Resort at Squaw Creek, a Destination Hotel, is located in the heart of Olympic Valley, California, with direct lift service to Squaw Valley USA.

Fall and winter can be prime time for companies to meet, but that doesn’t always mean booking a warm-weather destination. In fact, many towns in and near America’s mountains make planners’ short lists with good reason. These destinations not only provide excellent meeting facilities, they give attendees a chance to ski and ride at premier winter resorts.

Aspen, Colorado

Aspen is not lacking in alluring attributes. It has history, infrastructure, chef-driven dining, no small measure of glitz and glamour and some of the best skiing in North America. It’s also a community used to high-profile executives and VIPs, making it ideal for C-suite retreats and high-end incentive programs. The town’s uber upscale vibe is well-deserved thanks to accommodations such as The St. Regis Aspen Resort and Forbes Five Star, AAA Five Diamond Little Nell. But there are other options that make Aspen ideal for all kinds of mountain meetings.

Robin Hammons, event coordinator for the Gulfport, Mississippi-based Domino’s Franchisee Forum, says her group always books The Gant, a Destina­tion Hotel. “Our group has been coming to Aspen for 15-plus years and has always stayed at The Gant,” she says. “It is the most reasonably priced for the accommodations. Our group likes to bring family, and The Gant is one of the only places in Aspen with condo-type accommodations as well as meeting facilities.”

It’s a bonus, Hammons adds, that “it’s also within walking distance to town and provides shuttle service around town, and to and from the airport.”

The Domino’s group, which in March 2015 was comprised of about 95 attendees, always uses The Gant’s conference facilities for meetings, and has held small evening receptions there as well. Hammons calls the staff “accommodating, friendly and professional,” and says the room is always set up on time. “The food,” she adds, “is excellent.”

But Aspen itself is what makes this group return time after time. “The largest draw for our group always returning to Aspen is the town,” Hammons says. “Aspen is one of the best towns for food, entertainment and shopping for a ski destination. Our group typically comes to Aspen every other year or at least every two years.

“We’ve used the Community Ice Rink for a private party and hockey game,” she continues. “We also usually have a couple of nights when attendees are on their own and dine in local restaurants. The food is always good and there are many options to choose from.“

At times the group has received discounts on ski rentals, which helps lower costs for attendees. Hammons has few complaints about meeting in Aspen, though she wishes there were a few more dining and activity options for larger groups. And she points out that for skiers and riders who don’t want to tackle Aspen Mountain, bus transportation is required to Buttermilk and Snowmass, which better accommodate beginners and intermediates. That said, the town delivers.

“Aspen,” Hammons says, “is usually one of our highest-rated meetings.”

Breckenridge, Colorado

Breckenridge is part of the Vail Resorts portfolio of ski areas and another Colorado town with colorful history. Vail Resorts has five lodging properties in town: The Village at Breckenridge, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Breckenridge, Mountain Thunder Lodge, One Ski Hill Place and Crystal Peak Lodge. Together the lodges encompass 560 rooms, 40,000 sf of meeting space and can accommodate groups of up to 500. The company can act as a single resource for planners, from lodging, event planning and on-mountain dining to lift tickets, equipment rental and transportation.

Annie Bolduc, sales enablement manager for Atlanta, Georgia-based Premier Global Services Inc. (PGi), which designs conferencing tools to better facilitate collaboration, brought 35 top incentive qualifiers to Breckenridge in December 2013 for PGi’s Sell Your Way to the Peak event. The group chose One Ski Hill Place for its host hotel.

“Of all the resorts in Breckenridge, I truly believe you cannot get a better location,” Bolduc says. “First, it’s right at the base of Peak 8, convenient for avid skiers and close to downtown and transportation. Second, the amenities are plentiful and appealing to everyone. In Breckenridge, it’s hard to find a resort that will appeal to people who do not ski, and One Ski Hill achieves that perfectly. Third, there’s the staff. They made my work extremely easy, and the whole process was completely stress-free.”

The attendees agreed with Bolduc’s assessment. “For weeks after the event, I received emails from participants saying that the resort was outstanding. From the concierge staff and food to amazing accommodations, our participants could not stop raving about the experience. People loved the bowling alley, the fact that you could just step out of the hotel and start skiing immediately and how luxurious the accommodations were. In fact, many people came back, booking their personal vacation at One Ski Hill with their families since they had been so impressed and wanted more.”

Bolduc calls two staff members, Lisa Eastlund and Tobye Wojcik, “miracle workers,” adding, “I have planned other events, and the staff at One Ski Hill was, by far, the most helpful I have ever encountered.”

One Ski Hill Place was also the venue for the group’s cocktail party. “The variety of food we had put together for everyone satisfied even the picky eaters, and the staff not only worked within our budget, they somehow managed to save us money.”

As for the town, Bolduc says, “Breckenridge was the perfect fit because it appealed to skiers and non-skiers. Our event was a sales incentive so we needed somewhere that would be rewarding for everyone. Since we do a beach trip for our Chairman’s Club, I wanted to plan an event that wouldn’t feel like a Chairman’s Club trip but still be exciting for all participants, and Breckenridge met all these requirements. The resort accommodations are stunning, luxurious and it is conveniently located near everything the participants could possibly want.”

The group booked a dinner in town at Twist, which was a hit. “Everyone loved the comfort food feel, especially with how cold it was that week,” Bolduc says. “It was food they knew and loved but with a twist that elevated it. We’ve booked our dinner with Twist again for this year’s trip.”

In summing up the 2013 event, Bolduc has one word: “perfection.” She didn’t get a single complaint in the event’s follow-up survey. “We’re thinking this will become our annual incentive trip,” she says.

To her fellow planners considering Breckenridge, Bolduc suggests starting the planning process as early as possible. “This is a popular resort, and you want to make sure you have enough room for your event. Be open and upfront with the staff; let them know what your budget is, and they will do everything they can to stay within those limitations.”

Keystone, Colorado

Nearby Keystone is another option for groups, especially those in need of a conference center. The Keystone Resort and Conference Center provides more than 60,000 sf of exhibit, function and meeting space, while the resort has another 40,000 sf to offer overall. There are three ballrooms and 50 flexible meeting rooms. The resort also has approximately 1,200 accommodations. The conference center offers wireless Internet access in all meeting rooms and public spaces and digitally controlled sound configurations.

A wide variety of meeting space throughout the resort includes a mountaintop venue, outdoor pavilion as well as spacious living rooms in luxury condos and townhomes.

Keystone offers more than 25 dining venues that range from easy grab-and-go meals to five-star dining.

Guests can take a gondola ride and enjoy high-altitude dining at the Bavarian-style Der Fondue Chessel or the AAA Four Diamond Alpenglow Stube. Two unique and memorable options include a horse-drawn sleigh or wagon ride to a rustic homestead for a delicious home-cooked meal and entertainment or a dinner at the Ski Tip Lodge, a stagecoach stop turned upscale Mountain Inn.

Vail and Beaver Creek, Colorado

Expansive Vail and compact Beaver Creek are popular with groups for different reasons. Few mountain towns boast the sheer number of restaurants, accommodations and activities as Vail, one of Colorado’s best-known mountain resorts. But for some planners, intimate Beaver Creek is the ideal fit.

CCMP Capital Advisors LLC, a New York- and Houston-based global private equity firm specializing in buyout and growth equity investments in North America and Europe, brings a group to Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort & Spa each February. Tracie Walton, assistant to the chairman, plans the annual event of 30-plus attendees. “The Park Hyatt is a beautiful property with excellent staff,” she says. “The location is great, and the service is top-notch.”

She has high praise for the resort staff, particularly Andy Hoen, senior sales manager, and Christie Gregg, event planning manager. “Andy does an excellent job with our group each year. He works hard on providing the best rate possible and goes over the contract thoroughly with me. He’s always available if I have questions, even after business hours. Andy knows our group needs and is always prepared when we speak.

“Christie goes above and beyond each year that I’ve worked with her,” Walton continues. “I really rely on Christie when we are at the property, and she’s always available. Christie never leaves out any details, and I always feel confident working with her. After the event, she works with me on billing and explanation of services. She is cheerful and willing to help at any time.”

Walton says the attendees engage in a multitude of winter activities, including skiing. They also go out to eat and have enjoyed Mirabelle as well as Beaver Creek’s famed luxury on-mountain restaurant, Beano’s Cabin. For 2015, the group has reserved the private Allie’s Cabin, also on the mountain, for a function.

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Not all of Colorado’s winter destinations are in the mountains. With a relatively mild winter climate, more than 500,000 sf of meeting space and 14,000 guest rooms, Colorado Springs is an excellent choice for a late fall or winter mountain meeting. Hotel choices include the Antlers Hilton Colorado Springs and Cheyenne Mountain Resort & Club, and there are settings for offsite functions at the Air Force Academy, Cheyenne Moun­tain Zoo and Cottonwood Center for the Arts. It’s also worth noting that the majority of the area’s attractions are open in winter, and the city is less than two hours from superb skiing.

Vickey Woodley, senior manager of meeting services for Jacksonville, Florida-based Medtronic Surgical Tech­nologies, brought 140 attendees to another of the city’s famed properties, The Broadmoor. The historic resort was an ideal choice for the November 2013 meeting for two reasons.

“It’s close to the office that manages the equipment used for this meeting, equipment that is very expensive to ship due to its size and weight,” Woodley says. “Besides, The Broadmoor is breathtakingly beautiful, the service outstanding and everyone at the resort made us feel warm and welcome.”

Though the property is very spread out, Woodley says her group contained its meetings to one of the convention spaces, and used various dining venues for functions.

“The first evening we had a welcome reception in the Lake Terrace Dining Room at the hotel. It was a beautiful room and the food was amazing,” Woodley says. “We were able to use six of the Broadmoor’s restaurants for dine-arounds on the second evening. It was nice that the hotel had this many venues to choose from, which saved us time and transportation charges. The attendees were able to enjoy their dinner without being rushed to catch a shuttle back to the hotel.”

Though the city was chosen for its proximity to a Medtronic facility, Wood­ley calls The Broadmoor “a bonus we didn’t expect! This was our first visit there but probably won’t be our last.”

Her group didn’t have time to go into the city, but she suggests anyone planning a meeting in Colorado Springs build time into the schedule to do that. One other thought: “Plan your meeting in early December to enjoy the most beautiful holiday decorations ever!”

Lake Tahoe, Nevada

Lake Tahoe is actually two distinct areas: Lively South Lake Tahoe, combining the assets of an expansive ski resort, gaming, nightlife, and the busier south shore of the lake, and more serene North Tahoe, imbued with the characteristics of an upscale mountain resort overlooking one of the most beautiful lakes in America.

South Lake Tahoe lodging properties with meeting space include the green-focused, moderately priced Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel with 400 suites, complimentary breakfast and 10,000-plus sf of meeting space. For groups wanting to combine a meeting with onsite gaming, there’s Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, the 18-story, 532-room hotel with 25,000 sf of meeting space and multiple excellent restaurants and a spa. It’s connected to sister property, Harvey’s Resort & Casino, with 740 rooms and more than 22,000 sf of meeting space. All three of these hotels provide easy access to the Heavenly ski area.

With properties such as the AAA Five Diamond Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, North Tahoe is well suited for incentive trips. The hotel has 170 guest rooms with fireplaces, a 17,000-sf spa and meeting space for up to 400 guests, including two ballrooms with floor-to-ceiling windows. The Ritz-Carlton sits at mid-mountain.

Northstar Village, base area for Northstar California ski resort, offers conference space for up to 200 attendees among its 200 lodging units and 35 shops and restaurants. The year-round venues feature hard-wired AV and complimentary Internet access.

A short distance from Northstar, set at the base of Squaw Valley ski area, is the Resort at Squaw Creek, a Destination Hotel. The AAA Four Diamond resort offers 405 rooms and 33,000 sf of indoor meeting space, plus a long list of team-building and group activities that includes dog-sledding in winter.

Park City, Utah

Located just 35 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport, Park City makes it easy to stage a meeting at a top ski resort. Thirty area hotels have meeting facilities for a total of 125,000 sf. The variety and scope of activities, from skiing and riding to bobsledding, winter fly-fishing and hot-air balloon rides, make Park City an ideal incentive or meeting destination. Good choices for groups include the Park City Marriott, headquarters for the annual Sundance Film Festival, with 191 guest rooms and 10,000 sf of function space. The property unveiled a multimillion-dollar renovation in 2014. Montage Deer Valley features 154 guest rooms, 66 suites and residences, and more than 55,000 sf of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space. Waldorf Astoria Park City is the brand’s first luxury mountain lodge. It includes 201 accommodations, two boardrooms and a presidential suite accommodating up to 70 guests.

Vail Resorts Inc. received unanimous approval from the Park City Planning Commission to implement an impactful capital plan for the 2015–16 ski season. The plan will establish a connection between Park City Mountain Resort and Canyons Resort, creating the largest single ski area in the country with more than 7,300 acres of skiable terrain. Also, critical upgrades will be made to the infrastructure of both resorts.

Components of the $50-million capital plan include:

The Interconnect Gondola, an eight-passenger, high-speed, two-way gondola from the base of the existing Silverlode Lift at Park City to the Flatiron Lift at Canyons. This will mark the first gondola at Park City Mountain Resort since “The Gondola” was dismantled in 1997.

Upgrade of King Con and Motherlode Lifts at Park City. The King Con Lift will be upgraded from a four-person to a six-person, high-speed detachable chairlift, and the Motherlode Lift will be upgraded from a fixed-grip triple to a four-person, high-speed detachable chairlift. Both upgrades will reduce crowding, lift lines and improve the guest experience.

The plan calls for building a completely new Snow Hut restaurant at the base of the Silverlode Lift and next to the Park City terminal for the Interconnect Gondola, with 500 indoor seats and a top-of-the-line kitchen and culinary experience. At Canyons, the Red Pine Restaurant will be renovated to accommodate an additional 250 indoor seats.

The plan features additional snowmaking on two trails in the Iron Mountain area of Canyons, which will become increasingly central ski terrain given its proximity to the Interconnect Gondola.

Stowe, Vermont

The West doesn’t have a lock on excellent winter-meeting venues. New England’s mountain resorts and Nor­man Rockwell settings are every bit as enchanting and up to the challenge of facilitating business. Stowe Mountain Lodge is a superb example.

PC Connection Inc., based in Mer­rimack, New Hampshire, plans an incentive winter weekend every year. In February 2014, its Winter Wonderland Weekend was held at Stowe Mountain Lodge with 150 in attendance. It was the company’s first year at the lodge, and Melissa O’Connor, event manager, sales support and marketing division, booked a return in 2015.

”Stowe Mountain Lodge provides the opportunity for our incentive winners to get away from the fast pace of the city and enter into an upscale rustic oasis. Some of our guests utilized the downhill and Nordic ski areas, some went ice climbing or snowmobiling and others were content staying on the resort, whether in the spa or just reading a book in front of the fireplace.”

Participants also took advantage of local tours, including to nearby Ben & Jerry’s and Cabot Creamery.

Functions were held in resort venues. “We used the junior ballroom for our on-flow welcome reception on Friday night and the larger ballroom (across the hall) for our dinner and awards banquet on Saturday night. The space is perfect for our group size. Dinner service on Saturday was a little slow,” O’Connor says, “but the food itself was great. Unique seasonal dinner options were very much appreciated by our guests. The staff was in tune to our every need, from the servers to the banquet manager, valet to the front desk.”

Tracie Smith, who assisted O’Connor, notes, “It was nice that we were able to have something other than the standard tables and chairs for furnishings the night of our welcome reception. The couches and seating areas made the space feel cozy and comfortable.”

Both O’Connor and Smith commend resort staff in all areas and from start to finish.

“Everything leading up to the event was great, communication and correspondence back and forth was a pleasure,” O’Connor says. “The actual event was truly a relaxing weekend getaway for all of our guests — including the planner.” Before O’Connor’s next trip, they met with the sales manager and “brainstormed how to make every piece of the weekend flawless. We look forward to visiting SML again and again.”

With the first event already in the books, O’Connor did learn a few things. “The vouchers for lift tickets, rentals, gondola and Nordic trails were slightly confusing during our check-in process. Now we know SML will lend us a staff member to take care of this piece, which is much better than having our company planners explain it to guests.”

O’Connor calls the event a “remarkable weekend,” thanks to staff willing to do whatever it took to accommodate her group’s needs and to the lodge itself. “Although the resort is pricey, the quality and lasting impression/experience is 100 percent there.”

It just goes to show that planners booking mountain meetings in the winter shouldn’t always look south. The snowy mountains of the north have much to offer. C&IT