Eric Allen, Blog

Drinking in Salt Lake City

No, that’s not an oxymoron. As a matter of fact, it’s a reference to what was probably one of the Top 10 finest meals I’ve ever enjoyed in my life, complete with some of the most sublime wine pairings I’ve ever experienced. And I’ve been privileged, being in this industry, to enjoy some fine ones.

The food (and drink) in question was at the café in the Grand America Hotel, which, by the way, also happens to be one of the finest hotels I’ve ever visited. Built in 2001 as part of Salt Lake City’s preparations for the 2002 Olympic Games, the building is one of the few that truly stands up to the label “palatial.” The entire structure seems to be made of marble. The chandeliers were hand-selected by the owner, Earl Holding, and imported from Europe. Again, being in this industry for 15 years now, I’ve gotten a little jaded. But this hotel inspired a legitimate, “Wow,” when I walked in.

Your HCEA Board of Directors held its Fall meeting in Salt Lake City last month. This gave me as well as others the opportunity to preview what kind of experience our members can expect when they attend the 2008 HCEA Annual Meeting there next June. Let’s just say, some of our Directors are now planning their summer vacations around Salt Lake City and the 2008 Annual Meeting. And having seen it too, I understand why.

If Salt Lake City were placing a personal ad, it would say something about being “sophisticated, enlightened, and drop dead gorgeous.” Hmmm. Sounds interesting.

The sophistication part . . . well, I mentioned some of that earlier. But don’t let me forget La Caille as well. La Caille is the French chateau-styled restaurant and event venue in the foothills surrounding the city that will be our destination for Sunday night’s “city night” event at the Annual Meeting. Some of you may remember the truly magical city night event at Palapas Art Gardens in Palm Springs a few years back? Well, prepare for more magic.

Enlightened? How about service staff at every turn who were articulate, competent and friendly. Might come in handy for an event of your own, eh? And did I mention free wi-fi in the Salt Palace Convention Center?

And as for drop-dead gorgeous, downtown Salt Lake is clean, uncongested, and surrounded by mountain views on every side. (It’s also 15 minutes – if traffic is bad – from the SLC airport, a Delta hub.) with a five-star restaurant down just about every street. Twenty minutes by car and you can be in those mountains.

Oh. And just in case marble-decked hotels and world-class wine pairings sound great but, you know, maybe a little stuffy for 3 straight days? There are plenty of other things to do. Like The Depot, with (the night we were there) George Thorogood and the Destroyers playing. Or Port O’Call, where I understand some Annual Meeting Committee members had a good time one night.

So what’s all this voodoo you keep hearing about getting a drink in Salt Lake? Listen. . . you’ll do more work punching the buttons of your remote control tonight than you will to get a drink in SLC. You fill out a piece of paper, that gets you in “the club,” and off you go.

A surprising number of people have never been to Salt Lake City. If you’re one of them, let me make a prediction: your next great “new and different” venue is waiting for you. One of the people on the site visit with us was already in contract talks before she left – yes, it’s that good! And since HCEA will be offering, once again, the best medical-specific training in convention marketing in the business, now’s your chance.

So, plan on it now. And if you’ve got a question about SLC, write back.