Kentucky’s breathtaking beauty and its bourbon and whiskey culture permeate everything the state has to offer, including its meeting resorts and hotels. From bourbon tastings to Prohibition-era history, these five Kentucky accommodations have much to attract meeting groups.

The Manchester Hotel

Lexington

The Manchester Hotel sits in the heart of Lexington on the site of the historic Ashland Distillery, which was the city’s first federally registered bourbon distillery in 1865. The 124-room boutique hotel, which opened in June 2023, is within walking distance to Central Bank Center, Rupp Arena and several other hotel properties in The Distillery District.

Executive Chef Paula Endara, who competed on Season 22 of Bravo’s “Top Chef” television show, leads the hotel’s culinary team, which handles menus for events and the two on-site restaurants: Granddam, which offers an elevated Appalachian-inspired menu, and Lost Palm, the rooftop bar that was inspired by 1960s horse racing culture and is known for its Latin-inspired share plates.

The hotel has several event spaces for groups of 14 to 400. The 7,500-square-foot Grand Hall can hold up to 400 for a reception and 300 for a banquet. The Fountain Hall & Patio can accommodate 64 for a banquet or 120 for a reception. There’s also a small boardroom for up to 14 guests.

Lost Palm on the seventh floor can host groups of up to 100. The Cabana Terrace at Lost Palm works well for up to 50 guests. A cozy courtyard is perfect for smaller groups of 65.

The hotel offers bourbon tastings two days a week in the Granddam lobby bar. It also has a free shuttle service that can take guests to and from the airport or anywhere they want to go within downtown Lexington.

themanchesterky.com

The Seelbach Hilton

Louisville

In its more than 120 years, The Seelbach Hilton has hosted many famous people, including F. Scott Fitzgerald, author of “The Great Gatsby”; George Remus, a lawyer and pharmacist who became known as the “King of the Bootleggers”; and the notorious gangster Al Capone.

Located right in the heart of Louisville, the 308-room hotel is close to bars, restaurants, distilleries and the Kentucky International Convention Center. The Seelbach features 32,000 square feet of meeting space with 19 meeting rooms. The Grand Ballroom can host about 350 for a banquet and 500 for a reception. The Medallion Ballroom can accommodate 750 for a banquet and 1,000 for a reception. The Bavarian-style Rathskeller, which was built in 1907, is a subterranean room covered with handcrafted Rookwood Pottery that displays pastoral German scenes, castles and good luck pelicans. It can hold 350 for a reception and 240 for a banquet.

The Oak Room can accommodate seated meals for up to 150 guests. A small room, sectioned off the main space, served as Al Capone’s poker room during Prohibition. The doors to the room were spring-loaded shut at the press of a button in case he and his cronies needed to escape through a passageway in the wall.

Groups hosting events at the hotel can incorporate bourbon tastings. Catering is provided in-house, and the hotel offers its guests complimentary airport transportation via Uber and Lyft.

hilton.com

Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill

Harrodsburg

Located in central Kentucky, about 40 minutes outside Lexington, Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill has the largest private collection of original 19th-century buildings in the country. The property encompasses over 3,000 acres, but most of the historic buildings are on the main street. There are 34 original Shaker buildings on-site, and the village is considered the largest historic landmark in the state.

Groups can host events at The Inn and at The Trustees’ Table restaurant. There are 72 guest rooms, suites and cottages to rent in the village. Visitors and meeting attendees can take a tour of the village or explore its many exhibits. Tours can be tailored to the meeting group, including topics such as architecture, the Civil War or African American Experiences at Pleasant Hill. The Shaker Music program is a 40-minute live presentation that explores the spiritual songs and musical traditions of the Pleasant Hill Shakers. Attendees can also hike, bike or ride horses on more than 30 miles of multi-use trails throughout the village.

Groups can arrange events for up to 100 people for a reception and 64 for a banquet in the West Lot, West Family Wash House and West Family Dwelling.

Planners can add fun experiences to their events, such as broom- or candle-making workshops or carriage or wagon rides throughout the village.

shakervillageky.org

Pine Mountain State Resort Park

Pineville

Nestled in southeast Kentucky, on the Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia border, Pine Mountain State Resort Park is known for its natural beauty and great views of the surrounding mountains. The park is about a 15-minute drive from Cumberland Gap National Park, and there’s also a wilderness road park and other state parks within 20 minutes of Pine Mountain.

Surrounded by forest, Pine Mountain is busiest during the fall and spring months. The park seems isolated but is technically within Pineville’s city limits. It sits on a peak 4 miles from town. Because of its location, the resort park plays host to all kinds of festivals and celebrations within the community.

Meeting groups can host events for up to 300 guests in the C.V. Whitney Convention Center, which can be split into two smaller rooms. The facility offers full-service catering and bar options. Laurel Cove is a natural amphitheater with theater-style seating that is perfect for outdoor events. Two covered shelters in the park can also be rented out.

The lodge has 30 guest rooms, and the property has 11 two-bedroom cottages and nine one-bedroom log cabins.

Attendees can visit the nature center or explore 15 miles of hiking trails, including the famous Chained Rock Trail. The staff offer guided hikes and other educational programs for groups. Guests can play a round of golf at Wasioto Winds Golf Course, which is 4 miles from the lodge, play miniature golf or cool off in the swimming pool during their free time. The Mountain View Restaurant can host 125 guests and serves three meals a day.

parks.ky.gov

Green Turtle Bay Resort & Marina

Grand Rivers

Green Turtle Bay Resort & Marina sits on more than 100 acres on the shore of Lake Barkley in Grand Rivers. Guests at the Western Kentucky resort can participate in water sports or rent boats to take out on the lake. The property offers 87 one- to four-bedroom condos for rent, each with full kitchens and laundry facilities, and most of the condos are standalone units. The resort has a large marina with more than 450 boat slips, so guests can rent boats on the lake or bring their own.

Pier 32, also known as The Commonwealth Yacht Club, features harbor views, a full-service bar and casual eats. The restaurant offers entertainment on weekends and is available for private rental. The Tiki Turtle restaurant sits on the lakeshore and offers a fun Tiki bar atmosphere.

The resort has two outdoor pools and one indoor pool, a full-service spa and a lakeside beach. The resort’s conference center can hold up to 150 guests, and larger groups can bring in tents if they need additional space for banquets or receptions.

For a change of scenery, meeting groups can host a barbecue in one of the outdoor pavilions or have a party on the beach with firepits, giant pillows to lounge on, wine and s’mores.

Grand Rivers, where the resort is located, is a golf cart community. Attendees can rent golf carts to drive through town. Kentucky Lake runs parallel to Barkley Lake. The resort is near the only cut-through between the two lakes, allowing guests to travel all the way to Nashville by boat.

greenturtlebay.com