Earth Friendly Conference and Retreat Center in Washington State Celebrates 10-Years as Ideal Choice for Corporate Meetings, Board Retreats, Team-Building Sessions and Family Reunions
August 2005
Since its opening 10 years ago, Sleeping Lady Mountain Retreat has become a popular conference and retreat facility for companies such as Microsoft, Nike, and Alaska Airlines as well as non-profits, like the Audubon Society, EarthJustice, and NatureServe. Situated just outside the Bavarian-themed town of Leavenworth in Washington State's Cascade Mountains and nestled peacefully into the evergreen forest on the banks of Icicle Creek, Sleeping Lady Mountain Retreat has gained a positive reputation as an ecologically minded resort and a preferred location for organizations seeking a productive and relaxing meeting place.
Most recently Sleeping Lady has expanded its conference and retreat offerings for the future with new services focused on sustainability and appreciating the property's natural beauty. These include "Natural Breaks," mini tours of the property scheduled during meeting breaks to give visitors an opportunity to stretch their legs and breathe in some fresh air while they tour different features of the retreat. Some Natural Break examples include: A tour of Sleeping Lady's Organic Garden, which provides some of the fresh produce found on the menu; an on-site art walk, which features works by artists like Washington State native Dale Chihuly; and a "Birds of Sleeping Lady" tour, giving visitors a chance to see osprey, eagles, and hummingbirds.
According to founder and developer Harriett Bullitt, these new offerings celebrate the success of the retreat by making it even better. She noted, "Groups find that their meetings here are incredibly productive as our natural surroundings really encourage new solutions to everyday challenges. We're always looking for ways to enhance their experience here, and we have now expanded the group offerings."
Bullitt built the retreat in part to counter some of her own experiences at conferences. According to Bullitt, she had been to "too many meetings in stuffy old auditoriums with stale air and stagnant ideas."
Sleeping Lady offers more than 10,000 square feet of meeting space, for groups up to 180 people. Guests are treated to fine dining in the Kingfisher Dining Lodge, with food prepared by Executive Chef Damian Browne, who, like Bullitt, has a great appreciation for the environment. Browne commented, "It's not just about the food you cook, but the experience you create. By the time they've eaten their first meal here the design and surroundings of the facility take over and our guests relax into their experience with us."
Sustainability and earth friendly activities are only part of what makes Sleeping Lady so unique and attractive. "Conference guests typically rave about the productivity of their meetings and the great food," says Lori Vandenbrink, Sleeping Lady's Director of Sales and Marketing. Add to that design features like 28,000 linear feet of Trex decking (a product made from recycled plastic bags and wood scraps), heating pumps that heat buildings with the earth's natural warmth, recycled wood from old timbers recovered on site, and you've got one of the most environmentally sustainable travel destinations in the country. Other site features include a beautiful organic garden that provides ingredients for the kitchen, energy saving compact fluorescent lights where appropriate, electric vehicles used by maintenance staff, and products like coffee, soaps and towels that are made with minimal environmental impacts.
But it isn't the environmental features in and of themselves that make Sleeping Lady a preferred conference destination; it's how the property's buildings and environment are co-mingled. Conference and guest rooms make the best use of natural lighting, the sounds of the rushing creek and native birds replace the noise of traffic, and the use of natural materials in furniture, bedding, and construction materials maximizes comfort for visitors. Bed linens feel softer because they are made with natural fibers and are cleaned without harsh chemicals; the pool is filtered with a natural alternative to chlorine; and the paint, floors, and furniture are made with little or no chemical additives so they do not off gas harmful vapors.
Guest rooms at Sleeping Lady are free of televisions, and the guest rooms face common areas to encourage interaction and a sense of community. Each room has towel warmers and most of the rooms have high, loft-like ceilings. The Grotto, Sleeping Lady's bar, offers a comprehensive wine list, cocktails, and several beer choices (micro and otherwise), and for guests it's a great place to socialize and relax after a day of team building and strategic planning. In addition, Sleeping Lady works with local guides to offer rafting, skiing, and hiking.
Bullitt's vision for a more natural, positive conference and retreat experience is coming to fruition. Many who have stayed for conferences and retreats rave about the location and its positive impacts on their gatherings. According to Lola Franklin of the Central Washington Home Builders Association, "Because of the location, staff, culture and facilities at Sleeping Lady, our retreat was a huge success. Some of our people fell in love with the place and even said the retreat changed their lives!"
All of these factors make Sleeping Lady a very attractive choice for meeting planners who want something different - more serenity, greater productivity, and a high level of enjoyment - for their conferences and retreats. For more information, contact Sleeping Lady Mountain Retreat at 1-800-574-2123.
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