During the summer months, Colorado’s Rocky Mountains are home to vivid wildflowers, cascading waterfalls and river rapids as grand as the peaks that surround them. When the winter snowfall begins, skis and snowboards replace bikes and kayaks, and locals and visitors chomp at the bit to hit the slopes and enjoy the powder.
A vacation in the Rocky Mountains is a true escape no matter the season, and Destination Hotels & Resorts (DHR) has many properties in and around Vail and Aspen. With so many unique offerings in the Vail and Aspen areas — from simple ski-in/ski-out lodges to individually owned and decorated multi-room luxury condos — clients are bound to find a DHR property that best suits their needs.
“Our Rocky Mountain Collection is special because it reflects our roots in Colorado,” said Carrie Mosner, corporate public relations manager for DHR. “The company began with the development of The Gant in Aspen, which set the tone for the types of properties we would later add to our portfolio. What sets us apart from other hotel companies is that Destination has a presence in the country's most premier mountain resorts — in Colorado and beyond.”
Vail Cascade Resort & Spa
Vail Mountain is a behemoth of a ski resort, with more than 5,000 acres of skiable terrain, 31 chairlifts and 193 conventional trails. Vail Cascade Resort & Spa sits at the base of the mountain and is conveniently located next to Chair 20. From this lift, skiers and boarders can access the entire mountain via additional chairs.
After spending hours on world-class slopes, Vail Cascade guests park their equipment overnight with the property’s ski concierge and indulge in après ski at the lobby-adjacent Fireside Bar. Craft beer and tapas are delightful here, especially near the roaring fire or at window seats that overlook Gore Creek. For a more formal meal, Atwater on Gore Creek is just steps away. Fans practically revolted when the kitchen considered retiring the smoked pheasant soup, and rightly so — it’s a local treat that must be sampled.
The onsite Aria Athletic Club & Spa lures even more guests to Vail Cascade — it’s the largest facility of its kind in Vail Valley. Signature spa treatments, an expansive gym and fitness classes are available. After an early workout, guests can grab a quick bite from the Cascade Village Market & Cafe, which serves fresh breakfast sandwiches, great coffee and number of other to-go options.
www.vailcascade.com
Manor Vail Lodge
For larger parties, Manor Vail Lodge is an ideal Vail property, offering a collection of individually owned and decorated condos that range in style and size. Studios, 1,500-square-foot penthouse suites and one-, two- and three-bedroom condos are available, and all are categorized into different luxury levels. A spectacular daily breakfast buffet package can be added to any stay.
For cocktails and light bites, the on-site lounge The Fitz is popular, offering signature martinis, Cajun spiced popcorn, duck confit flat bread and more. Lord Gore Restaurant is the show stealer, however — the huge central fireplace and floor-to-ceiling windows make for a particularly memorable dining environment. Bison medallions with bourbon yams and elk loin with blackberries are among Lord Gore’s seasonal, locally sourced menu items.
Access to the mountain is also rather easy from this DHR property. Guests walk just 50 yards to hop on Chair 6, and the Children’s Ski School sits just behind the site, making Manor Vail a good choice for families with little snow bunnies. Other amenities include an on-site spa, four hot tubs, two heated outdoor pools perfect for winter swims, 12,000 square feet of event space and an array of gardens and exterior decks ideal for wedding ceremonies.
www.manorvail.com
Destination Resorts Vail
In addition to Vail Cascade and Manor Vail Lodge, DHR has four condo properties in the Vail area: Landmark Condominiums, Gore Creek Place Townhomes, Vantage Point Condominiums, Westwind Condominiums, Enzian Condominiums and Vail 21 Condominiums. To find out more about the amenities at each collection, visit the Destination Resorts Vail website.
www.destinationresortsvail.com
The Gant, by Destination Hotels & Resorts
Aspen is one of the world’s greatest skiing and snowboarding destinations, but the historic mountain town has other tricks up its sleeve as well, including a treasure trove of tantalizing restaurants and countless boutique shops that can turn the eyes of even the most discerning shoppers. Of course, clients will need a place to hang their hats after all that fun, and The Gant by Destination Hotels & Resorts makes Aspen feel just like home.
This five-acre property pleases the skier and the shopper with its convenient location — guests can walk three blocks to the Silver Queen Gondola to access all of Aspen Mountain’s trails or walk a few additional blocks to get to downtown Aspen cafes and shops.
The Gant consists of 120 condos, all offering full kitchens, wood-burning fireplaces and spacious living rooms. There are also three hot tubs, two heated pools and two private tennis courts for guests to enjoy. In June of this year, the property’s fully renovated conference room will boast a panoramic rooftop deck, an indoor/outdoor meeting space and a specialty cafe, all with incredible views of Aspen Mountain.
www.gantaspen.com
Destination Resorts Snowmass
Just nine miles from downtown Aspen, Snowmass Mountain is another towering phenomenon that lures vacationers year-round — naturally, DHR has a collection of vacation properties ready to host Snowmass Village guests.
The Stonebridge Inn, a 93-room, ski-in/ski-out property at the base of Snowmass Mountain, is just one property within the Destination Resorts Snowmass collection. Accommodations are simple but charming, with black-and-white ski photographs and wood-paneled walls that create a cabin-like feel — but in these “cabins,” a concierge can set up an in-room massage after a long day in the powder. For a little more wiggle room, guests can book one of the inn’s 420-square-foot suites.
The Stonebridge Inn is also home to the outstanding Artisan Restaurant and Bar, helmed by native Coloradan Randall Baldwin. Like so many renowned Rocky Mountain chefs, Baldwin changes his menu with the seasons and uses the best ingredients available. He also curates the wine list himself and is more than happy to suggest a bottle that pairs well with dishes such as braised beef short ribs with creamy parmesan polenta or red wine braised rabbit risotto with wild mushrooms.
www.stonebridgeinn.com
Other properties in the Destination Resorts Snowmass collection include Top of the Village, Tamarack Townhouses, Terracehouse Condominiums, Laurelwood & Interlude, Lichenhearth, Aspenwood and Villas at Snowmass.
The Inverness Hotel and Conference Center, by Destination Hotels & Resorts
The Inverness Hotel and Conference Center is great for clients staying in Denver. The property boasts some of the same grand amenities as other DHR hotels, including a beautifully appointed spa, an array of dining venues and a championship golf course.
While the hotel has plenty to offer leisure travelers, the property is also a go-to site for large-scale events. With more than 60,000 square feet of flexible indoor/outdoor meeting space and 43 meeting rooms, The Inverness can easily work with planners to schedule tradeshows, conferences, weddings and more.
www.invernesshotel.com
The Details
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