Miles of vast plains, majestic snow-covered peaks and herds of elk passing by are the serene images that come to life when visiting Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. With a wealth of luxury properties set in majestic surroundings, these three Western states are natural choices for a true group escape, whether it’s a small meeting, a corporate retreat or a high-end incentive.
There is no shortage of outdoor activities, either, and most of the time guests don’t even have to leave the property. Groups can test their leadership skills while working with horses and get to know their colleagues by doing team-building exercises such as geocaching and ziplining.
The sky is truly the limit when it comes to creating the ideal retreat in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.
Montana
With its Rocky Mountains in the central and the western part of the state, the mighty Yellowstone Park, Glacier National Park, and Big Sky, Montana is an outdoor paradise for groups.
“You have to get out and experience what’s so unique in Montana,” says Racene Friede, executive director of Glacier Country Regional Tourism Commission, a marketing entity that represents eight western Montana counties.
Top retreat properties in Glacier Country include Montana Island Lodge and The Resort at Paws Up.
At the Montana Island Lodge, small groups get exclusive use of the property.
“We provide a full-service package that includes luxury accommodations, meeting space, all meals, refreshments, and recreation,” says Jane D. Fisher, general manager of the property.
During winter, Fisher recommends ice fishing expeditions and moonlight dogsled rides that take visitors through the mountains. In the summertime, guests can take a cruise on the lake and see the deer feeding. In the evening, groups gather around a bonfire to listen to an entertainer play the guitar.
According to Terre Short, general manager of The Resort at Paws Up, all the activities offered on-site lend themselves to competition.
Groups can drive ATVs, compete in clay-shooting challenges, take part in geocaching competitions, or give paintball a go. Winter activities include biathlons, ice-climbing and snowmobiling adventures in the mountains.
“We believe that a productive retreat or meeting shouldn’t be all business,” Short says. “Our environment is so diverse and inspiring that attendees report enjoying every moment of their business trip and that it didn’t seem like work at all.”
For those who can’t get enough of the outdoors, the resort offers camping options, during which guests can ride horses, fish and hunt.
In the Big Sky area, 320 Guest Ranch, Lone Mountain Ranch and Big EZ Lodge are popular choices for executive retreats and small groups.
“We’re situated in one of the greatest settings in Montana, offering proximity to Yellowstone Park, unparalleled recreational activities and options for leisure amenities,” says Marne Hayes, executive director of the Big Sky Chamber of Commerce.
Summertime activities include hiking, mountain biking and trout fishing. In winter, in addition to skiing, there are opportunities for dogsledding, snowshoeing, winter fly-fishing, and snowmobile rides through Yellowstone.
Guests may feel miles away from the hustle and bustle of the city, but the airport is only a 40-minute drive from Big Sky and there are numerous daily direct flights.
Hayes says Big EZ Lodge stands out for its private lodges with intimate meeting settings and top-of-the-line amenities. She recommends Lone Mountain Ranch and 320 Guest Ranch for their settings amid remarkable Montana landscapes.
“They’re able to mesh the true Montana experience with high-quality meeting and retreat needs,” she says.
Brad Havertape, office and activities director at 320 Guest Ranch, says the property is a unique experience for groups.
“Most ranches tend to be dude ranches with set times for breakfast, rides and breaks,” he says. “Our property is more of an a la carte ranch. And you have it all on property—an excellent restaurant and trails for hiking and horseback riding, where visitors can expect to run into elk and other kinds of wildlife.”
Planners can also choose to include casting lessons and fly-fishing tours, as well as guided tours of Yellowstone Park—a must for nature photographers.
Wyoming
Located at the entrance of Yellowstone, Jackson is a great location for groups that want to enjoy some nightlife and shopping fun after nature walks through the park.
“Jackson sets itself apart by striving to keep its own distinct character,” says Kate Foster, communications manager at the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce.
Here, visitors can fill their days with outdoor adventures including white-water rafting, rock climbing or hiking. During winter, they can also cross-country ski in Grand Teton National Park, go on National Elk Refuge sleigh rides, or heli-ski in the Bridger-Teton National Forest.
Properties suited for a luxury retreat include Jackson Lake Lodge, Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole and Spring Creek Ranch.
Situated on a bluff with views of Jackson Lake and the skyline of the Tetons, Jackson Lake Lodge features a heated outdoor pool, horseback riding, Snake River float trips, lake cruises, bus tours of Grand Teton and Yellowstone, and fishing.
At Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole, located in Teton Village, guests can take advantage of the alpine spa or take in the panoramic views of the mountains while relaxing in the outdoor pool and hot spring-style whirlpools.
Tucked away some 1,000 feet above town, Spring Creek Resort offers guests a serene backdrop for some quality team time.
East of Yellowstone Park is Cody, a town founded in 1896 by Col. William F. Cody.
“Buffalo Bill started bringing groups to the area when he founded Cody. His purpose of building the town was to have a hospitality center at the east side of Yellowstone,” says Claudia Wade, director of the Park County Travel Council. “We’ve been a hospitality center ever since.”
Nestled at the foot of the Big Horn Mountains between Cody and Billings is The Hideout, a luxury guest ranch where groups can test their leadership and management abilities. The Western Challenge is a five-day program where teams learn to communicate with horses.
“People go back to work and learn to observe body language more and understand their audience better,” says Peter de Cabooter, manager of the property’s guest, hospitality and corporate initiative.
De Cabooter also recommends cattle work as a team-building activity.
“Get everyone on a horse,” he says. “You can be the VP of the company, but you’ll probably be just as scared as the next person. It starts people off at the same level.”
In Southeastern Wyoming, foodies can rejoice at the Historic Elk Hotel. Located approximately one hour by car from Laramie, the luxury hotel organizes culinary retreats. Guests can learn tips from Susan Havers, a Cordon Bleu chef, during her spring and fall programs.
Idaho
From river adventures to movie-star sightings, Idaho provides an exciting environment and top-notch retreat destinations such as Whitetail Club and Resort, Tamarack Resort, Sun Valley Resort, and Coeur d’Alene Resort.
At Whitetail, set on the shores of Payette Lake in the town of McCall, meetings take place waterside, with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the lake and the Salmon River Mountains.
“Whether it’s a lake cruise by one of our dock staff during the summer or a dip in our lakeside hot tub, open year-round, it’s impossible not to take advantage of our amenities,” says Jocelyn Kidd, director of sales and marketing at the property.
Wintertime makes for unique experiences such as sleigh rides at an elk ranch and dinner in the secluded Blue Moon Yurt (see sidebar, page 28).
At the nearby Tamarack Resort, groups can choose mountain, meadow and lake activities to incorporate in their agenda while staying at the upscale property.
Team-building exercises include the resort’s zipline tour. Starting at mid-mountain, guests glide through eight ziplines alongside two guides.
Ken Rider, director of marketing and sales at the resort, recommends disc golf tournaments for competitive folks.
On the lake, guests can try their hand at wakeboarding and waterskiing, or simply relax in the cabana.
Wintertime options include downhill skiing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. If the road is snowed in, groups can hop on a snowmobile and have the Burgdorf hot springs to themselves.
Modeled after European ski resorts, Sun Valley Resort offers outstanding recreational and cultural opportunities such as the Sun Valley Summer Symphony, the nation’s largest outdoor symphony.
Bronwyn Patterson, public relations manager at the Sun Valley/Ketchum CVB, recommends the Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch for adventure-seekers.
Located 20 miles north of town in the Sawtooth Wilderness, the property provides guided adventures such as horseback riding, fishing and hiking.
“The natural beauty and the wilderness combined with the sophistication of the property and the town is what makes our resort special,” says Jack Sibbach, director of sales, marketing and public relations at Sun Valley Resort.
The resort boasts a 27-hole golf course, tennis courts, ice rinks, and three swimming pools.
“We have 35 miles of bike and hiking trails,” Sibbach says. “We also have a gun club and a shooting facility. It teaches more beginners than most gun clubs in the country.”
In northern Idaho, Coeur d’Alene is another top retreat choice.
“In Coeur d’Alene, you feel like you’re getting away, but you’re not away from the amenities,” says Dani Zibell-Wolfe, vice president of tourism at the Coeur d’Alene CVB.
Downtown, the Coeur d’Alene Golf and Spa Resort offers an ideal lakeside setting for retreats.
JJ Jaeger, director of sales and marketing at the property, suggests that guests learn to fly fish at the Orvis Fishing School and then head to the nearby rivers, or golf on the world’s only floating, moveable golf green.
For More Info
IDAHO
Boise CVB 208.344.7777 www.boise.org
Coeur d’Alene Visitors Bureau 208.664.3194 www.coeurdalene.org
Idaho Falls CVB 208.523.1010 www.visitidahofalls.com
Pocatello CVB 208.233.7333 www.pocatellocvb.com
Sun Valley/Ketchum Chamber and Visitors Bureau 208.726.3423 www.visitsunvalley.com
Twin Falls Area COC 208.733.3974 www.twinfallschamber.com
MONTANA
Big Sky COC 406.995.3000 www.bigskychamber.com
Billings COC/CVB 406.245.4111 www.billingschamber.com
Bozeman CVB 406.922.0450 www.bozemancvb.visitmt.com
Flathead CVB 406.756.9091 www.fcvb.org
Glacier Country Regional Tourism Commission 406.837.6211 www.glaciermt.com
Great Falls CVB 406.761.4434 www.greatfallscvb.visitmt.com
Helena CVB 406.447.1530 www.helenacvb.visitmt.com
Missoula CVB 406.532.3250 www.missoulacvb.org
Whitefish COC 406.862.3501 www.whitefishchamber.com
WYOMING
Albany County TourismBoard (Laramie) 307.745.4195 www.laramie-tourism.org
Campbell County COC 307.682.3673 www.gillettechamber.com
Casper Area CVB 307.234.5362 www.casperwyoming.info
Cheyenne Area CVB 307.778.3133 www.cheyenne.org
Cody/Yellowstone Country/Park County Travel Council 307.587.2297 www.yellowstonecountry.org
Jackson Hole COC 307.733.3316 www.jacksonholechamber.com
Sheridan Travel and Tourism 307.673.7120 www.sheridanwyoming.org
