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Archives for November 2017

4 Winter Wedding Trends at Woodloch | Woodloch Resort

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4 BLISSFUL WINTER WEDDING TRENDS AT WOODLOCH

Winter is coming to town and if you’re looking for the perfect wedding venue,  look no further than Woodloch Resort. Once you’ve decided to host one of the biggest milestones of your life at Woodloch, our wedding planners will help you through the process from picking the best venue options, taste testing, and everything in between to make your day the best one possible! We know that our resorts in PA offer much more than just a venue, especially as we’re an all-inclusive resort nestled in the Poconos Mountains. Here are a few winter wedding trends for 2018 that you might want to consider when planning your ceremony this season!

FROZEN FLORALS

With snow on the ground and the lakes and waterfalls have frozen over, we’ve found one of the prettiest trends this year – frozen florals. Whether it’s decorative ice cubes, with stunning ice sculptures, your guest’s jaws will drop in awe after seeing these floral arrangements. Embrace the cold this season, especially when you add your flowers to ice. We recommend trying edible flowers in ice cubes to serve with drinks and ice bucket for a fun touch of color. You won’t go wrong with this cool winter trend.

FAUX FUR

Winter in colder climates means you can pull out the showstopping looks of faux fur. Highlighting some of the pretty neutral tones, you can accent just about anything with a touch of fur. Include it as part of your gown with a faux mink wrap or use furry blankets to keep guests warm during your ceremony and reception. However you choose to bring the natural world to your wedding, we know it will be one for the books this year.

LOTS OF GREEN

Green has been a top color in 2017, and now that fall and winter are here, it can really shine. Whether that green comes in the form of velvet, a traditional fabric this time of the year, or it’s in your floral arrangements or even in details of your invitations and name tags, you’ll love incorporating all shades of this color into your dream wedding. We also recommend potentially adding an extra pop of color with red and holly berries as it will bring a festive touch to your event.

HOT BEVERAGES

It’s a given that hot beverages are must in the wintertime! Bring those delicious favorites right to your reception with a Hot Chocolate Bar, a Hot Cider Bar, or even an array of Mulled Wine for guests to choose. Let them spike it or keep it kid-friendly. No matter what you pick for people to sip on, let them warm up from the inside out with a toasty drink!

Woodloch’s family-friendly nature make it one of the leading venues for weddings. Whether it’s a ceremony for 200 or a small elopement for two, we’ve got everything here at one of the top resorts in PA for weddings, Woodloch Resort, to make for a blissfully wedded winter season!

Filed Under: Uncategorized, Weddings, Winter

History of Woodloch’s Theme Night and Show | Woodloch Resort

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Woodloch’s Theme Night History

For over 50 years, Woodloch has been proud to bring our Theme Nights to our guests, and over 40 years of our famous Theme Show!

Here’s a list of our Theme Nights through the years!

1960’s & 1970’s

1967-1968 = Hawaiian

1969 = Mexican Fiesta Night

1970, 1971, 1972 = Bavarian

1973-1974 = Evening in Paris

1975-1976 = Bicentennial

1977 = Mardi Gras

1978 = Mediterranean Cruise

1979 = Western (our first Theme Show!)

1980’s

1980 = Railroad

1981 = Pirate

1982 = A Touch of Class (Turn of the Century)

1983 = Woodloch’s 25th Anniversary

1984 = Circus

1985 = Camelot

1986 = Statue of Liberty

1987 = 1950’s (First show in Heritage Club)

1988 = Oscar Night

1989 = Great Cities of America

1990’s

1990 = Journey Through the Decades

1991 = European Vacation

1992 = Discovery Night

1993 = Sidewalks of New York

1994 = Love and Romance

1995 = Emmy Night (T.V.)

1996 = Olympics

1997 = Magic of the Musicals

1998 = Woodloch’s 40th Anniversary

1999 = Countdown to the Millennium

2000’s

2000 = Calendar Celebration

2001 = Wings Around the World

2002 = Evening of Legends

2003 = The Spirit of America

2004 = Time Machine

2005 = A Decade of Memories (60’s)

2006 = A Night on the Red Carpet

2007 = American Icons

2008 = Woodloch’s 50th Anniversary

2009 = Cruise into the 70’s

2010’s

2010 = A Night on the Town

2011 = British Empire

2012 = Festivals of the World

2013 = All Things Italian

2014 = Back to the 80’s

2015 = Down the Streets of America

2016 = The Wonderful World of Television

2017 = Night at the Musicals

2018 = Diamond Jubilee

2019 = Welcome to the 90’s

2020’s

2020 – 2022 = Islands of the World

2023 = California Dreamin’

Filed Under: Entertainment Tagged With: ,

Travel Trends 101 | Woodloch Resort

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Travel Trends 101

The Rise of Multigenerational Travel

With the rise of travel websites and the ease of booking trips online, planning group travel is now easier than ever before. These days, who hasn’t a least browsed Priceline, Expedia, or Hotels.com? Temptation to travel is everywhere, and properties are competing heavily — whether it be on price or product — for consumer’s business!

With so many options available to today’s travelers, it may come as somewhat of a surprise that multi-generational travel is a top travel trend. It makes sense however. The Baby Boomer generation, comprised of individuals born between the 1940s and the early 1960s, have more free time and money to spend than any other demographic these days. Unsurprisingly, these same individuals tend to be grandparents looking for opportunities to spend time with their children and grandchildren. Add time, money, and an interest in family bonding and POOF! You have the perfect combination for a multi-generational getaway!

Just how popular is multigenerational travel these days? Let’s take a look at some stats:

40% of all active leisure travelers have taken at least one multigenerational trip over the last year. (Source: Leisure Group Travel)

25% of all leisure travelers are grandparents and 37% traveled with their grandchildren. (Source: Leisure Group Travel)

Grandparents travel almost 25% more than the average leisure traveler, taking four or more trips yearly. (Source: Leisure Group Travel)

33-40% of the $270 billion in leisure travel is multigenerational. (Source: Travel Age West)

Multigenerational trips, along with “bucket list” and summer vacations, are among boomers’ three favorite types of trips. (Source: AARP)

Grandparents, more so than parents (35% vs. 25%), are more willing to pay for multigenerational trips to “help family members enjoy a vacation they otherwise could not afford.” (Source: Preferred Hotels and Resorts)

Need more convincing? A recent survey conducted by Virtuoso, a well-respected network of international travel agencies specializing in luxury and experiential travel, found that the top travel trend for 2016 was multigenerational travel. (Virtuoso: Scientists in the Art of Travel) Multigenerational travel even beat out travel with immediate family!

Something For Everyone

There’s no need to read between the lines to figure out that traveling with the extended family gives everyone the opportunity to spend quality time together, enjoy life, and presumably, split the bills. For families seeking anything and everything from down-time to high adventure, key vacation spots range from beach houses and villa rentals to city excursions and cruises. But since everyone has their own idea of fun — grandma golfs while the teenagers shop — the most popular destinations cater to many tastes and, indeed, budgets.

Anyone following the trends knows that today’s travelers are using the online channel, with or without the help of a travel agency. They might book supplier-direct or work through their travel agent’s website or OTA, depending on what they’ve done in the past or what’s been recommended by their family, friends, or via marketing. Yet, according to Travel Research: 2016 Travel Trends from AARP, baby boomers
will not use travel booking websites for planning trips to the same degree that their younger counterparts will (50% versus 77% for Millennials and 74% for GenXers).

Interestingly, 40% of both grandparents and parents surveyed by Preferred Hotel Group say their children “actively participate in or influence vacation planning,” and 40% have “selected a destination based at least partially on the information, photos, or videos they viewed on social media websites.” And 25% say they have “selected a travel service supplier based on exposure to the same content.” You might enjoy How Travel Companies Are Gearing Up to Accommodate Generation Z.

Get Away From It All

It’s no mystery that multigenerational travel has gathered such steam. In today’s fast-paced, technology-centric world, people are looking for
a relaxing escape from the everyday hustle bustle. Additionally, families are living farther apart geographically than ever before. Who wouldn’t want a break from their computer and phone screens and long commute times? Vacations with the extended family are the perfect antidote to these modern day woes.

Multigenerational vacations may bring to mind a mild sense of anxiety similar to that of a family reunion. Who will I see? What will I do? Will it be awkward? But there is no need for fear! These days, when it comes to planning your family vacation, a little research goes a long way. Whether you choose to travel abroad for some international adventure or kick back at all-inclusive resort stateside, there is truly a destination for every taste and budget. When we look at the big picture here, the goal is just for everyone to relax, enjoy, and spend quality time together. No complications necessary!

When you’re ready to plan your next multigenerational getaway, you might want to keep Woodloch in mind. Our vacation rentals provide the comfort of large shared living spaces and the privacy of separate bedrooms and baths. Our traditional American Plan comes complete with three meals daily, but if cooking is your family’s thing, enjoy your vacation rental’s fully equipped kitchen. A variety of activities, amenities and entertainment guarantee that no one is bored, regardless of age. From go carts and bumper cars to pools and boating to organized games and contests that get the whole gang going, the fun doesn’t stop.

If we have yet to convince you to get away with the extended fam, we’ll leave you with a few words in closing. Unfortunately, time never stops, and every minute becomes more and more precious as the days pass. Don’t miss out on valuable bonding time when the opportunity presents itself. Actions speak louder than words . . . traveling with the entire family is the perfect way to say “I love you!”

-Erica Bloch

References:

(1) http://leisuregrouptravel.com/multigenerational-travel-statistics-shows-growth/

(2) http://www.travelagewest.com/Travel/Family-Travel/9-Major-Trends-in-Family-Travel/#.WcpY9mtSxEZ

(3) http://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/research/surveys_statistics/general/2015/AARP-2016-travel-trends.pdf

(4) https://preferredhotels.com/press/children-shape-desires-and-decisions-of-multigenerational-travelers

(5) https://www.virtuoso.com/getmedia/a94098fa-379a-4e8b-b91a-63d9b48b76d6/Press-release-Virtuoso-2016-travel-trends-at-ILTM.aspx

Pontoon boat on Lake Teedyuskung. Boy going down a water slide.

Filed Under: reunions

A Special Woodloch Christmas “TREE-dition”| Woodloch Resort

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A Special Christmas “Tree-dition”

Cookies and cocoa. The infamous “Elf of a Shelf.” Fabulous interior and exterior lighting. Reindeer horns on the dog and Rudolph’s nose on your cat. Mistletoe and office party hijinx. Yup, it’s safe to say that the words “Christmas” and “tradition” are about as synonymous as Santa and reindeer.

I’m as old-fashioned as they come. Some might even say I am an 80 year old man trapped in the body of a 32 year old. So needless to say, I’m a stickler for tradition in almost all facets of my life. Which is probably why my employment at Woodloch has worked out so well so far. As a resort, we are BIG on traditions. Whether it’s us singing “Congratulations to ALL” during dinner or enjoying our annual Yule Log Hunt, there are some things that will (hopefully) never change here, because life is just a little bit fuller because of them.

Recently, one of our guests, Janet Savage, visited us for her yearly getaway. Janet has been visiting our resort since the early 90’s, having been introduced to us through her mom that traveled with a midweek Motorcoach group. After her first visit, she was hooked and made Woodloch a tradition of her own and visited us each year.

About 7 years ago, she took her love for our resort to the next level. A match made in heaven, she decided to incorporate the tradition of Woodloch with the spirit of the holidays and started crafting a Woodloch Christmas tree. At first, she purchased souvenir ornaments in our gift shops and adorned the small tree. When she bought every design we had, she ended up making her own decorations!

Pieces include: 

  • Customized ornaments recycled from Woodloch pool bar cups
  • Keychains, toys and Mardis Gras beads from our Theme Night drinks
  • The coveted Woodloch GOLD medals
  • Room Keys, matchboxes and miniature golf pencils
  • Boomer the Bear plush animals
  • Photos from past holiday cards
  • Woodloch ribbon gathered from gift baskets she has received during her stay
  • A custom built Woodloch “Ring Toss” ornament
  • A wooden star atop the tree created from branches found at – you guessed it – our resort

“Every year I get the tree out, the tree just brings back wonderful memories,” says Janet. “I look at the tree and I’m just flooded with recollections of happiness- I look at the tree and like you say when we’re greeted at dinner, we’re “HOME.”

No matter what your holiday, this season is a time to celebrate those traditions. Whether it’s goofy, heartwarming or maybe even a little sad, this is the time of the year to bring them front and center and enjoy them.

Filed Under: holiday Tagged With:

How to make a meeting FAIL | Woodloch Resort

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How to Make Your Next Meeting FAIL

“A meeting is an event in which minutes are kept, and the hours are lost.” – Anonymous

I will be the first to admit it, for in my old age I find myself being “that guy” that has no shame in stating the obvious: I don’t like big meetings. In fact, I’ll take it a step further and say that I absolutely despise meetings. Yet, I wasn’t born an independently wealthy prince (though one from Zimbabwe keeps emailing me saying I am heir to his fortune) so like the rest of the bourgeoisie, I need to work and meetings just happen to be a part of my work. Maybe in my next life I’ll be luckier.

There’s something about being in a crowd of dozens, if not HUNDREDS of your coworkers that doesn’t resonate with me. It seems we spend a lot of TIME (which absolutely nobody has a surplus of) to go a short distance, if that. As an undiagnosed sufferer of ADD, anything that doesn’t involve mental or physical stimulation just doesn’t do it for me. I get jittery at first, which after tiring myself out from tapping my toes leads to me daydreaming and really not absorbing what is being said. I will take as many “bathroom” breaks as possible and will be the first out the door upon conclusion.

I’m not a horrible employee- I just don’t like meetings. And I’m part of a much larger problem that companies all face- ensuring that valuable meeting time and dollars are not spent in vain.

But all of the blame cannot be placed solely upon my shoulders. It is my belief that meetings do NOT have to be painful to employees- rather, they can be mentally stimulating, captivating, helpful and best of all, FUN.

But before we get there, we should probably focus on what we SHOULD avoid in the process. Therefore, in conjunction with the wonderful wizards at Woodloch Meetings, we’ve compiled a list of surefire ways to make your next business meeting FAIL.

  1. Have absolutely no purpose. It seems like this is an impossible mistake, but so many organizations set meeting dates, locations and times and don’t really put together a concrete purpose for doing so. Nothing loses the masses like meeting simply for the sake of meeting. Planners should know ahead of time what they want to accomplish and work their plans to set those goals into motion.
  2. Lack a proper agenda. So we’ve got our goal…now what? Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of the modern meeting planner is figuring out how to budget what time they’ll be given for their retreat- and sometimes it might not be enough. Using your purpose, prioritize what you’d like to achieve and then do your best to stick to that time budget!
  3. Too many sub-meetings. While quick breakout sessions are certainly useful, remember the vision set forth in your meeting’s purpose. Constantly breaking out into subcommittees not only divides the team mentality up but also starts to strangle the clock. Use breakout groups wisely!
  4. Bore your employees to death. This is where I’m usually lost. If things aren’t engaging, I’m off to the theme park in my mind. Keep materials moving while they’re being presented, and encourage participation when it’s appropriate. This might take a little bit of showsmanship but it’s worth it.
  5. Don’t provide necessary breaks. Yeah yeah, I know, I said sticking to an agenda is critical, but there comes a point where a human just can’t sit any longer. So breaks are good. Serve some food, have a drink, play some games (that’s where WE come in) or just give your employees some free time. Don’t forsake their attention in an effort to cram.
  6. Lack any inspiration. What do Tony Robbins, William Wallace and Coach Gordon Bombay all have in common? They all knew how to INSPIRE their audiences. They lit a fire under their followers’ butts and got pushed them to get the job DONE. You have a microphone and a room full of people that are chomping at the bit to get pumped- don’t squander your opportunity!
  7. Provide absolutely no follow-up. So, meeting adjourned! Your employees have left with a burning heart of passion to improve your business- but your job isn’t done yet. One of the biggest mistakes an organization can make is providing little to know follow up after your meeting closes. Stay on objective, meet with your employee and make the effort to keep the fire alive in the days and weeks that follow your retreat.

So I hope I did you a solid. Meetings aren’t all resigned to failure, but they will if you aren’t careful. Don’t fall into the same pitfalls as so many have before you- take the effort to make sure that your investment pays off dividends in the ways that you hope. Time is money!

Filed Under: Meetings Tagged With: ,