Five boutique hotels that offer an upscale feel and trendy setting

By Kristine Hansen | Photo Credit: The Edgewater Hotel

Sometimes a large ballroom just isn’t a good fit. For a meeting of around 10 or 20 people, a place that’s cozy and intimate — and exudes personality — is a better setting for getting down to business. Boutique hotels are ideal for this purpose, for taking a conversation off-site where there aren’t distractions and the mind can truly open up and be receptive to new ideas.

These spaces can be reserved by the day (no overnight hotel bookings necessary), although it is worth looking into accommodations as there is often a discount for groups and by having a team stay overnight, the possibility of a two-day retreat emerges. By opting for a place with character, creativity on behalf of the team isn’t that far behind as these hotels spin their own narrative, often borrowing influence from regional history and the surrounding neighborhood.

At Milwaukee’s newest boutique hotel — The Journeyman Hotel, open since June in the bustling Historic Third Ward neighborhood — event spaces mimic a salon setting where conversation can easily flow. These intimate spaces, filled with art by

local artists, also speak to the vibrancy of an urban setting. For some groups, this energy just outside the door can be inspiring and help kickstart the steps toward launching a new initiative, relationship or product, or simply make a team stronger.

The Journeyman Hotel is part of the Kimpton group of boutique hotels, which are located in cities from coast to coast, locations such as San Francisco, Seattle, Miami and New York City. A highly desired meeting spot inside the hotel is the Founders Room & Terrace, an enclosed rooftop space with a wall of windows flaunting unobstructed views of Milwaukee’s skyline. It’s ideal for lunch, breaks and receptions. For groups wishing to fold a meal into their meeting or event, La Sala is a private dining room on the street level that’s an offshoot of Tre Rivali, the hotel’s restaurant led by Top Chef alum Heather Terhune. The menu skews Mediterranean and rustic, with dishes such as crab-filled pasta, mini pot roasts and pizzas prepared in a wood-burning oven. Catered items might include highly inventive bites like figs in a blanket or tuna tartare micro cones.

In fact, items from the menu can be tacked on to any event that’s held at The Journeyman, regardless of whether or not it’s in the dining room. Two other spaces available to groups are Atelier and Heirloom: twin rooms on the hotel’s second floor that are around 1,000 square feet each and feature floor-to-ceiling windows (reminding of the urban setting), and chic décor that includes a chandelier and graphic carpet.

“The Journeyman is attractive to groups who appreciate unique experiences, artistic and thoughtful surroundings, adventure and a place to be the best version of themselves,” says Mary Kruse, the hotel’s director of sales and marketing. “The Third Ward is a dynamic neighborhood of boutique shopping, creative cuisine, galleries, and only blocks from the lake.”

Just west of Milwaukee, in the city of Waukesha’s historic downtown, The Clarke Hotel is yet another boutique-hotel option. There’s an Irish pub with a hearty food menu but also meeting spaces that can be reserved for groups and events. Of the three, two are designed for small groups: the Fion Shebeen

Dining Room and the Clare Conference Room. Both rooms are versatile enough to be used for dining as well as having access to WiFi, a projector and an 8-foot projection screen. The Fion Shebeen room seats up to 20 and the Clare Conference Room can comfortably fit 30. To relax after an intense day, a group doesn’t have to travel far. Live music and dance — with a mix of Irish and jazz influences — is offered at the pub Sunday through Thursday evenings.

Another Wisconsin boutique hotel with a historic past is Ironworks Hotel in downtown Beloit, which opened in 2014 on the banks of the Rock River. On site is a steakhouse called Merrill & Houston’s Steak, boasting six different cuts of steak on the menu, including an 18-ounce ribeye. That same cuisine can be made available to groups having a meeting. The hotel’s meeting spaces total 3,300 square feet and are flexible enough to allow groups as small as 10 or 20, while still being able to accommodate up to 200 if the occasion warrants. Progress in new business initiatives can be made while gazing out at the Rock River, and the hotel is happy to supply audio-visual equipment.

Also playing off of its riverfront setting is Charmant Hotel, which opened in La Crosse last year as the city’s first luxury boutique hotel. Four spaces within the hotel are designated for small groups. This includes The Royal Crown, a stylish board room with a communal table that feels more like someone’s living room than it does a conference room with sconces on the wall, a décor of neutral hues and a large screen mounted above a sideboard. A section of the hotel’s restaurant can be reserved for a group’s meal or cocktail hour and, if the weather is nice, the rooftop terrace opens up even more possibilities.

If an overnight retreat is definitely in the plans, a small bed-and-breakfast is perfect because a group can easily buy out the entire inn because there are only a few rooms. Most bed-and-breakfasts offer a restaurant and a lounging area for hosting conversations, which enables all of a group’s activities to be under one roof. The Mansion Hill Inn in Madison is in the thick of the action, just east of downtown along Lake Mendota and a short walk to restaurants, shopping, the State Capitol and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, providing lots of opportunities for daytime breaks. Its 10 rooms are within an historic, elegant brick building dating back to 1856. Staff can help design a custom itinerary for a small group that might include coffee and tea service, lunch or cocktails.

Like other boutique hotels, Mansion Hill Inn’s commitment is to personal, dedicated service — not offering a cookie-cutter approach. By choosing a luxury-minded venue, it shows attendees that they are valued and an integral part of the team, paving the way for a successful meeting.