Beeline for the Beehive
Add Salt to a Summer Meeting in the State of Olympic Proportions
By Kevin Woo

When Brigham Young led members of the Mormon Church to a place it seemed that no one else wanted, he did so for good reason. Religious persecution had chased Young and his followers from several locales. By settling in what he thought would be a remote and inhospitable area, he hoped his people had finally found a home where they could live apart from the outside world. After arriving in the Salt Lake City area in July 1847, Young and his 150 followers had found the “undesirable” land of his dreams.

Young immediately began to implement his master plan for the state of Utah. He helped establish towns and villages and built schools and factories. Although the first winter brought bitter cold, and an infestation of crickets destroyed crops, Young and his church still attracted more than 100,000 people to the area.

It seems doubtful that Young would be disappointed to know that his “inhospitable wilderness” is now home to more than two million people, countless businesses and several institutes of higher learning, including one which bears his name. Utah is nicknamed the Beehive State, homage to the state’s industry and the pioneer virtues of thrift and perseverance.

Today, Utah’s modern cities offer state-of-the-art meeting facilities, world-class entertainment, unparalleled outdoor activities and unending beauty.

Salt Lake City
In 1872 Mark Twain wrote, “I cannot easily conceive of anything more cozy than the night in Salt Lake.” In 2002, the world got to experience city’s coziness, when the XIX Winter Olympics were held in Salt Lake City. Nearly $4 billion was spent on improving city infrastructure, which included building Olympic venues, a new light-rail system, highways and numerous hotels. “In many ways Salt Lake is a brand new city,” says Dianne Binger, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau (http://www.visitsaltlake.com/). “Obviously, Olympic exposure has had a big impact. Many travelers watched the Olympics on TV and decided to visit Salt Lake.”

One million visitors flocked to Salt Lake City to witness 17 days of Olympic competition, as well as the town’s coming out party. More than 6,500 new hotel rooms were filled; Restaurateurs opened the doors to 100 new establishments; and the first phase of the Gateway, a 650 acre, multi-level outdoor shopping arcade was completed just in time for the lighting of the Olympic Flame.

Even though the Olympic venues are still key in the city’s continued development, Salt Lake City’s pulse still emanates from the Mormon Temple at its center. Temple Square is surrounded by city blocks in a neat grid pattern situated in 10-acre squares. The clean, busy streets are all 132 feet in diameter because Brigham Young said he wanted them “wide enough for a team of four oxen and a covered wagon to turn around.” While one doesn’t see many oxen teams these days, the streets do keep traffic moving and Young’s forward-thinking planning skills make navigating the city a breeze.

The Salt Palace Convention Center (http://www.saltpalace.com/) is within walking distance of more than 7,000 hotel rooms and 90 restaurants. A six-story tower with dramatic lighting at its core, the Salt Palace offers 365,000 square feet of exhibition space, a 45,000-square-foot ballroom and 53 meeting rooms able to accommodate groups to 1,800. The windmills that adorn the front of the building are hooked up to wooden cylinders in the tower at the main entrance. They power chimes that welcome visitors whenever the breeze blows. Although the Salt Palace underwent a major expansion and remodel in 1996, the anticipation of the Olympic Games brought yet another large addition to the center in 2000. The additional square footage has been so well-utilized that current plans exist to add an additional 100,000 square feet of meeting space, underground parking, a Broadway-style theater and a commuter tunnel or skywalk. Visitors to the Salt Palace often comment on its lush floral carpeting. In fact, this carpet is so wild that when the center first opened, people were falling down the stairs due to depth perception problems. But not to worry, the carpet is no longer on the stairs!

All convention hotels in downtown Salt Lake City completed major renovations in preparation for the Olympics. More than 17,000 rooms offer visitors a variety of locations and amenities.
One block from the Salt Palace is the Hilton Salt Lake City Center (http://www.hilton.com/), with 499 guestrooms and a grand ballroom that can accommodate nearly 1,100 for a reception. There are several meeting room configurations at the Hilton, as well as an excellent steak house, Spencer’s.

Among the hotels built for the Olympics and within close proximity to the Salt Palace is the 775-room Grand America (http://www.grandamerica.com/), which has been voted a top 100 property in North America by Conde Nast. The hotel has ample meeting room configuration possibilities, including space for 3,000 in its Grand Ballroom. The 359-room Salt Lake City Marriott Downtown (http://www.marriott.com/) is a four-diamond property with more than 22,000 square feet of meeting space. The 193-room boutique Hotel Monaco (http://www.monaco-saltlakecity.com/) is among the more popular boutique-style hotels built downtown. And the Sheraton City Centre Hotel (http://www.starwood.com/) features 362 guest rooms, including 30 suites. The hotel offers a business center and 30,000 square feet of meeting and event facilities in 24 separate rooms.

Formerly known as the Wyndham, the 381-room Prime Hotel Salt Lake City Convention Center (http://www.primehotelsandresorts.com/) is an excellent meetings property with an ideal downtown location. The 241-room Embassy Suites Hotel (http://www.embassysuites.com/) also features on-premises meeting facilities. The new Salt Lake City Marriott City Center is located adjacent to the Gallivan Center, the city’s cultural hub. More than 15,000 square feet of meeting space awaits the discriminating visitor, who can also enjoy the full-time service of the hotel’s two private concierge floors. (http://www.marriott.com/) The historic 72-room Peery Hotel (http://www.peeryhotel.com/) is a Salt Lake tradition, and features 4,300 square feet of meeting space.

Many of the meeting facilities in Salt Lake City are located in the heart of the downtown. The 23rd Floor Event Center (http://www.23rdfloor.net/) is no exception. Located on the 23rd floor of the Wells Fargo Center, the 23,000-square-foot facility offers fully furnished conference rooms, a two-story gallery and spectacular views from every room. The 23rd floor can accommodate up to 900.

A WALK IN THE PARK Utah’s resort destination is Park City, a charming town nestled in a valley of the Wasatch Mountains, only 36 miles from Salt Lake City. But for all its remote qualities, it is one of the most easily accessible year-round resort towns in the country. Not surprisingly, Park City has become a popular meetings and group business destination. The city has 23 professional meeting and convention properties able to accommodate groups to 350. There are more than 3,000 guestrooms in town ranging from full-service hotels to quaint inns. To address the growing need, the Park City Convention & Visitors Bureau has devoted a section of their website to helping planners book their group into town as effortlessly as possible (http://www.parkcitymeetings.com/). The largest hotel facility in the area is the Grand Summit Resort Hotel and Conference Center at the Canyons Resort (http://www.thecanyons.com/). The property is five minutes from downtown Park City and offers 360 guestrooms along with 19,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space. The Grand Summit also features a year-round outdoor pool, a health club, and a spa. Just three miles from Park City’s Main Street is the Chateaux at Silver Lake (http://www.chateaux-deervalley.com/), opened in 2000 with nearly 150 guestrooms, a fitness center, business center, and a 6,600-square-foot ballroom that can accommodate 500 for a banquet. The Lodges at Deer Valley (http://www.lodges-deervalley.com/) offers rustic mountain charm in its 103 guestrooms, as well as the ability to accommodate 250 people in more than 7,500 square feet of meeting space. Also at Deer Valley Resort, the Stein Eriksen Lodge (http://www.steinlodge.com/) is a five-diamond, four-star facility with 170 guestrooms and banquet space for 425. Directly in town, the Park City Marriott (http://www.marriott.com/) features 199 guestrooms and enough meeting space for groups to 700. The 181-room Yarrow Resort Hotel & Conference Center (http://www.yarrowresort.com/) has more than 12,000 square feet of function space able to host groups to 700. The Hotel Park City (http://www.hotelparkcity.com/) features 54 suites, meeting space for nearly 150 banquet-style and an 8,500-square-foot destination spa. Just outside of town, the Park City Mountain Resort (http://www.parkcitymountain.com/) is home to the famous Alpine Slide and works with groups to customize events for summer outings. The resort’s Legacy Lodge has more than 8,000 square feet of meeting space. The Silver King Hotel (http://www.silverkinghotel.com/) is adjacent to the Park City Mountain Resort and features four-diamond rated deluxe condominium accommodations. Each unit includes a fireplace and oversized jetted bathtub. With 3,500 square feet of meeting space, the Silver King can host groups to 150. Located just 55 minutes from the Salt Lake International Airport and 20 minutes from Park City and set against Utah's Wasatch Mountains, the Homestead Resort offers a spectacular setting. The resort features 12,000 square feet of meeting space for groups to 300 as well as indoor and outdoor team building programs. (http://www.homesteadresort.com/)

Salt Lake City’s largest arena is the Delta Center (http://www.deltacenter.com/), a 20,400-seat sports and entertainment facility and home of the NBA’s Utah Jazz. Located two blocks from the Salt Palace, the Delta Center is a hub for TRAX, the city’s light rail system. The Delta Center offers 33,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space including 11 meeting rooms. Full service catering and concessions are available.

The University Of Utah (http://www.utah.edu/) offers several unique meeting facilities. The Tower at Rice-Eccles Stadium and adjacent Salt Lake 2002 Visitors Center (http://www.stadium.utah.edu/) is comprised of several meeting rooms to accommodate groups up to 400 inside or 1,000 outside in the Olympic Cauldron Park. Spectacular views abound. Red Butte Garden (http://www.redbuttegarden.org/) is a 150-acre garden, complete with walking paths and nature trails. A 1,500-acre arboretum boasts more than 9,000 trees and shrubs from around the world. Groups to 150 can enjoy the outdoor gardens. The Water Pavilion, an indoor facility, can accommodate groups to 50. The Utah Museum of Fine Arts (http://www.umfa.utah.edu/) offers a beautiful setting in which to plan an event. Four unique meeting rooms offer options for groups to 500. Adjacent to the world-class academic institution is a brand-new research park, headquarters of several high-tech firms. Bridging the gap between academia and commerce is the Marriott University Park. Located adjacent to the university, the hotel features 10,000 square feet of meeting space. (http://www.marriott.com/)

Davis County
Some of the biggest news in meetings and conventions in Utah comes from Davis County, which is just north of the Salt Lake Airport. The county is currently gearing up for the opening of the Davis Conference Center (http://www.davisconferencecenter.com/), slated to open in August with more than 41,000 square feet of convention and exhibit space as well as a ballroom of more than 12,000 square feet. The center has available 16 breakout rooms and is attached to a 150-room Hilton Garden Inn. A new Davis-area Convention & Visitors Bureau (http://www.utah4fun.com/) was formed to handle the increase in meetings and groups visiting Davis County.

Snowbird
Just minutes east of the Salt Lake International Airport is Snowbird (http://www.snowbird.com/), the newly renovated and world-renowned ski resort, recreation area and conference destination. The Lodge at Snowbird is a full-service condominium building with more than 400 pillows in accommodations ranging from hotel bedrooms to condominium units with lofts. Recent improvements include the addition of a fitness center; air conditioning and wireless Internet in the Cliff Lodge; and 2,100 square feet of new meeting space in the Snowbird Center.

Snowbird Village offers 26 meeting rooms in its four facilities. The main building is the Cliff Conference Center. Approved by the International Association of Conference Centers (IACC) as a “resort conference center,” the Cliff’s ballroom can accommodate groups to 900. Snowbird Center has 10 meeting rooms and can accommodate banquets up to 1,000. The Lodge at Snowbird has two meeting rooms ideal for board-style meetings.

Provo
Less than 10 miles south of Orem is scenic Provo, Utah’s third-largest city and home to about 100,000 people. Bordered by Utah Lake and Mount Timpanogos, Provo is the site of Brigham Young University, a 30,000-student university founded and run as the leading Mormon institution of higher learning. It is the largest church-affiliated university in the country, and its sports programs and other student activities play pivotal roles in the ‘flavor’ of Provo.

The Provo Marriott and Utah Valley Conference Center (http://www.marriott.com/) is located in downtown Provo within two miles of dining, entertainment, historical landmarks and shopping. Each of the hotel’s 331 guestrooms is equipped with voice mail and multiple data ports. The conference center offers complete meeting and banquet facilities, including a 28,000-square-foot main hall, an 8,000-square-foot ballroom, 21 meeting rooms, a boardroo, and a tiered amphitheatre which seats up to 117.

Groups holding conferences and meetings at Brigham Young University (http://www.byu.edu/) may not conduct any fundraising, political or solely commercial activities on site; however, commercial entities can rent university space for educational purposes and catered events. The BYU Conference Center is a full-service facility that features 34 conference rooms, a large patio, on-site catering, and audiovisual support. Abundant free parking and the breathtaking setting of the BYU campus make this clean, comfortable venue a pleasure. The center can be scheduled for employee training meetings, planning retreats and other programs that are consistent with BYU’s educational mission. Note that the conference center, as well as the rest of the university, is a smoke- and alcohol-free learning environment.

One of Provo’s most popular restaurants is the Brick Oven (http://www.brickovenprovo.com/). The restaurant serves hearth baked pizza, homemade root beer and deep-dish lasagna. Recent BYU graduate Rachelle Butler says, “I doubt there is a single resident of Provo, especially not a BYU student, who hasn’t been to the Brick Oven and loved it.”

Another Provo tradition is Magleby’s (http://www.maglebys.com/), where owner, David “Doc” Parkinson, greets customers at the door with his world-famous bread sticks and a warm welcome. Magleby’s cuisine of mainstream favorites has just enough variation to satisfy most palates. Three banquet rooms for groups up to 100 are also available.

Ogden
Thirty miles east of Salt Lake City nestled at the base of the Wasatch Mountains lies beautiful Ogden, population 77,000. Once a sleepy farming community, Ogden grew rapidly after becoming a hub for the intercontinental railroad. The creation of nearby Hill Air Force base during WWII fostered additional growth.

The Ogden Eccles Conference Center (http://www.oecenter.com/) is a state-of-the-art downtown facility. More than 50,000 square feet of meeting space which includes food and beverage service and audio-visual equipment is available. The center is convenient to transportation, historic 25th Street restaurants and a host of novelty shops. Ogden Eccles can accommodate groups to 1,500 people in its largest room.

The Ogden Marriott (http://www.marriott.com/) is located downtown, within walking distance to restaurants, shopping and the conference center. Thoughtful amenities fill the 292 guestrooms and suites, including specially equipped rooms for business travelers. The 13 meeting rooms can accommodate groups to 1,200 in the combined 16,000 square feet of space.

The Hampton Inn and Suites Ogden (http://www.hamptoninn.com/) is located in a historic building converted to a hotel for visitors of the 2002 Winter Olympics. The 137-room hotel offers 1,520 square feet of meeting space and is connected to the Ogden Eccles Conference Center. Three on-site meeting rooms can accommodate groups to 60.

A quiet day fishing on Pineview Lake is a stone’s from the soon-to-be-complete Lakeside Resort. Located in the heart of the Ogden Valley, just 45 minutes from Salt Lake, the resort’s newest phase, set for completion in July, includes 21 stunning lakeside units. Each room also has a private hot tub on its balcony for those wanting to see the sights and stay cozy. Meeting space is available for groups to 50. (http://www.lakesideresortproperties.com/)

Orem
Forty miles south of Salt Lake City off Interstate 15 is the city of Orem. With a population of 85,000, Orem is home to the WordPerfect Corporation, founded by a former BYU professor and one of his graduate students as well as Osmond Studios (yes, Donny and Marie).

The McKay Event Center at Utah Valley State College (http://www.uvsc.edu/) boasts an 8,500-seat area and four multi-purpose Plaza Courts each divisible into two 2,500-square-foot spaces. Two 2,500-square-foot Presidential suites are also available for hosting and meetings. In-house catering can be provided by UVSC’s Culinary Arts program. Full equipment rental services including tables and chairs, portable stages, and sound and light systems, are also available.

Orem’s Hampton Inn and Suites (http://www.hamptoninn.com/) is located directly across the street from UVSC, just three miles from BYU. There are six restaurants within walking distance, and many more within a two-mile radius of the hotel. All guestrooms and suites are fully equipped and many feature views of the majestic Rocky Mountains to the east or Utah Lake to the west. Four meeting rooms can accommodate groups to 50 people each.

St. George
St. George is where the locals claim “the sun spends the winter.” Desert-like with clear skies and sun 300 days per year, it has a climate similar to that of Palm Springs or Phoenix. A winter escape for Utahans tired of snow and cold, the area is a vacation retreat for golfers, swimmers and tennis players. One of the most prominent features of St. George is the Mormon Temple, the oldest still in use. The structure shines white and bright against a backdrop of red sandstone hills and deep-green pine trees. The area is home to a myriad of modern lodging, spas, fine dining and more than half a dozen golf courses.

The Dixie Center at St. George (http://www.dixiecenter.com/) is the area’s premier meeting venue. A prominent rotunda and inviting outdoor courtyard define the center’s entry. Designed for flexibility, with space to accommodate almost any type of event, the fully equipped 47,500-square-foot exhibit hall can house more than 240 average-sized booths or seat more than 6,000 for a concert or special event. The facility also has 18,000 square feet of meeting rooms and nine luxury suites.

Because the terrain of St. George summons outdoor pursuits, a plan for adventure might suit the group. The Red Mountain Spa (http://www.redmountainspa.com/) is the area’s top facility for incentive-type outings, with space to accommodate groups to 60. Red Mountain focuses on adventure, fitness and health on its 55 acre site. The spa’s programs complement the natural surroundings while emphasizing healthy lifestyles. Group stays include meals, activities, classes, workshops, and full facility use.

Although the closest international airport is Las Vegas’ McCarran, approximately 120 miles away, the local St. George Municipal Airport is a full-service facility, serviced by the nation’s largest, independently-operated regional airline, SkyWest.

Zion National Park
Zion is Utah’s oldest national park, as well as its most popular attraction. Paved hiking trails, naturalist programs, large, well-developed campgrounds and the recently refurbished lodge make up what could well be the most civilized wilderness anywhere.

Zion Lodge (http://www.zionlodge.com/) offers 40 cabins and 75 motel rooms and is the only place to stay within the actual park. “Zion” means a place of peace and refuge, and the lodge definitely fits the name. Designed by Gilbert Stanley Underwood in the 1920s, the lodge was destroyed by fire in 1966 but rebuilt in 100 days, quickly restoring the influx of visitors, but sacrificing the hotel’s rustic design. In 1990, the exterior was restored to its original appearance.

The Best Western Zion Park Inn (http://www.zionparkinn.com/) is set among the towering red cliffs of the park. It’s the largest facility within Zion, featuring 120 guestrooms each designed to echo the natural surroundings. The Inn can accommodate groups to about 200.

For those seeking a less rustic feel, Flanigan’s Inn (http://www.flanigans.com/) in nearby Springdale offers a variety of different guestrooms including several spacious villas. Flanigan’s specializes in small touring groups of six to 12 rooms, and can provide a wide range of services. The on-site spa offers facials, body wraps and massages, as well as adventure packages.