September | October 2019 | Ignitemag.ca | 27 NOTE WORTHY Campfi re chats, hiking trails, watersports and Muskoka chairs—an iconic cottage-country experience awaits at this stunning, four-season resort on Peninsula Lake near Huntsville, Ont. The idyllic lakeside location and fresh air fuels inspired meetings that are easily accommodated in 40,000 sq. ft. of customizable event space, including the 11,000-sq.-ft. Legacy Hall in the Pavilion Conference Centre with capacity for 720 for seated receptions, and the beachside Bayshore Conference Centre with accommoda- tions and eight fl exible meeting rooms all in one building for intimate executive retreats. The newly redesigned upper west wing of the Pavilion—phase one of a four-year, $1.5-million renovation—echoes the tranquil setting of the resort, with shades of blue and earth tones, and nature-inspired design. This beautiful space includes the 3,600-sq.-ft. Tom Thomson Room and four smaller breakout rooms. More than 20 accommodation buildings are clustered on the grounds, and with the opening of the new Lakeside Lodge in July, the resort now offers 400 guestrooms and multi-bedroom condo suites. Steps from an outdoor pool and the beachfront, with unparalleled resort views, the spectacular $60-million Lodge has 150 bright and modern units, highlighted by lake-inspired hues and cozy cottage decor. All guestrooms are within walking distance to the main Pavilion building that also houses the conference centre, indoor pool, art gal- lery, full-service spa and fi tness centre. Three dining options are also available here—Eclipse Restaurant & Terrace, Compass Grill & Bar and Maple Pub & Patio. For a great barbecue lunch on the patio, or surf-and-turf dinners, The Antler Steakhouse is located at the nearby Deerhurst Highlands golf pro shop; Highlands is one of two on-site, top-ranked 18-hole courses. Ease of access to all resort accommodations and amenities gives groups plenty of fl exibility. When Toronto-based Anne Skelding, operations manager for consulting fi rm, Slalom, brought a group of 330 to the resort last year for a weekend retreat, they utilized the Peninsula and Legacy ballrooms for functions, held breakfast at Eclipse and guests stayed in the main Pavilion building, the Summit Lodges and The Greens. Skelding says the retreat was “the very fi rst event of this type for Slalom Toronto which meant expectations were high and we wanted everything to be perfect. We were not disap- pointed!” Renowned for hosting world leaders at the 2010 G8 Summit, the resort is well-versed in the art of coordinating events, and Skelding notes that the team at Deerhurst was incredibly well organized, responsive and thoughtful. “Their pre-con meeting was one of the best I had ever had, with senior members of every department in the room. They set up an event WhatsApp group to help us stay connected throughout the weekend. Being able to connect with the team 24/7 about anything was amazing.” The 760-acre property has many outdoor venues where nature provides the backdrop, including the Sunset Bay event lawn with its dazzling lake and golf course views. The confer- ence team can also infuse some cottage-country charm into your gathering with themed events, like a Wild About Muskoka dinner reception with locally-sourced artisanal foods, servers wearing Muskoka plaid, drinks served from ice-fi lled canoes and s’mores and hot chocolate around a campfi re. Enjoying the great outdoors in this glorious setting is a must, all year long. From the new Tom Thomson Boat Tour for up to 80 guests, Treetop Trekking and horseback riding trails, to ice skating, snowshoeing and fat biking, there’s something for everyone. Results-driven training and challenges to enhance performance and motivate your team can be organized inside or out by on-site corporate team building service, Adventures in Excellence. deerhurstresort.com DEERHURST RESORT MUSKOKA Recent renovations and new accommodations at this iconic Ontario resort up the wow factor for groups by Rose Filice DEERHURST RESORT IS A TWO.HOUR DRIVE FROM TORONTO, OR A 20.MINUTE FLIGHT ON PORTER AIRLINES FROM BILLY BISHOP TORONTO CITY AIRPORT IN JULY AND AUGUST. PHOTO CREDIT: DEERHURST RESORT Learn more about Deerhurst Resort’s group offerings. Scan the QR code or visit ignitemag.ca
