Montana Destination & Region Guide
The state surpasses expectations with its natural beauty and extensive array of outdoor adventures.
Wide open vistas, star-filled skies and western hospitality make Montana an exceptional choice for retreats, meetings, conferences or special events. Glacier-carved lakes and spectacular mountain scenery lure visitors outdoors with entertaining activities throughout the year.
The region encompassing Glacier Country, central Montana and Missouri River Country stretches from Kalispell, Whitefish and Missoula, near Glacier National Park and eastward to the plains around Great Falls. Farther south, the Yellowstone Country, southwest Montana and southeast Montana have a flavor all their own. The cosmopolitan cities of Butte, Billings, Bozeman and Helena offer all the modern conveniences in a traditional Western environment.
Montana’s cities offer easy airline access from major metropolitan areas coast-to-coast, and they are located on interstate highways traversing spectacular scenery. There are plenty of options for planners to enhance the meeting experience with additional post-conference or team-building activities.
REGION 1 – GLACIER COUNTRY, CENTRAL & MISSOURI RIVER COUNTRY
BIGFORK | FORT PECK | GREAT FALLS | KALISPELL | MEDICINE LAKE | MISSOULA | WHITEFISH
Stretching from the Rocky Mountains westward to the Idaho border, the region around Glacier National Park is an outdoor paradise filled with cities that provide all the amenities for successful events. Missoula, Kalispell and Whitefish each have attractive meeting facilities suitable for small- to mid-size conferences. To the east of this region, central Montana and the Missouri River regions provide wide-open spaces and a diverse landscape, ideal for small- to medium-size conferences, company retreats and incentive trips.
Missoula is a fun city with a youthful feel. It revels in the area’s recreational opportunities and a lively food, arts and culture scene. Located just southwest of Glacier National Park, Kalispell is the hub of activity for the Flathead Valley, and the small town of Whitefish is an enjoyable resort town that offers amenities on par with larger destinations. Located in the center of the state, where the mountains meet the plains, Great Falls offers outdoor recreation, cultural and artistic attractions, making Great Falls a good choice for any meeting or event.
REGION 2 – SOUTHWEST, SOUTHEAST & YELLOWSTONE COUNTRY
BIG SKY | BILLINGS | BOULDER | BOZEMAN | BUTTE | HELENA | WEST YELLOWSTONE
Wide open vistas, star-filled skies and western hospitality make southern and southeastern Montana an exceptional choice for retreats, meetings or conferences. Groups can conduct business by day and then find an exhilarating Montana experience waiting just outside the conference door.
Set in the center of a vast mountain panorama, Billings has plenty to offer meeting planners. It delivers a walkable downtown with big-city amenities on the edge of the Western frontier. Nestled in a valley between Rocky Mountain peaks, Helena retains its rich gold- rush character while offering modern amenities. Near Yellowstone National Park, with a mountain setting, a historic downtown and plenty of recreational activities, the vibrant city of Bozeman offers a wide variety of meeting spaces.
CONFERENCE CENTERS & HOTELS
The wide-open spaces and relatively small population of Montana’s Big Sky Country means that the conference and convention centers are most appropriate for small to mid-size conferences. The various venues in Montana’s cities are ideal for groups with up to about 500 attendees. Larger groups can take advantage of the local convention and visitor bureaus to assist in organizing a multi-location event. The compact downtown areas allow a variety of ways to creatively utilize what the cities have to offer.
The bonus of meeting in these cities is that all the facilities are close to each other, and you can easily arrange trips out of town to enjoy all the scenery and recreation that these regions have to offer.
Find a complete list of CVB’s, CC’s and Hotels in our online directory.