NORTHERN UTAH
VisitSaltLake.com; @VisitSaltLake—Salt Lake City is the capital of Utah, the home of approximately 1.1 million people, and where the mountains meet the metropolitan. “Salt Lake is so much more than what people expect,” says Tyson Lybbert, chief sales officer for Visit Salt Lake. “It is a place where diverse pastimes, culture, and landscapes come together in our urban basecamp of the West. Our vibrant downtown is just 10 minutes from the new Salt Lake City International Airport and just 35 minutes to world-class mountain recreation.”
In the heart of downtown Salt Lake City is Salt Palace Convention Center. The convention center houses nearly one million square feet of versatile space, including meeting rooms, ballrooms, exhibit halls, and open areas. Salt Palace Convention Center offers 515,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit hall space, which can be divided into nine halls; a 45,000-square-foot ballroom; 164,000 square feet of meeting space, which can be divided into 67 rooms; and 308,000 square feet of open pre-function space.
Planners can take advantage of Salt Palace Convention Center’s exclusive caterer, Sodexo Live, to curate its meeting menus.
Sustainability is a top priority of Salt Palace Convention Center. After achieving LEED Silver certification in 2007, the facility installed one of the nation’s largest solar-panel arrays in 2012 and established a sustainability department in 2017. In 2022, the convention center began collecting and baling stretch plastics, and in 2023 began recycling efforts with a cardboard baler. Salt Palace Convention Center’s sustainability efforts only continue to increase, as it has been tracking greenhouse gas emissions for scopes one and two, and hopes to track all three scopes of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Plans are also underway to meet a 90-percent landfill-diversion rate by volume by 2030 as well.
Within a five-minute walk of the convention center are Delta Center, a multipurpose venue; two major shopping destinations, The Gateway and City Creek Center; three Trax Light rail stations; more than 200 bars and restaurants; and 30 hotels. In fact, there are more than 8,000 guest rooms in the convention district alone, Lybbert adds.
Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City—considered Salt Lake’s convention center hotel, as it is located adjacent to the convention center—features 700 guest rooms and approximately 60,000 square feet of indoor meeting space, including the 23,138-square-foot Regency Ballroom; a 14,682-square-foot junior ballroom; and 7,400 square feet of outdoor event space. Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City offers various amenities for guests, such as two restaurants, a lobby bar, a pool, and a fitness center.
In total, Salt Lake County offers approximately 20,000 guest rooms, with that number seemingly growing by the day. Evo Hotel offers access to onsite gear shops and climbing and skating facilities.
When meeting attendees want to get a taste of Salt Lake City, there are plenty of options. Some of the main standouts include Mar | Muntanya, Laurel Brasserie & Bar, Caffe Molise, Aqua Terra Steak + Sushi, Log Haven, Bar Nohm, and Bambara—just to name a few, shares Lybbert. “With so many outstanding new restaurants opening in Salt Lake City—combined with venerable stalwarts that have withstood the test of time—finding a truly memorable meal here is easier than ever,” he says. “With thousands of eating establishments to choose from—running the gamut from rooftop eateries and posh restaurants with chandelier-clad ceilings to taco joints, ramen bars, and vegan hideaways—Salt Lake has become a dining destination in recent years, with restaurants that defy convention.”
Salt Lake City includes distinct and unique areas, such as 9th and 9th on 900 South. The location is home to a variety of restaurants, shops, and public art. Nearby is Liberty Wells Historic District, a collection of residential blocks where homes have been converted into commercial spaces. Another must-see district is the Maven District, a community of female-owned businesses. “Must-see parts of town with real personality make a visit to Salt Lake truly memorable,” Lybbert says. “The vibrant community that has grown up around 900 South, aka Harvey Milk Blvd., offers a unique atmosphere for visitors to experience Salt Lake life.”
Enjoying Salt Lake City’s many cultural, dining, and venue options is made easier thanks to the city’s dedication to infrastructure. TRAX light-rail transportation system has easy connections throughout the entire valley, with free rides in the convention district. Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) is just a 10-minute drive from downtown Salt Lake City. The airport has completed the first two phases of an extensive renovation project; the first part of Phase 3, which includes the new River Tunnel direct connection between A and B terminals, is on track to open this fall.
Groups can enjoy excursions highlighting the area’s fame and history as host city for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games—and future host city for the 2034 Winter Olympic Games. The Olympic Ice Oval, located just 25 minutes from Salt Palace Convention Center, offers great teambuilding opportunities in curling, with instruction by past and current Olympic athletes. At Utah Olympic Park, three passengers at a time can ride in bobsleds driven by members of the U.S. Olympic Team, offered during the summer and winter. “Utah Olympic Park also offers an alpine slide and one of the world’s steepest ziplines,” Lybbert says.
