Located in Ridgefield, Washington, about 20 miles north of Portland, Oregon, ilani attracts guests from around the region for premier gaming, entertainment and dining. Situated on 156 acres, the expansive 400,000-square-foot facility pays tribute to the heritage of the Cowlitz Tribe and beauty of the Northwest, incorporating natural elements and stunning views throughout.

Meeting & Entertainment Center

The casino’s new Meeting and Entertainment Center, opened this past April, introduced an additional 30,000 square feet of flexible, easily reconfigurable event space for the region. The new facility serves as a meeting space for groups and conventions, as well as the Cowlitz Ballroom, seating up to 2,500 guests for epic concerts, headlining comedians, world-class entertainers and more.

Equipped with full production, lighting and sound specialists as well as decorator services and a highly-trained and experienced staff, this state of the art center ensures its guests are given a unique and immersive experience. Guests can make events even more impressive by utilizing the versatile space to choose between classrooms, exhibit halls, ballroom events, and so much more.

Customized catering services are available for events small and large, giving guests impeccable service throughout any range of price points. Whether you prefer buffet style or individual customization, the catering staff will help you build the perfect menu options for your guests. Menu items range from locally caught, fresh salmon to grass fed, top sirloin and beyond.

Dining & Entertainment

ilani has something for everyone, and it is the complete ilani experience that keeps crowds returning. Inspired restaurants, boutique shops and free live entertainment combined with gaming create a dynamic getaway. Guests can recharge with some delectable bites from the likes of smashburger, Chef Jet, i.talia or Taco Cantina, or relax with friends over a sumptuous meal from Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse, Line & Lure, Rose & Thorn, Longhouse or Tom’s Urban.

After sinking your teeth into award winning cuisine at one of ilani’s restaurants, guests can celebrate over specialty drinks and live music at Muze Lounge; enjoy free live entertainment from artists such as Sister Sledge, Parmalee, and more just a few feet away from Muze’s intimate stage. If you’d rather relax over craft cocktails, stop by the 360 Bar. If you feel like indulging in some shopping, look for the latest fashions at Marshall Rousso for apparel and accessories and Ruby Blue for jewelry and gift items. ilani has something to offer everyone, true to ilani’s desire to fill life with memorable and lasting experiences.

Gaming

Inside ilani, 100,000 square feet provide visitors with the latest state-of-the-art slot and table games offerings to suit nearly any preference and any level of experience. With 2,500 of the latest slots and 75 gaming tables, including a spectacular high-limit room, guests can test their luck at blackjack, craps, roulette, and so much more.

To learn more about ilani visit www.ilaniresort.com.

Nestled on 550 acres of the Native American Santa Ana Pueblo, Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa is steeped in hundreds of years of history and culture. Where else can you find authentic cultural experiences led by tribal members like Pueblo Oven Bread Baking, Storytelling Under the Stars, jewelry making and Native dance performances? From spa treatments incorporating local indigenous ingredients to a championship golf course winding through 19 ancient cultural sites, the culture of the Tamayame will envelope you at every turn. You will feel an immediate and peaceful connection to these sacred lands the moment you arrive.

New Mexico is called the Land of Enchantment for a reason! With over 250 days of sunshine annually, it is a gorgeous destination year round. Tamaya is located beneath the Sandia Mountains next to the legendary Rio Grande River. A walk, bike or horseback ride will take you through our cottonwood forest, to secluded riverside settings and up iconic southwest mesas with stunning views of the surrounding New Mexico high desert. You’ll enjoy unparalleled tranquility, spectacular sunset vistas and clear nights with star-filled skies. And no, we are NOT Arizona! The average summer temperature in Albuquerque, the closest city, is 90 degrees. The historic city of Santa Fe, just 45 miles away, has summer temps around ten degrees lower.

The Stables at Tamaya is home to the non-profit Tamaya Horse Rehabilitation program that rescues abandoned and neglected horses in New Mexico. The Stables Director, along with her professional wranglers and volunteers, provide abandoned and surrendered horses with food, shelter, veterinary care and a foster environment that enables the rehabilitation process. Some horses provide trail rides for guests, some may be adopted out and some simply live out their lives loved and cared for at the Stables. The Horse rehab program is the perfect addition to Corporate Social Responsibility efforts with a variety of ways for groups to volunteer or sponsor a rescue horse.

Meetings at Tamaya are truly inspirational. Our unique outdoor venues like the Cottonwoods Pavilion and the House of the Hummingbird are wonderful locations for a group reception or dinner. With 54,000 feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, we can find the perfect spot for large meetings, breakouts and fun and unique events. Attendees will actually enjoy teambuilding with options like salsa making competitions, spa scrub making classes, group trail rides, private rodeos, hikes or walking meditation through the cottonwoods or one of our many cultural experiences. And all of this comes with the impeccable service and attention to detail that you’ve come to expect from Hyatt.

Take a fresh look at the dynamically changing face of Seattle with Sheraton Grand Seattle

Since the angst and energy of the 1990s grunge music revolution put Seattle firmly on most people’s radars, the city has continued to blossom with a new generation of creative minds and an exciting entrepreneurial spirit, making it a beacon for startups. The freshly renovated Sheraton Grand Seattle provides an inspiring backdrop for businesses to meet in Emerald City.

Seattle has big business cred with the charm of a small city

Seattle is a vibrant, urban destination offering culture, entertainment and the infrastructure big business demands with a walkable downtown. While not quite Silicon Valley, it is a booming tech center, home to major corporations like Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing, Nordstrom and, of course, Starbucks^®.

It’s a gateway to the great outdoors

Beyond Seattle’s thriving port, be inspired by natural beauty. The Cascade Mountains, Olympic Mountains and Mount Rainer, Puget Sound, Lake Washington and Lake Union are all in easy reach with exceptional outdoor activities like hiking, skiing and kayaking.

There’s creative energy in the city’s DNA

Beyond its music scene that spawned Nirvana and Pearl Jam, the city is abuzz with creative energy. Discover public art installations and street art in the alleys of Capitol Hill, Belltown and Fremont. The Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) designed by Frank Gehry celebrates the city’s art and music. Famed glass artist Dale Chihuly and his Pilchuck Glass School came to prominence here, and his work is on display in the Sheraton lobby.

It’s a foodie haven

Offering one of the country’s best culinary scenes, there’s no shortage of farm-to-table restaurants. Around Pike Place Market, try fresh-off-the-trawler seafood and organic produce. Don’t miss the original Starbucks, or visit their newest custom store located in the Sheraton Grand Seattle lobby. Here you’ll find chef Thierry Rautureau’s award-winning modern French restaurant, Loulay.

A gathering place that captures the essence of the city

The Sheraton Grand Seattle is right in the center of it all at 6^th and Pike, by the Washington State Convention Center, and within blocks of the best of Seattle. Its redesign captures the essence of the city, with the décor in guestrooms and public spaces inspired by the region’s natural beauty, history and artistic community. The lobby features works by popular local artists and the hotel commissioned Ginny Ruffner to create the public art on the corner of 7^th and Union.

The hotel’s 75,000 square feet (including 45 meeting rooms) of event space has been refreshed. Planners will appreciate the easy ground-floor load-in with direct ballroom access, the 21-foot-high ceilings, multiple rigging points and color-adjustable chandeliers of the 18,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom and its 1,300 capacity, naturally lit pre-function space for receptions or booths. Finally, it’s hard to beat the sweeping views on offer from the 35^th-floor Cirrus Ballroom overlooking the skyline and Puget Sound. It’s from here you’ll see Seattle’s full potential.

Host your next event at the Sheraton Grand Seattle.

SheratonGrandSeattle.com

There are plenty of good reasons to hold your event in Las Vegas, but we’ve limited them to these top 10:

1. Accommodations

With nearly 150,000 rooms, Las Vegas offers the best group value proposition in the world.

2. Convention Services

With more than 246,000 resort industry employees, Las Vegas will provide the best convention experience in the world. Our resorts host 6.6 million meeting, convention and incentive delegates, with programs from 10 to over 150,000 attendees annually.

3. Increased Attendance

The attractiveness of Las Vegas generates strong attendance for meetings. On average, attendance increases 8 percent when conventions rotate into Las Vegas. Research also shows that attendees spend more time in meetings and on the trade show floor in Las Vegas.

4. Convention Centers

Space, space and more space. Las Vegas has more than 11.5 million sq. ft. of exhibit & meeting space and is home to three of the country’s 10 largest convention venues: the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, a 2.0 million-square-foot center on the south Strip; 1.7 million-square-foot Sands Expo and Convention Center (includes 500,000 sq. ft. of The Venetian/Palazzo meeting space); and the 2.2 million-square-foot Las Vegas Convention Center.

5. Air Service

With more than 950 inbound and outbound flights per day and nonstop service from more than 130 U.S. and international cities, Las Vegas is easy on your time and budget.

6. Location, Location, Location

McCarran International Airport is conveniently located just two miles from Las Vegas Boulevard and 3.5 miles from the Las Vegas Convention Center. Nearly 150,000 hotel rooms are in Las Vegas, most within a 15-minute drive from the airport.

7. Weather

Year-round appeal: Las Vegas averages 320 days of sunshine and less than five inches of precipitation annually. This warm, dry climate is attractive for meetings throughout the year.

8. Transportation

In many cases, the proximity of Las Vegas hotels eliminates the need for transportation as delegates can walk to many destinations. When transportation is required, however, Las Vegas offers myriad options including bus, taxi, Uber/Lyft, shuttles and the country’s first automated monorail.

9. Dining

There are few other cities in the world that are able to boast about the array of dining options available, from all-you-can-eat buffets to some of the finest restaurants in the world. Many celebrity chefs have set up shop in Las Vegas restaurants, where patrons are consistently rewarded with great food. As a result, Las Vegas has options for every culinary taste.

10. Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

The LVCVA is the ultimate authority on Las Vegas. Our team of friendly Las Vegas experts has extensive tools available to assist you, including: lead distribution, attendance promotion, site inspection arrangements, familiarization tours, facility and contact information, local supplier coordination, promotion assistance, press releases/press kits, visitor brochures, guides and maps, calendar of events and shows, convention/trade show planning services, registration staffing, and destination research.

When it’s time to book your next successful meeting, it’s easy to see exactly why Vegas Means Business.

Your company is merging, or launching a new product, or celebrating the crushing of the annual sales goal. Your job is to design an off-site that brings people together, celebrates the wins and sets everyone up for more amazing advances to come. But you don’t have a lot of time to manage all the details. Relax, a quick trip to South Carolina’s Lowcountry can check all of your strategic boxes. Try one of these approaches with the executive team and feel all the tension leave your body.

Combine Business and Fresh Air for Stronger Returns. A day on the green introduces friendly competition and encourages camaraderie. Hilton Head Island is home to three premier golf courses designed by the sport’s elite visionaries. Bonus: These open spaces are certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries so fresh air and fresh ideas go with the territory.

Golf packages often include luxurious accommodations, tee times, tournament set-up and refreshments. Easy access from the board room to the putting green makes business a pleasure.

Build Teams on the Beach. Nothing gets people out of their nine-to-five routine like toes hitting sand. Whether your team-building includes piling everyone onto jet skis, into kayaks or on an epic fishing expedition, easy access to water and wide-open spaces can bring people together around shared goals.

Bonus: Lowcountry boasts comfortable weather year-round, but a visit in the summer when endangered loggerhead sea turtles climb onto shore to lay their eggs is an unforgettable sight. Incorporate beach cleanup programs in your agenda to add meaningful team effort to the equation.

Soak It Up. Meetings set against a backdrop of storied greens and crashing waves are just more productive. That is why for four decades groups have headed to Hilton Head Marriott Resort & Spa for annual meetings, incentive programs and ultimate team building. This escape north of Savannah along the scenic Atlantic Coast offers refreshing Lowcountry relaxation and all the conveniences of an urban office.

What if you could work from the most beautiful places in the world? Whether it’s a sun, snow or distant dream destination, few actions are as effective as incentive travel when it comes to improving productivity.

What if you could transform uninspired meetings into innovative team building moments? Choose between flying trapeze, a volleyball tournament or yoga on the beach… Thanks to a dedicated team of experts your group will find peace of mind and share lasting memories.

It’s time to discover the perfect balance between work and entertainment.

5 REASONS TO ORGANIZE YOUR ALL-INCLUSIVE CORPORATE EVENT WITH CLUB MED:

• WONDERFUL SETTINGS. Exceptional settings for unforgettable events. Choose from over 65 destinations worldwide spread over five continents. Have the option to buy out an Exclusive Collection Space with just 32 rooms, or a full resort ranging from 200 to 700 rooms.
• ACTIVITIES TO DEVELOP TEAM SPIRIT. We have many original activities to develop team spirit, like Club Med CREACTIVE by Cirque du Soleil… you name it, Club Med can make it happen.
• CONTROLLED BUDGET. You’ll find unparalleled value thanks to our all-inclusive pricing. No hassle, no surprises.
• TAILOR-MADE EVENTS. Meetings, incentives, conventions… each corporate event is tailor-made. You have a choice between more than 200 meeting rooms around the world.
• DEDICATED TEAM. You will have a dedicated team pre-arrival and onsite, to organize your event from A to Z.

Club Med pioneered the all-inclusive vacation for families and couples – But did you know that they’re also experts in group getaways?

Whether it’s a corporate event, an annual meeting, or an incentive trip for top performers, their dedicated meeting planners will meet and exceed your needs. With a comprehensive approach, Club Med offers customized support from planning your event, to booking flights, to managing every detail during your stay.

Looking for a white sandy beach at the edge of a majestic turquoise sea or a private luxury space dedicated to your group? Whatever destination of your choice – spectacular views, endless activities and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities await at Club Med’s all-inclusive resorts.

With over 45 years of experience hosting all kinds of special events, Club Med specializes in providing an inspirational experience for all attendees. So whether your party contains 20 people or over 1,000, take your meeting to a place with the perfect mix of wonder and leisure.

CHECK OUT SOME OF CLUB MED’S TOP DESTINATIONS FOR GROUPS

PUNTA CANA, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

What better place to get together than a Caribbean paradise? Make your gathering memorable with unique teambuilding activities like the acrobatic adventure park, Club Med CREACTIVE by Cirque du Soleil.

SANDPIPER BAY, FLORIDA

Club Med’s only U.S. resort is as beautiful as it is accessible. Located near West Palm Beach, this resort is a favorite for groups of all sizes – featuring numerous event spaces from ballrooms to boardrooms.

CANCÚN YUCATÁN, MEXICO

This newly renovated and expanded resort, offers your guests the ultimate Mexican getaway. Your groups can explore the ancient ruins at Tulum or Chichen Itza.

Meetings and gatherings can happen anywhere, but to make an event truly remarkable, you need a beautiful locale, stellar service and all-inclusive everything. Choose an amazing place to get together with Meetings & Events by Club Med.

Sparking joy in the lives of event professionals is a lot easier when the background is the lush greenery and ocean views of Maui. But event professionals still have to “orchestrate serendipity” as a new Marriott CRN/PCMA study suggests. Here are a few tips from the meeting concierges at Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa to make it easier for people to have casual collisions at your next Hawaiian meeting.

Run and Jump

Nothing releases inhibitions like jumping off a cliff. Taking part in an evening cliff diving ceremony (a tradition that dates back to 1963), or even watching it, can put attendees in the frame of mind of taking other creative risks around jumping into new projects and roles. If the idea of hurtling 30 feet into the ocean seems a little extreme, snorkeling with tropical fish and honu (green sea turtles) could also get a group in the swim of working together.

Sit Back and Relax

Another way to ease tensions is by offering a little self-care in a soothing spa environment. Massages, facials and pedicures make people feel special. By giving people options to pick their own treatments from a list of classic and island-only options (how about ‘Au ‘Au bath rituals in an open-air hydrotherapy room?), you are empowering them to make decihesions and create their own experience.

Go Native

When on island, why not try some of the traditional native Hawaiian cultural activities rooted in the feeling of Aloha or welcome? From hula and ukulele lessons to cooking classes, groups of all sizes can discover new ways to approaching problems while trying new things together.

The Chicago Southland team is ready to assist you in visiting our area for the ultimate FAM—365 days a year. You choose the day you’d like to visit and let us put together a full itinerary to meet your group’s needs for the perfect FAM in Chicago Southland.

Whether you need assistance for site visits, collateral material or simply interested in hosting an event in our area, we are ready to make your job easier—and fun!

Customized FAMs

Have specific needs for your meeting or event? We can plan a customized FAM trip for your requirements. From full-service hotel site visits to unique meeting space venues, including the Tinley Park Convention Center, and tours of teambuilding facilities, Chicago Southland understands the importance of maximizing your time while in the area.

Pick the dates that work best for you, and let our team create a customized itinerary.

A Personal Touch

Let us help you schedule one-on-one meetings with local hospitality partners. We want to help make your group’s time in the area a success, and building relationships are key.

We can help meeting groups connect the dots between local decision makers and the key players within your organization. Whether you want transportation, audio/visual, tour companies, catering, signage, trophies or other services, we are ready to help make those introductions for you.

Helpful, Event Services

Prior to holding your event in the area, Chicago Southland can assist in preparing your attendees for their visit. A variety of videos, brochures and electronic files are available for sharing information on hotels, attractions, cultural organizations, restaurants and activities in the Chicago Southland area.

We are here to help you with coordinating site inspections, presenting to your decision makers and helping you plan successful off-site events and teambuilding activities.

Let’s work together to introduce your group to Chicago Southland, and let us show you what our area has to offer your group. Contact us today for a current list of booking incentives and to receive copies of our recent planning guides, including our brand new Unique Venues & Activity Guide.

The Chicago Southland is ready to host you for the ultimate FAM—365 days a year!

Scan the QR code to meet Mary, our resident meetings expert, and learn how to make your meeting or convention in the Chicago Southland the best yet.

We all know that location matters. But some places lend themselves to unique meeting opportunities better than others just based on the surroundings. The hospitality experts at Marriott Marquis Houston—home of the world’s largest Texas-shaped rooftop lazy river—know a thing or two about connecting attendees to the destination and to each other. Here are some tips for channeling that big-city vibe without losing the down-home feeling.

Spread Out

Bigger is always better in the Lone Star State. When you have 150,000 sq. ft. of event space to work with, you can let your imagination run wild. From grand ballrooms to rooftop terraces and outdoor pavilions, take advantage of all the different ways to Texas by moving meals and sessions from room to room. Or, simply stroll across the skywalk to George R. Brown Convention Center.

Park It

When you are in the middle of everything, you can explore more without boarding a bus or getting behind the wheel. METRORail lines connect visitors to all the best Houston attractions. Explore the theater district to Discovery Green Park, Minute maid Park and Toyota Center. Find your fare at the Biggio’s Sports Bar, known for its Big Dogs and burgers, or indulge in Oaxacan cuisine at the James Beard Award-winning Xochi restaurant, run by the legendary Hugo Ortega. Your guests won’t go hungry if you give them a night on their own.

Boise, Idaho is full of surprises, but foremost among them is just how easy it is to be a visitor. Boise makes it convenient to combine business with recreation, including stellar outdoor adventure and cultural amenities because the city’s many offerings are all within minutes of each other.

Start with flights in and out of this lively, growing city: the Boise Airport offers 20 nonstop flight options, serviced by seven airlines, with connecting flights to thousands of cities worldwide. Boise makes its mark right off the bat, with locally-sourced concessions and restaurants in the concourse.

But once a visitor makes the seven-minute trip downtown, they can leave the car behind. Boise is a city that encourages its guests to bring their walking – or biking, hiking or fishing – shoes. That’s because the city’s distinctive Boise Centre convention center is smack in the middle of a downtown that has been transforming itself. The Boise Centre set the stage, with a recently-completed $47.5 million expansion. With 31 meeting rooms and 86,000 square feet of all-purpose event spaces, Boise Centre has become an ideal venue for groups of 20 to 1,600 guests. Part of the expansion is a new ballroom that seats up to 800 guests, and several new meeting rooms with views of the Boise Foothills and city skyline.

The transformation continues: Boise has more than 1,200 hotel rooms within walking distance of the Boise Centre. Recent years have seen Boise undergo a transformative boom in new hotel growth. At one point at least five new hotels were either awaiting approval or underway.

But once the meetings are over, Boise is easy to explore from these downtown destinations. For starters, hikers and bikers can explore 190 miles of singletrack trails in the Boise Foothills. Trailheads are just a few blocks out of downtown Boise.

For those more interested in a watery experience, Boise is a gateway. Public parks like Quinn’s Pond and the Boise Whitewater Park offer fun close to town. Rafts or paddleboards are available to rent just steps away from the water.

If mountain activities are of interest, Bogus Basin Recreation Area is located 16 miles from Boise, with 2,600 acres of skiable terrain and 11 lifts including three high-speed quads. The community-owned ski area is a summertime hub as well, with miles of hiking and biking trails. This year the resort added a mountain coaster ride, to give anyone the chance to fly down the mountain.

If your activities leave you hungry or thirsty, hold on; Boise’s downtown is bustling with culinary activity, whether it’s the proliferation of craft beer makers – 19 at last count in downtown Boise alone – or the dozens of exciting meal options from award-winning restaurants and food trucks. And don’t forget Idaho wines; Idaho’s burgeoning wine industry means many restaurants feature Idaho varieties. Boise’s foodie revival is just like the rest of this city’s qualities: Unexpected and surprisingly easy to discover.