Maine Meetings – York Harbor Inn, Ocean Resort Maine

As featured in "Meetings East"

Planner’s Perspective
by Ruth Hill

An Interview with Linda Gagnon, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, VBP Library Services, Contoocook, NH

Describe your event:
This was our annual four-day sales meeting for about 35 attendees. We met at the York Harbor Inn in York in September 2003.

Why did you decide to host the meeting in York?
We always look for a venue that will really let us focus on the work at hand, and we like to have the meeting contained within one facility. Also, the property is close to our home office, so many could drive in. Others flew into Manchester or Portland and then drove.

What surprised you the most?
My staff loved it. We had the ability to get out and walk by the ocean in the evenings, and go shopping and whale watching. The real diversity in the whole package was really nice.

What did your attendees seem to enjoy the most?
We had the most perfect weather you can imagine, and combined with the Maine coastal setting and the facility, it made for a really grand event.

Was anybody particularly helpful?
Karen, our meeting coordinator, was very accommodating. Everything we requested got done, and the whole event went very smoothly.

What other types of groups fit well with the property?
I think it would be a great team-building location because of the intimate feel. People can spend quality time together in the outdoor setting. It would be great for tightening social connections and for having focused time or strategic discussions.

How does the Inn compare to other resorts where you have hosted meetings?
This is the best one I have ever been to. We’ve been to Reno and to a resort in the White Mountains, but this one stood out.

Would you return?
Yes, we will definitely use the York Harbor Inn again in the future.

Do you have any advice for other planners who might bring a meeting to York?
We were in the shoulder season between peak and off-season – the week after Labor Day – and that worked perfectly. Summer would be a whole different scene.