Montana is a natural place to meet.
With big skies, mountain ranges spanning far and wide, lush greenery and miles of rivers and trails, the state’s vast space gives attendees possibility; it paves the way for open minds and creativity.
Three Montana destinations—Western Montana’s Glacier Country, Kalispell and Missoula—offer retreat-style settings backed by wide-open landscapes and fresh mountain air that help provide mental clarity.
“Montana is called ‘Big Sky Country’ for a reason,” said Debbie Picard, director of sales, Western Montana’s Glacier Country. “Big skies, tall trees, massive mountain peaks and expansive wilderness outside of the city settings can shift perspective. Challenges that feel pressing in a day-to-day setting often feel more manageable, and that mental reset opens the door for clearer thinking, better conversations and more meaningful outcomes.”
Western Montana’s Glacier Country
Western Montana’s Glacier Country features a natural landscape surrounded by glacial-fed lakes, rivers and rejuvenating hot springs, making the destination plentiful in natural beauty and wellness-focused amenities to create an unforgettable retreat experience.
“The region’s clean air and serene surroundings create an atmosphere that promotes relaxation and clarity from the moment attendees arrive,” Picard said.
In Glacier Country, planners and attendees can create a perfect blend of outdoor time and structured sessions, because time spent outdoors surrounded by the breeze rustling the trees, water moving through rivers and birds singing in the background is just as important as business.
“Western Montana creates an environment where attendees can step out of a constant state of stress and urgency and take a deep breath,” she said. “It doesn’t take long before people tend to think more clearly, sleep better and feel more present.”
Montana offers many natural activities that help attendees recharge, relax or retreat from the hustle and bustle of their busy lives.
“Planners can incorporate the region’s many scenic trail systems on foot or bike, with bike rentals in abundance in Montana,” she said. “If water is more to their liking, take a refreshing swim in one of our many lakes or rivers, or sink into a delightful hot spring for a mineral soak.”
Another way attendees can leave Glacier Country with a smile is through volunteer and CSR opportunities.
“Western Montana has one of the highest concentrations of nonprofit organizations per capita in the U.S., making it easy to partner with local charities for meaningful volunteer opportunities, letting attendees give back while experiencing the community,” Picard said.
[Related: Taking Off: Western Montana’s Glacier Country Offers Inclusivity, Luxury and Adventure]
After unplugging in a peaceful setting, it’s easy to return home and fall back into normal, stressful patterns. Picard recommends taking 10-15 minutes each day to breathe deeply.
Breathe in, breathe out and look back to Western Montana, where mental clarity comes naturally.
“Remember that fresh mountain air you experienced in Montana? Mentally focus on breathing it in to help restore focus and reduce stress,” Picard said. “One insight attendees often leave with is how much their environment shapes how they feel and think. And once they’ve experienced that clarity in Western Montana, they know they can return here when they need to reset.”
Glacier Country’s retreat settings range from all-inclusive guest experiences to luxury ranches, glamping and boutique hotels.
“Attendees might come to the retreat looking for a change of scenery, but what they find is a change of pace and mindset as well,” she said.
Kalispell
Kalispell is a hub of amenities in Northwest Montana. The city, located six miles from Glacier Park International Airport, is home to hotels, restaurants, Lone Pine State Park, Flathead Lake and is a 30-minute drive to Glacier National Park.
“I think it’s one of those places that can really give you everything you would need from a meeting’s perspective while still giving you that calm, tranquil, reflective experience, if that’s what you’re looking for,” said Tia Troy, CEO and founder, Lightning Bug Public Relations, the PR agency that represents Discover Kalispell.
The backdrop behind Kalispell’s downtown scene is the Swan Mountains, and throughout Kalispell guests will find lush valleys, orchards and farms. Kalispell’s landscape lends itself to a relatable group experience.
“I think that there’s something about the setting of Kalispell that [brings] people together,” Troy said. “Getting to utilize [Kalispell] as their backdrop and as their inspiration for bringing teams together helps [groups] experience something truly incredible.”
Teams don’t just get together in Kalispell. They bond and create shared experiences that Troy says are “easy” to build into any itinerary, from seven miles of trails at Lone Pine State Park to rafting the Flathead River or biking the 50-mile Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park.
“There’s all these lessons in teambuilding,” she said. “There’s camaraderie that exists in being able to accomplish something like that together.”
Another group excursion on Flathead Lake—the largest freshwater lake in the contiguous U.S. West that was carved out by glaciers millions of years ago—is a charter boat lake cruise called Far West. The tour is less than two hours and can accommodate groups of 140 guests.
Kalispell’s venues keep up with the immersion in the outdoors and natural beauty.
Ashley Creek Historic Venue at Snowline Acres is a 22,000-square-foot space with a large patio that offers views of the Swan Mountain Range.
The Conrad Museum originally served as the home of Kalispell’s founders, the Conrad family, and offers an outdoor garden space for lunch or an evening reception.
Kalispell offers venues and outdoor excursions that consistently find attendees surrounded by wide-open spaces. When guests leave the city, Troy hopes it serves as a reminder.
“If you stop and slow down, there’s going to be inspiration right in front of you if you’re willing to look for it,” she said.
“The world seems like it’s just moving so quickly, and we are overwhelmed all the time. I think when you are able to plan a retreat to a place like Kalispell, it gives you that permission to slow down.”
[Related: 5 Only-in-Montana Venues for Corporate Meetings and Retreats]
Missoula
Missoula’s vibrant downtown is steps away from the 85 trails that surround the city. A hub for arts and culture, the city’s downtown offers natural amenities with its direct access to the scenic outdoors.
“We really have something for everybody to get excited about and recharged with,” said Heidi Starett, director of sales, Destination Missoula.
Missoula’s downtown hotels are riverfront properties, and in no more than 10 minutes guests can access one of Missoula’s many hiking trails, making the transition from downtown to the river to boardrooms seamless.
“Our outdoor experiences, from guided hiking and biking tours to fly fishing and float trips on the Clark Fork River, I feel like [they] all become extensions of the meeting itself,” she said.
Even when attendees visit Missoula for business, there’s an element of wellness that’s naturally included in their travels.
“Wellness is a priority across the industry right now, and in Montana, that happens organically,” Starett said. “It doesn’t require a lot of programming on the planner’s part to add that element to their events or their retreats.”
It’s that sense of place that sticks with Starett even decades after she relocated to Missoula.
“I moved here 22 years ago from New England, and I’m still amazed sometimes at all the open space that we have,” she said. “You just look out forever [at] mountains and it’s so beautiful.”
Another amenity in Missoula is the DMO’s ability to connect groups to local vendors.
“We have a very health-focused, outdoor-focused community, and so we have a lot of practitioners [who] could help come up with a yoga session on the lawn in front of the river,” she said. “We can hook you up with a local practitioner for meditation, or if you want to do some hands-on art and paint out in the open air, we have folks we can connect [planners] to [from] the community.
“So hopefully people leave with a sense of discovery and adventure from the activities that they did while they were here,” she added.
Connections
Destination Missoula
Discover Kalispell
Western Montana’s Glacier Country
