Key Benefits of Off-site Meetings

When planning a meeting, there are many factors to think about. We look into a time that is available for everyone involved, the agenda and (if we’re lucky) perhaps plan for a sweet treat, but often the location itself gets overlooked. There are many reasons why the location can sometimes be as important a factor as all other considerations. Choosing an off-site location such as St. Cloud River's Edge Convention Center can maximize meeting time and efficiency in many different ways.

Distance from the Desk
Leaving the office helps individuals step away and stop thinking about outside duties. It takes away the possibilities of being distracted when client comes in or sending unrelated emails during a meeting. A new location helps co-workers compartmentalize their time and focus on current topics, which allows for more quality participation.

Spark Creativity
Getting away from day-to-day operations can help open space for new and innovative ideas- people think out of the box when thrown into a new situation. Utilizing a different space may also allow a greater amount of people to gather from various locations and meet with new individuals for an outside perspective. Mentoring relationships bloom during these kinds of meetings.

Enhance Presentation Opportunity
A new location can give presenters more opportunity for the use of equipment that may not be supported in the office, which makes for a more effective presentation. The speaker can be better equipped to engage the audience with a larger screen or more easily manipulated tools. The more engaging a presentation is, the more the team will likely remember and take new skills to the office with them.

Boost Team Morale- There is something invigorating about breaking habit. With co-workers, it can be a great way to infuse a team building opportunity. An off-site meeting allows the opportunity for face-to-face interaction, which is too often lost in the use of technology. Being present allows one to view the body language and other social cues that otherwise are missed. Even the opportunity to eat a meal together affords co-workers to have more relaxed time with one another to build a relationship and understanding beyond usual business. Also, an off-site meeting makes teams feel like there was more care taken in preparing for the meeting,  making the team members feel more valued. Boosting the team’s feeling of importance can translate into more commitment and loyalty.

A meeting’s location is a large factor in its ability maximize the time co-workers have with one another.  An off-site meeting at River’s Edge Convention Center may re-energize and bring passion back to those you work with. Plan your next event at an off-site location, and see the difference it makes in your team.

Consumer Shows Bring Guests To The St. Cloud Area!

It’s that time of year again -- consumer show season! Here at the River’s Edge Convention Center, we proudly boast many large consumer shows every season. We host the Car, Home, Boat, RV, and Farm Show among many others!

These shows are held in our large exhibit halls. Our exhibit halls range in square footage from 8,000-26,000, allowing us to host events of many sizes. Our Terry Haws Center is our main consumer show room. The center is divided into three sections -- Terry Haws A is 16,000 square feet, B is 17,325 square feet, and C is 26,000 square feet. These rooms can be divided in half or joined together with other sections for an even larger space. In addition to exhibit space, we also offer many other services to make the shows go smoothly. Some of the services we offer are audio/visual equipment, basic housekeeping, electric and utilities, seating and staging, parking, and more. In addition to these services, we can also help staff events. Our staffing services include ticket takers, door guards, security, and piano tuners, among others.  

Every year, these consumer shows bring a large crowd to the St. Cloud area. Luckily, the St. Cloud area has many local attractions for our visitors to see after they attend a consumer show. In the downtown area surrounding the convention center alone, there are 41 unique dining options. Some of these dining options include Jules Bistro, Brother’s Bar and Grille, and The White Horse. To see the full list of dining options, please visit The St. Cloud Downtown’s website. The downtown area also offers an exciting nightlife scene. Some of the more popular bars include the Red Carpet, Cowboy Jacks, and the Press Bar. To view the full list of nightlife, click here. In between sessions at the consumer

shows, guests can go shopping at some unique boutiques and shops in the downtown area, including Accents, Fitzharris Ski and Sport, Rush Boutique, and more. When the night comes to an end, guests can rest their heads at one of St. Clouds luxurious hotels, such as the Le St. Germain Suite Hotel, and the Kelly Inn, among others.

Overall, the consumer show seasons offers an event for the whole family. With all of the attractions that the St. Cloud premiere area has to offer, this will be a trip worth taking! We hope to see you soon!

Bring Your Business to River's Edge Convention Center

It’s true the River’s Edge Convention Center is where many of the area’s largest events are held -- but, did you know you can rent out meeting spaces for businesses and small socials, too? 

The River’s Edge now has space to make your event more productive and enjoyable. Along with offering comfortable accommodations for all types of businesses and organizations, we also provide equipment rentals, catering and other services. The Convention Center was built with all kinds of events and meetings in consideration and we have flexible space configurations.

After you book the space you will need for your meeting or event, we will assist with the rest. The convenience of the River’s Edge doesn’t stop at our central location and state-of-the-art facility. We also can provide you with event coordination, specialized seating arrangements, audio/visual setup and standby services.

We have a variety of rooms that are ideal for company meetings or all-day conferences. The spaces feature 10-foot ceilings with full setup and takedown of tables, chairs, stage and basic sound system. The capacity of our board rooms are 5-20 people. Need a little more space? Other rooms and our suites can accommodate between 45-500 people. Rooms within suites can be combined or divided to suit your specific needs.

No matter the event or the occasion, River’s Edge Convention Center can help make it a success with our space. Contact us today and we can help you start planning!

River's Edge Offers Versatility for Weddings in Central Minnesota

When you hear the name “River’s Edge Convention Center,” chances are, you immediately think of large conventions or concerts. While our expansive facility does play host to a huge variety of central Minnesota’s largest events, we’re also at your service for your personal events - for example, your wedding!

Our large, elegant, riverside facility defines the word “versatile.” Whether you’re arranging an elaborate celebration for hundreds of people, or simply want one room for a more intimate event, we’ve got you covered. Our central, downtown location, complete with plenty of parking and lodging options, is a natural fit for any wedding party.

Plus, with our deep-rooted business and community connections, we can help you locate the perfect team of professionals to plan every aspect of your wedding - cuisine to entertainment. We’ll also lend a hand with all the small, yet crucial details that contribute to the perfect party.

Our request? Give us plenty of advance notice, but please don’t book your celebration over one year in advance. Please have a solid estimate of how many guests you’ll have, so we can coordinate the perfectly sized space and accommodations. Again, all the finer details - including cost and payment info - are located on our website.

So, as you begin to draw up your list of wedding ideas, pencil in the River’s Edge Convention Center; we’d love to be part of making your big day the party of a lifetime!

Holly Ball to Celebrate 40th Anniversary at River's Edge

For years, the St. Cloud community has gathered together for one night to raise money for some of the area’s most charitable organizations. Throughout the years, this event, hosted by the CentraCare Health Foundation, has raised more than $5 million for these wonderful causes. This year, the Holly Ball is celebrating 40 years and all proceeds will benefit the St. Cloud Hospital Hospice and Coborn Cancer Center Greatest Needs Funds to go towards items that are not covered by insurance, but make life better for local families in need.

Touted as one of the area’s premier annual galas, the 40th Anniversary Holly Ball will be held at the St. Cloud River’s Edge Convention Center. This year, an all-new after-party will start at midnight with entertainment by the popular band, Hairball. The main event starts at 6:30 p.m. and includes entertainment by the Fabulous Armadillos and Sell Out Stereo, a silent auction and hors d’oeuvres. The theme of the ball is “A Ruby Celebration.”

The event has been held at River’s Edge Convention Center since 2007. Last year, more than 1,800 guests attended to dance, dine and have a great time. The convention center provides an optimum location on the river and close proximity to downtown hotels. Valet parking will be available and is strongly encouraged and the River's Edge Convention Center Ramp will also be open.

Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the CentraCare Health Foundation at 320-240-2810.

S.C.A.R. Dolls Returning to River's Edge Convention Center Nov. 8

In September the S.C.A.R. Dolls skated in the River’s Edge Convention Center for the first time. The team made their downtown debut with an intrasquad bout with a huge crowd of over 700 and we are happy to announce they are returning Nov. 8. The team, based in St. Cloud, has been wanting to make their way downtown, especially nearing the winter months to give families more events to attend in the colder times of the year. Now, they have a regular home downtown.

The team was formed in 2011 to create an opportunity for women in the Central Minnesota area to participate in roller derby -- a challenging, exciting and empowering sport. They are now the one and only women’s flat track roller derby league in the area.

Along with bringing family-friendly entertainment to the downtown St. Cloud area, the S.C.A.R. Dolls actively work with local charities, including the Tri-County Humane Society, Anna Marie’s Alliance, the Boys & Girls Clubs and the United Way. The bout on Nov. 8 will benefit The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central MN Operation Military Mentoring Program.

The River’s Edge Convention Center is excited to provide the S.C.A.R. Dolls with home turf in the downtown area and we look forward to hosting more bouts for them in 2015.

To purchase tickets for the Nov. 8 intrasquad bout between the Gargoyle Brigade and the Pin-Up Prowlers, find your favorite roller girl or get them at any of these local ticket outlets -- The Skatin’ Place, Granite City Comics and Games or the Youth Shelter Supply. Tickets are $10 presale and $11 at the door. The Nov. 8 bout will be in the Terry Haws A and B rooms at River's Edge and feature a glow in the dark dance party (audience participation encouraged!) and an after-party at D.B. Searle’s.

Minnesota Quilt Show and Conference 2014

Calling all quilting enthusiasts! The 36th annual Minnesota Quilt Show and Conference is kicking off on June 12th, and we here at River’s Edge Convention Center are pleased to be the host!

The popular event brings quilters of all ages from around Minnesota together for three days of classes, lectures, exhibits and a final-day auction - all related to the time-honored tradition of quilting.

The conference technically begins on June 11th; at that time, you can register, meet some
of the guest teachers and lecturers, and take a peek at the Merchant Mall, where you can
purchase handmade items throughout the exhibition.

While advance registration has already closed, you’re definitely still invited to drop by downtown St. Cloud to take in what the show has to offer. Check with the admissions staff at the entrance to see a list of speakers and classes - even if you haven’t registered yet, you might still be able to find an opening in an event you’d like to attend.

As far as logistics are concerned, quilts and vendors will be hosted within the River's Edge
Convention Center in the Terry Hawes and Glenn Carlson Halls. Lectures will be held at the
adjacent Kelly Inn, and classes will be held at the in the River’s Edge Convention Center and
the Kelly Inn.

The River’s Edge is within a stone’s throw of a goodly amount of fine dining, but you’re also
welcome to lunch poolside at the Kelly Inn. They’ll be offering multi-course lunches and
beverages each day from 11am-1pm. The concession stand in River’s Edge Convention Center will also be serving snacks and drinks throughout the day.

If getting around is a challenge for you or a loved one, and you’d still like to visit the quilt show, it’s not an issue; MN Mobility will be on hand with a variety of scooters and other mobility gear. They’ll be stationed in the main lobby of the convention center, but if you’d like to make advanced reservations, visit their website.

The cost to attend varies depends on age and Minnesota Quilters, Inc. membership; to see the breakdown, visit their website.

Minnesota Quilters, Inc. is a volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to the celebration of quilting. Our activities and events are structured to honor the past, celebrate the present, and nurture the future of this time-honored traditional craft in all its forms.