Surrounded by some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world, the iconic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise resort and conference center is nestled deep within Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This internationally recognized location provides a spectacular mountain resort setting and 36,000 square feet of flexible, inspiring meeting and event space for your meeting, conference or celebration.
Located a scenic two hour drive (195 km/120 miles) from the Calgary International Airport (YYC), our year-round luxury resort features 552 renovated guest rooms.
Historical ambience in a dramatic mountain setting
Meeting and conference attendees will enjoy the historic ambiance of the luxury resort, which offers dramatic meeting space equipped with wireless high speed internet access and the latest multimedia technology.
Signature event spaces
The Victoria Ballroom is one of the Chateau’s signature spaces that features breathtaking views of Lake Louise and the surrounding mountains. Since it first opened in 1913, the Victoria Ballroom has been the venue of choice for special events, given its undeniable elegance and refined atmosphere. Now meticulously restored to its original grandeur, this historic ballroom continues to lend itself to hosting memorable meetings and special banquets for up to 400 guests.
Signature Events
Our luxury resort specializes in offering Guided Mountain Adventure Programsand themed group itineraries, which encourage active participation and exploration of our pristine natural environment. Step into our backyard and bond with your delegates in our adventure paradise.
Imagine incorporating some old-school hooky into your programming and taking your group outside to play in the afternoon. Enter our winter snow globe, a land of dog-sledding, snowshoeing, ice-skating, world class skiing, and more. Many of these activities are accessible from our doorstep.
Create the buzz you have always wanted with one of our signature events: a Western Barbecue at the Brewster’s Cowboy Barbecue and Dance Barn. The on-site Dance Barn offers authentic western atmosphere and entertainment that makes for an unforgettable Western Canadian rodeo experience.
Whether you choose an on-site themed event or you opt for an off-site experience, our events are unique, turn-key celebrations that simply cannot be replicated anywhere else. All you have to do is choose an option and your work is done! Our planners have already planned everything for you.
Picture yourself here:
Please e-mail our Sales Team at [email protected] for more information or call +1 866 540 4413.
Fast-growing Phoenix has long been a draw for meetings and events. The city offers an award-winning downtown convention center and urban core, easy air access, sun-drenched beauty and unmatched value. Lately an infusion of youthful energy and new investment has propelled downtown Phoenix into the spotlight as a modern urban center.
When it comes to getting here and getting around, few meeting and event destinations rival Phoenix for ease and convenience. The airport is served by 16 airlines with more than 1,200 daily flights. Sky Harbor is just four miles from downtown and 15 to 30 minutes from most area hotels and resorts, and arriving attendees can take the free PHX Sky Train from the airport to the nearest Valley Metro Light Rail station. The 26-mile light rail also links Phoenix to Tempe and Mesa, and an all-day pass is just $4. Downtown Phoenix is pedestrian-friendly; restaurants, sporting venues and nightlife options are walkable from the Phoenix Convention Center and downtown hotels.
The Phoenix Convention Center is one of the nation’s most-acclaimed convention centers, offering nearly 900,000 square feet of meeting and exhibition space. Inspired by the Grand Canyon, the convention center was designed to amaze, making use of natural colors and textures that mirror surrounding desert and canyon landscapes, and incorporating energy- efficient design principles and ongoing sustainability programs.
From all-American diners, authentic rum bars and modern Asian-inspired eateries to ambitious, chef-driven restaurants where anything goes, Phoenix’s dining scene is blossoming as never before. Throughout downtown and midtown, the vast array of options gives diners a variety to choose from, morning, noon and night. Phoenix also boasts a dynamic and eclectic homegrown arts scene, best experienced in the Roosevelt Row arts district and along Grand Avenue.
One focus of activity just two blocks from the convention center is CityScape, a sophisticated mixed-use shopping, dining and entertainment complex. The high-rise development is home to fun after-hour spots, including a live music venue, comedy club and an upscale bowling alley.
Phoenix is blessed by the sheer beauty of its rugged mountain and desert landscape, with towering cacti and clear starry nights. What’s more, Phoenix offers attendees plenty to see and do, from spa treatments and championship golf, to outdoor adventures like horseback riding, hiking and hot air ballooning. And it’s all easy to reach, whether you’re staying at a downtown hotel or at one of the areas resorts.
Atlantis, Paradise Island is a lush, oceanside resort located on Paradise Island in The Bahamas. A dynamic destination that launched 20 years ago as a first-of-its-kind modern marvel of nature and engineering, Atlantis has embarked on a new chapter tied to a meaningful connection with the ocean, Bahamian culture and the spirit of the property’s 7,500 employees. The resort’s new, immersive programming connects guests to the rich history, art, people, food and festivities of The Bahamas.
Atlantis features five distinct hotels, from the iconic The Royal to the original The Beach and The Coral to the luxury properties, The Cove and The Reef. The Coral reopened in July 2017 as a fully redesigned escape with a new lobby, new rooms, a new dedicated pool and new amenities including the SUN & ICE lobby lounge featuring a new ice cream experience created by Bahamian Chef Wayne Moncur.
With the largest conference center in the Caribbean, Atlantis boasts 200,000 sf of indoor meeting space highlighted by the 50,000-sf Imperial Ballroom and 25,000 sf Grand Ballroom. The total of 60 meeting rooms allows Atlantis to accommodate groups of 15 to 4,000. More than 20 distinct outdoor venues totaling 300,000 sf entertain parties of up to 5,000. Atlantis invites companies to bring their events to life with the integration of authentic Bahamian culture.
Other recent updates and announcements at Atlantis includes the relaunch of The Cove (Nov 2017) with a brand new, redesigned poolscape by Lulu DK featuring new beachside dining at Sip Sip, the iconic Harbour Island restaurant’s first outpost. In addition, celebrity chef José Andrés recently announced that Fish by José Andrés is slated to open in early 2018 at the idyllic The Cove Atlantis. Atlantis plans to announce more renovations and property upgrades in the coming months, including a fully transformed Marina Village as well as redesigned rooms and suites at Royal Towers in 2018.
The next time you plan a meeting or event, don’t resort to same old, same old. Book Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa – and use our 100,000+ square feet of meeting space to create exactly the personality, atmosphere and impression on your attendees that you’re looking for.
To start, we’ll make sure you don’t feel constrained by little things. Walls, for example.
Because when we say we understand meetings inside and out, we mean that literally.
Certainly, we offer the ultimate in guestroom luxury and conference facility conveniences. Elegant ballrooms, enhanced cell phone reception and personal support from our staff.
But we also offer some of the most unique outdoor venues you’ll find anywhere. So you can convene an assembly under the open sky. Gather intimate groups in rockers on the porch. Keep attendees centered and soothed with group yoga at our Windflower Spa, voted one of the nation’s 100 Best by Condé Nast Traveler. By day, network over golf – on a unique 27-hole facility voted #1 golf course in the city by San Antonio Magazine. By night, converse over firepits or dine under live oaks strung with twinkling lights.
And when your group winds up its work, you’ll find numerous ways to unwind.
Sip regional craft beers at an authentic, Texas-style saloon. Select from wild game, steaks, seafood and locally-sourced produce at Antlers Lodge restaurant. Slip back to Windflower for an individual massage or beauty treatment. Splash into a sundrenched pool. Hike trails through the wooded terrain. Or float down a lazy river running throughout the property.
Yet remote and relaxing as all this feels, remember where this hideaway puts you!
On arriving, you may notice that we’re a mere 20-minute drive from San Antonio International Airport. An equally brief trip will take you from here to downtown, to experience the historic Alamo or nightlife on the River Walk! Or take a daytime excursion into the nearby Hill Country for wine tasting or antique shopping.
Still, we hope you’ll explore the natural beauty we’ve preserved in creating this resort from a genuine 19th century Texas ranch. These 300 acres are so unspoiled that black squirrels, red hawks and other wildlife are fully at home here.
But you and your guests will be, too. We’ll see to it.
Just ask TripAdvisor readers. They rated us the #1 resort in San Antonio. And we were among the top-ranked of all North American Hyatt Regency Hotels for overall customer service for 2016.
So impress your attendees with a resort that delivers every luxury under the sun – and moon.
Hosting your next corporate event at Topgolf could be the most non-corporate thing you could do. Our fun environment is the perfect place to have a great time no matter what your skillset is. Our state-of-the-art venues feature unique and versatile private and semi-private event spaces that cater to any occasion. We can accommodate a variety of group sizes throughout the venue and can host your group day or night, rain or shine, in our climate-controlled bays or in one of our versatile event spaces.
We know that sharing great food and drinks with loved ones is a key part of creating memories at Topgolf. Tapping into the region’s top culinary talent, each Topgolf venue features an accomplished Executive Chef and chef-driven menu. With shareable portions and fresh, high-quality ingredients, we regularly surprise our guests with our phenomenal food creations. We offer versatile event catering packages with plenty of options that everyone will enjoy.
When it comes to the game itself, players hit micro-chipped golf balls that track each shot’s accuracy and distance while awarding points for hitting targets on the outfield. Whether you’re an aspiring golf pro or picking up a club for the first time, Topgolf is everyone’s game. It’s fun. It’s competitive. And it’s a unique way to entertain corporate clients and colleagues in a very non-corporate setting.
Our all-inclusive packages include Topgolf game play, menu selection from our event catering options, lifetime memberships for your Guests, free club rentals, reserved bays, game demonstration and dedicated staff to make sure everything runs smoothly. Topgolf is the perfect place to host team-building, tournaments, meetings, client entertainment, employee appreciation, holiday parties…really any excuse you can come up with for a great event! Talk to one of our dedicated event planners today, and we’ll make your next event as turn-key as it gets!
Monterey County is a truly exceptional destination for meetings. From the scenic coastlines to the valley vistas, it is an iconic setting for all types of gatherings from which attendees will return home feeling reinvigorated and inspired. Its 3,371 square miles, population of over 415,000, 12 towns and multiple other unincorporated areas offer up endless opportunities for inspiration for you and your attendees.
In total, Monterey County offers 250 lodging properties with more than 12,000 rooms. Within its 12 towns, groups will find 100-plus art galleries, numerous vineyards and tasting rooms, ten major museums, and a wide array of attractions—from the renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium to 17-Mile Drive in Pebble Beach. The area is easily accessible for attendees with more than 500 direct and one-stop flights flying into the Monterey Regional Airport. Additional flight options are available via San Jose and San Francisco airports, a short drive away of two hours or less.
Monterey County offers ample lodging options that range from large hotels with conference space to quaint bed-and-breakfasts to high-end retreats. Surrounding these lodging properties are countless attractions and diverse activity options, from hiking to golfing and from sailing to wine tasting.
The freshest menu ingredients are locally sourced and available for your meals in Monterey County. As the “Salad Bowl of the World,” you can count on this area to provide a cornucopia of delicious produce from the valleys and sustainable seafood from the Monterey Bay, also known as the “Serengeti of the Sea.”
Take in dinner (and the incredible seaside views) along Cannery Row, made famous by John Steinbeck. Cannery Row is also home to the internationally known Monterey Bay Aquarium, regularly ranked one of the top attractions in the world and the inspiration for the aquarium in Pixar’s Finding Dory.
For a truly memorable experience, immerse yourself in Monterey County’s Wine Country. Whether you are exploring charming Carmel Valley Village, winding down Salinas Valley’s vineyard laden River Road or trying out Carmel-by-the-Sea’s Wine Walk-by-the-Sea’s tasting passport you are sure to have a great time.
Get up close and personal to the scenic beauty that Monterey County has to offer. Plan a hike at Jacks Peak County Park and soak in its expansive views or head out to Point Lobos State Reserve and choose a meandering trail along the coast.
Stay an extra day or two and visit the museums, galleries and performing arts centers throughout the county and experience California’s true Central Coast culture.
In Monterey County, there are so many options that there’s something for everyone before and after the conference. And because most areas within this region are just minutes away, your delegates will be amazed at how quick and easy it is to enjoy the full array of inspirational activities and attractions from land to sea. Find out how to plan your next meeting in Monterey County and experience for yourself its awe-inspiring scenic beauty at MeetInMonterey.com.
When Kimpton Aertson Hotel opened in June, it immediately embraced its new home and Nashville’s culture. Just months after opening, the hotel welcomed one of the biggest citywides to ever come to Nashville—Solar Eclipse 2017. The hotel offered packages, specialty drinks and viewing glasses to attendees.
This modern hotel, featuring museum-quality contemporary art, helps visitors feel they are experiencing not just the Kimpton brand, but the city of Nashville, as well. For instance, Kimpton Aertson brings in musicians from the local music scene so that guests feel a part of Music City right away.
“We’ve done everything from coffee breaks with music in the round to full-on evening entertainment,” says Chantelle Nikkel, director of sales and marketing. “The rounds are a great way for our attendees to really immerse themselves in the Nashville scene, and see what music writing and performing is all about. This is available to our groups as part of our partnership with NSAI.”
Nikkel says that the hotel likes to stay on the cutting edge.
“In our first three months since opening, we have already hosted amazing interactive breaks and breakout sessions, from goat yoga to our singer/songwriter rounds,” Nikkel says. “We’ve also had a cool on-site T-shirt ‘make and take’ station, where the T-shirts can be designed and made on-site. The Porter Boardroom has a lovely little balcony and we have devised an end-of-day bourbon bar to roll out for groups. We’ve also hosted a meeting wrap-up with a live show, poolside.”
Even big conventions and citywides still benefit from a personal touch. Creating relationships with CVBs is just part of the equation for planners. Organizers create their own bond with hotel groups, and in many cases find that smaller is better. Kimpton is part of the massive IHG brand, and has 65 mostly domestic hotels in many major cities. The brand’s boutique size offers it opportunities to easily customize stays and meetings.
“The thing we really like about Kimpton is it’s part of a large brand, so you get that level of quality, but it feels boutique, so you get the level of service you expect,” says Karen Hobson, vice president of operations for Emma, an email marketing company. “That’s why I’ve been using them there for years. The Nashville property is brand-new and there’s a lot of buzz around it.”
Hobson says that the hotel was able to quickly accommodate last-minute changes and needs for additional space. She also was impressed by the culinary offerings.
“Having a James Beard award-winning chef at your fingertips definitely has its perks,” Nikkel says. “We’ve done everything from a rooftop tiki bar reception at Woodlea, 17 floors atop Midtown, to low-country shrimp boils and handmade seasonal pastas, all coupled with our seasonal cocktails highlighting hyper-local ingredients and spirit.”
Next door to the property is Caviar & Bananas, a smorgasbord of virtually everything that guests could possibly crave, from wine to salads, to specialty food items, to, as might be expected, caviar and bananas.
There are many reasons to consider Tempe, Arizona for your next meeting. This desert destination is known for amazing sunsets, warm weather and Sonoran Desert vistas. But, there’s even more appeal for meeting and event planners.
Tempe is located within 10 minutes of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, making it extremely accessible for your attendees. It is one of the country’s busiest airports with non-stop flights to more than 100 destinations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the U.K. With a quick trip on Valley Metro Rail from the airport, visitors arrive in Downtown Tempe. Downtown’s bustling Mill Avenue is home to dozens of shops and restaurants in a historic and pedestrian friendly district. In Downtown Tempe, you’ll find plenty of options to soak up the sun including a hike up “A” Mountain, attending a festival, lunch on an outdoor patio or sampling a craft beer or two from one of several breweries that call Tempe home. Downtown is adjacent to the Arizona State University Tempe Campus, one of the largest universities in the country. With more than 50,000 students in Tempe, ASU is a center of knowledge, research, sports and the arts. In fact, one of the crown jewels of architecture in Arizona is the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed ASU Gammage, a 3,000 seat theater that annually hosts popular Broadway shows.
Tempe’s hotels and meeting venues are perfectly suited for groups ranging from 10-500 attendees. You can choose from a conference hotel in Downtown Tempe, a retro chic boutique hotel or a mountaintop resort that overlooks the city lights. With new hotels being added over the next few months, Tempe will offer more than 6,200 guest rooms. Beyond our hotel partners, you can also find some interesting off-site venues including the modern and sleek Tempe Center for the Arts and the beautifully lush Desert Botanical Garden.
Your attendees will enjoy lots of activities before and after the meeting. Discover live music and globally influenced cuisine at one of the many eateries, including those in Downtown Tempe and at Tempe Marketplace. Relax by boating, walking, hiking or biking at Tempe Town Lake, Tempe Beach Park, Papago Park and South Mountain Park and Preserve. Find bargains and be entertained at Arizona Mills which offers more than 170 outlet shops, a Harkins IMAX Theatre, the Tilt Studio arcade, LEGOLAND Discovery Center and SEA LIFE Arizona Aquarium.
The Tempe Tourism Office can help you check off everything on your meeting planning to-do list by offering an individualized Destination Experience in Tempe. Our staff will develop an itinerary that fits your schedule and your needs to make it easy to plan your next meeting in Tempe. To learn more, go to MeetInTempe.com.
For many, January is a month replete with resolutions. Goals often include some kind of improvement in healthy behavior—exercise more, eat better, drink less. One way to keep committed to the latter is to share the effort in a monthlong (totally hashtaggable) campaign.
Enter Dry January, which officially began as a public health initiative in the United Kingdom in 2015. The month of abstention from alcohol has since caught on stateside, with one in five Americans participating last year, according to a poll from YouGov. Whether you’re interested in starting the year off fresh or in finding more balance throughout 2020, there’s a bevy of beverages popping up to stoke your #sobercuriosity.
A solid indicator of the growing interest comes from Hilton Hotels and Resorts, which is featuring four off-menu libations of the wet and dry persuasion at select properties this January. Crafted and curated by Elliott Clark, mixologist and founder of Apartment Bartender—which creates, curates, and manages premium drink and lifestyle experiences—the highlighted drinks range from a spirit-free concoction involving coconut water to a good ole-fashioned (not an Old Fashioned) booze-infused mix that plays off the classic whiskey smash.
Smart Meetings spoke with Clark about the Hilton menu and the growing spirit of zero-proof.
“The concept and goal [for Hilton] was to create a cocktail menu that was inclusive of the travelers that were going to be either partaking in Dry January or just seeking balance overall,” he says. Make no mistake: Nonalcoholic libations are not just a trend, and they’ve evolved beyond the Shirley Temple.
“Typically, when you think of a nonalcoholic cocktail, you think ginger ale or something that doesn’t necessarily incorporate a lot of thought or unique ingredients,” he says. “What I really like about the menu we created is it takes all of that into account—whether they have alcohol in them or not, all the cocktails aim to provide an elevated experience in the lobby bar.”
Elliott Clark with his Hilton Hotels off-menu cocktail creations. Credit: Ben Hider, Associated Press for Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Beyond the Bar
For events, that elevation is something to consider for the attendee experience. Much in the way that catering to dietary preferences has become a focus, providing something that is more than an afterthought for those abstaining from alcohol (for any reason) can be a stand-out way to make guests feel considered—and erase the stigma sometimes associated with not drinking.
Clark says it’s all about having options. “I know I’ve probably said that word 70 times,” he says, laughing, “but that really is the key. With options comes inclusivity, and it welcomes everybody to the community.”
When asked if he saw a reason this trend was growing, Clark pointed to the increasing emphasis on improving health through campaigns such as Dry January and Sober October. “I think things like that are awesome to get people thinking about balance with exercise and wellness,” he says. “I started a separate company called Earn Your Booze to elevate the health and wellness of the drinks industry, because it’s easy in this industry to slip into bad habits, from a health perspective.”
Industry Buzz—or Not Buzzed
One can’t help but relegate the same hazards to the meetings industry, where face-to-face connection and social interaction are a main focus—and drinking is ever-present as a gathering, celebratory element.
With the aim of creating that atmosphere for all sipping preferences, nonalcoholic distillates such as Seedlip are pioneering the scene, providing Clark and other mixologists with better opportunity to craft zero-proof cocktails with as much detail as their boozier brethren. “Seedlip brings a level of earthiness, herbaceousness and spice to the drinks. It really adds depth and complexity,” he says.
He spoke definitively about the benefits of providing nonalcoholic options for guests. “It’s only a value add,” Clark says. “It’s an entirely new segment of people to reach, and having that option, I think consumers respect having been thought of, valued and presented with that option—instead of having to ask for it.”
Crafting Community
When you bring alcohol-free and liquorous libations cozily together under the same umbrella, the approach to wielding ingredients in the pursuit of a fantastic drink is similar.
“One of the things I really like to take into account is seasonality, so this being winter time, I make sure that the cocktails have a sense of warmth about them,” he says. “The [full-proof] Cafe Cognac, for example, has a lot of winter flavors like vanilla, coffee and of course, cognac. [Regarding the zero-proof] Tamed Tiki, the reason for a tiki drink here is that when you take a sip, it transports you mentally to someplace warm.”
Clark remarked that when he thinks about crafting cocktails, he considers who is going to be drinking them.
“Then, by incorporating flavors that mesh well together or that might be new or unique, I can give people the ability to expand their palate a little bit, or perceive a spirit in a different perspective,” he says.
His words on the craft of drink-mixing encourage expanding perspectives as well as palettes. It’s time to view cocktails, drinking and gathering as areas still ripe for exploration—where the proof of liquid served is just the Luxardo cherry on top.
The Paloma Undercover
(Recipe courtesy of Hilton Hotels and Resorts)
Ingredients
2 ounces Seedlip Spice 94
1 ounce grapefruit juice
1/2 ounce lime juice
1/2 ounce brown sugar syrup (To make at home, combine 2 parts brown sugar to 1 part water)
1 to 2 ounces soda water
Method
Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker, and shake with ice.
Strain the drink into coupe glass and garnish with a grapefruit twist.
Women in the event management industry, just as everyone else in the industry, have a lot to worry about day-to-day. However, expecting equal salaries and respect to match shouldn’t be on those virtually endless to-do lists. Unfortunately, securing both remains a persistent issue that requires an unprecedented amount of attention. Three issues are at play when it comes to the gender pay gap.
Societal Inequality: There is a psychological concept called “emotional labor” that puts undue pressure and expectation on an individual if they are female. In terms of pay, it translates to the expectation for women to do more in order to earn their base salary or invoice payment. Without checks in place, a female event planner could find herself pressured to do for free what a male event planner has no problems charging extra for.
Salary Inequality: Men, on the whole, have a higher average salary than female peers of the same level of education, job description and experience. This phenomenon is called the gender pay gap—and it’s responsible for women earning less: according to United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, anywhere from 20-25 percent less than male counterparts, simply because of their gender. And female freelancers are paid way less.
Gender Inequality: Event planning is, by nature and definition, a completely gender-neutral career. Women, however, are often “mentally sorted” into roles like wedding planning, while men are handed the responsibilities of business events.
How Can I Support Gender Equality at My Event?
Employees and Support Staff:
Highlight the achievements in your field.
Eliminate expectations of emotional labor.
Offer ideas for female presenters, experts, and panel-members in your respective field.
Event Staff:
Encourage guests to attend panels and speaking events with female presenters, emphasizing those experts’ portfolios of achievements rather than their gender.
Decision-Makers:
Eliminate names from proposals for event planners, providing them as “Option A/B/C” and so on, with only pertinent details like experience and capabilities highlighted.
Suggest that an event budget for a planner be created before selection, rather than selecting a planner based on their projected costs to eliminate consistent undervaluing of services based on gender.
Support the professional growth of a female event planner by offering a letter of recommendation, positive review or referral to industry peers after the end of a successful event.
CEOs and C-Suite Executives
Proactively ask and listen to female opinions on both the event planning and event attendee makeup to ensure that everyone has a “seat at the table.”
Foster and develop gender equality “at home” with periodic audits of your workforce and attitudes.
If your support staff is revealing the gender of your potential event planner proposals (or employees), ask them to present only achievements and work history/experience.
It is important to neutralize the gender gap not only to be respectful of women but also because inclusiveness builds a stronger, more versatile workforce. Remember, gender bias in conventions isn’t always easy to spot or obvious, but failing to neutralize it will perpetuate a gap in both salary and respect for the hard-working individuals that deserve every dollar they earn, rather than an arbitrary 68 percent of it.
Tim Altbaum, CMP, C SEP, HMCC, CMM, is CEO of San Diego-based event production company Vario.
