Like the spring thaw that’s currently bringing colorful blooms and shades of green to the Twin Cities, new developments keep this popular Midwest meetings locale fresh for groups.
From hotel renovations galore and an inspiring planner-friendly initiative in Minneapolis to a full-on downtown renaissance in St. Paul, the area is always bettering itself for meetings and conventions.
Minneapolis
In late October, Meet Minneapolis launched the Go Minneapolis Signature Experiences program, which according to Kristen Montag, spokeswoman for Meet Minneapolis, aims to make it easier for planners by giving them a menu of interactive turnkey experiences that are unique to Minneapolis.
“They’re predesigned, making it really easy for the group to just sign up and go,” she says. “It’s quite innovative.”
Experiences under the umbrellas of the program—arts and culture events, outdoor adventures, food and wine outings, and more—include an improv class with Brave New Workshop, a local comedy theater, during which attendees can get silly through a series of well-tested exercises; a demonstration at FOCI Minnesota Center for Glass Arts; and a Dick’s Last Resort scavenger hunt through Mall of America.
There are also many options for off-site receptions and meal functions in Minneapolis, including the Minneapolis Event Center, which opened in late 2013 on the East Bank of the Mississippi River with an open floor plan and sunlit atrium that opens to a lush garden; the multilevel Muse Event Center, which also opened in 2013; and the newly renovated Orchestra Hall, where groups can use the auditorium and lobby for events.
Hotels are also making headlines. Renovation projects (at Radisson Plaza Hotel Minneapolis, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, Millennium Hotel Minneapolis and Crowne Plaza Minneapolis West in nearby Plymouth) and new names (Radisson Blu Minneapolis and Hyatt Place Minneapolis Downtown) are freshening the meetings portfolio, which is anchored by the Minneapolis Convention Center, Hilton Minneapolis and Minneapolis Marriott City Center.PageBreak
Saint Paul
Downtown St. Paul is undergoing a renaissance with an estimated $1.6 billion in projects, including a minor-league ballpark, theater, light rail transit, hotel renovations and new retail and restaurants, according to Lisa Huber, spokeswoman for Visit St. Paul.
Major meetings players in town include the Saint Paul RiverCentre, Embassy Suites St. Paul, which recently underwent a renovation, and Crowne Plaza St. Paul Riverfront, which is undergoing an extensive renovation before it is reflagged an InterContinental hotel by the end of 2014.
For a special event away from the host property, planners are encouraged to check out A’Bulae, a new loft-style venue that sports audiovisual bells and whistles; the historic Landmark Center, which originally served as the Federal Court House and Post office for the Upper Midwest and today hosts music, dance and theater productions, as well as group gatherings; and Padelford Riverboats, which accommodates waterborne receptions.
Huber recommends Cooks of Crocus Hill for special events that mix business and fine dining. The venue has meeting spaces, and planners can arrange culinary team-building and wine-pairing exercises.
Bloomington
Situated just minutes from downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul, Bloomington offers affordability and group convenience, as most Bloomington hotels provide free transportation to and from the airport and Mall of America, according to Daniel O’Neill, vice president of strategy/sales for the Bloomington CVB.
Bloomington’s meetings portfolio encompasses nearly 40 hotels and more than 8,200 rooms. Properties include Sheraton, Doubletree by Hilton, Ramada, Crowne Plaza and Marriott flags.
The Mall of America is a destination unto itself and it’s only getting bigger, as a $225 million expansion project, including a 347-room JW Marriott hotel and more retail opportunities will open in 2015.
Plus, it’s worth noting, the 500-room Radisson Blu Mall of America opened last year attached to the Mall of America, which O’Neill says is the best entertainment complex for groups, with more than 520 stores, 50 restaurants and various attractions, including Nickelodeon Universe, to keep attendees entertained.
MallQuest, a scavenger hunt that weaves groups through the Mall of America, is a popular team-building activity.
“Scavenger hunts can be in combination with a group presentation or a separate activity,” O’Neill says.PageBreak
Eagan
In Eagan, situated east of Bloomington near Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, planners will find meetings-ready facilities such as Springhill Suites by Marriott, Best Western Dakota Ridge, Holiday Inn Minneapolis Airport and City View Banquet and Conference Center.
In addition to being a great jumping-off point for attractions in Minneapolis and Bloomington, including Mall of America, Eagan offers a few fun options for groups.
Among them are Cascade Bay Waterpark, featuring waterborne activities; Caponi Art Park, which hosts an annual summer performance series, a Medieval Fair and a Shakespeare Festival; and a nice variety of restaurants and golf courses.
St. Louis Park
Nearby St. Louis Park, as Brent Snyder, sales manager at Discover St. Louis Park says, is “comfortably close to so many great attractions, hotels, restaurants and unique event facilities.”
In addition to its close proximity to the Mall of America and other area attractions, Snyder says groups can visit Pavek Museum of Broadcasting or Steel Toe Brewery for a taste of award-winning beers.
Meetings options include properties by Marriott, Doubletree, Homewood Suites and Springhill Suites.
For off-site receptions and banquets, planners might check out Icon Theatre, home to the Twin Cities Film Festival, and Warehouse Winery, a rustic and industrial space filled with art from all over the world.
Minneapolis Northwest
Minneapolis Northwest’s list of off-site gathering spots includes Rush Creek Golf Club and Edinburgh USA, two championship courses with 7,540 square feet and 10,000 square feet of meeting space, respectively.
Annette Belding, senior sales and business development manager for Minneapolis Northwest, also thinks Elm Creek Chalet at Elm Creek Park, which features an oversized fireplace of timber and field stones, a cathedral-style ceiling and large glass windows overlooking the park, is a great place for group gatherings from April to October.
After the meeting at Earle Brown Conference Center, Minneapolis Marriott Northwest, Boulevard Hotel or Holiday Inn & Suites-Arbor Lakes, groups might enjoy a wine-tasting outing.
“Groups can take a drive in the country and enjoy our northwest wine country,” Belding says, citing local wineries such as Buffalo Rock, Parley Lake and Woodland Hill.
Carolyn Blackburn is a frequent contributor to Meetings Focus.
