"We include all meals and we try to meet any request the client might make,"

Winter Clove Inn meeting spaceThe center itself offers four bright and comfortable meeting rooms in a restored 19th century carriage house to provide for the individual size requirements, from five to 120. The main room holds about 120 people in a theater-style setting. A large gathering room features a pot-belly stove, a glass-enclosed sunroom and large living room with fireplace that easily seats up to 25, perfect for small breakout groups -- unique and refreshing surroundings for a most successful and productive experience. "Another plus is that most groups are able to reserve the inn and all the facilities for their exclusive use," say Bud and Lenore Whitcomb. "You're not a number, or just one meeting among several. Your group has full concentration of the inn's staff, and you have full concentration of your group." The inn runs on wirelss Internet, and state-of-the-art meeting equipment is available through local vendors of the inn. The Winter Clove Inn accomplishes that goal through flexibility in both its full conference center -- which is ideal for workshops, conferences or seminars -- and its conference planning. "We specialize in working with our clients' meeting planners to create the individual experience each one wants, in order to insure a most successful meeting," innkeepers Bud and Lenore Whitcomb say. "And best of all, we have an unconventionally flexible staff that can make your next meeting both easy and productive."

The Northern Catskill Mountains provide a refreshing and unique backdrop for productivity, according the Whitcombs. The Winter Clove Inn is located in the heart of the magnificent "Forever Wild" Catskill Forest Preserve. The inn itself has 300 acres of fields, streams, waterfalls and forests, and the way the resort blends w Winter Clove Inn offers non-traditional meeting spacesith its surroundings helps promote a stress-free meeting and relaxes and opens attendees' minds. "Many presenters choose to move the meeting venue to one of our outdoor locations," say the Whitcombs, "which makes the very best of our natural locale." Presenters might choose to hold the meeting on a spacious front porch, under on shade tree on Adirondack chairs, or at a special spot by waterfalls. The idea is to unlock the group's creative potential.

For more than 150 years the Whitcomb family has operated the inn. In an environment like Winter Clove, a planner may look at its heritage and values as a major interest and will work it into the meeting plans. Unique or historical locations can be used to tie into a meeting's goals. The Winter Clove Inn combines its family-owned history and natural location with a wide array of activities that all can enjoy.

The innkeepers at Winter Clove work with companies and meeting planners to be sure everything is right for an incoming group. "We include all meals and we try to meet any request the client might make," say the Whitcombs.

The space includes 49 guestrooms, all with private baths and each individually decorated to insure an exclusive experience for each member of each group. A restaurant presents three delicious country meals each day, with home-baked breads and desserts, a chef that uses the freshest ingredients and produce from local farms. The inn also has a full liquor license, with bar set-ups available after meeting hours.

Searching for the Perfect Venue You may be searching for the perfect place for your conference and you have to know what you are searching for. The best bets are fitness centers, indoor or outdoor pools, restaurant, and possibly a spa. Most resorts can tell you what's happening around the area and local sights to see, if your conference has a break or two during the schedule. The Winter Clove Inn is a complete resort fa Amenities on and off-site: Meeting at the Winter Clove Inncility, offering a heated indoor pool and solar heated outdoor pool, tennis court, a nine-hole executive golf course, six certified Brunswick bowling lanes, volleyball, and expansive views from overlooks along the miles of hiking trails. Cross-country skiing equipment is available during the winter, and a game room with pool table is also on the premises. If the group should plan an activity off-site, the Whitcombs can plan outdoor luncheons, barbecues, bonfires with marshmallows under the stars, or a hayride.

When looking for a resort for your next conference, it never hurts to ask the innkeepers or resort staff lots of questions. They either know the answer or will find the answers for you. Amenities, location, and the staff play a big part in planning a conference and making it successful for your company. So, remember: Plan for your company; work with a meeting planner to ensure your goals for the meeting will be met, and pick a place for your meeting that will help to refresh the minds and bodies of your attendees. http://www.resortsandlodges.com/travel-magazine/2006-09-01/conferencecenter/index.html

Jill Olson is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville with a B.A. in English/ Professional Writing. Besides writing of all types, she enjoys reading anything she can get her hands on, and of course, traveling. She can be reached at: jolson@resortsandlodges.com