How connected are our golf resorts?
And those who visit them?
By Kelly Hill
Managing Editor

Simply getting away from the office and its routine and from clients and their demands, is a primary objective when booking a conference or meeting at one of the state's golf resorts. While at that resort, however, those attending those meetings need to stay connected, to the office, to clients, and to each other.

How well are the resorts keeping their guests connected?

While most guest rooms at these resorts feature data ports into which laptop computers are easily connected, Crystal Mountain also has equipped its conference rooms with dial-up service. Also, last fall, Crystal installed a digital cell tower at the top of Crystal Mountain.

Eagle Crest Resort in Ypsilanti has come to the realization that videoconferencing is not just a desired service, it is a necessary service, so it has installed a system to allow for several "virtual" face-to-face meetings with people in cities thousands of miles apart, thereby allowing conference-goers to be in two places simultaneously.

Grand Traverse Resort and Spa is able to provide high-speed Internet access in any of its meeting rooms in its central complex. The resort has been wired with a T-1 line that can be run to any meeting room in the main complex, including the second largest hotel ballroom in the state, Governor's Hall, which measures 20,160 square feet. While each of the telephones in the resort's guest rooms are equipped with data ports, Grand Traverse Resort and Spa also has made available a Cyber Cafe, in its Gallery of Shops.MG