There is something about historic hotels that is hard to beat. I love the character and craftsmanship and sheer presence of these types of properties; they seem to be part of a community’s fabric and tell a story of different times. If these are traits that fit well into a conference theme (e.g., stability, building to last, major anniversary of a company) or fits the type of attendee you are trying to attract, Historic Hotels of America, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, is a good place to quickly find options.
More than 260 properties are part of Historic Hotels of America, and in order to be accepted a property must be at least 50 years old. HHA recently welcomed 24 hotels into membership including the Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza was converted from a 300-year-old hacienda built in 1625 and is the oldest property to be accepted into the 25-year-old program in this latest round of designations.
The Meetings, Events and Wedding Facilities Guide is especially helpful in quickly seeing the Mountain West states that have HHA properties and the number of meeting rooms, guest rooms and total square footage of meeting space.
One of my favorite family photos hangs in my sister’s house is one that is very long, skinny and black-and-white and shows a large agriculture-related conference group (The Grange if I remember correctly), including my grandparents, in front of a current HHA property, The Stanley in Estes Park, Colorado. This photo was taken many, many years ago, yet The Stanley continues to be an icon and a great place to gather. Is it time to put a touch of classic in your next meeting or event?
