The diverse landscapes that define the Southwest—from painted deserts to coastal overlooks, mountain vistas to starry night skies—provide a beautiful, natural backdrop for meetings and events. Here, we showcase some of the Southwest’s most iconic natural venues and share how they are used for brainstorming, teambuilding, excursions, and wellness activities to give attendees an unforgettable event experience combining adventure and tranquility.
Arizona
“People are drawn to Arizona because of the diversity of our natural landscapes,” says Josh Coddington, director of communications for Arizona Office of Tourism. “Our varied terrain, from deserts to mountains, allows us to offer perfect weather somewhere in the state any time during the year.”
Arizona is appealing to meeting planners as well. “Meeting planners prize Arizona for our venues’ proximity to natural resources. Wide-open spaces and natural wonders are only a short drive from our most popular metropolitan meeting areas,” Coddington says. The largest of Arizona’s wide-open spaces, the Grand Canyon—which attracts nearly five million visitors each year—is approximately 3.5 hours from Phoenix.
In Phoenix, natural attractions include the Sonoran Desert and Desert Botanical Garden. “The Sonoran Desert is so much more than wide-open space, and the Desert Botanical Garden is here to prove it,” says Chris Miller, corporate communications manager for Visit Phoenix. Spanning 140 acres and featuring 4,500 species of cacti, trees, and flowers, along with seven event venues, Desert Botanical Garden “showcases the unmatched beauty of our region and climate, and is perfect for large groups and private events,” Miller says. “Its renowned scenery is sure to make any event memorable.”
Camelback Mountain, Papago Park, and Piestewa Peak are also popular natural venues in Phoenix. “We are known for our scenic beauty and breathtaking desert landscapes,” Miller says. “These natural wonders provide stunning backdrops for meetings and events. Our landscapes are built-in advocates for inspiration and creativity. Our natural surroundings are truly conducive to brainstorming, idea generation, and problem solving—and that fosters an even more productive and innovative meeting atmosphere.” In addition, Miller says Phoenix offers more than 200 “world-class” golf resorts in the Sonoran Desert that “provide teambuilding and recreational experiences that are sure to make any event or meeting a memorable one.”
Colorado
“Colorado’s natural beauty, diverse landscapes, and year-round appeal make it an ideal state for meetings and events,” says Hayes Norris, communications manager for Colorado Tourism. “The state’s natural landscapes are a major draw for meeting planners and event organizers, enhancing the appeal of events by providing a stunning backdrop, encouraging outdoor activities, and fostering a deep connection with nature,” she says.
Kelly Layton, executive director of Destination Colorado Meetings, agrees. “Colorado’s majestic views and readily available outdoor experiences ignite connection among attendees, with nature, and internally as attendees unwind and disconnect. Colorado offers groups unique, bucket-list options for every type of adventure.”
For mountain experiences, nothing beats the Rocky Mountains. “Event organizers frequently look for venues with spectacular mountain views, which serve as breathtaking backdrops for their gatherings,” Norris says. Rocky Mountain National Park, located between the towns of Estes Park and Grand Lake, and Maroon Bells, near Aspen, are popular attractions for planners who want to incorporate guided and outdoor excursions for attendees to connect with the environment and with one another.
Colorado’s natural terrain and outdoor venues offer numerous opportunities for teambuilding activities, through ropes courses, trust falls, and adventure challenges. “These teambuilding exercises amid beautiful natural surroundings enhance camaraderie and engagement among attendees,” Norris says. Attendees seeking more adrenaline-pumping adventure can look into mountain-biking and rock-climbing activities.
Planners have many options to enhance the event experience through wildlife encounters in Colorado. Attendees can observe elk, deer, moose, and bears in a safe and educational manner, with guided tours offered at various parks throughout Colorado, Norris says.
In addition, Colorado’s natural hot springs and mountain lakes offer serene settings for yoga, meditation, and mindfulness sessions. The world’s largest mineral hot springs pool is in Glenwood Springs, located between Vail and Aspen. “Glenwood Springs is an ideal destination for meetings and events because it is an intimate, walkable mountain town, with easy access to hotels, meeting venues, and world-class outdoor recreation,” says Heidi Pankow, project manager for Glenwood Springs Tourism. Other popular activities around Glenwood Springs’ natural venues include hiking at Hanging Lake Trail, touring the caverns at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, mountain and road biking, fishing, and whitewater rafting along the Colorado River. “Whitewater rafting is a popular teambuilding activity,” Pankow says. “Local outfitters offer half- and full-day trips, ranging from mild to wild, depending on group needs.”
Colorado’s largest metropolitan area is big on nature as well. “Urban sophistication meets outdoor adventure in Denver,” says Caroline Campbell, public relations and communications manager for VISIT DENVER. “Natural venues offer a nice change of pace for attendees to venture outside and enjoy the natural beauty of Colorado.” Denver includes more than 200 parks within the city and 20,000 acres of parks in the nearby mountains, she says. Visitors wanting a glimpse of local wildlife can see the city’s own bison herd at Buffalo Herd Outlook.
Nevada
“Nevada is more than 85 percent public land, which means there is a lot of space to explore,” says Tracie Barnthouse, chief communications officer for Travel Nevada. “The outdoor recreation opportunities from Nevada’s natural landscapes are phenomenal. Just beyond the metro areas are stunning landscapes and nature for meeting attendees to enjoy. These outdoor opportunities lend themselves well to teambuilding activities.”
There is no mistaking the bright lights and neon signs decorating the Las Vegas landscape, but the city offers natural landscapes that serve meeting groups as well. “More and more people are discovering the natural beauty that surrounds Las Vegas,” says Kristin Weddingfeld, public relations manager for Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. “Our unique natural venues offer stunning desert landscapes with colorful rock formations and wildlife. Mild weather conditions for most of the year allow attendees to enjoy outdoor activities even in winter months.”
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and Valley of Fire State Park offer “amazing” hiking trails and rock-climbing opportunities, Weddingfeld says. Just a few miles west of Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area encompasses 195,819 acres of the Mojave Desert. Valley of Fire State Park is a public-recreation and nature-preservation area spanning 46,000 acres of the Mojave Desert. Named for the fiery sandstone and red-rock formations swirling through the valley and featuring ancient petroglyphs carved into its stones, Valley of Fire State Park is approximately an hour’s drive from Las Vegas. “Organizers use these outdoor adventures as opportunities to get their groups out in the fresh air, to inspire creativity, and to add a unique element to the event.” Weddingfeld says planners often incorporate group hikes in these areas for teambuilding activities.
“With more than 300 days of sunshine and close proximity to outdoor recreation, Reno is a four-season and true leisure destination,” says Ben McDonald, senior director of communications and public affairs for Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority. “Reno features a high-desert landscape set against the backdrop of the towering Sierra Nevada mountains, which offers attendees breathtaking vistas and multiple sunny days to experience outdoor recreation. Reno is a gateway to adventure and exploration.”
McDonald says attendees can enjoy a variety of activities showcasing Reno’s natural beauty and attractions. “River rafting on the Truckee River is a popular teambuilding activity. Fishing excursions on Pyramid Lake also are popular with groups,” he says. “Reno has hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails, with easy hikes suited for groups. South Reno’s Bartley Ranch, downtown Reno’s Wingfeld Park, and north Reno’s Rancho San Rafael Park are great venues for outdoor receptions.”
Nearby Lake Tahoe shares the same Sierra Nevada mountain backdrop. Stuart Maas, senior director of marketing and business development for Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority (Visit Lake Tahoe), says, “From its breathtaking alpine beauty and crystal-clear water…to its year-round activities, Lake Tahoe welcomes and inspires attendees.”
Visit Lake Tahoe’s “Awe and then Some” and “Preserving the Awe” marketing campaigns promote responsible tourism of the lake, encouraging visitors to “create memorable experiences while connecting with and respecting the beautiful natural environment,” Maas says. “There is an endless array of outdoor recreation to change up the activities year after year, depending on the season.” Snow sports, water sports, hiking, biking, golfing, horseback riding, fishing, off-roading, and yoga are popular group activities. “Groups can make a challenge or competition to see how many sports they can fit in to a single day,” he says, “especially in the spring, when it is possible to snow ski, water ski, kayak, and golf in the same day.”
New Mexico
Home to five national forests, 15 national parks and monuments, 34 state parks, and 26 wilderness areas, New Mexico offers many natural landscapes for meetings and group activities.
“Many of the state’s top destinations for meetings and events, such as Albuquerque and Las Cruces, bask in more than 300 days of sunshine each year and are within an hour’s drive of incredible landscapes,” says Nicole Barker, media relations manager for New Mexico Tourism Dept.
Barker says planners can integrate New Mexico’s natural landscapes in both leisurely and active ways to inspire and engage groups. “Breaking up a meeting or event schedule with some light activity, fresh air, and time in nature can do wonders for a group seeking to take their meeting from mundane to meaningful and memorable.” In Las Cruces, the Organ Mountain peaks offer inspiring views that can be enjoyed on scenic tours or even from some meeting views. The nearby White Sands National Park offers ranger-led sunset hikes and other group programs, she says, “painting the perfect scene for an inspiring and engaging outing amid seemingly endless dunes of white sand.” In Albuquerque, planners can incorporate teambuilding bicycle tours along the cottonwood forests of the Bosque Trail or scenic tours of the Sandia Mountains aboard the Sandia Peak Tramway; once atop the mountain, visitors can explore mountaintop trails or enjoy dinner and drinks at Ten 3 summit restaurant.
Scott Craighead, vice president of sales, services and sports for Visit Albuquerque, says the city’s unique landscapes make it an ideal place to hold meetings. “Our landscapes are a playground for bucket-list activities that attendees wouldn’t want to miss. Lined to the east by the towering Sandia Mountains, to the west by ancient volcanoes, and with the Rio Grande River running through the heart of the city, Albuquerque is a true gem of the Southwest.” Craighead suggests a visit to the Petroglyph National Monument, a protection monument area spanning 7,244 acres and featuring five volcanic cones, hundreds of archeological sites, and an estimated 24,000 petroglyph images carved by ancestral Pueblo peoples and early Spanish settlers.
Santa Fe’s high elevation of 7,199 feet at the southernmost portion of the Rocky Mountains provides a four-season climate with clear, clean air, no humidity, mild summers, and more than 330 days of sun. “Santa Fe is a perfect meeting destination any season of the year,” says David Carr, director of sales for TOURISM Santa Fe. Groups can drive up to the mountains for skiing in the winter, to the south for hiking in the pinon-juniper woodlands, or to the Rio Grande River for rafting, he says. Popular places for excursions include Santa Fe National Forest, Bandelier National Monument, and Ghost Ranch. Adventurous attendees also can hike the Diablo Canyon Recreation Area, showcasing towering basalt cliffs leading to the Rio Grande River (shown on the cover).
Utah
“World-famous” scenery and outdoor recreation contribute to Utah’s appeal as a host destination for meetings and events, according to VisitUtah.com. Jenna Greer, with J Public Relations, for Utah Office of Tourism, says Utah has many exciting and one-of-a-kind experiences to offer meeting planners. “Attendees can unwind in the stunning natural surroundings of Mystic Hot Springs, located off the beaten path in Monroe,” she says. “Mystic Hot Springs features two shallow naturally heated pools with a waterfall, a deeper four-foot pool, and six vintage bathtubs built into the natural landscape—providing the perfect scene for relaxing and experiencing amazing views of the mountains and clear night skies.” For organized stargazing opportunities, Greer suggests the various programs available at Utah’s certified International Dark Sky Parks. Knowledgeable rangers and astronomers help visitors observe constellations, stars, and planets, with some parks offering overnight lodging and guided hiking, horseback, and even snowshoeing tours. In addition to the dark sky tours on horseback, many of Utah’s natural venues can be enjoyed and explored on horseback. “Horseback riding provides wellness advantages and allows attendees to connect with Utah’s western history and local heritage,” she says.
In Salt Lake City, the backdrop of the Wasatch Mountains to the east and the Oquirrh Mountains to the west allows visitors to feel they’re in nature even while in the downtown area, explains Karen Boe, vice president of communications and public relations for Visit Salt Lake. “Salt Lake is so much more than what some might expect—where diverse pastimes, cultures, and landscapes come together in our urban basecamp of the West.” Downtown is just 35 minutes from four world-class mountain resorts, which Boe says are referred to as “The Greatest Snow on Earth.” Ski season runs late November through June, thanks to more than 500 inches of snow that falls annually. Attendees can enjoy the “Wasatch Triathlon,” participating in three different sports—from skiing to golfing, mountain biking to fishing, and every seasonal sport in between—in a single day.
Other popular activities in the Salt Lake City area include hiking the trails at Avenues Ridge Summit Loop, Neff’s Canyon, and The Living Room, where rock slabs resemble a sofa and chairs, and at Heughs Canyon, where the steep hike finishes at a “flowing waterfall flocked with dripping greenery,” Boe says. Attendees also can enjoy strolling through historic Memory Grove Park to the base of City Creek Canyon; hiking or biking in Millcreek Canyon; sailing, kayaking, paddleboarding, kiteboarding, waterskiing, rafting, and fishing at multiple rivers and reservoirs within 30 minutes of the city. “In Salt Lake City, it’s easy to incorporate natural venues and attractions, and to keep events fresh for returning guests,” Boe says. “Our many options, seasonality, and changing guided experiences allow attendees to visit multiple times without experiencing all Salt Lake City has to offer. Each visit to Salt Lake City is like a new visit.”
