• The 2015 Best of Minnesota Readers’ Choice Awards

     
    BY Photos by Emily J. Davis
    FROM THE Summer 2016 ISSUE
     

    1. Dan Young, Lifetime Achievement honoree. 

  • The 2015 Best of Minnesota Readers’ Choice Awards

     
    BY Photos by Emily J. Davis
    FROM THE Summer 2016 ISSUE
     

    2. Attendees seated at Aria. 

  • The 2015 Best of Minnesota Readers’ Choice Awards

     
    BY Photos by Emily J. Davis
    FROM THE Summer 2016 ISSUE
     

    3. Bobby Hart, MNM+E; emcee John Cosgrove, VoiceHive; and Anne DeWolfe, MNM+E. 

  • The 2015 Best of Minnesota Readers’ Choice Awards

     
    BY Photos by Emily J. Davis
    FROM THE Summer 2016 ISSUE
     

    4. Fabulous Catering’s noodle stir fry. 

  • The 2015 Best of Minnesota Readers’ Choice Awards

     
    BY Photos by Emily J. Davis
    FROM THE Summer 2016 ISSUE
     

    5. Veggie dip cups. 

  • The 2015 Best of Minnesota Readers’ Choice Awards

     
    BY Photos by Emily J. Davis
    FROM THE Summer 2016 ISSUE
     

    6. Mintáhoe’s dessert setup. 

  • The 2015 Best of Minnesota Readers’ Choice Awards

     
    BY Photos by Emily J. Davis
    FROM THE Summer 2016 ISSUE
     

    7. Liquor-infused cupcakes. 

  • The 2015 Best of Minnesota Readers’ Choice Awards

     
    BY Photos by Emily J. Davis
    FROM THE Summer 2016 ISSUE
     

    8. Kersten McManamon and Katie Lofrano, Discover St. Louis Park. 

  • The 2015 Best of Minnesota Readers’ Choice Awards

     
    BY Photos by Emily J. Davis
    FROM THE Summer 2016 ISSUE
     

    9. Kelley Mahowald and John Groen, Canterbury Park. 

  • The 2015 Best of Minnesota Readers’ Choice Awards

     
    BY Photos by Emily J. Davis
    FROM THE Summer 2016 ISSUE
     

    10. Bridget Borden, Bridget Borden Events; and Jenna Squires, American Lung Association. 

  • The 2015 Best of Minnesota Readers’ Choice Awards

     
    BY Photos by Emily J. Davis
    FROM THE Summer 2016 ISSUE
     

    11. Saltee. 

  • The 2015 Best of Minnesota Readers’ Choice Awards

     
    BY Photos by Emily J. Davis
    FROM THE Summer 2016 ISSUE
     

    12. Dave Musolf, Meetings + Events Media Group; Dan O’Neill, Bloomington CVB; John Connelly, National Sports Center; and Bill Perrine, Prestige Global Meeting Source. 

  • The 2015 Best of Minnesota Readers’ Choice Awards

     
    BY Photos by Emily J. Davis
    FROM THE Summer 2016 ISSUE
     

    13. Devie Hagen, Élan Speakers Agency. 

  • The 2015 Best of Minnesota Readers’ Choice Awards

     
    BY Photos by Emily J. Davis
    FROM THE Summer 2016 ISSUE
     

    14. Jodi Collen, Best Special Events Planner. 

  • The 2015 Best of Minnesota Readers’ Choice Awards

     
    BY Photos by Emily J. Davis
    FROM THE Summer 2016 ISSUE
     

    15. Dan O’Neill. 

  • The 2015 Best of Minnesota Readers’ Choice Awards

     
    BY Photos by Emily J. Davis
    FROM THE Summer 2016 ISSUE
     

    16. Meggan Reinoso and Athena Demel, Ruttger’s Bay Lake Lodge. 

  • The 2015 Best of Minnesota Readers’ Choice Awards

     
    BY Photos by Emily J. Davis
    FROM THE Summer 2016 ISSUE
     

    17. Frank Soukup and Rylie Heilman, Grand View Lodge Golf Resort & Spa. 

  • The 2015 Best of Minnesota Readers’ Choice Awards

     
    BY Photos by Emily J. Davis
    FROM THE Summer 2016 ISSUE
     

    18. Champagne service by Enticing Entertainment. 

  • The 2015 Best of Minnesota Readers’ Choice Awards

     
    BY Photos by Emily J. Davis
    FROM THE Summer 2016 ISSUE
     

    19. Michelle Furrer and Matt Reinartz, Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. 

  • The 2015 Best of Minnesota Readers’ Choice Awards

     
    BY Photos by Emily J. Davis
    FROM THE Summer 2016 ISSUE
     

    20. Kristen Babcock, Radisson Blu Mall of America. 

Three hundred meeting and event professionals gathered at Aria on March 31 for MNM+E’s 14th annual Best of Minnesota awards. Guests walked the red carpet (sponsored by Canterbury Park Catering & Events), posed at the Snapz Photo Booth and sipped bubbly from an aerial bartender (sponsored by Roseville Visitors Association). Saltee filled the main room with live music.

Local refreshments from Surly and Cannon River Winery were served, while Fabulous Catering’s heavy appetizer spread included mini lobster rolls and noodle stir fry in takeout containers. Mintáhoe Catering & Events’ decadent dessert selection ranged from cake pops to cupcakes. Attendees left with gift bags (sponsored by Mall of America and Bloomington CVB) that contained a signature DoubleTree by Hilton cookie, among other goodies. Meet Minneapolis sponsored the event’s registration. AVEX and Festivities provided the A/V (including a light-up curtain behind the stage) and décor, respectively

Meet Minneapolis: Paving the Road to Recovery

In the wake of a total global crisis, the Meet Minneapolis team got to work. 

Connecting the Community

Last summer, as communities across the state reeled, the CVB launched the “We Need Us!” campaign as a rally cry and reminder on the importance of supporting the businesses that make Minneapolis so unique.

“It really came from this question of, ‘How can we support our community that’s hurting in so many ways and make locals feel comfortable making those choices?’” says senior vice president of destination branding & strategy Courtney Ries.

 
Snapshots: MPI's World Education Congress

Nearly 700 MPI members gathered in Grapevine for Meeting Professionals International’s World Education Congress (WEC).

 
NACE NY/NJ Members Only Relaunch Event

The New York and New Jersey chapters of the National Association for Catering & Events (NACE), along with the Banquet Event Strategic Task Force (BEST Task Force), held an in-person gathering in August, their first since the start of the pandemic.