Do Business in Nature Easy access and a wide variety of outstanding FEBRUARY / MARCH 2018 / MARCH FEBRUARY venues await just outside of Seattle Online at meetingnewsnw.com meetingnewsnw.com Online at FEATURE Retreat Centers + Providing a serene setting without distractions, retreat centers can be the ideal choice for a productive meeting or a special event. Page 20> Navigating Your Contract Expert contract tips from one of the region’s leading wedding and events industry attorneys. MEET HERE North Central Washington Stunning scenery, excellent facilities and a friendly welcome attract Page 18> meetings and events to the sunny side of the Cascades. Page 30> In This Issue [5] The Barn at Kristopherson Farm, Camano Island, WA [24] [36] Homewood Suites, Lynnwood, WA Jupiter Hotel, Portland, OR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2018 ON OUR COVER 24 Do Business in Nature FEATURES 14 Brewing Up Unique Events 18 Navigating Your Contract 20 Retreat Centers are Built for Meetings [8] MEET HERE Blue Ribbon Cooking and Culinary School, Seattle, WA 30 North Central Washington DEPARTMENTS PLANNERS CORNER 4 New in the NW 34 Venue Spotlight 40 Jennifer Ragan-Fore 9 Fresh Ideas 36 Stay Local 13 Person to Watch Meeting News Northwest February / March ‘18 » 1 This page, clockwise from top left: Homewood Suites Lynnwood, Kristoferson Farm, Farm, Kristoferson left: Homewood Lynnwood, This page, clockwise top Suites from Photo Joseph Brown Paul Hotel, Jupiter © On our cover, clockwise from top: Snohomish County Tourism Board, Cory Steffen, Icicle Steffen, TV Cory Board, Tourism Snohomish County clockwise top: from © On our cover, 1/14/2018 Word Search Puzzle Coffee Forgot username or password? Passcode/Create New User Help username password Current Users Login Solutions for Districts Free Resources Break What We Offer Who We Are Teachers Parents Students Y O U R BREWING UP UNIQUEbreweries EVENTS READ THE STORY ON PAGE 14. S U C C E S S . P M M R M B T A G W O Q U D A M Q Q X Y B H C O B A O D P U O N P H Q W Z I K I S Q I O O N K H J L V R F T N E M G M D P Y K H V R X S V T D A G C G L C W E V O U R O X O O X B L H T C E H F G H I R S I J H Z W P B L C L M E K Y R R D O C E H T BALLROOM P A S S I O N . BEER K K R V Z V D F A N A X Z E E H M G P F BOUNDARYBAY O R J A B P I M Y B L M R T U E W A B H BREWERY T Z A L R S V R Y X D L P T W F B T L E CIDER R C K L F W E R G O A G E L N D T N P F CRAFT U I T E C W A B K E E S D R A I N I E R CRYSTAL DESCHUTES S N C Y E D P B E G H B A P N N Z V H B FLATHEADLAKE T P S R N I N D U S T R I A L N T G S N HOPS I X B U Y A R A D W A W G D P P J B H I HOPVALLEY C Y O C G S S M S V L L H P J J F A R X INDUSTRIAL LEWISANDCLARK I B Q E S G T X L I F T V O N V Y J Z Y LONGDROP H K S I T L P A Z U W K T P C N S I P G RAINIER Z F S U D T Q S L M M E F U U D W F O W RUSTIC S P O R D G N O L X C S L B G J N D V L STEAMPLANT WWW.LYNNWOODCC.COM - CALL 425.778.7155 T F A R C U Z U E X T B V Y C A F C W M VINTAGE BALLROOM BEER BOUNDARYBAY BREWERY CIDER CRAFT CRYSTAL DESCHUTES FLATHEADLAKE HOPS HOPVALLEY INDUSTRIAL LEWISANDCLARK LONGDROP RAINIER RUSTIC STEAMPLANT VINTAGE Created by Puzzlemaker at DiscoveryEducation.com Use your IMAGINATION http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/code/BuildWordSearch.asp 1/2 … you can let it run wild in our 40,000 square feet We are halfway between Portland, Boise, Spokane, Seattle and Bend. Host your next meeting here! Collaborate • Plan 800-863-9358 [email protected] Partner • Party PENDLETONCONVENTIONCENTER.COM 2 » February / March ‘18 meetingnewsnw.com FROM THE EDITOR urs is a future-oriented industry; we are always looking ahead. The very nature of a planner’s job is focus on upcoming events. As editor of this publication, I am always on the lookout for new and interesting topics to suggest for your consideration. In this issue, we take a look at a variety of venues that may add a new dimension to your event. Today’s full-service hotels and conference centers provide everything a planner President & Publisher requires for a successful activity. However, sometimes your group is looking for a Dave Peterson different setting. The Northwest is home to many fine retreat venues that offer the Editor in Chief Ron Engeldinger opportunity to get away from distractions and focus on the business at hand. We Creative Director introduce you to a selection of retreat centers that can provide a bucolic setting for Erica Bolvin any meeting or activity. Advertising Account Managers Another unique venue you may want to consider is the zoo. We take a look at Tim Park | [email protected] Sandra King | [email protected] two of the region’s zoos that have wonderful meeting facilities and are accustomed Marketing Manager to welcoming groups of guests. Your meeting or event will become a memorable Ryan Yale experience when it is held amid the special environment the zoos offer. Copy Editor Another type of venue that you may have overlooked is the local craft brewery. The Roger Ward Northwest is home to more than 700 breweries, and many have superb spaces for a Contributing Writers Catie Joyce Bulay gathering. Whether it is a business meeting in a relaxed setting or a fun-filled group Lara Dunning retreat, a brewery can be the ideal setting. The craft breweries that we profile can Amy Griggs Tamara Muldoon accommodate groups for any special gathering. Ann Randall In the Meet Here feature, we take you east of the Cascades to north central Mary Ellen Reihsen Washington. The city of Wenatchee is the gateway to a wonderful area that is rich in Advertising Inquiries [email protected] history, scenery and recreational opportunities. The hotels, conference centers and 253-432-4682 lodges along the east slopes of the mountain welcome groups with fun activities and Subscription Inquiries top-notch service along with incredible scenery. 253-432-4682 We also venture north to explore Snohomish County and north King County. The Explorer Media & Marketing P.O. Box 2254 area offers a quick getaway from the city. It is close enough to Seattle for easy access, Tacoma, WA 98401 and it has a wide variety of outstanding meeting and event venues. At the same time, All photographs, articles and advertising or any part the region offers the opportunity to get away to a less hectic environment. thereof are exclusive property of Explorer Media & Marketing. Opinions expressed in this magazine are An important aspect of event and meeting planning industry is negotiating the those of contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of Meeting News NW Magazine. contract. Whether you are writing a contract for your client, or you are negotiating Explorer Media & Marketing is an the contract with your venue, it can be a complicated process with many potential environmentally responsible company. pitfalls. Mary Ellen Reihsen is a local attorney who specializes in wedding and events. When it’s time to go... In this issue, she shares her knowledge and experience, providing advice on how to please recycle this magazine. successfully navigate the contract. As you read this issue, I hope some of the ideas we offer will encourage you to explore the many unique opportunities the region has to offer for meetings and events. To success, Ron Engeldinger Editor in Chief [email protected] CORRECTION In a recent issue, some of the information we provided about Portland’s Benson Hotel was incorrect. The correct information MEMBER WA & OR CHAPTERS for the Benson is 287 guest rooms and 18 meeting rooms. Meeting News Northwest February / March ‘18 » 3 New in the Northwest District, you will not have to venture far from the hotel. The central location, near the transportation hub of the city, means © HGI Bellevue that a variety of transportation options are just steps away. Guests can arrive by train, light rail, cruise ship or ferry, and the hotel is only minutes away from I-5. CONNECT Cascadia Educational 206-859-4400 Conference hilton.com SHATTER YOUR EXPECTATIONS AT THE CEC Hilton Garden Inn Meeting planners and suppliers will be Seattle Bellevue converging on Reno, Nevada, on March 4, 2018 for two and a half days of non-stop Downtown activity.