At its 25-year anniversary celebration, Grand America Hotel proves an elevated girl’s night out is only a staycation away.
Twenty-five years ago, the Grand America Hotel made its debut to the world from downtown Salt Lake. The European-inspired luxury hotel was constructed to welcome athletes and spectators from around the globe to the 2002 Winter Olympics Games in Salt Lake. Since then, the hotel has become a renowned events spot for those seeking a place to celebrate, convene or dine in an atmosphere oozing with sophistication. On August 13, Grand America hosted the 25-Year Reverie, glamorously highlighting the features and attention to detail that make it so special. For Utahns looking to escape in their own backyard, the event proved that Grand America is the place to be.
I didn’t know what to expect when I parked my car in the underground parking stall and rolled my overnight suitcase onto the elevator. Sure, I have been to Grand America Hotel plenty of times over the course of my time living in Salt Lake. Afternoon tea parties, dining at the Laurel, a stop in the Gibson for cocktails, photo shoots out by the fountain, pool days (okay, day singular), receptions, galas, award luncheons — and the list goes on — have all been reasons why stepping into the elevator and pressing the button to the lobby was not my first rodeo. But this time, I had a suitcase.
I checked in for an overnight stay in one of the hotel’s 775 luxurious accommodations and made my way up to the fourteenth floor, where I opened the door to a room with a stunning view and an even more amazing bathroom. Two queen-sized beds, a desk and large chairs to conduct my meeting from the next morning, robes to lounge in and did I mention the bathroom? I hadn’t even made it to the Reverie yet, and I knew I was in for an incredible experience.
My friend Meghan met me in the grand ballroom, where we embarked on our girl’s night out together. The Reverie celebrated 25 years of being the Grand America by creating Parisian streets right in the middle of the ballroom. From specialty cocktail and mocktail stations and artists sketching illustrations of guests to a French marché and a floral fountain, the experience was immersive and beautiful.
Photos courtesy of Grand America
Meghan and I soaked it all in, watching dancers donning Marie Antoinette-inspired costumes perform, enjoying the sounds of an accordionist playing music that transported us to Paris and admiring the balloon-art replica of the Eiffel Tower. After three hours of whimsy, we secured a table at The Laurel for an incredible dinner. We shared marinated beef tenderloin skewers and enjoyed a heirloom tomato and burrata salad with steak. After indulging in the trompe-l’œil Lemon Dessert, we made our way to our room for DIY hydrating masks and lounging in our robes.
The next morning, I attended a tour of Little America and Grand America, diving into the history of the two hotels and all they have to offer in the way of events. I shared that one of my favorite professors from graduate school celebrated her 80th birthday at Little America while touring the hotel rooms and sipping on an iced latte ordered from the café. Chandeliers and spiral staircases make for beautiful photo opps at Little America, and the sister to Grand America also boasts one of the best rooftop pools in Salt Lake—for guests only.
It turns out that an overnight stay at the Grand America with one of my closest friends is my new favorite way to enjoy a girl’s night out. I didn’t want to leave the next day, but reality called. Meghan and I both had to wake up from our peaceful slumbers to the sound of our phone alarms and responsibility threatening to end our time together. We softened the blow a little with the room-service breakfast that we scheduled the night before. We soaked our last hour in by enjoying yogurt parfait, French toast topped with bright berries and a side of crispy bacon in front of the gorgeous mountain views outside of our window.
We talked about how epic the 25-Year Reverie was and agreed the event was beautifully executed. We also acknowledged that, while one night at the Grand America was practically perfect, we needed more time for the pool and spa — and yes, the bakery. Calories don’t count on girls’ night out.
We rushed off to real life with one solid decision made: every girls’ night out needed to look like this.
Grand America, here’s to 25 fantastic years. We’ll be back.
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