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Weekly UpdatesWhether it's a murder mystery, or a survivor theme, corporate meetings can be fun, educational and meet the goals of an organization.
Instead of a traditional meeting with a standard meal, try one of the following fun events of create one of your own.
NO FORKS!
Joann Spears, catering director at the Millennium Hotel in Anchorage, has been offering themed meals and menus for functions this last year.
One corporation planned a survivor theme for its annual meeting. Participants were divided into different groups called tribes. No silverware was set out for the meal. The groups had to work to get silverware for their group. The manager of each department was the head of that particular tribe.
Another themed meal Spears offers: Hawaiian luau with a roasted pig. "Some of our cooks have lived in Hawaii and prepare authentic dishes," says Spears.
The Mexico Trade Industry chose to do a Mexican theme with decorations. Their event happens once a year in October.
One tour group has chosen to have a barbeque theme for the whole summer. Tables and chairs and linen are set outside, the chefs cook outside, and the weekly tour groups enjoy the outside atmosphere of float planes, blue skies, fair weather and a sniff of barbeque.
The standard cookies and sodas are not as popular any more, so Spears has new items on the menu and they have had a good response.
The Sunday Shoppe Theme offers scooped house-made ice cream with different toppings-caramel, strawberry, nuts and whipped cream-also sodas and coffee service.
An old-fashioned popcorn machine comes with the Seventh Inning Stretch-also ball franks, pretzels, mustard and red vines-for an afternoon break.
The healthy break choice includes granola and pretzels.
These types of themes are all encompassing instead of a la carte.
Martini bars provide an upscale idea for weddings, rather than just a hosted bar. Nonalcoholic options, of latte/espresso beverages, are also good choices.
High Tea is still popular for woman's functions-with scones, Scotties and finger sandwiches.
While the hotel catering business may have seen some decline in past years, retreats are now rebooking. Spears notes more holiday parties booked this last year than the previous year.
INCENTIVES
Carol Hart, President of Insight Services, says many corporations are holding meetings with incentives. One group recently had a miniature golf theme based on incentives and team building. Another group had a survivor theme with incentives-groups had to work themselves off a mountain.
Culture themes have been popular, usually with an incentive. Food, centerpieces, decorations and entertainment are organized around Native, American Indian or Russian Orthodox themes, for example. The group may go offsite to learn about more aspects of a culture.
Education around the world is another ethnic theme. Corporation meetings may bring people from different parts of the United States. Even different modes of transportation within the groups-boat, train or automobile--are examined.
SITKA CATAMARAN & NATIVE FOOD THEMES
The traditional foods coordinator from the Sitka Tribe of Alaska, which promotes the Sheet'ka Kwaan Naa Kahadi building for conferences, meetings, public and private events, says if the Tribe is hosting an event, such as a meeting or conference, traditional Alaska Native foods like herring eggs, halibut, sockeye salmon, king salmon, black seaweed, venison, salmonberries, blueberries and huckleberries are served.
Other groups with conferences in Sitka may choose to have a cocktail catamaran for a business dinner activity while viewing whales, sea otters, sea lions, puffins and wildlife.
STAR WARS THEME
President Char McClelland, of Alaska Destination Specialists, says one company from Germany used the Star Wars theme for its meeting with top sales people from all around the world. For the opening reception, participants were greeted by Darth Vader and proceeded to watch a staged fight with actors. The two CEOs repelled in at this cocktail party. There was an explosion on the roof, stunt men, and quite the set up. Later, the band wore alien costumes. Each participant was given a Star Trek T-shirt to wear. The whole evening looked very futuristic with the lighting.
One company had a kayak relay race. Each team received a box of stuff and had to create an alien costume, which was graded.
One group had human dog sleds. The opposing team was allowed to put two people into the other team's sled.
Other organized activities include 4-wheeling, ATVs or an obstacle course rally.
Team building may include a fly-out to a fishing lodge with a tournament.
On a road rally, each team has to figure out from a list of clues where to go, with the winners receiving prizes.
ALOHA THEME
Yes, you can have a pig with pineapple and all your favorite Aloha foods. Of course, you must come dressed Aloha-style with your favorite Hawaiian clothes. The decorations will all follow the theme, and the Hawaiian menu, and the Hawaiian music. Participants will be greeted at the door with, of course, leis.
MURDER MYSTERY
If a client wants to do something fun, a meeting planner can organize a murder mystery dinner. Actors can be hired for the entertainment of the evening and whoever guesses who dun it will win the door prize.
IDITAROD THEME
Convention Services Manager Glee Anderson of the Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau says the Iditarod theme has really taken off the last couple of years. Interest has exploded at the national level. More groups are booking events around that time of year in Alaska.
For example, a group called the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, whose conference this year was held in Milwaukee, who normally meet in April every year, backed their meeting to March with the sole purpose of booking their meeting in Alaska around the time of the Iditarod so their group could have that experience.
"It's amazing to me. We rarely talk to someone who is not aware of the Iditarod," said Anderson.
Art Services North once set up an avalanche party at the day lodge at Alyeska. The 24-foot walls were hung with white vinyl. A cascading avalanche with fake snow, hall of a log cabin, and slanted trees amid mounds of snow greeted all who entered. Superman's crystal palace was another creation, says Darl Schaaff, owner.
Lindsey Silver, promotions manager for the Anchorage Media Group, says a rock 'n' roll theme was quite successful. Poodle skirts, 50's, 60's, 70's music, records, a jukebox, and cutouts of James Dean and Marilyn Monroe were part of the decor.
EMPLOYEE SUITCASE PARTY
Employees come to an evening event with their suitcases packed for a weekend getaway. Some lucky employee at the end of the evening will win an all-expense paid trip to an unknown destination. After dinner, games and dancing, the lucky winners are swept off in a limo to the airport to board a flight to a destination such as Seattle or San Diego. The weekend includes their accommodations, car rental, area activities and spending money for meals.
Karen Zak, general manager for Visions Meeting & Event Management, says event planners may have a warehouse full of theme props available for most any theme from disco to the Wheel of Fortune.
LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE
After a full day of educational sessions, a medical group's evening included a comedian, a chocolate fountain, a mashed potato station and gadgets on the tables such sponge noses, noise makers and funny glasses.
A group in Ketchikan had a neon bowling party with team shirts and contests.
It is easy to order sequin masks, metallic bead necklaces, metallic purple, green and gold balloons, metallic coins, banners and feather masks for a Mardi Gras theme. Then just add a live band and dancing.
WILD WILD WEST
Last year, the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce had a Wild Wild West theme with a train ride for their annual fall membership drive. The Alaska 49ers, a pistol-shooting group, staged a robbery, boarding the train at Bird Creek. "It was a blast!" says President Stacy Schubert, and Laura Johnson, membership service and events coordinator.
Another event, "Back to Bedrock" with the Flintstones, costumes and all, was a hit with the chairman rolling in in a Bedrock car. The Anchorage theme was "Back to Anchor'rock" actually.
ALASKA THEMES
Alyeska Prince Resort Corporate Sales Manager Kathryn Stone says team building can include activities like snowshoe soccer or igloo building.
McClelland has brought ice carvers from Fairbanks for the theme Parad-ice for a group.
Companies may charter a train. They may go to Crow Creek Mine. Others may float down a river and have a function in the middle of nowhere.
Top sales producers may be wined and dined with linen and china on a private fishing charter in Prince William Sound, enjoying crab legs and filet while the band plays and the boat slowly revolves to reveal the view of the surrounding glacier.
Alaska themes of hunting or fishing can be part of a group meeting. For hunting, the group may enjoy reindeer sausage. For a fishing theme, besides enjoying fish for the menu, the decorations can have a fish theme.
At the Alyeska Prince Resort, clients can enjoy an Alaska-theme buffet of Seldovian clams and mussels, king crab cocktail, salmon chowder or filet.
For guests from out of town, an event may have an Alaska Salmon Bake, theme decor in the Alaska flag colors of gold and blue, local entertainment to include a folk singer, a celebrity Iditarod dog musher with dog sled, dogs, and gear.
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