The Vail Valley is made up of vibrant mountain towns along Interstate 70’s ski country just west of Denver. Two of the communities, Beaver Creek and Vail, have earned global recognition as year-round destinations and offer attractive venues, lodging options, and activities for groups. Visitors can fly into Eagle County Regional Airport.
Vail Resorts / Jack Affleck
“Hosting a professional function in the Vail Valley brings new meaning to ‘the best view in the office,’ with unique offsite venues to choose from, including on-mountain restaurants and countless activities,” says Kim Brussow, director of sales for Visit Vail Valley.
Beaver Creek introduced a collaborative website to help planners envision the possibilities for gatherings of 150 to 1,500. “The launch of beavercreekvillagewide.com allows incentive, corporate, and association groups from around the world to easily research a Rocky Mountain multi-venue and multi-hotel meeting or event,” says Heidi Miersemann, CMP, director of sales, marketing, and events for the 190-room Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa. “It’s designed to be a one-stop shop for all Beaver Creek Village event questions and will continue to evolve with that goal in mind.”
Brussow also notes that the Pinnacle Group unites three properties within steps of each other in the heart of Vail Village (Four Seasons Vail Resort and Residences, Sonnenalp Hotel, and The Sebastian–Vail). The largest conference hotel in Lionshead Village—The Hythe, a Luxury Collection Resort, Vail—has many nearby options for overflow room blocks. Grand Hyatt Vail, also in proximity to Lionshead Village, boasts 40,000 square feet of meeting space.
Recent Gatherings
Since 2011, Beaver Creek has hosted the annual Precious Metals Summit, an invitation-only investment conference that connects investors and corporate executives with high-net-worth funds. This year, the Sept. 13-16 summit attracted a record 1,300 attendees, with 60% from Canada, 30% from the United States, and the rest from other places around the globe.
“Beaver Creek is a magical getaway retreat for the majority of our attendees, most flying in from urban centers like New York City, Houston, or Toronto,” says Misha Levental, chief operating officer of Precious Metals Summit Conferences LLC. “Colorado enjoys a rich mining history, and the adventurer’s spirit permeates the surrounding area. At the same time, Beaver Creek Village is home to world-class restaurants and outdoor activities, not to mention exceptionally friendly and attentive staff.”
The summit fully books Park Hyatt Beaver Creek and Beaver Creek Lodge, and participating corporations organize golf outings, excursions to nearby historical mining sites and towns, and social gatherings at restaurants and bars.
Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort And Spa
This year, Beavers & Brews was the theme of the summit’s closing luncheon. “Where better to find some of the world’s best and most versatile suds than Colorado?” asks Levental. “For our closing luncheon, we like to feature a memorable dining experience enjoyed alfresco and served Colorado-style, with a craft beer bar and seating spilling out to the Hyatt lawn so guests can lunch at the foot of the Rockies.”
The Vail Valley also hosts its fair share of small gatherings. HPN Global planned an executive leadership retreat for a medical industry client on July 11-14 at The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa, Avon, Vail Valley.
“Beaver Creek was a good match for this group because they were leaders getting together for an off-site meeting to discuss important/key factors for their business,” says Kim Anderson, vice president of global accounts for HPN Global. “They wanted a retreat-like location away from the city.”
Thirteen attendees primarily from the Midwest and East Coast found the location so conducive for a retreat that they never left the property. “This group usually goes off-site to a dinner and for an activity but ended up canceling a lot of that due to important meetings they needed to get through,” Anderson says. “The meeting location and service went so well that my client booked July 2023 already.”
What’s New
While there is always something new in the Vail Valley, we compiled a sampling of the latest news of note.
Manor Vail Lodge has completed a $7 million renovation of its pool, patio, restaurant, south lobby, and south entrance. In addition, the lodge now offers a new dining experience, Ridge + River Mountainside Kitchen. With floor-to-ceiling views of Golden Peak, the makeover also includes a new patio, covering, and fire pit for outdoor dining and events.
The Hythe (formerly Vail Marriott) unveiled a major renovation in tandem with rebranding in November 2021 and offers unique activities for groups and guests. A new Wheels and Whiskey summer program led by Sean Kenyon, a beverage consultant and mixologist, features a scenic mountain bike ride followed by a hands-on cocktail class at the resort’s 10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirit Tasting Room.
Vail, EagleVail, and Avon teamed up to launch Shift Bike, a regional electric bike share program, to encourage individuals to shift from driving a car to riding a bike for errands and shorter commutes.
In Beaver Creek, Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa has added to its year-round patio just outside 8100 Mountainside Bar & Grill, introducing a covered pergola with luxury seating, several TVs, fire pits, ceiling heaters, and more. Also, a major renovation of Gerald R. Ford Hall is underway and includes several eco-friendly updates.
The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch
The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch in Beaver Creek, unveiled the final stage of its renovations in July, which included an extensive refresh of the guest rooms and suites, Club Lounge, and Great Room. Along with the cosmetic upgrades, the property elevated its culinary and guest experiences with the addition of live music, The Edge of Wild Private Dining, and Earth to Table outdoor dinners.
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visitvailvalley.com
Distinct Venues
From on-mountain venues and Colorado ranches to casual settings along the creek, the Vail Valley has an array of memorable options for groups.
4 Eagle Ranch: Not only is there a cozy cabin, a deck with major views, and an event center that seats up to 550, but the ranch also offers activities for gatherings ranging from winter sleigh ride dinners and whiskey and wine tastings to chili cookoffs and line dance lessons. 4eagleranch.com
Beano’s Cabin: Serving groups of 20 to 150, getting to Beano’s Cabin on Beaver Creek Mountain is half the fun, although the food is also outstanding. Consider a moonlight sleigh ride or a scenic excursion on horseback for transportation. beavercreek.com
Bearcat Stables: Groups of up to 200 guests can book Bearcat’s meadows, historic cabin, event pavilion, and outdoor musician’s stage with a dance floor. Horseback riding, hay wagons, and sleigh rides are among the available activities. bearcatstables.com
Betty Ford Alpine Gardens: Don’t miss the botanical garden with the highest elevation (8,200 feet) in North America. Take a stroll through the gardens to admire all the natural beauty or host an event on the Rooftop Terrace, Alpine Plaza, or Children’s Garden Amphitheater. The gardens are next
to Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater. bettyfordalpinegardens.org
Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater: Every summer, this outdoor venue is the place to be with Bravo! Vail Music Festival, Vail Dance Festival, and the free Hot Summer Nights series. The venue can accommodate more than 2,500, with a plaza and courtyard available for more intimate gatherings. grfavail.com
Larkspur Events & Dining: This year-round event venue, located at the base of Vail Mountain’s Golden Peak, can host 10 to 500 guests making use of spaces ranging from a great room and full dining room to private dining spaces, a patio, and a large lawn. larkspurvail.com
The 10th: One of Vail Mountain’s on-mountain dining experiences and not to be confused with the 10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirit Tasting Room, The 10th offers outstanding views of both the Gore Range and the Vail Valley. Located at the top of Gondola One, guests can enjoy the commute to dinner. vail.com
Zach’s Cabin: Cuisine is the highlight of this luxury experience perched on the mountainside above Bachelor Gulch. This intimate cabin is available for private functions for groups as large as 80, or individuals can take part in the regularly scheduled sleigh-ride dinners during winter. beavercreek.com
