National park visitation is on the rise, with 312 million people seeing the more than 400 U.S. national park sites in person in 2022, marking a return to pre-pandemic levels. This number is predicted to continue an upward trajectory in 2023 based on the National Park Service’s annual visitation statistics.
What does this mean for groups? People continue to have national parks on their bucket lists, so why not figure out where to stay and meet near national parks and help make it happen? Here are several properties located near national parks that are managed by New York-based Delaware North. Staff can assist planners with arrangements for lodging and meeting space and provide suggestions for memorable tours and activities.
Yellowstone National Park, Montana
Yellowstone Vacations operates a mix of traditional hotels and cabins, including The Ridgeline Hotel at Yellowstone in Gardiner and Holiday Inn West Yellowstone. While the 86-room property in Gardiner provides easy access to the north entrance of Yellowstone National Park, Holiday Inn West Yellowstone offers the services and amenities of a conference center with more than 10,000 square feet of function space and the capacity to host up 400 attendees.
Between the waterfalls, boiling water plumes, wildlife, and expansive landscape, there is no shortage of reasons to visit Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone Vacations also operates guided shuttle tours of the park, providing an easy way to integrate nature into the agenda.
Yosemite National Park, California
Another conference center option is Tenaya at Yosemite in Fish Camp, a property nestled deep in the sequoia forests only minutes from Yosemite National Park and Sierra National Forest. A main lodge, cottages, and cabins are available for lodging, and the High Sierra conference center offers 14 flexible meeting rooms totaling 18,000 square feet of indoor meeting and event space, including a 10,000-square-foot ballroom. During the summer months, a 3,000-square-foot covered outdoor pavilion and 3,000-square-foot grand terrace also are available for gatherings.
Additional amenities of interest to groups include a pool with cabanas, Ascent Spa, and dining options that range from barbecue to artisan pizzas. The property’s Yosemite 360 tours are available to take groups into Yosemite National Park for excursions ranging from Tenaya Falls hikes to challenging ventures like Half Dome.
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
After exploring the natural wonders of the Rocky Mountain National Park, attendees will enjoy returning to The Ridgeline Hotel Estes Park in downtown Estes Park. The property operates its own brewery, the Latitude 105 Alehouse, and there are outdoor fire pits for nighttime relaxation after a day of meetings and adventure.
With over 20,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space, The Ridgeline can host gatherings ranging from intimate to sizable events. In addition to in-house meeting spaces that includes an 8,000-square-foot ballroom, the property is attached to The Estes Park Conference Center. For outdoor events, the 5,600-square-foot Aspen Courtyard is ideal.
Delaware North also operates Squire Resort at the Grand Canyon in Grand Canyon Village close to Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona; The Pine Lodge on Whitefish River in Whitefish near Glacier National Park in Montana; and Kalaloch Lodge in Forks just outside Olympic National Park in Washington.
This is just a snapshot of where to stay and meet near national parks, which offer mesmerizing landscapes and plenty of memorable outdoor activities.