Another very important consideration in finding the right facility for your retreat is evaluating the camp or conference staff’s attitude toward service and hospitality. What is their philosophy and service record in working with retreat groups?

One good indicator of a serviceminded facility is that they should have staff available throughout your stay to answer questions and take care of needs you might have during your retreat. Ask them about this.

Sticker price for your retreat facilities isn't the only factor you need to use when choosing a retreat facility...  Maybe you'd like to go tent camping and wake up to fuzzy wuzzy...  Maybe not...

When comparing retreat facilities... compare the meeting and lodging facilities, but when it comes to rates make sure you ask what is and is not included in the basic fee.  Answering these questions will help you level the playing field between different rate plans and help your group choose a retreat facility based on the value of the offerings and how the will help you meet their event ministry goals.

• Is there an extra charge for use of meeting facilities?
• Do you provide your own audio/visual equipment such as a DVD, projector, and a sound system?
  Will the facility provide it?
  Is there an additional charge for using the property's AV service?
  What about additional travel expenses to send a team to set-up equipment if the facility wont set-up for us? 
• What recreational activities are available?
  Does the rate include the facility & necessary equipment?
  Do some activities cost extra?
• Is a separate speaker’s room available?
  Does it cost more than the normal lodging facilities?
• Are linens available or do we bring our own bedding?
  If linens are provided, will the bed be made up by you or the housekeeping staff?

It is best to not make assumptions.  Ask questions. You will have a better retreat experience if all of these details and questions are worked out before you arrive at the site - better yet, before you sign a contract.

Lake Williamson Christian Center is celebrating 50 years of ministry in 2011!  A little over 50 years ago a visionary group of people chose a slice of land just south of Carlinville.  Through prayer, sacrifice, and vision some farm land has been transformed into a place where lives are changed!  The original purpose for the property was stated as:

To establish Lake Williamson Bible Camp as an outdoor setting where groups may retire for a time from the distractions of everyday life to consider more fully together the gospel of Jesus Christ and thereby grow in their relationship with God.

Over the years increased use of the property by groups has driven the expansion of LWCC into a full service, year round conference center.  Lake Williamson, from the very beginning, has been well planned because the founders believed that as churches grow, the need for off-site ministry will increase, and the property should be able to accommodate ever expanding groups.  These men and their families believed that this was a tool that churches needed as a part of their ministry events, that the retreat experience was necessary experience to be offered to church members, and that God would change lives through experience that only off-site ministry could provide.

One of the values we hold today is to consistently produce a quality affordable conference & retreat experience.  It is this value that drove our decision to make some adjustments to the 2011 rates at Lake Williamson Christian Center.  All of our standard retreat package rates at LWCC will either remain the same or be reduced in 2011.  Notably the rates for our two-night & six-meal weekend package and four-night & twelve-meal week-long packages saw some of the biggest rate reductions.  For our 50th Anniversary we wanted to make if more affordable for churches to extend their stays to a full weekend, be more effective with their weekend events, and make week-long conventions and camps more affordable.

In addition to reduced cost in packages we identified a need for family friendly packages.  Many churches are beginning to offer ministries for all ages or for families to attend together.  To make it more affordable for family ministries to come on retreats we have introduced a new discounted rate category for children 12-17, a deeper discount for children 6-11, and we kept children 0-5 free.  This way when a family stays together in the same motel room the retreat experience is affordable for everyone to attend together.

MORE GOOD NEWS:  You don't have to wait to plan your event until 2011.  Technically speaking... LWCC opened on Labor Day 1961, so we are starting our celebration early... and celebrating all the way through the end of 2011!  The new package rates are good for any event planned to be held September 2010-December of 2011.  In 50 years the landscape at LWCC has changed but the mission that drive us is the same...  It is our desire to exceed our guest's expectations through the facilities and guest services where our guests can restore, renew, and reconnect with God.

There are a couple methods used in the hospitality industry to work up group pricing, the two major practices that are out there are ala-carte and packages.  At Midwest Christian Retreats we use packages.  There are a few ala-carte charges but those are few and far between.

Several facilities at Midwest Christian Retreats properties are described as being self-contained facilities.  Self-contained facilities feature lodging and meeting under one roof for your group.  Lake Williamson's lakeside center is self-contained dorm space for up to 200 guests.  Lake Placid's Activity Center & Retreat Center are both self-contained spaces featuring dorm & motel style lodging, meeting space, and recreation for up to 265 guests.  Faholo's Conference Center features hotel style rooms, multiple meeting spaces, & recreation all under one roof for up to 250 guests.  And Lost Valley's Retreat Center features lodging, dining, & meeting space under one roof for up to 50 guests.