Tamarack room: where corporate minds meet. (Advertorial).

Looking out the windows on tamarack forest, it is easy to see how the owners of Thunder Bay's new Days Inn chose the name of its meeting room. With a warm and inviting decor, and a view of natural sunlight and trees, this medium-sized room offers a quiet and relaxing atmosphere for training sessions, seminars, and presentations for groups of 20 to 40 people.

Some of the equipment provided with the room include: television, VCR, screen for overhead projector and flip charts. Telephone and high-speed Internet service are also included in the rental package: Along with a sink, refrigerator, and microwave, coffee, tea and water are supplied, and linens are available if a meal will be catered.

The refrigerator is highly valued by people with health problems such as diabetes.

"We can keep our insulin, and any special dietary needs cool, and know they are handy if they're needed," says one Days Inn guest.

Montana's Cookhouse & Bar, located across the parking lot from the Days Inn, is licensed to serve alcoholic beverages in the Tamarack Room if requested, and will also cater meals. As well, there are many caterers and restaurants, which will deliver and serve lunch.

"We spend some time discussing meals and refreshments, and are happy to make the catering arrangements in accordance with our guests' preferences," says Kevin Kalyta, general manager. The room's size and layout are very popular, and it is well booked. According to a CIBC representative who was recently presenting a seminar on mortgages, the size of the room is perfect.

"You don't need a public addres system - it's just right for small- to medium-sized groups." The property immediately north of the Days Inn is empty, and Kalyta says that it could be used to expand the hotel by adding additional meeting space, as well as rooms or suites. "We're finding that this room size is very popular," Kalyta says. "There are a lot of large meeting rooms in Thunder Bay, but the Tamarack's size seems to be just right for many events - training sessions for two or three dozen people, for example."

Kalyta has been asked to supply special equipment such as a Power Point projector, or teleconference phones, and he and his staff are happy to make the arrangements.

"If the equipment is very expensive and not often requested, we may not have it on hand, but we're always happy to assist our guests, to give them exactly what they want."

It is this kind of personal service and attention to detail by Kalyta and his staff that make meetings held in the Tamarack Room enjoyable as well as successful. As a result, it has become the meeting venue of choice for many local and out-of-town clients.