Numerous groups toured Woodford Reserve Distillery the day we held our planning retreat there.

On November 4, we held our annual editorial planning retreat at Woodford Reserve Distillery in Woodford County, Kentucky. This is the third time we've held this retreat at this historic central Kentucky site over the past decade or so. Woodford Reserve produces premium small batch Kentucky bourbon and is owned by Brown Forman Corporation. Some buildings on this tiny, wooded site date to 1838 and the distillery was listed as a National HIstoric Landmark in 2000.

We were impressed by the number of corporate and leisure tour groups that came to the facility on this late fall day. Tim Knittel, the culinary program and meeting facility manager here, told me that this was actually a light day for groups. During football weekends, the distillery hosts up to a thousand or more guests on Fridays, he said. Ten thousand guests or more tour the distillery on busy months, he added.

Knittel and Marnie Walters, manager of sales and marketing for the distillery, are working with other entities in the central Kentucky region to package the distillery for meeting groups. We met in their creekside facility, The Dryer House. An adjacent patio offers outdoor seating for meeting attendees beside the tiny creek that runs through this property.  Tours of the distillery are complimentary for groups meeting on the premises. Catering is handled through Knittel's office and is arranged through local chef Ouita Michel, who runs another Woodford County establishment, the Holly Hill Inn.

For more information on Woodford Reserve, visit www.woodfordreserve.com.

Some buildings date to 1838 at Woodford Reserve Distillery outside Versailles, Kentucky.

We planned much of our 2013 editorial for four different publications and online editions in The Dryer House meeting facility.

The Dryer House sits on a creek and has an outdoor patio in the back for casual meetings in nice weather.

Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau CEO Gretchen Hall, far left in doorway, and other Little Rock representatives welcomed delegates to the River Market event

Delegates to the Small Market Meetings Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas, were treated to a wonderfully--executed destination dichotomy the second day of the event.   Following an afternoon of sightseeing, they were swept off their feet at a reception at this city's historic Capital Hotel.   This graceful old hotel has been meticulously renovated and delegates were enthralled by its approachable elegance. 

After an hour or more of drinks and hors d'oeurvres in its upstairs lobby and adjacent balcony, they barely had time to go to their rooms before a boisterous high school band met them head-on in the lobby of the Peabody Hotel and marched them down the street a few blocks to this city's restored River Market.  This colorful old indoor market has a distinctly Mediterranean feel about it and dozens of small eateries and retail shops line its walls, creating the feel of a middle eastern bazaar. 

In this delightful juxtaposition of settings, delegates relaxed and danced to the sounds of a local blues band, feasted on more foods and had open bars throughout the complex for their enjoyment.  It was as if Little Rock wanted these meeting planners to experience everything it had to offer from A to Z in one afternoon and evening of mind-blowing entertainment.  And it worked!

Blues rifts filled the River Market while delegates enjoyed one of Little Rock's most eclectic downtown scenes

A few of the Sioux Falls, South Dakota delegation took in the fun at Little Rock's River Market

Small Market Meetings editor Vickie Mitchell, left, talked with SMM Conference CEO Joe Cappuzzello and Little Rock CVB CEO Gretchen Hall

Little Rock's Big Dam Bridge is a huge draw for runners, walkers, bicyclists and nature enthusiasts

As delegates to our Small Market Meetings Conference enjoyed a fascinating tour of Little Rock's sights that wrapped up with a reception at the historic Capital Hotel, I took a couple of hours off and went for a walk at this city's favorite outdoor recreation spot, the Big Dam Bridge.  Opened in 2004, this mammoth bridge crosses the dam on the Arkansas River a few miles northwest of the city.  Another pedestrian bridge across the river in downtown Little Rock was to open the week of the Small Market Meetings Conference.  A 14-mile loop now exists between the two bridges for bicyclists and walkers.

The day I was there, dozens of bicyclists, runners and walkers crossed the bridge in both directions as I walked it.  A track team of maybe 20 young men and women from a nearby university ran across as well.  I followed the trail across the bridge and up into the woods that line this scenic river.

This was my second trip to Big Dam Bridge and this time I had enough time to really get the feel of this Arkansas outdoor icon.  At its zenith, it rises 90 feet above the river and features eight observation points.  Little Rock is a town filled with outdoor enthusiasts and they flock to Big Dam Bridge.  But they enjoy downtown nearly as much.  From my perch in the Peabody Hotel, each morning I could see many joggers and bicyclists getting their time in on the trails that line both sides of the the river in this scenic city.

A 14-mile loop trail connects downtown Little Rock with Big Dam Bridge

I watched as runners and bicyclists disappeared into the Arkansas countryside on this scenic trail

Looking westward on the bridge away from Little Rock, Arkansas's Ozark Mountains begin to rise in the distance

A high school band and drum corps welcomed delegates to the William J. Clinton Presidential Library for the opening event of the 2011 Small Market Meetings Conference

A beautiful evening gave way to a spectacular event as the 2011 Small Market Meetings Conference got underway in Little Rock, Arkansas on September 26.  Roughly 225 delegates including more than 100 meeting planners from 23 states gathered for the second annual conference that is designed to highlight second and third-tier cities and distinctive smaller venues across America. 

Delegates were transported from their host hotel, the Peabody Hotel in downtown Little Rock, to the internationally-acclaimed William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library that sits prominently on the Arkansas River in this revitalized downtown.  Only three days later, the former President and his wife, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, would be in Little Rock to observe the 20th anniversary  of his first announcement speech for his candidacy for President at the Old State House in this Arkansas capital city. 

Delegates toured the library and were treated to a rare privilege--almost all were photographed in the resplendent replica of the Oval Office that is housed at this impressive library.  Following an ornate reception, they dined in the facility's ballroom and were treated to a jazz concert and dancing.

A place setting in the library reflects the grandeur of a state dinner in the White House

Delegates poured over thousands of documents, photographs and other types of memorabilia from the Clinton Presidency

The event concluded with a surf and turf dinner and dancing to a jazz ensemble compliments of The Clinton Library, the Little Rock CVB and the Arkansas Dept. of Parks and Tourism

Play hard?  No problems there.  Especially in a city that was getting its groove on at its annual Red River Revel festival, one of Louisiana's biggest and baddest music and arts events.  The entire delegation was taken to the festival, treated to all they could enjoy in the way of regional foods and beverages and was given ringside seats to some great Louisiana blues music.  The evening was one no one will forget.

"Wow!  The Red River Revel was everything we'd heard it would be for our delegates," said conference CEO Joe Cappuzzello.  "Stacey Brown, Dianna Douglas, Kim Brice and their entire staff went over the top in bringing our meeting planners and destinations to this great event.  And when you add their superb opening evening dinner, Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau really did themselves proud."

In addition to Shreveport's signature evening events and hospitality, delegates enjoyed hosted breakfasts and lunches, marketplace refreshments, welcome receptions and more. 

"I don't think the entertainment could have been any better," said conference partner Herb Sparrow.  "It was very important that our inaugural conference set the bar high in that regard and Shreveport and their partners did their part.  I think the word of mouth coming from this conference will be very positive and will enable us to move into our second year on a very strong note."

Social marketing speaker Lesley Kyle, right, previewed a sponsor's material before delegates arrived for a meal

The Gemini Cruise Mardi Gras Museum was a hit during Shreveport's sightseeing tour

Delegates in custom T-shirts took time to shop for fine handcrafts at the Red River Revel

Delegates took a moment to pose with conference partner Herb Sparrow at Red River Revel

Shreveport's Red River Revel was a smash hit with delegates

Conference partners Charlie Presley and Joe Cappuzzello shared a moment with Dianna Douglas, far right, and others at the Red River Revel

There were two distinct sides to the first Small Market Meetings Conference held October 4-6 in sunny Shreveport, Louisiana.  The first was all business, the second was all fun.  The meeting planners who attended from 18 states did a superb job of accommodating both.

"Work hard, play hard.  That's what we tell them," said conference partner Mac Lacy.  "Our office in Ohio runs a very straightforward business model for all our conferences and we followed it again for Small Market Meetings.  We were all about generating new meeting business for dozens of smaller destinations during the day, and we were about enjoying each others' company in the evenings. Not a bad formula."

The business side of the conference included more than 2,000 individual meetings between buyers and sellers of meeting sites and services, three professional development seminars on topics like social media, dealing with aging boomer delegates and online RFP technology, and exploring the huge upside to smaller meeting destinations in terms of cost, convenience and service compared to larger cities.

"We couldn't be happier with the first conference," said partner Charlie Presley.  "We had committed delegates who understood that in today's economy, value and service count.  And our planners were here because they see a big upside in those areas to second and third-tier cities."

Kim  Dolan, center, and Tammy Knox, right, registered a meeting planner at Small Market Meetings Conference

Kelly Tyner, center, and Vickie Mitchell, right, registered two meeting planners in Shreveport

Business was brisk in two marketplace sessions between planners and destinations at the conference

The Little Rock CVB sponsored a luncheon for delegates in Shreveport

Attendees learned about aging baby boomer clients during the Extreme Aging seminar in Shreveport

Volunteers described the aging process during the Extreme Aging seminar with Dr. Vicki Rosebrook, right