Top Holiday-Themed Meeting Venues

Santa’s Lodge in Santa Claus, Ind., courtesy of
Spencer County Visitors Bureau

In December 2011, when I visited and wrote about The Inn at Christmas Place in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., some on staff were not enthused about its over-the-top qualities. Yes, the hotel is a little cheesy—there’s a 12-foot Christmas tree, a mailbox for letters to Santa and more holiday decorations than you could shake a silver bell at—but it’s also earnest, sweet and, in my opinion, hard not to love.

In the spirit of Christmas, here’s a list of other extravagant holiday venues where groups can meet. If you don’t like them, well—bah humbug!

Top Barbershop Convention Spots

In our hot-off-the-press September issue, I write about the logistics of planning the 2012 Barbershop Harmony Society International Convention in Portland, Ore., which I attended in July. The convention was the third I’ve attended for the men’s barbershop organization, and I’ve been to many more—11—for the female barbershop harmony society, Sweet Adelines International.

Of course I had no way of knowing it at the time, but my experiences at these events provided early insights into how cities pull off large-scale conferences. Both the men and female organizations draw up to 10,000 people for several days, who take over the convention center, arena and numerous hotels.

Favorite Music Venues in Northern California

It’s no secret that you can get at the pulse of a place by attending its music clubs and concert venues. Many also double as a great place to throw a thrilling event.

A recent trip to Napa, Calif., led to tours of its primary venues, The Uptown and Napa Opera House, both beautifully restored. Scheduled acts include Chris Isaak, Manhattan Transfer, Willie Nelson, Michael Feinstein and Pat Metheny.