Branson Lives Up to Its Slogan, “It’s Your Show!”
*Shannon Latham was sponsored by the Branson Convention and Visitor’s Bureau for this post, but all opinions are her own.
One of the things I enjoy most in my position in marketing for Latham Hi-Tech Seeds is visiting Midwest cities in search of unique experiences that our seed dealers and their families might enjoy while attending our annual sales meeting. Our 2017 event was recently held in The Show Me State at the Hilton Convention Center at Branson Landing.
Customer families enjoying Silver Dollar City
One reason I chose Branson is because there is so much for people of all ages to see and do, from Silver Dollar City and farm-to-table dinners at the Keeter Center to championship golf courses and tournament fishing on local lakes to activities and attractions on The Strip.
Our hotel was near the Branson Scenic Railway.
In fact, there’s so much to see and do in Branson that I’ve lost track of the number of times that I’ve visited! Each time I go, I try something different. Two years ago my mom and my daughter joined me while I toured hotels and possible meeting sites, which were arranged through the Branson Chamber of Commerce. (Click here to read about our Branson culinary adventure.)
It was a hot hot day during our visit to Silver Dollar City. The water rides and unlimited drink wristbands were perfect to help keep cool.
Any experienced meeting planner will tell you the first step in planning a great meeting is contacting the local chamber. I’ve worked with many chambers during my 20-year marketing career, and I can honestly say the Branson CVB tops my list of favorites. Everyone I’ve ever worked with is professional, hospitable and focused on making a meeting planner’s job as easy as possible.
Break time at Silver Dollar City, grabbing an Icee!
When I asked to visit the Hilton Convention Center after I was already in Branson, the Branson CVB made it happen – with a smile. Hilton’s group sales manager also was gracious and made me feel like she would really enjoy working with me. My CVB contact pointed out all the things to see and do in Branson Landing that were within walking distance of this hotel. In the end, I selected the Hilton Convention Center even though it wasn’t on my radar when I arrived in Branson.
Branson Landing was the most wonderful place to host our meetings! From the first of the year through the Fourth of July, we published a series of related newsletter articles and sent a series of e-mails to Latham® Seed Dealers that included: Top 10 list of Branson shows; Top 10 Branson attractions; and five unique experiences to have at Branson Landing.
View from White Fish House
One of the unique experiences we enjoyed at Branson Landing was Moonshine tasting. Smith Creek Moonshine is like the Baskin-Robbins of margaritas! You can choose from 13 unique flavors , including Strawberry Shortcake and Hillbilly Frappuccino.
For added enjoyment, Latham Seeds chartered a bus to take our guests from the hotel to Silver Dollar City. This 1800s theme park that encompasses 100 acres with 12 stages, 30 rides and attractions, 12 restaurants and 60 shops. There also are 100 resident craftsmen that demonstrate everything from furniture making and baking to carving and cutting glass. Again, there was something to appeal to people of all ages and interests!
Moonshine Margaritas were a perfect cap to the day during our stay in Branson
Many of our families enjoyed the Harlem Globetrotters, and several ladies enjoyed a culinary demonstration inside the Midwest Living® Culinary and Crafts School at Silver Dollar City. Despite that temperatures neared 100 degrees plus the heat index, our guests enjoyed their day at Silver Dollar City. I’d like to give a special shout-out to our SDC group coordinator who worked with us. He provided a schedule of activities with maps in advance, as well as suggested meal and unlimited beverage tickets. He provided amazing customer service for two years as we’ve worked to plan this event.
Everyone with whom our marketing team worked to plan our Branson meeting provided exemplary customer service. We hosted a sales meeting in 2010 in Branson, and you can bet that we’ll be back again!
Related Blogs:
- Get a Taste of Southern Hospitality
- “The Covered Dish” Shares Simply Delicious Recipes
- “Mis en Plus” is Key to Entertaining with Ease
*Shannon Latham was sponsored by the Branson Convention and Visitor’s Bureau for this post, but all opinions are her own.
Southwest Chicken Eggrolls
Ingredients
3 tablespoons olive oil
2/3 c. red pepper, chopped fine
1 onion, chopped fine
4 cups cooked chicken, diced and seasoned with salt and pepper
1½ cups cooked black beans, drained
2 cups fresh spinach, chopped fine
1 cup frozen corn
1/3 cup jalapeños, chopped fine
2½ teaspoons cumin
½ teaspoon cayenne
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/3 cup finely chopped cilantro
12 oz. shredded pepper jack (or Monterey Jack) cheese
Flour tortillas
Instructions
Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet.
Add red pepper, onion, jalapenos, and corn; Cook until tender.
Stir in cooked chicken, black beans and spinach.
Add cumin, chili powder, cayenne and garlic powder. Stir and cook until thickened; then stir in cilantro and melt in cheese.
Using medium-size soft taco flour tortillas, place 1/3 cup of the filling into the center of the tortilla. Fold the edges in and roll tightly. Wrap each in plastic wrap and place on a cookie sheet. Freeze overnight, then place in Ziploc freezer bag and store in freezer.
To bake, place frozen (unwrapped) eggrolls on a jelly roll pan. Bake approximately 30 minutes at 350 degrees until golden brown and crispy. Eggrolls also could be deep friend.
Serve with sauce made from sour cream, salsa and guacamole.
Notes
recipe from the Midwest Living® Culinary & Craft School at Silver Dollar City
instructor: Master Craftsman Debbie Dance Uhrig
