If you’re looking for a central location for a meeting, conference, seminar, retreat or other such gathering in the western part of North Carolina, Lutheridge Conference Center & Retreat offers a unique opportunity for you and your guests. Located in Arden, NC, the venue is just 2 hours from both Charlotte and Knoxville, and only 3 hours away from Atlanta. The Asheville/Hendersonville airport is only 3 minutes from this wonderful retreat! Nestled in the mountains and featuring its very own lakeside lodge, this facility is comfortable in its rustic styling, while offering all the modern conveniences. One other thing that sets them apart from many such facilities is that Lutheridge is available between August 1st and May 30th, 10 months out of the year! With such broad availability, privacy and versatility, it’s no wonder that Lutheridge has swiftly become the premier conference center in western North Carolina.

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Up to 500 attendees can be welcomed to this North Carolina retreat during the day. There are facilities to accommodate up to 200 overnight guests. A new 500-seat auditorium offers state-of-the-art audio and video technologies. There is also a classroom environment, which can seat up to 250. In all, there are 12 meeting and event rooms available, allowing the attendees to break up into smaller groups when that’s appropriate. Of course, teleconferencing and Internet are available in the meeting spaces.

Among the other amenities offered is a 41-foot “Challenge Tower” which includes a climbing wall zip line dismount. There’s also a rope course. Both of these are designed to facilitate and improve team building. Another climbing wall is also available for training, recreation, and team building. The staff is well versed in such methods, and able to lead the activities. Other staff-led activities can include educational games centering on environmental games and concerns. Within the retreat’s 160 acres are ample trails to allow for quiet introspection time. Basketball and volleyball courts await you and your guests as well. Certified lifeguards watch out over those swimming in the pool or lake. There’s no end to the activities you and your guests can participate in, from relaxing times to hard challenges.

The Lutheridge reputation is growing by leaps and bounds. Guests leave glowing testimonials, praising the staff’s first class efforts. This very unique venue can offer you and your guests a very comfortable and pleasant gathering without costing a sheer fortune. The food is delicious; the facilities are peaceful and comfortable. What more could you ask for? Contact Lutheridge today to ask any questions you may still have, and help arrange for an extraordinary gathering!

Twenty minutes south of Ottawa, about the same from the New York State border, lies the beautiful University of Guelph’s Kemptville Campus. Founded in 1917, this venerable agricultural science college is nestled atop 1200 acres of breathtakingly beautiful campus. Such a convenient location combines with this picturesque country setting to make an ideal and unique venue for meetings, conferences, sports competitions, seminars, workshops — ceremonies and events of any kind!

Getting to the campus is easy. Just fly in to the Ottawa International airport and enjoy a 25 minute drive through the beautiful countryside. Locals will find it’s just 15 miles from Ogdensburg, 30 miles from Brockville!

Kemptville Campus is able to offer your group meeting space throughout the year. Overnight stays (for up to 440 attendees) are only possible during May, June, July and August, as the students are in the dorms the rest of the year. If your group requires accommodations during the school year, there are local hotels in the area. Either way, you and up to 600 of your guests are sure to be delighted by the around-the-clock service Kemptville is able to offer.

There are 25 classroom style meeting places, and a theatre that seats up to 500 total people. The campus enjoys state-of-the-arts audio and video capabilities. You’ll find high speed Internet in all meeting and guest rooms. Each of the 25 meeting rooms has a multi-media projector. The campus can provide teleconferencing and video conferencing as well. There are two computer labs for classroom or guests’ personal use. Topping the suite off is a full-service business center, to ensure that your party wants for nothing during your stay.

Dining can be formal or informal, and full-service is provided either way. There is a very reasonable rate per person for three hot meals per day. Custom catering is also available, at very reasonable rates!

With so many features and options, every modern convenience and technology at your disposal, it’s hard to imagine wanting anything more than the wonderful facilities offered by the University of Guelph’s Kemptville Campus. The location makes for an especially good choice for events that will bring attendees from both the U.S. and Canadian sides nearest Ottawa.

Contact the Guest Services department today to check on availability or discuss your group’s needs in greater detail. You’ll find the folks at the University of Guelph friendly and capable. Your guests will be glad you did as they discover Kemptville’s warm hospitality!

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Most conference facilities work towards getting you to book your event with them. The University of Nebraska in Lincoln looks at this from a markedly different perspective: Their goal is to have every attendee thinking about when they’ll next be able to come back. In that perspective lies all the difference, and perhaps a bit of an explanation, because that is the difference between the ordinary and the excellence that you and your guests will experience at the University of Nebraska.

The location in eastern Nebraska makes this venue convenient to residents of Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Illinois, Missouri, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Minnesota, Wyoming and Colorado, which are all within a day’s drive. In fact, every summer the U of N hosts some 12,000 people from all over the world. To be sure, many of them simply fly in to Lincoln or Omaha.

The capacity of the university is impressive. 13,595 people can be accommodated during the day, while 5000 overnight guests can find lodgings on campus between May and August. The auditorium holds 7500, and the others can find seats in the 200 other meeting and event rooms, including a single classroom environment that seats 850 people at once!

Technology is key to any conference these days. The university has the ability to provide video teleconferencing, satellite links, computer labs, AV presentation equipment, and capable in-house staff to set it all up and see to it that it’s operating smoothly.

The UNL’s catering is quite capable, provides outstanding quality and service as standard fare. If you or your attendees have special desires or requirements, the catering staff is happy to accommodate those requests. Customized rate packages can be provided for the catering aspect, and for the entire conference as well.

In all things, the UNL exists to serve. Give them a call. Find out how good it is to book your event with a conference center which has the experience and perspective to earn your business — for both this event and your next as well!

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Is your group considering a National Park for your next retreat, meeting, or event? Yosemite National Park is without a doubt one of America’s greatest national treasures. The vistas have inspired and enthralled artist and everyman alike. Today over 3 million people come each year to visit, learn and explore. Few realize that they can book this magnificent location to host their event, but Yosemite is actually quite accommodating. You’ll find exquisite lodging, world-class amenities, fine and casual dining, catering services, and as much (or as little) of the great outdoors as you like, all in this Eighth Wonder of the World!

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You’ll be pleased to know that hosting an event in Yosemite doesn’t mean roughing it. Stunning views compliment rustic styling, yet guests lack for nothing when it comes to quality service and the technologies necessary for a truly exceptionally successful gathering. There are 4-diamond AAA-rated hotels, plenty of award-winning restaurants offering everything from fine dining to snacks, and even an all-you-can-eat buffet! What’s more, there are locally grown, organic foods available throughout the park.

If hiking and playing amongst the sweeping spires of nature and breathtaking waterfalls, canyons, plateaus and all the rest isn’t entertainment enough, you’ll find live music and other treats as well. There are even special annual events, such as the Bracebridge Event, a December holiday tradition of Renaissance celebrated since 1927! You and your guests will certainly have more to do than time to do it in, when you hold your event at beautiful Yosemite National Park!

How big of a gathering can the park handle? It’s a very big park, but there some Yosemite event facilities considerations. The largest indoor theatre-style seating holds 600. There are beds for 1200. The largest classroom-style indoor facilities seats 250… and then there’s the great outdoors. WiFi? Of course, and AV equipment as well.

Location is one reason Yosemite is one of the top National Park meeting and retreat venues. Just 30 miles from Fresno, CA, 180 miles from San Francisco, or 300 mile drive from Los Angeles. It’s only a short drive from Fresno or Yosemite International Airport. It may be a very little bit less convenient than the downtown center of a major city, but the tranquility and sights more than make up for the difference!

Facilities for Yosemite National Park retreats, conferences, weddings, events of most any kind at all, are available from mid-October through mid-April every year. Smaller gatherings may be welcomed during the summer tourist months as well. It’s hard to imagine a venue that’s more unique than majestic Yosemite National Park!

Nestled on private forest land at the edge of a state forest, this stunning and fully renovated country inn enjoys scores of hiking trails and a pair of lakes for their guests to enjoy. The rooms are expansive, and feature private baths. The cooking is exquisite, and the staff is sincerely dedicated to providing you with exactly what you need to unwind, relax and focus on what you need to get done, whatever that might be.

As gorgeous as the inn and surrounding woodlands are, the hustle and bustle of the city will seem like it’s a million miles away… but the Guest House is actually a lot more convenient than that! Just about halfway between New York and Boston, (a couple of hours) or just 35 miles from Hartford, CT (even less from New Haven or New London), this magnificent retreat location is far more conveniently located than one could ever hope for! Fly in to Hartford and you’ll be unpacking your bags in under an hour!

Whether you want to explore during the summer, wax introspective in the fall, enjoy the snow of winter, or revel in the wondrous springtime, Guest House will be there for you, all year around. But of course, it’s too good a place to keep all to yourself. You can invite up to 90 of your closest friends or associates to stay overnight. The theatre-style event room seats 100, while the largest of the classrooms seats 40. In all, there are 4 meeting chambers, and then there are the rooms and lodge areas, of course.

Technology? Wifi throughout the buildings, LCD projectors where appropriate. Didn’t bring your laptop? No problem. There’s a PC available for guests. The Guest House is truly one of the top East Coast business retreat locations.

Here’s one of the best parts: The meals are all delicious, home made – from scratch – with locally grown organic ingredients whenever possible! Not just basics either, but mouth-watering taste treats from a very capable and creative kitchen! Vegetarians and vegans, don’t worry. The cook will prepare meals especially for you as well! After the meal is over, enjoy your dessert while sipping on a freshly brewed cup of fair-trade coffee.

One of the great things about this sylvan retreat is that it is so versatile! You can spend the entire time indulging in R&R, have think-tank meetings, do team-building, or develop a new gameplan. Whatever your desire or need, Guest House Retreat & Conference Center exists to help you make it happen.

Venues this ideal and unique aren’t at all common. It may be one of the newest Connecticut retreat facilities, but you can count on it becoming very popular very fast! Give them a call now, check on availability and schedule your group’s gathering. A place this splendid is just too awesome to keep it all to yourself!

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There are several convention centers in Denver. Ours was at the Qwest Learning & Conference Center, a scenic location in Lakewood. We visit a lot of convention centers throughout the year. The Qwest remains one of my favorites. The clear, crisp feel of the place is both modern and comfortable, and the facility lives up to their motto, “Where Nature Meets Technology.”

One day when we broke for lunch, one of the locals suggested a Brazilian restaurant called the Rodizio Grill. Gauchos carry platters and skewers of freshly cooked meats to your table, where you take your pick from the many delicious dishes. When you want more to choose from, turn your “cue” green-side up. When you want a break, turn it red-side up — or they’ll keep on showing up and offering you more! A definite must-go.

The Denver Art Museum is a truly eclectic experience. Temporary exhibits to compliment their permanent collection. We caught “The Psychadelic Experience,” which displays some 300 posters, album covers and such from the 60′s and 70′s. It was really amazing to see what was popular at the time. Of course, the static collection is fascinating as well. One could easily spend several days there checking out the African, Asian, American Indian and Oceanic collections. Be sure to visit this extraordinary Colorado museum!

Another rare treat in Denver is the U.S. Treasury’s Mint, one of three in the country. The tour (free admission) includes both the current technologies involved in minting our money, and the history of the Mint. How often do you get to see money being made? Reservations are highly advised, and the facility is wheelchair and handicap accessible. People with special needs are encouraged to visit, and accommodated.

Denver’s restaurants seem especially fond of making unusual environments to dine in as well. No matter what your favorite kind of food is, you’ll find it in the Mile High City, served with rare flair! The Adams Mystery Playhouse is one such place. A true treat, it starts off as a cocktail party and takes the guests on a wild romp that includes singing, impressions and a whole slew of hilarious improvisational acting that you’re as much a part of as you like! I can’t remember when I had so much fun!

There’s so much to see and do in Denver! It really is impossible to take it all in during one trip. I’ll be making a point of getting back soon to continue the grand tour!

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There are many attractive features the make Champlain College one of the top Vermont conference centers. Atmosphere matters, of course, but there’s a lot more to it than that. Catering is as available as computer labs – both Mac and PC!

It’s so many little things that make for a pleasant experience for you and your guests. You’re after a place that is both comfortable and memorable; Champlain College provides just that, and leaves you wanting for nothing. When attendees aren’t otherwise occupied, there’s a golf course and driving range, the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory, the Magic Hat Brewery… and the Church Street Marketplace is a pleasant walk of less than half a mile. There you can shop, enjoy a meal, or check out some of the live entertainment. The Echo Lake Aquarium is less than a mile off. Tours of the lake can be taken on a freshwater cruise ship, which is another unique experience for your guests. No matter what, your guests are sure to find something they like for recreation in the Burlington area.

When looking for a tranquil location without sacrificing modern conveniences, Lake Champlain College makes for a great choice for just about any event. The staff is both friendly and capable, and the combination of charm and modern is found just about everywhere you look within the building itself. There’s a semi-circular room, for example, with blonde wood beams fanned out above to make a cozy, natural meeting hall for smaller groups, while tiered seating in the lecture hall accommodates larger groups. Consider Champlain College for your next conference or meeting. You and your guests will be glad you did. Visit the Champlain College Page

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Sunny Miami, Florida, is the nation’s southernmost metropolis, and home to an unusual and eclectic melting pot of cultures. Cubans and Jamaicans are amongst the diversity, of course, but there are many others to be found in the most exotic city in the U.S. Miami truly is a unique place. (Over 100 businesses in the Miami area with the word “Unique” in their name.) Not to worry; You can count on the Itinerant Attendee to slice through the swath and bring you what’s truly worthy in Magic City.

To really appreciate Miami, you’ll have to know why it’s called the Magic City. Officially incorporated by a mere 300 people (and one woman, Julia Tuttle) in 1896, the city has known some truly magic growth since, and is now home to nearly six million people. It’s skyline is ranked 3rd in the nation (after Chicago and New York,) and it serves as a global trade center. Miami is also the 3rd richest city in the nation, 22nd in the world. Yet it maintains the deserved Forbes Magazine designation of “America’s Cleanest City.”

One of the most unique aspects of Miami is the way that it integrates magnificent architecture and the great outdoors. It would be a shame not to simply bask in the flow and form. In many ways, just being in Miami is a truly unique experience! We all enjoyed just walking around and taking in the sights. Even cab rides are fun and exciting in a place like this!

To give Miami a fair shake would take weeks. One weekend day, my friend David and I took an airboat ride into the Everglades. Remember to bring ear plugs and mosquito repellent, and you’ll have a great time! Biscayne National Park was also beautiful, fun and relaxing way to spend a day. We took a tour in a glass-bottom boat, saw the amazing colors of the reef and undersea world, and even had dolphins frolicking alongside us for a while! The Gulf Stream keeps the waters warm all year long, making for some great snorkeling and diving opportunities, too! There are many fun ways to take in the ocean in Miami!

Miami’s literal score of museums are true mind candy. Most are located in the downtown area, offering fascinating exhibits to expand one’s mind and horizons. It was more than a little tempting to call in Sick after the convention was over and stay another week or two to visit them all! Luckily, we’re booked there at least a couple times each year, so eventually I’ll see them all. My personal favorites so far are the Frost Art, and Miami Art Museums and the Museum of Contemporary art.

Foods and Clubs in Miami are another unparalleled experience. Lunches are uniformly delicious, from the Cuban sandwiches to haute cuisine. Then the sun sets, and it’s “buenos noches” time! Even if you’ve got no rhythm, you’ll still find yourself out there having fun at the exclusive Set Nightclub. Nothing like it! For a milder flair, we all enjoyed the Tobacco Road and the Mango’s Tropical Cafe. Very different in their styles, they each offer daily dinner specials and (if you’re so inclined,) the clubs are open until 5 am!

Miami is the kind of place that takes years to truly know. With our hectic schedule, it may take a little longer, but we’re having a great time finding out along the way!  

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The orange orchards are gone now, and Highway 39, which used to tie Los Angeles to the O.C.’s famous beaches, have long since been replaced by super-slab highways 8 lanes wide in each direction, bringing both tourists and the carriers of industry. Banquet facilities and meeting venues have become a booming business, as Orange County is far more convenient than the gridlocked Los Angeles. Conference guests can fly directly into John Wayne Airport and be at their hotels in short order. The spread of entertainments is so diverse and numerous that the hard part is choosing which of the attractions you want to visit! From glistening beaches to the magic of theme parks, Orange County has everything anyone might dream of for a business meeting or conference. Let’s have a look at some of the fine California event facilities that Unique Venues offers:

Maggiano’s Little Italy Restaurant in Costa Mesa has long been a favorite. The restaurant’s warm wood accents and Old-World charm have won the minds, while the excellent food leaves attendees long remembering the quality authentic Italian cuisine. Great for wedding receptions and smaller awards ceremonies, banquets of any kind, Maggiano’s is a fine banquet facility choice for your next gathering.

Dave & Buster’s has been shaking things up all over the O.C.! With locations in both Orange and Irvine, this meeting venue’s special draw is their massive game room. With over 200 different video simulators, pool tables, basketball hoops, and the like, your guests are in for a real treat! Visit Dave & Busters Irvine and Dave & Busters Orange.

CineMeetings is another great option for your presentation or event. Renting out a movie theatre for a few hours takes all the hassles of parking and provides comfortable seating, a nd a state-of-the-arts AV/multimedia presentation equipment. The Irvine Spectrum 20 Plus IMAX is another of the extraordinary cinema venues available.

For a really large gathering, consider the facilities at Chapman University. With full state-of-the-arts AV and internet technology capabilities, lodgings for up to 700 participants, and catering services, as well as meeting halls and classrooms of any size, Chapman can accommodate most any conference, convention or banquet event.

For something truly unusual, consider having your event on a Hornblower Cruise! They can accommodate as many as 2200 guests! Hornblower Cruises will assign you a liaison who works with the ship’s staff will see to it that yours is a worry-free, wonderfully unforgettable experience, and one of the most unique banquet facilities in Orange County, California.

The Montage Resort in Laguna Beach, located on an oceanfront bluff, provides some of the most all-encompassing and spectacular facilities anywhere. Imagine a meeting hall with a massive modern wooden boardroom table, its end pointed towards a floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking nothing but the ocean! Great cares are taken to every detail, and their all-professional staff caters to all that your guests’ needs. Every guest is made to feel special from the moment they arrive. What a great place to reward your best and brightest stars!

Got a wedding coming up? The Anaheim Chapel and Gardens at the Chapman Chapel in Orange, California has decades of experience in making your blessed event a spectacular and trouble free one. Beautiful facilities decked out to show off the bride and groom while treating their guests like royalty. Your wedding day should be so very special, and these professionals will do everything it takes to make it so.

These are just some of the highlights out of all the excellent venues to host your next event. Let Orange County roll out the red carpet for you!

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In light of this, I really want to encourage all of our members to shop our Open RFP’s, every week.  Planners are conducting new searches everyday and you never know, your venue might be exactly what that planner needs.  Even if the planner is not looking in your area – charm him or her with your state of the art technology, air conditioned facilities, beautiful grounds, or what ever your claim to fame might be!

Just because you didn’t receive that lead in your inbox doesn’t mean it’s not fair game!  And remember, strike while the iron is HOT!

Shannon Glover, Lead Manager