[ON LOCATION] LAUREL HERMAN
The Berkshires, an area in the westernmost county of Massachusetts, is a land of year-round outdoor activities, top-notch cultural and culinary offerings and undeniable beauty. From corporate retreats to incentive experiences, the region is simply a natural bonanza for groups.
Many planners might’ve heard of the southern part of The Berkshires, or, as the locals call it, SOCO (South County), which includes such towns and attractions as Great Barrington, Stockbridge (Norman Rockwell’s hometown), Lenox, famous for the Tanglewood Music Center, and Becket, known for the Jacob’s Pillow dance center, but there is a lot more to discover in The Berkshires’ north and central regions.
In northern Berkshires, in the heart of Williamstown, The Williams Inn is a chic, laid-back 64-room boutique property built in 2019. The inn is tastefully designed with a modern but cozy minimalist design. Rooms have desks and thoughtful placement of electrical outlets for computers and cell phones. The property boasts a lovely indoor meeting space, The Ballroom, divisible into three sections. Groups using the entire space can host up to 200 for a plated dinner or 250 for a cocktail reception. The airwalls separating the space are soundproof, allowing for concurrent sessions, WiFi is complimentary and there’s a full built-in AV system with screens and projectors. Planners will also find several outdoor venues for cocktail receptions and teambuilding activities.
The hotel can be completely bought out or up to 40 rooms can be booked, says Megan Hajduk, director of sales and marketing. “So many of our corporate groups love our outdoor spaces for teambuilding, from yoga to cocktail and cooking classes that can be curated. Our firepit is great for casual gatherings or cocktail hour. And the lawn space, which connects to the Taconic Golf Club, is our little hideaway where corporate groups gather for cookouts for up to 200 people. Additionally, The Williams Inn partners with an outfitter that can take groups white-water rafting, kayaking and other options.”
Small groups can opt for The Barn Kitchen & Bar, the hotel’s main restaurant or work with the hotel’s banquet team, which is separate from The Barn. The latter, incidentally, serves scrumptious meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner, including not-to-miss New England clam chowder and braised beef short ribs with roasted garlic mashed potatoes.
“Pharma and financial groups are popular at our destination,” says Hajduk. She also suggests groups come Monday-Wednesday for the best value.
Near The Williams Inn one finds the Clark Art Institute. Located on 140 acres, this architectural gem is filled with outdoor/indoor meeting spaces.
Says Victoria Salzman, director of communications for The Clark, “Depending on what your group wants to do, we have a variety of spaces available at different times of the year. If it’s a group that wants to have guided tours of the collections and then lunch or dinner, we can accommodate larger groups by separating into tours of up to 10 people to ensure that every visitor has a great experience in the galleries. So, for a group of 100 people, for instance, we’d have 10 guides.”
The all-glass Museum Pavilion leads to the museum’s permanent collection, with works by the likes of Degas and Renoir, and hosts groups of up to 50 seated for dinner while viewing the reflecting pools and Stone Hill. The onsite library, with one of the largest art history book collections in the country (almost 300,000), can host receptions for up to 200. This building is also home to an auditorium, a board room and the penthouse with stunning views and space for smaller private meetings and receptions.
Ideally located in the heart of The Berkshires, the city of Pittsfield offers a multitude of cultural and outdoor adventures as well as dining options. Says Jennifer Glockner, director of cultural development for the city of Pittsfield, “What is amazing about Pittsfield and The Berkshires is the collaboration in the area for cultural events.
“For corporate groups/retreats to have two or three local cultural group leaders speak on how they collaborate and share ideas is a plus. Pittsfield has two world-renowned theater institutions—Barrington Stage Company and The Colonial Theatre,” says Glockner. “Barrington Stage Company often has plays start there and go on to Broadway,” she says, pointing to “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”
When it comes to outdoor adventures for corporate retreats and incentives, Glockner points to a multitude of offerings. For instance, Canoe Meadows is a 253-acre wildlife sanctuary operated by Mass Audubon where groups can enjoy three miles of walking trails, a 4.5-acre community garden and The Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, which is paved from Pittsfield all the way to North Adams and is ideal for biking and walking excursions.
Another top recommendation is a guided walking tour with Berkshire Camino, offering mindfully guided walks and hikes ranging from 2.5 hours to all day. We ventured out with Berkshire Camino on a peaceful hike to nearby Pittsfield State Forest, with 35 miles of trails.
A group can headquarter themselves in the center of town at Hotel on North, with 45 rooms and meeting/banquet spaces for up to 80. This location is just a 5-minute walk to Barrington Stage Company, The Colonial Theatre and the Berkshire Museum as well as a number of good downtown dining venues. Berkshire Palate, adjacent to the hotel, provides the catering for the property as well as hosting at the restaurant. We tried the fig & walnut salad and the pan-seared scallops, both of which were delicious. Nearby, groups will be delighted by RJ’s, serving everything from pastas to steak and seafood and offering good service and a full bar. For small groups, recommend Sibaritas, only a 10-minute drive from downtown. Here, you’ll find scrumptious flatbreads and a variety of homemade lasagna and pastas.
Another venue for groups to consider is the newly renovated Bousquet Mountain, located minutes from downtown and sports a 200-acre ski resort as well as an amazing bistro for cocktail receptions and dinners. Here, we experienced an annual jazz festival while sipping cocktails and enjoying dinner.
Pittsfield is also home to Hancock Shaker Village, a community founded in the 1780s that today is on the National Register of Historic Places. Spread out over 750 acres, it’s home to 20 historic Shaker buildings and hiking trails. Groups can host receptions, dinners and workshops in several spaces here.
williamsinn.com; theclarkart.edu; lovepittsfield.com; hotelonnorth.com; berkshirecamino.com; bousquetmountain.com; hancockshakervillage.com