Conference Locations...
 

I am going to start planning my company's client conference for next October. Last year it was in Charleston, this year in Orlando. Next year I'd like to shoot for Phoenix, Denver or San Antonio. Does anyone have any hotel suggestions for accomodating 150 bankers? Also, any insight on the cities I've mentioned in terms of venue? Your input is appreciated...dingo.

Consider Randy's town south of Denver - Colorado Springs. Check out the Broadmoor Hotel.

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Have passport, will travel...
LAX, LHR, et.al.

If you go to Phoenix, try the Phoenician or the Arizona Biltmore, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. A little more "desert-like" but still 1st class would be the Boulders in Scottsdale.

[This message has been edited by JerryFF (edited 09-24-2000).]

In San Antonio you could try the Westin Riverwalk (downtown on river, new), The Plaza-Marriott (very nice, near river, great for your size group), Westin La Cantera (not on river, but a new resort property and very nice) or Hyatt Hill Country Resort (not anywhere near the river or anything else but Sea World, but a wonderful place to stay/meet). Marriott has a couple of hotels on the river (Rivercenter-huge and River Walk-just fairly large), but both are fairly large and your group will likely be surrounded by larger groups. Hope this helps. (If you've got any more questions, let me know -- I do meeting planning for my nonprofit association.)

You guys could come down here, great sand trout fishing in the dry river bed.

I've noticed there is a fellow on this board, Dave Hakins, who is in the business of meeting planning. His handle is 0524. The business' name is Hakins Meetings and Incentives. I think he is in Sydney right now with his clients. I have no idea who the guy is, and I have never talked to him, but I would assume he might have some good suggestions for you. I checked his company's home page and would consider contacting him in the future if I need to plan something for my company.
Please let us know what you'll decide for your meeting.

You know, with only 150 folks attending you could pretty much chose anywhere !! The cities you mention are great for LARGE conferences of several thousand people. But, for smaller numbers you might think about places you'd love to meet - Snowmass, CO or Marin County, CA or Savannah, GA or Ely, MN !!

In Denver, I like the Adams Mark hotel, although they have had some issues with diversity training !

Here's a GREAT spot in Phoenix and it's not downtown and they give excellent service. Their golf course is excellent and it's an overall top spot for groups, large and small. It's the WIGWAM Resort.

When I lived in Tucson I was involved in planning our state parks and recreation conference and we were at the Wigwam. Out of all of the places I had been in PHX, this was awesome and the price was very reasonable. The earlier post about the Phoenician or the Biltmore failed to mention the high price tag and they prefer larger groups.

A good plan B would be any of the Hilton Resorts in the Valley of the Sun, as the Greater Phoenix area is known. The South Mountain Resort is beautiful and is built into the sides of the mountain in townhouse-like villas. It was the site of our annual college football officials clinics and we were never disappointed. As a small group we liked the personal service.

I, too, have been quite impressed w/ the Wigwam - one of Phoenix's original resorts...

Althought the question "where's a good place to put 150 bankers" brings other options to mind... http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[kidding!! most of my clients are bankers!]

I also do meetings for a small trade association - we typically have no more than 25 at a meeting. Your size makes it possible to go almost anywhere, except that you may be pushed out by the big meetings.
I like Savannah (we're doing a meeting there next spring), and I like Marriott hotels. They're consistent. I seldom feel that I need to do an advance site visit.

In San Antonio, there's a smaller Marriott nearby (not the River Walk or the River Center) that's very good.

You did not mention budget, or the desire to have short travel time, but I believe that nothing beats Hawaii for a conference. Our company has had "retreat conferences" @ the Hyatt Regency on Kauai and the Ritz-Carlton on Maui. Both first rate properties with golf and other activities close by. On the mainland you may consider the Westin La Paloma near Tuscon (another very nice property) or the Sheraton @ Torrey Pines just north of La Jolla. Our company has also used the Ritz-Carlton in Naples, FL which is also an excellent property.