International Meetings Review just got back from Aspen, where we got a chance to check out the latest meetings and incentives opportunities in this cosmopolitan mountain town.

St. Regis Aspen

We stayed at the St. Regis Aspen, which offers a slate of spa- and culinary-focused activities for groups, as well as activities that take advantage of Aspen’s outdoor sports scene.

For small groups, one offbeat option is a combination wine tasting and tai chi class with the resort’s sommelier, Paul Alexander. Before becoming a sommelier, Alexander was a martial arts instructor, and that experience informs his approach to wine.

The class, “Balance in Wine and the Body,” allows participants to taste and evaluate wine, often while using physical movement to understand the characteristics of the different wines. At the end of the class, participants can blend their perfect version of a balanced wine. The class is available to groups of 20 or fewer, and costs $21 per person for the hour-long experience.

For another relaxing option, meeting planners can buy out the property’s award-winning Remède Spa, which just wrapped a major renovation in 2012. The resort’s full wine list is available in the spa, allowing planners to pair spa treatments with wine tastings. There are also in-room group treatments, as well as private yoga and fitness classes, which planners can also opt to hold outside. Lunches or dinners may be provided during and in-between treatments

Read More