Fast & Easy Travel

I served as conference chair for the 30th International Conference on Thermoelectrics (ICT 2011), held at the GTR&S from July 17 through 21 of 2011. This conference brought together over 500 scientists and engineers from some 24 countries to discuss the latest research, technology, and potential business opportunities in this important and exciting field.

Initially it was with some trepidation that I approached the Resort about hosting our group because I was concerned that limited access to Traverse City from major international airports might present a potential barrier to those wishing to attend our conference from overseas. To my extreme relief and great satisfaction, the Resort, in concert with the Traverse City Convention and Visitors Bureau and independent airline consultants, worked with the major airlines servicing Traverse City to ensure the sufficient availability of seats in and out of Cherry Capital Airport during the period of our conference. 

I can tell you that I heard personally from several foreign attendees that they found travel to and from Traverse City to be very comfortable and problem-free. We successfully moved hundreds of overseas visitors into and out of Traverse City without a single major logistical issue, and our conference turned out to be the biggest ICT ever! I wish to express my most heartfelt gratitude to you and the entire Resort staff for proactively addressing my concerns regarding international travel to Traverse City and implementing the necessary measures to insure safe and easy travel for our conference attendees.

Should I ever have the chance to host another international gathering of this size, I would without hesitations consider the GTR&S as our venue.

- Donald T Morelli - Professor of Materials Science - Michigan State University (September 2011)

Beauty – Uniqueness of Our Area

"Thanks to you and your staffs for an outstanding meeting.  My colleagues travel the world and they were blown away by the beauty of the area and loved the facility.  I hope that we can work together again.
Thanks, and warm regards" - Mary Talbott – Ethicon, A Johnson & Johnson Co. August 7, 2008

"Traverse City Business News: You hold the world's most important auto conference here in Traverse City. Why here and what are your impressions of our town?
David Cole: We've done it in Traverse City for 40 years. We started in the basement at the Park Place, grew out of that, then upstairs and grew out of that, then across the street, then to a ballroom in the [Grand Traverse Resort & Spa], and then grew into Governor's Hall, where we are now. We bring leaders in from all over the world, and the area is perfect. Lots to do, great appeal, and many of the execs actually have places nearby, too. We are regularly solicited by Boyne and Mackinac Island and others, but we have no reason whatsoever to leave. It's part of our tradition and we have a long-term commitment there. You live in a friendly, welcoming community."
- Excerpt from the November 2008 edition of the Traverse City Business News interview with David Cole founder and president of the Center for Automotive Research.

Service – Above and Beyond

"You absolutely went above and beyond, and we appreciate all of your efforts.  We had a great time, and want to thank you...  See you next time...!" - Mary Kate Walsh, Executive Assistant – Owens Corning World Headquarters

"We are writing to thank you and the entire team at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa for an outstanding job with this year's Management Briefing Seminars, August 11-15....The overall event was extremely successful for us. As we look back over the week, we recognize that a number of your key team members are individuals who impress us with their efforts each year." - Lisa Hart & Kathleen Watson (CAR-Center for Automotive Research)

"I wanted to thank you and your team for making our conference such a smooth one last week. It was such a relief being in good hands and really appreciate your personal attention before and during the conference. The entire resort staff was extremely friendly... As I said before – even though we were not a large group, you and your staff made us feel like VIP's." - Christine "Chris" Faria - Raving Consulting 10/24/08

Talented People - Banquets

"It is difficult to find new words of praise for the Banquet Department. (The) team is unbelievably good, even when we schedule multiple even on a given day." - Lisa Hart & Kathleen Watson (CAR-Center for Automotive Research)

"Again this year, the Banquet staff was enthusiastic in greeting us and worked as hard as we did to make the event successful. Several of your team members know us and our attendees very well, and treat all of us with the consideration expected from a world-class resort. It is difficult to single out Resort employees, given how well the Banquet department works as a staff." - Lisa Hart & Kathleen Watson (CAR-Center for Automotive Research)

Talented People - Set Up Crew

"The set-up staff was also outstanding and immediately responsive to our requests for quick assistance; they were very flexible working with the audio visual firm. Gary Cox was extremely proactive in considering the seating and setup in the conference room and at the social events. Gary was also most helpful with the changes and specific needs for the display vehicles." - Lisa Hart & Kathleen Watson (CAR-Center for Automotive Research)

"Jeff Postma from the shipping department works extremely hard getting out all the materials in a timely fashion, especially for our exhibitors." - Lisa Hart & Kathleen Watson (CAR-Center for Automotive Research)

Food

"Overall the food was very, very good. We appreciated the excellent suggestions in response to our requests for healthier alternatives. Fritz Steiger always makes a point of welcoming us and asking about service in the restaurants and/or any concerns we may have. He and his staff do a wonderful job." - Lisa Hart & Kathleen Watson (CAR-Center for Automotive Research)

Conference Accommodations

"Hillary Elderkin has been working with us for two years now, and did a very good job responding to demanding attendees and a vast number of changes to the housing block from us, and from our attendees." - Lisa Hart & Kathleen Watson (CAR-Center for Automotive Research)

Golf

"Kris Ruckle was a great asset as we planned our third annual golf tournament." - Lisa Hart & Kathleen Watson (CAR-Center for Automotive Research)

Jim Hoey did a wonderful job managing the tournament again this year reacting quickly to numerous changes in players on the day of the event. He had the results calculated and posted immediately after the tournament; it was a great experience for those who participated. Both Kris and Jim have helped to make this event an MBS tradition." - Lisa Hart & Kathleen Watson (CAR-Center for Automotive Research)

Children's Activities

"We tried to offer fun activities for the children of our attendees this year and were very pleased with the support we received from your recreational activities staff. Laura Kneipp, Elicia Bell and Sabrina Zevallos were very responsive and courteous to our requests." - Lisa Hart & Kathleen Watson (CAR-Center for Automotive Research)

"We were pleased with the event. You have an incredible team." - Lisa Hart & Kathleen Watson (CAR-Center for Automotive Research)

The Dog House - The Ultimate Dog Retreat

"Thank you so much for taking such excellent care of Henley!! Your staff was incredibly caring and loving to her over the whole weekend stay. We were able to stop by and see her and the staff was always very professional with all updates. My husband and I consider Henley to be our baby and have never left her alone, we were very happy to leave her at the Dog House and enjoy our weekend with very little worries. It was so nice to get the picture of her with her new friends and the wonderful "report card". She was so happy every time we checked in and was having a blast with her bunkmates!! We left Sunday morning and Henley recovered from her "dog house Hangover" Tuesday! We cannot wait to bring her with us on our next trip up to Traverse City; we know she will get great care and tons of love!! Thank you again!!" - Jim and Siobhan

"Dear Erin, Terra and Jake, Thank you all so much for taking such great care of Hayley and Chloe.  We can tell they had a terrific time. (They are so tired out.)  They slept the whole way home.  We also loved the picture of them relaxing at the pet resort and their report cards.  Adorable!  It helped us have a better time, knowing they were having fun, too."  - The Buzenbergs (Hayley and Chloe's pet-parents)

"Erin, thank you so much for taking such good care of our dog, Murphy Levy (Mathison) last week.  Everyone there was so sweet and caring.  Murphy had a blast!  You did an excellent job!  It was such a wonderful and well-run place.  We were so impressed.  In all honesty, the dog resort was the SOLE reason we chose to stay at Grand Traverse Resort.  And it will be the reason that we return.  I look forward to you getting the cameras installed so we can watch our pup on TV from our room.  Please feel free to pass along these comments to your supervisor and your entire staff.  Thanks again for everything!"  - Dave