Put a little fun in your next Function
Utilize your local convention and visitors bureau staff to explore unique venues and experiential locations for your next meeting, training, retreat or team building activity. The staff will share with you unique meeting sites and playful activities to enhance your next meeting.
Enhance the traditional meeting location of the Starved Rock Lodge and Conference Center (Utica) with a nature hike, walking tour and/or wine tasting. Take your conference participants on a guided hike. With an insider's point of view you'll learn about the park's history, take in the natural beauty of Tonti or LaSalle Canyon and possibly view magnificent seasonal waterfalls. Oh, I almost forgot to mention the homemade fudge as an afternoon snack - instead of the traditional cookies and soda snack break.
End your meeting at one of the three area wine tasting rooms: August Hill Winery & Illinois Sparkling Company for the Illinois' best wines, Starved Rock Marketplace for their signature red, or Illinois River Winery for one of world's finest Bordeaux-style blends that carry the Meritage name. For a unique venue in the Starved Rock area, book your board retreat at the historic Hegeler Carus Mansion (LaSalle) and enjoy catering from Uptown Grill (LaSalle). The grand staircase leading to the Mansion is a picture-perfect setting for a wedding too.
A popular vacation theme for International visitors is traveling the Mother Road. But consider getting your meeting "kicks on Route 66" for your next training session or staff outing. Utilize meeting space at the Joliet Area Historical Museum and incorporate team-building activities in the Route 66 Welcome Center. The Center's most famous visitor Paul McCartney probably snapped pictures with Blues Brothers and sent virtual Route 66 postcards. Chicagoland Speedway and Route 66 Raceway are great venues to hold your meeting/reunion and enjoy a thrilling motor experience.
For a unique venue along Route 66, book your annual meeting on the stage of the historic Rialto Square Theatre (Joliet) and enjoy the backstage access of the green room with signatures from Lilly Tomlin, Elvis Presley, Joan Rivers, Liberace, Bill Cosby and more.
The Rialto Square Theatre's esplanade, or inner lobby, is designed after the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles near Paris, France. The arch between the esplanade and rotunda area has been carefully copied from the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. In the center is the head of the goddess Athena. Other Route 66 locations include White Fence Farm, Joliet Area Historical Museum, Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, Polk-A-Dot Drive In, and the dinner theater in Pontiac. Pontiac has several downtown museums including the Route 66 Hall of Fame Museum - but don't leave town without a picture in front of the world famous Route 66 Mural.
The historic Illinois and Michigan Canal communities boast many picturesque downtown locations for small meetings and retreats. Get away from the hustle and bustle of the downtown or urban site and settle in with the locals. In Lockport, a canal community, book your meeting or training session at the historic Gaylord Building.
The site includes a public museum, a pet-friendly restaurant and is within walking distance of historic and recreation sites: the original Canal Commissioner's Headquarters which today houses the Will County Historical Museum's most extensive collection of area public land and genealogical records; Lockport's Lincoln Landing, an official historic site designated by the Federal Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission; and the historic Illinois & Michigan Canal tow path with biking and walking trails to neighboring communities.
For a unique venue along the I&M Canal in Lockport, book your conference reception at the Norton Building (1848) which houses an Art Museum of the state of Illinois. Tallgrass restaurant received three stars Chicago Tribune's Phil Vittel and was named one of the top ten "dreaming dining destinations" by Yahoo travel.
Jump on the craft beer craze and enjoy Tangled Roots Brewing Company's Lone Buffalo Restaurant's (Ottawa) private dining/meeting room. Before or after your meeting participate in an organized tour of the famous cooper kettles and brewing process from the Brewmaster. Ottawa has a great downtown and on the Illinois River.
If traditional meeting locations are of interest, book at the Bolingbrook Golf Club or Holiday Inn Bolingbrook and enjoy great restaurants, shopping and golfing within meeting of the meeting conclusion.
So, compliment the traditional conference center or meeting facility with a unique and unusual meeting location for your next function. Contact your local convention and visitors bureau staff for the recommendations on the secret sites and playful activities in the area. The combination of content and a thrilling experience will unify your group, create buzz and rejuvenate your employees thus increasing productivity and financial gain from your function.
For more possibilities in the I&M Canal Heritage Corridor, visit HeritageCorridorCVB.com when planning your next meeting, board retreat, training and/or conference. Remember, adding an element of surprise and activity will put a little FUN in your next FUNction.
• Bob Navarro is president and CEO of the I&M Canal Heritage Corridor Convention and Visitors Bureau. The CVB generates economic impact to the communities and counties along the Illinois and Michigan Canal through tourism marketing and development.HeritageCorridorCVB.com