The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort. Courtesy Photo

Whether golf or spa are an official part of a meeting, their presence at a resort can be a registration draw for attendees who want to take advantage of them before or after core meeting functions, as well as for spouses planning to attend. Golf may be a game, but it’s also an activity during which important business relationships have been formed and deals made in the few hours it takes to play 18 holes. No wonder these resorts are frequently the setting for corporate meetings and events.

Trina Sharp, CMP, CMM, CED, former event manager with consulting firm Point B, chose Arizona’s Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia in Scottsdale for an annual fall getaway with 75 in attendance.

“The Omni Scottsdale at Montelucia is in a prime location with beautiful views of Camelback Mountain. It’s close to the city but the resort makes you feel like you’ve been swept off of your feet into a private destination. You can’t beat the rooms, weather, landscape and activities, and so many other close-by opportunities await. The Omni puts guests close to everything and anything they want to do,” said Sharp.

Sharp called the resort’s indoor and outdoor spaces “incredible,” and had high praise for the staff as well. “You don’t have to feel like you need to track someone down; they’re always right there ready to assist.” And then there’s the food. “They use top ingredients and are willing to work with you to get you the perfect meal.”

The spa and golf course, she noted, “are definitely a must for our groups—the spa treatments are unbelievable.” Although there was no official golf tournament or spa visit organized this year, Sharp said, “Attendees golfed on their own and we had a lot of folks who use the spa on their own.”

In terms of onsite functions, the group participated in a salsa-making competition to foster team building and held a dinner party at the Chapel. “I’ve also had events at El Chorro, which is close by and features a wonderful Sunday brunch,” she added. A top highlight this year is the 5,000 sf, newly remodeled President’s Suite. “We used it for our late-night functions, and it really made our event a total success. I believe five past presidents have stayed there!”

Sharp’s advice for planners considering a meeting in the area is to call Experience Scottsdale. “Let them know you’re interested in a tour and are considering the Omni Scottsdale for an event. They’ve been so helpful to me in planning in Scottsdale. You have to see it for yourself!”

Debbie Pompa, executive assistant at global manufacturer Genie/Terex, helped organize an event at Scottsdale’s’ Boulders Resort & Spa for 117 attendees from Caterpillar, Inc. “This was a golfing event and Boulders is one of the top destination resorts for golf.  It also has a beautiful spa and three pools, along with a great gym, free classes and a nice gift shop and golf shop. It has something for everyone—even those who chose not to golf.  The resort is easy access and just a short drive from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport,” said Pompa.

Pompa said the food and beverage at the resort was a hit. “We had one reception and three dinners — one a progressive dinner with four stations on the golf course for which we had about 50 golf carts. The attendees would hop on the carts to go from one food station to the next. It was so unique, and they loved it.”

This event was set at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California in the past, but a site visit to Scottsdale led to the 2023 event at The Boulders Resort & Spa. “Boulders was toward the end of my visit. As soon as I entered the resort and saw the amazing grounds, huge boulders and individual casitas I was impressed. And I received a warm welcome as soon as I reached the security entrance. All of the staff were so welcoming, and it wasn’t just because they were trying to impress me to win my business. That warmth existed throughout our weeklong stay during the event.”

Attendees had three days of golf, which Pompa called, “well planned and executed by the staff,” adding, “This is one of the top courses and all the attendees love it.” For meetings, the group used a ballroom with views of the massive boulders and formations from which the resort gets its name. And while there was no official function at the spa, the company gave attendees’ wives gift certificates for the spa, and they made their own appointments at their convenience.

Loews Ventana Canyon Resort

When global frozen-food supplier Lamb Weston, Inc. worked with TMN Events for its 2023 annual worldwide leadership meeting, the result was a gathering of 240 at spectacular Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Arizona. TMN Events president and owner, Scott Winegar, listed the resort’s assets as “affordable, good weather, natural and unique beauty and the availability of a good variety of activities.” Those activity options include two pools, four tennis courts, a spa and two award-winning Tom Fazio-designed golf courses.

Winegar said the group used several venues among the resort’s 77,000 sf of indoor and outdoor space, and also took advantage of guiding hiking through the surrounding Sonoran Desert terrain. Winegar himself is no stranger to the resort’s golf courses, even though this particular event didn’t include golf as an official part of the program. “A few people played on their own,” he said, adding that he has booked groups for which golf was definitely a deciding factor in the choice of Loews Ventana Canyon Resort. Additionally, he noted “I’ve played several pro-am tournaments on the resort’s two courses.”

Some attendees also went on their own to the resort’s Lakeside Spa. “The feedback,” Winegar said, “was very good.”

As for the function spaces the group used, Winegar said, “There are two pretty large ballrooms. One is a separate building with a great patio we used for food and beverage. There’s also a significant number of various-sized breakout rooms. In addition, the resort also has two unique venues for evening functions that worked great for us — Coyote Corral, a 22,000 sf, themed western village, and Cascade Terrace, ideal for cocktail receptions with sweeping views of the Catalina Mountains.”

Winegar’s advice to planners considering Loews Ventana Canyon Resort is to book well in advance, especially if you want to set your meeting during high season. But he also noted that groups should consider shoulder season for more “value” opportunities.

While Arizona has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to fantastic golf and spa resorts in the west, Florida can boast exactly the same on the East Coast. Among the Sunshine State’s stellar options is JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa in Aventura, Florida. That’s where John C. Washbish, president of Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance, Inc., set the company’s annual shareholders meeting and winter banquet for approximately 500 in December.

“The JW Turnberry provides us with the optimal location to host our annual shareholder and channel partner meeting,” he said. “The sleek, elegant ambiance of the hotel, comfortable accommodations, first-class food and professional meeting space offer the perfect location for our meeting. The weather in December is usually warm, allowing us to take advantage of Turnberry’s outdoor gathering spaces and to host our meetings within the newly renovated meeting rooms.”

The group uses both golf courses during the meeting. “We host a large golf outing,” Washbish continued, “and two courses guarantee we can get everyone to play. The courses at Turnberry are in wonderful condition and the pro, who is fantastic, makes sure all of our needs are met.”

Washbish pointed to another “fantastic” feature of the JW — its workout facilities and spa — which are very popular with many in the group. “Whether our attendees are taking advantage of the three-mile loop around the property or the workout room, the spa is the perfect place to relax. This is a highlight they look forward to every year. We arranged spa treatments for several guests, and we had two massage therapists work at one of our events in the pool cabanas. We offered chair massages all afternoon to a special meeting group.”

The JW Marriott Turnberry also has another venue popular with attendees that may seem surprising for a such a sophisticated resort — Tidal Cove, the property’s onsite waterpark. “It provides a place for our attendees to relax as well as to socialize,” Washbish said. In addition to onsite functions, he said attendees took advantage of local restaurants to host offsite functions as well.

Courtesy of JW Marriott Miami Turnberry

Washbish called the resort’s convention center “perfect” for the group’s meeting needs, which vary greatly. “We host several smaller committee breakout meetings for 10-30 attendees, medium-sized open sessions for 30-75, larger general sessions for 150 – 350 people and our grand finale banquet for 525.” The convention center easily accommodates all of them.

As for advice to meeting planners considering the Turnberry, Washbish said the earlier groups commit to the business space and dates they need the better. While the Turnberry is an excellent destination for business and professional events, Washbish points out that it’s also very popular for personal events (weddings for example). “Lock down your meeting space and convention needs,” he advised.

As we learned in 2023, increased leisure demand frequently made it difficult for planners to book the destinations, resorts, spaces and times they wanted. Planners and site selectors having to book in shorter windows throughout 2024 may find the same challenges.

Tips From a Golf Pro on Planning a Corporate Golf Event

Sean Olson, Class A PGA professional and director of Golf at JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa, has a few suggestions to help meeting planners organize a corporate golf event for their company or clients. There are many complex elements to a tournament or outing for multiple players that meeting planners, especially those who don’t play golf themselves, might not even know they have to consider. We asked Olson to share his expertise on how best to organize a corporate golf event and what organizers need to know.

What are the three most important things for planners to consider?

Venue choice.  Venue choice, Olson noted, is not just about the venue itself. Planners must consider the time of year, weather and daylight hours in order to choose the right venue.

Scheduling. A round of 18 holes takes approximately 4.5 hours. Questions planners must ask include: Is the golf a standalone event or does it have to fit into a larger program?  How will the timing of the golf affect other program components? How will meals be scheduled around golf?

Budget. What’s the cost per player and of the total event? Planners must calculate the cost of greens fees, prizes, promotional product, rentals if any. Is there a sponsor? Will there be a reception?

“You don’t know what you don’t know” is an old saying. What is it that planners — who may not play golf themselves — often don’t know about planning a golf event?

Format of play is a big one, said Olson. Will it be leisure golf or a team game with scoring and prizes? Do you prefer a shotgun start (all players start at the same time and finish at the same time) or concurrent tee times (groups tee off every 10 minutes)?

The number of players impacts the preferable format and whether you need a resort with one golf course or more than one. “The maximum player count for one golf course is 144 players,” Olson noted. How will player groups be decided? Golf carts fit two players and groups of four (two carts) play together. Will the group have specific pairings (players wanting to play together) or will it be random? Will players need rental clubs or will they be bringing their own?

What’s your best advice for planners organizing a corporate golf event?

“Get in contact with the golf representative hosting your event sooner rather than later,” Olson said. “He or she will guide you in the right direction based on your needs.” C&IT