Consider these seven offbeat and dynamic spaces for your next business meeting
Ann Arbor is a destination known for its creativity and innovation. For anyone looking for some meeting space away from the office, here are a few recommendations from our friends at Destination Ann Arbor.
From executive off-sites and board retreats to more comfy spaces for brainstorming sessions, many of our community’s well-appointed venues are a perfect fit — many even include delectable culinary options as well.
Here are several meeting and event spaces that we love to recommend to local companies and visiting groups.
Zingerman’s Greyline
This gorgeous Art Deco event space is located in the heart of downtown Ann Arbor is catered and managed by the renowned Zingerman’s Deli, was recently nominated for a James Beard Award for excellent service. Adjacent to the original location for Ann Arbor’s Greyline bus depot, this meeting space features natural light, includes A/V equipment and setup, and offers valet parking for an additional fee.
Vinology
If you have wine connoisseurs in your group, this is a great venue to consider. Vinology is a lovely wine-focused restaurant located on Main Street in downtown Ann Arbor, and its stunning private meeting space on the lower level puts meeting attendees right in the middle of hundreds of bottles of delectable wine. Sommelier presentations are available, as is a full menu and optional private bar.
Zingerman’s Cornman Farms
For small groups that really want to get away from it all, Zingerman’s Cornman Farms in Dexter is a perfect place to unwind. Tons of windows, comfortable furniture, and exquisite cuisine set this farmhouse and barn venue apart from its competitors. Located near a major highway, it is both convenient and a rural retreat.
GO Where Meetings Matter
A self-described ‘’creative conference center,” GO Where Meetings Matter focuses entirely on corporate meetings and retreats. Perfect for meetings that require a jolt of innovative energy, this facility has a variety of meeting spaces for small and large groups. The venue includes access to all kinds of meeting supplies and tools. Check out Bailey’s Bunker — a small space that is intended to be “a safe zone for entrepreneurial dreams,” and Inspiration Fields, which was designed to uplift “ideas that will change the world”.
Ann Arbor Art Center
If your offsite meeting or retreat could use a creative boost, consider holding it in an inspiring gallery space such as the Ann Arbor Art Center. Gorgeous exposed brick, streaming natural light, and an atmosphere of artistic flair make these small meeting spaces perfect for a downtown Ann Arbor offsite event.
Pretzel Bell
University of Michigan sports fans will feel right at home in the private event spaces available at the Pretzel Bell — a downtown Ann Arbor restaurant that despite opening in its current form just a few years ago, has the feel of a long-standing Ann Arbor institution. The small, private spaces available are adorned with Wolverine decor and gear from yesteryear, and the menu is exquisite.
BRAG Ann Arbor Event Center
One of Ann Arbor’s only waterfront event spaces, the BRAG Ann Arbor Event Center is located just outside the downtown area and is perfectly sized for small groups. Interviews, networking, training, planning sessions, presentations — these are all a great fit for this intimate, picturesque meeting center.
