Meeting News - September 22, 2008 - (Page 36) Destination Insider: New England Stowe Mountain Lodge Offers Mix of Capacities, Activities Near Slopes The upscale Stowe Mountain Lodge has 12,000 sf of state-of-the-art meeting space literally steps away from a ski lift connecting the 139-room property to the slopes of Mount Mansfield—Vermont’s highest peak. But managing director Jim Horsman said the lodge is more than a ski resort, offering year-round opportunities to combine high-end meetings with golf, spa, hiking, and fishing. He added that there is a wealth of other outdoor and cultural activities, from maple sugaring lessons to tours to local artisan cheese making. The lodge’s 5,400-sf Tamarack Ballroom and four 650-sf meeting rooms are just a few steps from the main lobby—prominent placement indicating the importance of group business to the resort, which debuted in June. A 1,500-sf flagstone terrace wrapping around the conference center is dotted with gas fireplaces for cold-weather outdoor gatherings and is large enough to accommodate cars for new-vehicle launches. Like the lobby, the terrace provides views of the slopes of Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak. Pampered Presentations Not Your Father’s Ski Lodge: Stowe Mountain Lodge’s interior spaces are modern, blending “alpine” with “edgy.” “The idea was to create an aesthetic that’s edgy and modern but also has an alpine feel,” said Horsman, who expects 40 to 50 percent of all business at the lodge to be from groups, primarily high-end board meetings and incentives. Groups of up to 300 can fit in the lodge, but citywides of up to 800 rooms can be held using Stowe’s myriad other upscale properties, including the Topnotch, Stoweflake, and Trapp Family Lodge resorts. With five-star, five-diamond aspirations, the Stowe Mountain Lodge has price points that can be daunting, but Horsman said significant discounts off rack rate will be offered to groups and incentives, like the $1,000 worth of “Pick Your Perk” meeting enhancements. “We’re being very aggressive in the shoulder period (November and end of April to mid-May) and creating tremendous value,” said Horsman. Meetings clients have come primarily from New York and Boston, but European groups have chosen Stowe as an alternative to western ski resorts. Stowe is a drive-to destination for many guests, but delegates can fly to nearby Burlington directly from New York - JFK on JetBlue. —BC www.meetingnews.com The chairman’s flight just landed, and he’s the keynote at your annual sales conference. So much for the sound check. Luckily, your meeting is at Seaport Boston where our expert hospitality team lives for the unexpected. As Boston’s most accommodating host, count on our meeting professionals to make your presenters look their best — and keep your important meeting running without a hitch. And after the applause, we’ll delight your audience with award-winning service worthy of an ovation. 800.515.5913 SeaportBoston.com/go/pamperedmn TA I L O R E D TO YO U 36 MeetingNews September 22, 2008 http://www.SeaportBoston.com/go/pamperedmn http://www.SeaportBoston.com/go/pamperedmn http://www.meetingnews.com
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