Prevue November/December 2015 - (Page 70)

CheckOut Todd Nelson in Cape Town, with a mural inspired by Kalahari Resorts Kalahari Resorts brings authentic African experiences to Pennsylvania Set among Pennsylvania's picturesque Pocono Mountains, the latest Kalahari Resort and Convention Center combines a sprawling 100,000 sf indoor waterpark with a state-of-the-art 65,000 sf conference center and full service spa. The combination of extensive meeting space and family friendly amenities has contributed to an average increase in attendance of 20 percent for association meetings across Kalahari resorts over traditional meeting and convention venues. Crafting an authentically African experience is a key selling point of the resort. To facilitate this, owner Todd Nelson recently embarked on an epic 23-day tour of Africa, taking in 6 countries and 24,752 miles with his family in tow. Actively seeking out the artistry, music and rhythm of Africa and bringing this influence directly into the resorts is an essential part of what makes the Kalahari experience. A visit to a small-scale coffee farm in Rwanda, for instance, led to a plan to import the gourmet beans now brewed on property in the US. Likewise, a food odyssey to meet both Africa's top chefs and renowned roadside grill jockeys inspired the culinary offering, incorporating dishes such as traditional beef seswaa from Botswana. The vision for Kalahari's waterparks was inspired by Victoria Falls and the mighty Zambezi River, which also provided a chance to experience bungee jumping and whitewater rafting. The Nelson family also connected with world famous South African street artist Falko One in Cape Town. One painted a mural (pictured above) that was inspired by the Kalahari properties. Kalahari's Pocono resort features 457 guest rooms and suites, and its flexible event space includes two ballrooms, the largest of which is 25,000 sf. The indoor waterpark has a retractable roof for all-weather activities, so groups can enjoy year-round bodyboarding and stand-up surfing on the FlowRider®, experience the Anaconda water roller coaster, relax in the lazy river and hot tubs, or enjoy a revitalizing treatment at the Kalahari Spa. kalahariresorts.com/pennsylvania 66 | prevue magazine http://www.kalahariresorts.com/pennsylvania

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue November/December 2015

Planner’s Pick: Salt Lake City
Bureau Buzz: Birmingham
Fresh Meets: Melia Hotels International
Good Business: Community Outreach at ASAE
Sea Shores: Crystal Cruises
Ode to Inspiration
ASIA & THE PACIFIC
AMERICA’S SOUTHEAST
SWEDEN
On Location: South Korea
On Location: Istanbul
USVI
LOS ANGELES
On Location: Panama
On Location: Scottsdale
Checkout: Kalahari Resort & Convention Center

Prevue November/December 2015