The historic French Lick Resort and Casino in southern Indiana is one of the most classically beautiful and genuinely unique conference centers in the world!

Its history is fascinating:  John Dillinger had his own suite here at one time.  FDR did, too, and in fact came here regularly to enjoy the Pluto Water Spas!  (Google it; it’s amazing!)

People come here for many reasons: the golf courses, the casinos, and frankly, just to stay in the hotel and gawk.

Gawk at what?  The sights, both in and out of the building.

You’ll find, at the French Lick Resort and Casino, fantastic catering, restaurants, bars, spas, golf, swimming, formal gardens, and  ballrooms, among other things.

Did I say “golf?”  I should have said “PGA Championship!”

Don’t let the vintage look fool you:  your conference/convention/getaway/reception/trade show will have access to the most modern, up-to-date facilities imaginable.

Take a walk around historic French Lick itself.  Pretty much any person you meet will have interesting tales to share about the town’s origins, it’s past (WOW!) and the present, which is a recreation of much of that past.

The hotel is also just a stone’s throw from the historic West Baden Dome, which will be a post in and of itself.

Take the train ride.  Drive down to Patoka Lake.

Your attendees will beg to come back again for next year’s function.

P.S.  Dry-land midwestern French Lick is in Indiana, and Indiana law states that no casino can exist here unless it’s floating on water, hence all the riverboat casinos in the vicinity.  However, the French Lick Resort and Casino got around that law, quite legally.  Come on down and see for yourself.  It’s really awesome.

Check out the tiled floors.

If you are looking for a conference center, convention center, or trade show location that is paradise, inside the building and out – especially out – look no further than the Ramada Plaza on Nag’s Head Beach.

Nag’s Head, North Carolina, is part of the breathtakingly beautiful Outer Banks, home of the planet’s loveliest beaches.  Some of the most famous lighthouses of our time are here, along with much of our country’s pirate history.  That’s right:  I said PIRATE.  Ocracoke Island, also part of Nags Head, was home to the notorous Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard. 

The Ramada Plaza itself is a place of comfort, convenience, and plenty of room for whatever function you are planning, be it a reunion, party, reception, retreat, wedding, conference, convention, or trade show – of almost any size, too.  Small?  Medium?  Large?  Extra Large?  the Nag’s Head Beach Ramada Plaza can accommodate your every need.

Just look at that view from this conference room!

All of this can be found at the Ramade Plaza Nags Head Beach Hotel, 1701 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Kill Devil HIlls/Nags Head, NC 27948

Contact information: Phone: 252-441-2151    FAX:  252-441-1830

E-mail:  info@ramadainnnagshead.com

After your meetings, dinners, etc. are over, your attendees can step out of the hotel onto the beach, and experience the wonder that is the Outer Banks. There are many historic places within a short drive from the hotel, too. The Lost Colony of Roanoke and Kill Devil Hills (where the Wright Brothers flew that first airplane) are two of many fascinating places to visit.  Drive a little south onto the ferry at the southern tip of the islands, and your car and you will be on your way to Ocracoke Island, where you can eat at the famous Howard’s Pub, visit the British Cemetary, and explore the pirate museum, among other things.

The Kentucky International Convention Center, right in the heart of downtown Louisville, is large, lush, and beautiful to behold.

I’ve never actually seen a convention center with so many rooms, in fact.  The Kentucky International Convention Center has over 300,000 square feet of space, a 30,000 square foot ballroom and 52 meeting rooms, and all under one roof.

WiFi, and plenty of outlets, too.  I know, because I’ve personally been to two education conferences and an electronics trade show here.

The venue’s many and varied world-class facilities may be found if you click here.

Handy parking, too!  And, of the 10,00 hotel and motel rooms in Louisville, 2,00 of them are within walking distance of the convention center. 

Kentucky International Convention Center

221 Fourth Street

Louisville, KY  40202

Phone:  (502) 595-4381 or 1-800-701-5831

Fax:  (502) 595-3675

For ticket office information call:  (502) 595-3555

If the Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco looks familiar, it might be because this hotel is in more movies than any other American hotel!

While the outside of the Westin St. Francis is pure Hollywood, the inside is pure vintage.  Tall ceilings, huge elevators covered with brass and carved wood, staircases that just stepped out of a Bette Davis movie. . . Walking into the Westin St. Francis Hotel is like walking into a time machine.  Where else can you find a pink marble staircase?

Make no mistake, though; the venue might appear to be a blast from the past, but it’s one of the most technologically up-to-date venues you’ll ever see.

Each meeting room that I saw was HUGE, and fully equipped with enough electrical outlets for the huge masses of conference participants when I was there.  The building’s WiFi was easily connected and the signals were strong and reliable.  This is of vital importance for almost any kind of conference, convention, trade show, meetup, reunion, wedding, etc.

San Francisco’s famous cable cars stop right outside the door of the Westin St. Francis.  Fisherman’s Wharf and Chinatown are within easy walking distance, too.

Reservations: (800) Westin 1 | General Inquiries: (415) 397-7000 | Meetings, Banquets, &Weddings : (415) 774-0126 | General Sales: (415) 774-0112 | Fax: (415) 774-0124

The beautiful Chicago Sheraton Hotel and Towers is the perfect venue for your conference, convention, trade show, or any other collection of people!

I was there only last year at the huge BlogHer conference, and the meeting rooms were large, lovely, and equipped with comfortable chairs and tables.  Most important of all, in this day and age of technology, each room had plenty of outlets!

This venue also has WiFi throughout – both in the conference and restaurant areas AND in the hotel rooms.

This brings me to another point:  A conference venue is always best when the building is also a hotel!  It’s awkward and expensive if your attendees have to hail a cab to get from their hotel to the conference venue.

The Chicago Sheraton Hotel and Towers is right in the middle of downtown Chicago: handy to everything!

301 East North Water Street Chicago, IL 60611
Main 312-464-1000 Fax 312-464-9140

Click here for a virtual tour of the Chicago Sheraton Hotel and Towers.

The Greater Richmond Convention Center, located at 403 N. 3rd St, Richmond, VA 23219, is only minutes away from the airport, and right in the heart of downtown.

Event planners, click here for information.

And, from the convention center’s website, here is what it has to say about what you might find at the Greater Richmond Convention Center:

The Greater Richmond Convention Center is Virginia’s largest exposition and meeting facility. The Center brings hundreds of thousands of visitors into the metropolitan area each year.

Whether it’s large or small – simple or multi-faceted, our customer service and attention to detail will ensure that your event will surpass your every expectation.

Today (Friday) through Sunday, in fact, if you go to the Greater Richmond Convention Center, you will find a wine-tasting convention with wine tasting from 65 state wineries, food and cheese sampling, free crystal wine glass, chef demonstrations, and more!

Chicago’s Navy Pier is a fabulous convention center, mall, carnival, theater, riverfront, and you name it.  One thing it is not is a hotel, but there are many fine hotels within walking distance of the Pier.

From the Navy Pier website, here are its handy FAQ:

Frequently Asked Questions about Event Planning

6. Where do buses stage at Navy Pier?
There is no staging at Navy Pier. Our marshalling yard is located 31st Parking Lot (one block west of Lake Shore Drive. As an alternative, buses can stage on Elston Avenue between Potomac Avenue and LeMoyne Street.
Additional locations:

• 1200 South Canal Street (except Sundays) – parking available only on the east side of
  Canal Street, south of Roosevelt Road
• 420 South Franklin Street
• Clybourn Avenue at Division Street
• McCormick Place Marshalling Yard
  Click here for Motorcoach information.
  
  7. What are the height restrictions for the East and West Garages?
  The West garage is 6ft. 3 in., and East garage is 7ft. 9in.

  8. Where can I park when I drive to Navy Pier?
  Navy Pier’s on-site parking garages accommodate 1,740 vehicles. Please click here Parking, for detailed information on Navy Pier garages and prices.

  9. Where can I get a taxi?
  There is a taxi line formed throughout the day at the front of the Pier. There are cab phones available at Entrance 1 and 2.
  
  10. How do I get to Navy Pier?
  Click here for information about “Getting Here!”

  11. I have an event in Festival Hall or the Grand Ballroom, where should I be dropped off?
  Once you have arrived to Navy Pier, there is only one road leading you toward the East End, proceed down the North Dock to Entrance 2, which is the farthest drop off point at Navy Pier.
  
  12. If I wanted to buy Pier Park tickets in conjunction with my event, who do I need to speak to?
  Your Sales or Event Manager will gladly assist you in securing group tickets for Pier Park.

  13. Does the trolley service run all year long?
  Yes. Trolley hours vary based on time of year or events held at Navy Pier. Please click here to view current hours.

  14. How do I report or claim lost property?
  Click here to complete the claim form. We will contact you within 48 hours during the standard business work week (Monday through Friday).

  15. Is there a general information number for Navy Pier?
  Our general number is 312-595-PIER or 1-800-595-PIER.
  
  16. Where is the food court?
  Located at the front of the Pier in the Family Pavilion.

There are many different venues within the Navy Pier.

The beautiful Walter E. Washington Convention Center is brand new as far as the usual D.C. building is concerned, but its history is long and interesting.

The city’s first convention center was built in 1874, and a second floor was added in 1893.  This conference hall served D.C. for a little over fifty years!  The present Washington Convention Center opened in 2003.

Click here to see the center’s interactive map.

Alaska is one of the most beautiful of all our fifty states.  What better place to hold a conference, convention, or trade show?  And just look at that gorgeous venue!  (picture by Ken Graham)

This lovely convention center is located at 600 W. Seventh Ave., Anchorage, AK, 99501.  Phone: (907)264-2850

The Alaska Big Wildlife website has this to say about the  Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center

The Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center is Anchorage’s newest, state-of-the-art convention facility. When the doors opened in October 2008 Anchorage’s civic and convention capacity was increased by more than 300 percent.

With views of the spectacularly beautiful Chugach mountain range, the convention center and its meeting rooms enhance the cultural experience both indoors and out, as well as provide the functionality that is expected from a premier meeting facility.

Visitors are greeted in the grand lobby by 95-foot ceilings and a 65-foot shimmering, cascading sculpture that depicts birds, mammals and sea creatures of the local region.

The 25,332 square foot ballroom has the capacity for 140 booths, 1,800 banquet seats and 2,867 theatre style. The exhibit hall can accommodate 278 trade show booths, 3,300 banquet seating and 5,000 theatre space. The flexible space expands as needed, providing 10,372 square feet of meeting rooms.

Some fun facts about the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center:

• Idlughet (ee-DLOW-ghut) Exhibit Hall is 50,000 sq. ft. – equivalent to a football field minus the end zones
  
• 1,200 cubic yards of concrete was used to build the Dena’ina Center – the equivalent of a five-foot wide sidewalk from Anchorage to Wasilla (approximately 43 miles)
  
• 2,600 tons of structural steel is included in the Dena’ina Center – the equivalent of 1,200 pick-up trucks
  
• Construction materials used in building the Dena’ina Center include 675 tons of steel rebar, 40,000-square-feet of concrete panels, 20 acres of drywall, 135 miles of wire feeder and branch wire, 80 toilet partitions and 1.25 acres of insulated metal panels
  
• The large-scale size of “Constellation,” the main lobby artwork, required additional sprinkler heads be installed
  
• The Dena’ina Center décor includes $160,000 in plants, most of which are live
  
• $2.7 million in furnishings outfit the Dena’ina Center, including 4,500 banquet chairs
  
• One of the two service elevators is large enough to hold an African elephant; the two public elevators travel at 350-feet per minute
  
• Shimmer Screen Beads cover the upper walls in the ballroom, gently swaying as the air circulates; center executives joked they were installing a “glorified key chain”
  
• The state-of-the-art kitchen includes a flight-type dishwasher that can clean and sanitize up to 15,700 plates per hour; an additional conveyor dishwasher can accommodate up to 8,000 glasses per hour
  
• Two “on demand” kitchen coffee machines are capable of brewing up to 9,576 cups per hour and two “steam-jacket” kettles have a total capacity of 100 gallons of soup or sauce
  
• Refrigeration capacity at the Dena’ina Center will allow for up to 10,000 boxed lunches to be prepared and stored for next day delivery
  
• The kitchen is equipped with two, double-sided, conveyor belt type “dish up” stations. Heated plates move along an assembly line as hot foods are placed on them. A photo-optic activated shut-off system keeps plates from flying off the line.
  
• The outdoor terrace, on the ballroom level, can accommodate 900 guests and has a heated floor for year-round use
  
• Heated sidewalks surround three sides of the Dena’ina Center and along F Street providing comfortable connectivity between the Anchorage Convention Centers
  
• The Dena’ina name Tikahtnu (tee-KAHT-new) means “Big Water River” or “saltwater.” There are less than 50 Dena’ina speakers left. Naming this building the Dena’ina Center honors Anchorage’s first inhabitants. It is hoped that the building’s name will inspire more people to learn the language.
  
• The Dena’ina people, the original inhabitants of the Cook Inlet area, settled in the upper Cook Inlet basin at the end of the last Ice Age (500 – 1000 AD). They believe in leaving minimal imprint on the land.
  The Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau’s (ACVB) mission is to attract and serve visitors to the Municipality of Anchorage as a Destination Marketing Organization (DMO). ACVB’s marketing functions are funded by one-third of the bed tax collected by lodging associations. One-third goes to the Municipality’s general fund, a contribution established in 1978, and one-third goes to the construction and annual maintenance costs of the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center and the William A. Egan Civic & Convention Center. ACVB receives no state or federal funds. Explore www.Anchorage.net for more information.

Oh, and just check out these facilities!

For more information visit www.anchorageconventioncenters.com

There are many conference/trade show venues that are off the beaten track of large cities, and the Black Bear Inn Conference Center is one of them!  You can follow the Black Bear Inn Conference Center and Suits on Twitter, and on Facebook.

Black Bear Inn Conference Center & Suites ~ 4 Godfrey Drive~ Orono, Maine 04473 ~ (207) 866-7120

From its own website, here is more information and some stats, to help you make up your mind as to where to hold your trade show or convention:

Meeting Rooms and Banquet Facilities

Spacious Conference Rooms – the Black Bear Inn Conference Center & Suites features 7,560 square feet of modern meeting space along with 68 deluxe overnight rooms. Over the past several years the Black Bear Inn has handled hundreds of conferences, receptions, corporate meetings and group tour meals. Meeting planners from the University of Maine regularly use the Black Bear Inn for conferences and meetings.We are one of the state’s ADA approved hotels, and all areas of the hotel are accessible for the physically disabled. The hotel owns or has access to all of the most modern audiovisual equipment that you will need to make your presentation a success.

Whether you are planning a function for 30 or 300 the Black Bear Inn Conference Center & Suites is the perfect location for your next event.
Let us take the worry out of your next meeting.

Please download the Banquet Menu HERE

Conference Services

• Menu planning assistance Audiovisual assistance
• Off-site activity coordination
• Business services including computer access, photocopying and fax services
• Catering assistance
• Spacious Meeting Rooms

Meeting Rooms

Our Pink Room located on our main level has 3,600 square feet of meeting space when completely opened. The Pink Room can accommodate up to 275 people comfortably for a banquet. The room can also be divided into three smaller rooms if necessary. This feature offers great breakout space for corporate meetings and conventions.

Our Blue Room located on our lower level has 3,960 square feet of meeting space and has a built-in dance floor for weddings and social functions.

In addition to the above meeting space the Black Bear Inn also has several rooms that can be used for meetings of 10-12 people.

Meeting Room Layouts

Below are some of our many Amenities …

• Black Bear Café
• Complimentary Wine Reception from 5 pm to 6 pm
  Monday – Thursday
• Complimentary Continental Breakfast
• Free WI-FI throughout the property (Check out our upgraded system)
• Free local newspaper available Monday through Friday
• Meeting and banquet facilities, 7,560 sq ft
• Front desk open 24 hours
• Children under 12 free with adult   
• Elevator
• Guest laundry
• Exercise facility
• Sauna
• Fax and photocopy service
• Safe deposit box
• Ice machines
• Vending machines
• RV or truck parking
• Free parking
• Handicap Accessible