Destinations - April 2008

The best of both worlds is featured at Keystone Resort & Conference Center, Keystone, CO. The year-round mountain resort features two championship golf courses, a variety of winter activities, 1,400 accommodations and more than 100,000 square feet of meeting space. Photos by Robert Miller and Keystone Resort

By Diana Rowe

A natural landscape moves people in different ways. It inspires. It motivates. It silences. It takes one by surprise. Words rarely capture the moment — the skyward sweep and heady mix of humility and awe when first viewing the “purple majesties” of the Rocky Mountains, the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia or any awe-inspiring mountain ranges. That’s why when planners announce a mountain resort destination, their attendees instantly get a touch of mountain fever.

From historic mountain resorts such as Colorado’s historic Broadmoor or West Virginia’s Greenbrier to the intimacy of the Stoweflake Resort & Spa in Vermont or the new Grand Cascades Lodge in northwestern New Jersey, planners can have it all any time of the year when they meet in the mountains.

Northeast Mountains
Kim Lyons, national accounts manager of Morristown, NJ-based ConferenceDirect, worked with a senior meeting and event planner for a New Jersey-based health care company to find an ideal destination for their fall meeting. The planner wanted a nearby resort that offered a retreat with wide-open spaces for her young group of health-conscious attendees who wanted to engage in outdoor activities.

Other mountain resorts were considered, but none felt right for her client, said Lyons. “We ultimately selected The Grand Cascades Lodge, booking it before its opening, crossing our fingers that construction would finish in time for our October event.”

The planner booked The Grand Cascades Lodge on the basis of a previously successful meeting experience at its sister property Minerals Resort & Spa. She expected the same ambience and quality of service to carry forward to their new resort. The convenient location of The Resorts at Crystal Springs, less than an hour from Manhattan and central New Jersey, offered her everything she needed in a mountain retreat: amenities, outdoor activities and sufficient meeting space.

She was impressed with how quickly the construction was completed, and even more impressed with the final outcome. The quality of accommodations, the mountain ambience and the outstanding service confirmed her belief that her event was one of their most successful.

Located in the mountains of the Sussex Skylands, a five-county region of northwestern NJ, the Grand Cascades Lodge opened late last summer as the newest addition to Crystal Springs Resort, a mix of residential housing, hotel accommodations and world-class amenities including seven renowned golf courses, spas and a 50,000-bottle, award-winning wine cellar at Restaurant Latour. The 250-room Grand Cascades Lodge was designed with planners in mind, featuring 30,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and incorporating luxury resort amenities such as specially tailored menus, a distinctive Iron Chef-style teambuilding challenge, a golf simulator and an 18-hole putting course ideal for group competitions. In addition, planners based at the Grand Cascades have access to 20,000 square feet of function space at the nearby Minerals Resort & Spa.

The event used several meeting spaces, including the Emerald Ballroom, which features floor-to-ceiling arched windows and dramatic chandeliers, and the Ballyowen Golf Club, which accommodates up to 180 guests and features views of the gently rolling fairways and mountain range.

The group discovered great networking opportunities throughout the resort, including the reception on the outdoor patio complete with a roaring firepit, and at the murder-mystery scavenger hunt where they spread clues throughout the property for another chance to enjoy the outdoors. Next time, they want to check out the Biosphere, an indoor pool complex with an underground aquarium, tropical foliage and vortex pool, and the Reflections Spa at Grand Cascades Lodge, which will complement the existing spa.

“The timing of our January dealer incentive trip made me instantly think of the mountains,” said Jill Malloy, zone manager, for the Foxborough, MA-based General Motors Corporation. “For incentives with all the amenities, I want to return my attendees to a proven winner, the full-service, luxury, all-seasons mountain resort The Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa.”

Set amidst the backdrop of the majestic Green Mountains, the Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa is a AAA Four-Diamond, all-seasons luxury resort, located in the picturesque town of Stowe, VT. The resort features a variety of luxurious accommodations, a sports/fitness center, two-awarding winning restaurants, a world-class spa, indoor and outdoor pools and expansive meeting space.

The Conference Center at Stowe­flake is the largest resort-based conference center and the only IACC-approved facility in Vermont, offering 22,000 square feet of meeting space, catering to groups as large as 400. The conference center features a classic boardroom, the elegant 4,500-square-foot Pinnacle Ballroom

The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, WV. Photo courtesy of The Greenbrier

and a 10,000-square-foot garden and pool deck for outdoor receptions.

“This is our third year returning to ‘The Stowe,’” said Malloy. “I have the same people assigned to me in the banquet area, and they know what to do. In fact, we always have a game-show event, giving away tons of prizes, and Eric, one of the hotel staff, contacted me first, asking what the show theme was and came up with ideas. I love that I don’t have to re-educate the property.”

Malloy has discovered that this mountain property is just the right size for her group of 160. “The accommodations are suites, and our attendees feel like they are getting something warmly welcoming about walking into a room with a fireplace. In fact, the entire mountain ambience makes our attendees feel pampered, and this trip is about making our dealers know how important they are to us,” she said.

“The courtyard is situated in the middle of where we have our event,” added Malloy. “The gentlemen love to go there and network while standing around the bonfire. This year, I happened to comment about how nice it would be to roast marshmallows. Five minutes later, we had a bag of marshmallows. That’s just one example of the personalized service freely given by the staff at The Stowe, and that’s why we continue to return.”

Heidi Sharry, vice president of operations for the Wellesley, MA-based Quinwell Associates, a travel services and planning company, plans numerous meetings and incentive trips for her clients, and favors mountain resort destinations. Because of its great location, just 2½ hours from Boston, Sharry often recommends the Mount Washington Resort to her clients.

“For a New England destination, this mountain resort has a little of everything,” said Sharry. “The new owners are updating the property, putting in a brand new spa, updating meeting space, soft goods and décor. It is already home to a renowned golf course. I’ve sat on the back patio just for the view of the

Womble Carlyle attorneys enjoyed skeet and trap shooting at The Greenbrier Gun Club. Photo courtesy of Womble Carlyle

mountain right behind the resort. By the time it’s finished in the fall of 2008, it will be a five-star resort, and fully capable of hosting meetings and incentives from intimate to larger groups. My clients are already booking for this year and next.”

Set at the base of Mount Washington and surrounded by nearly 800,000 acres of the White Mountain National Forest, the Mount Washington Resort  in Bretton Woods, NH, is a four-season vacation destination featuring many lodging options that include The Mount Washington Hotel, Bretton Arms Inn, and The Lodge.

Many planners use the Mount Washington Hotel for attendee accommodations. This National Historic Landmark founded in 1902 offers 200 guest rooms and suites, many with mountain views and fireplaces.

For outdoor enthusiasts, attendees might prefer the 50-room Lodge, steps away from Bretton Woods, New Hampshire’s largest ski area.

Planners will find an abundance of seasonal activities such as golf, tennis, horseback riding and fly fishing during the summer; and alpine and Nordic skiing, snowboarding, ice climbing, snow tubing, sleigh rides and winter hiking trails during the winter. A $7 million renovation of the resort’s two golf courses is underway.

Founded in 1876, the historic resort is undergoing a $50 million renovation due for completion this fall, which includes an additional 30,000 square feet of meeting space and a new 25,000-square-foot spa. Sharry added, “From the service to the décor, Mount Washington is a step back in time and a distraction-free setting.” Down in the lower section of the property is The Cave. A former speakeasy from the Prohibition days, The Cave is a granite-walled nightclub offering nightly cocktails, billiards and seasonal entertainment — a casual setting perfect for networking.

Historic Favorites
Nestled on 6,500 acres of lush landscape in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia, The Greenbrier is an award-winning resort which has been welcoming guests since 1778. This National Historic Landmark reopened last April after a $50 million renovation project, which encompassed the resort’s 721 guest rooms.

Debbie S. Dunn, planner and executive assistant for Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice PLCC, headquartered in Winston-Salem, NC, plans an annual retreat for more than 450 legal partners, senior administrative staff and guests. The attendees are from the firm’s 11 offices in six surrounding states and

The Broadmoor, an award-winning 700-room resort at the gateway to the Colorado Rocky Mountains in Colorado Springs, boasts three championship golf courses, a 43,000-square-foot spa, salon and fitness center, 14 restaurants, cafés and lounges, and 185,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 60,000-square-foot pillarless ballroom and 60 meeting rooms. Photo courtesy of The Broadmoor

the District of Columbia. The convenient locations first attracted Dunn to The Greenbrier.

“We visited several other resorts prior to selecting The Greenbrier,” said Dunn, “but the breathtaking view upon our arrival, their excellent reputation and quality of the sales staff solidified our decision.”

Dunn was surprised at the ease of moving her attendees from one meeting to another within the conference center. She also said the attendees were pleasantly surprised by the advanced technology available at a mountain resort.

Top-notch amenities and services at The Greenbrier include 85,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space, fine dining establishments and access to more than 50 recreational activities, including three championship golf courses, indoor and outdoor tennis courts and a 40,000-square-foot spa.

“With most of our large meetings and dinners held in the same ballroom,” added Dunn, “it was astonishing to see the staff quickly convert the room from a business meeting in the morning to an upscale black-tie dinner in the evening.”

According to Dunn, the conference services manager anticipated her meeting needs. “I might mention that we needed to set up a breakfast or lunch for the spouses, and she anticipated that I’d also want to enhance the setting and contact their in-house florist.

“All of the meetings, dinners and recreational activities are designed to further promote camaraderie among the attendees,” added Dunn. “Our members were happy to take advantage of a number of outdoor activities available such as fishing, hiking, horseback riding, offroad driving and falconry. Trap, skeet and sporting clays also proved to be favorites. Of course, we always offer a ‘shambles’ golf tournament on both Friday and Saturday afternoon, and The Greenbrier offers exceptional courses for good-natured competition among the players.

“I have planned these retreats for the last three years,” said Dunn. “The Greenbrier is a perfect setting for us. The exemplary staff, mountain setting with great views, and the historic resort and its amenities make for a win-win situation for any planner.”

Another popular historic resort is Colorado’s The Broadmoor. Conveniently located just minutes from downtown Colorado Springs, the lush 300-acre Broadmoor boasts 700 rooms and suites, 14 restaurants, cafés and lounges, a tennis club, three championship golf courses (hosting the 2008 U.S. Senior Open), 25 retail shops, and a world-class spa. This resort is easily accessible, with non-stop flights from anywhere in the United States through Denver International Airport (DIA), just 90 minutes away.

Planners applaud the addition of the 60,000-square-foot Broadmoor Hall, a pillarless, carpeted facility that functions as a ballroom for general sessions, dining or state-of-the-art exhibit space. Broadmoor Hall, the 20,000-square-foot International Center and the 18,000-square-foot Colorado Hall make up The Broadmoor Events Center Complex, which offers 185,000 total square feet of adaptable and flexible function space throughout the resort. In addition, the newly remodeled Cheyenne Lodge, a 6,300-square-foot mountain lodge, provides indoor and outdoor event space.

Another Colorado option is the Keystone Resort & Conference Center. which is also about 90 minutes from DIA.With the White River National Forest as a backdrop, the setting at Keystone has a way of bringing about a fresh perspective. The resort is seven miles end to end and a great place to add on leisure time after the conference. The more than 1,400 accommodations range from condos and private homes to the AAA Four Diamond-rated Keystone Lodge & Spa. The 100,000 square feet of meeting space features two adjacent ballrooms on the first level; an additional 4,000 square feet of freestanding meeting rooms on the second level; wireless Internet and a unique circular boardroom. The Keystone Resort & Conference Center is a year-round resort with two championship mountain golf courses, chairlift rides, fly-fishing and mountain biking in summer.

Surrounded by the timeless magnificence of the Elk Mountains and brilliant azure skies, Aspen and Snowmass combine natural beauty and exceptional amenities with practical meeting space to host events of all sizes. Located 3½ hours from Denver with its own mountain airport, Aspen is frequented by the rich and famous. Known as a luxurious destination, Aspen also offers inns and lodges, with more than $250 million in new lodges opening in the next 18 months.

Aspen’s crown jewel, the 92-room Hotel Jerome, is centrally located on Main Street and renowned for elegance, personalized guest service and unrivaled ambience. With more than 7,500 square feet of meeting space, the Hotel Jerome’s conference facilities cater to intimate groups. The property’s outdoor function space offers breathtaking views of Aspen Mountain, and can host a function of up to 350.

The St. Regis Resort, Aspen is a perfect setting for meetings set amidst the relaxed spirit of the Rocky Mountains. Their 179 guest rooms and suites, heated outdoor pool, Remède Spa, 20,000 square feet of function space, and proximity to the heart of Aspen ensure a successful mountain meeting.

In nearby Snowmass Village, nine miles from Aspen in the heart of the Elk Mountains, The Silvertree Hotel is the only full-service ski-in/ski-out hotel in the area. The Silvertree Hotel and Wildwood Lodge, along with the Snowmass Conference Center, offer planners 36,000 square feet of flexible space, including an 11,000-square-foot ballroom and 20 private event rooms for up to 2,000 people.

The Viceroy Snowmass, a new 236-room hotel, will be located in the $1 billion base village development slated to open in 2010. One of America’s first LEED-certified Silver hotels, this property will include a 5,000-square-foot spa and 15,000 square feet of dedicated meeting, event and conference space.

Western Mountain Meetings
Sunshine is often a surprising discovery at a mountain meeting. Many Western destinations, such as Boise, ID, boast 300 days of sunshine each year, along with another surprise — state-of-the-art meeting facilities. The largest population center between Portland and Salt Lake City, Boise offers its own truly unique set of cultural experiences. Boise hosts a wide range of meetings, from conventions and trade shows to small corporate gatherings and everything in between.

The Boise Centre on the Grove is the city’s largest meeting center, offering state-of-the-art facilities that include 50,000 square feet of flexible space, a 349-seat auditorium and 20 breakouts. There are also approximately 1,000 hotel rooms within a short walking distance of the convention center. The 250-room Grove Hotel, Boise’s only AAA Four Diamond property, offers 36,000 square feet of meeting space, including 20 breakout rooms. The Qwest Arena, with more than 21,000 square feet of exhibit space, is adjacent to the hotel. Also within walking distance of the convention center is the 100-room Owyhee Plaza Hotel with 11 meeting rooms.

Home of the 2002 Winter Olympics and the annual Sundance Film Festival, Park City, UT, is a self-contained resort town just 35 minutes from the Salt Lake International Airport. Meeting planners can choose from more than 3,000 guest rooms ranging from intimate to full-service hotels with fully equipped conference rooms. Planners might consider the 360-room Canyons Grand Summit Hotel & Conference Center with more than 18,000 square feet of meeting space or the Yarrow Resort Hotel & Conference Center in the heart of Park City with more than 12,000 square feet of meeting space.

A luxury mountain resort in Park City, the 175-room, AAA Five Diamond Stein Eriksen Lodge accommodates groups up to 440. The lodge offers three executive boardrooms, 6,000 square feet of indoor meeting space, and the 4,000-square-foot Olympic Ballroom with six breakouts.

Also recording more than 300 sunny days, Lake Tahoe still boasts an amazing 396 inches of annual snowfall. Planners searching for a world-class mountain resort with gaming can pull an ace out of their sleeve when they book the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino. Located in the Sierra Mountain Range, this 422-room, newly remodeled property offers more than 80,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor venues with the only lakeside ballroom in Lake Tahoe.

For planners, a mountain setting is a perfect fit, no matter the season. Mountain resorts might be a retreat destination, but planners don’t have to sacrifice the quality of their meetings. Whether in vibrant cities or charming villages, mountain settings offer both world-class resorts and mountain lodges, and many offer extensive meeting space, as well as conference centers. From skiing, snowboarding and dogsledding in the winter, to golf, fishing and hiking in the summer, mountain resorts provide an opportunity for attendees to get close to nature during and after the business of the day.    C&IT