Minnesota Meetings + Events

That famous north woods lumberjack is a perfect representative for this vibrant Minnesota city, since Bemidji, like Paul, is historic, rugged and strongly connected to nature. “Gathering by the lake and among the tall pine trees makes every event more peaceful, productive and refreshing,” says Susan Goudge, executive director, Visit Bemidji. “We’re small enough to be comfortable and large enough to be convenient.”

Venues for the Small, Medium and Large

It's always nice to attend an event at a venue that has an appealing atmosphere and good food. It’s even nicer when there’s picturesque scenery to boot. And, Minnesota being the beautiful state that it is, it’s no surprise that the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” is home to a number of locales that provide just that to meeting and event attendees.

Windows on Minnesota

It's a universal truth: There’s no such thing as bad pizza. Sure, some places do it better than others, but what’s not to like about bread, tomato sauce and cheese? Good thing for us, Minnesota pizza joints know what good pizza is, and what’s more, they know how to deliver (both literally and figuratively speaking). ¶ So, if you’re feeding a group, why not go for the sure thing—the thing that everyone loves, or at the very least, likes? Pizza!

Mozza Mia

Meeting Professionals International recently introduced MPI Academy, an institute providing learning opportunities for business professionals at all levels. These include training courses, webinars, certificate programs and tools for career development such as the MPI Professional Development Roadmap, which allows individuals to map out their success in order to plan their future career.

Meetings and events are sometimes long and stressful. Often, the magic needed is just that: magic. That’s where The Amazing Hondo comes in. He not only entertains, but also inspires. “I encourage people to find out what their magic is—to find their value in life,” says Hondo Hughes (aka The Amazing Hondo), magician and inspirational speaker. “You can’t communicate anything until you get your audience’s attention.”

Bloomington’s newest restaurant on the scene—Lela—prides itself not only on its prime steaks, seafood crudos and handmade pasta, but also its craft cocktails. Creator of the London Calling, Leigh Allan, corporate food and beverage director, Wischermann Partners, wanted to highlight gin in this signature drink and use flavors that both complemented and balanced each other. “We chose the Ransom Old Tom Gin, which has a perfect balance of aromas and flavors,” says Allan.

Strong Relationships are the cornerstone of any successful business, which is why showing your clients some love is so important. Though deciding to treat your clients to the night of their lives might seem like a no-brainer, figuring out how to do it—and do it well—is an entirely different challenge. Here are three ways to make the most of your next client event.

» Skip the standard cocktail party.

John Scott Bradstreet, from whom Bradstreet Neighborhood Craftshouse gets its namesake, was a local tastemaker in the Twin Cities area in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was an architect and interior designer, travelled widely in Europe and Asia, and was friends with Oscar Wilde and Louis Comfort Tiffany. His influence makes its way in to the cocktails of the Bradstreet Neighborhood Craftshouse today.

Sometimes an event calls for something truly outside the box. A great brainstorming session leads to a big idea, yet you’re stumped as to how you’re going to pull it off. Whether it’s transforming an exhibit hall entrance into a ship or creating a 10-foot 3D prop in the shape of an event logo, it is key to approach a custom production using best practices in order to have the best possible outcome.

Understanding the Need 

Strike a cord.