Eureka Springs - A Destination of Choice

In a time, when far away meeting destinations are less appealing due to travel delays and safety concerns,  Eureka Springs, AR seems like that same MILLION MILES AWAY yet its location holds far greater appeal, being less than 40 miles east of Highway 540.  In fact, Eureka Springs famous as a weekend destination, now boasts the most prestigious title as of "One of America's Dozen Most Distinctive Destinations" and regional meeting planners have taken note.  "We first learned of Eureka Springs through its efforts in preservation, however now we hold our annual meeting there each year and take advantage of everything from golf, lake, scenery and of course the historic hotels" Stated Compudyne (CDCY) CFO Geoff Feidelberg.

If you have not visited Eureka Springs in the past few years, much has changed.  Previously a mecca for motorcoaches and seniors, Eureka Springs has been transformed into a Baby Boomer and Corporate retreat Favorite.  "Where else can you have a romantic award winning dinner, sleep in a turn of the century hotel, wake up to freshly baked pastries and gourmet coffee, have an in-room massage, head off for a horseback ride and scenic float down the river and that night catch an opera" asked Chamber of Commerce Director Jeff Feldman "Eureka Springs brings that to our individual guests and corporate travelers while offering an enormous financial incentive to do so.  Our weekday meeting groups can capitalize on supersaver rate discounts and that typically means as much as 25% off weekend rates."

Eureka Springs has four lodging properties that have earmarked this parallel strategy of recruiting romance by weekend and corporate meetings by weekday.  "We first saw such a strategy in our area being successfully implemented by Big Cedar Lodge.  Most meeting planners acknowledge Big Cedar while when individuals think about a weekend get-a-way often times they have the same thought.  In Eureka Springs, we found ourselves at full occupancy on the weekends and empty during the week. As the senior, family and bus market began to soften we realized that we needed to enhance our weekday trade through diversification.  With the growth of Benton and Washington counties and with so much unique, high quality meeting space the corporate meeting was a perfect fit"  Stated Jack Moyer, 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa General Manager.

THE 1905 Basin Park Hotel
One site favored for corporate retreats is the 1905 Basin Park Hotel.  Initially housing health seekers and business trade for a bustling new town this second generation 1905 building replaced the luxurious Perry House which perished in the great fire of 1888.  Today, The Basin Park Hotel is back.  Experiencing its greatest period of growth since the county sheriff removed liquor by the drink and slot machines in 1951, The Basin Park Hotel is alive with weddings, romance and corporate meetings. An ideal location for meeting planners wishing to add something more to their meeting than just the agenda points, The Basin Park offers turn of the century "Mission Style" décor, renovated guest rooms and suites, Rooftop Billiards, Balcony Dining, Serenity Spa Services, Fresh baked goods in the War Eagle Outpost,  and of course meeting rooms that are fully equipped with 21st century technology; all this with a location whose front door opens to the 19th century shopping dining and entertainment district.  "We are pleased that we have been able to keep the historic nature of the building, capturing the arts and crafts, bungalow style yet add to our modern day services such as high speed internet, multiple phone lines, lcd projection and full stereo sound" stated hotel manager, Sheliah Tucker.

Eureka Springs also boasts the Best Western Inn of the Ozarks, host of the cities convention center and expert meeting host since 1979, The Best Western Eureka Inn is located at the gateway to the Eureka Springs entranceway and the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa, Arkansas' only 19th  century full-service hotel