I recently attended my first MPI meeting and came away from the evening feeling enlightened. I attended the March Monthly meeting, which focused on the state of the meetings industry, and spent the night learning, networking and enjoying the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis’ hospitality.
While I learned so much on the current state of the industry and what is to come from Michael Dominguez, I walked away feeling most impressed with the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis. The meeting was held in the hotel’s Northstar Ballroom, which can be divided into Northstar A and Northstar B. The room as a whole offers 10,620 square feet and can hold 500 for a banquet style event, 850 for a reception, 1,000 as a theater and 418 as a classroom. The Northstar Ballroom is located on the second floor of the hotel and looks out over the Loring Greenway for festive views.
The Hyatt Regency Minneapolis recently went through renovations so the room itself is modern and updated, but the real star of the night was the dinner. Instead of serving a sit-down meal or offering a traditional buffet, the hotel set up different food stations throughout the room. The stations included an antipasto table that offered a variety of meats, cheeses, breads, veggies, and bruschetta; a roasted turkey carving station with buttermilk biscuits on the side; a table with smoked salmon cakes, soup and Swedish meatballs; a pasta bar; a waffle bar; and Starbucks coffee and free cocktails as beverage options. I opted for the make-your-own pasta bar and was delighted with my choice of lobster and broccoli in a gruyere cheese cream sauce. I then splurged on the build-your-own Belgium waffle station where I topped off my waffle with strawberries, chocolate sauce, and Izzy’s vanilla ice cream. To say I left the meeting full is an understatement.
The food stations were a fun alternative to the classic meeting/event food options and definitely had the guests talking. The stations served as great conversation starters between those sharing a table and allowed everyone to dine according to their individual tastes. Additionally, the staff was extremely friendly and helpful and made the process so much more fun. The Hyatt Regency Minneapolis surpassed my expectations and I can’t wait to return.
