Meeting News - May 19, 2008 - (Page 24)

Destination Insider: Reno-Lake Tahoe Happy (Water) Trails On the Lakefront The new Lake Tahoe Water Trail allows paddlers to plan a custom canoe or kayak trip around the 72mile shoreline of the famous lake. The trail map includes information about access points, resting places, campgrounds, points of interest, and related facilities. Individuals can design their own forays on the trail, which is free and open to the public, or group excursions can be arranged through a guide service, such as Tahoe Adventure Company. allow Reno groups, which typically include family guests, to take over the entire facility. Catch of the Day: Fresh Tahoe Museums The Maritime Museum in Homewood reopens this month in a new 5,800-sf facility with interactive exhibits. Reminiscent of an old boathouse, the museum showcases the history of boating in Lake Tahoe. Watercraft on display includes an 1890s excursion boat and a rare 1912 Canadian-built displacement boat. The Tahoe City Field Lab, also known as the Historic Fish Hatchery, is scheduled to reopen in August with a $3-million restoration. Future plans include the restoration of the surrounding three acres and an interpretive education center and demonstration garden. A kiosk attached to the historic hatchery will provide information on the historic uses of the building for fish rearing, the life cycle, and ongoing research. Reno Museum Waiting for Discovery in ’09 Construction on the $18-million Nevada Discovery Museum (www.nvdm.org) is on schedule, with the facility slated to open in October 2009. The museum, built around families and fun learning, will have exhibits on subjects ranging from space and science, to art and archeology with a northern Nevada bent. Located in the former Reno City Hall, the 70,000-sf building will feature a historic atrium area available for receptions; 5,000 sf of multi-purpose, high-tech equipped function space for meetings and special events; 18,000 sf of permanent and traveling exhibit space; 5,000 sf ongoing program space, with a series of hands-on experiences; and on-site, underground parking. The museum will Kayaking is one Tahoe’s many R&R options. continued from page 22 audiovisual presentations, and teleconferencing. Banquets of up to 130 people can be held in the room, with receptions for 100 possible on a new outdoor patio situated above the Mountain Stream room. The expansion brings the total square footage of meeting space at the mountain resort, which has 276 studio to three-bedroom condominiums, up to 7,500 sf. Firm Helms a Hilton Garden Inn in Reno & Reflags Property to Holiday Inn in Sparks While a new midrange property came on line in Reno this spring, another essentially new hotel for small meetings was announced for year-end arrival in Sparks. A 135-room, five-story Hilton Garden Inn opened in southern Reno in March with 1,920 sf of meeting space, a 24-hour business center, and the Great American Grill restaurant. At the same time, Crescent Hotels & Resorts has signed on to manage the 220-room Quality Inn in Sparks. Plans are under way to convert the property to a Holiday Inn, following the completion of a $6-million renovation that will upgrade all guest rooms, public spaces, and the property’s 8,000 sf of meeting space to Holiday Inn brand standards. Feel the Thrill of the Chill ong a haven for downhill skiers, Lake Tahoe has recently begun to offer more off-slope activities. • Skijoring, a Norwegian sport that is a cross between cross-country skiing and dogsledding, is becoming more popular. • Dog-sledding excursions, including moonlight expeditions, are offered in Olympic Valley at Sugar Bowl Ski Resort and off Highway 89 north of Truckee. • Horse-drawn sleigh rides go through the meadows of Squaw Valley. • Moonlight snowshoe tours are offered by Northstar-at-Tahoe, Squaw Valley USA, and Sugar Pine Point State Park. • Ice fishing is available on Boca, Prosser, and Stampede Reservoirs outside of Truckee. Maps, tips, and equipment can be found at Mountain Hardware in Truckee. • Winter fishing on Lake Tahoe can be arranged through Mickey’s Big Mack L Charters at Carnelian Bay or Reel Deal Sportfishing in Tahoe City. Moonlight snowshoe tours are available. Nice Rock: Two South Lake Tahoe Hotels Treat Meeting Planners as ‘Diamond’ VIPs Sister resorts 513-room Harrah’s and 758-room Harveys Lake Tahoe introduced their new Meeting Diamond program in April. Similar to the company’s Las Vegas properties, the Diamond Card provides benefits to VIP group planners and decisionmakers during their stays at either hotel. Benefits include VIP check-in; access to the private Diamond Lounge, with complimentary food, beverages, and amenities; priority service at restaurants; complimentary use of fitness facilities; priority valet parking service; and complimentary priority access to the VEX nightclub. continued on page 26 www.meetingnews.com 24 MeetingNews May 19, 2008 http://www.nvdm.org http://www.meetingnews.com

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Meeting News - May 19th, 2008 Contents What’s Up @ MeetingNews.com Hotels & Resorts CVBs Destination Insider: Reno-Lake Tahoe Advertisers Index Insider Report: Midwest Meetings Live from the Forum

Meeting News - May 19th, 2008

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