Corporate Event Ideas
Destinations Link Hospitality is here to assist in your search for the perfect venue for your meetings and incentives. With 20 years of experience in the industry, DLH will advise your company on the top destinations for corporate and executive meetings and special events, offer creative ideas and solutions for incentive travel, and find only the best deals for your upcoming event.
Below you will find Denise’s choices for top ten best meeting and travel destinations. Check back often as the “Top Ten Picks” will change.
1. The Grand Del Mar
San Diego, California
Situated on a canyon preserve amid the striking fairways of The Grand Golf Club, The Grand Del Mar offers an ideal backdrop for meetings. The 249-room resort features in excess of 20,000 square feet of flexible meeting space to accommodate a full range of events – from intimate board meetings or incentive trips to product launches and national sales meetings – for groups of up to 600 guests. Meetings at The Grand Del Mar are further enhanced by a host of on-site amenities. Championship golf, exclusive spa experiences, acclaimed dining, an impressive wine program, four sparkling pools, an abundance of outdoor recreation options and an array of group activity possibilities make The Grand Del Mar the ideal meeting and incentive resort in San Diego.
2. Reunion Resort
Orlando, Florida
A new luxury property, nestled on 2300-acres of gentle rolling hills, Reunion Resort is located in Orlando, Florida, just minutes from the Orlando International Airport. The winner of the 2008 North America Golf Resort of the Year, and numerous meeting accolades, Reunion Resort is truly the Southeast’s hottest full-service meeting venue.
3. Gran Melia Resort & Villas
Rio Grande, Puerto Rico
Nestled on the northeastern shore of Puerto Rico, between the ocean and the towering El Yunque rainforest, Gran Melia Puerto Rico Resort & Villas is uniquely poised to provide guests with the Caribbean’s most luxurious resort experience, offering modern facilities, Puerto Rican flavor and Spanish flair. Two 18-hole golf courses, designed by PGA-legend Tom Kite, are located at the hotel’s Trump International Golf Club, combining beauty and challenge with every hole. The YHI Spa combines the inherently restorative healing properties of the rainforest with skilled, preferential treatments.
4. The Liberty Hotel
Boston, Massachusetts
Always an architectural gem, what was once the icon Charles Street Jail is now the stunning, vibrant Liberty Hotel. Since opening in September 2007, the hotel quickly became the “must-visit” destination for visitors and local residents alike. In 2008, The Liberty was named to Fortune Magazine’s Best Business Hotels list and earned Top Hotel Suite Honors from Elite Traveler Magazine.
5. The Shilla Seoul
Seoul, Korea
The Shilla Hotels & Resorts takes its name from Korea’s ancient Shilla Dynasty (57BC-935AD)-regarded as the “Golden Age” for its outstanding art and culture. Recognized for its legendary service and hospitality, the Shilla Seoul graciously combines authentic charm with modern, world-class luxury and state-of-the-art communications technology, has been the recipient of numerous accolades and awards, including Conde Nast Traveler’s Annual Gold List, Zagat’s World Best Hotels, Travel + Leisure’s 500 World’s Best List and Institutional Investor’s World Best Hotels.
6. Epic Hotel
Miami, Florida
The new Epic Hotel is the premier luxury hotel in Miami, a sparkling cosmopolitan destination on the bank of the Miami River where it meets Biscayne Bay. A stunning addition to Miami, this hotel epitomizes urban design while offering guests an unmatched level of style and service. The highly acclaimed exhale is a unique spa concept combining therapeutic services with a host of complementary offerings including yoga, proprietary core classes (Core Fusion®, Core Fusion® Sport, Core Energy Flow®), acupuncture + healing modalities, nutrition, detox and diet programs, and a wellbeing apothecary under one roof. For spectacular views and the freshest local seafood, Area 31 Restaurant boasts a stunning setting on the 16th floor, along with poolside and al fresco dining at its finest. Supporting the sustainable development of its namesake region, Area 31 brings together a dynamic menu, perfect wine selections and exceptional service, resulting in a culinary experience that is true Miami style.
7. The Langham, Yangtze Boutique
Shanghai
Beyond the enchanting facade are 96 exquisitely appointed rooms and suites – each designed to recapture the glamour and grandeur of the era when Shanghai was famed as the “Paris of the East”. Here you will also find the ‘service with poise’ and magnificent surroundings that have become synonymous with The Langham since 1865. Step through the graceful portals of The Langham, Yangtze Boutique and rejoice in the timeless calm of a grand hotel combined with the romance of 1930s Shanghai. This 5-star luxury boutique hotel is ideally located in Shanghai’s central business district and offers superb business facilities, exceptional restaurants, lounges and bars, as well as the rejuvenating Chuan Spa, an exclusive to this luxury boutique hotel in Shanghai, excellent leisure facilities, and Langham Service Stylists, heirs to the role of butler, delivering superior service.
8. Elysian Hotel
Chicago, Illinois
Elysian, Chicago sets a new standard in ultra-luxury experiences delivering refined service in a sophisticated and timeless setting. The richly detailed Elysian features 188 guest rooms and is home to 4,500 square feet of function space, an exclusive 14,000 square foot health club and spa. Fireplaces, terraces that overlook Chicago’s Gold Coast, and state-of-the-art technology provide a home-away-from-home feeling that guests will not soon forget. Plus, after months of anticipation, the Elysian Hotel has unveiled two new restaurants. Ria is an upscale dinner-only concept with a focus on seafood, while sister restaurant Balsan is more casual, featuring a raw bar, wood-fired oven pizzas and housemade charcuterie. Chicago Mags “contender for the best new restaurant of the year,” Balsan also just launched its new Brunch Menu, available Saturday and Sunday from 10:00am until 3:00pm. Both restaurants are on the third floor of the sparkling new Elysian Hotel, whose elegant European courtyard entrance is worth a detour by itself. Executive Chef Jason McLeod leads the helm for both restaurants, and has ample amounts of luxury hotel experience under his toque from San Diego’s Grand Del Mar resort and Four Seasons.
9a. Grand Velas All Suites and Spa Resort
Riviera Nayarit, Mexico
2010 “Most Excellent Resort” and “Most Excellent Spa” Awarded to Grand Velas Resorts in Riviera Nayarit by Condé Nast Johansens Luxury Hotel Guide. Located on magnificent Banderas Bay in Nuevo Vallarta, our resort in Puerto Vallarta delivers the ultimate all-inclusive vacation with exceptional gourmet a la carte dining, world-class hospitality, and luxurious hotel accommodations in a spectacular setting on Mexico’s golden coast. An unrivaled all-inclusive resort and spa experience in Puerto Vallarta that seduces your senses and rejuvenates your spirit, our commitment to extraordinary service has garnered numerous accolades, including AAA’s 5 Diamond Award, Condé Nast’s “Most Excellent Spa Hotel” award, and TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice award for “Best Luxury Hotel in the World.”
9b. Grand Velas All Suites and Spa Resort
Riviera Maya, Mexico
2010 “Most Excellent Resort” and “Most Excellent Spa” Awarded to Grand Velas Resorts in Riviera Maya by Condé Nast Johansens Luxury Hotel Guide. The luxurious Grand Velas All Suites & SPA Resort Riviera Maya is the newest resort to distinguish Riviera Maya as a premier vacation destination. Hugging the pristine white sand shore of Playa del Carmen, Mexico, the newly opened Grand Velas All Suites & SPA Resort Riviera Maya is the pinnacle of all – inclusive vacation luxury. Elegant accommodations, gourmet culinary tour dining experience, a deluxe spa, personalized butler concierge services, and a cutting edge convention center make Grand Velas All Suites & SPA Resort Riviera Maya an ideal choice for leisure and business travelers. Grand Velas All Suites & SPA Resort Riviera Maya is located 5 minutes away from downtown Playa del Carmen and 35 minutes from Cancun International Airport.
9c. Velas Vallarta Suite Resort & Convention Center
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
A tropical beachfront oasis on the emerald waters of Banderas Bay, Velas Vallarta Suite Resort & Convention Center is a spectacular vacation and corporate retreat in beautiful Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Indulge in breathtaking vistas of the Bay, Sierra Madre and Downtown Puerto Vallarta as you experience an all-inclusive luxury vacation on Mexico’s enchanting Pacific Coast. Relax in exquisite suites overlooking Banderas Bay. Velas Vallarta features a rejuvenating spa, convention center, three swimming pools, fitness club, two restaurants, entertainment, activities, tennis courts, and a beautiful beach. Tee off on the Marina Vallarta golf course, which surrounds this magical Puerto Vallarta resort. Escape to paradise.
9d. Casa Velas Boutique Puerto Vallarta
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Escape to a luxurious adult-only resort in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – an enchanting destination for relaxation and romance. Nestled on the Marina Vallarta Golf Club, and steps from the marina and water adventures, Casa Velas Hotel Boutique is a tranquil, tropical oasis that combines distinctive service with a romantic coastal atmosphere. Enjoy the soothing sounds of the waves as you soak up paradise. Experience breathtaking sunsets on Banderas Bay, lounge on glistening white beaches, and soothe your soul at our Zen-like spa. Casa Velas offers luxurious suites with tropical views, a private beach club, a wellness spa, delectable dining and meeting/event space. Embrace a Puerto Vallarta resort that inspires your passion for life, love and adventure.
10. Lodge & Spa at Cordillera
Edwards, Colorado
Perched on a mountaintop overlooking the magnificent Vail Valley and Sawatch Range, The Lodge & Spa at Cordillera is one of the most luxurious retreats in the world. The Lodge continually earns accolades for its exemplary service, and is regularly voted among the Top 10 Spas in North America. Embrace the elegance of this intimate luxury hotel, honored as one of the top 25 ski resort accommodations in North America by Conde Nast Traveler.
Call Denise for more details and find out why these are her “Top 10 Destination Picks!”