The Conference & Event Center at Champlain College Stays Busy Over the Summer with Visiting Groups

BURLINGTON, VT (08/14/2012)(readMedia)-- During the summer months various groups and organizations come to the historic hill section of Burlington for conferences, retreats, camps, and special events. The Conference & Event Center at Champlain College welcome these groups to Champlain's modern state-of-the-art technology infused buildings that offer magnificent surroundings and views of Lake Champlain, a quiet academic atmosphere, beautiful architecture, fabulous food and customer service.

"We run ourselves crazy taking care of people. We pride ourselves on customer service," said Conference & Event Center Sales Manager Susan Lindberg, as the summer begins to wind down and preparations kick in for the return of students on Aug. 24.

From the day students leave campus in early May right up through mid-August, the Conference & Event Center welcomes 100-200 person groups for multi-day conferences with full-services. "We can accommodate groups up to 500, but usually have six to eight smaller groups at a time on campus," said Lindberg.

The Sodexo Dining Hall in the IDX Student Life Center is also perfect for serving large visiting groups, plus it offers catering options, barbecues and specialty meals, Lindberg pointed out.

"We send groups View-Master toys with Champlain slides in it to show that it is inspirational to be here. One client referred to Champlain as 'such a beautiful village' because of our approximately to downtown and the well-kept atmosphere," she notes.

This summer, Champlain played host groups such as the Nordic Cup Youth Soccer Teams, Community College of Vermont educational groups for training sessions, the Vermont Department of Education for their summer institute, the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), church groups, music groups such as the Vermont Midi Project and the Pipers Gathering, and the Miracle Corners of the World (MCW) international young leaders conference.

Champlain is also the summer home of SOCAPA (School of Creative and Performing Arts), for two six-week camps for young adults ages 13-18. "Having groups of young adults come to Champlain has dual purposes," Lindberg noted, "Champlain's residence halls, fitness studio and auditorium are an appropriate size and venue for the events, and it also exposes the Champlain campus to perspective college students."

Champlain also offers lodging for major Burlington and regional events such as the Dragon Boat races, Vermont All-Star Football coaches, the League of Vermont Writers, overflow housing for the Farm to Cafeteria Conference, and the KeyBank Vermont City Marathon, where the College's Conference & Event Center also hosted a pasta dinner. Extended stay housing is also available, housing groups such as Vermont Lake Monsters' staff and Vermont Youth Conservation Corps. There is lots of day-business too from local businesses such as the Flynn Theatre.

"We really strive for repeat customers and referrals from word of mouth, so we focus on excellent customer service," said Lindberg. The Conference & Event Center sends quick follow-up surveys to their customers to rate their performance. Champlain was rated a 4.65 out of five overall.

About the Conference & Event Center at Champlain College: Champlain's Conference & Event Center offers a range of amenities for conferences and events. Champlain College can accommodate groups from five to 500 with an array of services and facilities. The campus has wireless Internet, Mac and PC labs, and audio-visual resources including electronic and interactive white boards available. Facilities include seminar, conference rooms and the auditorium. Guests can stay overnight in renovated Victorian-era residence halls or the Main Street Suites and Conference Center. Full dining and catering services are available as well. With the College's proximity to downtown Burlington and Lake Champlain, after-conference dining, entertainment and recreation are just steps away, but campus is quiet enough for groups to be productive. For more information, visit www.champlain.edu/eventcenter or call (866) 872-3603.

About Champlain College: Since 1878, Champlain College has provided career-focused education to students from its hilltop campus in Burlington, Vt. Champlain's distinctive educational approach embodies the notion that true learning only occurs when information and experience come together to create knowledge. Champlain offers traditional undergraduate and online undergraduate courses, along with online certificate and degree programs and eight master's degree programs. Champlain offers study abroad programs at its campuses in Montreal, Quebec and Dublin, Ireland. Champlain College is included in the Princeton Review's "The Best 376 Colleges: 2012 Edition." Champlain was named a "Top-Up-and-Coming School" by U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Colleges and is ranked in the top tier of 2012 Regional Colleges in the North. For more information, visit www.champlain.edu.

By Kayla Hedman '14 / Champlain College News