Minnesota Venues: Above and Beyond

When planning an event, site selection clearly tops the list of critical decisions.  The theme, the entertainment – and almost everything else – often stem from the chosen venue.  So, what are facilities doing to stand apart and earn your business?  They are offering a host of extras that will make your guests’ experience more pleasurable and your job easier.   

Mini Vacations

What better way to attract attendees to your events than offering them a vacation as part of the package?  Many of Minnesota’s resorts and conference centers have built their businesses around hosting multi-day events that can double as a vacation, encouraging business guests to bring the whole family along. In fact, resorts such as Craguns and Ruttgers Bay Lake Lodge provide children’s camps to keep the kids busy while the adults conduct business, and Arrowwood Resort has introduced The Big Splash Indoor Waterpark to entertain the whole family in all seasons.

Minnesota’s resorts are also always enhancing the outdoor entertainment options for which they are known. Resorts like Sugar Lake Lodge and Breezy Point connect guests with local fishing guides to improve their sporting experience, and Breezy Point recently added a fleet of 20-foot pontoons to its boat marina. 

Casinos are another good option to help your guests escape, with meeting space, guest rooms and fun in one location – and entertainment at casinos goes far beyond gaming.  For example, Jackpot Junction Casino is home to the Dacotah Ridge Golf Club and also regularly hosts national entertainment acts.

Even single-day events can serve as a get-away when planned well. Options like Paradise Charter Cruises or the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum offer a unique experience during which your guests will have no choice but to step away from everyday life. 

Top Technology

Technology is now an essential part of almost every meeting.  Many venues are investing in elaborate audiovisual systems and teams or are partnering with AV firms to provide these services. 

Some high-tech venues, like the Great Clips Imax Theatre, are designed perfectly for a memorable presentation, such as a product launch or annual meeting, projected on the big screen.

Wired guest rooms are a must-have for many business audiences as well.  Numerous facilities, like the St. Paul Hotel, now provide complimentary high-speed Internet.  

Center Of Action

For many events, location is a driving force. Guests want high entertainment without going far. Venues like The Depot in downtown Minneapolis provide guests with onsite activities, including a waterpark and ice rink, as well as event space, without leaving the heart of the city.

Likewise, the Mall of America offers countless entertainment options coupled with event facilities in which your guests would never know they are in a mall – all right by the airport.

Many suburbs offer convenient venues as well, with more entertainment than you may expect.  For example, the Maple Grove Community Center offers a variety of meeting rooms along with a pool, indoor playground, gym, ice arena and skate park, all of which are available for private parties. 

Pampered Guests

Another current trend is providing guests with an experience of relaxation and pampering.  Many hotels and resorts have added elaborate onsite spa facilities, such as the new Darling Reflections Spa at Arrowwood Resort, which offers special rates for conference guests.

Elegant venues, like the Saint Paul Hotel, are known for surrounding guests with luxury.  Nothing says relaxation like the classic combination of perfectly prepared cuisine, gorgeously decorated rooms and impeccable service.

When choosing the site for your next event, look a little deeper to find the best option to delight your guests.  You may be surprised about the extras that lie beneath the surface.