Elevating Meetings to Big Sky Country
Idaho, Montana and Wyoming saddle up for stunning experiences
By Refugio Garcia
Beneath the billowing clouds sliding across the infinite blue of Big Sky Country near the upper reaches of the Rocky Mountains is a land unlike any other. The stunning landscape of lush national forests and monuments is enhanced by three massive national parks: Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand Teton. Event professionals have access to amazing activities and sights during any time of year from traversing recreational trails and enjoying lakes and rivers during the summer, to hitting the slopes at Sun Valley in Idaho during the winter.
The region, brimming with Western culture and history, is also rich with unique hosting venues that capture the essence of the land that’s visually romanticized on film such as the hit series “Yellowstone.” However, there are endless sights and activities besides the stunning natural backdrop for meetings attendees to enjoy such as extraordinary restaurants, numerous wineries and world-class museums and cultural centers.
Pro Tip
“What seems to be of interest to planners lately is our “back to nature” atmosphere that’s in abundance here in Western Montana. Attendees and planners find our warm, welcoming hospitality and fresh mountain air the perfect combination for well-attended, productive and successful meetings. We have lots of unique lodging options for that one-of-a-kind corporate, wellness or board retreat or incentive packages.”
— Debbie Picard, director of sales, Glacier County Regional Tourism Commission
Read More: Idaho and Montana: Keeping it Natural in the Mountain States
5 Fantastic Places to Meet
Grand Teton Lodge Company provides everything from group activities to ample meeting space, all against the serene and gorgeous backdrop of Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming and is located near the Jackson Hole airport.
17,000 sq. ft.; 17 meeting rooms; 385 total guest rooms.
Boise Centre offers meeting planners access to over 80,000 sq. ft. of meeting space perfect for corporate events, conventions, trade shows, banquets and more. The fully carpeted convention center features in-house full-service catering and beverage services.
31 meeting rooms; 24,426 sq. ft. Grand Ballroom; 4 levels total.
Big Sky Resort in Montana is perfect for providing breathtaking activities any time of year, offering everything from golf and mountain biking to skiing with 5,850 acres to explore and 38 chairlifts.
55,000 sq. ft. of total meeting space; 8,000 sq. ft. ballroom; 630 guest rooms; 3 boardrooms.
The Grove Hotel is downtown Boise’s premier hotel and is Boise’s original AAA Four Diamond full-service hotel. The centrally located venue is less than a 15-minute drive from Boise Airport (BOI) and features a full-service bar and restaurant.
Over 14,000 sq. ft. total meeting space; 6,800 sq. ft. Grand Ballroom; 250 guest rooms.
Billings Hotel and Convention Center in Billings, Montana, brings elevated meeting and luxury amenities under one roof. The venue also includes an on-site restaurant, casino, lounge and even an indoor pool and waterslide.
28,000 sq. ft. of total meeting space; 19 meeting rooms; 231 guest rooms.
Why Meeting Profs Love Idaho, Montana and Wyoming
The spirit of Western culture is abundant throughout the region with numerous activities and sites to visit including dude ranches, Native American cultural centers, rodeos and other forms of cowboy culture. The region allows visitors to have a genuine Western experience at a destination such as Wyoming—known as a cowboy state.
Montana’s local businesses provide visitors with unique shopping opportunities through a network of local programs including Grown in Montana, Made in Montana and Native American Made in Montana, which produce a wide variety of products from unique photos and art to chocolate and soaps.
Endless food and beverage options can be easily accessed by groups visiting the area and offer options that may come as an unexpected surprise. In addition to breweries, distilleries and wineries, Idaho is also home to numerous cideries—serving up the refreshing creative beverage made from fermented apples and other fruits.
Inspiration and history lurk in Idaho’s museums, allowing attendees to connect with the history and culture that surrounds the area. Idaho is home to over 100 museums—each with a unique story to tell. Visitors can view a life-sized recreation of the ancient creatures that once roamed the land at the Museum of Idaho and view other rotating exhibits.
National Parks, such as Glacier National Park, offer guests the chance to create memorable experiences any time of year in the western region of Montana. Planners can treat attendees to spectacular views from a hot air balloon ride through the crisp mountain air high above Glacier Country.
Billings: Brew Trails and the Great Outdoors
A day’s worth of meeting, brainstorming, networking—and just being present—is plenty to work up a mighty thirst. The Billings Brew Trail features nine breweries, three distilleries, one winery and even a cider mill. The brew trail takes attendees along a 1.5-mile looping bar crawl through the historic downtown district of Billings—allowing guests to venture beyond the city’s downtown core.
While attendees will enjoy sipping refreshing adult beverages, planners will appreciate the streamlined and accessible process for signing up groups quickly and painlessly. Getting attendees trucking along the brew trail is a breeze using the mobile passport to get groups started on the self-guided outing and doesn’t require downloading an app. From there, guests only need to present their passport to a staff member at each of the participating businesses to redeem for a brew and also be entered to win prizes—making it the gift that truly keeps giving.
Get the Gear!
But perhaps a tall breath of fresh air is enough to help unwind after a hectic day. Forging your own path isn’t a challenge when visiting Billings. Attendees have their choice of numerous outdoor activities including hiking and biking, horseback riding, various forms of watersports and even rock climbing up a 70-million-year-old sandstone formation found in the region.
And the best part for planners organizing an outdoor adventure is getting all the necessary gear at one of the many nearby gear rental and supply stores. And there’s no shortage of sights to be seen. Billings provides direct access to over a dozen state parks and monuments including Bighorn Canyon Recreational Area, Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument and the iconic Yellowstone National Park.
Follow your Tastebuds in Boise
Perhaps most well-known for its prowess in potato cultivation, Idaho is so much more and has even gained national notoriety after being featured on the series “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” thanks to the famous Ice Cream Potato or the “Idaho Spud Bar” made with a cocoa-flavored marshmallow center, covered with dark chocolate and sprinkled with coconut produced by the Idaho Candy Co., which was established in 1901.
Read More: Making a Tasteful Impression Through a Food and Beverage Program That’s a Cut Above
One of the area’s newest culinary additions is Amano, a James Beard award-nominated Mexican restaurant that opened in downtown Caldwell in 2019. Amano—owned and operated by Sal and Becca Alamilla—garnered buzz on the food scene for its “hecho a mano” menu. Amano serves fresh and creative dishes with locally sourced ingredients and is home to a well-stocked selection of mezcal for premium cocktails. In 2019, Chef Paul Faucher opened Grit 2C—the sister restaurant of Grit American Cuisine located in Eagle, Montana and specializes in American comfort food and shareable plates. Attendees can sink their teeth into a house-ground burger made with 10% bacon (YUM!) or lip-smacking shareables like poutine—slathered with gravy, house-pickled fried jalapenos and green goddess dipping sauce.
Feeling thirsty? The region is home to over 65 wineries that are spreading beyond 1,300 acres of vineyards. Groups can venture up the famous Sunnyside Wine Trail to enjoy gorgeous views of the Snake River while sipping tasty vino. For those wishing to take wine home, Alaska Airlines has partnered with Boise Airport to create the Idaho Wine Flies Free program, which allows Mileage Plan members to check a case of wine at no additional cost.
This article appears in the digital-only July and July/August 2023 issue. You can subscribe to the magazine here.
