Southwest’s Grandest Venues

By Helen Jacob

The region’s most sought-after destinations

From the stunning national parks of Utah to the rugged canyons of New Mexico and the tranquil coastlines of California, the Southwest is home to some of the most breathtaking views in the country. These provide the perfect backdrop to some of the most iconic hotels, venues, and meeting spaces in the region. We rounded up some of the most striking venues in the Southwest. Whether nestled among red-rock formations or set beneath expansive desert skies, these spaces blend natural beauty with architectural brilliance, offering unforgettable spaces for meetings and events.

Arizona

The Phoenician
Scottsdale, Ariz.

Set in the Sonora Desert with views of Camelback Mountain, The Phoenician, a Luxury Collection Resort is a Five Diamond, five-star resort experience complete with a three-level pool complex, a spa, an athletic club, and an 18-hole golf course. Guests can enjoy cuisine from eight different dining spots, including the classic J&G Steakhouse and the more laid-back Mowry & Cotton. It features 160,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outoor event space among rolling hills and mountain views for groups of all sizes, from full-scale conferences to intimate gatherings and small gatherings. The resort’s meeting space showstopper is The Phoenician Grand Ballroom, which hosts up to 2,500 gala celebrations. Just as impressive is the contemporary 15,000-square-foot Camelback Ballroom, a multifunctional, architectural showpiece providing dramatic mountain views of the Camelback Mountains in Scottsdale.

The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain
Marana, Ariz.

The Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain is nestled in the Sonoran Desert against the Tortolita Mountains. Set in the Town of Marana near Tucson, the resort’s top-tier amenities include three swimming pools, a 235-foot waterslide, and a spa. For adventurers, guests can choose from activities like Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf, hiking, biking, stargazing, and geocaching. There is also no shortage of dining choices, with five indoor and outdoor options, including the True American Cuisine at CORE Kitchen and Wine Bar.

For meeting planners looking to arrange gatherings in a desert setting, teambuilding experiences include golfing under the stars, mixing margaritas, guacamole challenges, and sunrise yoga. With more than 72,000 square feet of recently renovated indoor and outdoor event space, the resort offers a variety of spaces to accommodate groups of every size, from a 9,000-square-foot ballroom to 500-square-foot meeting rooms. Onsite event experts can assist with planning board meetings, corporate retreats, conferences, training, golf tournaments, and trade shows, pairing the with catering, audiovisual, and organizational services.

The Global Ambassador
Phoenix

Arizona’s newest luxury hotel, The Global Ambassador sits within the shadow of Camelback Mountain. European style meets unmatched service and vibrant culinary experiences at this 141-room hotel. The hotel also received a MICHELIN Key, an accolade recognizing outstanding hotels that excel in design, architecture, service, and personality.

With 10,000 square feet of distinct meeting and event space, The Global Ambassador offers multiple possibilities for gatherings and celebrations for groups ranging from 50 to 450 guests. At 4,600 square feet, The Pavilion is perfect for corporate gatherings, large celebrations, and receptions, as well as intimate meetings or events in one of the four breakout spaces. Perched atop the hotel, The Jewel Box offers an intimate rooftop venue for exclusive gatherings. This hidden gem features a private bar, luxurious amenities, and a wrap-around balcony that unveils breathtaking views of Camelback Mountain and the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. The Jewel Box can be paired with the presidential suite below for a supreme hospitality experience.

The hotel’s culinary menus draw on local and international influences, with experiences featuring interactive stations, health-focused selections,
creative “breaks” and sommelier-guided wine tastings. In addition to dedicated event spaces, all of the hotel’s restaurants are also available for private events and buyouts.

Enchantment Resort
Sedona, Ariz.

Enchantment Resort, part of the Tanzerra portfolio of award-winning destination resorts, spans 70 acres amid the red-rock walls of Boynton Canyon. Inspired by the surrounding landscapes of Sedona, the resort is designed in a Southwestern motif. Each of its 218 casita-style guest rooms and suites features a private deck or patio overlooking the canyon and a cozy fireplace.

Enchantment Resort is the ultimate Sedona for outdoor adventures like mountain biking and hiking. The Trail House serves as an epicenter for all outdoor adventures, offering guided tours, professional-grade equipment rentals, and a retail shop with accessories and outdoor adventure apparel. Guests can also use the Fitness and Movement studios and dine at Hummingbird (reservations required). Guests age 16 and up can enjoy exclusive access to Mii amo, an acclaimed destination spa located steps from Enchantment Resort. Mii amo was voted as a No.1 Domestic Destination Spa by Travel + Leisure magazine and a recipient of the coveted designation as Hall of Fame honoree. Guests are invited to attend the twice-daily Mii amo Crystal Grotto rituals and visit the juice bar and the boutique.

The resort offers planners multiple locations for meetings and events. On the far north end of the resort’s 70-acre setting is Enchantment Circle, a secluded area surrounded by red-rock walls, perfect for gatherings beneath a star-studded desert sky. The Anasazi Ballroom is its largest meeting venue with 5,100 square feet of space. The divisible ballroom can accommodate up to 320 people seated banquet style or more than 500 guests theater style.

California

Alila Ventana Big Sur
Big Sur, Calif.

At Alila Ventana Big Sur, guests enjoy all-inclusive meals, non-alcoholic beverages, well-being programming, and a collection of curated experiences with custom itineraries. Experiences include leathercrafting, meditative forest bathing, and a half-mile hike before a cold plunge. The luxurious, rustic guest rooms are planted among meadows and redwood trees. Guests can choose from spacious bi-level and freestanding accommodations.

The Alila Ventana Big Sur has multiple venue options for all meeting and event needs, like Big Sur Terrace and Bar, a large outdoor terrace at its signature restaurant, available for private-dining events and providing the best in coastal cuisine and a prime vantage point of the Pacific Ocean. The elevated and secluded Sky Terrace offers spectacular ocean, meadow, and redwood views, while the Glass House offers the same views from inside.

Montage Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach, Calif.

Located in Orange County along the Pacific Ocean, Montage Laguna Beach resort is the perfect coastal getaway destination. Only a 12-minute drive to downtown Laguna Beach and 16 miles from John Wayne Airport (SNA), Montage Laguna Beach resort offers 262 guest rooms, suites, and villas, along with 34,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space. The resort also has direct access to Treasure Island Beach and is close to Catalina Island & Temecula Valley.

Guests looking to unwind can sign up for wellness classes, rent a pool cabana, spend a day at the 20,000-square-foot Spa Montage, or participate in an exclusive dinner series. The recently renovated Mosaic Pool features an expanded pool deck with white Italian ceramic tile and newly appointed cabanas with coastal-meets-modern furnishings, perfect for groups seeking an intimate outdoor experience. Cliffside restaurant Studio at Montage Laguna is scheduled to reopen this month as a coastal Greek dining destination, combining Mediterranean ingredients with the light, sustainable, and innovative California cuisine. The dining spot offers sweeping views of golden sunsets over the Pacific Ocean. For those looking for more action, the resort also offers boat charters, helicopter tours, and e-bike excursions, among other activities.

Château du Sureau
Oakhurst, Calif.

Château du Sureau is a nine-acre castle resort tucked away among the green foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, approximately 16 miles from Yosemite National Park. It features 10 guest accommodations and a private two-bedroom Villa du Sureau. The luxury hidden gem is surrounded by lush gardens, towering pines, and bubbling fountains. A private 2,000-square-foot villa includes two king-sized bedrooms, an office, a grand salon with a Baby Grand Steinway piano, a wet bar, a dining terrace, and a private spa.

Whether it’s meetings or executive teambuilding, Château du Sureau offers multiple indoor and outdoor spaces. Château du Sureau also boasts fine-dining fare prepared by a talented executive chef and culinary team. The Elderberry House seats 100 people, or 175 for cocktail receptions.

Rancho Valencia
Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.

Tucked away on 45 acres of gardens and olive groves, Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa has garnered a reputation as one of the most sought-after five-star resorts in the West since its inception in 1989. The Mediterranean-inspired, all-suite resort is Southern California’s only Relais & Châteaux property. It offers 49 luxurious guest casitas with private patios, spa treatments, a wellness-oriented fitness program at the spa, and an award-winning tennis program. Guests can also enjoy its onsite restaurant, The Pony Room, showcasing Rancho Valencia’s farm-to-table philosophy.

Rancho Valencia’s event venues open through windowed doors to spacious outdoor patios, terraces, and lawns for private events. Located just 24 miles north of San Diego International Airport and 17 miles south of McClellan-Palomar Airport, meeting attendees can step into a true Southern California oasis with all-suite accommodations, curated coastal ranch cuisine, a Forbes 5-star spa, a renowned racquet sports program, and access to private, premier golf courses.

Colorado

The St. Regis Aspen Resort
Aspen, Colo.

The St. Regis Aspen Resort sits in its coveted location at the base of Aspen Mountain, where guests enjoy easy access to world-class skiing, hiking, and the charm of historic downtown Aspen and its luxury boutiques and restaurants. The luxury resort houses its award-winning RAKxa Wellness Spa, a heated outdoor pool and hot tubs with surrounding mountain views, and an array of delicious dining options. As a host hotel of the FOOD & WINE Classic, this resort is a landmark for exceptional experiences. Dining destination Velvet Buck serves modern mountain cuisine, while Mountain Social Bar & Lounge, a quintessential après-ski destination, offers handcrafted cocktails in a refined setting.

Guest rooms, suites, and residences feature 400-thread-count Frette linens, spacious marble bathrooms, and bespoke furnishings by Rottet Studio.

The resort features more than 30,000 square feet of event and meeting space, with 22 different indoor and outdoor spaces. The St. Regis Meetings & Events Butler service is available to coordinate venue décor, culinary requests, and more for any gathering.

The Broadmoor
Colorado Springs, Colo.

The Broadmoor opened more than a century ago to allow
guests to experience the beauty of the American West, at the southern edge of the Rocky Mountains in the Cheyenne Mountain foothills of Colorado Springs. Today, it’s the world’s longest-running consecutive Forbes Five-Star, AAA Five Diamond resort and a member of Historic Hotels Worldwide. The hotel is home to 20 restaurants, cafes, and lounges, two golf courses, a five-star spa, 20 retail outlets, and various programs for guests of all ages and interests.

Nestled on more than 5,000 lush acres, The Broadmoor boasts more than 315,000 square feet of flexible, functional event and convention space, meeting areas of all sizes, and more than 100 years of award-winning hospitality. Meeting specialists can help tailor event offerings, including advanced audiovisual support and diverse cuisine from a renowned culinary team.

The Crawford Hotel
Denver

Located in Denver’s historic district, The Crawford Hotel is an urban retreat inspired by the golden age of rail travel. When it first opened in 1881, Union Depot was the tallest building in the West. Complete with electric lights and a 180-foot clock tower, the station consolidated Denver’s numerous railroad depots into one convenient, central location, simplifying travel to and from the “Mile High City.” After an electrical fire consumed it, another structure was quickly built. Throughout the years, it has changed and evolved.

In 2024, Denver Union Station underwent an extensive refresh to reflect its place as a thriving transit hub and cultural destination. This renovation included a refresh of the Great Hall, Cooper Lounge, private event venues, along with a new lobby space and private elevator access for the 112-room Crawford Hotel. For planners who like gatherings with high-end flair and a bit of history, The Crawford Hotel has 4,750 square feet of meeting space and six venues.

Nevada

Wynn and Encore Las Vegas
Las Vegas

Wynn Resorts holds more Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Awards than any other independent hotel company in the world, according to the hotel brand’s website. This comes with award-winning restaurants, exciting entertainment and nightlife, and luxury shopping. Wynn and Encore Las Vegas resorts also feature two award-winning spas and salons, including a 61,000-square-foot spa facility with 37 treatment rooms, including 14 garden suites and four oversized couples’ suites.

In addition to luxury stays, Wynn and Encore combined have 560,000 total square feet of space for events. This includes 57 scaled meeting rooms, a 20,000-square-foot outdoor pavilion with an adjacent 20,000-square-foot lawn, and four opulent, pillar-less ballrooms ranging from 20,500 to 83,000 square feet. In addition, a two-level meeting and convention space expansion on the southeast side of the resorts’ private backyard overlooks the Wynn Golf Club’s 18-hole championship golf course.

Bellagio Las Vegas
Las Vegas

Bellagio Las Vegas is instantly recognized by its 1,200-plus dancing fountains in front of the hotel, which rise up to 460 feet. Other grandiose features include the conservatory and botanical gardens exhibit—a theatrical floral display that changes five times a year and expands to more than 14,000 square feet—a luxurious 55,000-square-foot Spa Bellagio, and its own fine art gallery. Additionally, the hotel features elevated dining options serving different cuisines, luxury shopping, live entertainment, including “O” by Cirque du Soleil, and multiple nightclub, lounge, and bar options like The Pinky Ring, from global superstar Bruno Mars.

The Bellagio offers 3,933 guest rooms and suites and more than 200,000 square feet of meeting and convention facilities, from intimate settings to grand-scale ballrooms. Planners can choose from approximately 50 meeting rooms ranging from 1,000 to 45,458 square feet, including the 45,458-square-foot Grand Ballroom, 30,800-square-foot Tower Ballroom, 22,052-square-foot Bellagio Ballroom, and the Tuscany Kitchen, the first exhibition kitchen of its kind in Las Vegas. The resort also offers a variety of unique spaces, such as The Vault, a speakeasy-style cocktail lounge tucked behind the resort’s cage. Known for its ultra-high-end reputation, The Vault ensures a refined, custom experience. The Bellagio’s five pools and courtyards are also available seasonally, with lifeguards on duty and a full-service bar and catering available. Bellagio Pool can accommodate groups of up to 2,000 people.

Edgewood Tahoe Resort
Stateline, Nev.

Edgewood Tahoe Resort sits along the shores of Lake Tahoe, North America’s largest alpine lake. The boutique resort, surrounded by the Sierra mountains, began its history more than 150 years ago, when the Park family settled on the land as cattle ranchers. After multiple evolutions and expansions to the property, the resort now offers its guests a luxury Lake Tahoe experience, be it gourmet dining, a soothing day at the spa, golfing, skiing, or easy access to Tahoe’s outdoor activities.

Edgewood Tahoe Resort is also a great meeting destination and an all-encompassing alpine retreat. With up to 7,000 square feet of scalable meeting spaces throughout the Lodge and Clubhouse, 154 alpine-inspired rooms and suites, Edgewood Tahoe can accommodate both personal and grand meetings. The 2,500-square-foot North Room is the largest of two available spaces inside the clubhouse, with a capacity of 150 guests inside; the deck and lawn can be used for expanded space in warmer months. Its floor-to-ceiling windows offer majestic views of Lake Tahoe’s sapphire waters and the surrounding Sierra mountains. The South Room offers approximately 1,700 square feet of space for up to 100 people, with the same stunning views. It also includes direct access to an adjacent patio and a firepit. The Lodge ballroom is a flexible space, ranging from approximately 860 to 3,000 square feet. This space can be divided into three breakout rooms.

New Mexico

The Inn of the Five Graces
Santa Fe, N.M.

The Inn of the Five Graces emerged when designers Ira and Sylvia Seret transformed a neglected cluster of traditional adobe buildings into a unique luxury hotel in one of Santa Fe’s most historic neighborhoods. The Serets, who are known as importers of exotic antiques, rugs, textiles, and architectural elements, opened the hotel as a showcase for their collection. Since its opening in 1996, the 24-suite hotel has been brimming with the Serets’ pieces, collected on their travels through Central and South Asia. Sylvia Seret’s one-of-a-kind tile mosaics line the suites’ kitchens and bathrooms, while Ira Seret’s signature design style marks every space in the hotel.

In October 2009, Sharif Seret took over management of the property, with a focus on creating a luxury hotel. Under his leadership, Tripadvisor named Five Graces the No.1 Small Hotel in the United States in 2013, followed by a multitude of other awards.

The Inn of the Five Graces offers bespoke private adventures exclusively curated for their guests; these include tastes of Puebloan culture and cuisine and thrilling outdoor activities. Each guest is paired with a field guide, luxury transportation, and exceptional culinary highlights.

Hotel Chaco
Albuquerque, N.M.

Hotel Chaco is a AAA Four Diamond boutique hotel situated in the heart of Albuquerque in the Historic Old Town and new urban Sawmill districts. The hotel’s pale stone masonry façade and wooden accents are designed to work with the warm, dry climate of the Southwest and are reminiscent of architectural elements found at Chaco Canyon and in New Mexico’s Pueblos. Guest-room layouts were designed by world-famous architecture firm Gensler and feature authentic interior design with the best collection of contemporary Native American New Mexican artists on display.

Hotel Chaco’s meeting rooms offer an intimate space for board meetings, small conferences, or receptions. The Terrace Suite is ideal for outdoor events and celebrations, and the courtyard and gardens are perfect for smaller gatherings. For additional meeting space, larger groups can access Hotel Albuquerque’s 62,000 square feet of meeting space, which is located within walking distance of the hotel.

Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi
Santa Fe, N.M.

Located in the heart of downtown Santa Fe, Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi offers visitors a modern take on Pueblo life. Rosewood Inn’s interiors pay homage to the cliff-dwelling Anasazi Indians who flourished in the area centuries ago, with large hand-carved doors, sculpted stairways, t-shaped doors, and sandstone walls. The corridors are decked with hand-crafted textiles, paintings, carvings, and baskets from Native American, Hispanic, and Anglo designs. The giant cacti also add to the property’s earthy Santa Fe atmosphere.

Rosewood Inn is a unique, year-round destination for groups, be it leisure or corporate. Located on the first floor, the hotel’s intimate 1,118 square feet of meeting space can accommodate 10 to 50 guests. On the main floor are a boardroom for corporate retreats, meetings, and private dining, and The Library, a resource for guests interested in exploring the myths and legends of Santa Fe’s indigenous cultures.

The Anasazi Restaurant, one of New Mexico’s most highly acclaimed culinary destinations, offers an intimate 40-seat restaurant serving traditional Southwestern cuisine with regional Latin influences. Private dining is also available for up to 12 guests in the restaurant’s exclusive Wine Cellar on the lower level of The Anasazi Restaurant.

Utah

The Lodge at Blue Sky Auberge
Wanship, Utah

The Lodge at Blue Sky Auberge is built into a canyon on 3,500 acres of ranchland. Located in the Wasatch Mountains, 40 minutes from the Salt Lake City airport, the ranch escape is surrounded by mountain streams and granite peaks. Accommodations are offered in three categories: Sky, Earth, and Creek. These range in size from 570 square feet to 2,500 square feet. Overlooking Blue Sky’s creek, a 7,400-square-foot spa offers an open-air soaking pool, treatments, fitness training, yoga, and walking trails.

Dining includes Western-inspired cuisine and farm-to-table menus featuring sustainable heirloom ingredients. Menus can be custom-designed for groups. The Tavern is a remote saloon in a high alpine field accessed via hiking, biking, snowshoeing, horseback, or driving. Yuta, the resort’s all-day-dining main restaurant, includes views of Lewis Peak. The Refectory at High West Distillery offers dining, tours, tastings, and whiskey-based cocktails. No matter the dining spot, the menu draws inspiration from the local ingredients found in the surrounding mountain landscape.

Guests can also ride horseback to The Tavern, learn to plant seeds and harvest vegetables at Gracie’s Farm, or hike with a wildlife biologist to spy deer and elk. Blue Sky’s dining outlets offers plenty of event and meeting spaces as well. Yuta is the ideal venue for seated group breakfasts, lunches, and dinners of up to 65 guests. The private dining room, a 675-square-foot intimate dining space located in the main Sky Lodge, is ideal for private dinners, special celebrations, small cocktail receptions, and board meetings. The Wine Room offers 750 square feet of private space for intimate cocktail functions, board meetings, meals, and wine tastings. One wall of the space peeks into the wine cellar, while another wall boasts glass doors that open onto a private terrace with bench seating and a fireplace.

Blue Sky’s original indoor riding arena, The Arena offers 8,000 square feet of space, ideal for meetings, special events, and product launches. The Remuda is a 36,000-square-foot indoor riding arena, which can also be booked for experiential group events. Book a chef’s table in the middle of the riding arena, turn the horse stalls into satellite bars, or rent out the viewing gallery for a board meeting or indoor yoga experience.

Stein Eriksen Lodge Deer Valley Resort
Park City, Utah

Stein Eriksen Lodge is a European-style lodge set mid-mountain at Deer Valley Resort in Park City. Named after Norwegian Olympic Gold Medal skier Stein Eriksen, the Lodge has earned the Forbes Five-Star award every year since 2007, making it the state’s first and longest-standing hotel to receive the prestigious award, along with many other accolades.

Guests can take a dip in two heated outdoor pools and hot tubs located between the five-star rated spa and the outdoor Champions Plaza. With the resort’s pre-arrival grocery delivery service, eight dining spots, and 24-hour room service, guests can experience seasonal ingredients and curated menus, from traditional Norwegian cuisine to American classics.

The Lodge also boasts more than 24,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor meeting and event space. The 6,036-square-foot luxury Stein Ballroom can fit up to 500 guests and is divisible by a retractable airwall. Olympic Ballroom has 4,050 square feet of space and more than 1,600 square feet of pre-function event space and is divisible into six smaller breakout room options. The Flagstaff Room is 1,316 square feet with a walkout deck boasting more than 3,000 square feet overlooking the mountains of Deer Valley Resort. In addition, The Odin and Valhalla private dining rooms, located within Glitretind Restaurant, offer a combined 2,596 square feet to accommodate up to 320 guests.

ULUM Moab
Moab, Utah

Glamping takes on a whole new meaning at ULUM, the high-end outdoor resort situated in the middle of Utah’s canyon country. The property blends luxury amenities, two MICHELIN Key accommodations, exceptional service, and design inspired by the natural surrounding landscape. The outdoors is celebrated throughout its design with the incorporation of organic materials like polished concrete, local stone, and natural wood. ULUM makes sleeping in a tent a luxurious experience with king-sized beds featuring a heated mattress pad and luxury linens, a lounge area with a queen-size sofa bed, an ensuite bathroom, high-end bath products, an evaporative cooler, and a wood-burning stove.

ULUM provides a truly exceptional experience for groups looking for a unique experience. Guests can use the outdoor lounge areas, dipping pools, firepits, and yoga deck. ULUM also offers unique culinary experiences and a plethora of adventures, perfect for teambuilding amongst unmatched views of the American Southwest. ULUM allows guests to experience the very best of Moab and Arches National Park with the Adventures Concierge team, who curate “best-of” guided experiences from trusted partners who are local experts in their areas.

Attendees can meet together in a variety of spaces, from the event decks to the firepits. Meetings and activities can also be held a short walk away in the wide-open spaces surrounding the camp. ULUM hosts small groups of 30 or fewer people, or full-camp buyouts for larger groups. A buyout provides exclusive access to the entire property, including onsite venue spaces, and is ideal for groups of 30-150 people.