Omaha, Neb., and Council Bluffs, Iowa, are neighboring cities that together create a formidable Midwest meetings destination. Any meeting a planner can dream up is accommodated in this metropolitan area, from corporate groups solely looking to take care of business to those organizations wishing to include an active pursuit to complement the overall agenda.
“In Omaha we understand there is an ‘art to conventioneering,’ a delicate dance between balancing convenience, comfort and affordability with memorable experiences,” says Dana Markel, executive director at the Omaha CVB.
Josee Beier, director of convention and sports sales at the Council Bluffs CVB, couldn’t agree more, and cites affordability, easy accessibility and attentiveness to each meeting’s needs among Council Bluffs’ top selling points.
Following are several focal points for group gatherings in Omaha or Council Bluffs, keeping in mind, of course, the most entertaining group agendas will incorporate all four: business via time in the meeting room plus an activity such as hitting the links, enjoying a glass of wine or other relaxing endeavor, and a team-bonding component.
Taking Care of Business
According to the Brookings Institution, Omaha weathered the recession better than any other city in the county.
“This speaks volumes about the strength and diversity of the city’s corporate landscape,” Markel says, explaining that Omaha is the headquarters of five Fortune 500 companies. “So it’s a city and a hotel community that is very familiar with the needs of corporate groups.”
Omaha offers 40 different hotel properties with a variety of meeting spaces that cater to the different needs of the corporate market. Perhaps most noteworthy, the 250,000-square-foot CenturyLink Center Omaha convention center and arena features a glass-enclosed skywalk that links to the 600-room Hilton Omaha.
“The beauty of Omaha is we understand it’s not a one-deal-fits-all type of business,” Markel says. “We are always willing to look at incentives based on the client’s specific needs.”
And getting business done in Council Bluffs is also a snap.
The Mid-America Center is the city’s convention center and arena, featuring more than 48,000 square feet of meeting space. Meetings-friendly properties include the 185-room Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites Council Bluffs, which sits on the banks of the Missouri River and is connected to Ameristar Casino Hotel via indoor breezeway.PageBreak
Active Activities
Groups meeting in Omaha often arrange the tried-and-true networking activity: golf.
“Omaha was chosen to host the 2013 U.S. Senior Open in July, which says a lot about the quality of the city’s golf courses,” Markel says, adding that Omaha is also the home of the NCAA Men’s College World Series. “It’s a bucket-list event for many sports fans, and the 10-day June event offers lively options for group entertainment.”
Situated as it is in the Missouri River Valley, the walking and biking trails in Omaha are picturesque, Markel adds, and the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge connects more than 150 miles of nature trails.
“It’s a one-of-a-kind suspension bridge that provides an almost airborne experience,” she says. “Located near Omaha’s convention center, ‘Bob’ is a great spot for biking, running and walking events.”
During the warmer months, groups can tank or tube down the scenic Elkhorn River. A tank float down the river occurs in an eight-foot-diameter stock tank fitted with a picnic table, Markel explains, and a tubing adventure involves a more intimate connection with the water as attendees sit in inner tubes with feet and arms dangling in the water.
Among the active pursuits available in Council Bluffs, according to Beier, are more than 27 parks for exploring, including downtown’s Bayliss Park, 31 miles of biking trails, five golf courses and, opening this month, the 80-acre River’s Edge Park. The new park will feature open spaces and an amphitheater and will be connected to Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge.
“Narrows River Park has an archery park for guests, and fishing is available to the public at Big Lake, which is stocked with trout in spring,” Beier says, adding that groups may also check out sailing and fishing opportunities at Lake Manawa State Park and disc golf at Iowa Western Community College.
Wintertime activities in Council Bluffs include skiing at Mt. Crescent Ski Area and snowshoeing at Hitchcock Nature Center.
Chilling Out
The flip side of the coin is giving attendees—perhaps when they’re tuckered out from a nice hike—time to unwind.
“A wonderful way to savor the day is with wine,” says Dana Markel, executive director at the Omaha CVB.
Just a short drive from downtown Omaha, she explains, are some of the Midwest’s finest wineries, including Soaring Wings Vineyard, which sits on a hilltop overlooking the river valley and offers tastings and live music during the spring, summer and fall.
Lauritzen Gardens is Omaha’s botanical center, a 100-acre urban oasis that’s home to a number of theme gardens and a four-acre arboretum and bird sanctuary.PageBreak
“It’s a very relaxing way to spend the day,” Markel says, adding that the attraction’s 32,000-square-foot visitor and education center houses a number of private event spaces that accommodate groups of up to 300 people.
In July and August, groups can visit Jazz on the Green, a summer tradition that welcomes jazz artists performing outside at Midtown Crossing Entertainment District; and in September they might enjoy an outing to the Aksarben River City Rodeo.
“This is not your typical rodeo,” Markel says. “It’s filled with pyrotechnics, rock music, laser lights and fast-paced action.”
And in Council Bluffs, according to Josee Beier, director of convention and sports sales at the Council Bluffs CVB, there is a variety of music and theater options, including concerts at the Westfair Amphitheater and plays at the Arts Center at Iowa Western Community College.
The Team Approach
There are a number of team-building opportunities in Omaha, including outings to Canvas and Cabernet, a paint and sip experience.
“It’s a fun way to re-awaken a person’s creative side, plus there’s wine,” Markel says.
Situated just north of the city’s convention center is Hot Shops Art Center, where groups will find more artistic hands-on team-bonding activities, including glass-blowing and pottery. Markel adds that the center also has a relaxed private event space set in a unique warehouse atmosphere.
And at Omaha’s new Hitchcock High Ropes Challenge Course, adventurous groups will enjoy programs designed to foster individual strengths while nurturing the team’s approach to problem-solving.
And in Council Bluffs, according to Beier, is Joe’s Karting indoor racing, which is great for corporate groups; cooking classes offered by top area chefs; outings to Lightning Bowl bowling alley for team-building tournaments; and pub crawl and scavenger hunts on the 100 Block of Broadway.
Enjoying a nice steak at the end of a hike along the city’s trails is contributing writer Carolyn Blackburn’s idea of a good day in Omaha.
