Minneapolis made headlines recently when it was named the host city for Super Bowl LII in 2018. A new stadium is set to open in 2016, and the state CVB expects it to drive hotel construction and renovations throughout the region. But meeting planners have long been singing the praises of Minnesota, a state packed with versatile venues, outdoor activities and cultural lures.
Launched in late 2013, the new Go Minneapolis Signature Experiences are an innovative and thoughtful way for meeting groups to discover authentic local experiences. With more than 18 interactive carefully curated tours, shows and excursions, groups of all sizes and budgets can find suitable experiences.
The programs were designed and selected to be hands-on while showcasing the variety attractions found in Minneapolis and the surrounding communities.
“We’ve gotten lots of good feedback about the program,” says Casey Kluver, national tourism sales manager for Meet Minneapolis. “Planners want experiences that are immersive and really reflect the city.”
Partners include major local institutions like the Walker Art Center, Mall of America and the Guthrie Theater, as well as outings run by smaller companies such as kayaking with Above the Falls Sports, tours of Historic Fort Snelling and glassblowing at the FOCI Minnesota Center For Glass Arts.
Kluver also recommends Saint Paul Gangster Tours or outings to Lake Minnetonka.
“People don’t always remember that the Mississippi River runs through Minneapolis,” he says.
Both the river and Lake Minnetonka, a one-hour drive from downtown, offer boating opportunities for groups as large as 200 people. Historically, the lake was a popular resort area, and it is being reinvigorated.
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“It’s great for groups that have been here before and are looking for something new and different,” says Kristen Montag, marketing and communications manager for Meet Minneapolis.
Meanwhile, after almost three years of construction, the new $975 million Viking Stadium will open in July 2016. Built on the site of the Metrodome, which was one of the oldest stadiums in the NFL, Viking Stadium will have a fixed roof and plans to file for LEED certification. The downtown location is convenient to the Target center and major convention hotels, including the Westin Minneapolis, Minneapolis Marriott City Center and Hyatt Regency Minneapolis. The 1.75 million-square-foot stadium will feature 65,400 seats (expanding to more than 70,000 for the Super Bowl in 2018) and 116 luxury suites.
In other Twin Cities developments, Minneapolis and St. Paul are now connected by light rail following the opening of the Green Line in June, making it easy and convenient for travelers to visit both downtown cores.
“Chanhassen Dinner Theater is another must-see in the Twin Cities,” Kluver says, explaining that as a local theater company it can have longer runs of each production, making booking easier for groups. “The food is great, plus you get to watch the play and eat your meal from the same seat, so it’s convenient.”
There are multiple theaters and spaces available for private events and glamorous custom-themed parties.
The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is also located in Chanhassen, about 20 minutes from downtown, and the two sites can easily be combined for an afternoon excursion. Operated by the University of Minnesota, the arboretum spans more than 1,100 acres of trees, gardens and trails.
In St. Paul, the new Lowertown Regional Ballpark, home of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball’s St. Paul Saints, will open in May 2015 with meeting space and group activities. The $63 million project is redeveloping a former industrial site and will host as many as 100 non-baseball events each year.
The Saint Paul CVB also highlights Extreme Sandbox as a unique group outing. With a 10-acre “sandbox” located in Hastings, participants can dig and build and pile using heavy machinery in a safe, controlled setting.
In Bloomington, a major expansion of the country’s biggest mall is under way. In fall 2015, the Mall of America will unveil its $325 million update, which includes new dining, high-end retail and a 342-room JW Marriott featuring a grand ballroom and signature restaurant. More than 5 million square feet will be added to the mall, including exhibit and event space and a new waterpark. Mall officials hope the expansion will draw as many as 20 million additional visitors annually.
Also at the Mall of America, a Hard Rock Cafe will open within Nickelodeon Universe this summer, with seating for more than 400, private event space and a live music venue accommodating 1,250 guests.
With more than 8,200 hotel rooms and convenient light rail access, Bloomington also anticipates a big boom in business leading up to the Super Bowl.
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Meanwhile, the hotel scene is improving in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, with the hip new Commons Hotel at the University of Minnesota and recently renovated properties such as the Radisson Blue Mall of America, the Millenium Hotel Minneapolis and the Hyatt Regency Downtown Minneapolis.
Farther north on the shore of Lake Superior, Duluth is stepping up advertising efforts to attract visitors and groups from across the country and around the world. Main meetings optionsinclude the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center, the Holiday Inn and Suites Duluth-Downtown, the Radisson Hotel Duluth and the Edgewater Hotel.
Known for its scenic outdoor offerings, Grand Rapids’ main group facilities include the Timberlake Lodge Hotel, Sawmill Inn and Sugar Lake Lodge, which is available for full buyouts September through May and recently opened the Collaborative Leadership Center.
Owner Fred Bobich says the Leadership Center grew out of partnerships with the Prouty Project, Meaningful Connections and the Blandin Foundation Community Leadership Program. The aim of the venue is to foster growth, learning and connections among visiting groups, with programming that focuses on leadership development, strategic planning, wellness and problem-solving.
Meanwhile, plans for Rochester’s Mayo Civic Center include a new 40,000-square-foot ballroom, sustainability enhancements, technology upgrades and 16 new breakout rooms, but as of press time no timeline was set for the project.
In Bemidji, new hotels are being built to accommodate groups meeting at the Sanford Center. The 92-room DoubleTree shares 5,000 square feet of meeting space with the adjoining Hampton Inn & Suites. The property also offers kayak rentals and access to a private sandy lakefront beach. The new Country Inn and Suites by Carlson will open in October.
The Sanford Center Arena and George W. Neilson Conference Center can accommodate groups of up to 1,000 people.
West of Bemidji, the Shooting Star Casino offers 386 guest rooms and venue spaces that include the 450-peron Mahnomen Ballroom, which is divisible into eight smaller spaces, and a 1,700-person event center.
In the northwest region, Fair Hills Resort in Vergas recently established a meeting and event facility at its Five Lakes Property, with a large barn for gatherings and receptions, and hiking and swimming in the summer and cross-country skiing in the winter.
