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Top 4 Favorite European Ski Destinations For Corporate Group Travel

Top 4 Favorite European Ski Destinations For Corporate Group Travel

by | Oct 4, 2022 | Podcasts

DE 358 | European Ski Destinations

 

Andy McNeill has traveled all over the world skiing, and in today’s episode, he’ll be sharing his top recommended European ski destinations that are great for corporate group travel. These locations are ideal for incentives, congratulatory events, sales meetings, and any event where you want to host many guests and provide an amazing experience. Find out which ski spots in Europe captured his heart by tuning in!

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Watch the episode here

 

Top 4 Favorite European Ski Destinations For Corporate Group Travel

Andy McNeill has skied worldwide, and today he shares his favorite European skiing destinations that will fit your group travel needs. From incentive travel, celebrations, and sales meetings, these destinations have been tried and tested by Andy and the many groups he’s taken. Here are the top four European ski locations to host your next group destination travel:

Cortina d’Ampezzo in Italy – Located in the Italian-speaking Province of Belluno with majestic mountain views. It is one of Andy’s favorite places he’s ever been. This little Northern Italian, Alpine town is known for its gourmet dining, and the center of the town has been made pedestrian just for strolling, which offers those romantic vibes. With its stunning views, the location can be seen in movies such as The Cliffhanger, Pink Panther, and For Your Eyes Only. The nearest airport is Marco Polo in Venice.

Chamonix Mont-Blanc in France – This is one of the oldest ski resorts in Europe and hosted the 1924 Winter Olympics. Here, you can go on the world’s highest cable ride, 12,000 feet up in the air, providing some of the best views in Europe. As one of the tallest mountains, there’s also an incredible ice cave part of the glacier you can visit. When you’re not in the town or enjoying the slopes, you can visit Casino Le Royal and get your gambling and other great experiences. The nearest airport is in Geneva.

Soldeu in Andorra – This little ski town is located in the microstate of Andorra, landlocked between the French and Spanish border. You may not hear about it much, but this is one of the best affordable skiing in Europe, and they have over 600 instructors, so there’s always plenty to do. You can get your lessons in with courses for all levels. You can also check out the Caldea Spa, one of the biggest attractions in Andorra. It’s a giant futuristic spa famous for its water attractions and countless amenities. In the evenings, they have futuristic music and light show that you can enjoy while in the spa. Plus, you can try booking a night a the Iglu Hotel, which houses all the amenities and offers an excellent experience for your attendees.

Zermatt in Switzerland – This is probably one of the most famous ski resorts in the world and sits at the foot of the Matterhorn. It’s also considered one of the most beautiful ski resorts on the planet. This destination is unique as it is a car-free town which can make for an enjoyable experience as you park 5 kilometers out and take a train into town. It is also dubbed as the gourmet capital of the Alps, with many great places to take your attendees. The small town also houses thirty 5-star hotels, including one of the top hotels in the country, The Omnia.

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City

by | Mar 30, 2022 | Podcasts

DE 301 | Salt Lake City

 

Salt Lake City is a place rich in natural beauty and history. With the right combination of outdoor activities and robust nightlife, it is one of the best destinations for a business event or meeting. Andy McNeill and Todd Bludworth delve into the breathtaking landscape of Salt Lake City with professional aerial skier Megan Smallhouse, a resident of Utah, and Chris Erickson, general manager of Grand America Hotel. The hosts also share first-hand experiences about the city through their top ten bucket list. Listen to this in-depth episode highlighting how Salt Lake City blends nature and urban experiences into one exciting journey.

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Watch the episode here

 

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City may be one of the youngest cities in the United States, founded not long ago in 1868, but its rich history is truly mesmerizing. It offers a bit of everything to everyone, especially those looking for exciting outdoor adventure. Salt Lake City is known for its skiing and hiking parks, as well as one of the five National Parks in the country. Sitting down with an aerial skier living in Utah and the general manager of Grand America Hotel, Andy McNeill and Todd Bludworth dive even further into the beautiful Salt Lake City.

Megan Smallhouse

Professional aerial skier Megan Smallhouse of the US Freestyle Team has been living in Utah for three years now. She trains at the Utah Park six days a week to prepare for the upcoming 2022 Winter Olympic Games.

When not training, Megan enjoys skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer. For her, there will never be a shortage of things to do in Salt Lake City. You can be trekking in the mountains in the morning then enjoying the nightlife once the sun goes down. It is also a place every sports fan will love with the many professional sporting events it has to offer.

Megan’s Training Destinations Ahead of the Olympics

  1. Visit a training camp in Finland, which is very close to the Arctic Circle
  2. Participate in two World Cups in China
  3. Join a World Cup in Quebec
  4. Go back to Utah to enter the final qualifying event for the Olympics

Andy and Todd’s Salt Lake Top 10 Bucket List

  1. Mormon Tabernacle
  2. The vantage point of Mormon Tabernacle
  3. Salt Lake Temple
  4. Temple Square
  5. Great Salt Lake
  6. Uinta Brewing Company
  7. Proper Burger Company
  8. Fisher Brewing Company
  9. Big Cottonwood Canyon
  10. Ensign Peak

 

Chris Erickson

The Grand America Hotel was built to provide world-class amenities for the participants of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Chris Erickson, the hotel’s current general manager, continues to uphold the same level of high-quality services to everyone until today.

Grand America Hotel is a suitable place for different corporate events. It features breakout rooms of various sizes, a 25-000 sq. ft. grand imperial ballroom, and a grand salon. These can all be found on the first floor, making it easily accessible to everyone.

One of the hotel’s noteworthy qualities is its proximity to the airport, requiring only around 10 minutes of travel. This offers the convenience of getting down to your business as soon as you arrive at Salt Lake City. Furthermore, a new world-class airport was opened in November 2020, built from the same footprint as the current one. This $4 billion project is one huge step towards clean, safe, and efficient transportation. It gives Salt Lake City visitors a refreshing experience as soon as they get off the plane.

Grand America Hotel’s Most Notable Amenities

  • The Grand Spa, one of the only 86 Forbes five-star spas in the whole world
  • An outdoor infinity pool that serves delicious fish tacos
  • The lobby lounge, the place to get espresso in the morning, tea in the afternoon, and cocktails in the evening
  • A hidden gym for those who want a quiet time after a busy workday
  • An oak dining room, best for a relaxing Sunday brunch

Chris’ Top Ski Park Picks

  • Snowbird, which hosted skiing events in the 2002 Winter Olympics. Not as crowded as other well-known resorts and offers great food choices
  • Olympic Park, which houses a little museum that chronicles the history of ski industry attire over the last hundred years

 

About Chris Erickson

DE 301 | Salt Lake CityChris Erickson is a 30 year veteran of the hospitality industry. His career began as a Front Desk Agent in Seattle and ascended to the position of General Manager after experiencing multiple positions within the hotel industry. Chris is the Hotel Manager for the luxury Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City. The Grand America team has received multiple accolades during Chris’ tenure including the Forbes Five Star award for The Grand Spa (one of only 86 in the world and the only in Salt Lake City) as well as top awards from Tripadvisor (top #14 luxury hotels in the country) and Trivago. The Grand America Hotel is currently a Forbes Four Star Hotel.

 

About Megan Smallhouse

DE 301 | Salt Lake CityMegan Smallhouse is an American freestyle skier who competes internationally. She competed in the FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships 2021, where she placed seventh in women’s aerials.