I’ve been visiting Lake Geneva as a leisure traveler since I was in elementary school. Growing up south of Chicago, I was a part of the destination's primary demographic, one of those drive-in leisure travelers from the city.
Each year, my family and I would attend Lake Geneva's Annual Electric Christmas Parade in the winter, where your traditional parade float is a boat of some sort wrapped with Christmas lights.
I got to experience the destination in another season when I traveled to the familiar lake spot in early June. I traded my winter boots and coat for dress pants and heels and explored the destination from a different point of view.
Now a productive member of adult society, here’s what I learned in 72 hours about business travel in Lake Geneva.
Opening Night
After checking into the lakefront 37-room boutique. The Geneva Inn, the media group traveled to the Grand Geneva for libations, a site tour, dinner and a bit of Wee Nip—I'll get to that later.
The Grand Geneva has only one way of doing things, and I’ll give you a hint: It’s all in the name.
The 358-room resort truly is grand, sitting on 1,300 acres and offering three restaurants and a 40,000-square-foot spa.
Dan Crooker, Grand Geneva’s executive director of sales, said the resort is gaining popularity, and what that looks like is a larger international presence and an increase in national meetings.
Two years ago, Crooker said most of the Grand’s business (90%) came from drive-in markets, which is changing.
The resort is drawing business with its 62,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor space for meetings and events, including a convention center with more than 13,000 square feet of space and a 6,480-square-foot Evergreen Ballroom with views of the golf course and fountain.
Our event was held at The 12th Hole, an 11-hole short-course that opened two and a half weeks prior to our visit. I can’t claim that we were the inaugural event—which would have been the ribbon cutting—but I do claim second place. As we gathered in the outdoor space with a beautiful charcuterie arrangement, I looked up toward a group that was gathering at what I later learned is called the “Mountain Top,” a 7,500-square-foot event space for 150.
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But down below, Ryan Brown, director of golf at Grand Geneva, led us in a game of Wee Nip, a short-hole golf game that everyone ensured was “just for fun.”
Brown helped me perfect my swing and I expertly landed my ball on the green—an accomplishment in itself—but when one of the members of the golf media in attendance later complimented me by saying, “Your shot was amazing!”, that was my real victory. You would have thought I landed a hole in one!
I took the “one and done” approach and called it quits after one successful hole. I made room for dinner after snacking on charcuterie samplings and appetizers such as peach prosciutto and Wisconsin pizza.
The three food displays set around the course featured a salad station, made-to-order pasta and mini key lime pies for dessert. I tried the Cecilla salad—with kale, almonds and beet and red wine vinaigrette, penne pasta with chicken and vodka sauce, and ended with strawberry garnishes and torched meringue atop my key lime pie.
As we dined, Deanna Goodwin, vice president of marketing, communications and development at Visit Lake Geneva, shared more experiences with us about working with the Grand.
“Their culture is above and beyond,” she said. “Everything they do is grand.”
Day One
The next morning, before we went on a guided boat tour of the lake, we checked out the Riviera Ballroom. The lakefront venue for up to 280 previously hosted special performances by icons such as Duke Ellington, Dorris Day and Ella Fitzgerald, among many other legends. The ballroom overlooks Riviera Beach and Lake Geneva Cruise Line's pier.
We headed down to the dock and boarded the Polaris, a 40-passenger yacht and the oldest boat in the cruise line’s fleet. Boat capacities range from 14 to more than 200, and groups are allowed to bring catering on board. Last year, the cruise line booked 776 events.
During our 90-minute tour on the vessel from 1898, we saw a stretch of homes belonging to the Wrigley family—think the Chicago Cubs’ field and the chewing gum—known as the Wrigley mile. We docked for lunch at Pier 290, a popular excursion for groups aboard the cruise line.
Pier 290 is a family-owned restaurant with nautical relics like live port holes and boat hatches repurposed into bar ceiling lights. After a cocktail party or reception on one of the cruise line vessels, groups arrive at Pier 290 for dinner, but the restaurant also has its own spaces for meetings and events, including The Canopies for 150 and The Boat Showroom for 350.
After lunch we visited Yerkes Observatory, where one famous visitor—Albert Einstein, during his trip to America in 1921—said touring the birthplace of modern astrophysics was his most favorable day in America. The Observatory is trumpeted as one of the “Wonders of Wisconsin,” as declared by Travel Wisconsin.
The Observatory is home to the world’s largest refractor telescope, aged 130 years and weighing in at more than 160,000 pounds. The world’s largest indoor elevator traditionally brings astrophysicists to the eyepiece, and on June 3, a group of writers went for a ride.
Yerkes has event space for groups of up to 100 people indoors and 300 outdoors.
We ended the day with two resort tours, beginning with The Abbey Resort and Avani Spa, and ending with dinner at Lake Lawn Resort in Delavan, Wisconsin.
The 334-room Abbey Resort sits on 90 acres and is the only resort located on Geneva Lake. It offers 40,000 square feet of flexible indoor/outdoor meeting space, including a 6,000-square-foot conference center and 10,000-square-foot ballroom. Other amenities include two outdoor pools, a 35,000-square-foot spa and fitness center, and four dining options.
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The resort’s Waterfront Restaurant completed a renovation in April, welcoming new carpeting, flooring and new furniture. 240° West, an upscale harborside restaurant, was also under renovation during our visit.
Sales and Marketing Director Art Zehnder bragged about the two major renovations he’s experienced thus far in his six-month tenure at The Abbey.
For dinner we dined at 1878 on the Lake located in the 271-room Lake Lawn Resort. The historic and storied property opened its doors in the 1920s and offers groups four dining options and more than 32,000 square feet of space across 22 meeting rooms. The resort also features pickleball, tennis and basketball courts as well as a private beach, private marina and a 76-foot double decker boat, The Lake Lawn Queen.
Our dinner began with pork belly burnt-end lollipops and grilled Georgia peach salad with soppressata and burrata. We were able to sample multiple entrees, including eggplant parmesan and braised beef short rib, which I think I can speak on behalf of the group and say this was everyone’s favorite. Our dessert was mud pie, with the plate garnished with chocolate covered espresso beans, which was a sweet close to the day.
Day Two
Tristan Crist of Tristan Crist Magic Theatre said it himself: His 175-seat theater is a great way to bring groups together. He gave us only a quick glimpse at his Vegas-style magic show that sells out every Saturday.
Crist debuted his “professional quality production in a real-life theater,” in Lake Geneva in 2019. Each year he does 182 shows alongside his fiancée and assistant, Shannon.
An artist, magician and entrepreneur, Crist also owns a social entertainment venue next door. Area 262, a nod to Lake Geneva’s zip code, offers full buyouts for groups of 100.
Inside the Safari-style venue with loads of greenery and a Bronco-style cruiser is a golf simulator, mini golf and axe throwing, among other games. The venue also offers a bar, wine and pizza, or groups can opt to bring in their own catering.
Our day ended at a historic hotel, the 28-room Maxwell Mansion, built in 1856. The property can be rented for full or partial buyouts, with outdoor space available for groups of up to 125. The hotel’s speakeasy bar has a capacity of 70. The password changes each weekend, but I led the group into the secret space with the password “jiggle juice.”
We were served a bit of juice—well, lime juice in our Passion in Paradise cocktail—at the Apothecary Bar. The antique lounge aims to craft a unique beverage for every person. The bar is manned by Juan Barbosa, who had just returned from 2026 Midwest Regional Finals, where he represented Wisconsin in the United States Cocktail Championship. You can follow Barbosa and his clever cocktails on Instagram @juanbehindbars.
Barbosa creates his own syrups and infusions for his beverages; our group tried a rum cocktail with simple syrup and passionfruit cold foam. Monica Pfeifer, owner of Maxwell House, called the Apothecary the home of “innovations and creations.”
Call it what you will; it was the most creative drink I’d ever tasted.
Following are photos and a brief description of four Lake Geneva hotels featured on the 72-hour fam:
The Cove of Lake Geneva
The lovely staff at The Cove welcomed us bright and early on the morning of June 4. We began our tour with a cup of coffee in the lobby, which featured new furnishings and lighting. The 222-room hotel is walkable to Riviera Beach and downtown Lake Geneva. Guest accommodations also include one- and two-bedroom suites as well as lofted suites.
The property offers more than 6,000 square feet of space for meetings and events. The largest indoor space is the 3,710-square-foot Promenade Ballroom for 300, and the pool deck with cabanas has capabilities for groups of 465.
We bid a friendly farewell leaving with Cove-branded cooler bags in hand.
Harbor Shores
The 108-room Harbor Shores is a lakefront location that offers more than 5,300 square feet of space for meetings and events. Other amenities for groups and guests include:
- Indoor and outdoor pools
- No minimum night stay requirements
- Complimentary parking
- Complimentary use of AV equipment
The property recently renovated its dining options. On June 3, the hotel debuted Gotham Bagels. On June 5, Emmi’s opened. Emmi is the daughter of Eddie Debevic, owner of the well-known Chicago diner, Ed Debevic’s.
Bella Vista Suites and The Baker House
Another lakefront property, Bella Vista Suites, offers 39 suites and event space for up to 200 guests. The hotel is connected to The Baker House, a historic home from 1885. The first floor of the house is a steakhouse and restaurant for 100 guests. The outdoor garden accommodates 200 guests. The six guest rooms and suites all have their own unique charm and timeless elegance.
