The best meetings leverage a sense of place and there is no better way to do this than with a hotel or resort that reflects the destination. Schloss Leopoldskron, set in Salzburg, Austria, aims to do just that. The former palace, originally built in 1736, is now a boutique hotel, boasting historic buildings and spectacular views.
The 280-year-old hotel is owned by nonprofit organization Salzburg Global Seminar, which opened the Hotel Schloss Leopoldskron in June 2014 after an extensive renovation, in part to extend its stated mission "to challenge current and future leaders to solve issues of global concern." The hotel's two buildings and 17-acre grounds have been restored and gloriously enhanced, now featuring 12 suites in the historic palace and 55 rooms and two townhouses in the Meierhof -- an adjacent building that predates the Schloss. The hotel's gardens, nestled beside a small lake, provide an idyllic setting in which to enjoy the panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and the Hohensalzburg Fortress of Salzburg.
The Schloss, its gardens, and lake might look familiar to fans of the 1965 film The Sound of Music, which filmed scenes here. More recently, Karl Lagerfeld unveiled his Austrian-inspired Chanel collection at the hotel, turning the Schloss' state rooms into exquisite runways.
Now fully equipped for 21st century meetings (with high-speed Wi-Fi throughout), Hotel Schloss Leopoldskron retains many of its historic features, such as the Max Reinhardt Library -- complete with a secret staircase -- the ornate Marble Hall, and a chapel.
The grounds and buildings are only accessible to guests, allowing those who hold special events and meetings privacy as well as an often-rare time for reflection. It offers nine meeting and working rooms of varying sizes for up to 130 attendees.