In Vail, Colo., spring is usually still. After a busy winter of skiing and snowboarding, the town exhales, pausing to catch its breath before tourism picks up again in the summer. In spring 2019, however, at least one Vail property -- Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail -- will be as busy as ever thanks to a $19 million renovation that's scheduled to commence in April, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts announced last week.
"This comprehensive resort transformation will be a design evolution which, I have no doubt, will further enhance what guests experience at the resort today," said General Manager Meredith Macfarlane.
Work, which will continue through 2020, will be completed in stages, ultimately encompassing most of the property, including: all 121 guest rooms, which will be refreshed and remodeled along with guest room corridors; the resort's Flame Restaurant, which will be turned into a brand-new dining concept; the lobby, which will be redesigned; and the resort's 8,480 square feet of meeting space, which will be updated.
The theme of renovation be "mountain modern," pairing clean, contemporary lines with organic textures and colors, including local stone and wood and nature-inspired carpet, leathers and fabrics.
"The design of the renovation achieves the perfect balance of contemporary and mountain rustic," said Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts Vice President of Design Dana Kalczak. "This will be a truly transformational renovation that will create a strong spirit of place with great style."
Four More Mountain-State Meeting Venues
While they're waiting for Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail to complete its transformation, groups might want to consider other mountainous meeting venues. Here are four popular choices across the Rocky Mountain region:
• The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch (Avon, Colo.): Not far from Vail is Avon, Colo., home to The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch, a luxury ski resort with ski-in/ski-out access to Beaver Creek Mountain. Along with 180 lodge-inspired accommodations -- many with a fireplace and/or walkout balcony -- on hand are six restaurants, a 21,000-square-foot spa and fitness center, an indoor heated pool, an in-house ski and snowboard outfitter, and over 26,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space.
• Hotel Terra (Jackson Hole, Wyo.): Not only is Wyoming's Hotel Terra located at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, but it's also adjacent to Grand Teton National Park and just a short drive from Yellowstone National Park. So, day-trip options abound. The resort itself, meanwhile, offers 132 rooms and suites, three restaurants and bars, a rooftop hot tub and a rooftop infinity pool, a spa, a fitness center and 4,500 square feet of meeting space.
• Stein Eriksen Lodge Deer Valley (Park City, Utah): Nestled in the Wasatch Range of the Rocky Mountains is Park City, home not only to spectacular skiing, but also the famous Sundance Film Festival. One of the region's preferred venues is Stein Eriksen Lodge Deer Valley, which recently completed a $14 million expansion. New additions include a 3,500-square-foot game space known as the Champions Club, a family-friendly outdoor pool, an outdoor plaza with fire pits and heated paths, a cinema, a coffee bar and an expanded ski locker room for diehard skiers. Plus, there's 180 guest rooms and suites, two restaurants, a wine cellar with more than 10,000 bottles, a spa and 24,000 square feet of meeting space.
• Sun Valley Resort (Sun Valley, Idaho): Sun Valley, Idaho, has been attracting visitors for more than 80 years. Its centerpiece is Sun Valley Resort, which comprises 419 rooms and condominiums across several properties, including the Sun Valley Lodge -- where Ernest Hemingway completed "For Whom the Bell Tolls" -- and the newly remodeled Sun Valley Inn. The resort also features access to 10 village restaurants and cafes, a 20,000-square-foot spa, a fitness center, three championship golf courses, 2,000 acres of ski terrain, three heated outdoor swimming pools and 26,000 square feet of meeting space.
