‘Tis the season for shussing. Combining a winter meeting with a winter wonderland can make for high-speed team building and lasting impressions. Even nonskiers will love the ambiance—and all the alternative activities major ski resorts offer. Here (in alphabetical order) are some of the best U.S. ski destinations at which to combine mastering the slopes with a masterful meeting.
Aspen Mountain, Colorado
Aspen and Snowmass Village offer meeting venues that range from Aspen Meadows Resort (22,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space) and The St. Regis Aspen Resort (more than 20,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor conference and event venues) to AAA Five Diamond The Little Nell, which can accommodate 20 to 500 attendees.
Breckenridge, Colorado
In the heart of the Colorado Rockies yet just 90 minutes from Denver, Breckenridge meeting and event venues are varied and dramatic. In all, more than 43,000 sq. ft. of meeting space can be had. One of the largest venues is Beaver Run Resort and Conference Center, with 23 meeting rooms and more than 500 guest rooms.
Deer Valley, Utah
Deer Valley Resort, which features 385 guest rooms and suites and more than 45,000 sq. ft. of full-service conference facilities, is situated just 36 miles form Salt Lake City International Airport. Amenities include complimentary in-resort/in-town shuttle service provided by Cadillac.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
The dozen major hotels in historic Jackson Hole offer a total of 1,319 guest rooms. Snow King Hotel & Grand View Lodge features more than 20,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and is six blocks from the town square. For an evening’s outing, it doesn’t get more Wyoming than Cowboy Steakhouse, which can accommodate up to 100 diners.
Jay Peak Resort, Vermont
In Northern Vermont, the resort’s conference center welcomes groups of 10 to 425. Seven spaces range from industrial to rustic to contemporary, and all have the latest audiovisual equipment. For nonskiers, there’s an indoor waterpark, ice arena and rec center.
Park City, Utah
Groups of up to 700 can gather at the home of the Sundance Film Festival, in a total of 125,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. Eclectic venues include Utah Olympic Park and local distilleries. Nestled within the Wasatch mountain range, Park City is a 35-minute ride from Salt Lake City International Airport.
Snowmass, Colorado
Snowmass Village boasts more than 70,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, from spacious conference centers to intimate boardrooms. The Westin Snowmass offers 24,000 sq. ft. of conference space, plus an additional 18,000 sq. ft. in the adjacent Westin Snowmass Conference Center.
Sun Valley, Idaho
Sun Valley Resort, which promotes Old World charm with state-of-the-art facilities, can accommodate up to 1,000 attendees at its meeting venues and conference center. Horse-drawn sleigh rides are a popular group activity. Nonstop flights to Sun Valley are available from six Western cities, plus Chicago.
Telluride, Colorado
A total of 14 meetings hotels offer 1,720 guest rooms. The AAA Four Diamond Peaks Resort & Spa features 18,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and a dozen meeting rooms. Madeline Hotel and Residences, a boutique property, has 124 guest rooms and 5,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.
Vail, Colorado
Vail’s newest luxury ski-in/ski-out property, Hotel Talisa, has 40,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and 285 guest rooms. Vail Marriott Mountain Resort, at the base of Vail Mountain and yards from the ski gondola, offers 25,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor event space and 344 spacious guest rooms. Four Seasons Resort Vail features 9,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and 121 guest rooms.
