Meeting News - January 5, 2009 - (Page 30)

East Regional Seasonal Cruise Ships Take Burlington, VT, Groups on a Sail Lake Champlain vessels are becoming meetings venues that boast amenities and accommodate diverse groups When Mike Shea founded Green Mountain Boat Lines in 1984, his signature vessel was a 149-passenger paddle wheeler called the Spirit of Ethan Allen, which set sail from Burlington, VT, every summer and provided scenic tours of Lake Champlain. Since then, Shea’s company has expanded both its fleet and offerings, which now include theme dinners and charter cruises for corporate groups aboard Shea’s third-generation cruise liner, the Spirit of Ethan Allen III. “We do four scenic tours daily, and that’s how our company started,” said Rachel Connor, director of sales and marketing for the Spirit of Ethan Allen III. “We’ve evolved, however, and we’ve recently been trying to attract more meetings because we’ve realized that groups are really looking for something different.” According to Connor, Burlington has long been a popular meetings destination for New Englandbased groups, thanks to its natural mountain setting, nearby airport, and vibrant downtown, which includes several hotels, restaurants, and shops. It was only a matter of time, therefore, before groups found their way to Lake Champlain, which is over 110 miles long and bordered by New York to the west, Vermont to the east, and Quebec to the north. “The lake’s the perfect place for people who want to meet somewhere that’s inspirational,” Connor said. “We’re not set up for the traditional PowerPoint meeting; we’re more interested in meetings where people want to be surrounded by nature so that they can brainstorm, be creative, and build relationships.” Although the Lake Champlain area is ideally suited for smaller, more intimate meetings, the Spirit of Ethan Allen III can accommodate as many as 424 passengers on three separate decks: the Admiral Deck, which seats 210; the Horizon Deck, which seats 150; and the upper Sky Deck, which seats 100 and features retractable glass walls in order to facilitate open-air events. Although it’s the largest boat on Lake Champlain, the Spirit of Ethan Allen III isn’t the only one. In fact, Green Mountain Boat Lines launched a group-friendly yacht last year. Called the Mooncontinued on page 31 L I M I T E D O F F E R : AVA I L A B L E D E C E M B E R 1 , 2 0 0 8 - A P R I L 1 , 2 0 0 9 THE OTESAGA’S EXCLUSIVE WINTER MEETING PACKAGE From $225.00* Experience the relaxing winter beauty of one of New York State’s most distinctive conference resorts. Enjoy all the acclaimed meeting facilities, deluxe accommodations, fine dining experiences, and exciting winter recreational activities that will complement your meeting. • Deluxe accommodations starting at $225.00 single occupancy* • Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner included • One daily complimentary coffee break • Complimentary standard AV equipment • Complimentary meeting space • One VIP suite upgrade To preview our meeting facilities, please visit our website. Offer available for groups booking a minimum of 60 rooms per night. *300.00 double occupancy ($150.00 per person per day.) In America’s Most Perfect Village® For more information or to make reservations, please call Group Sales at (800) 348-6222 Ext. 3 THE OTESAGA RESORT HOTEL 60 LAKE STREET, COOPERSTOWN, NY 13326 (800) 348-6222/(607) 547-9931 (607) 547-9675 fax • www.Otesaga.com 30 MeetingNews January 5, 2009 www.meetingnews.com http://www.Otesaga.com http://www.Otesaga.com http://www.meetingnews.com

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Meeting News - January 5, 2009

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