Meetings: Minnesota's Hospitality Journal

Looming Shutdown & Minnesota Tourism, Part II

Yesterday, Joel wrote up a post about the state parks and the shutdown. Here are a few more links to what will be closed if the shutdown happens tomorrow:

From Explore Minnesota Tourism: Travel information centers and the EMT staff will be affected. Plus, most likely Minnesota Historical Sites will be closed.

Canterbury Park, Running Aces & the Minnesota Zoo would close.

-- Amanda Fretheim Gates
Managing Editor

Peers: Ice Sculptures Captured on Video

In the summer issue, Metro Ice Sculptures owner Trevor Pearson shares some of the high points of his career thus far. Take a look at these creations caught on film.

Explore Minnesota Tourism commercial (watch for the "e" in More at the end)

 

Marvin Windows commercial

 

Red Bull Open Ice Hockey Tournament in Roseville (ice rail)

 

Plus ... here's the sculpture Pearson did for our Vision Awards event last fall.

--Ellie M. Bayrd
Associate Editor

[Vision Awards photo by Todd Buchanan]

Case Study: Life Time's New Vision

In the summer issue of the magazine we showcase Life Time Fitness' Inside Companies Conference and Expo and their partnership with metroConnections. Take a look at the video that Life Time used to help launch its new branding as the "Healthy Way of Life Company" and promote its 19 inside companies.

--Ellie M. Bayrd
Associate Editor

The Looming Shutdown and Minnesota Tourism

There is never a good time for a government shutdown, but as far as tourism goes the end of the fiscal calendar couldn't be worse. According to reporting from MPR, if the parties can't agree on the budget numbers and the state government does indeed close its doors, all state parks will close as well. From MPR and their shutdown FAQ:

Q: Will state parks close during a shutdown?

A: Unfortunately for all those summer vacationers, yes: The Department of Natural Resources has been alerting people with camping reservations that the parks will close at 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 30 if there's no budget agreement. The DNR is promising refunds to those who have reservations during a shutdown, MPR's Stephanie Hemphill reported.

The DNR anticipates that most employees will be laid off and that their website will be down. That means no licenses for fishing, hunting or boating.

It's possible that a handful of DNR employees, including those who maintain the state's hatcheries and fisheries, will not be laid off. Read more on the DNR's own FAQ page.

It's certainly coming down to the wire. According to the Star Tribune, the parties are meeting to avoid a shutdown, which would begin on Friday.

--Joel Schettler
Editor 

On the Scene: The Spa at Mystic Lake

On Friday I was fortunate enough to get pampered at The Spa at Mystic Lake. I've had my fair share of massages at my fair share of salons - some wonderful, some not-so-wonderful - and Mystic Lake definitely falls into the wonderful category. The wonderfulness in bullet points:

The robe: At some salons, you wait in the waiting room with everyone else. At others, you change into a robe and wait in a peaceful lounge. Mystic's experience is the latter. And the robe? The best robe I've put on. This wasn't just some plush terry cloth robe, but a thick, cotton, luxurious robe that felt great wrapped around me. Yes, I just spent five sentences talking about the robe, but... it's the little things.

Foot soak: While you're waiting in your cozy robe in the pleasant waiting lounge, you get to soak your feet in a hot tub of water. The two most important parts of my body when it comes to a massage are my neck/back and my feet. This was a great way to start off the foot portion of my massage.

The massage: Joan, the spa manager, was my masseuse. I received the Signature Massage. Perfect amount of pressure, perfect amount of conversation - not too much, which I prefer. The room was perfectly lit, once she turned the lights down, and the bed contours to your body. It was the first time I didn't need a knee pillow placed under my legs - a nice change.

The women's lounge: When the receptionist showed me the lounge beforehand, she said I had to take a shower in the nine-head shower. She said it would be like "heaven." I hadn't necessarily planned on showering, but she sold me. And she was right: heaven. I didn't want to get out of the shower, which was spraying water on me from every direction. It was the perfect end to a relaxing experience. The rest of the lounge was lovely, too, with changing rooms, a steam shower, toiletry essentials provided and more.

The Spa at Mystic Lake is open to one and all, not just hotel guests. If I lived on that end of town, I would make it my spa of choice, I think. Very classy, very relaxing, very quiet, very cozy.

*Note: When I parked, I also peeked over the ramp wall and saw the new Amphitheater getting all ready for its first shows this weekend. Looks great!

-- Amanda Fretheim Gates
Managing Editor

Tourism Marketing

Tourism officials have speculated about it for several weeks, but now it seems official. According to the Associated Press, at the end of next week the state of Washington will cease to promote itself as a destination for tourists. In this "age of austerity," as some pundits have called our current government budget crisis, are states beginning to think twice about promoting tourism as a proper form of economic development? Will this be the last? From the AP:

"Washington state is shuttering the official tourism agency that unifies its marketing message and abandoning all public support for one of its largest industries ... The transition is the most extreme example of the widely varying strategies among states trying to balance budget cuts with ways to spur economic growth. Some are pouring millions of dollars into fresh marketing, while others like New York and Arizona are slashing their promotional spending to help shore up state budgets."

According to the USTA, half of all states are expanding their tourism promotions, while the other half is cutting them. Washington's $15.2 billion in tourism business is the state's fourth-largest industry. Does it make sense? Does it have to?

--Joel Schettler
Editor 

Introducing the Cowles Center

Last Thursday, I took a hard hat tour (video from City Pages) of the Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts, which is set to open this fall. Located on the corner of Hennepin and Sixth in downtown Minneapolis, the Cowles Center takes over the relocated Shubert Theatre (built in 1910, now called the Goodale Theater) building and connects with the adjacent Hennepin Center for the Arts (built in 1888) through the modern U.S. Bank Atrium. The new space features a 500-seat theater (300 seats in grand tier and 200 seats in orchestra level). Other spaces include the Target Education Center, a rehearsal and event space that's also the new location of their distance learning program.

Built by Minneapolis-based Artspace, the complex is truly made for the performance community, which you can see through details like backstage flooring designed for toe shoes, expansive dressing rooms and theater seats close enough to see the feet of dancers. The history of the two buildings is also honored, with columns surrounding the stage that replicate details from the Shubert and more. As the project nears completion, more details about the space will emerge, including information about a restaurant in the former Lone Tree Bar & Grill space.

In all, it was a nearly $46 million project and creates what Artistic Director Frank Sonntag calls "one of the best venues for dance in the world." The innagural season will include performances by 17 local companies (such as Ragamala, James Sewell, Minnesota Dance Theatre, Cantus, Zenon and much more). Leading up to the grand opening in September, you'll be able to experience "random acts of dance" at events through out the summer (photo from their appearance at Pride Festival from Lavender Magazine). The grand opening will take place the weekend of Sept. 9-11. with a gala performance on Friday, a dance community night on Saturday and an open house on Sunday.

--Ellie M. Bayrd
Associate Editor

[Renderings courtesy of Cowles Center]

Weekly Roundup: Pride Festival, Como Zoo, Restaurant news & more!

Will we have a weekend of sunshine and warmth? Here's hoping - enjoy it! And on to the news of the week:

+ The Minnesota Beethoven Festival starts this Sunday in Winona, Minn. Through July 17. Many dates are sold out, but there are still several performances that are open, including a free Minnesota Orchestra performance next week.

+ Pride Festival this weekend! With music (Debbie Gibson!) and the big parade on Sunday. Fun Fact: The I-35W bridge will be lit up in rainbow colors this weekend.

+ Did you hear about Saint Paul Code Green? Find code locations around the city, scan them with your smartphone and enter to win lots of fun green products - like a Chevy Volt!

+ HSMAI's Affordable Meetings conference is being rebranded as MEET.

+ Waterpark resorts are huge with many opening every year. In 2010, 19 opened in the U.S. A whopping 39 waterpark resorts are expected to open up in 2011.

+ Don't miss the free Fourth of July show at Mystic Lake's new amphitheater, featuring country group Diamond Rio and a fireworks display.

+ Como Zoo's gorillas are going to get a new and improved home.

+ In restaurant news: Saffron is going through some changes, and Oceanaire is moving into the M&S Grill space.

+ The Twin Cities Luxury Home Tour ends this weekend. Who doesn't love to dream a little and walk around a $3 million home? Get discount tickets at Caribou.

+ Time is running out!! Don't make us beg. Nominate someone you think deserves to be recognized for a Vision Award. We know planners have favorite vendors. We know there is good customer service happening out there. What about community giving? These people are right in front of your noses (or in the mirror), so help us honor them!

-- The Editors

News from Out of State: Niagara Falls, Wisconsin Dells & a Chicago casino

I came across a few interesting hospitality related stories from outside Minnesota. It never hurts to look outside our boundaries to see what others are up to.

+ Niagara Falls (Canada side) is making a play as a thriving convention and meetings destination. The Scotiabank Convention Centre offers more than 81,000 square feet of various space, a 17,000-square-foot ballroom, a theater and banquet rooms. Across the street from the Convention Centre sits the Marriott Gateway on the Falls, which offers some 40,000 square feet of space. And in addition to the Falls, the area, known as the Fallsview District, is filled with spas, casinos, wineries, golfing and more to fill after-the-meeting time. Has anyone been to a meeting or convention in Niagara Falls?

+ This past weekend, five waterpark resorts in Wisconsin Dells participated in the annual Wisconsin Waterslide-athon for the Ronald McDonald House. On Saturday, Great Wolf Lodge, Kalahari Waterpark Resort Convention Center, Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Parks, Noah’s Ark Waterpark and Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort all donated part of their earnings for the day to the charity.

+ Chicago's new mayor, Rahm Emanuel, is interested in the city becoming the first big city in the country to own a casino. All the important questions, in regards to location and ethical issues, remain but the mayor is looking for a new way to move the city out of the debt its in right now. Slots and tables at both of the city's airports could also be a possibility. An issue to watch, anyway, as talks of our own state-run casino continue to proceed.

-- Amanda Fretheim Gates
Managing Editor

Weekly Roundup: Weekend events, dining news, Saint Paul Hotel & more!

Happy weekend! Here's the news:

+ The Saint Paul Public Library has started its summer movie series. This year features comic book hero movies all summer long.

+ The Twin Cities Luxury Home Tour continues this weekend. Who doesn't love to dream a little and walk around a $3 million home? Get discount tickets at Caribou.

+ Heavy Table visited Patriots Tavern, which highlights New England flavors, in Stillwater.

+ The Line has an interview with Kim Bartmann of too-many-restaurants-to-name-here. Don't miss our own interview with Kim coming up in the Summer issue - it hits desks after July 4th.

+ The Saint Paul Hotel was named the top hotel in Minneapolis-St. Paul by the 2011 U.S. News rankings of Best Hotels. 

+ Have you heard about Social Science at the Science Museum of Minnesota? During these events the museum is only open to those 21 and older. Music, tours, cocktails - sounds like fun!

+ The Nature Valley Bike Festival may hit your town this weekend - Minneapolis today, Menomonie tomorrow and Stillwater on Sunday.

+ More weekend event news: It's Back to the '50s weekend at the State Fair and the Stone Arch Festival along Saint Anthony Main.

+ Think about attending Alive at the Market on July 9, a personal project of Meetings former editor Lori Gardner.

+ Time is running out!! Please nominate someone you think deserves to be recognized for a Vision Award. We know planners have favorite vendors. We know there is good customer service happening out there. What about community giving? These people are right in front of your noses (or in the mirror), so help us honor them!