Getaways: interesting places for your next meeting.

HERE ARE SOME UNUSUAL meeting venues guaranteed to turn your next business meeting into something special.

Palais Royale, South Bend. Originally designed as a big band dance hall in the 1920s, the Palais Royale was renovated and restored in 2002. "The historical ambiance is phenomenal," says Deb Leyes, sales director for Palais Royale. "There's nothing else like it."

The ballroom seats up to 850 guests theatre-style, and includes the stage once graced by Duke Ellington, Tommy Dorsey and Cab Calloway The ballroom, which has been used for lectures, fundraisers and product shows, features an intricate ceiling, hand-painted floral walls and a crystal chandelier. The restoration included a new, full-service kitchen and restrooms. Custom-designed menus are created by Masterpiece Creations, the facility's food and beverage provider.

"We are a private facility," Leyes says. "We focus on one event at a time; one company at a time. They get our complete attention." The facility has won the Reader's Choice award from the South Bend Tribune every year since 2004.

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Hotels and parking garages are within easy walking distance. The restaurant beneath the Morris Performing Arts Center can also be used as meeting space for smaller events.

The Chinese House, Fishers. The Chinese House is a "hidden gem," says Joyce Duvall, account executive with sales and client services for Conner Prairie. Located on a cliff overlooking White River in a secluded wooded area south of Connor Prairie's main attractions, the Chinese House features its own private entrance and rich history. Built in the early 1900s as a hunting lodge, folklore suggests it was a speakeasy and bootlegger's haven during Prohibition. It later became the Eli Lilly family summer home and was decorated with furniture and artifacts collected from their travels to China and the Orient. Today guests can still see the lodge's beamed ceiling, which features Chinese symbols.

The great room of the rustic lodge can hold 64 (eight rounds of eight) and can be configured to meet each client's needs. The screened-in porch that runs along the entire back of the lodge can accommodate another 24 people. Two breakout rooms are also included in the package. Catering is provided by Conner Prairie. "We can do everything from BBQ to box lunches to formal buffets," Duvall says. Pricing for the facility is $500, plus a $200 setup charge, but may be reduced during the week.

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Casino Aztar, Evansville. Business merges with pleasure at Casino Aztar. Its Executive Conference Center can host an intimate group of 10 people up to a larger group of 300 people. The 11,000-square-foot conference center, which opened in 2004, features the latest state-of-the-art technology, including high-speed Internet, video and teleconferencing, a full-service business center and an executive boardroom with private entrance, restroom and bar. Other amenities include free enclosed parking, fitness center and an executive chef on staff.

"Evansville needed more options for businesses," says Andy Herbertz, advertising and public relations manager for Casio Aztar. "The conference center provides options for business luncheons or meetings, and it gives businesses a more attractive venue. Once their meetings are over, most people just go back to their hotel room. But because we have three levels of Las Vegas-style gaming, live entertainment nightly and eight restaurants, there are things to do and places to go after the meetings are over."

Casino Aztar Hotel has 250 guestrooms and includes additional meeting space bringing the total indoor meeting and event space up to 20,000 square feet. Outdoor space includes Events Plaza (18,000 square feet) and The Overlook (12,500 square feet).

Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, Indianapolis. Located in White River State Park, within walking distance of major hotels, the Eiteljorg Museum is a one-of-a-kind venue for business meetings. Corporate meetings can be held in the Thompson Boardroom and the Clowes Sculpture Court. The Thompson Boardroom can seat 30 to 35 people boardroom-style, and can be further divided into smaller areas. The Clowes Sculpture Court can seat up to 250 people banquet-style, 200 classroom-style and 300 theatre-style. Both facilities have state-of-the-art, built-in audio-visual, Internet access, private phone lines and conferencing capabilities. Professional event-planning services and catering are also available. Catering, provided by Kahn's Catering, encompasses everything from casual buffet breakfasts to elegant sit-down meals.

But the main attraction is the museum and its surroundings. The Thompson Boardroom overlooks a fountain, lush gardens, the Central Canal and Military Park. Complimentary admission badges for the museum galleries are part of the experience. "That's a huge pull because visitors really enjoy that kind of access," says Sarah Bean, building rental and events manager. "We are also one of the only downtown destinations that offers free [indoor] parking to visitors.

Bean says when conventions are in town, the boardroom is in great demand for small meetings among key members of the specific organizations. "They just walk two city blocks, and here we are."

Blue Chip Casino Hotel, Michigan City. Slated to open this December, the Event Center is a 20,000-square-foot multifunctional space that will accommodate conventions, trade shows, boat and vehicle exhibitions and other events. It is part of a $130 million expansion of the Blue Chip Casino Hotel, which also includes a 22-story, 302-room hotel tower, spa and fitness center and restaurant.

The 5,400-square-foot Grand Ballroom (capacity of 320) will have 26-foot high ceilings, and the 3,430-square-foot Great Lakes Ballroom (capacity of 220, divisible by three) means increased flexibility for businesses meetings. The Blue Chip Casino Hotel currently has a 5,500-square-foot ballroom which can seat 1,000 guests for a sit-down dinner and which is divisible into six breakout rooms, as well as additional multifunction meeting rooms ranging in size from 850 to 2,750 square feet.

Services include professional event planning, hosting and catering, state-of-the-art audio/visual facilities and onsite support, plus in-room Internet service, 24-hour fax service and a 24-hour coffee station. Guests can dine at William B's Steakhouse, have cocktails at Rocks lounge and play at the casino.