NORTHEAST
Photo Credit: The Henson
In Hensonville in New York's Catskill Mountains, the 16-room Henson is a charming boutique hotel that feels intimate in scale, personal in tone and rooted in place. Owners Ely and Danielle Franko spent more than two years transforming a 19th-century structure into a unique retreat that includes an infrared sauna with mountain views, a cozy main living room complete with fireplace, walls bedecked in whimsical antiques and more. The property's Restaurant Matilda creates meals with over 85 percent of ingredients sourced from local farms as well as on-site, its dining room seating up to 100 people.
Planners can book full-property buyouts or host events across 26,555 square feet of function space. Two expansive lawns can be used for ceremonies and receptions for up to 130 guests, while a rooftop deck can accommodate up to 36 people standing. Soon to open is a 3,500-square-foot event venue dubbed Eloise, with a wraparound deck, a stone bar and a garden-facing reception room.
On the quiet banks of the Delaware River in New Hope, Pa., about 40 miles outside of Philadelphia, the River House at Odette's is a boutique hotel with 36 cozy rooms (augmented by two adjacent elegant guest houses), a lobby piano lounge and a rooftop bar. Opened in 2020, the property stands where famed musician and actress Odette Myrtil once housed her boisterous cabaret. Various eclectic spaces with cutting-edge technology and special private-event menu options are available for meetings of up to 200 people, as well as luncheons, cocktail receptions and dinner parties.
In the bustling downtown scene of Stone Harbor on the New Jersey Cape, the Reeds at Shelter Haven is a luxury resort just two blocks from the beach. The 58 distinctively designed guest rooms offer fresh sea breezes, while in-house dining outlets serve delicious local fare. An on-site spa features exotic Turkish bath treatments and more, while a full range of beach and water activities (charter, anyone?) await attendees' free time. The resort's 9,000 square feet of flexible meeting space allows for unique indoor/outdoor team-building offerings
SOUTHEAST
Photo Credit: The Tennessean Hotel
Situated on the banks of the Tennessee River and overlooking the iconic World's Fair Park, the Tennessean Hotel is steps from downtown Knoxville's burgeoning culinary, arts and music scene. The entire property is steeped in Southern hospitality: A gracious staff welcomes attendees to 82 opulent rooms and suites; in the hotel's Drawing Room, seasonally enticing crafted beverages and locally sourced bites await, while a full range of tailored offerings, like nighty herbal teas in the lobby and nightcaps in the Drawing Room, help guests unwind each evening.
For gatherings, the Tennessean has 6,000 square feet of space that includes flexible breakout meeting options as well as an award-winning service staff. For large events, the World's Fair Convention Hall and the Knoxville Convention Center are a short walk away. Throughout the day, complimentary Priority e-bikes provide hotel guests the chance to explore the Maker City.
Mountain hospitality thrives at the Embers Hotel, tucked in the heart of Blowing Rock, N.C. The 36 guest rooms are inspired by the colors and textures of the surrounding terrain and offer views of either the city's downtown or the Blue Ridge Mountains. Appalachian-inspired art lines the walls, and guests linger in common areas that feel like living rooms, sip coffee as the fog rolls in and find small luxuries tucked into every stay, from hand-curated welcome baskets to concierge-guided local adventures. The hotel has a variety of spaces that can accommodate events for 10 to 500 people, along with a dedicated sales and catering staff to assist with planning.
In the heart of Music City's downtown, the 125-room Union Station Nashville Yards originally opened in 1900 as a train station and is marked by remarkable architectural details that marry the art deco style of the station's heyday with grand Romanesque Revival architecture. For dining, the signature restaurant Stationairy offers a modern menu rooted in Southern heritage, while the lobby bar serves brunch, lunch and dinner. For events, more than 11,000 square feet of space includes six meeting rooms equipped with the latest A/V technology, with stained-glass windows to add some gorgeous sophistication.
MIDWEST
Photo Credit: The Drake Oak Brook, Autograph Collection
With over five decades of history hosting iconic groups from Frank Sinatra's "Rat Pack" to the British Royal Family, the Drake Oak Brook in Oak Brook, Ill., is gung-ho on carrying its golden-age legacy into the future. Just outside of Chicago and 20 minutes from both O'Hare and Midway airports, the property has 154 guest rooms that offer access to more than 170 acres of nature trails. Four in-house dining concepts include COA, with its fusion of Spanish and Latin flavors and a private dining room for group exclusivity.
The property's more than 12,800 square feet of indoor event space in 12 meeting rooms includes three ballrooms and a fireside library housing some favorite books of past celebrity guests, along with vintage boardgames. All this is buttressed by 34,000 square feet of lush gardens, fountains and a gazebo. A picturesque outdoor veranda overlooks the Oak Brook Golf Course and Butler National Golf Club.
Since opening in June 2023, The Manchester in Lexington, Ky., has steadily built a reputation as one of the best new boutique properties in the region. Set in Lexington's historic Distillery District, the hotel has 125 guest rooms, the Granddam dining hall, the Lost Palm tropical rooftop bar and more. Event spaces include the 7,500-square-foot Grand Hall for receptions of up to 400 people, the 1,900-square-foot (plus 900 square feet outdoors) Fountain Hall & Patio for cocktail parties or dinners for up to 60 guests, plus an intimate boardroom for up to 14.
For over 130 years, the Pfister Hotel has stood as an iconic landmark in Milwaukee. A destination of choice for presidents, poets, performers and hall-of-famers, the property continues to wow guests as they enter and take in its breathtaking original Romanesque Revival design, much of it recently restored during a $20 million renovation. With 307 guest rooms, including 82 sumptuous suites, the hotel provides more than 25,000 square feet of newly refreshed meeting space, the Mason Street Grill, a café and what is said to be the largest Victorian art collection of any hotel in the world.
In Milwaukee, the art of hospitality is literally on view at the 219-room Saint Kate – The Arts Hotel. Guest rooms are filled with artworks and supplied with drawing paper and colored pencils to spur creativity, and the hotel's ever-changing in-house galleries include a space curated by the Museum of Wisconsin Art. For meetings and events, Saint Kate provides more than 11,600 square feet of versatile space spread among seven venues, including the Simone Ballroom, which can host up to 600 people, and the plush Expressionist Boardroom, ideal for corporate gatherings.
SOUTHWEST
Photo Credit: The Plaza Hotel Pioneer Park
In the vibrant arts district in downtown El Paso, Texas, the Plaza Hotel Pioneer Park opened in 1930 as one of Conrad Hilton's first high-rise properties and today offers a distinctive bland of history and modern luxury to business and leisure travelers alike. The hotel features 130 elegantly appointed rooms and suites, along with world-class dining at Ámbar, known for its elevated Mexican cuisine and the largest agave spirit collection in North America. For panoramic views and cocktails, La Perla, the rooftop bar once frequented by the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, provides a chic setting with vistas extending into Mexico and New Mexico.
Within walking distance of the El Paso Convention Center, the hotel offers over 7,600 square feet of its own flexible meeting and event space, including the Conrad Room, La Perla Rooftop South Terrace and Ámbar's Private Dining Room. Catering options feature regional specialties, and the hotel provides state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment and personalized event-planning services.
In Arizona, nestled amid Sedona's iconic red rocks, the 109-room Sky Rock Sedona is a modern sanctuary designed for meaningful connection, reflection and adventure for groups of all kinds, from corporate retreats to wellness workshops. Guests are invited to immerse themselves in curated on-site programming that includes yoga and meditation sessions, locally influenced dining and personalized itineraries that explore the region's spiritual and outdoor offerings. Two flexible gathering spaces allow for both intimate workshops and small-group meetings, all supported by thoughtful and attentive staff.
In a location convenient to Minute Maid Park, the George R. Brown Convention Center, and the Toyota Center, the 328-room JW Marriott Houston Downtown is a jewel in the landmark Samuel F. Carter skyscraper, built in 1910. Amenities include a 24-hour fitness center with advanced cardio and strength-training machines, while the Main Kitchen and the Spa by JW offer guests locally inspired cuisine and pure sybaritic pleasure, respectively. Meetings and events come to life in the hotel's 14,000 square feet of dedicated, flexible space, including a ballroom that can accommodate up to 350 people.
FAR WEST
Photo Credit: Harmon Guest House
In Healdsburg, a charming town in Northern California's Sonoma County, the Harmon Guest House is a chic retreat where all 39 guest rooms have either balconies or patios with picture-perfect views of the Creekside Deck, Fitch Mountain or a lovely interior courtyard. In-room amenities include Treko hand-loomed bed throws, spacious closets and Peace Industry rugs. The hotel's artistic nature begins right at the check-in desk, crafted from a single giant fallen eucalyptus tree, and extends to the many creative works adorning the guest rooms and public spaces.
The Harmon shares resources with two sister properties nearby, the Hotel Healdsburg and the h2hotel. For example, guests can enjoy a bite (including a full seafood and raw bar) and sips of wine on the Harmon Guest House's rooftop Merritt Hall or go for catered meals and craft cocktails at h2hotel's Green Room. Meetings and events can be held across the three properties as well, including 5,426 square feet of space at the Hotel Healdsburg and the aforementioned Green Room, able to host up to 50 people and featuring natural light and access to a creekside lawn.
Set in the rolling hills of Carmel, Calif., wine country, the Bernardus Lodge & Spa is a singular retreat offering exquisite epicurean experiences, top-of-the-line spa and wellness treatments and rustic luxury. Each of the 73 guest rooms is a private haven with two-person soaking tubs, plush bathrobes, inviting fireplaces and intimate dining spaces. For meetings and groups, a number of versatile indoor and outdoor event spaces celebrate the lodge's natural surroundings, including the 2,160-square-foot Meritage Ballroom, with seating for up to 150 guests, and the Harvest Room, able to host up to 50 people and including a demonstration kitchen.
Tucked where California's rugged Sonoma Coast meets the rolling hills of Highway 1, the Lodge at Bodega Bay offers a tranquil eight-acre oceanfront retreat overlooking a protected coastal bird sanctuary. All 83 guest rooms have sweeping Pacific views, and guests can enjoy curated wellness experiences like sound baths, guided nature walks and regionally inspired spa treatments. The Lodge also serves as a gateway to nearby wine tasting, whale watching, birding and golf. For events, more than 6,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor space can accommodate up to 175 people, including a terrace perched high above the ocean and a new event lawn suitable for large-scale gatherings and tented functions.
INTERNATIONAL AND U.S. TERRITORIES
Photo Credit: Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman
Steps from world-renowned Seven Mile Beach, the Hotel Indigo Grand Cayman is a new and notable getaway in the Western Caribbean's Cayman Islands. Guest rooms overlook azure waters, while elsewhere on the property, a beach club and an expansive pool deck invite exploration. For dining, six on-site options include Pom Pom, the island's highest rooftop restaurant and bar, where 180-degree tropical views, live deejays, Latin-inspired cocktails and exotic small plates set the scene. At Catalina, coastal California meets flavors ranging from Korea to the Mediterranean in artfully crafted dishes paired with botanical-driven cocktails.
The hotel provides 12,000 square feet for events in striking spaces like the 6,720-square-foot Azure Ballroom, well-suited for large receptions and conferences with its sleek chandeliers, soaring vaulted ceilings and a refined, modern aesthetic. Just across the hall from the ballroom, the 1,050-square foot Cobalt Meeting Room offers a contemporary gathering space for banquets, receptions, business meetings and more; this room can also be separated into two smaller sections with space for 50 guests in each.
In San Juan, the adults-only Condado Ocean Club is a prime candidate for incentive groups, strategic retreats and celebratory gatherings. Just 15 minutes from Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport, the hotel has 96 guest rooms with views of either the Atlantic Ocean or the Laguna del Condado, while more than 6,400 square feet of flexible event space includes the light-filled Oceana Ballroom, the breezy Oceana Terrace and the sleek Condado Boardroom. The poolside deck is perfect for sunset cocktail events and casual networking dinners; breakfast meetings and any celebratory occasion can be enjoyed at Social, an oceanfront restaurant that celebrates local Puerto Rican flavors and coastal cuisine.
At the southern tip of the Mexico's Baja California in a region defined by sprawling luxury resorts, the 70-room Tropicana Los Cabos offers an intimate, service-forward boutique experience in the heart of San Jose del Cabo's historic art district. The hotel has two restaurants, two bars, a wellness center, a pool and more. Meetings take place in 8,353 square feet of space with capacity of up to 130 people. Event planners also will appreciate the assorted buyout capabilities, the ease of straddling indoor/outdoor spaces and custom catering menus that showcase regional flavors. The property is just 20 minutes from Los Cabos International Airport.