The second Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) Mountain West Summit—held Aug. 17-19 in Park City, Utah—aligned perfectly with Park City’s "Mountainkind" initiative that emphasizes balance, connection and sustainability.

Lisa Kincannon Cherry, managing director/chief planner for Opus Event Solutions and immediate past president of the SITE Mountain West Chapter, says the goal of the chapter board is to highlight a key destination in one its four states—Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and Utah.

"The summit featured a wonderful mix of corporate planners, third-party agencies, destination hosts and supplier partners from across our region and beyond," she says. "The program balanced education with connection, offering inspiring keynotes, interactive discussions on sustainability and community and activities that brought attendees outdoors to experience Park City’s culture, hospitality and mountain environment in authentic and responsible ways."

UNFORGETTABLE EVENINGS

The summit, which included more than 90 attendees and was held at the Pendry Park City, reflected a commitment to doing more than just meeting, but coming together with purpose, Kincannon Cherry says, through sharing meals that spotlighted local sourcing, hosting events in venues that celebrate Park City’s natural and cultural heritage and encouraging connections rooted in authenticity. And the summit being fully hosted and underwritten by destination partners made it unique but also added complexity.

"Integrating the contributions of Pendry, Montage Deer Valley, Stein Eriksen Lodge, our DMCs and others required careful coordination to create a seamless program," she says. "Sustainability was another layer we intentionally added, working with our partners to minimize waste, highlight local products and incorporate responsible ex-periences. While it was a challenge, it also made the event incredibly special. The collaboration not only showcased Park City’s character but also demonstrated how incentive events can prioritize both impact and sustainability."

While there were many highlights from the summit, Kincannon Cherry believes two clear standouts were the unforgettable evening events that showcased the creativity of the Park City partners.

"On the first night, Summit DMC and Visit Park City helped us transform the Utah Olympic Park into an Olympic-themed celebration. Guests watched real Olympians perform breathtaking high-flying acrobatics off the ski jumps—an experience that captured both the spirit of Park City and the energy of incentive travel," she says. "The second evening, hosted at the beautiful Montage Deer Valley, carried a completely different but equally memorable theme. Inspired by Park City’s rich mining heritage, the night featured immersive décor and creative food and beverage, highlighting local traditions while minimizing waste through responsible sourcing and smart planning. Together, these evenings combined storytelling, culture and sustainability in ways that left attendees inspired and talking long after the summit ended."

From the perspective of the SITE Mountain West Chapter, the entire summit was a highlight because they planned a multiday, high-caliber event as volunteers all while juggling busy, successful full-time careers.

"From our President Meredith Phillip’s perspective, what makes it so special is how committed we were to each other and to the success of the program," Kincannon Cherry says. "No matter where in the world we were, we showed up, collaborated and poured in our ideas, time, energy, positivity and fun. That community spirit came through during the event—seeing people interact, form new connections and deepen existing ones. So much to be proud of!"

A STRONG DESTINATION STORY

Park City was such a natural choice for the Mountain West Summit because it has everything you want in an incentive destination, Kincannon Cherry says—breathtaking scenery, amazing resorts, world-class dining and a spirit of adventure.

"But beyond that, the local partners truly went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and to showcase what makes Park City special," she says. "Visit Park City tied everything together with a strong destination story that resonated deeply with our members. What made it even more meaningful is how closely the values of Park City’s Mountainkind initiative aligns with those of our SITE Mountain West Chapter. Both emphasize community, connection, sustainability and creating memorable experiences with purpose. Our attendees not only got to experience the destination, but they also left imagining how their own groups could too."

Park City is not only conscious of its environmental impact but is actively working to mitigate it, according to Tonya Sweeten, vice president of group sales for the Park City Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau.

"Through innovative programs, community engagement and forward-thinking policies, we are striving to achieve ambitious sustainability goals," she says. "We are committed to becoming carbon neutral and achieving net-zero carbon emissions community-wide by 2030. We promote public transit as a greener alternative by operating a free bus system throughout the city and investing in electric buses. These eco-friendly buses run on clean energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, Park City has developed an extensive network of bike and pedestrian pathways to encourage non-motorized transportation. There are more than 200 e-bikes available from several areas throughout town to foster our Mountainkind culture of being kind to the land surrounding us."

Ultimately, the success of the Mountain West Summit is measured in the connections made, the inspiration shared and the lasting impression on attendees, Kincannon Cherry says.

"Attendance was strong, but the feedback was even more rewarding," she says. "Planners left impressed by Park City’s offerings and appreciated the way sustainability was seamlessly incorporated, from event operations to the programming itself."