Where Agendas Meet Adventure
In a world of choices for meeting destinations, why settle for a generic conference room when you could level up your meeting without extra effort? At conference resorts and hotels entertainment is part of the package. Take networking to new heights with views of a ballgame from a rooftop terrace. Or trade humdrum happy hours for headline acts that steal the show. Close the deal, then swim with dolphins — because agendas should include a splash of wonder.
These properties turn their locations into playgrounds for groups, offering everything from stadium views to theme park thrills guaranteed to increase engagement and draw excitement.
Stadium-View Stays: Meetings with a Sports Twist
For sports-loving groups, a hotel attached to the action brings instant energy to any event. Omni has enriched its offerings through partnerships with major sports league venues, tapping into the excitement of the fan experience. The following hotels make attendees feel like VIPs with ballfields and arenas as their backdrop:
- Omni Hotel at The Battery Atlanta (Atlanta, Georgia) – Perched beside Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves, this hotel features an elevated pool deck and bar overlooking the ballpark. Attendees can watch a baseball game from the rooftop patio and catch a seventh-inning stretch without leaving the hotel property. Then, step out into The Battery Atlanta entertainment district, where networking flows naturally from meetings to mingling in this walkable complex of restaurants and bars.
- Omni San Diego Hotel at the Ballpark (San Diego, California) – In San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, the Omni is connected by a skybridge to Petco Park, the Padres’ baseball stadium. Host a breakout session in a private stadium box or treat attendees to a behind-the-scenes ballpark tour (be alert for special easter eggs reserved just for these tours). With the lively Gaslamp nightlife and waterfront just steps away, this meeting destination blends work and play seamlessly. A daytime session followed by a ballgame or an outing to nearby breweries makes for an incentive trip everyone will remember.
- Omni Viking Lakes Hotel (Minneapolis, Minnesota) – Football fans will thrill at this conference resort overlooking the Minnesota Vikings’ practice fields. Part of the Viking Lakes mixed-use development (home to the Vikings’ headquarters), the hotel lets groups peek into NFL training action with access to a 7,000-seat stadium for team practices and special events. Fans can watch training camp and enjoy exclusive team experiences, including a collaborative exercise on the field, and planners can arrange group outings to the Vikings Museum. It’s a venue that inspires a “championship” mentality in any team meeting.
View of Petco Park, the Padres’ baseball stadium from Omni San Diego Hotel
Las Vegas: Entertainment at Your Doorstep
Las Vegas is synonymous with entertainment, and these Vegas-area resorts ensure your guests have world-class shows and nightlife built into their stay.
- Fontainebleau Las Vegas (Las Vegas, Nevada)– On the north end of the Strip, the Fontainebleau serves as a self-contained hotel and entertainment venue that turns every evening into a VIP event. After a day of breakout sessions, your group can head downstairs to the 3,800-seat BleauLive Theater and catch a headline concert or network in one of the 11 on-site bars and lounges. From a massive pool complex to high-end nightclubs (including a Vegas outpost of the famous LIV club), the Fontainebleau ensures nightlife and networking blend effortlessly.
- The Venetian Resort + Sphere (Las Vegas, Nevada) – The Venetian Las Vegas has upped the ante by linking directly to Sphere, the city’s most talked-about immersive venue. A climate-controlled indoor bridge connects the two, giving attendees easy access to concerts or multimedia shows after hours. Planners can incorporate Sphere experiences into their programs and request the Venetian suites with front-row views of its dazzling LED exterior. Within the resort itself, you have all of Vegas at hand: entertainment, shopping, and endless dining options for on-site events and receptions.
- Station Casinos (Las Vegas, Nevada) – Station Casinos are a savvy planner’s secret weapon. With four locations, groups get resort-style amenities, luxury accommodations, and top-tier dining — minus the congestion and on-Strip chaos. Red Rock Resort Casino Spa backs right up to Red Rock Canyon for stunning views and outdoor excursions, while Green Valley Ranch Resort Casino & Spa offers a more Mediterranean vibe with its poolside gardens and vineyard. Both feature on-site entertainment venues for private concerts or branded events and sprawling meeting spaces.
Green Valley Ranch Resort Casino & Spa
City Hotels with Iconic Entertainment & Views
Some of the most impactful events happen at urban meeting hotels in the heart of major cities, where local culture, architecture, and iconic landmarks become part of the experience.
- Hutton Hotel (Nashville, Tennessee) – In Music City, Hutton Hotel hits the right note for planners seeking hotels with live entertainment on-site. The hotel’s intimate venue, Analog, is part social club, part performance space, hosting live music with state-of-the-art sound and lighting. Your group can enjoy a private songwriter’s night or a branded concert without ever leaving the property — a perfect tie-in to Nashville’s famed music scene. Turn an ordinary cocktail hour into a VIP concert just for your attendees.
- Windsor Court Hotel (New Orleans, Louisiana) – Tucked into New Orleans’ vibrant Warehouse District, Windsor Court Hotel is for planners who want their meetings steeped in elegance and soul. This all-suite hotel fuses British refinement with unmistakable Big Easy energy — especially at The Polo Club, where nightly live jazz and the city’s largest scotch collection set the stage for unforgettable networking. Want skyline views with that saxophone? Head to La Chinoiserie, the hotel’s 23rd-floor event space, where dual terraces overlook the French Quarter and Mississippi River.
- The Hay-Adams (Washington, D.C.) – The historic Hay-Adams offers unparalleled views in the nation’s capital from its rooftop ballroom, “Top of the Hay,” the only private event space in D.C. with panoramic views of the White House and national monuments. Imagine an evening gala or hybrid meeting where attendees gaze out at the illuminated Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial. The gravitas of these landmarks infuses every gathering, from board meetings to wedding receptions — leaving an impact that’s distinctly Washington D.C. and impossible to forget.
Hutton Hotel
Resort Playgrounds: From Waterparks to Wilderness
When it comes to conference resorts that double as adventure parks, these destinations turn leisure into an integral part of the itinerary. They’re ideal for incentive travel or meetings where on-site events and excursions merge:
- Atlantis Paradise Island (Bahamas) – A legendary resort that’s basically an amusement park for all ages. Atlantis features the 141-acre Aquaventure water park with high-speed slides and a lazy river, a 14-acre Dolphin Cay marine habitat (one of the world’s largest open-air dolphin experiences), and a Vegas-style casino — all on-site. By day, attendees can swim with dolphins as part of an organized team-building. By night, Atlantis keeps the energy up with its Atlantis LIVE concert series that has hosted A-list performers like John Legend.
- Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Rainforest, Beach & Golf Resort (San Juan, Puerto Rico) – This Caribbean resort gives groups a taste of tropical adventure. Set on a mile-long beach, this property is the closest hotel to El Yunque Rainforest, Puerto Rico’s famous jungle, and planners can easily arrange an off-site hike or waterfall exploration as a half-day team excursion. Whether it’s an incentive trip or a corporate retreat, the blend of beach BBQs, rainforest outings, and resort relaxation will wow your guests. For groups seeking a more immersive wellness experience or a multi-property retreat, the nearby Wyndham Palmas Beach & Golf Resort — an all-inclusive sister property on Puerto Rico’s southeast coast — offers a laid-back vibe perfect for longer stays, remote team-building, or executive recharging.
-
Loews Universal Orlando Resorts (Orlando, Florida) + Universal Helios Grand Hotel (Florida) – Opening in 2025, the brand-new Universal Helios Grand Hotel brings Loews luxury to the doorstep of Orlando’s most exciting new entertainment expansion: Epic Universe. With 500 stylish guest rooms, nearly 5,000 square feet of function space, and a rooftop bar that lives up to its “epic” billing, this property is purpose-built for planners looking to merge business with blockbuster fun. Attendees can enjoy early park access, complimentary shuttles to Universal theme parks and CityWalk, and even exclusive entry to Epic Universe — all included perks that make team-building as easy as scanning your room key.
As part of the larger Universal Orlando collection, Helios joins a roster of Portofino Bay, Royal Pacific, and Sapphire Falls — all within walking or water-taxi distance to the theme parks. Planners can tap into the same benefits across all resorts: character meet-and-greets, Universal Express passes, and private ride nights that turn everyday agendas into immersive experiences.
- Stein Eriksen Lodge Deer Valley (Park City, Utah) – Set in the mountains of Park City, the Stein Eriksen Lodge offers alpine luxury with a side of adventure. Attendees can stroll the charming downtown within walking distance, browsing galleries and restaurants during free evenings. For adrenaline seekers, Utah Olympic Park lets groups watch (or even participate in) bobsled runs and ski-jump practice into a pool! The lodge itself provides Five-Star service, mountain-view meeting rooms, and even private hot tubs on some decks for post-meeting relaxation. Looking to extend the experience or accommodate larger groups with varied preferences? The adjacent Chateaux Deer Valley, Stein’s boutique sister property, offers a refined, European-style retreat with flexible event space and an equally stunning alpine setting.
Atlantis Paradise Island
Or Let the View Do the Talking!
- Pier Sixty-Six Resort (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) – Reopened in 2024 with a bold reimagining, Pier Sixty-Six brings sky-high style to Fort Lauderdale’s iconic Intracoastal. At the heart of the resort sits the legendary Pier Top lounge, a fully rotating event space that completes a full turn every 66 minutes — giving guests panoramic views of the downtown skyline, Atlantic Ocean, and bustling marina below. Whether it’s an evening reception set to sunset views or a networking event that feels like it’s on a slow-motion carousel, Pier Sixty-Six elevates the experience (literally and figuratively). Add in yacht-side dining, 12 acres of indoor/outdoor event space, and a resort marina like no other, and you’ve got a meeting destination with movement, momentum, and unmatched views.
These standout hotels and resorts prove when a destination becomes part of the agenda, the entire experience changes. Whether it’s the crack of a bat echoing from a rooftop terrace, the glow of Sphere lighting up a post-session stroll, or a rainforest hike between keynotes, these properties deliver more than meeting space — they offer built-in energy, story, and spectacle.
For planners looking to turn passive attendees into fully engaged participants, hotels with live entertainment, walkable adventures, and unexpected backdrops are the new must-haves. With resort options like these, every off-site can feel on point.
Pier Sixty-Six Resort
