Notes from the Road: Salt Lake City

The hive of hospitality

Community. When I think about my time in Salt Lake City, that’s the word that comes to mind. Unsurprisingly, that is a significant reason why the beehive symbol is the official city flag. The image pops up in various parts of the city, a potent reminder that cities, teams and groups (regardless of origin) are better together.

A Place to Stay and Meet

No one will be upset with their view from the Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City. The hotel offers 700 guest rooms and 60,000 sq. ft. of event space, with a majestic and inspiring view of the cityscape and the mountains overhead. I highly recommend waking up early to watch the morning sunrise as the outlines of the mountains slowly emerge. I could have watched that on a loop for hours.

Right next door to the Hyatt Regency is the Salt Palace Convention Center. Guests do not have to step outside to move between the two buildings, as a convenient sliding door connects them. With nearly one million sq. ft. of total space and 164,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, planners can craft their event in a very central location within walking distance of everything downtown Salt Lake City has to offer.

Planners may like to know that the TRAX/Light Rail Service can bring guests directly to and from the airport for a one-way fare price of $2.50.

Things To Do

Visit the snow. That is the number one thing planners should take advantage of while visiting Salt Lake City. I’m not particularly skilled in skiing and snowboarding myself; however, during my visit to Solitude Nordic & Snowshoe Center, I got the chance to snowshoe for the first time! If guests aren’t comfortable with skiing down the slopes, this is a nice alternative to getting to experience the winter season of Salt Lake City.

Just don’t walk backward in your snowshoes! I learned that the hard way.

One interesting experience I had while in Salt Lake City was visiting the FamilySearch Library. There, very helpful and patient guides walked me through locating family members and beginning to build my family tree. I even found a high school yearbook photo of my grandfather! That was neat.

Places to Eat

If there is one thing Salt Lake City does very well, it is food. My stomach was not left wanting.

For a fun group activity, the Hyatt Regency offers a wine and charcuterie experience at the Contribution Cocktail Lounge. This is a perfect activation for facilitating team bonding over a few glasses of wine.

The Salt Republic, also located in the Hyatt Regency, is an excellent spot for dinner. Guests can watch the chef team at work using locally sourced ingredients. Another great spot on the property is Mar I Muntanya, a Spanish-inspired restaurant. Guests can choose from various menu options: raw, land, sea or mountain. If you are a foodie in any capacity, this venue is a must-visit.

For a morning grub grab, check out Eva’s Bakery. It is only a few minutes away from the Hyatt Regency. It has a wonderful selection of pastries, including croissants, cookies, cakes and Kouign Amann (everyone recommended trying one of these!).