Help organizing a Herf/Event in Cherokee, NC

[Robulous78]

My name is Rob,
I am a desk clerk at a medium sided hotel, Located in Cherokee, NC.

The property is adjacent to a Casino, Harrah's Cherokee - Which provides fine dinning opportunities and plenty of entertainment (so long as you bring your wallet lol)

the hotel itself is pet and cigarette smoker friendly, However cigars would have to be smoked outside :(

The property has an small outdoor grill, picnic area, and an outdoor pool (if weather allows...

I am starting to think about bouncing the idea off my management and the local casino to put on either a Herf at the hotel, or an cigar event at the casino if I can orchestrate enough interest.

Obviously, The casino would require the even to be rather large to justify their involvement, but I am pretty sure I could organize a Herf at my hotel without many issues.

Since this is a plan in motion and still in the beginning phases, I am basically asking forum members if they would be interested in spending a weekend in Cherokee, NC , adjacent to a casino, for a definite herf /possible event...

Also, if you have any idea or can provide any help in turning my idea for a small Cherokee Herf into a full fledged cigar event please let me know your thoughts or anything you would like to do to help.


So if you have just general interest please by all means let me know, no reply will be considered an RSVP yet as this is only an idea at the present time.

More importantly, if you are a vendor or other business that would like to see this happen please let me know what you are willing to bring to the table...

Thanks everyone for your interest, pleasant puffs,

Rob

[SvilleKid]

Rob...

Been in that casino and several times. A herf would depend on when, for me to attend, which is probably the same answer you'd get from most members! You would want to plan it around the big annual herf events that happen here (like Shack herf, Epic Herf) if you want a chance to pull more CA members. Additionally, you'd want to plan around national events like the Big Smokes and the IPCPR (mainly to have a shot at getting more cigars reps there). If you start to get things organized, PM me and I can give you a name at General Cigar, and a name of a rep at Altadis USA.

The Casino part of a herf would need to make some cigar smoking concessions, I'd think, for it to be included in the activities.

[Robulous78]

Thanks for the info Svillekid,

As it stands now I am sure my hotel would help with discounted pricing, the casino already allows gamblers to smoke cigars on the gaming floor... but who knows how they would feel about a lot of smokers... All and All its just a day-dream I had... Maybe it will gather momentum...

Thanks for the advice,

Rob

[Robulous78]

Step 1 ) When?

Any suggestions forum members?

I sent off an e-mail to the events coordinator for the casino to begin looking at what it would cost / what can be arranged... waiting on a reply but Ill be sure to post their response and will need plenty of feedback/help/support....

Thanks everyone...

Rob

[Robulous78]

Thanks Volfan,

A lot of great things to work on, think about, and consider... Please keep all helpful hints and advice flowing this way...

Rob

[Robulous78]

Rob, based on when most of the herfs are the best bet to not conflict would be fall/winter. There are quite a few cigar smokers in the Carolinas and the Atlanta area that would probably attend but they are close enough that they would most likely not want to spend the night at the hotel unless there was some incentive to do so. As for what can be arranged based on the information I have some things you want to look into are as follows:

Private room with comfy chairs to smoke in away from the casino noise. Meeting rooms and banquet halls sometimes work for this

Catered meal choices and other food possibilities (especially if it is a fee-based herf)

I am assuming that this is a commercial herf and therefore it needs some sort of extra incentive like door prizes, cigar auction, etc., etc.

You may want to also discuss this with cigar clubs in cities close enough to drive to Cherokee (like Charlotte, Raleigh, Richmond, Columbia, Greenville/Spartanburg, Asheville, Atlanta, Knoxville) and get feedback from them. A lot of local guys aren't on any cigar forums.

There aren't any herfs during college bowl season that I know of, and Cherokee is pretty that time of the year. Weather permitting that would be a nice time to do something unless cigar smoking is pushed outside and then I would say spring or fall only.


Can you help me get in touch or point me in the right direction of some of these clubs?

I was thinking of a reasonable fee herf, to cover the hall rental and catering...

I also am working on contacting reps that would like to set up displays or conduct sales to sponsor the event to keep this cost low on the attendees end. Any one that knows some reps or reps that are interested please contact me.

Theoretically We could have a some sort of raffle with the proceeds going to the CRA.

The casino should be on board due to the alcohol sales, attendees gambling, and the overall caliber of people this should bring in... They recently got the ability to deal live cards...

As for weather the attendees stay in cherokee or smoke, gamble and drink a bit and leave that is completely up to them, I was just saying my hotel would probably be willing to accommodate those that come down with the gambling bug... :)

Guys, just think. You can take the wife up to Cherokee for the weekend. Attend a herf while she gambles at the casino, stay the night and see the Biltmore house (East) or enjoy scenic ride on the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad (West), The next day on your way out. Depending on when the date is set and the weather, Motorcycle riders can cruise up and then go out for a ride on the Tail of the Dragon and Cherrehalla Sky way.

There is also an incredibly scenic and decently rated golf course, Sequoyah National less then 2 miles from the casino.

Throw in the gift shops and the Native American heritage and you have the makings of a great weekend cherokee getaway.

So that is my dream, Any who can help I await your assistance,

Thanks everyone & Good Smoke,

Rob