By Jeff Heilman, Meetings Today — From its world-class ski resorts to the ancient, otherworldly landscapes of Arches, Canyonlands, Zion and other national parks, the Beehive State offers unrivaled high-altitude, high-adrenaline, high-inspiration departures from the ordinary. From these elevated experiences, groups can then surrender mind and body at an equally compelling collection of spas, wellness facilities and other sanctuaries.
Concentrated in the wider Salt Lake City and Park City regions, and in the state’s magical southern reaches, the following choices show how Utah rewards those who push the limits, offering relaxation like few other destinations.
Where to Unwind
This February, Salt Lake City recognized the enduring transformation of its identity and economy, meetings prominently included, that occurred after hosting the 2002 Winter Olympics 15 years ago.
“Few industries benefited from the Olympic Games as much as the tourism industry,” stated Scott Beck, president and CEO of Visit Salt Lake, in a release. “Hosting the Games immediately vaulted Salt Lake to the top ranks as a destination for major conventions and meetings, and solidified our reputation as a destination for world-class winter sports and recreation, embodied by our moniker, ‘Ski City.’”
Within an hour of the ski resort quartet of Alta, Brighton, Snowbird and Solitude (collectively marketed as “The Greatest Snow on Earth”), and even closer to the spectacular canyon country of the Wasatch and Oquirrh (pronounced “oaker”) mountain ranges, Utah’s capital has since enjoyed unassailable global status for its outdoor sports and adventure offerings.
Equal to these rewards are the region’s centers of rejuvenation, such as Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort’s spacious, event-capable Cliff Spa. Featuring 21 treatment rooms, a yoga studio and fitness center, the spa’s rooftop pool and hot tub look out panoramically over the Wasatch Mountains. Groups can also enjoy popular apres-ski spa services at Alta’s Rustler Lodge.
Back in Salt Lake City, the celebrated 775-room Grand America Hotel, offering 75,000-plus square feet of flexible meeting space, is home to the award-winning Grand Spa.
Completely remodeled in 2013, this luxurious 20,000-plus-square-foot oasis includes 18 service rooms and the stunning Grand Spa Suite.
In Salt Lake City’s historic Avenues neighborhood,
The Kura Door is a holistic Japanese Spa offering traditional Japanese healing and specialized treatments such as the Ofuro bath ritual, based on Japan’s thousand-year tradition of the bath as “the path to well-being for both body and soul.”