Where is EOM 2013?

[extrememarine]

I think it was considered for Johnson City in '09. The issue would be cost - tent, table, chair rental, setup and take down was going to add a chunk to the fees. It has been harder and harder to get comp items each year.

From my perspective, price point is a very important aspect of the rally attendance. If we made it a $500 / person rally, think of what we could to - open bar, appetizers being handed out by umbrella girls, covered parking, umbrella girls, breakfast buffet, Exxon tanker in the parking lot, whoa.

If I win the Powerball, you can bet they're be umbrella girls (shhhh, don't tell Annette...)

If you thought you'd want to pursue the outdoor BBQ thing, maybe whoever does the BBQ catering could bring in and setup big tent(s)? I have no idea what that sort of thing costs though. Just a thought that might make a hotel/motel without large banquet facilities a possibility.

 

[Intech]

Thanks Fred!

Hey Wheetie https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//public/style_emoticons/default/****.gif

 

[Intech]

Franklin, NC, correct? I've attended many smaller gatherings there and love the area. It provides access to north Georgia, W.NC & E. TN. NC28 would rival the entrance quality found at Cumberland Falls. But. I found one property advertising meeting space; 600Sqft - max occupancy is 30 when set for a reception, or 25 when set for banquet rounds. Based on last year's numbers, we'd need to have dinner in 3 shifts. FredW's idea of a parking lot BBQ comes to mind, but we'd be rolling the dice if the weather turned south on us.

We looked at Cherokee, but the Casio lean towards the circus atmosphere and were pricey to boot.

Hey Wayne, have you considered Franklin, yet?

Yes, Franklin, NC... bummer man, real bummer. Such great riding in that area.

So, are there any other places in the Hendersonville area? Any of the other next door or nearby motels work? Even if more expensive, I would go for that...though money is always a concern, I would pay $$ to stay in the same area at a more decent hotel...

Bob & Scott stayed next door @ the Ramada. Pretty sure the price was very comparable... & they had a hot buffet breakfast!

Ramada was OK, but I wouldn't recommend it as a venue. Really not suitable. The breakfast was nothing to rave about either.

 

[Burnspot]

Franklin, NC, correct? I've attended many smaller gatherings there and love the area. It provides access to north Georgia, W.NC & E. TN. NC28 would rival the entrance quality found at Cumberland Falls. But. I found one property advertising meeting space; 600Sqft - max occupancy is 30 when set for a reception, or 25 when set for banquet rounds. Based on last year's numbers, we'd need to have dinner in 3 shifts. FredW's idea of a parking lot BBQ comes to mind, but we'd be rolling the dice if the weather turned south on us.

We looked at Cherokee, but the Casio lean towards the circus atmosphere and were pricey to boot.

Hey Wayne, have you considered Franklin, yet?

Yes, Franklin, NC... bummer man, real bummer. Such great riding in that area.

So, are there any other places in the Hendersonville area? Any of the other next door or nearby motels work? Even if more expensive, I would go for that...though money is always a concern, I would pay $$ to stay in the same area at a more decent hotel...

Bob & Scott stayed next door @ the Ramada. Pretty sure the price was very comparable... & they had a hot buffet breakfast!

Ramada was OK, but I wouldn't recommend it as a venue. Really not suitable. The breakfast was nothing to rave about either.

Not to mention that it had zero meeting space for a crowd of anything over a few people.

 

[luvtoride]

Well ok, scratch the Ramada, then.

 

[extrememarine]

There is an alternate venue in Hendersonville in the mix now. More to follow, but keep up the conversation - keep in mind, if you make a suggestion on a location, it should include consideration of the following:

- Twisty roads

- lodging for 80-100

- banquet /conference room to seat 80-100 at banquet rounds

- nearby restaurants a plus, but not a deal breaker

 

[luvtoride]

https://maggievalleyhotel.com

Looks ok... nothing too fancy... & fairly inexpensive. 85 rooms... didn't see any info on the conference rooms. Has onsite food & bar

 

[majicmaker]

[quote name=luvtoride" post="1021431" time="1354826443"]https://maggievalleyhotel.com Looks ok... nothing too fancy... & fairly inexpensive. 85 rooms... didn't see any info on the conference rooms. Has onsite food & bar

I think this place has a lot of potential. Maggie valley has everything needed for a group like this and it's right in the middle of the good stuff!

 

[luvtoride]

Just looked @ the place in Google Street view. Not much of anything around there... or from what I saw, anyhow. There is a gas station around the corner. I'd say that's probably our beer/gas connection. Really, unless you get on your bike & ride somewhere for food... onsite is it!

 

[majicmaker]

Yep, it's a small town alright but, it's got a lot of Home Cookin' restaurants on the main drag so food wouldn't be a problem. Great roads in the area too. Ex-wife was from there. Been there many times. But, if you want an environment like Hendersonville with all sorts of stuff around you, that won't be it.

 

[extrememarine]

This place looks / sound really familiar - I just can't remember what the down side was when we looked at it last - might have been scheduling or rates maybe. I think rates spike in September for leaf peepers. It warrants investigation.

https://maggievalleyhotel.com

Looks ok... nothing too fancy... & fairly inexpensive. 85 rooms... didn't see any info on the conference rooms. Has onsite food & bar

 

[luvtoride]

There are quite a few other hotels in the area, also. Might be worth looking in to.

 

[extrememarine]

I remember looking at the Maggie Valley area for previous years. The draw back was the influx of leave peepers and H-D crowd coupled with the general carnival atmosphere around the casio. It's not out of the question, but it does drop us a little further west.

 

[luvtoride]

There's a casino in Maggie Valley? Cool! Anyhoo... just offering some ideas just in case you were @ a loss for some. Maggie Valley is a beautiful area!

It's further west. Wondering... what difference does that make? You were considering Boone. That's not exactly next door to where we camped last year, either.

 

[extrememarine]

The casio is in Cherokee, so I'm off by 15 miles.

Further west / south means we are creating addition work on the routing front - many of what routes we have now are easily adjusted for Boone or Hendersonville (no change other than actual end / start points). Just trying to lighten the load on the staff where we can.

There's a casino in Maggie Valley? Cool! Anyhoo... just offering some ideas just in case you were @ a loss for some. Maggie Valley is a beautiful area!

It's further west. Wondering... what difference does that make? You were considering Boone. That's not exactly next door to where we camped last year, either.

 

[wheatonFJR]

...Just trying to lighten the load on the staff where we can.

That's a highly trained staff that costs quite the pretty penny if I recall...

 

[Burnspot]

...Just trying to lighten the load on the staff where we can.

That's a highly trained staff that costs quite the pretty penny if I recall...

Would that be one case or two cases?

 

[extrememarine]

yea - with right to work legislation passing looks like more budget cuts to the staff. No more union dues funded recon trips in 5 star accommodations. I see Bologna sandwiches and park benches in the future...

 

[wheatonFJR]

yea - with right to work legislation passing looks like more budget cuts to the staff. No more union dues funded recon trips in 5 star accommodations. I see Bologna sandwiches and park benches in the future...

We still get to ride though, right?

 

[luvtoride]

many of what routes we have now are easily adjusted for Boone or Hendersonville

Mmkay... yeah, why didn't I think of that... wink, wink

I guess my ideas are finished or I can meet more scrutinity such as too close to Virginia or too many circus acts. Guess I'll just show when everything is said & done.