For Virginia Meier, director of conferences and events for the Colorado Springs-based National Strength and Conditioning Association, hosting meetings close to home is the way to go.
“Our group is quite athletic and health conscious, so the appeal of Colorado Springs is endless with all of the outdoor activities and its distinction for being one of the healthiest cities. Colorado Springs provides an excellent backdrop for us,” says Meier, who’s worked in the hotel industry and lived in Colorado Springs for more than 20 years.
The city also offers flexible options for the association’s needs. With several educational and leadership events a year and a recent event in October that hosted guests from more than 30 countries, Meier seeks meeting facilities with variety and consistency. Venues that offer a delicate balance between affordability and aesthetics are also appealing to the association.
“We have held meetings from 15 to 475 people in Colorado Springs all over the city,” she says. “Our organization has had several successful events at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort. The staff is always excellent. We utilize the Doubletree quite frequently as it is located very close to our national headquarters. They have done a nice job. So we get around the city quite a bit.”
Recently, the association selected Hilton Antlers for its downtown location to host its October International Strength Training Conference, aimed at furthering its mission statement. The hotel’s facilities were used for lectures, interactive poster sessions, lunches, snacks and accommodations.
“This was our first chance to use Hilton Antlers,” Meier says. “Its downtown location made it great for our international guests to explore and enjoy the downtown environment.”
Meier also likes to utilize the Cheyenne Mountain Resort, Doubletree, Hampton and Residence Inn for sleeping rooms and host meetings at the association’s headquarters. She also hosts meetings off-site at either Cheyenne Mountain Resort or Antlers, using their meeting rooms for both general sessions and breakouts.
“We also had a spectacular VIP reception at the Garden of the Gods Club during our October event. They were over-the-top with food and service,” Meier says.
Activities in between meetings are optional and kept open-ended for attendees.
“Our group tends to be free-spirited and likes to explore on their own, so we allow free time to hike in Cheyenne Canyon and Garden of the Gods,” Meier says. “They particularly enjoy the challenge of the Manitou Incline. For the recent event at Hilton Antlers, we did tours of the Olympic Training Center and Garden of the Gods.”
