Meeting Facilities in Indian Country

Meeting Facilities in Indian Country Meeting, Conference and Event Options on Tribal Lands Part I by A.J. Naff Meeting attendees can expect more from the meeting and convention facilities found in Indian Country. Whether hosting functions for 10 guests to over 2,000, the facilities in Indian Country provide the benefit of full-service properties, ensuring that attendees will find themselves in comfortable surroundings both in an out of the boardroom. This month, in part one of a two part series, Indian Gaming magazine takes a look at the wide variety of meeting options in Indian Country, covering the types of functions they host, the variety of space they offer, and the additional services they provide. Barona Band of Mission Indians Barona Valley Ranch Resort & Casino 1932 Wildcat Canyon Road Lakeside, CA 92040 (888) 722-7662 www.barona.com Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino provides approximately 80,000 sq. ft. of indoor function space throughout the property, most of which is in the Convention Center and Golf Events Center. Ready to accommodate corporate, association and golf group functions, Barona is also an ideal place for weddings and receptions. The Golf Events Center was designed to accommodate between 25 and 600 guests for a variety of functions including meeting, banquets, weddings and receptions. The Golf Events Center provides nearly 20,000 sq. ft. of flexible indoor, as well as outdoor, meeting space. The events center also features the 5,000 sq. ft. Oak Tree Ballroom, the 2,500 sq. ft. Creek Ballroom, a 3,100 sq. ft. pre-function area called the Fairway, and an additional 8,300 sq. ft. room just steps from the golf course. The Golf Events Center offers state-of-the-art audio and visual equipment, including both corded and wireless microphones, a variety of projection equipment and screens, and recording and playback devices. In addition, a comprehensive selection of meeting support services provided by expertly trained and experienced meeting and event planners. Barona also has a wedding chapel on site offering wedding guests a serene and pastoral setting. The chapel is situated on the edge of a small, tranquil lake with San Diego's rugged foothills as a backdrop. A variety of reception options is available, including lunch and dinner receptions. A full-service staff of event planners helps to organize the events from start to finish, including assisting with the décor. 400 deluxe guest rooms are available to meeting attendees for overnight functions. An array of dining options is available to attendees, as well, with creative menus from nine stylish dining venues. Guests can also relax and unwind during downtime at the Ambience Day Spa, a full-service venue featuring numerous treatments. Other recreation includes the spacious casino, housing 2,000 Vegas-style machines, and the award-winning Barona Creek Golf Club, featuring 18 challenging holes. 52 Indian Gaming November 2005

Pala Band of Mission Indians Pala Casino 35008 Pala Temecula Road, Pala, CA 92059 (760) 510-2182 www.palacasino.com Pala Casino Resort and Spa has 30,000 sq. ft. of fully equipped meeting and function space. With 17 flexible meeting rooms ranging in size from 411 to 957 sq. ft., eight of them over looking the garden and pool, and a spectacular 20,000 sq. ft. ballroom, Pala's facilities can accommodate just about any type of event. The 30,000 sq. ft. of meeting space at Pala can adapt to a variety of configurations. The 17 meeting rooms are ideal for small to mid-sized meetings and can accommodate groups from 10 to 125 people. The rooms also offer a variety of seating options, including theatre, classroom, banquet and conference. The Ballroom and the Pala Events Center provides 20,000 sq. ft. of continuous space that can be broken down into four smaller rooms, two of which measure 3,233 sq. ft. and two that measure 6,466 sq. ft. Ideal for large meetings and events, the Pala Events Center also provides a number of seating options, including theatre, classroom, banquet and conference. Pala also offers an intimate outdoor wedding area that can accommodate up to 175 guests. For those expecting more wedding guests, the Event Lawn and Events Center can accommodate up to 1,000 guests. Wedding services provided by Pala include outdoor ceremonies, bridal showers and rehearsal dinners, special room rates for guests, and bridal suites. Pala also provides a complete audio and visual setup, running the full gambit from access to PowerPoint presentations to video and audio equipment, including microphones and speakers. Pala houses eight restaurants and a full catering department, so catering is also available for meetings and events. Catering can be arranged in a separate room or in the same room as any function. Pala Casino Resort and Spa is a full-service property, offering meeting attendees a variety of recreational options during downtime. Pala's casino houses 2,250 state-of-the-art gaming machines and 85 table games. Guests can also enjoy a variety of venues that feature live entertainment. Pala Spa provides a relaxing environment with 14 treatments rooms and a full-service salon. Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians Pechanga Resort & Casino 45000 Pechanga Parkway Formerly Pala Road Temecula, CA 92592 (951) 303-2443 www.pechanga.com Pechanga Resort & Casino offers style, elegance and professionalism for events with up to 2,000 guests. Pechanga is also an ideal spot for small to mid-size conferences and meetings, not only because of the ease of event planning and the execution it offers, but also because of its meeting space surroundings. Pechanga Resort & Casino's meeting and function facilities include more than 45,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting and convention space, including the 25,000 sq. ft. Grand Ballroom, which is divisible into three separate meeting rooms. Thirty-two conference and breakout rooms, plus the 1,200-seat Theater Showroom, in all accommodate November 2005 Indian Gaming 53

up to 3,000 people. Also included is a 10,000 sq. ft. pre-function area and outdoor waterfall patio. The Pechanga audio/visual department is manned by seven trained technicians who can set up state-of-theart equipment to the exact specifications of clients. All of Pechanga's meeting facilities feature high speed Internet with wireless LAN capabilities. Laptop and PC presentations are no problem, as most meeting rooms feature drop down projection screens. Other equipment available includes DVD, CD and VHS players, satellite and closed circuit television, and plasma screen televisions. Pechanga features a dedicated banquet kitchen and award-winning banquet chef reserved specifically to cater to the needs and wishes of those booking events, meetings and conventions. Additionally, Pechanga features a dedicated catering department capable of handling the smallest to the largest of details, including centerpieces, music, booth arrangements, and lighting. Meeting planners and business professionals will be pleased to find the Pechanga Business Center open throughout the day. All major office needs can be taken care of for you - Internet workstation rentals, copying, faxing, shipping. Other resort amenities include the Pechanga Health Club & Spa, a variety of headliner entertainment, and 522 luxury hotel rooms and suites. Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Foxwoods Resort Casino 39 Norwich Westerly Rd. Mashantucket, CT 06338 (800) 488-7777 www.foxwoods.com Foxwoods Resort Casino houses more than 55,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, and can host everything from national tradeshows and conventions to sales meetings and private board meetings. No matter the size of the event, Foxwoods functions have two things in common guest comfort and productivity. The Grand Ballroom at Foxwoods Resort & Casino offers guests 25,228 sq. ft. of meeting space divisible into five sections in addition to a spacious pre-function area. The facility can accommodate up to 165 8 x10 trade show booths with no columns and 23-foot ceilings. The Mezzanine Level houses three spacious and flexible meeting rooms divisible into two and three sections each, in addition to an executive boardroom. These meeting rooms are ideal for smaller meetings, workshops, and banquets and seating can accommodate up to 450 people. The Tenth Floor Meeting Rooms include eight individual meeting rooms, which are perfect for breakout sessions, small meetings, and banquets for 20 to 40 people. The Sunset Ballroom is located in the Great Cedar Hotel and can be divided into three sections with a spacious pre-function area. Additionally, all of the meeting rooms at Foxwoods are equipped with high-speed Internet access. Foxwoods' expertly trained and experienced staff, from convention services personnel to the front desk people and courteous valet parking attendants, will ensure guests' complete satisfaction. Whether meetings call for a simple reception, a lavish banquet, or a special theme party, the catering staff works with guests to arrange every detail and create the perfect menu. In addition to superb accommodations and meeting space, Foxwoods Catering Department is able to provide a variety of menus to please every palate, offering a variety of selections for breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as refreshment breaks and cocktail receptions. As the world's largest casino, Foxwoods offers meeting attendees a variety of entertainment and recreational options, including Lake of Isles, Foxwoods' championship golf course. Additionally, a variety of entertainment options is available, including some of the top names in show business. Many dining options are available, as well, serving everything from international and gourmet cuisine to deli-style fare. 54 Indian Gaming November 2005

Miccosukee Tribal Indians of Florida Miccosukee Resort & Gaming Center 500 SW 177th Ave Miami, FL 33194 (877) 242-6464 www.miccosukee.com The meeting space available at Miccosukee Resort and Convention Center is highly flexible and can be configured to meet a wide variety of breakout requirements, with up to nine breakouts possible. The facilities include a 10,000 sq. ft. Ballroom with moveable wall panels, 26,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space, two boardrooms, hospitality suites, state-of-the-art audio/visual equipment, phone, voicemail, and modem hookup. With a specially-trained staff and over 46,000 square feet of flexible meeting and banquet space, Miccosukee Resort and Convention Center can host groups as small as ten or as large as 1,800. The grand ballroom offers 10,716 sq. ft. of luxurious meeting room space. An additional 10,423 sq. ft. of space is available in the entertainment dome, which is ideal for trade show and exhibition exhibits. The facilities are prepared to accommodate almost any client ranging from intimate meetings to lavish dinners for over 1,000 guests. A full range of audio and visual equipment is available onsite and through third party vendors. Guests are welcome to bring their own equipment as well. The banquet staff can work with the client to provide any required setups from a simple conference to the most extravagant presentation. The resort boasts five on-site restaurants, three bars, and round the clock free shuttle service from Miami International Airport. Miccosukee Resort & Gaming also offers 24-hour casino-style action with over 1,500 video pull-tabs, high stakes bingo, poker and lightning lotto. Miccosukee Golf and Country Club is home to the Nationwide Golf Tour, and is just minutes away. Shuttles provide transportation to this beautiful course with 27 holes of championship golf. The hotel offers 302 guest rooms, with 48 suites and state-of-the-art room accommodations and amenities. The state-of-the-art business center offers secretarial assistance, translation service, computers, word processing, photocopying, and faxing and mail courier services. Seminole Tribe of Florida Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino 5223 N. Orient Rd. Tampa, FL 3361 (866) 762-5463 www.seminolehardrock.com The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino provides guests with 10,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, including the plush 7,920 sq. ft. Grand Ballroom, which can fit most any type of function. The Seminole Hard Rock caters to corporate and association functions, as well as social functions for day and evening events. In addition to the Grand Ballroom, the meeting facilities include eight breakout rooms that range in size from 900 to 1,080 sq. ft. The facilities provide classroom seating for 450 guests, banquet seating for 500 guests, reception seating for 700 guests and theatre seating for 1,000 guests. The facilities can easily accommodate sales meetings, product launches and seminars. Every kind of audio and visual equipment a function might need is provided, as well as an in-house state-of-the-art sound system. The facility also houses a business center with Internet access. Additionally, the Grand Ballroom provides two November 2005 Indian Gaming 55

Internet outlets for each breakout room, totaling 16 outlets, but the number of ports and hookups can be increased according to the needs of the guests. Seminole Hard Rock also offers 250 luxurious hotel rooms, ideal for overnight functions, as well as a full-service health club and spa. Attendees can also enjoy live entertainment nightly, a variety of dining options, a tropical pool, a variety of recreational activities, and a full concierge department that can set up any off-property function. Guests will also be surrounded by millions of dollars worth of rock music memorabilia, which is displayed throughout the property. Tunica Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana Paragon Casino Resort 711 Paragon Place Marksville, LA 71351 (800) 946-1946 ext. 2058 www.paragoncasinoresort.com The meeting space at Paragon Casino Resort offers many options for group functions of most any size, including a spacious hall and three conference rooms. Offering comfortable, elegant surroundings and a professional staff, the facilities at Paragon can be arranged in a variety of combinations to suit most occasions. The Mári Center is a 30,000 sq. ft. hall that can facilitate conventions, banquets and events of all kinds. Ideal for lectures, performances, product introductions, and training seminars, the Mári Center can accommodate the largest of groups with ease. The hall can even be outfitted with a complete professional concert stage, audio system and dramatic lighting. Additionally, a variety of seating options are available, including theatre, classroom, banquet and tradeshow configurations. The three conference rooms at Paragon, which measure 952 sq. ft. each, are comfortable and versatile options for small to mid-sized meetings and functions. Divisible by retractable, soundproof walls, the conference rooms can be combined for a total area of 2,856 sq. ft. Numerous seating options are available for the conference rooms, as well, including classroom, banquet, theatre, and can even accommodate 18 tradeshow tables when all three rooms are combined. Meeting attendees will also find many amenities at their disposal, such as a built-in P.A. system, audio and visual equipment, cable television, and wireless Internet access. The banqueting office at Paragon can prepare customized menus tailored to the guests' specificity. The property also offers a resort hotel with comfortable rooms, Jacuzzi suites, a pool and outdoor spa. Meeting attendees will find many recreational options for their downtime, such as the 74,120 sq. ft. casino with over 2,100 slot machines and 46 gaming tables. Tamahka Trails Golf Club, which was ranked the #4 course in Louisiana by Golf Digest, offers 18 holes suited to all skill levels. Bay Mills Indian Community Bay Mills Resort & Casino 11386 W. Lakeshore Dr. Brimely, MI 49715 (888) 422-9645 ext. 2226 www.4baymills.com Bay Mills Resort and Casino can accommodate meetings of all types in a spectacular setting with a variety of entertainment for guests. Besides the exciting casino atmosphere, business meetings are just a chip shot away from Wild Bluff, a Golf Digest-rated 4-1/2 star18-hole championship golf course. Bay Mills Resort & Casinos' Horizons Conference Center offers 5,000 sq. ft. of versatile meeting space, which divides into three meeting rooms. Accommodating groups from 10 to 300 with an on-site conference coordinator, all 56 Indian Gaming November 2005

meetings from business to reunions, weddings and more are welcome. The conference center provides theatre, classroom and banquet seating for groups of 10 to 300. Audio and visual equipment is provided, as well, including a 27 TV, DVD and VHS players, overhead and slide projectors, portable and ceiling-mounted screens, and wireless microphones. Wireless Internet access is also available. Other amenities include a spacious dance floor, whiteboards, and lecterns. Portable bars and flowers are on hand for more intimate functions and a photographer and entertainment are available for more formal occasions. Overnight accommodations can be made at the 142-room hotel. Guests also have numerous dining options with five restaurants and lounges. Additionally, Bay Mills offers a year-round recreational property with two casinos, an 18- hole championship golf course, hundreds of miles of groomed trails, and snowmobile rentals. A variety of area attractions is also available, including Iroquois Point Light House and Whitefish Point Shipwreck Museum. Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians Grand Traverse Resort & Spa 100 Grand Traverse Village Blvd. Acme, MI 49610 (800) 236-1577 www.grandtraverseresort.com Grand Traverse Resort and Spa offers 85,000 sq. ft. of versatile meeting space for groups ranging in size from 10 to 2,500. The facilities include private boardrooms, ballrooms, expansive convention centers and outdoor function areas. An experienced conference planning staff is also available to assist groups with meeting agendas. The Michigan Ballroom is set on the main floor and offers over 9,000 sq. ft. for groups up to 1,100. The ballroom is perfect for large assemblies, motivational speaking events, conventions, trade shows, or graduations. The halls can also be divided into as many as eight smaller divisions of varying size for greater flexibility. A spacious pre-function area is conveniently located just outside the ballroom. Grand Traverse also offers two Exhibit Halls, which total more than 30,000 sq. ft. of function space. The space is available in a variety of seating options, including classroom, banquet and theatre. The three Valleyview facilities, the East Bay Room, Williamsburg Boardroom, and the Valleyview Room, offer a wide variety of meeting space options. The Valleyview facilities total approximately 1,600 sq. ft. and offer a variety of seating options for board meetings, planning sessions, retreat functions, and workshops. The Governors' Hall provides over 20,000 sq. ft. of function space for groups up to 2,200. For greater flexibility, the hall can be divided into as many as six smaller rooms ranging in size from 2,688 to 6,720 sq. ft. For added variety, meeting attendees can gather in the spacious pre-function area adjacent to the hall itself. The Tower Ballroom houses more than 6,000 sq. ft. of function space for groups up to 500. The ballroom is divisible into three smaller rooms measuring approximately 1,600 sq. ft. each. The Council Room and Director's Room offer ideal function space for small to mid-sized groups. Measuring 1,170 sq. ft. each, the rooms are highlighted by a large outdoor picture window that opens onto an outdoor courtyard. Pre-function space is available outside each of the rooms, as well. The Peninsula Room and Mackinac Room offer more than 6,000 sq. ft. of meeting space for mid-sized to large groups. Each room is divisible into as many as three sections for added flexibility. Grand Traverse Resort and Spa also offers meeting attendees a total of 660 guestrooms, including 424 Hotel & Tower guestrooms and 236 condominiums. A variety of guest services is available, as well, such as airport shuttle service and baggage handling. The resort is also home to three 18-hole golf courses and a 100,000 sq. ft. spa complex. November 2005 Indian Gaming 57