Executive retreats: three meeting places for strategic thinking and team building.

• Author: Held, Shari
• Position: MEETINGS & CONVENTIONS - Directory

Swan Lake Resort. Swan Lake Resort in Plymouth has two championship golf courses, is home to the U.S. Golf Academy and recently added indoor golf with the latest in professional technology, including full-swing golf simulators, loft launcher and video analysis to help people improve their game. Not surprisingly, it is known for its golf.

What is not as well known is that the resort has a 3-year-old conference center with 20,000 square feet of functional, versatile meeting space. The centerpiece is its 10,640-square-foot Grand Ballroom, with adjoining lobby, which is divisible into three salons. It features built-in A/V and digital equipment. A boardroom and several breakout rooms make the facility adaptable for groups as small as five people to as large as 1,500. The resort can accommodate sit-down dinners for up to 800 people.

Jeannette Teall, director of group sales, says the resort provides complimentary upgrades for corporate VIPs, discounted group hotel rates and negotiable meeting room rentals based on the number of hotel room reservations.

The resort's 92 hotel rooms, six country cottages and four log cabins were renovated last summer. Amenities include indoor and outdoor pools, saunas, whirlpools, massage therapists, spa and fitness center, tennis, tanning room and a fishing lake. It also has the only Sam Sneed Restaurant and Lounge in the Midwest, decorated with more than $50,000 of golf memorabilia.

"We are all-inclusive," says Teall. "Companies can come here for their meetings and everything they need is on the property They love the convenience."

The Columbus Inn Bed and Breakfast. Built in 1985, the Romanesque-style building that was once the Columbus City Hall is the city's only three-diamond (a AAA designation) bed and breakfast. The building, which is listed on the Historic Register, retains many original features, such as the terra cotta tile in the lobby, tin ceilings and hand-carved solid oak woodwork and is decorated with antique Victorian-era furnishings.

The inn's 29 rooms and five suites have solid cherry furnishings from the American Empire Period. A complimentary hearty "heartland" breakfast is served daily

The facility, which is within walking distance of downtown Columbus, is the perfect setting for small business meetings and corporate retreats. Its two meeting rooms are equipped with built-in projector screens and wireless Internet. One room can accommodate up to 25 people comfortably and the other, 50. Catering is available.

"We are a unique property," says Chester Dingus, general manager. "Our public areas tend to be a lot quieter than those in bigger hotels. It is a little more homey and has a more relaxed atmosphere."

Loeb House Inn Bed & Breakfast. Once the private residence of the Loeb family, the Loeb House became Lafayette's first bed and breakfast in 1996. Built in 1882, the Grand Italianate-style home is located in the city's historical district near the downtown area. It features ornate ceiling medallions, crown molding, fireplaces, chandeliers and parquet floors.

The five guest rooms all have private baths and showers--three with whirlpools and two with antique bathtubs. Amenities include turn-down service, complimentary mint and aperitif, cable TV and phone in each room, afternoon tea in the "Grand Old Victorian tradition," a full breakfast with homemade muffins, breads and pastries and a Butler's pantry with a refrigerator filled with complimentary soft drinks. Massages and facials are also available.

Meetings for up to 30 people can be held in the double parlor, the former library/drawing room, and the dining room. Sit-down dinners can be served for up to 40 people, and owner Dick Nagel will handle all catering services and equipment rentals. A TV, VCR, copier, fax machine and wireless Internet are available.

"Most of our events are one-day events and local-area events," Nagel says. "But we have held three-day workshops here. We can take care of whatever you need."

NORTHWEST INDIANA

AVALON MANOR BANQUET CENTER

3550 E. U.S. 30

Merrillville, IN 46410

219/945-0888

Meeting space: 15-1,100 people, extensive A/V equipment, custom-size rooms

BLUE CHIP HOTEL & CASINO

2 Easy Street

Michigan City, IN 46360

219/879-7711, 888/879-7711

THE CALUMET CONFERENCE CENTER AT PURDUE UNIVERSITY CALUMET

2300 173rd St.

Hammond, IN 46323

219/989-3136

Meeting space: 9,200 sq. ft.

CENTER FOR VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS

1040 Ridge Rd.

Munster, IN 46321

219/836-1950

Meeting space: Banquet and meeting facilities for up to 400 guests in the dining room, smaller meeting rooms available

GENESIS CENTER

1 Genesis Center Plaza

Gary, IN 46402

219/882-5505

Meeting space: 72,000 sq. ft.

HAMPTON INN

1777 W. Hi-point Dr.

LaPorte, IN 46350

219/362-6100

Meeting space: 700 sq. ft.

HAMPTON INN

6353 Melton Rd.

Portage, IN 46368

219/764-1919

Meeting space: 950 sq. ft., up to 15 people

HAMPTON INN & SUITES

1451 Silhavy Rd.

Valparaiso, IN 46383

219/531-6424

Meeting space: Up to 75 people

HARRAH'S EAST CHICAGO CASINO & HOTEL

777 Harrah's Blvd.

East Chicago, IN 46312

219/378-3000, 877/496-1777

Meeting space: 2 ballrooms and 1 library

HOLIDAY INN EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE CENTER

5820 Franklin St.

Michigan City, IN 46360

219/879-0311,800/HOLIDAY

Meeting space: 3,000 sq. ft.

INDIAN OAK RESORT & SPA

558 Indian Boundary Rd.

Chesterton, IN 46304

219/926-2200, 800/552-4232

Meeting space: 7,500 sq. ft. of total space with lake view, including 7 meeting rooms

INN AT ABERDEEN

3158 S. State Road 2

Valparaiso, IN 46385

219/465-3753

Meeting space: Dinners for 64. Receptions for 120. Board/classroom for up to 48.

MAJESTIC STAR CASINO & HOTEL

One Buffington Harbor

Gary, IN 46406

219/977-7406, 888/2BLUCKY

Meeting space: 1 up to 400, 1 up to 150, 1 up to 50 & 1 conference room

RADISSON HOTEL AT STAR PLAZA

800 E. 81st Ave.

Merrillville, IN 46410

219/769-6311 ext. 5321, 800/333-3333

Meeting space: 67,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting/banquet facilities; 21 rooms plus the adjoining 3,400-seat Star Plaza Theatre

RAMADA & CONFERENCE CENTER

4141 Calumet Ave.

Hammond, IN 46320

219/933-0500, 800/562-5987

Meeting space: 16,000 sq. ft.

SOUTH BEND & NORTHERN INDIANA

CENTURY CENTER CONVENTION COMPLEX

120 S. St. Joseph St.

South Bend, IN 46601

574/235-9711

Meeting space: 75,000 sq. ft. of flexible function space: three carpeted exhibit halls, two ballrooms, 18 meeting rooms, and two theaters.

COMFORT SUITES

404 North Pointe Blvd.

Elkhart, IN 46514

574/206-1555, 800/228-5150

Meeting space: 1 room; 150 people

CULVER COVE RESORT AND CONFERENCE CENTER

319 E. Jefferson St.

Culver, IN 46511

574/842-2683, 800/the cove

Meeting space: 7,200 sq. ft.; can accommodate up to 250 in largest room

ESSENHAUS INN & CONFERENCE CENTER

240 U.S. 20, P.O. Box 1217

Middlebury, IN 46540

574/825-9471, 800/455-9471

Meeting space: 4,667 sq. ft. of meeting space on main level, can be divided into 3 individual conference rooms; on the second floor, 15-seat board room

HOLIDAY INN

3550 E. Market St.

Logansport, IN 46947

5741753-6351, 800/HOLIDAY

Meeting space: 3,000 sq. ft.

HOLIDAY INN CITY CENTER

213 W. Washington

South Bend, IN 46601

574/232-3941

Meeting space: Can hold 20 to 350 people

HONEYWELL CENTER

275 W. Market

Wabash, IN 46992

260/563-1102

Meeting space: 40,629 square feet in 13 different rooms

JAMESON INN ELKHART

3010 Brittany Court

Elkhart, IN 46514

574/264-7222, 800/822-5262

Meeting space: 2 conference rooms for up to 150 people; 1 holding up to 100 and the other up to 50 theater style

SOUTH BEND MARRIOTT

123 N. Saint Joseph St.

South Bend, IN 46601

5741234-2000, 800/328-7349

Meeting space: 10,000 sq. ft., total capacity of meeting rooms is 400 people

SWAN LAKE RESORT & CONFERENCE CENTER

5203 Plymouth-LaPorte Trail

Plymouth, IN 46563

574/935-5680, 800/582-7539

Meeting space: Numerous conference rooms seating up to 1,000; 23,000 sq. ft. of function space indoors and on-the-patio including a state-of-the-art classic 10,640 sq. ft. Masters Ballroom and 12 breakout rooms of varying size

UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME CENTER FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION

Notre Dame Ave.

Notre Dame, IN 46556

574/631-6691

Meeting space: 70,000 sq. ft. meeting space available, 12 conference rooms with seating for up to 390

FORT WAYNE & NORTHEAST INDIANA

ALLEN COUNTY WAR MEMORIAL COLISEUM & EXPOSITION CENTER

4000 Parnell Ave.

Fort Wayne, IN 46805

260/482-9502

Meeting space: 185,000 sq. ft.

AUBURN CORD DUESENBERG MUSEUM

1600 S. Wayne St.

Auburn, IN 46706

260/925-1444

Meeting space: Classic cars fill the 1930 art deco showrooms of the museum, which can accommodate daytime meetings, corporate dinners or weekend receptions, providing full bar service with the museum galleries remaining open during the event

DON HALL'S GUESTHOUSE

1313 W. Washington Center Rd.

Fort Wayne, IN 46825

260/489-2524, 800/348-1999

Meeting space: 6,000 sq. ft.

GRAND WAYNE...