Hospitality Information

This year, the Lions Club Building will include a Hospitality Area, manned by club volunteers during show hours, to help you make the most of your Specialty experience. Conveniently located near the main show ring, come here in the morning for complimentary coffee and doughnuts, and to pick up the latest edition of The Guiding Light (the daily newsletter). Check the bulletin board for up-to-date announcements about the day’s events, purchase tickets for Specialty activities, sign up for a table at the banquet, and get your questions answered by the friendly and knowledgeable volunteers. At lunch time, a variety of delicious lunches will be available for purchase, plus snacks and beverages throughout the day. It will be a warm place to come inside, meet friends old and new, and stay “connected” with what is going on at the show.

If you would like to volunteer to assist with hospitality, please contact Cathy & John Borklund

We don’t want you to miss out on any of the interesting and exciting activities at the Specialty. Here are some places you will find the latest updates and answers to your questions:

• Lion’s Club Hospitality Area—Volunteers will be there to assist you during show hours.

• "The Lucky Charm"— Bavarian Inn guests will find a copy slipped under their hotel room doors overnight. Copies will also be available at the Lion’s Club Hospitality Area, where you can pick up one in the morning with your complimentary coffee and doughnuts or anytime during show hours.

• Announcement Boards—Updated schedules will be posted daily at the main entrances to the Bavarian Inn Lodge (Lobby, Tower, and Conference entrances), Kern Pavilion, and Hospitality Area.

• Hotel TV Channel—The Bavarian Inn Lodge will display the daily schedule on its television channel; just tune in to preview the day’s events.

Not wanting anyone to be left out of the fun planned for the 2011 National, we are ready with a helping hand and a ride. For those who have difficulty walking the distance from the Bavarian Inn Lodge to the day’s events at Heritage Park and back, golf cart shuttle service will be offered. Other special needs? Please let us know, and we will try to help.

We know that some of our attendees will have trained service dogs, and we want to be sure that those dogs have full access to all areas of the hotel. In order to avoid inconvenience to you, we respectfully request that your service dog(s) wear a vest or other easily seen badge or garment in the hotel so staff can quickly identify your dog. We understand that Federal ADA law does not require identification; however, it would help to increase efficiency and convenience if hotel staff were able to quickly identify working service dogs.

Show headquarters will be the picturesque Bavarian Inn Lodge, nestled on the banks of the Cass River and adjacent to Heritage Park. The Bavarian Inn Lodge features 354 rooms and suites, a seven- acre Family Fun Center (with five indoor pools, two whirlpools, children’s play area, mini golf, game room, exercise room, and Ratskeller Lounge), Oma’s Restaurant, and Lorelei Lounge. A short scenic walk over the covered bridge leads to Main Street, which is home to over 100 specialty shops and other well-known restaurants. The show rings, grooming, and vendors will be in Heritage Park, just across the service road from the hotel. The distance from the tower entrance of the hotel to the show ring in Heritage Park is just slightly over .2 of a mile. You can see an aerial view of the hotel and show grounds here.
Michigan’s climate in early May can be unpredictable, so come prepared for all kinds of weather. Plan to bring warm clothing, clothing that can be “layered,” hats, gloves, raingear, and boots. The average high temperature for the week of the Specialty is 62 degrees, and the average low temperature is 40 degrees.
We are confident you and your Newfoundlands will, once again, enjoy the convenience of this site and the opportunity to experience the old world charm of Michigan’s “Little Bavaria.”