By Nancy DePalma · Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) is celebrating its 75th year of business,...

34 PAM+E | FALL 2016

It’s time to announce the winners of the inaugural Best of Pennsylvania

readers’ choice awards!

By Nancy DePalma

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PA.MEETINGSMAGS.COM 35

You, the readers of Pennsylvania Meetings + Events, really

showed up when we asked you to pick your favorites

for our inaugural Best of Pennsylvania awards. While we

could have prepopulated the ballot, we chose to do a write-in

election because we wanted to see who you think takes the cake.

It was more time-consuming for voters, but we think it resulted in

a terrific representation, so thank you. We are excited to celebrate

the winners and we know you’re curious to see who took the top

prizes, so go ahead and open the proverbial envelope. And, the

winners are …

The Inn at Leola Village


PlacesMaybe it’s the location (in Lancaster, not far from Harrisburg/Hershey and with Philadelphia just 1.5 hours away) or maybe it’s the connection to Spooky Nook Sports, the nation’s largest indoor sports facility, but you definitely like the Warehouse Hotel at the Nook, the Best Hotel with Meeting/Event Space (Less than 200 Guest Rooms). The Warehouse Hotel is what it sounds like: a for-mer Armstrong World Industries manufac-turing plant transformed into a sleek, modern hotel. “Each room has its own character, with some showing off exposed beams or pipes,” says Alyssa Matangos, communications and public relations manager. “Much of our décor was repurposed to keep with the industrial theme.” The Warehouse has all of the bells and whistles of a luxury hotel (hip restaurant, plush rooms) but this place has so much more (a 60,000-square-foot fitness and performance

training center, for one). “With the Nook, our facility is 700,000 square feet, including 100,000 square feet of meeting and event space,” says Matangos. “We have the ability to host everything from expos and galas to concerts, picnics and team-building.”

Hershey Lodge wins for Best Hotel with Meeting/Event Space (More than 200 Guest Rooms). Larger meetings are never a problem for this resort, where 665 guest rooms and suites provide a welcome respite from a meet-ing or conference. The resort has 100,000 square feet of meeting space, with plenty of unique spaces, and the team-building oppor-tunities are seemingly limitless (falconry, any-one?). Add the team of on-site certified meet-ing professionals, and meetings are, well, sweet here. Of course, there’s always Hersheypark for rides and attractions.

Don’t judge a hotel by its room numbers, since The Inn at Leola Village is indeed a seri-

ous contender. It took top prize for Best Inn with Meeting/Event Space. The Inn always lands on many top romantic getaway lists, but this charming place certainly knows how to cater to business travelers with two res-taurants, including the award-winning TE, as well as Mercedes shuttle service within a 10-mile radius of the property and an on-site salon, spa and yoga studio. The inn’s 7,000 square feet of event space shares the rustic elegance found in the guest rooms and is suit-able for meetings and events from 10 to 250 guests. “Special places matter and The Inn at Leola Village is a very special place. Whether you’re staying with us, dining with us or host-ing an executive retreat, you are sure to love The Inn at Leola Village. This Inn’s AAA’s 5 Diamond Award of Culinary Excellence along with Forbes Travel’s 5 Star accolades set the stage for exceptional service, refined lodging and gracious hospitality in every aspect of

Hershey Lodge

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Skytop Lodge

your visit,” says Randy Howat, vice president. There are plenty of games at Hollywood

Casino at Penn National Race Course, with 2,450 video slot and poker machines, 50 table games and 16 poker tables, but it’s not just gambling at this Pennsylvania casino that makes it our readers’ top choice for Best Casino. Final Cut Steakhouse is well known for its Wine Spectator-awarded wine list while the Mountainview Lounge Bar has front-row seats to all of the action of the horse races on the track. There’s also Skybox sports bar for a casual atmosphere.

It seems that few things can top Skytop Lodge. It wins for both Best Resort with Meeting/Event Space and for Best Golf Resort with Event Space. Skytop Lodge is a posh hide-away that has lured a sophisticated clientele for nearly a century. “Since 1928, our 5,500-acre escape has been the ultimate destination for time-honored traditions and memory-making

excursions,” says Christy Ranallo, director of sales and marketing. The Dutch Colonial-style estate atop the Pocono Mountains boasts 192 guest rooms between its Main Lodge and Inn and Cottages. From its famous milkshakes to local craft beers and gourmet dishes that use locally sourced ingredients, Skytop has a wide variety of dining options. “Every depart-ment within Skytop works as a team and we have a sense of what our planners are looking for—great service, fantastic food and memo-rable experiences!” says Ranallo. Variety is the name of the game at Skytop, where there are more activities than hours in the day (like clay shooting and the TreeTop Adventure Course), but golf is a definite priority. Robert White, first president and founder of the PGA, designed the lodge’s 18-hole golf course.

Cheers to Barley Creek Brewing Company for winning Best Brewery with Event Space. The place is filled with plenty of conversation

Best Hotel with Meeting/Event Space (Less than 200 Guest Rooms)

WAREHOUSE HOTEL AT THE NOOKwarehousehotel.com | 855.618.6181 Runners-up» Fairmont Pittsburgh,

Gettysburg Hotel

Best Hotel with Meeting/Event Space (More than 200 Guest Rooms)

HERSHEY LODGEhersheylodge.com | 866.726.3387

Runners-up» The Logan Philadelphia, Wyndham Gettysburg

Best Inn with Meeting/Event Space

THE INN AT LEOLA VILLAGEtheinnatleolavillage.com | 717.656.7002Runners-up» Glasbern Inn, The Inn at

Bowman’s Hill

Best CasinoHOLLYWOOD CASINO AT PENN

NATIONAL RACE COURSEhollywoodpnrc.com | 717.469.2211

Runners-up» Mount Airy Casino Resort, Sands Bethlehem

Best Resort with Meeting/Event Space

SKYTOP LODGEskytop.com | 855.345.7759

Runners-up» Kalahari Resorts & Conventions Pocono Mountains, Camelback

Resort

Best Golf Resort with Event SpaceSKYTOP LODGE

skytop.com | 855.345.7759 Runners-up» Heritage Hills Golf Resort,

Nemacolin Woodlands Resort

Best Brewery with Event SpaceBARLEY CREEK BREWING COMPANY

barleycreek.com | 570.629.9399 Runners-up» Appalachian Brewing Company, The Church Brew Works

The Winners


The Winners Best Historic or Cultural Venue

GETTYSBURG NATIONAL MILITARY PARK MUSEUM AND VISITOR CENTERgettysburgfoundation.org | 717.339.2109

Runners-up» Phoenixville Foundry, The Liberty View at Independence

Visitor Center

Best Winery with Event SpaceTHE VINEYARD AND BREWERY

AT HERSHEYvineyardathershey.com | 717.944.1569

Runners-up» Hauser Estate Winery, Adams County Winery

Best Restaurant with Private Dining Space

FORKLIFT & PALATE forkliftandpalate.com | 717.537.6205

Runners-up» The Frogtown Inn & 6 Acres Restaurant, Altius

Best Meeting/Event Venue (No Hotel)TOP OF THE TOWER

topofthetower.com | 215.567.8787Runners-up» Pennsylvania Convention

Center, Ironstone Ranch

Best FloristTHE FLOWER BOUTIQUE

theflowerboutiqueofgettysburg.com 717.337.1423

Runners-up» Floral Designs of Mount Joy, Carl Alan Floral Designs Ltd.

Best CatererCATERING BY DESIGN

cbdevents.com | 610.721.6009Runners-up» The Nook Café & Catering,

C&J Catering

Best Meeting/Event Planning Company ALBRECHT EVENTS, LLC

albrechtevents.com | 215.699.3784 Runners-up» Ashfield Meetings & Events,

The Event Group Forklift & Palate PH

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starters—from a canoe atop the bar’s Creek Club Mug Rack (it includes 600 personal-ized mugs) and the real kicker, a wiffle ball stadium(!). It’s not just a pub; this place is a true brewery complete with tours and tastings available daily.

Events are a blast at Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center, voted Best Historic or Cultural Venue. The history is fascinating, and guests can relive the battles between the Union and Confederate soldiers or even participate in a unique team-building event at the battlefield through the Gettysburg Foundation’s—which operates the facility—“In The Footsteps of Leaders.”

Whether your colleagues drive you to drink or you want to toast to another productive year, The Vineyard and Brewery at Hershey wins for Best Winery with Event Space. While most places make you choose between wine or beer, this place has both, as well as hard cider and craft soda. The mood is casual and fun—it was started by five friends, after all. Set on a 40-acre historic farm complete with a pond, the setting could hardly be more picturesque. Events range from small wine dinners to larger gatherings outdoors on the deck and even live concerts—some that have even featured national recording artists. Of course, each event can also include a wine and/or beer tasting.

Forklift & Palate, inside the Warehouse Hotel and Spooky Nook Sports, wins for Best Restaurant with Private Dining Space. “Everything, from the décor and the food to the overall experience, was meticulously planned,” says Matangos. The menu changes with each season and incorporates Lancaster County ingredients whenever possible. The interior echoes the hotel’s industrial chic sen-sibility with tables crafted from repurposed wood/pallets. The size is impressive in its own right, with seating for as little as 10 and up to 175 in the restaurant/atrium bar. The atrium bar and hotel atrium can hold up to 600 for

private events. When times call for impressing event

attendees, you turn to Top of the Tower, selected as the Best Meeting/Event Venue (No Hotel). The building was once the world head-quarters for Bell Atlantic, and Top of the Tower’s four rooms are located on the very top—50th and 51st floors—of this exclusive building. Drop-dead views are de rigueur at this posh venue where the meeting rooms offer the ultimate in privacy since no two rooms are closer than half a city block from each other.

Services Everything is coming up roses for The Flower Boutique, your pick for Best Florist. This Gettysburg-based, family-owned company takes great care in its products and service. In addition to fresh floral arrangements, The Flower Boutique offers silk floral arrange-ments. It’s not just for events: The Flower Boutique’s gift baskets and fruit baskets as well as its extensive line of gifts, cards and balloons make the holidays a snap.

Catering By Design takes the cake for Best Caterer. This Philadelphia-based business has an exclusive contract with some of the area’s most intriguing venues, from museums to magnificent estates. They know how to handle groups of all sizes and pride themselves on quality food with white glove service.

For those tasked with handling an event or meeting and looking to outsource, it seems the search stops at Albrecht Events, LLC, selected as the Best Meeting/Event Planning Company. The event management firm specializes in helping meeting planners and clients navigate the tri-state region, and takes care of every-thing from A to Z for meeting and event plan-ning. The Lansdale-based consulting service also handles destination management.

Premiere #1 Limousine Service wins for Pennsylvania’s Best Transportation Provider. This company prides itself on delivering top-

Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center

Catering By Design


notch customer service. “All of our employees, including CEO Douglas Rydbom, keep suits in their offices just in a case they are needed for a last-minute run,” explains Chelsea Hess-Moore, communications manager. “One thing that we provide to all of our customers is the utmost effort to make sure that the customer gets the best experience from start to fin-ish,” she adds. “We field requests overnight and on weekends. It is not unusual for a call to come in at 2 a.m. requesting a vehicle for two hours later. Most companies are known not to answer the phones after 5 p.m., and with 24-hour service, including weekends, this dedication to our job allows our pride to

shine through.” Philadelphia is a city defined by history, so

it shouldn’t be a surprise that the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) is celebrating its 75th year of business, but this top pick for Best CVB in Town/Area More than 250,000 in Population isn’t resting on any laurels. In 2015 convention bookings were the highest they’ve ever been with $1.1 bil-lion in conventions already booked for future years, according to the CVB. PHLCVB is also full of firsts. President and CEO Julie Coker Graham is one of the first, and currently the only, African American woman to lead a CVB in the Top 50 U.S. markets. PHLCVB was

also the first CVB to pioneer a multicultural business development division, now known as PHL Diversity. Meetings are big business to the PHLCVB, which has divisions dedicated to the following three markets for further sup-port: PHL Diversity, for African American, Hispanic and Latino, Asian American, Native American, LGBTQ, and women-led meetings; PHL Life Sciences, which advances Greater Philadelphia’s status as a leader in the life sci-ences and related meetings; and PHL Sports, which attracts major sporting events and con-ventions to Philadelphia. As Lonely Planet put it when naming Philadelphia the best city in the U.S., “Philly’s on a roll.”

Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau

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Best Transportation Provider

PREMIERE #1 LIMOUSINE SERVICEpremiere1limousine.com | 717.616.8995

Runners-up» J&J Luxury Transportation, Regency Global Transportation Group, Ltd.

Best CVB in Town/Area More than 25,000 in Population

PHILADELPHIA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

meetPHL.com | 215.636.3300Runners-up» VisitPITTSBURGH, Pocono

Mountains Visitors Bureau

Best CVB in Town/Area Less than 25,000 in Population

DESTINATION GETTYSBURG destinationgettysburg.com | 800.337.5015 Runners-up» Hershey Harrisburg Regional

Visitors Bureau, Lackawanna County Convention and Visitors Bureau

Best A/V Provider

PSAVpsav.com | 877.430.7728

Runners-up» JP Lilley & Son, Inc., IMS Technology Services

Best Event Décor ProviderSHUMAKER PDT

shumakerpdt.com | 717.735.0767Runners-up» All Occasions Party Rental,

Event FX Productions

Best Entertainment Provider/Performer

KLOCK ENTERTAINMENTklockentertainment.com | 717.836.7366

Runners-up» B.R.P Entertainment Company, Mole Street

Best Photographer/VideographerJEREMY HESS PHOTOGRAPHERS

jeremyhessphotographers.com 717.390.7050

Runners-up» Ann Marie Casey Photography, Allure West Studios

The Winners

“Gettysburg is an important place—a destination that truly changed the course of American history. What happened in Gettysburg is what brings most of the nearly 4 million visitors to the region each year, but many are surprised to learn that Gettysburg is also a place where you can have fun,” says Norris Flowers, president of Destination Gettysburg, winner of Best CVB in Town/Area Less Than 25,000 Population. They may not be big, but they are mighty. “Most think that because the name Gettysburg is known globally, that our destination mar-keting organization must be very large,” Flowers says. “Many planners are surprised

to learn that while our staff may be small, we accomplish a lot and can work with events and conferences both large and small.”

Audio-visual may very well be the unsung hero of the events industry. When everything is working perfectly, you barely notice their efforts, but once the mic doesn’t work or the presentation isn’t loading, well, it’s staring you right in the face. You selected PSAV as the Keystone State’s Best A/V Provider.

Shumaker PDT wins for Best Event Décor Provider. This company’s tagline is “plan, design, transform,” and they do just that. This full-service event production company can transform any blank space into an event to

Destination Gettysburg


remember. Event design, custom lighting and furniture and fabric décor set the tone, while the company’s multimedia and audio-visual capabilities round out the experience.

Klock Entertainment wins for Best Entertainment Provider/Performer. This company sources DJs and also handles pro-duction, event design, photo booths and even A/V services to make any event look and sound good. Based in Harrisburg, its central

location makes this winner a convenient choice, but it’s their unusual offerings (think strings of lights inside a venue to mimic the feeling of an outdoor café) that make them stand out.

Jeremy Hess Photographers was voted Best Photographer/Videographer for its full-service cinematography and photography offerings and for the way they effectively capture confer-ences, meetings and events. Hess, who grew up

in his family’s catering business, knows how to handle events. “I learned the importance of teamwork … when all vendors work together, it makes the event one to remember,” he says. It’s not just a job for Hess, who takes great pride in what he does. “I approach each event to serve the client and capture the light of life in each of them. The event is a special moment that will never happen again,” he says. “I am there to capture pictures that honor it.”

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Shumaker PDT & Jeremy Hess Photographers


By Nancy DePalma

Best New Venue You Don’t Know About—Yet! WYEBROOK FARMIt all began with a Wall Street executive … wait, what? It’s not the expected script for a fairytale farm. While Wyebrook Farm wasn’t created by this bond trader—the land has been farmed for over 200 years—it was Dean Carlson’s vision that has made this place a little slice of paradise. Located in Chester County’s Honey Brook, Wyebrook may be just 20 miles from West Chester, but it feels as though it could be a million miles away. The lush land-scape and spectacular setting make it a natural choice for special occasions or meetings that require a true out-of-the-box setting for effec-tive brainstorming.

Carlson purchased the farm to save it from development and decided to jump right in with sustainable farming. He had a small butcher shop and even served food picnic table-style to a growing group of eager visitors. After the crowds grew, Wyebrook opened a full-service restaurant in June 2014. Set within Wyebrook Farm


the original stone barn from the late 1800s, the restaurant boasts huge windows looking out to the pasture. The restaurant, which incorporates the butcher and retail store into the sprawling room, is available for buy-outs. The food, created by Andrew Wood, exemplifies gourmet comfort food. (Editor’s Note: They might just have the best burger you’ll ever eat.)

Fantastic dining aside, the farmhouse has been recently opened for meetings and events. Nothing beats having an entire farmhouse at your disposal, where you will have access to a billiard room (great for a bar set-up), plus a private dining room and a larger room spilling out to the veranda. With views overlooking the farm’s pond and hillside studded with cattle, it is the perfect spot for cocktails or conversation. The farm-house is just right for about 50 guests seated or 100 cocktail-style and a variety of catering options. Events are booked Wednesdays through Sundays. wyebrookfarm.com

Best for Corporate Retreats HOTEL DU VILLAGE If you want to be near the city but still want to live and breathe in a wide-open space, it really doesn’t get much better than Bucks County. This region is the very definition of a country escape, where stone walls,

historic farmhouses and charming towns with authentic main streets are the norm. New Hope takes country charm and infuses a creative flair. Set along the Delaware River, this artsy town delivers the yin and yang of cosmopolitan and country. It’s a big stop for city dwellers who escape here for weekends spent biking along the river and dining and drinking in the many cafés and bars, but it’s not just for the leisure visitor.

New Hope is a convenient getaway for corporations seeking some-where to gather employees for a brainstorming session or important meeting. When the need for a true escape arises, Hotel du Village is just the place. It’s like having a country estate all to yourself. Recently purchased and renovated by Landmark Hospitality, Hotel du Village was originally built as a private residence in 1895 and later operated as a boarding school. It features 22 guest rooms that share a chic sensibility with guests. “This French country estate-style property has become a sought after venue because of its unique design features and transport-ing aesthetic. Corporate clients enjoy the property because of the many unique meeting rooms and the luxury boutique hotel lodging within the same campus,” says Kristopher Hassett, vice president of marketing and sales at Landmark Hospitality.

The event spaces include two ballrooms: the Colt, with its 10-foot ceilings, accommodates up to 200; while the intimate Historic Ballroom, P

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ideal for up to 140 for weddings and social events, wows with its glass window wall looking out over the grounds. Meeting rooms offer state-of-the-art audio-visual and multiple breakout spaces. Indoor or outdoor team-building activities are also available for groups.

Hotel du Village is close enough to New Hope to hop on a bike and pedal down, but this world unto itself might convince you otherwise. hotelduvillage.com

Best EntertainerMARILYN SUKONICK-ZEFF, CORPORATE TAROT PRESENTATIONSIf you’ve ever been to an event in the Philadelphia region and wondered why there was a big crowd gathering in a corner, it’s likely that Marilyn Sukonick-Zeff was at the helm. This one-woman corporate entertainer is a total crowd-pleaser and no matter how many times I’ve been at an event with her, I always manage to sneak in and get my numbers read. Sukonick-Zeff created a numerology system as it relates to the tarot where you can discover how the world sees you, how you view the world and your communication skills—all defined by adding up the sums of important numbers like your birthdate and phone number. Sukonick-Zeff’s popular-ity for events has come by word of mouth. “My success has come by referral without ever advertising anything, it’s all word of mouth,” she says.

Her live interactive presentations for corporate groups can be for as many as 400 people. One such activity that can be done in these large groups is name synchronization, where 10 names and 10 professions are written on paper and each person is given 5 minutes to feel—not logically think—which profession belongs to which individual. For team-building activities, galas and charities, small group readings are offered for the sake of efficiency. As many as 20 guests can be seated around a banquet table and requested to pull three cards, representing their past, present and future. “It quickly brings a group together, it’s a party among the party itself,” says Sukonick-Zeff, who makes every one of her readings fun. Her particular brand of self-effacing humor immediately wins the crowd’s hearts, but as soon as she starts her presentation, expect plenty of oohs and aahs.

Tarot cards are just one option for booking Sukonick-Zeff; she also does lip print personality profiles and handwriting analysis, where guests are asked to apply lipstick (which is provided), kiss an index card and sign their name (I did it and can attest that it’s smile inducing). She provides pendulum readings and photograph and dream interpretations are also available for any event. It’s a great way to get colleagues to open up and learn something about each other—all in good fun. “No other job connects with people on such an intimate level in such a minimal amount of time,” she explains.

One thing Sukonick-Zeff suspects you may be thinking? She’s not a psychic and likes to make that clear. She believes people have all the answers to life within themselves and uses cards as the catalyst to access that information so individuals can make healthier decisions about their lives. “A deck of cards is reflective, not predictive, in nature,” says Sukonick-Zeff, who describes herself as logically based. “I’m a creative

business woman who has embraced an unusual line of work and loving every moment of it,” she says with her trademark smile. “I’m diplomatic, nonjudgemental, professional and highly accurate; those are the traits one can expect when hiring me.” 267.685.0983

Best for FoodiesREADING TERMINAL MARKETIf you like to eat, and really, who doesn’t, then Reading Terminal Market hits the spot for your next event. This public market has been open since 1892 and is the nation’s oldest continuously operating farmers market in the country. Today, it’s a bit of a mashup between a farmers market and the best food court you’ve ever seen. Where else can you get a freshly made doughnut from a Pennsylvania Dutch bakery and the best sandwich in America? DiNic’s roast pork sandwich was indeed named the best sandwich in 2012, thanks to food critic Adam Richman. Slow-cooked for hours and served with broccoli rabe and sharp provolone, the sandwich takes on Philly’s reputation as a cheesesteak-focused city (well, those are pretty darn good, too). You can eat your heart out at this market and get food to take home later (there are fish markets and butchers, plus fruit and vegetable stands galore), but the market, a former rail terminal, makes for a particularly unique venue. Feeding a crowd is a snap when renting the Rick Nichols Room, which handles 48 for a sit-down and up to 72 for a lecture. Reading Terminal Market can also hold events for 100 to 2,000 people. Arrange for catering or, better yet, hand your attendees a market gift card and let them peruse the stalls and offerings by themselves. allaboutevents.us; 215.515.3415

Marilyn Sukonick-Zeff

By Nancy DePalma · Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) is celebrating its 75th year of business,...

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