Lake Tahoe

If you are looking for flexible meeting facilities, lively entertainment options, limitless outdoor adventure offerings year-round and unending scenic beauty, Lake Tahoe is where it’s at.

With an idyllic setting in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Lake Tahoe is a unique destination for several reasons. First, it is located both in California and Nevada. Second, although it is a mountain destination with world-class skiing and snowboarding options, the area is also an outdoor playground during the summer, with hiking, biking, boating and kayaking opportunities.

"Every destination in the world that does meetings has meeting space, but they don’t have what we have—the national park-like beauty," says Mike Frye, sales and events manager for the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority. "We have all the recreation one would expect with 39 trillion gallons of water."

But for the meeting planner, the beauty and geography aren’t enough. Meeting space is key.

In that category, Lake Tahoe also weighs in on top. Both North Lake Tahoe and South Lake Tahoe offer space for groups at a variety of venues, from small retreat centers to large resorts.

In addition, the area is easily accessible to groups.

"We are an hour away from Reno International Airport," Frye says. "We are an hour and a half from Sacramento International Airport. It is a straight line. It is not brain surgery to get here."

North Lake Tahoe
"The first thing that comes to mind when people think of Tahoe is the incredible scenic beauty and outdoor activities," says Jason Neary, director of sales for the North Lake Tahoe Visitor and Convention Bureau. "But in addition to that, we have some first-rate meeting facilities."

In December, a welcome new addition opened in the North Shore: The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe, a ski-in, ski-out resort situated mid-mountain at Northstar-at-Tahoe, changing the destination’s accommodations landscape.

"It is the first five-star resort we’ve had in Lake Tahoe," Neary says. "It has given us access to a whole different client base than we’ve had in the past. It’s gotten us into doors we couldn’t get into previously. They have been a tremendous addition to Tahoe."

With meeting facilities, a spa and a signature restaurant by San Francisco celebrity chef Traci Des Jardins, the property is poised to become a hit with groups.

The Ritz-Carlton isn’t the only change in Tahoe. In fact, Neary says the destination has been transformed in the last several years.

"There has been a renaissance in the meetings industry up here," he says. "The Ritz changes the destination, but we’ve also had renovations to several of our properties. People who haven’t been here in a while should expect an entirely different destination."

In addition to existing hotel enhancements, the destination is home to the new Village at Northstar, featuring retail, dining and entertainment at one of the destination’s top four-season outdoor meccas: Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort. Squaw Valley USA is the other premier choice for skiing and snowboarding during the winter, and activities like mountain biking during the summer.

Meanwhile, attendees can take advantage of other warm-weather pursuits like bicycling, boating and golf. The North Shore is home to some of the region’s best courses, with options including Coyote Moon, the Championship Course at Incline Village and the course at the meetings-friendly Resort at Squaw Creek.

Aside from the Resort at Squaw Creek, major meetings hotels in the North Shore include Tahoe Biltmore Lodge & Casino; PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn; Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino; Squaw Valley Lodge; Cal Neva Resort Casino Hotel; and Granlibrakken Resort.

According to Neary, North Lake Tahoe can accommodate groups of up to 1,500, but its average size is around 100 people.

Contrary to popular perception, Lake Tahoe is reasonably priced, Neary says.

"It is an affordable destination," he says. "In this market, everyone is affordable."

Off-site options include High Camp at Squaw Valley, accessible via a 2,000-foot ascent on the resort’s cable car. Once groups arrive, they can have a catered event for up to 350. Another standout choice is Thunderbird Lodge, a historic Lake Tahoe mansion converted into a museum for groups of up to 100.

Some of the destination’s top group-friendly restaurants include Graham’s at Squaw Valley, Moody’s Bistro and Lounge in Truckee and Sunnyside Steakhouse & Lodge in Tahoe City.

South Lake Tahoe
South Lake Tahoe is anchored by Heavenly Mountain Resort, perfect for adventure seekers as well as meeting attendees.

"We have 10,000 beds within walking distance of Heavenly," Frye says. "Once you get here, you don’t need a car. We have good shuttles."

In addition to beds, South Lake offers gaming and entertainment at its wide variety of casinos, both on the California and Nevada sides of the border.

"We have headliner entertainment and we have gaming," Frye says. "It is a terrific break for the people that are here."

During the summer, Frye suggests groups get out on the lake and take a ride on the Tahoe Queen or MS Dixie II, which both offer space for group events. There are also several golf courses for groups to enjoy during sunny days.

In the wintertime, downhill and cross-country skiers, snowboarders and alpine hikers can have a great time.

Planners have plenty of meeting facilities options on the South Shore. Accommodations and function space can be found at properties such as Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Harveys Lake Tahoe, MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa, Embassy Suites Lake Tahoe Hotel & Ski Resort, Horizon Casino Resort, Inn by the Lake, The Ridge Tahoe, Lakeland Village and Forest Suites Resort.

As for larger group facilities, a few years back South Lake Tahoe began work on a convention center. Since then, due to the economy, work has come to a halt.

"The plans are on hold at the moment until there is funding," Frye says.

Meanwhile, South Lake Tahoe offers a plethora of places for group dining. Options include Edgewood Tahoe Restaurant, Riva Grill on the Lake and The Fresh Ketch, located at the Tahoe Keys Marina.