Post-pandemic attendee preferences have consistently put planners under pressure to find unique destinations and experiences for their groups that also prioritize connection, well-being and productivity.
Resorts in remote locations check all of those boxes.
“More and more, planners are tasked with finding locations and experiences their groups haven’t done before, and remote destinations fill that need,” said Samantha Lange, national sales manager at Paws Up Montana. “Remote destinations allow people to get out of their comfort zones and experience locations they otherwise might not be able to get to on their own.”
Remote resorts also provide the perfect setting for self-discovery and building stronger relationships, making them especially appealing choices for events like executive retreats or wellness-focused incentive programs.
“There is something about letting your guard down and connecting with untouched nature that allows guests to, in turn, connect with colleagues (and themselves) on a deeper level—and that’s where the best ideas are born,” Lange said.
It also helps that resorts in remote locations lack distractions like the hustle and bustle of a big city or large crowds at resort hot spots, allowing for greater focus, deeper connections and an escape from stressful environments.
“The demand for unique, experiential retreats has grown as organizations seek to prioritize mental wellness, creativity and team cohesion in a way that urban settings simply cannot offer,” said Matt Skaletsky, general manager at Alila Ventana Big Sur. “Remote destinations provide an opportunity to disconnect from daily life and reconnect with each other.”
Following are five remote resorts that will offer your attendees new off-the-grid experiences and strengthen your teams.
[Related: 15 New and Renovated Properties Set to Impress Groups in 2025]
Alila Ventana Big Sur
Catering to exclusive executive and C-suite retreats as well as high-end incentive groups, Alila Ventana Big Sur is a remote resort in Big Sur, California, that delivers a once-in-a-lifetime type of group experience that is highly personalized and immersive.
“The magic of Big Sur is undeniable,” Skaletsky said. “The breathtaking natural landscape, coupled with our curated experiences, makes every gathering feel deeply immersive and uniquely inspiring.
“Every moment at Alila Ventana Big Sur is transformative,” he continued, including the journey along the iconic Highway 1 drive along the Pacific coastline itself. “By the time guests arrive, they’ve already begun to unwind and embrace the sense of escape that defines Big Sur.”
The 54-room resort’s proximity to the Silicon Valley market makes it an appealing choice for companies based in and around the Bay Area, but clients from all over are drawn to Alila Ventana Big Sur’s blend of natural beauty, curated experiences, personalized programming and 12,000 square feet of unique venues like the Glass House, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the ocean.
“Unlike urban resorts, which may have limited space for unique programming, our property allows groups to engage in diverse, nature-driven activities that reconnect attendees with their surroundings,” Skaletsky said. “Whether it’s wellness-focused experiences like Forest Bathing or Coldstream Bliss, we create opportunities for groups to unplug and experience something truly special.”
One of the most significant advantages of hosting meetings at Alila Ventana Big Sur, Skaletsky said, is “the unparalleled privacy and discretion it affords,” giving groups the ability to convene in a serene, undisturbed environment free from media exposure and external distractions.
“Beyond confidentiality, the natural surroundings of Big Sur create an atmosphere that fosters creativity, clarity and well-being,” he added. “Removed from the constant stimuli of urban life, attendees can fully reconnect with each other, allowing for deeper focus, more meaningful discussions and a renewed sense of perspective. The tranquility of the landscape not only enhances productivity but also encourages strategic thinking, making remote retreats an invaluable setting for transformative and impactful gatherings.”
Closest airports: San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is two and a half hours away and Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) is one hour from Ventana.
[Related: Shifting Sands: Luxury Incentives Are Back, With a Twist]
Amangiri
Also catering to smaller, tailored meetings and corporate retreats, Amangiri and its satellite, Camp Sarika, is a secluded luxury five-star resort in Canyon Point, Utah, that blends into 900 acres of untouched red rock country of the Colorado Plateau.
The 34-suite resort’s expansive desert landscape creates a highly private experience that is free of distraction, surrounded by nature and designed to cultivate inspiration that leads to enhanced brainstorming and creativity. It also allows for unique teambuilding opportunities and outdoor activities, and several locations throughout Amangiri can be used for group dining and wellness experiences set against the backdrop of the Grand Staircase Escalante.
One popular option for intimate group retreats is a buyout of Camp Sarika by Amangiri, located just a short drive from the main resort. The satellite destination offers 10 one- and two-bedroom tented pavilions, each equipped with high-speed internet and video projection capabilities that allow for full-scale meetings in the heart of the desert.
Additional offerings that groups can only experience at Amangiri include:
- Via Ferrata: Invented centuries ago in the Italian Alps, Via Ferrata, or “iron roads,” act as challenging networks of mountain-laced cables and ladder rungs. Amangiri offers the only Via Ferrata course at a resort in the U.S., with various rock-climbing routes amid sandstone mesas designed for all abilities and led by expert guides.
- Slot canyon tours: Led by a Navajo guide, these easy walks visit three distinct canyons of the Southwest: Upper Antelope Canyon, Rattlesnake Canyon and Owl Canyon. Groups can discover the geological wonders of the smooth, swirling canyons walls while gaining insight into the rich heritage of the Navajo Nation.
- Tower Butte yoga: This yoga excursion to Tower Butte begins with a scenic helicopter flight from Amangiri over Lake Powell and Glen Canyon. After landing on Tower Butte, groups are guided through a curated movement and medication session.
Closest airports: Both Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) are about four and a half hours from Amangiri. Page Municipal Airport (PGA) provides daily commercial flights to PHX and is a 25-minute drive from the resort.
[Related: 3 Luxury Resort Trends to Watch in 2024]
Enchantment Resort & Mii amo Spa
Sedona, Arizona’s Enchantment Resort sprawls 70 acres in Boynton Canyon and boasts 218 casita-style guest rooms and suites as well as 12,000 square feet of indoor meeting space and 30,000 square feet outdoors. With Mii amo Spa nearby, the remote resort is ideal for destination-inspired teambuilding activities, outdoor adventures and opportunities to boost well-being.
“For group activities and team bonding, Trail House, our outdoor adventure center, offers guided hikes through stunning terrain and even full-day excursions to the Grand Canyon,” said Shannon Walters, director of sales and marketing at Enchantment Resort & Mii amo Spa. “And with rejuvenating treatments, meditation sessions and wellness experiences, Mii amo can help attendees reset and recharge.”
Through the Trail House, groups can participate in private guided hikes and biking, local excursions such as wine tours in Verde Valley, or scenic driving tours through the red rocks.
Groups looking for more wellness-focused experiences can enjoy private sound bath meditation sessions led by Mii amo’s intuitive therapists, a Compassionate Communication Class that strengthens team connections through guided exercises or private pickleball and tennis lessons.
The Artist Cottage at Enchantment Resort offers creative experiences such as Southwest pottery glazing, watercolor painting, Tree of Life jewelry making and nature-inspired sketching.
Closest airports: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is two hours from Enchantment Resort, Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG) is an hour north and Sedona Airport is 20 minutes away.
[Related: 3 Hotel Brands That Excel in Guest and Group Wellness Offerings]
Fairmont Château Lake Louise
Situated in the heart of Banff National Park, overlooking Lake Louise and surrounded by the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Fairmont Château Lake Louise is a year-round luxury mountain resort that’s been a base for outdoor enthusiasts for more than 100 years.
The 539-room property offers an elegant and polished escape for those looking to relax and unwind in a destination known around the world for its beauty and seasonal activities, including mountain tours, world-class skiing, scenic hiking, canoeing, wellness retreats and more.
Fairmont Château Lake Louise is also currently undergoing renovations that include the addition of a state-of-the-art eco-friendly thermal bathing experience, BASIN Glacial Waters, set to open in summer 2025, along with upgrades to its guest rooms.
Already, the remote resort offers a sustainable stay featuring a luxury day spa, multiple dining outlets, a list of curated activities and 36,000 square feet of meeting and event space, making it a property built to host groups of all types and sizes.
“The hotel itself has two different personalities between the summer and winter,” said Craig Hudspith, director of group sales at Fairmont Château Lake Louise. “It’s a very special place, and every piece is part of the Lake Louise experience—even the drive from Calgary through the foothills to the property.”
Hudspith said people can often be found pulling out their personal devices to snap photos of the views along the way, likely spotting wildlife including bears, moose, elk and more, passing Fairmont Banff Springs on their journey and arriving at the remote chateau set within its own private paradise about 40 minutes later.
“The key thing for Lake Louise is we have a DNA,” Hudspith said. “Because of Covid, we saw a change of people’s mindset. [Fairmont Château Lake Louise] was always too far, and while nature economy is nothing new for us, more people want to get out in nature. So, Covid was a positive thing for us because that’s part of our DNA. History is part of our DNA. Wellness is part of our DNA. It’s all always been a part of Lake Louise.”
And it all helps Fairmont Château Lake Louise offer a transformational travel experience groups can’t find anywhere else.
“You can’t put a resort like Fairmont Château Lake Louise in a city,” Hudspith said, “and there’s something here for everyone.”
Closest airports: Calgary International Airport (YYC) is approximately 125 miles east of Fairmont Château Lake Louise, about a two-hour drive.
[Related: 3 Luxury Resort Trends to Watch in 2024]
Paws Up Montana
This authentic Western wilderness experience is situated on a historic working cattle ranch, and it may be just 40 minutes from Missoula, but Paws Up Montana feels like its own little world. The resort offers private, world-class lodging from timber homes to canvas-style tents, cuisine crafted by James Beard-nominated chefs and over 70 unique activities and adventures designed for all four seasons—everything a destination needs to be a true escape.
“Planners tell us that traveling to remote resorts like Paws Up is a true break from everyday life,” said JJ Barlow, Paws Up national sales manager. “Remote resorts provide a sense of solitude and privacy that help you reconnect with yourself and the guests you are traveling with and gives you the space to unwind and recharge.”
For events with well-being at the forefront, Spa Town at Paws Up, a colony of pristine white tents stitched together by a wooden boardwalk, sits at the edge of an expansive meadow on property and offers services including massages, full-body treatments, a selection of yoga offerings, wellness classes and more.
Paws Up also gives groups access to 37,000 acres, more than 100 miles of trails and the nearby Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, making opportunities for outdoor adventures limitless. Some resort adventures include archery, cattle drives, electric biking, hiking, horseback riding, paintball, whitewater rafting, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and a Skyline Aerial Adventure Park with two high-ropes courses.
Paws Up Montana offers a variety of indoor and outdoor venues, including the 3,145-square-foot Great Angus Hall with a vaulted ceiling and space for up to 150 for a reception; The Bunkhouse, a space that formerly served as a hayloft and housing structure for ranch hands; and one of Montana’s premier equestrian centers, The Saddle Club at Paws Up, with space for up to 400.
Closest airports: Missoula International Airport (MSO) is 35 miles from Paws Up Montana.
Read this next: 3 Hotel Brands That Are Personalizing Guest Gifting Experiences
