Are you planning a family or class reunion? The Muskogee Chamber of Commerce and Tourism should be your first call. From reserving hotel space to providing goody bags, the tourism department of the Chamber may just be a reunion planner's best friend.

We can provide a wealth of information to reunion and event planners such as hotel rates and recommendations, ideas for restaurants and caterers, and even unique venues to hold your event. We can put together itineraries, suggest the perfect Okie souvenir, and even provide your guests with goody bags including an Activities Guides, attraction brochures and Okie lapel pins.

While sometimes our resources are limited, don't be afraid to ask for extras, you may be surprised at how creative we can get to make your event the best ever no matter what your budget is.

One of our specialties is helping with ideas for your event's activities; they can vary from a personalized family genealogy class at the Muskogee Public Library, a welcome speech from America's youngest mayor, a fashion show at the mall, an elegant banquet at the newly renovated Muskogee Civic Center, a cookout at Honor Heights Park, a talent show at the Roxy Theater, or a scavenger hunt around town for 30 giant guitars.

We can help arrange group tours of the local museums, jewelry making classes, casino trips, or suggest a great band for your event. There are so many things to do in Muskogee all year round, the possibilities are endless. And your attendees are sure to remember a welcome reception on the USS Batfish or a group photo taken by Ole' Glory waving at the courthouse.

While most family reunions are held during the summer months, there are some great community events that go on all year round that would be a great way to theme your event. The Renaissance Festival in May at the Castle or the Downtown Haunted Ghost Tours at Three Rivers Museum in the Fall are very creative ways to celebrate with Muskogee.

Planning a class reunion can be a daunting task, but as the Muskogee Central High School Class of 1948 recently discovered, we can help make the event specialized to your audience. They requested a special presentation that we called “Then and Now.” We were able to get a local historian to create a PowerPoint presentation featuring photos of the way Muskogee looked in 1948 and where those things are now. The class really enjoyed the fact that we created it just for them.

We understand the focus of reunions should be the excitement and anticipation of reconnecting with relatives and friends near and far. We are here to assist you in your planning to ensure that your event is memorable and smooth. We can even suggest events for all ages and demographics of your group. While a shopping tournament might be a great idea for the 30 something's, planning children's events is as fun and easy as scheduling a private party at the River Country Water Park. We also like to focus on family members between 18 and 35 because they're the ones who we hope will take over the reunion and stay connected to the family in the future. And perhaps you have a special guest or honored member of the family in attendance, we can provide you with an “Honorary Okie from Muskogee” plaque too.

Another excellent planning tool is the new Web site. A planner can e-mail the link to our site to all attendees planning to visit Muskogee. The Internet is so ingrained in our daily lives that everyone does online research before traveling. Our site is helpful in choosing things to do, places to stay, restaurants to try, and of course, the hidden gems of Muskogee, you know, those things not to miss while you're in town that the locals take for granted.

Visitor traffic, both online and into the city, is expected to rise substantially as travelers from the region and nation, even the world, flock to www.muskogeechamber.org for an interactive experience of our fun-filled destination.

Our role is to create a positive experience for guests of our city. Our welcoming presence and trademark small town hospitality helps visitors feel right at home in Muskogee.