By Beth Buehler
Executive retreats should be about getting away from the office to a place that is ultra relaxing, provides comfortable and productive places to meet, and offers fun activities for participants to interact outside four walls. Colorado specializes in these types of gatherings as the options for unique getaways are so numerous. While it’s likely that execs won’t want to totally tune out from the work place, it is possible to go totally off the grid and focus only on the important business or strategic planning at hand.
Ranches – 4 Eagle Ranch in Wolcott, C Lazy Ranch in Granby and Peaceful Valley Resort & Conference Center (previously known as Peaceful Valley Ranch) in Lyons all make experiencing the West a reality with activities such horseback riding, campfires, fly-fishing and much more.
4 Eagle Ranch, photo by Steve Thornton
Golf & Skiing – Garden of the Gods Club in Colorado Springs, Lodge & Spa at Cordillera in the Vail Valley, and Sheraton Steamboat Resort & Villas in Steamboat all have top-notch golf courses, plus the last two also offer homes for rent and great access to skiing. Garden of the Gods Club offers spacious suites.
Garden of the Gods Club
Vintage Experiences – Wine Country Inn in Palisade not only places execs or board members in the heart of Colorado’s wine country, there is a Vintner’s House and plenty to do in the surrounding area. John Hendricks, founder and former chairman of the Discovery Channel and Discovery Communications, created Gateway Canyons (located south of Grand Junction in Gateway) to offer learning programs and adventures such as the Driven Experience with a fleet of luxury automobiles and Pro-Baja Trucks.
Gateway Colorado Automobile Museum at Gateway Canyons
Grape Harvest at Wine Country Inn
Art & Outdoors – The ART Hotel just opened its doors in downtown Denver next to the Denver Art Museum and Colorado History Center. If creativity and history themes are present in the retreat discussion, the trio offers an unbeatable combination. The Broadmoor’s new Wilderness Experiences provides three off-site locations that are out-of-the-way yet top-of-the line with The Ranch at Emerald Valley, Cloud Camp and The Broadmoor Fishing Camp.
Skip boring and make your group’s next executive retreat both successful and memorable with these and many other Colorado possibilities.
Beth Buehler is editor of Colorado Meetings + Events and Mountain Meetings magazines, has planned numerous meetings and events and enjoys exploring Colorado in all seasons.
