A New Setting Leads to Better Conversations and Bigger Ideas

The road up Little Cottonwood Canyon winds beneath walls of granite and past stands of aspen trees. As the canyon tightens and elevation is gained, the landscape becomes increasingly dramatic. Then Snowbird's base area appears, nestled alongside Little Cottonwood Creek, with steep peaks towering above in every direction.

For a team arriving on a company retreat or conference, the physical change in the landscape can be as noteworthy as the mental shift. The ordinarily bland conference-center routine is replaced by an environment where granite spires are integrated into the day, putting people in a different frame of mind before the opening meeting even kicks off.

“Our meeting spaces really bring the outdoors inside,” says Julie Tran, Snowbird's Director of Sales. “With natural sunlight, expansive mountain views and a sense of connection to the surrounding landscape, they create an atmosphere that feels energizing and inspiring from the moment attendees walk in.”

Snowbird's 80,000 square feet of flexible event space provides plenty of room for everything from executive gatherings to conferences of up to 800 people. With more than 500 lodging rooms dedicated to groups, the resort can accommodate large gatherings while keeping meetings, accommodations, dining and activities close at hand.

Stepping outside after a meeting means stepping directly into the natural landscape. And then the day goes up from there. 

“The Aerial Tram is a truly iconic Snowbird experience that brings people together while offering incredible views,” Tran says.

When a group rides the Tram to Hidden Peak, the valley quickly drops away as the conversation shifts from the morning's agenda to the dramatic skyline. Lunch at The Summit, Utah's highest restaurant at 11,000 feet, can become an informal continuation of a discussion that started hours earlier and a couple thousand feet lower.

That kind of flexibility is difficult to build into a traditional conference setting, where meetings, meals and activities often happen in separate locations. At Snowbird, the transition between different parts of a conference is as simple as stepping outside.

Elevate the Conversation

The most useful work discussions don't always happen huddled around a conference table under fluorescent lights. They happen in the in-between times. For companies with dispersed teams, those unscheduled moments can be particularly valuable.

Sure, video calls can bring a team of people together for a meeting, but they don't replicate spending time together beneath a canopy of coniferous pines. A hike, a Tram ride or a meal overlooking the canyon gives colleagues more chances to connect beyond projects, deadlines and the next item on the agenda.

Little Cottonwood Canyon also offers plenty to experience together. Depending on the season and the goals of the gathering, groups can enjoy summertime mountain activities or wintertime skiing, or simply use the surrounding landscape as a reason to get outside between meetings.

Team-building activities can be just as creative. One of Julie Tran's favorite activities is a scavenger hunt that sends groups throughout the resort, turning Snowbird itself into the playing field. And the possibilities extend well beyond the expected. After the Atrium at The Cliff Lodge was remodeled, one group even had aerial trampoline acrobats perform indoors for attendees. Of course, the point isn't that every meeting needs a trampoline. It's that Snowbird has the space and flexibility to accommodate a little imagination.

Answer the Big Questions

A company retreat or conference can give a team a fresh perspective, but it also needs the space and focus to tackle the questions that matter most. Snowbird's Group Sales team can help build the practical side of the gathering, from meeting spaces and accommodations to dining, AV and activities. That gives executives more time to focus on the bigger picture.

“For more than 50 years, we've welcomed groups that return regularly, and in some cases, decade after decade,” Tran says. “That level of loyalty speaks to the memorable experiences, relationships and traditions that are built here.”

The reasons for that loyalty become apparent in the way a day at Snowbird can unfold. A morning spent working through a difficult problem can lead to an afternoon working your way up a hiking trail. A presentation can continue over dinner with the canyon spread out below. A few hours away from email and the familiar distractions of the office can give a team the distance to return to a problem with an improved perspective.

Take the Team Somewhere Worth Going

A good company gathering gives people a reason to remember it. Snowbird offers the infrastructure to make a meeting work and the landscape to make the experience memorable.

The conference room will be ready when the team arrives, along with the catering, lodging and technology needed to keep a complicated event running smoothly. Outside, Little Cottonwood Canyon offers something no conference center can provide.

“The combination of exceptional service, distinctive meeting experiences, and unparalleled access to the outdoors that Snowbird offers simply can't be replicated,” Tran says.

Then, when the team descends Little Cottonwood Canyon between the towering walls of granite, the most important conversations from the trip won't stay in the mountains. They'll come back to the office.

Learn more about hosting your next meeting or group at Snowbird at snowbird.com/groups-conferences.

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