Which season is best in the mountains—winter or summer?
The discussion continues, but peak resorts aren’t resting on past successes in any season. Groups in search of productivity and recreation in the upcoming winter season will have more meetings-friendly business and pleasure options than ever.
Mountain resorts all over the West are augmenting their clear sunny skies, crisp starlit nights, wildlife watching, and invigorating air with new facilities, festivals and outdoor fun that rivals what the flatlands offer.
Alaska
The peaks and all the winter recreation they offer get really big around Anchorage, and groups have new reasons to access America’s “last frontier” for early 2009 meetings.
As the state’s largest city and commercial center, Anchorage has a new meeting facilities package that’s better than ever. The new Dena’ina Civic & Convention Center opens this month, and views of the Chugach Mountains are among the amenities, along with a 25,332-square-foot ballroom with capacity for 140 booths, and theater seating for up to 2,867 attendees.
The exhibit hall accommodates up to 274 booths. Total meeting space in the new center is 10,372 square feet. It anchors Anchorage’s downtown convention district, which has 3,000 hotel rooms within walking distance of the William A. Egan Civic and Convention Center and the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts.
“2008 is the genesis of a new era for the conventions and meetings market in Anchorage due to extensive expansion of the city’s convention centers,” says Julie Saupe, Anchorage CVB president and CEO. “The Anchorage convention centers’ facilities will increase the citywide convention capacity by 300 percent. This change is noteworthy, in that the city is now able to compete for, retain and host multiple midsized conventions simultaneously, as well as bid for larger local, national and international conventions with up to 5,000 attendees.”
Alyeska Resort is a half-hour drive south in Girdwood, where millions in renovations have transformed Hotel Alyeska’s 304 guest rooms and meeting spaces with new soft goods and tech tools. The resort features several full-service restaurants, including Seven Glaciers, a AAA Four Diamond choice on the peak end of the resort’s 60-passenger tramway.
“One of our year-round luxuries is access to the ski mountain, hiking and other wilderness ecotourism recreation, as well as fine dining and spa services,” says Jason Lott, director of sales and marketing. “We can easily house groups of up to 250 people.”
Pacific Northwest
The new Suncadia resort on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains is taking the Washington winter season spotlight, with its 6,400 acres of development.
The 223-room Lodge at Suncadia offers views of the Cle Elum River and valley below from its 20,000-square-foot conference center that includes two ballrooms, meeting and banquet rooms. The 18-room Inn at Suncadia offers a more intimate choice for smaller groups, with 5,000 square feet of meeting space. Suncadia Village is the heart of the new resort, where guests enjoy a 18,000-square-foot swim and fitness center and the Glade Spring Spa.
The 2012 Winter Olympics are coming to Canada’s British Columbia province, and that international event is one catalyst that’s moving Whistler Blackcomb forward as a meetings destination. Consistently ranked as North America’s top ski and snowboard resort, Whistler has some riveting new features.
The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre opened in July as a cooperative venture between the Squamish and Lil’wat First Nations, providing not only a stellar museum collection of art and historic artifacts, but also an inspiring event and meeting space.
“The new center sits right across the street from the Four Seasons and Fairmont hotels, and has 30,400 square feet on three levels,” says Deanna Bell, sales and marketing manager for the center. “Groups can do entire buyouts or they can use one of two areas. The Great Hall is 220 feet long with 22-foot ceilings and windows that open to views on Lost Lake Park and the mountains.
“The hall can do up to 175 for a seated dinner. On the lower level is a modern-day pit house, a round octagon that can hold 200 for receptions. It has windows on the scenery, too. Our in-house menu reflects two aboriginal cultures and our region’s local ingredients.”
Whistler is also bringing in a new $52 million peak-to-peak gondola in December that will connect the mountains of Whistler and Blackcomb, transporting people in just 11 minutes from Whistler’s Roundhouse Lodge to the Rendezvous Lodge on Blackcomb Mountain. It will set world records for height and length, while providing a memorable experience for resort guests who will have unprecedented access to the high alpine terrain and spectacular vistas.
The newest lodging property in the area is Nita Lake Lodge, a boutique hotel with 77 studio and one-bedroom suites that’s set on the shores of Nita Lake amid old growth cedars. A full-service spa, 4,000-square feet of meeting space and a restaurant are on the features list.
East into Alberta, The Fairmont Banff Springs has opened its new Fairmont Gold floor, 72 renovated guest rooms plus a 3,000-square-foot Gold Lounge that has a two-way fireplace and stunning mountain vistas from every window. A media room is equipped with Wi-Fi, games and a library of reading materials.
Up the road at The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, the Fairmont Gold floor has expanded from 19 to 42 rooms, including the addition of the Marquis of Lorne Suite that comes with stunning views of the pristine lake and Victoria Glacier.
California/Nevada
In South Lake Tahoe, Calif., work has stalled on the $410 million hotel-convention center project across the street from Harveys Lake Tahoe. According to a statement issued by Lake Tahoe Development Co., construction is being held up due to financing problems stemming from the current credit and real estate markets. Estimates for completion have now been pushed back to 2010.
The project, which is known as Chateau at Heavenly Village, is to include 70,000 square feet of meeting space, 477 deluxe condominium hotel rooms, a full-service spa, restaurants, and retail space.
Elsewhere on Lake Tahoe’s South Shore, Marriott’s Timber Lodge in Stateline, Nev., recently completed a 265-room expansion, bringing its total room count to 605.
On Lake Tahoe’s North Shore, the big news is the upcoming addition of The Ritz-Carlton Highlands at the Northstar-at-Tahoe resort in fall 2009. The hotel, which will be part of a new residential community, will feature 172 guest rooms and meeting facilities totaling 14,700 square feet, including a ballroom, prefunction area, five flexible meeting rooms, a board room, and a mountainside terrace.
The Ritz-Carlton, which will be a ski-in ski-out resort perched on Northstar Mountain, will also offer a full-service spa. Residences and fractional ownership accommodations will also be part of the mix.
Meanwhile, the Village at Northstar is set to unveil a more diverse array of dining options this winter, including Baxter’s Bistro & Lounge, which will offer contemporary American cuisine and live jazz. Other new choices will include Chocolate Bar, which will serve appetizers, small plate dishes, desserts, and wines.
Elsewhere on Tahoe’s North Shore, the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort in Incline Village, Nev., recently wrapped up a $62 million renovation by refurbishing its Lakeside Cottages. The project also included the renovation of all 422 guest rooms and the addition of a 20,000-square-foot spa.
In Crystal Bay, the Cal Neva Resort, Spa and Casino, once owned by Frank Sinatra in the early 1960s, is undergoing a $70 million restoration that will include a new 10,000-square-foot spa.
Colorado
In central Colorado, Aspen/Snowmass and Vail continue to set the pace for winter business and recreation programs, and in the southwest, Telluride is adding to its mountain-high meetings cache.
Aspen’s new 23,000-square-foot Doerr-Hosier Center at Aspen Meadows Resort is operating with LEED gold certification. The updated 126-room Limelight Lodge will open downtown at the beginning of winter season.
Limelight has been a locally owned Aspen lodging leader for over 50 years, and it will continue to offer moderate pricing. St. Regis Resort, Aspen has received ZG Certification (awards to businesses that significantly reduce their carbon footprint) from the city of Aspen.
The club scene now includes Fly Lounge, whose decor transports guests inside a Learjet, and Social, a restaurant and lounge venue that serves up tapas, wine and late night revelry.
Nearby Snowmass is opening five new restaurants in its base village for the new season, including The Sweet Life, Junk, Liquid Sky, Sneaky’s Tavern, and one above new conference space in the Capital Peak Building.
“There will also be 200 new rooms for rent in the new base village,” says Allison Johnson, spokeswoman for Snowmass Village Marketing, “and the mountain will debut a new Sheer Bliss lift, a restaurant at Sam’s Knob and new management of the historic Lynn Britt Cabin by managers of Aspen Highlands’ famed Cloud Nine restaurant.”
Vail’s recent billion-dollar-plus renewal investment remains in motion. Recently completed projects include the Vail Plaza Hotel & Club in the Village, and the Arrabelle at Vail Square in Lionshead. Both lodgings have meeting spaces and restaurants.
Manor Vail Lodge reopens for the new winter season following a major expansion and renovation. And Vail Cascade Resort & Spa is completing a $30 million transformation that will deliver new meeting spaces, including a 4,000-square-foot executive conference area for smaller meetings across from the resort’s conference center.
With the new addition, Vail Cascade will have nearly 40,000 square feet of meeting spaces and contemporary tech features.
Chris Romer, director of marketing for Vail Valley Partnership, says upcoming new lodge units and retail spaces will continue to enhance Vail’s appeal.
“Strolling through the villages, you feel an infectious energy,” he says. “Few resorts can compare to the luxury and vibrancy that already exists in Vail, because the resort remains at the forefront in offering business amenities and enhanced vacation experiences.”
New lodging choices in Telluride and Mountain Village continue to add to the destination’s cache and variety.
Lumiere Telluride has opened as the latest ski-in ski-out lodging in Mountain Village, with 29 studio suites and a four-bedroom penthouse. Business services and Wi-Fi are included.
And coming also to Mountain Village in early March 2009 is Capella Telluride. Capella is a global luxury brand created by famed hotelier Horst Schulze, founding president of Ritz-Carlton. The new hotel will have 3,300 square feet of meeting space, business services and 148 lodging units, including 100 condo-hotel rooms and 49 residences.
“Capella is out to convince the world that five stars are not enough,” says Karl Chase, director of sales and marketing for Capella Telluride. “Telluride is a fantastic destination with charm, history and character that has been underserved by the hotel segment. But Capella will change that and give high-end executive retreats and incentives travelers new reasons to come here. We have some of the best skiing in the West, and no lift lines.”
Telluride has booking incentives for the winter season, according to Emily Picarazzi, group sales manager for Telluride Tourism Board.
“Book before December 31, for a meeting between November 1, 2008, and April 30, 2009, and receive 50 percent off meeting room rental and A/V, plus free Internet and phone access and one hour of free video conferencing,” she says.
Idaho and Montana
Idaho’s Sun Valley has new meeting space and venue amenities to offer groups this coming winter season.
Sun Valley Resort’s new 58,756-square-foot golf clubhouse that doubles as the Nordic Ski Center in winter offers a restaurant, bar and spa as well as a pro shop and lockers. The resort is also adding a gondola for the new season that will carry guests from the bottom of Bald Mountain to Roundhouse Restaurant, a historic venue which sits midway up the mountain. The new transport will allow those who don’t ski to access the mountain, and the restaurant to open for unique dinnertime dining experiences.
“Sun Valley Resort has our largest meeting group space, but we have a variety of smaller options in town,” says Bronwyn Patterson, spokeswoman for the Sun Valley/Ketchum CVB. “Restaurants within walking distance of other activities can accommodate groups from five to 40, with customized menus. Local art galleries and the new Wood River YMCA have unique meeting spaces as well.”
The YMCA also offers a rock climbing wall, cardio equipment, pool, sauna, and a variety of yoga and Pilates classes to help attendees feel good after a long day of meetings, she adds.
Montana’s Big Sky Resort near Yellowstone National Park is a peerless winter destination for groups as large as 750 people that provides contemporary meet and stay options, along with one of the West’s most spectacular mountain environments 45 minutes’ drive from Yellowstone’s west entrance.
The Yellowstone Conference Center recently received nearly $200,000 in upgrades, including Wi-Fi in the meeting and public spaces. Big Sky comes with 3,812 skiable acres, a 4,350-foot vertical drop and 21 lifts. The area’s open bowls, steeps, chutes, long cruising groomers, and gladed tree runs offer something for every skier, and lift lines are non-existent.
Whitefish Mountain Resort at the edge of Montana’s Flathead Valley has had recent multimillion-dollar renovations and additions, including a 35,000-square-foot base lodge with group meeting space. A gondola on Whitefish Mountain runs to the top year-round, and the U.S. Forest Service staff offers interpretive hikes on the terrain.
There are also cross-country and downhill skiing trails as well as a dining facility that affords wraparound views of Glacier National Park, the Canadian Rockies and Flathead Valley.
Utah
Park City may have been a boom-and-bust mining town in yesteryear, but today it’s gilding its destination lilies.
Stein Eriksen Lodge has become the first hotel in the state to obtain the Five Star Mobil Travel Award rating. And other luxe properties are rising from the terrain.
St. Regis Deer Crest on the slopes of Deer Valley Resort opens early in the coming winter season. It will provide 181 guest rooms and a 4,000- square-foot ballroom with 12-foot windows showcasing the peaks.
Waldorf=Astoria opens is first ski resort property at The Canyons Resort in spring 2009. It will have 197 guest units, from studios to six-bedroom penthouse suites, a 15,000-square-foot ballroom, and a 20,000-square-foot Golden Door Spa.
Also, Montage Resort & Spa is under construction at Deer Valley Resort’s Empire Pass, and is scheduled for a 2010 completion. The Montage will have 173 guest rooms, 15,000 square feet of meeting space, and a 35,000-square-foot spa.
Tracy Mullen, director of sales for Deer Valley Lodging, says Park City meetings are becoming more and more significant to the local economy.
“We used to have ski season and conference season,” she says, “but now, the shoulder seasons are getting smaller. We are also seeing a continuing trend to short term bookings as I think almost everyone is, and a lot of interest in sustainable meetings. People want to know about our green initiatives because they want to feel good about what they are doing.”
For off-site events, the new Swaner EcoCenter with 10,000 square feet overlooks 1,200 acres of the Swaner Nature Preserve. It’s designed for LEED certification, and offers several meeting spaces.
Midway between Park City and Sundance ski slopes, The Dolce International, IACC-approved Zermatt Resort & Spa offers a Switzerland in Utah setting, plus contemporary conference capabilities 45 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport. The resort received six 2008 Best of State accolades, including Best Brunch and Best Day Spa as well as Best Hotel, Best Vacation Resort, Best Convention and Meeting Facilities, and Best Baked Goods.
Wyoming
The wild and wonderful scenery around Jackson Hole continues to capture developers’ imaginations for new projects.
One of the latest is Grand View Lodge & Spa. Scheduled for a December opening, it’s a mountainside property located four blocks from downtown that will offer studio- to three-bedroom condominiums, 5,000 square feet of meeting space including a ballroom with mountain and elk refuge views, an 11,000-square-foot spa, and a restaurant and lounge.
Grand View is a sister property to Snow King Resort, Wyoming’s first ski resort, which is celebrating 70 years and offers 40,000 square feet of meeting space, 375 rooms and condos, and airport and ski mountain shuttles.
Hotel Terra is a new 72-room hotel, designed with green operations and practices in mind. Travel magazines have dubbed it the area’s new “it” place to sleep, and eco interests are heralding it as a breakthrough meld of luxury and sustainability.
It’s the first in a collection of green hotels being built by Terra Resort Group, led by former Four Seasons veterans who aim to craft an eco-luxury brand. Terra’s 5,000 square feet of meeting space, including a ballroom, opens next summer.
In the heart of downtown Jackson Hole, The White Buffalo Club is a new private facility that offers luxury hotel and condo-style accommodations for small groups.
An 18-seat boardroom with audiovisual equipment, a 50-seat restaurant, spa, and fitness center are among the features where Old West style combines with contemporary comforts.
Some Jackson properties are offering winter season booking incentives for business groups. Spring Creek Ranch offers groups incentives for winter bookings, including complimentary airport and ski mountain transport; complimentary welcome receptions for groups of 15 and more; speaking engagements with acclaimed naturalist Kurt Johnson; and discounted room rates for groups of 15 or more.
Grand Targhee Resort welcomes groups with customized packages that include complimentary ski lift tickets, Snowcat adventures and room discounts for slope-side lodging. Amangani Resort, a 40-suite property, encourages buyouts, and includes ski tickets, massages and breakfasts for five-night stays. Planners receive commissions on packages.
For More Info
ALASKA
Alaska Travel Industry Association 800.862.5275 www.travelalaska.com
Anchorage CVB 907.276.4118 www.anchorage.net
CALIFORNIA/NEVADA
Incline Village Crystal Bay Visitors Bureau 775.832.1606 www.gotahoenorth.com
Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority 775.588.5900 www.bluelaketahoe.com
North Lake Tahoe Visitors and Convention Bureau 530.581.8703 www.gotahoenorth.com
COLORADO
Aspen Chamber Resort Association 970.925.1940 www.aspen-groups.com
Breckenridge Resort Chamber 970.453.2913 www.gobreck.com
Colorado Tourism Office 303.892.3885 www.colorado.com
Copper Mountain Resort 970.968.2318 www.coppermeetings.com
Denver Metro CVB 303.892.1112 www.denver.org
Estes Park Colorado CVB 970.577.9900 www.estesparkcvb.com
Experience Colorado Springs at Pikes Peak CVB 719.635.7506 www.experiencecoloradosprings.com
Fort Collins CVB 970.232.3840 www.ftcollins.com
Grand Junction Visitor and Convention Bureau 970.244.1480 www.visitgrandjunction.com
Keystone Resort 970.496.4242 www.keystone.snow.com
Snowmass Village Resort Association 970.923.2000 www.snowmassvillage.com
Vail Valley Partnership 970.476.1000 www.visitvailvalley.com
Telluride Tourism Board 970.369.1177 www.tellurideconference.com
IDAHO
Boise CVB 208.344.7777 www.boise.org
Coeur d’Alene Visitor Bureau 208.664.3194 www.coeurdalene.org
Sun Valley/Ketchum Chamber and Visitors Bureau 208.726.3423 www.visitsunvalley.com
MONTANA
Big Sky COC 406.995.3000 www.bigskychamber.com
Flathead CVB 406.756.9091 www.fcvb.org
Glacier Country Regional Tourism Commission 406.837.6211 www.glaciermt.com
UTAH
Park City COC and CVB 435.649.6100 www.parkcitymeetings.com
Salt Lake CVB 801.534.4900 www.visitsaltlake.com
Utah Office of Tourism 801.538.1030 www.utah.com
WESTERN CANADA
Travel Alberta 780.427.4321 www.travelalberta.com
Tourism Whistler 604.932.3928 www.tourismwhistler.com
WYOMING
Jackson Hole COC 307.733.3316 www.jacksonholechamber.com
