When it comes to adding meaning to a meeting, seasoned planners know to look for ways to incorporate immersive experiences and activities that leave a lasting impression on attendees. That can take the form of group volunteer opportunities to give back to the immediate surrounding community, novel team-building activities, or health and wellness-oriented programs. But doing the legwork to find those perfect activities in unfamiliar destinations can be a lot of work.
Which is why Opal's events team helped to launch the portfolio's new online Meetings Experience Guides — essentially a curated collection of vetted local activities and opportunities to help meeting planners build travel-worthy experiences for their attendees that showcase the unique character of Opal destinations. Available on the Meetings webpage for each of our Opal hotels and resorts with meeting facilities is an "Experiences" section detailing up to 14 top programming opportunities to excite and intrigue planners. For planners seeking something more specific, all content is organized by four activity types: Community, Energize, Sustainability and Wellness. Check out an example of one of the guides on Samoset Resort's page, including opportunities to take advantage of the property's 230 beautiful waterfront acres, as well as its on-site 18-hole championship Samoset Golf Course (see Level Up Your Team Building).
When it comes to truly awe-inspiring group experiences, it's hard to beat having a front-row seat to watch migratory whales put on an amazing show in the waters off the coast of Bar Harbor, Maine. Among area suppliers, the Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company, an outfit noted for its responsible eco-tourism practices, runs tours that provide opportunities to see a wondrous array of humpback, minke and fin whales, along with playful dolphins, seals and puffins. Excursions are led by naturalists who handle all the details, share their expertise and encourage a lively give-and-take with guests along the way. The departure point is just minutes from the Opal Collection's 85-room West Street Hotel and the 211-room Harborside Hotel, Spa & Marina.
Lucky groups staying at the 178-room Opal Key Resort & Marina can enjoy the crystalline waters off Key West on jet skis, thanks to several local suppliers that operate near the property. Outfits such as Barefoot Billy's, Fury Water Adventures and Sebago Water Sports offer thrilling guided tours departing from nearby marinas, including one beginning right at Opal Key. Along the way, participants have a chance to spot dolphins, sea turtles and tropical birds, and some tours include a guided 28-mile trip through backcountry — the protected area of water on the Gulf of Mexico side — and around the southernmost point of the Continental United States.
Other rewarding group activities found across the Opal Collection include:
- preparing meals at the Opal Sands Resort in Clearwater Beach, Fla., and serving them to residents of a local homeless shelter, making a meaningful impact on the lives of those struggling to survive;
- working on a half-day build as volunteers for Habitat for Humanity of South Palm Beach County. Organized for groups staying at the Opal Grand Resort & Spa, this effort is a profound bonding experience for attendee participants as they help construct new or renovated homes for people in need;
- participating in a Random Acts of Kindness Challenge as facilitated by Portsmouth Team Building in partnership with Opal's Wentworth by the Sea resort in New Castle, N.H. The challenge is for groups to divide into teams, each charged with providing up to 25 acts such as writing get-well cards for local hospitalized children. The team with the most acts completed within the required time is judged the winner — although in truth everyone wins who participates in this activity.
Ice, Ice, Baby — Glacier Ice Bars Are Cool Experiences for Winter Meetings
A beloved winter tradition for more than 10 years at two Opal properties — the Sagamore Resort in Bolton Landing, N.Y., and the Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine — occurs every January in the form of Glacier Ice Bars. To create these spectacular displays at each property, some 50,000 pounds of ice are sculpted into bars complete with chairs, tables and glassware.
- At the historic 375-room Sagamore, with its sprawling grounds bordering Lake George, the Glacier Ice Bar of January 2026 is bookended by ice luges that funnel libations into special glassware; other interactive ice sculptures are perfect for photo opps. Specialty cocktails handcrafted for the occasion include the Nor'Easter (Jim Beam is bourbon, sparkling apple cider and Maine maple syrup drizzle) and the Jack Frost Cocktail (Titos Handmade Vodka, pineapple juice, Blue Curacao and cream of coconut).
- Overlooking Penobscot Bay, the Samoset Resort's Glacial Ice Bar for January 2026 includes signature polar bear sculptures and intimate seating draped in faux fur blankets, all creating a lounge-like setting made entirely with ice. Here, too, the focus is on creative hand-crafted cocktails and beer, as well as light bites like chili and New England clam chowder.
While overnight guests at both resorts are admitted free and exclusively to the Glacial Ice Bars, private midweek experiences can be booked. Find out more here.
Bonding Through Buyouts
Group buyouts at one of the exceptional hotels belonging to the Opal Collection take meetings, incentives, team-bonding and celebrations of all kinds to extraordinary new levels. Having an entire Opal property at a group's disposal allows complete privacy, customized meeting spaces and tailored menus, in luxurious settings that blend authentic local character with modern amenities. These exclusive experiences take place at resorts such as the 30-room Lake Placid Lodge in Lake Placid, N.Y.; the 375-room Sagamore Resort in Bolton Landing, N.Y., the 178-room Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine; the 35-room Belleview Inn in Belleair, Fla.; the 478-room Opal Sol and Opal Sands in Clearwater Beach, Fla., and the 40-room Sunset Key Cottages in Key West. In addition, Opal's resourceful event specialists partner with planners to help design agendas that align with company goals, with a net result of expectations exceeded. For more information about all of the above hotels, visit www.opalcollection.com/best-hotel-buyouts-for-events.
Level Up Your Team Building
Planners seeking unforgettable and effective team-building activities can find them at an Opal Collection property, where truly exceptional experiences take place in stunning surroundings outside the boardroom — and way outside the box. For example, groups staying at the Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa can board a 40-foot sportfishing boat and head 20+ miles offshore to go deep-sea fishing at the nearby Jupiter Inlet, where snapper, mahi mahi, kingfish and more await. At the Lake Placid Lodge in Lake Placid, N.Y., teams soar on a scenic gondola ride to the base of the 120-meter ski jumps at the Olympic Jumping Complex, then go even higher via a glass elevator ride up to the Sky Deck, with its mesmerizing view of the Adirondack Mountains. And at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine, planners can lead teams in a friendly competition at the Samoset Golf Course, a legendary 18-hole layout offering play for all skill levels among picture-perfect views of Penobscot Bay. There's lots more to explore; find all of the exciting details here.