The Omni Homestead Resort & Spa. Courtesy Photo

The best events are meant to both educate and inspire, and planners have found that mountain resort destinations — with their tranquil grounds, stunning views and majestic backdrops — provide inspiration all their own. The breathtaking scenery of such venues, when paired with engaging content, equates to a win-win for all types of events.

With crystal-clear water, dense forests, a wide range of wildlife and plenty of fun activities, you can provide the perfect setting for attendees who want to get back to nature as well as get down to business.

Colorado

With its awe-inspiring vistas and laid-back vibe, Colorado is a popular mountain resort destination, ideal for corporate and incentive gatherings.

As commercial team program manager for Soleo Health, a national specialty pharmacy and infusion services provider, Jeanne Warsing coordinates the company’s national management meeting, rotating locations for the event each year to accommodate as many attendees as possible. This gathering is attended by the company’s territory managers, therapeutic line directors, payor relations directors, regional vice presidents and senior leadership from across the country, and they travel in from all over — the West Coast, the Midwest and the East Coast.

Soleo Health is licensed in all 50 states, with over 30 branch pharmacies. “We’re based out of Frisco, TX, but we choose different locations each year so it works out for our attendees,” Warsing says.

When it was time to scout properties for the 2024 event, she wanted to try something different. “Our event is normally at the end of February, and we usually go to a warm place,” Warsing says. “This time I wanted to try something a little further north. The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs had everything the team was looking for. It’s such a gorgeous property, and when we sited it, it was fantastic. Plus, the rates were great.”

A historic venue, The Broadmoor blends luxe accommodations with the rugged spirit of the American West. The property is the world’s longest-running consecutive Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond Resort, and with 315,000 sf of meeting space, there are plenty of both traditional and unique event options for planners, as well as a long list of activities and adventures for both the courageous and the more cautious. Planners can work with the hotel’s events team to curate unique outdoor excursions with activities including falconry, fly fishing, hiking, rock climbing and whitewater rafting, to name just a few.

At Soleo Health’s event, the agenda included free time during which attendees could do whatever they wished. “When we do a site visit, we take a good look at the resort and see what there is to do in the area. We use a conference app and have a ‘Things to Do’ tab. We’ll list everything nearby so attendees can find activities,” Warsing says.

She also worked with a local DMC to add some fun to the proceedings. “We hosted one of our activities at the Cheyenne Lodge, part of The Broadmoor — it’s truly a stunning setting with beautiful mountain views overlooking the city,” Warsing says. She enlisted the help of PRA, a DMC, to handle all the logistics, décor and games for the evening. “[They] were a huge help, given the scale of the event,” she adds.

The evening was centered around a “rustic lumberjack lodge” theme and, Warsing says, PRA “really brought it to life. They took care of everything — from tablecloths, centerpieces and custom bars to outdoor furniture and firepits. They also coordinated the lumberjack-themed games, such as axe throwing, log saw cutting and hammerschlagen, which added a memorable touch to the night.”

With PRA handling the night’s dinner and activities, Warsing was free to concentrate on other aspects of the meeting. “With 200 attendees, working with PRA made it easy for me to focus on our weeklong meeting at The Broadmoor without worrying about vendors, contracts, insurance or décor details,” she says. PRA managed everything, staying onsite to ensure the event ran perfectly, and even booking the musical talent for Soleo Health’s awards banquet. “Again, I didn’t have to worry about searching for vendors or ensuring everything went smoothly. PRA managed everything, including staying onsite to ensure the DJ ran perfectly.”

In addition, Warsing had a great experience working with The Broadmoor’s events and F&B teams. “We had several people who were vegan or gluten-free, and the culinary team met every one of our needs. They were flexible, and the food was delicious,” she says. “The customer service was top-notch. Their whole team goes out of their way to make sure your team is being served. You never have to look for a member of their team. And their follow-up is impeccable. My final invoice came in less than 10 days and without error.”

A few miles from The Broadmoor, Garden of the Gods Resort in Colorado Springs is an escape from the outside world without losing touch with it completely. This is one of the reasons that Steve Kinsley, president of Kinsley Meetings, chooses the resort every year to hold a two-day board retreat for Junior Achievement Rocky Mountain, of which he is a member.

“It’s a fabulous resort. Resorts in The Rockies are part of my jam, and Garden of the Gods is just beautiful,” Kinsley says. “You’re not in the middle of a lot there. It’s nice and quiet. The rooms face the Garden of the Gods itself, which is a red sandstone park.” Pike’s Peak is also visible, providing guests with access to a full range of natural wonders during their stay.

Kinsley says the intimate size of the resort lends itself well to small- and medium-size groups. “We have 40 people at the board retreat, so 40 to 50 max is about the largest group they like to have at this venue,” he says.

Kinsley describes the F&B as “excellent. They do a great job.” He says the group usually has breakfast outside on the resort’s patio and dinner and cocktails inside, while breaks and lunch usually take place outside. “The event is in May, so the weather could go either way,” he adds.

The resort is a “hidden gem,” Kinsley says. “Planners would enjoy the seclusion — it’s kind of a boutique setting. There’s great golfing and a spa as well.” He also points out that the resort features “casitas” — standalone 1-, 2- or 3-bedroom luxury residences, each with its own full kitchen, dining room, living area with fireplace and five-piece en suite bath — which are another great option to give guests even more privacy. Additionally, the resort’s rooms were renovated not that long ago.

“Colorado Springs is easy to get in and out of,” Kinsley points out. “It’s about 20 minutes from the airport. It’s really beautiful — right next to the mountains. I would definitely recommend Garden of the Gods resort for a smaller group.”

Besides its close proximity to the airport, Colorado Springs has plenty for guests to do, should they want to explore the city when the day’s business wraps up, or extend their stay by a few days. From hiking Pike’s Peak and touring the city’s many historic landmarks to visiting art galleries or enjoying any of the city’s many breweries, parks and sports complexes, there is a lot to discover in this small but mighty city. The same can be said of the entire state of Colorado.

Hot Springs, VA

For planners in the know, the Omni Homestead Resort & Spa in the Allegheny Mountains is a top choice if you want to treat attendees to one-of-a-kind event experience. Designated a National Historic Landmark, it has operated for over 250 years, and its elegance and historic charm remain on full display. After a $170 million renovation, the resort boasts over 72,000 sf of upgraded meeting and event space with state-of-the-art amenities. Add the stunning mountain views and the Omni Homestead will leave your group rested, inspired and ready for business.

Western Montana

With its wide-open spaces, deep connection to nature and recent emergence onto the world stage thanks to the TV show “Yellowstone,” more and more people are discovering what locals have known for generations: Montana is a special place.

Rather than hosting conferences or conventions for thousands of attendees, most of the venues in Big Sky Country are better suited for small to midsize groups, according to Debra Ravenscraft, senior director, global accounts at Helms Briscoe. She has visited countless properties in the state. She mentions Paws Up Montana, a 37,000-acre luxury resort and working cattle ranch in Western Montana — known as Glacier Country — that offers incentive groups and meeting attendees a truly memorable experience. “The housing options at the properties are cool — it’s either a glamping tent or a house. I personally stayed in a three-bedroom house during a recent site visit, and it was like something off the set of ‘Yellowstone,’” Ravenscraft says.

She adds that there’s no reason for event attendees to leave the resort once they arrive. “They have something like 70 activities — it’s a working cattle ranch, so that in itself is cool. Paws Up is the first place that comes to mind for a smaller, more exclusive group,” Ravenscraft says. It does have a higher price tag, she notes, but everything is included: lodging, meals, ground transportation to the airport and activities. “They give you a Lexus to drive around the property. It’s pricey because it is all-inclusive, but what better investment than your team? People will never forget it.”

As for meeting areas, Paws Up has several indoor and outdoor spaces, all with a strong Wild West aesthetic, so the place is certain to be unlike anything the group has experienced before.

In addition to unique venues and lodging options, Western Montana has plenty of ways for groups to experience the outdoors. Glacier National Park is perfect for a spouse trip or add-on excursion, with activities such as fly fishing, skiing, snowboarding, horseback riding and hiking.

The Lodge at Whitefish Lake in Western Montana is another idyllic destination for smaller groups. “That’s a wonderful opportunity because you can fly into Glacier Park International Airport in Kalispell, MT, and drive into Whitefish,” Ravenscraft explains. Plus, airport shuttles and ground transportation are common amenities at most of the resorts. She describes The Lodge as “a quintessential Montana mountain inn, with a big roaring fireplace. It’s right on the lake so there’s a big deck. You can hold events outside or just sit by the water.” The venue has four rooms ideal to hold events for smaller groups, and the conference/grand ballroom is a great fit for larger groups, with more than 6,000 sf of space.

Ravenscraft says the smaller boutique venues found throughout Montana also offer great options for planners organizing trips and retreats for remote teams. “I have some clients whose teams are fully remote,” she says. “It’s hard to build trust when you’re just communicating over Zoom all the time. Every six months my clients’ teams will get together, and they want something unique. They want to sit around a firepit and get to know each other. They want to get outside. There’s just something about sitting outside on a mountain in the cool air that’s different from lying on a beach.”

Mountain venues also offer something different for incentive groups. “I have a lot of clients who do incentive trips and go to beaches. I remind them to change it up now and then. These folks can go to a beach anywhere. There’s something refreshing and comforting about putting on jeans and a flannel rather than a bathing suit,” Ravenscraft says.

Ravenscraft says that when it’s time for attendees to explore, the dining and shopping options in many of the small towns throughout Western Montana — namely Kalispell, Whitefish and Missoula — are as good as any planners will find in a major city. There are few chain stores or restaurants in this part of the country, and that’s the way the locals prefer it. The big focus on small businesses adds a different dimension to sightseeing and offsite excursions. “It’s difficult to find a hotel to accommodate 400 people, but that’s kind of the beauty of it,” Ravenscraft says. “For smaller-size meetings or remote teams, that’s something these venues do well.”

Utah

Known for its world-class skiing and landscapes, Utah isn’t just for snow lovers. It has plenty of year-round activities to appeal to everyone.

Beth Hoffman, CDS, vice president, global accounts at ConferenceDirect, says Park City is one of her favorite destinations. She first discovered it because she is a skier herself, and she has since brought many corporate and incentive groups. “The skiing is first-class — world-class snow, world-class conditions,” Hoffman says. “It has the best lifts, the best gondolas and access to so much terrain. There are so many world-class resorts to select from, all with their own niche.”

She recently worked with a group that held a retreat at The Lodge at Blue Sky and was impressed with all the experiences available there. A luxury resort with a rustic sensibility, it has nine event venues, each with its own unique aesthetic. Meeting space ranges from the 36,000-sf Remuda — a former indoor horse-riding arena that can be booked for events — to the cozy 675-sf private dining room.

Hoffman also praises The Pendry, one of Park City’s newer attractions, because of the sleek, modern look of the modern alpine lodge and its location on Main Street. The hotel includes more than 7,000 sf of meeting space across four distinct venues, with state-of-the-art AV and meeting amenities.

It is also worth visiting downtown Park City, where Hoffman recalls taking part in an incentive trip: “We were there in the offseason, so, fall, and we took bikes from Main Street, and because the biking pathways are so extensive and well laid out, we did an awesome bike tour through the back country and another part of Park City I’d never seen before. That was a great half-day activity, and not too strenuous.”

During her many visits to Park City, Hoffman has found much more to appreciate about the city. For example, event attendees can visit Olympic Park — site of the 2002 Winter Games — and watch Olympic athletes train with their coaches. The historic Main Street is not to be missed either, according to Hoffman. “That’s the edge Park City has over all the other little ski towns,” she says. “It has that historic ‘cowboy ski town’ vibe, and you don’t need transportation. Park City has so many fun options for dine-arounds! I think attendees enjoy it because the city is so walkable.”

Located only 40 minutes from the Salt Lake City airport, Hoffman says both ground and air transportation are second to none. “One of the biggest selling points of Park City is the ease of airlift,” she says. “Flying into Salt Lake City, there are tons of direct flights, and once you get to the airport — which is beautiful — you can literally get into a car, van or shuttle and be in downtown Park City in 45 minutes.”

However, Hoffman suggests caution. “Utah’s altitude is lower than Colorado’s, so attendees that might experience altitude sickness should be aware of that,” she says. “It really affects you if you’re not used to it. Stay hydrated.”

Although some venues can hold larger groups, Hoffman feels boutique hotels and unique venue spaces are perfect for smaller, more exclusive events and incentive groups. “I would definitely say it’s a great location for a retreat,” she adds.

She points out that mountains have a much different vibe that leaves groups who visit inspired and energized. “The air is so clean, the sky is so blue. Sometimes, you see wildlife and different animals in their natural habitats. You just feel this natural energy,” Hoffman says.

North Carolina

Asheville boasts an artistic sensibility inspired by the changing seasons. When Christine Kavanagh, vice president of global accounts for HPN Global (and a native “Ashevillian”), sources properties for clients here, the stately Biltmore Estate and luxurious Grove Park Inn top her list. “For an incentive-level group, the Grove Park Inn is the most ‘wow’ factor hotel,” she says. “It has a magnificent golf course, amazing spa and has been open since the early 1900s. It really provides a lot of what an incentive-level client would be looking for. It’s also super close to downtown Asheville.”

The storied Biltmore Estate, once home to the Vanderbilt family, remains the largest privately owned residence in the country and provides an unparalleled experience on the grounds of one of the country’s most majestic homes. The hotels are separate from the main building, so there is a sense of privacy and exclusivity for the groups who are staying on property.

“I booked a couple of small groups there for corporate retreats,” Kavanagh says. “It’s perfect for smaller groups.”

With examples such as these all across the U.S., it’s clear that mountain resorts continue to provide meeting and event attendees with plenty of options to get work done — and also get away from it all.  C&IT