Even with many overseas “bucket list” spots suited for executive retreats and conferences, there’s something to be said for lavish properties just a tank or two of gas away! Whether team goals are accomplished through a game of golf, a gourmet experience, a day on the Pacific, or downtime at the spa, these properties put guests on track for productivity and fun.
The Lofts at SLO Brew
Location
San Luis Obispo, CA
Setting
Stage an intimate gathering in the ultimate luxury twist on the “man cave,” at the heart of the Central Coast’s most innovative towns and craft beer scenes.
Accommodations
Five rustic-chic lofts with two or three bedrooms, kitchens, and living areas surround an oversized meeting room on the same floor. Groups can rent out the Lofts in their entirety to have full access to the rooftop terrace overlooking San Luis Obispo Creek and nearby mission.
Dining
SLO Brew pub and restaurant, on Higuera Street (the main street of downtown SLO) features a back patio overlooking the creek as well as several themed private dining areas for small company gatherings.
Noteworthy
The property offers an “Ultimate Beercation” package that includes two night’s lodging at the Lofts, dinner for six at the SLO Brew Restaurant & Pub, a welcome selection of SLO Brew’s four core brews, chilled and ready to drink in the in-room fridge, and a private tour and tasting at The Rock. The innkeeper/concierge can also arrange tours at other local breweries.
Getting to Business
Beyond the private beer retreat, SLO Brew’s The Rock, three miles down the road from The Brew and The Lofts, features over 14,500 total square feet of indoor and outdoor floor space, including a 30-barrel capacity brewhouse, complete with canning and bottling lines. The taproom and pub provide sampling sessions for SLO Brew’s specialty and seasonal craft beers and small-batch rye whiskey.
Contact
slobrew.com; lofts@slobrewingco.com
Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina
Location
San Diego, CA
Setting
The ground-breaking Marriott property enters the 21st century to the tune of a $107M investment in a brand-new meetings and events space.
Accommodations
Fully appointed guest rooms and suites have a fresh, crisp nautical feel, while the public areas thematically echo the colors and natural attributes of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding beaches.
Dining
Marina Kitchen, headed by chef Aron Schwartz, has a Northern California vibe, with its Tasting Bar, a team of 17 sommeliers, and seasonal cuisine that’s modern but accessible. Hotel executive chef Ben Cottrell compliments Schwartz’s achievements by creating banquet offerings more like boutique restaurant dishes. The poolside Tequila Bar showcases Mexican street food by cooks from Tijuana selected by Schwartz. Although nearby Sushi on a Roll is not officially a restaurant, guests can book business luncheons and cooking classes with Chef Jeff Roberto through concierge services.
Special Features
In addition to the fitness center’s copious array of machines, there are yoga, spinning, and boot camp classes taught by astute instructors. The Hideaway is a treatment-focused oasis featuring YonKa products integrated into facials and body treatments for men and women. Boat, jet-ski, and paddle board rentals are steps from the property, and outings can be arranged via the hotel concierge.
Getting to Business
The focal point of the sparkling new conference center is the two-level stacked ballroom melding Hollywood glamour and futuristic technology found in convention centers of cities like Seoul, Tokyo, and Singapore. In total, the Marriott Marquis has 277,055 square feet of event space, 84 event rooms, a 16-screen video wall system, and high-tech planning tools that can be coordinated with the hotel’s events team.
Contact
619/234.1500
San Ysidro Ranch
Location
Santa Barbara, CA
Setting
The venerable property is one of the grande dames of Santa Barbara resorts, when only the best will do for top performers on your team.
Accommodations
41 individually decorated private bungalow cottages line San Ysidro’s hillside creek- and tree-lined paths. Some are outfitted with hot tubs on private outdoor patios with outdoor rain showers, hand-cut stone or masonry fireplaces, radiant-heated bathroom floors, and hand-selected antique furnishings.
Dining
The 2016 Wine Spectator-award winning Stonehouse Restaurant, anchored by chef Matt Johnson, is the ultimate in farm-to-table dining with herbs and vegetables harvested from the on-site chef’s garden. The Plow and Angel brings a European country pub flavor to the area.
Special Features
Local scenery, combined with charming French-, Italian-, and American-influenced country interiors, serves as the perfect backdrop for lush spa services, nearby golf, horseback riding, and 17 miles of hiking trails.
Getting to Business
The Ranch’s three distinctive meeting and event venues (Hydrangea Cottage, The Wine Cellar, and The Old Adobe) accommodate 10 to 60 guests.
Contact
805/565.1700
The Sanctuary
Location
Paradise Valley, AZ
Setting
Mid-century magnificence
Accommodations
The Sanctuary, carved from a former tennis academy, retains the original character of the mid-20th century’s structure while weaving in Japanese, Korean, and Chinese design flourishes in suites, casitas, and public areas. The striking infinity pool appears to flow into Phoenix’s sprawling expanse below.
Dining
Food Network star Chef Beau MacMillan designs a genre-defying menu for Elements Restaurant integrating Asian flavors and textures into dishes that parallel The Sanctuary’s aesthetic. Jade Bar integrates lobby bar coziness with a freestanding craft cocktail bar’s cool factor. XII is an intimate private dining space designed with a glass wall that opens to a state-of-the-art show kitchen and offers the option of a personalized, interactive journey with the chef.
Special Features
The Sanctuary’s wellness compound includes an airy fitness room, luxury spa treatments, yoga/classroom, and cozy waiting areas dressed in dark woods, citrusy oranges, and fresh lime green accents. Starting in February 2017, the property will have a reciprocity arrangement with sister resort Mountain Shadows.
Getting to Business
Panoramic views of the mountains, desert, and Paradise Valley within the property provide the perfect setting for magnificent outdoor meeting venues for team-building exercises and themed parties, while the indoor venues still capture the desert’s grandeur. Seven private mountainside estates at Sanctuary offer spacious accommodations and personalized amenities containing everything a planner needs for retreats and medium-scale business gatherings.
Contact
480/607.2350
