[ON LOCATION] PALOMA VILLAVERDE DE RICO
My travels from the U.S. East Coast into the Missoula International Airport in Western Montana took me by surprise by how seamless it was—MIA-DFW-MSO—but proved what Debbie Picard, Director of Sales, Glacier Country Regional Tourism Commission, told Prevue during our recent visit to this stunning part of the country—no matter where attendees hail from in the U.S., they’ll find it’s easy to get to this region of Montana, which includes iconic Glacier National Park.
When they arrive, they’re sure to be as blown away by the region’s beauty, culinary prowess, inclusivity, resorts and myriad spots for holding incentive gatherings and meetings as I was. Whether it’s a hike in Glacier National Park, a glamping retreat at Paws Up Montana, a late-afternoon stroll through Missoula after a meeting at one of its downtown hotels, lunch at a historic mansion in Kalispell or mouthwatering dine-arounds throughout the region, attendees will be wowed by a destination that’s home to forward-thinking cities, eye-popping museums, small towns oozing with charm, awe-inspiring landscapes and outdoor activities galore.
This city, nestled in the heart of the northern Rockies of Western Montana, has been dubbed the “cultural center of Montana” and as our group strolled its lively downtown streets, with its myriad art galleries, live music venues and artsy vibe, it became evident why. This was even more hammered in when we toured the city’s new building for the Montana Museum of Art and Culture (MMAC). The museum’s collection is vast with close to 12,000 objects that range from works by Picasso and Andy Warhol to a full samurai suit and Japanese temple lanterns as well as works of art that “describe the aesthetic development of the Rocky Mountain west.” Here, intimately sized groups can opt for private after-hours docent-led tours with catered pre- or post-F&B in the museum’s welcome center, terrace or patio. The 125+-year-old MMAC offers a window into the area’s unique history and culture and the treasures it holds.
For groups who want to dive into the local scene, downtown Missoula is home to 43 local restaurants including the two our group was fortunate enough to dine at. Ideal for an organization’s C-suite, 1889 is considered one of the city’s finest eating establishments with a private dining room (max 14) and such chef creations as grilled bison bistro fillet and halibut entrees as well as crab cakes and a Southern-style charcuterie. Another top recommendation is Pangea, where our group took over the 800-sf Barrel Room featuring original 1900s arched brick and stone walls (25 max). Make sure attendees order the Mt. Jumbo Carrot Cake—trying to devour the whole 7-lb piece will be a teambuilding experience. Side note: What surprised me most in our culinary journey through Western Montana was the variety of yummy zero-proof cocktails on the menu.
In Missoula, hotel picks include the uber-modern Residence Inn by Marriott Missoula, which inhabits a historic building and features an art collection that wows as well as a decor befitting a NYC boutique hotel. Here, you’ll find 1,506 sf of total event space (the largest space welcomes 160 people), but groups can spill out to other venues as Missoula is home to 3,400 guest rooms and 170,000 sf of meeting space. Next door, you’ll find its sister property, the AC Hotel Missoula Downtown, home to the city’s only rooftop bar (think a small cocktail gathering).
The city is also the gateway to Paws Up Montana, one of the state’s—if not the country’s—most extraordinarily beautiful luxury ranch resorts. In this 37,000-acre resort, planners can create the ultimate retreat for their groups, choosing from accommodations that range from glamping in safari-style tents in the middle of nature to green o’s uber-luxe, forest-embraced Tree Haus, elevated 23 ft. in the air, as well as expansive ranch-style homes. There’s also 70+ wilderness adventures to decide on for teambuilding—among a long list, you’ll find horseback riding, ATV tours, hiking, archery, canoeing, dogsledding, snowshoeing and ranch sorting. Meeting and retreat venues here run the gamut from The Saddle Club’s 35,000-sf Event Arena (reception/dining capacity is 400) to a full buyout of a private island on Salmon Lake. And the gastronomy throughout is James Beard-level divine.
Located between Flathead Lake and Glacier National Park, Kalispell—the hub of Montana’s Flathead Valley—beckons with a charm that will have your groups swooning. Here, attendees can tour Conrad Mansion Museum—whose history dates back almost 130 years—and then sit down for a Waters Edge Winery & Bistro-catered lunch on the mansion’s grand porch overlooking the exquisitely manicured gardens. The destination itself invites incentive groups to bond while on an outdoor adventure, one of the most unique of which is a 3-hour wine and cheese llama trek outing in nearby Swan Mountain.
Heading to the town of Whitefish, gateway to the West Glacier entrance of Glacier National Park, groups will find a lively destination that is made for teambuilding with outdoor exploration in the national park and an enchanting downtown where attendees will find home-grown shops and buzzy restaurants, welcoming hotels and spectacular scenery for as far as the eye can see.
National park enthusiasts will want to take advantage of all of this iconic park’s offerings, including Red Bus Tours in vintage 1930s buses with roll-back tops that provide full views of the mountains (each bus holds 16 passengers, plus the driver; it’s a fleet of 33 buses). Groups can also opt for 1-hour narrated historic boat cruise on Lake McDonald, with eye-popping views of the forest and mountains. Ideal for incentive groups that want to bond while taking in the great outdoors is a hike along one of the park’s many trails. Our group chose a 1-hour easy hike with Glacier Guides that took us through the forest and proved mesmerizing. For cycling enthusiasts, you can coordinate for the group to rent bicycles and take a ride on the Going-to-the-Sun Road (ideal in spring before the road opens to cars).
Back in town, small groups can call the boutique, 86-room Firebrand Hotel home, offering quick access to the area’s outdoor adventures and funky downtown. For a local dining experience, attendees can head to Tupelo Grille, which specializes in Southern cuisine such as shrimp & grits. Larger groups can stay at the Firebrand’s sister property, The Lodge at Whitefish Lake, the only full-service resort on the lake. Here, accommodation options include multiple 4-bedroom residences that come with the full board of hotel amenities, including access to the lakefront and marina (where one finds the Tiki Bar). Tops here when it comes to meeting venues is the 2,100-sf Lakeside Pavilion with an al fresco setting for cocktail receptions or dinner events (up to 120 guests); larger parties can be accommodated with the rental of additional tenting. For smaller gatherings, there’s the 1,261-sf lake-view Regatta Room with plenty of natural light in a cozy setting with a fireplace; it’s deal for cocktail receptions, dining events and casual meetings (50 guests with round table seating or up to 90 for a reception).
meetings.glaciermt.com; umt.edu/montana-museum; marriott.com; pawsup.com/groups; conradmansion.com; firebrandhotel.com/plan; lodgeatwhitefishlake.com/meetings