this summer, it will offer 373,000 sq. ft. of contiguous exhibit space.

Flowers & Bread is a cafe, bakery, floral studio and private event space for offsite gatherings. Gallerie Bar & Bistro, located in the Hilton Columbus Downtown, is inspired by farm-fresh French cooking. The Guild House features American cuisine made from locally grown ingredients. Martini Modern Italian blends contemporary and classic dishes. Black Point offers traditional prime-cut aged steaks and fresh seafood.

Six airlines and their regional affiliates fly to Columbus via John Glenn International Airport (CMH), with 150 daily departures to 34 destinations.

Further Reading:

Meetings of the Heartland: Ohio and Indiana

Evansville

DoubleTree by Hilton Evansville

In the heart of downtown; sky bridge connects the Old National Events Plaza with the Ford Center; accessible to the riverfront, government offices and local restaurants; pool; 241 guest rooms; 12,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

Holiday Inn Evansville Airport

Less than 1 mile from Evansville Regional Airport and near Casino Aztar, Mesker Park Zoo and Botanic Gardens, one of the oldest and largest zoos in Indiana; complimentary hot daily breakfast; 199 guest rooms; 8,358 sq. ft. of meeting space.

Tropicana Evansville

Casino resort hotel offers 24 hours of table games, slots and poker; several restaurants, including Cavanaugh’s for steak and seafood; convention service team accommodates a range of groups; 339 guest rooms; over 10,800 sq. ft. of meeting space.

Fort Wayne

Courtyard by Marriott at Grand Wayne Convention Center

Connected to the convention center via sky bridge; restaurants include The Bistro and Champions Restaurant and Sports bar; indoor swimming pool; home theater; Legacy Ballroom seats up to 475; 249 guest rooms; 5,993 sq. ft. of meeting space.

Hilton Fort Wayne at the Grand Wayne Convention Center

Adjacent to convention center; near Embassy Theatre, Parkview Field, Lincoln financial center, Fort Wayne Museum, and Civic Theatre; fitness center; free airport shuttle; 246 guest rooms; 48,600 sq. ft. of event and meeting space.

Holiday Inn Ft. Wayne IPFW & Coliseum

Near Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne; close to Botanical Conservancy, Glenbrook Mall and Allen County War Memorial Coliseum; The Mastodon Grill offers American fare; 151 guest rooms; 6,000 sq. ft. of event space with 6 meeting rooms; the largest accommodates 325.

Ramada Plaza Fort Wayne Hotel and Conference Center

Located near Fort Wayne International Airport; close to University–Purdue University Fort Wayne; fitness center; banquet facility; dining options include Duesy’s Sports Bar & Grill and Red River Steakhouse; 222 guest rooms; 18,000 sq. ft. of event space, with 10 meeting rooms, accommodates up to 1,000 guests.

Indianapolis

Hyatt Regency Indianapolis

Connected to the convention center and close to Lucas Oil Stadium; panoramic views from The Eagle’s Nest revolving restaurant; indoor swimming pool; StayFit gym with cardio equipment; 499 guest rooms; 35,000 sq. ft. of meeting space; event space accommodates 15–500; third-floor ballroom has more than 8,200 sq. ft. of space.

Indianapolis Marriott Downtown

Undergoing a complete renovation in 2017 to update guest rooms and event space, and add new dining concepts; 622 guest rooms; 40,000 sq. ft. of meeting space; 33 meeting venues including multiple boardrooms; two ballrooms.

JW Marriott Indianapolis

Blue-glass clad, 33-story downtown hotel with 250 acres of nearby green space; Osteria Pronto (Italian) and High Velocity (American) restaurants; indoor pool; fitness center with cardio equipment; adjacent to Indiana Convention Center; 1,005 guest rooms; 102,755 sq. ft. of event space; 54 event rooms; largest has capacity for 4,200.

Omni Severin Hotel

Offers early-1900s elegance with modern amenities such as videoconferencing; major renovations in 2013 restored the downtown landmark; 424 guest rooms; recent $2 million upgrade to event spaces and meeting facilities; 17,000 sq. ft. of meeting space; 17 meeting rooms, largest meeting room seats up to 2,500.

The Westin Indianapolis

Recently renovated hotel focused on health, wellness and service; 24-hour West Workout Fitness studio features strength-training equipment and free-weights; Capitol Grounds features specialty coffees and pastries; Shula’s Steakhouse provides upscale dining; 575 guest rooms; 39,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

South Bend

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel South Bend

About 10 miles from South Bend International Airport; close to Notre Dame University, Studebaker National Museum and Morris Performing Arts Center; connected to Century Center, with 26,025 sq. ft. of event space; 291 guest rooms; 13,888 sq. ft. of meeting space.

Holiday Inn Conference Center Mishawaka

Located about 9 miles from South Bend International Airport; within driving distance of University of Notre Dame; indoor pool; health and fitness center; 115 guest rooms; 10,000 sq. ft. of meeting space; four meeting guest rooms, with largest having capacity for 800.

Morris Inn at Notre Dame

Set in the heart of University of Notre Dame campus; underwent a $30 million renovation in 2013; connected to the university’s conference center via underground walkway; 150 guest rooms; 20,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, with 12 seminar rooms; 375-seat auditorium; large banquet-style dining facility.

Further Reading:

Meetings of the Heartland: Ohio and Indiana

Akron

Clarion Inn & Conference Center

Accessible to Canton and Cleveland; driving access to Pro Football Hall of Fame and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Museum; indoor pool; fitness center; restaurant; 239 guest rooms, 14,000 sq. ft. of event space.

Hilton Akron Fairlawn Hotel & Suites

Located across from Summit Mall for shopping; 20 miles from Canton and the Pro Football Hall of Fame; 203 guest rooms, including 32 suites; more than 20,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event facilities; 15 meeting rooms for up to 600.

Sheraton Suites Akron Cuyahoga Falls

Overlooks magnificent water falls; near businesses and leisure spots; 209 guest rooms; 23,000 sq. ft. of event space; largest meeting area is 4,446 sq. ft., with ideal group size ranging from 150 to 500.

Cincinnati

Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza

Located within two blocks of local transportation hubs, such as Bell Connector Streetcar; National Historic Landmark restored to its 1930s art-deco design; Orchids at Palm Court is Ohio’s only AAA Five Diamond restaurant; 561 guest rooms; 40,423 sq. ft. of meeting space; three ballrooms.

Hyatt Regency Cincinnati

Located next to Duke Energy Convention Center downtown; indoor heated saltwater pool; outdoor sundeck; StayFit gym; 491 guest rooms; 39,932 sq. ft. of event space with 16 meeting rooms.

Kingsgate Marriott Conference Center

On University of Cincinnati campus; fitness center with cardio equipment; Bearcat Lounge offers appetizers and cocktails; Caminetto casual restaurant provides American cuisine; 198 guest rooms; 21,437 sq. ft. of meeting space; 23 event rooms; largest seats 630.

Renaissance Cincinnati Downtown Hotel

Near bustling historic district and Paul Brown Stadium; fitness center with cardio equipment; D. Burnham’s restaurant; 323 guest rooms; 12,290 sq. ft. of total event space; eight breakout rooms, with largest meeting room accommodating up to 700 people.

The Westin Cincinnati

Near Duke Energy Convention Center and close to Reds’ Great American Ballpark; McCormick & Schmick’s seafood restaurant; 24-hour fitness center with cardio equipment; indoor pool; 456 guest rooms; 29,000 sq. ft. of event space; largest meeting room has 8,755 sq. ft.; 17 flexible meeting rooms.

Cleveland

Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center

Near Cleveland Convention Center; stunning views of Lake Erie; indoor pool; fitness center with cardio equipment; two restaurants, including casual American fare; Jake’s lounge serves cocktails; 400 guest rooms; 17,078 sq. ft. of event space with 16 meeting rooms and grand ballroom.

Hilton Cleveland Downtown

Connected to Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland and near Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; rooms have views of Lake Erie; dining and top-floor Bar 32 with views of lake; indoor pool; fitness center; 600 guest rooms; 50,000 sq. ft. of event space; meeting rooms range from 521 sq. ft. to 3,025 sq. ft.

Hilton Garden Inn Cleveland

Close to Progressive Field, home of the MLB Indians, and Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center; recent renovations included conversion of swimming pool to salt water; expanded fitness center; Garden Grille restaurant; 240 guest rooms, all renovated; 18,000 sq. ft. of flexible event space available; 5,400-square-foot ballroom.

Hyatt Regency Cleveland at The Arcade

Located downtown, near the city’s famous entertainment district and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; close to major sporting venues, including Quicken Loans Arena, Progressive Field and FirstEnergy Stadium; fitness center open 24 hours; 293 guest rooms; 7,100 sq. ft. of function space with 14 meeting rooms; catering available.

Renaissance Cleveland Hotel

Early-1900s architecture; downtown near Public Square; close to Cleveland Cavaliers Q Arena; swimming pool atrium on fifth floor; fitness center with cardio equipment; Lobby Court Bar has American fare while Sans Souci offers eclectic cuisine; 491 guest rooms; 64,834 sq. ft. of event space with 33 event rooms; largest offers 2,950 sq. ft.

The Westin Cleveland Downtown

Near Cleveland Convention Center and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; two blocks from Lake Erie; hotel partners with Reebok to provide in-room delivery of workout clothing and shoes; Westin Workout Studio has cardio and strength-training equipment; Urban Farmer restaurant offers organic ingredients; 484 guest rooms; 20,000 sq. ft. of event space; 20 meeting rooms, 9,050-square-foot ballroom.

Columbus

Crowne Plaza Columbus-Downtown

Devoted to health and wellness; fitness center; near sporting activities including baseball, scuba diving, mountain and rock-wall climbing, ice skating and indoor roller skating; 375 guest rooms; 10,247 sq. ft. of event space; seven meeting rooms, largest room capacity is 300.

Hilton Columbus Downtown

Less than 15 minutes from airport; enclosed sky bridge connects to Greater Columbus Convention Center; surrounded by art museums; near Ohio State University; Gallerie Bar & Bistro, 160-seat full-service restaurant and bar; indoor pool; fitness center; 532 guest rooms; 32,000 sq. ft. of event space.

Hyatt Regency Columbus

Near Greater Columbus Convention Center, Short North Arts and Arena District; close to Ohio State University campus and state capitol building; within minutes of airport; Market Stand Cafe offers breakfast, lunch and dinner; 24-hour StayFit gym; 631 guest rooms; 72,600 sq. ft. of event space; 15,800-square-foot ballroom accommodates up to 1,200.

Renaissance Columbus Downtown Hotel

Near Columbus Zoo and Aquarium; rooftop pool with panoramic views of city; Latitude 41 restaurant offers farm-to-table cuisine; The Bar 41 serves cocktails; 408 guest rooms; 21,438 sq. ft. of event space; 16 meeting rooms, largest has 11,700 sq. ft.

Sheraton Columbus at Capitol Square

In the heart of Ohio’s capitol; 7.3 miles from airport; panoramic views of city; complimentary breakfast and hors d’oeuvres; 24/7 fitness center has cardio equipment and weight machines; 403 guest rooms; 16,500 sq. ft. of event space; 18 meeting rooms; largest is 6,000 sq. ft.

Further Reading:

Meetings of the Heartland: Ohio and Indiana

India awakening

India is attracting international attention from U.S. and European companies eyeing the country’s growing domestic market and buying power for goods and services coming from abroad. Siemens, Mercedes, Volkswagen and Bosch all have manufacturing facilities in Pune.

India is expected to become the fifth-largest consumer market by 2030, according to KPMG India. Although India’s position as the world’s fastest-growing economy slipped this year, its most recent annual gross domestic product (GDP) rate, 6.1 percent, remains three times higher than most competitors. In fact, India is second only to China in GDP growth, which registered 6.9 percent GDP.

As India’s domestic economy grows, internet use is expected to expand 40 percent year over year, according to a report from Silicon Valley venture capital firm Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield and Byers. The 2017 report, authored by analyst Mary Meeker, notes that India’s current internet user base is 355 million. With an estimated 2015 population of more than 1.3 billion people—at least 70 percent of whom are under age 35—there’s lots of room for growth in India’s consumer technology base.

10 Reasons to Meet in India

  1. Smartphone and internet use is growing, with a potential 1 billion future customers.
  2. Automotive engineering, manufacturing and international distribution are prospering.
  3. Pharmaceutical manufacturing is increasing, along with R&D and export trade.
  4. Agricultural management is very important, along with water resource and purification development.
  5. Information technology, including telecom hardware and customer support, have been surging.
  6. Software programming is rising, along with demand for coding development and mobile apps.
  7. Hardware manufacturing for video streaming and high-end gaming graphics have been thriving.
  8. Renewable energy—including solar-panel development, wind-turbine plants and alternative-energy sources, such as lithium-powered batteries—is gaining traction among decision-makers.
  9. Travel and tourism are up—as are hotel, restaurant, shopping and sightseeing businesses, and transportation for tourists and business travelers who use taxis, buses, trains and airlines.
  10. Railway transport is vital to India’s population of more than 1.3 billion, making high-speed rail technology a potentially enormous market for both domestic and foreign investors.

Further Reading:

Find Yourself (and Your Meeting) in India

Photo of Bangalore Palace, Bengaluru 

Bengaluru

Good to Know: Located in southern India, Bengaluru is the capital of Karnataka. Formerly known as Bangalore, it’s called the Garden City because of a relatively temperate climate (generally 59 to 97 degrees) and high altitude (3,000 feet above sea level).

Business: The city of more than 8.5 million people is home to many of India’s IT and defense industry contractors, including Infosys, Bharat Electronics and Hindustan Aeronautics. Nearby Bengaluru International Airport (BLR) is India’s third-largest airport. Bengaluru, which is attracting biotech firms, is among the nation’s best cities for universities, including Indian Institute of Science, National Law School of India and Indian Institute of Management.

Attractions: Palakkad “Tipu’s” Fort, Nageshwara Temple, Karnataka Folk Museum, Lalbagh Botanical Gardens, Bangalore Palace, and Visvesvaraya Industrial and Technological Museum offer captivating experiences.

Meeting Space: Bangalore International Exhibition Centre has more than 430,556 sq. ft. of event space, four conference centers and 12 meeting rooms. MLR Convention Centre Whitefield offers six meeting rooms, including an auditorium/theater that seats 800, a banquet hall for 500 and an indoor area for 300. Manpho Convention Centre provides 100,000 sq. ft. of event space and 26 meeting rooms, with the largest being 32,000 sq. ft.

Bengaluru

Photo of The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore, Bengaluru 

Hotels: Bengaluru has 388 hotels. The Ritz-Carlton Bangalore offers 277 guest rooms and 18,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, accommodating up to 1,000, as well as four ballrooms for 84 to 700 guests, depending on seating configurations

Chennai

Good to Know: Located along India’s southeastern coast near the Bay of Bengal, Chennai is India’s fourth-most-populated city. It’s the capital of Tamil Nadu. It is a popular tourist destination, and Chennai International Airport (MAA) is India’s fourth-largest airport. The climate is tropical, with average temperatures ranging from 66 to 104 degrees.

Business: Hyundai, Renault, Nissan, Daimler, Ford and BMW have operations in Chennai, as does Caterpillar. India’s film industry has a strong presence there. IT and computer companies are prolific, with Samsung, Lenovo, Dell, Flextronics, Siemens and Ericsson all doing business in Chennai. Financial institutions include Barclay’s, Credit Suisse, Citibank, Deutsche Bank and many others.

Attractions: Fort St. George, Government Museum, The National Art Gallery, Shore Temple, Marina Beach, Express Avenue and Ampa Skywalk shopping malls serve visitors and locals.

Meeting Space: Chennai Trade Centre offers three conference centers, totaling nearly 114,000 sq. ft. of total air-conditioned space. In addition to banquet facilities, the center has exhibit halls that can accommodate up to 2,000 attendees in configurations of 20,000 sq. ft. It can accommodate groups of 150 to 250 and has a 500-seat theater. Total meeting space is 100,000 sq. ft., with the largest meeting room at 47,344 sq. ft.

Photo of Hyatt Regency Chennai

Hotels: Chennai has 202 hotels. Hyatt Regency Chennai is one of the most modern and impressive. It offers 325 guest rooms and more than 20,000 sq. ft. of functional meeting space, including multiple breakaway rooms, a ballroom and outdoor space.

Further Reading:

Find Yourself (and Your Meeting) in India

Hyderabad

Good to Know: Hyderabad rests along the Musi River. The capital of Telangana, it’s known as the City of Pearls, and sits on hilly terrain at an altitude of 1,178 feet. Once a prolific diamond-trade center and a major hub for the East India Co., Hyderabad is known for its lakes and wildlife parks. Hyderabad Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD) is 12.5 miles from the city. Temperatures range from 50 to 102 degrees.

Business: Called Genome Valley, Hyderabad is a thriving pharmaceutical R&D and biotech center. Major companies and government institutes include Center for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Bharat Heavy Electricals, National Geophysical Research Institute, and Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology. Hyderabad hosts Oracle, Apple, Google, Dell, Amazon, Facebook and Cisco offices.

Attractions: Qutb Shahi Tombs, Makkah Masjid, Hussain Sagar Lake, Salar Jung Museum, Falaknuma Palace, Pearl Market, Bella Vista Palace and Ladd Bazaar are well worth the trip.

Hyderabad Intl

Photo of Hyderabad International Convention Center

Meeting Space: Hyderabad International Convention Center (HICC) offers nearly 70,000 sq. ft. of internal space with expandable seating options, along with full audiovisual support. Theater-style seating is available in configurations that accommodate 252, 710, 2,404, 2,960 and 4,846.

Hotels: Hyderabad has 170 hotels. Novotel Hotels & Resorts connects directly to HICC and offers 287 guest rooms. The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace offers 427 guest rooms along with event space. Three ballrooms accommodate from 48 to 550 guests. Combined, the ballrooms offer 4,998 sq. ft. of space. Three meeting rooms hold 10 to 33 attendees each, or can be combined to accommodate up to 75 participants.

Mumbai

Good to Know: Formerly known as Bombay, Mumbai rests on the edge of India’s western peninsula. It is the most populated city in India. Known as the Island City because it juts into the Arabian Sea, Mumbai’s average temperatures range from 75 to 88 degrees. Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM) handles most of India’s inbound flights.

Business: Jawaharlal Nehru Port handles up to 60 percent of India’s cargo ship traffic, while dozens of bridges, highways and railways connect the city to the rest of India. Mumbai is India’s financial and commercial trade capital. Tata Group, Life Insurance Corp. of India, Reserve Bank of India and Bombay Stock Exchange are based there.

Attractions: Gateway of India building, Elephanta Island, Crawford Market, Parsi Towers of Silence, Madh Fort, Girgaum Chowpatty Beach and Asiatic Society of Bombay (a historic public library) are very popular destinations.

Meeting Space: Bombay Convention & Exhibition Centre is among India’s largest convention centers. It offers more than 441,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space, with the largest conference room being 126,957 sq. ft. Two exhibition halls provide 206,054 sq. ft. and 25,414 sq. ft. of space, respectively. There are eight dedicated meeting rooms.

Photo of Marriott Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel 

Hotels: Mumbai has 270 hotels. Marriott Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel offers 600 guest rooms. The hotel provides 20,332 sq. ft. of event space, 12 meeting rooms and 18 breakout rooms, ranging from eight to 40 participants. An 11,169-square-foot ballroom holds up to 1,800 guests.

New Delhi

Good to Know: New Delhi is the capital of India. Located on the Indo Gangetic Plain, it is bordered by the Yamuna River, Delhi Ridge and Shahdara region. It’s a cosmopolitan city with strong attachments to the past. Hundreds of historic landmarks, museums and gardens reflect the city’s heritage. Temperatures average 57 to 93 degrees. Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) is one of the busiest airports in the Asia Pacific.

Business: New Delhi, India’s commercial hub, is an important financial center. As India’s capital, New Delhi’s economy thrives on the funding of infrastructure and transportation projects. Key international organizations have regional headquarters there, including UNESCO, UNICEF and World Bank.

Hyderabad Intl

Photo of Humayun Tomb, New Delhi

Attractions: Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Qutb Minar, Humayun Tomb, India Gate, Raj Ghat (Gandhi’s tomb), Akshardham Temple, National Gallery of Modern Art, Buddha Jayanti Park and Lodi Gardens are among the compelling attractions. The world-renowned Taj Mahal is in Agra, 131 miles from New Delhi.

Meeting Space: India Expo Centre touts itself as India’s largest venue for exhibitions and conventions. Built in 2006, the facility offers dozens of configurations for conferences, including ballrooms, banquet halls, meeting rooms and breakout areas. Several meeting rooms provide more than 37,000 sq. ft. of indoor space.

Hotels: New Delhi has 481 hotels. Starwood’s ITC Maurya New Delhi offers 437 guest rooms and 11 meeting spaces, with the largest being 6,783 sq. ft. Radisson Blu Hotel New Delhi provides 219 guest rooms and 9,000 sq. ft. of event and meeting space. The Westin Guragon New Delhi offers 313 guest rooms and more than 14,600 sq. ft. of space, including 10 meeting rooms, with the largest being 5,544 sq. ft.

Further Reading:

Find Yourself (and Your Meeting) in India

Boise

Boise is rapidly becoming a popular meetings destination, partly because of the fabulous outdoor recreation opportunities.

“One of the joys for people attending meetings in this region is that the great outdoors is literally right outside your door,” says Kristin Muchow, general manager of Meeting Systems, Inc. in Boise. “We take companies from all over the country out to see the real Idaho. We take them fly-fishing on the Boise River, rock-climbing, mountain biking, cruiser-biking, hiking and rafting, and we design custom trips for each group. And if you want to know if these excursions heighten teamwork, just take a look at one of our groups in the trapeze school.”

idaho

 Photo of Cascade Raft & Kayak on the Payette River, Horseshoe Bend, Idaho

Cascade Raft & Kayak has been taking guests out on rapid-river adventures since 1985. Cascade likes to boast that it “brings meeting attendees together one splash at a time.” There’s a nice variety of trips from which to choose, from leisurely half-day floats to daylong white-water adventures that will make your attendees team players like never before.

At the end of this thrill-filled day, attendees can celebrate their new camaraderie with a wonderful barbecue dinner prepared right on the riverbank.

Just outside of Boise is the 460-acre Military Reserve Mountain Biking area, situated on various landscapes used for military maneuvers from the 1860s through the 1940s. It’s somewhat hard to believe that this quiet, placid area was once used for gunnery practice.

After World War II, the city acquired the land for recreation and public purposes—and the public has certainly made good use of it. Today it’s a recreation and wildlife reserve, with no less than eight biking trails, ranging from sandy grasslands to thigh-testing hills.

“Boise makes it easy to combine meeting amenities with outdoor adventure, because they’re all within minutes of each other,” says Carrie Westergard, executive director of Boise Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Hikers and bikers can explore 190 miles of single-track, and then be back downtown in time for happy hour. White-water kayakers or rafters can access the Payette River within an hour, or just ride the paved Greenbelt path to the Boise River Park to surf on man-made waves.”

Photo of Route of the Hiawatha, Wallace, Idaho

Coeur d’Alene

The legendary Route of the Hiawatha is the former path of an old railroad line featuring a train called the Hiawatha that ran from the Northwest to Chicago until 1961. The Hiawatha route that’s become a top outdoor adventure in Big Sky Country.

There are 15 miles of old, abandoned railroad tracks on which groups can mountain bike, including 10 black-as-night tunnels (navigated by using a headlamp), the longest of which, St. Paul Pass Tunnel, crosses the Idaho-Montana state line. In a dramatic contrast, participants also ride on 1,000-foot-high wooden trestle bridges over steep mountain passes.

One of the best ways to see the Idaho Panhandle is from above, and Brooks Seaplane offers a great chance to do it. Participants take off and land right on Lake Coeur d’Alene, and are treated to stunning scenes reaching toward the Canadian border 80 miles north. They fly over lakeside inlets; the old village of Coeur d’Alene; impressive mountains; dense forests along the Lake Coeur d’Alene Scenic Byway; the world’s only movable golf green (in the lake); and isolated mansions along the lake.

Sandpoint

Sandpoint, located just 40 miles south of the Canadian border, was voted America’s Most Beautiful Small Town by Rand-McNally readers a few years ago. It features one of the Northwest’s best ski areas.

Schweitzer Mountain Resort, with 2,900 acres, is the 16th-largest ski resort in the United States, and had 320 inches of snow last winter. At the top of Schweitzer Mountain, groups can stand on (and ski over) the Continental Divide. From there, they can see into three states and Canada. The resort village has many interesting atmospheric shops and restaurants, along with 116 rustic guest rooms and 8,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

Idaho

Photo of Western Pleasure Guest Ranch, Sandpoint, Idaho

Also in Sandpoint is Western Pleasure Guest Ranch, which offers an authentic Western experience, guest rooms and a Great Lodge that look like they came straight out of the 1800s, as well as very unique meeting spaces. There are log cabin and Great Lodge accommodations for 40, and 3,500 sq. ft. of meeting space.

Daily horseback rides take attendees into the scenic forests of the surrounding Selkirk Mountains, where they can look into the distance at Montana’s Cabinet Range. Also, the ranch has pioneered some interesting team-building exercises—including hopping onto a horse and helping the cowboys move cattle between pens.

Sun Valley

TMN is a Boise-based company that works with outfitters around the state to set up group adventures. In September 2015, the company arranged a rafting adventure at Sun Valley for the 120 attendees at the national sales meeting held by Smoke Guard, Inc., a Boise company.

“We have worked with Sawtooth Adventure Company in Stanley, and they were great,” says Beth Pitkin, the marketing manager of Smoke Guard. “We took a float trip ranging from Class 1 rapids, which aren’t very rapid, to Class 3 rapids, which are moderate.

Idaho

Wallace

Wallace is a historic village tucked into steep, forested cliffs deep in the mountains. It boasts funky museums featuring the West—one of which was a bordello up until the mid-’60s—the original railroad depot, a real ghost town (where attendees can go inside old mines) and exciting Silver Streak Zipline Tours. Your attendees will be able to conquer their fears by flying up to 60 mph over the forest on the appropriately named Big Daddy course.

Further Reading:

Thrilling Adventures in Big Sky Country

Big Sky

The town of Big Sky is only 18 miles from Yellowstone National Park, but you don’t have to leave town to try one of the area’s coolest adventures. High Ropes Course at Big Sky Resort not only enhances a group’s team-building skills, but also their self-confidence and problem-solving skills. Attendees can tackle a dozen challenges—including Pirate’s Crossing and Swinging Beams—along the way, suspended 20 to 30 feet in the air (with a guide).

Canyon Adventures can give you a whole different perspective of the Big Sky…and the big mountains, valleys, rivers and lakes. Among other things, they rent groups an ATV that gives a close look at the dramatic vistas. ATV rentals leave from the front door, and take attendees almost literally up into the big skies to Buck Creek Ridge, at 10,000 feet. The views ares so dramatic they make participants want to stay up there for hours.

Billings

Pictograph Cave State Park in Billings provides groups with an opportunity to observe the origins of human habitation in Montana. Designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1964, the park has a loop trail that enables visitors to explore pictographs, or rock paintings, that date back more than 2,000 years.

The three main caves—Pictograph, Middle and Ghost cave—were home to generations of prehistoric hunters. Interpretations of the paintings are still subject to debate. The images include a variety of animals and warriors.

The park’s new Visitor Center features interpretive displays and a gift shop.

Montana

Photo of Going to the Sun Road in Glacler National Park, Montana

Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park

Timberline Adventures offers a “raft” of hiking, riding and boating trips, including four-day cycling and hiking trips into Glacier and Yellowstone national parks. On these trips, whether long or short, attendees develop new teamwork and decision-making strengths.

One of the cycling tours starts in Missoula and ends in Glacier National Park. Along the way, groups pedal up the famous Going to the Sun Road, and see bighorn sheep and the century-old Many Glacier Hotel before slowing down with a boat ride and an easy hike.

Helena

Macdonald Pass Nordic Trails is just 15 miles west of Helena, but it may as well be a million miles away. There, attendees can try cross-country/Nordic skiing, a horse of a different color altogether. There are 9 miles of Nordic trails, each offering winter wonderland scenery and, often, the chance to ski in solitude in Helena National Forest.

Minnehaha-Irish Mine Snowmobile Trail has 48 miles of groomed trails. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of skimming through the forest there with the wind in your face and the horsepower at your command as you glide through the forest over soft-powder snow. The only sounds are from fellow snowmobilers, sight-unseen, in the distance. The Helena area, in fact, has a few hundred miles of unspoiled, no-tracks-in-the-snow trails for snowmobilers.

Further Reading:

Thrilling Adventures in Big Sky Country

Cody

If you want to show attendees Wyoming’s natural beauty while they look down instead of up, a great option is Airborne over Cody, which can take them up for a memory of a lifetime. Individual participants (and a pilot) are taken into the sky aboard a two-seater, open-air, engine-powered Airborne Trike. Participants soar 3,000 feet above the mountains and rivers, and enjoy views that will usually include wildlife.

Wyoming

Photo of Aerial Tram patio at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Teton Village, Wyoming

Jackson Hole

Aerial Tram at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort will give your group a whole new perspective on this nature-blessed valley. Located only 1 mile from Grand Teton National Park, the tram gives visitors a valley-to-mountaintop view from above the clouds that is filled with alpine lakes and mountains and deep-green forests. The tram traverses 4,139 feet to the summit of Rendezvous Mountains.

Sheridan

Fly Shop of the Bighorns specializes in taking its guests on unique, personalized fishing trips through the Bighorn Mountains, often called one of the most diverse fishing areas on Earth. Programs for every level—including attendees who have never held a fishing rod before—are offered.

Participants can try their luck in dry-fly excursions or on leisurely drift-boat trips down the Bighorn, Wedding of the Waters or North Platte River, where they can battle with reservoir monsters. Or they can take a guided hike up toward a remote high- country stream or lake where they may be the only people in the area.

Sheridan has maintained its traditions, as seen at Koltiska Horse & Carriage Co., which offers a full-day tour with members of the Koltiska family. Groups start the day at Koltiska Family Ranch, a local landmark for more than a century. There, they experience a tractor-drawn wagon tour on which they see livestock, grain for the family’s distillery and examples of range management and sustainability.

Then they visit the landmark Sheridan Inn for lunch (included in the price), tour the inn and take a horse-drawn carriage tour of the historic downtown area. The experience ends with a tour and drinks at the family’s new Koltiska Distillery in Sheridan’s Railway District.

Further Reading:

Thrilling Adventures in Big Sky Country

little big bighorn

Last Stand Hill at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Crow Agency, Montana

Little Bighorn Battlefield 

Most people have never heard of Crow Agency, Montana. But they’ve sure heard of the battle that took place there.

Crow Agency is the headquarters of the Crow tribe and 1,600 of its people. The Crow did not fight in the Battle of the Little Bighorn, better known as Custer’s Last Stand. But today, people flock to this out-of-the-way town to see the sacred ground where the U.S. Cavalry (and detachments from the Army) and the Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne tribes came together in June of 1876, in a battle that still resonates.

When the smoke cleared on this battlefield—where the headstrong Gen. George Armstrong Custer had been warned the Indians were gathering for an ambush—all 263 U.S. soldiers were killed, including Custer, and countless Sioux and Cheyenne also died. This battle marked one of the final efforts of the Northern Plains Indians to preserve their way of life.
Today, in the museum at the site, groups can view field glasses used by a Cavalry officer; Indian necklaces made of pony teeth; an Army-issued brass spur; a bridle ornament with the raised letters “U.S.”; and an Indian hammer with a stone head, used as a weapon in this battle.

At Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, attendees can walk on sacred grounds. The wind seems to whisper with the echoes of what happened there, and the names and faces of those who fought—and died—on the grounds. The wind is now the only sound that is heard.

big little Boise

Big Little Boise

Boise has the best of both worlds—the friendliness and charm of a small town and the amenities of a larger one. In fact, this city of 206,000 (677,000 in the metro area) is a fascinating place to explore because it’s full of surprises.

One of the biggest surprises may be that it’s a great place to hold a meeting. It’s a compact city and a great walking town, and very easy to get around. It’s also a safe city and the museums are excellent. The downtown area has interesting restaurants with new ones opening regularly, and because of the city’s growing reputation as a foodie hot spot, creative young chefs are moving there from elsewhere in the country.

For attendees who have an appetite for big-time sports, Boise State University—widely considered America’s Cinderella college football team for the past 15 years—can certainly fill that appetite. In addition, the university is a center for the visual and performing arts.

Of interest to meeting planners is the fact that a $47.5 million renovation of Boise Centre (pictured) was just unveiled. It’s doubled in size from 40,000 to 80,000 sq. ft., and can now handle gatherings of up to 1,000, twice as many as before. It’s within walking distance of five hotels, 700 guest rooms and more than 100 restaurants. In addition, it’s the centerpiece of a downtown renaissance planned by city officials.

Further Reading:

Thrilling Adventures in Big Sky Country