The hosted-buyer event took place in this iconic Vermont city. Photo Credit: Matt Klinger, Mad Pix Pro
On the shores of Lake Champlain, Hello Burlington, Vt., and the 258-room Hotel Champlain hosted Northstar Meetings Group's Small & Boutique Meetings – Spring, making all participants feel welcome and happy to learn about a new destination for their events.
"I made so many meaningful connections with attendees and exhibitors, and truly feel like I have a bunch of new destination ideas that I had not considered before," said attendee Odette Díaz Schuler, deputy executive director of the Center for the Advancement and Study of International Education, a nonprofit organization that promotes multilanguage programs. "The Vermont host committee really hit it out of the park."
Held June 1-3, the hosted-buyer event was attended by 150 meeting professionals from around the country, all seeking to place or welcome gatherings for 100 people or fewer on peak.
Energizing education
At Small & Boutique Meetings – Spring, participants were treated to two thought-provoking education sessions.
The first, led by Don Rochon, a seasoned expert in sales strategies and nonverbal communication, and a certified neurolinguistic-programming practitioner, explored how learning to read our partners' body language can aid during the negotiating process.
"We all interpret life through our experiences, our cultures, our upbringings, our education," Rochon said. "When you understand how to communicate with others and how other people are communicating with you, guess what? You become more persuasive."
Our second speaker tackled one of the Global Wellness Institute's top 10 trends of 2025: analog wellness. In "Unplug to Recharge," digital wellness advocate Jeff Wozer, who toured nationally for 20-plus years on the comedy circuit, performing with the likes of Jim Gaffigan and Brian Regan, talked about how becoming addicted to his phone truncated his ability to be creative. He has since pulled himself out of that abyss, mostly by getting himself outdoors.
"We have trained ourselves to be distracted," Wozer said. "We do great things when we're focused and in the present. And when we are distracted, we compromise our dreams, our ability to be great."
Showcasing the destination
Lunch one day was held out on the beautiful Lake Champlain on the Spirit of Ethan Allen. Following the leisurely cruise, participants had the opportunity to go on some excursions, riding off to explore Burlington on ebikes; driving off to learn about American history, art and design at the Shelburne Museum; or enjoying a leisurely afternoon on a craft-beer tour.
One group went on a walk around town with Hello Burlington director Jeff Lawson, learning along the way about some of the changes coming to the city. By the end of 2026, there will be 400 new hotel rooms, including the 161-room AC hotel opening downtown this August. Also, Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport will complete the northern terminal expansion phase of its Project Next in December, with more improvements to come.
Thank you again to our generous sponsors who helped make small boutique meetings, spring, such a resounding success: Hello Burlington; Hotel Champlain, Curio Collection by Hilton; Hotel Vermont; Courtyard Burlington Harbor; Essex Resort & Spa; Spirit of Ethan Allen; Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing; ASM Global; Daytona Beach Convention & Visitor Bureau; Louisville Tourism; Madison Avenue; PC Nametag; Riverside (Calif.) Convention & Visitors Bureau; Visit Jacksonville; Visit Montgomery; and Visit Virginia Beach.
Northstar is hosting two more Small & Boutique Meetings events this year, in Knoxville, Tenn., Oct. 12-14, and Park City, Utah, Oct. 26-28. Check out our calendar for more Northstar events taking place in 2025. All photographs below taken by Matt Klinger.