When you think about the West, do you think about the Canadian Rockies? If not, consider the province of Alberta as one possibility for board meetings and executive retreats. Air access to booming Calgary is a snap from most major U.S. airports, and once there it's equally easy to head west on the Trans Canada Highway toward the towns of Canmore, Banff and Lake Louise, where several properties can care for attendees both indoors and out.
And Alberta's an exceptional deal for at least the next 12–18 months, according to Brian Slot, director of meetings, incentives, conventions and events at Travel Alberta.
"The exchange rate is favorable to U.S. planners and companies, a benefit of about 20 cents on the dollar, and that might even get better."
Accessibility to the Rockies from Calgary or Edmonton is very simple, Slot continues.
"Within one hour's drive from Calgary International Airport you're in the Rocky Mountains, then 20 minutes past that is Banff, and 20 minutes past that is Lake Louise."
And since these destinations are along the Trans Canada Highway—the nation's premier east-west route—they're never shut down, regardless of weather.
Then there's the beauty of western Canada itself, which strikes visitors as soon as they get off the plane in Calgary and witness the city's dramatic skyline. That's where planners will find hotels such as the Le Germain (www.germaincalgary.com); in the heart of downtown, this boutique property's stated goal is to make you feel more like a guest than a client, which it accomplishes through top-notch room furnishings, naturally lit bathrooms, goose-down comforters and the option of bringing your dog. For a more design-y experience, planners might check into the Hotel Arts (www.hotelarts.ca), which recently spent $7 million to make its luxury-tower rooms aggressively modern and functional. Two restaurants, an on-site fitness center, and a goodly amount of meeting space round out this property's offerings.
The first stop west from Calgary is Canmore and the boutique Paintbox Lodge, which accommodates up to 18 in three suites and two rooms beneath beautiful exposed-beam ceilings. It's run by former Olympic skiers Sara Renner (cross-country) and husband Thomas Grandi (downhill), who know something about goal-setting and detail-orientedness. Planners can book the whole property for their group, including a restaurant and demonstration kitchen that host up to 30 for culinary gatherings.
Banff is a little further down the road, and now you've entered Banff National Park, the crown jewel of Canada's sprawling park system. It's famous as a hub for mountain sports, so much so that the legendary Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival takes place here each November, starting the winter with a week's worth of stories about the outdoors.
Up on Tunnel Mountain is Buffalo Mountain Lodge, where every room has a wood-burning fireplace and the big outdoor hot tub awaits visitors returning from hiking, biking or ski adventures. It's just a 15-minute walk from downtown Banff, and some meeting spaces' balconies overlook nearby Cascade Mountain. Larger groups, or those just wanting more space, should try the 346-room Rimrock Resort, whose sweeping views of the Rockies are complemented by a full-service spa, indoor pool, and fitness center complete with squash court.
Visitors seeking yet more Rocky Mountain goodness can drive on to Lake Louise, which lies amid a UNESCO World Heritage park that includes Victoria Glacier. It's a perfect venue for skiing and snowboarding in the winter and canoe trips, fishing and mountain biking during summer. The marquee property here for the past century has been the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, a timeless hotel that remains grand in every dimension
