Boutique Gems

For groups of a certain size, a small property can make an event sparkle.

For every large hotel that will swallow up small meetings, there are dozens of boutique properties that will fit them like a glove. Here are three that shouldn't be missed.

Their Casa Es Su Casa

Real Casona de las Amas in Azofra, La Rioja, Spain, is ideal only for the smallest of groups, considering it has only 16 rooms. The hotel, located in the wine-making region of northern Spain, offers a small on-site spa, a library, and the Rioja Alta Golf Club, which is located only a few miles down the road.

Real Casona de las Amas was originally a 17th century home and is still furnished with antiques. Each guest room is decorated differently; no two are alike and all are beautifully done, as are the common areas like the lobby and library.

Enrique Palacio Gil, director of Real Casona de las Amas, says that one of the things that makes the hotel unique is the service.

"The people that work in the hotel really get involved with the clients, making them feel special," he says.

Gil recommends that guests visit the wineries and monasteries in the area, as well as check out the golf opportunities and, if they visit in the winter, go skiing in the mountains.

"I like to spend some time reading a book outside in the garden, listening to the birds, [going in] the swimming pool, and drinking a nice glass of wine, or maybe a mojito," Gil says of his favorite ways to spend a relaxing day at the hotel.

Behind the Wall

The Hotel de la Cite is located in the heart of the ancient fortified city of Carcassonne, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France. With 61 rooms and suites, it is good for small- or medium-sized groups looking for an off-the-beaten-path destination.

The hotel has meeting rooms for 15 to 300 participants, as well as an outdoor garden terrace that holds up to 250 guests. It also offers a swimming pool and the golf course of Carcas-sonne, which is five minutes away by car.

For Xavier Lablaude, director of sales and marketing and resident manager at Hotel de la Cite, what makes the hotel special is its unique location in Europe's largest medieval walled city. For meeting planners in particular, the staff is helpful and there are plenty of options for activities outside the hotel—including the Canal du Midi, also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

"The Canal du Midi is a perfect way to see the beautiful countryside," Lablaude says of the nearby site.

He adds that another compelling feature of the hotel is the wine cellar, which is available for private dinners for up to 12 guests. Lablaude even reveals which room is, in his opinion, the best one to stay in—Terrace Suite 218.

"It's the suite with the best view—it has a fabulous view of the castle," he says.

Closer to Home

The Inn at Perry Cabin, owned and operated by Orient-Express, was built in 1816 right on the Chesapeake Bay in St. Michael's, MD. It is a beautiful little property that is serene and secluded—the town of St. Michael's has no traffic lights, buses, taxis, fast food, or chain stores, according to Brian Plaska, the director of sales and marketing at the Inn.

"It's just a quaint, charming fishing village rich in history," says Plaska.

The Inn offers 78 guest rooms with 5,000 sf of meeting space, so larger groups have the option of renting the entire place and smaller groups won't be overshadowed.

"It gives the ability for smaller groups to be the big fish in a small pond," Plaska says, "knowing that they're going to be the only group in house with the undivided attention of the staff."

The Inn at Perry Cabin also offers myriad activity options, such as the world-class Linden Spa and a golf facility adjacent to the hotel. And although the Inn doesn't own boats, staff members can arrange rentals and have you picked up at the Inn's own docks.

What's the best part? "I would say the location on the water," says Plaska. "The Adirondack chairs on the lawn are a great place to sit and nibble grapes, drink champagne, watch the boats go by, and relax."

Originally published Aug. 1, 2009

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