NEW JERSEY // IOWA // BAHAMAS // INLAND EMPIRE // IRELAND 06.16 THE JIM MCWILLIAMS NEWBoardwalk EMPERORS Atlantic City is on a roll via the meetings market Fitting a Need SMERF Strategies for Success JIM WOOD, MEET AC MICHAEL MASSARI, CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT Saving in Style F&B Creativity Beats the Budget Blues Out-of-Sight Off-Sites Meet Hawai‘i Meeting Key Tips for Special Venue Events Planners’ Guide MEETINGSTODAY.COM places 50 GLOBAL SOUTH 38 Trending 72 Trending 39 Ireland 73 Austin/The Hill Country 76 Bahamas EAST 80 Birmingham 41 Trending 83 Kentucky 42 New Jersey 86 Florida Keys/Key West 50 Montreal & Quebec City 90 Myrtle Beach 108 MIDAMERICA WEST SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL, 53 Trending 94 Trending PARK CITY, UTAH 56 Iowa 96 Denver/Boulder/Colorado Springs 60 Wisconsin Dells 102 Inland Empire É 64 Lincoln 104 Montana JELB HOTEL-MUSEE PREMIERES NATIONS, 66 MidAmerica Gaming 108 Salt Lake City/Park City QUEBEC 110 Oahu/Kauai 60 83 39 ELAINE HILL OX’S “SEASONAL CREATIVITY," BELFAST, IRELAND PAUL HOOPER PAUL LEXINGTON OPERA HOUSE, KENTUCKY WISCONSIN RIVER EXCLUSIVELY ON meetingsTODAY.COM INDUSTRY NEWS VIDEOS BLOGS ❚ AH&LA Attacks Airbnb in New Study ❚ Creating Attendee Engagement ❚ Beware the Polar Bear ❚ Carlson Hotels Purchased by HNA Tourism ❚ 3 Personal Branding Musts! by Nancy Zavada ❚ ASAE Ditches Springtime Expo for XDP by Sima Dahl, Speaker ❚ 10 Tips for Better Site Inspections by Joan Eisenstodt WEBINARS SOCIAL ❚ F&B: Cuisine and Program Trends // 06.29.16 www.facebook.com/ ❚ Your Event App + Social Media = meetingstodaymagazine Besties for Life // 07.12.16 ❚ Event Design: www.twitter.com/meetingstoday GET THE APP Cutting-Edge-on-Budget // 07.27.16 Download for free on your Apple or ❚ Contracts: Accommodations // 08.31.16 Android mobile device. ❚ Contracts: F&B & Off-Sites // 09.28.16 MeetingsToday.com 5 04_MT_0616_TOC.indd 5 5/18/16 8:10 AM ARBUTUS BREAD’S DECLAN RYAN GOOD FOOD IRELAND IRELAND: A FOODIE AWAKENING By Jeff Heilman The Emerald Isle’s culinary renaissance is good news for groups rom “Breakfast Month” in January to this month’s and Eipic, both in Belfast. Trained in Michelin-starred Parisian kitch- “Love Dairy” to “Christmas & Premium Foods” in ens, Belfast-born chef-owner Stephen Toman December, 2016 is Northern Ireland’s Year of Food opened Ox in 2013 with friend and somme- and Drink (tourismni.com/yearoffoodanddrink), lier Alain Kerloc’h. Vegetables, seafood and F “seasonal creativity” star in Toman’s colorful, as the province celebrates 366 leap year days of award- earthy, sustainably sourced cuisine, which winning cuisine, produce, spirits and other bounty. earned a Michelin star in 2015, the first for Northern Ireland in five years. Attracting more than £350 million (more McKenna, writer of the award-winning With large windows overlooking the River than USD$505 million) annually in visitor McKennas’ Guides with wife Sally, calls this Lagan, the 40-seat restaurant includes se- spending, the culinary riches range from “the most exciting time in Irish food, ever.” cluded mezzanine space for 10, while hosting Belfast Bap, the crusty round bread that Served with classic Irish hospitality, here are tastings, events and private parties for up to sustained thousands during the Potato Fam- just a few tastes of the rewarding gastronomy 50 at the adjacent Ox Cave wine bar. Groups ine of the mid-18th century, to Bushmills awaiting groups. of seven or more get the ever-changing whiskey, founded in 1608. With artisanal “surprise” tasting menu, while theater-going producers helping to drive awareness (and Epicurean Excellence guests can return for the equally inspiring exports), some 70 Northern Ireland com- Signifying Northern Ireland’s culinary rise are desserts after the show. panies garnered nearly 200 gold stars in the two newly Michelin-starred restaurants, Ox Toman sources fresh produce from 2015 Great Taste Awards, the Oscars of the U.K. culinary world. “I believe there is significant room for further growth,” states Terence Brannigan, chairman of Tourism Northern Ireland. “We have some of the best produce, the best chefs and the best restaurants in the world and the potential this has when it comes to tourism cannot be underestimated.” Boasting nine Michelin-starred restau- rants, the Republic of Ireland has an equally persuasive culinary tale. Belfast-born John ELAINE HILL ELAINE HILL OX’S “SEASONAL CREATIVITY” OX’S DESSERT MeetingsToday.com 39 39_MT_0616_Ireland.indd 39 5/16/16 1:50 PM BALLYWALTER PARK AND FRESH PICKED CARROTS FROM THE BALLYWALTER GARDENS honor of pleasure-seeking epicureans, his fine-dining return to glory is helmed by chef Danni Barry, whose Michelin win makes her only the second woman chef MARGARET JEFFARES in Ireland to earn the honor. Private dining space is available at all management organization offering diverse of Deane’s Belfast concepts, including off-the-shelf and customized programs such the Meat Locker and Love Fish. as culinary tours, incentives, teambuilding Belfast Bred is an entertaining foodie opportunities and showcase events with top Ballywalter Park in New- walking tour narrated by fictional Titanic chefs and producers for groups from 20 to townards, about 19 miles chef “Barney,” who leads groups on his 20,000 people. east of Belfast. Built between quest for ingredients to recreate the ill-fated “Deeply rooted in its culture, landscapes 1846 and 1870, the Italianate ship’s launch menu. Highlights include Bel- and people, Ireland’s vibrant food scene Palazzo-style main house, with nine double fast’s historic St George’s Market, one of the creates a unique sense of place,” Jeffares and two twin bedrooms, is available exclu- U.K.’s top food markets. says. “Visitors encounter food with a strong sively for corporate and incentive groups, Halfway between Belfast and Londonderry, local connection and sense of legacy, while overnights and buyouts included. Set on 1,200 the acclaimed restaurant at Ardtara Coun- increasing on-farm diversification amongst acres, the estate is the home of Lord Brian try House offers private dining for up to 20 primary producers has led to a wealth of new Mulholland, the 6th Baron Dunleath, and guests. Southeast of Belfast in Lisbane, the artisan food produce. It is this depth of farm- his Danish-born wife Lady Vibeke Dunleath. award-winning Poacher’s Pocket gastro-pub to-fork experience and ‘discoverability’ that Mulholland’s ancestors acquired the property hosts private dining and functions. Good Food Ireland highlights and showcases in 1848, and it is currently available for cultur- In the Republic of Ireland, Dublin’s five to the world.” al and historical tours as well as film shoots. Michelin-starred restaurants include peren- Representing the brand standard for “Following pioneers such as Myrtle Allen, nial favorite L’Ecrivain. Opened in 1989, this premium, authentic Irish culinary experienc- famed for her early approach to locally culinary charmer also offers private cooking es, Good Food Ireland’s 600-plus members, sourced, sustainable Irish country cooking demonstrations and two private rooms for 12 ranging from farmers and fishermen to at Ballymaloe House in County Cork and her to 20 people. Chef-owner Derry Clarke was hotels, restaurants, pubs and cooking schools, Ballymaloe Cookery School, the Irish culinary previously head chef at Michelin-starred Le means a feast of options for groups. scene has been much transformed over the Bon Appetit in coastal Malahide just north of These include Arbutus Bread in Cork last decade,” says Lady Dunleath, a food his- the city, which specializes in intimate gather- (founded by Declan Ryan, who won Ireland’s torian who oversees event catering for groups, ings for up to 65 people. first Michelin star in 1971); Dublin’s Aqua including dinners based on century-old An hour from Dublin in Ireland’s 5,000-year Restaurant, featuring winning seafood and sea- menus from the house. old Ancient East region, standouts include side views; Dingle Cookery School on Kerry’s “Regional, sustainable and seasonal are Michelin-starred Lady Helen, one of several rugged coast; and culinary adventures along today’s buzzwords in Ireland, where the dining venues at the Mount Juliet estate. the Causeway Coast or Wild Atlantic Way. benign climate allows us to grow practi- No Irish experience is complete without a cally anything,” she continues, describing Culinary Connections drink or more. Originated in 1759, Guinness everything from the harvest of the seas, such From pasture-raised beef and lamb and fresh- stout, one of the world’s most iconic beer as locally caught langoustines (prawns) and caught seafood and shellfish to uniquely brands, is a must at any pub, or via tours of the fresh fruit, salads and vegetables grown creamy dairy products, Ireland’s renown Dublin’s event-capable Guinness Storehouse in Ballywater’s walled garden and Victorian for top-class ingredients is no secret. The at the brewer’s original St. James Gate loca- glasshouses. hand-churned butter from Northern Ireland’s tion. Named for the small Northern Ireland Naming Ox as her personal favorite, she Abernethy Butter, for example, is all the rage village where it was founded in 1608, Bush- also acknowledges the “amazing” transforma- among leading chefs and establishments in mills, this island’s oldest working distillery, tion of Belfast’s culinary scene. Ireland and England. offers tastings and tours. “Our chefs are young and mostly classically Yet, it took the collective effort of deter- Featured festivals in Northern Ireland’s trained, which makes them both creative and mined chefs, restaurateurs and artisanal Year of Food and Drink include the famed inventive,” Lady Dunleath says. “Belfast Food producers to create the recent culinary renais- Hillsborough International Oyster Festival Tours is one option for groups, while Mourne sance—and visionaries like Margaret Jeffares and Bushmills Salmon & Whiskey Festival, Seafood Bar and James Street South are to develop a viable food tourism industry.