The bustling city of Lake Geneva and the surrounding area are well-suited for meetings and events. The city of 8,691 residents is about an hour from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport. The city hugs the shoreline of Geneva Lake, and the lakeshore and neighboring countryside are home to many expansive resorts and venues with event space. Lake Geneva also is known as a foodie paradise, with many top chefs running kitchens in the area. Stephanie Klett, president and CEO of Visit Lake Geneva, says, “I would put our food scene up against any city in the U.S.”
Vibe: Klett notes the plethora of things to do and the top-notch meeting spaces in Lake Geneva, and adds, “The area is a hip, beautiful, natural region,” she says. “Put all those things together, and your attendees will walk away saying, ‘I loved it! I’m going back.’”
Hotels: Grand Geneva Resort & Spa has 837 guest rooms across two lodges on the property, plus 68,500 square feet of meeting space—and a ski hill. The Abbey Resort in Fontana-on-Geneva-Lake distinguishes your event with its distinctive Abbey A-Frame venue and several additional meeting rooms, and Lake Lawn Resort in Delavan dates to 1878 and boasts a Courtyard Garden & Pergola with a sprawling lakefront lawn; five meeting and event spaces, the largest suitable for up to 350 attendees; and the Majestic Oaks Golf Course.
Must-Sees & -Dos: Lake Geneva Ziplines & Adventures has zip lining, a high ropes course, climbing wall, 12 miles of hiking trails, and a beer garden. Chef John Bogan at the Lake Geneva School of Cooking leads attendees in preparing sumptuous meals. Queen Bee Artisan Market’s Emily Trainor will guide small groups with discerning palates into the sweet world of honey tasting. Yerkes Observatory has a massive refracting telescope in its dome plus gathering space, and the strollable 21-mile Geneva Lake Shore Path circumnavigates the lake.
