Accent east 2026

Begin your day with a hearty breakfast at the Blue Gate Garden Inn before meeting your local guide for a hands-on Amish Country experience. Watch a leather craftsman at work, explore the Menno-Hof Cultural Center, and roll your own pretzel at Ben’s Soft Pretzels. Visit an Amish buggy shop and sample homemade jams and jellies before enjoying free time to shop downtown. In the evening, savor a festive Amish Christmas dinner by the fire, and if the timing is right, enjoy reserved seats for the annual Shipshewana Christmas Parade. End the day relaxing at your host hotel’s cozy hospitality room. 

Meals: B, L, D

   Start the day with a hot breakfast buffet before departing Shipshewana for South Bend. Take a walking tour of the University of Notre Dame, seeing landmarks like the Golden Dome, Basilica, Grotto, and “Touchdown Jesus.” Enjoy a lavish brunch at Tippecanoe Place Restaurant, then explore the Studebaker National Museum and the historic Oliver Mansion at The History Museum. In the afternoon, delight in a chocolate-making experience at the South Bend Chocolate Factory and wander the Indiana Dinosaur Museum. Finish the day with dinner and check in to your South Bend hotel. 

Meals: B, L, D

Enjoy breakfast at your South Bend hotel before checking out. 

An exciting opportunity to participate in a volunteer tourism activity awaits this morning. Then, depart for check-in at the Four Winds Casino & Hotel.  This evening you'll enjoy a Kickoff Reception with conference attendees where you'll network, dine, and laugh with longtime friends and business insiders - new and old.

Meals: B, L, Reception