Grand Geneva Resort & Spa in Lake Geneva, Wisc., is not your typical Midwestern family-friendly resort. While the property does cater to this demographic, it is also steeped in history, with origins as the Lake Geneva Playboy Club Hotel, built in 1968, when Hugh Hefner and the magazine were in their prime.
In its time as a Playboy Club, the Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired property pulled out all the stops to entertain guests, with the addition of two golf courses, a private airstrip, ski lodge and recording studio.
In 1982, the Lake Geneva Playboy Club property was sold to Americana Hotels and later to Marcus Hotels in 1993, where it was rebranded as the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, and eventually reconfigured to its modern-day form, with 35 meeting rooms and 62,000 square feet of meeting and conference space. Which makes the 355-room resort just as suitable for corporate groups as it does for families looking to unwind for the weekend.
“The best fit for us is going to be a group looking to keep all their attendees on property and utilize the amenities of the resort, whether it’s golfing and the spa, or recreational activities and teambuilding,” says Leslie Johnson, director of sales and marketing at the Grand Geneva Resort. “You’re able to keep all your attendees together here and they can build camaraderie or network with clients.”
I was able to check out the Grand Geneva Resort for the first time this past summer during a meetings FAM trip, where upon my arrival, our group was greeted in a truly throwback sort of fashion, as we were able to go “behind-the-scenes” during a customized Playboy-themed event for one of the resort’s clients.
After a brief welcome from Johnson, dressed in full bunny attire, and the property’s managing director, Tom Mason, channeling his inner Hefner and offering me a quick cocktail, our group was led to the front entrance of the resort, where I was given the opportunity to drive a vintage convertible down the property’s airstrip to check out a special welcome reception set up at the end of the runway.
My group got a quick look at the dining arrangement of the Playboy-themed event, which featured floral centerpieces with miniature mannequins donning corsets and stockings. There was also a grand piano brought in for a special performance while the group ate their meal.
Overall it was an elegant setup that tastefully celebrated the resort’s heritage without being too over-the-top or distracting. While a Playboy-themed event isn’t necessarily a standard for the resort, the Grand Geneva’s staff can work with groups to create a customized meeting experience.
“We’re seeing more and more groups not wanting to meet within the traditional four walls of a ballroom," Johnson says. "Planners want to get their attendees out into a more liquid space, where they can be creative and escape the traditional layouts, whether it’s at our ski chalet in the off-season or tent space over by the golf course and the pavilion. But we’ve had yet to use the airport for anyone else.”
Other activities on my media FAM trip agenda included meals at the Geneva ChopHouse and Ristorante Brissago, a Wisconsin beer and cheese pairing and a wellness dinner on the Links Patio that utilized ingredients from the resort’s on-site herb garden.
We were even treated to an off-site private charter cruise with the local Gage Lake Geneva Cruise Line aboard the Lorelei cabin cruiser, where our guide, Harold J. Friestad, shared his knowledge of the historic homes surrounding Lake Geneva. While our boat had a max capacity of 14, Lady of the Lake and Grand Belle of Geneva can fit up to 225 attendees looking to get out on the water in warmer months.
And groups will certainly find plenty to do in the winter season, with skiing, sledding and ice skating available for all skill levels, alongside the year-round spa and wellness services.
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Grand Geneva Resort
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