At Winvian, Women Mean Business
Customized Care is the Ultimate Luxury
Maggie Smith and Heather Smith Winkelmann are the hospitality-obsessed co-owners and business strategists behind Winvian, a Relais and Châteaux luxury resort awarded fifteen years of Triple A Five Diamond status—the industry’s highest honor, attained by less than 1% of properties considered. Perhaps even more impressive, family ownership defines Winvian’s ethos, a rarity as private equity buys up prized properties. From Winvian’s inception, this mother-daughter team has focused on creating an immersive escape that feels more connected than corporate. Offering guests a fully curated stay starts with a relational approach that delivers an experience Condé Nast Traveller describes as “perfectly attuned. . .to the needs of every given guest.”
Perfect attunement is not an accident. It’s a practice that starts with Maggie and Heather and extends to the entire team—from Spa and Restaurant staff, to hospitality, landscape designers and housekeeping. Guests have called it “magical.” We know it is intentional. Winvian brings insight and anticipation to every stay, including executive retreats prized for their understanding of what leaders need most when they escape to our 113-acre family estate to recharge and reward their team.
Our Privacy is Promised
Winvian offers executive groups an opportunity to reserve the entire property for exclusive use. From our front gate to our sprawling grounds bordering the stunning hiking trails of the White Memorial Conservation Center, warm welcome pervades the serene environment. Our Cottage Collection pairs playfulness and elegant comfort, with amenities like individual fireplaces and private outdoor spaces for reflection and restoration. Executive retreat guests receive priority access to our award-winning Spa and Five-Diamond recognized Restaurant.
Retreats at Winvian break with the ordinary. Beyond our well-appointed Boardroom with a view of the garden, the property’s many tucked away spaces, provide the perfect backdrop for intimate breakout sessions. Comfortable seating, stunning views, and wide-open spaces are well-suited to everything from team-building activities to the peaceful solitude essential for energized collaboration.
Evenings focus on social connection. Pre-dinner, retreat guests enjoy activities like our Cottage Crawl. This Winvian exclusive pairs cocktails and customizable non-alcoholic selections with a party-on-foot as guests tour select cottages in our architect-commissioned collection, each one a showcase for Winvian lore and unparalleled decor.
Rather than the heavy buffet typical of corporate retreats, Chef Eddy crafts seasonal dishes to the exacting specifications of each diner. Meals are served in the dining space of your choice—whether in one of our storied dining rooms, or the more familial Maggie’s Tavern and Solarium, where dinner often gives way to fireside games and shuffleboard.
Our Equity is Personal
Having inherited a hospitality tradition grounded in making every guest feel like family, Maggie and Heather dedicate themselves to making even business feel delightfully personal. Executive retreat guests praise the uniquely intimate experience of a Winvian retreat. While luxury properties owned by corporations deliver a uniform and predictably pleasant experience, Winvian prizes a human touch and thoughtful amenities catering to the needs of each guest. Whether that means a menu customized for an executive team’s range of dietary preferences or collaborating on team-building activities that abandon the ordinary to foster playful connection, Winvian believes feeling seen on an individual level is the secret to creating a truly great team.
When you retreat to Winvian, you reap the benefits of intentional hospitality that feels effortless. From the moment you pass through the gates, you’ll feel relaxation start to set in, knowing you are in good hands. You’ll find rest and reward, a chance to slow down and savor the Winvian experience, one where needs are anticipated, desires are satisfied, and expectations are exceeded at every turn.
Q&A
How does Winvian avoid the exhausting schedule of a typical executive retreat?
Our natural setting and sprawling estate prevents the “ballroom fatigue” that happens when teams are stuck in a single conference room all day. Guests hold sessions everywhere from The Gordon Brown House, to the Boardroom, to the newly updated Terrace. Our executive retreat specialist, Shari Mahan, loves getting creative about using the many available spaces.
What is the value of securing the entire estate?
When you secure the estate for exclusive use, Winvian becomes your personal playground. There are never any competing events, but a buyout ensures the utmost privacy and flexibility for dinners that extend far into the evening, last-minute yoga sessions, or impromptu bonfire and s’mores.
How accessible is Winvian for busy executives with minimal time for travel?
Winvian delivers seclusion with convenience. Located just a two-hour drive from New York and Boston, it is also easily reached from Bradley International and Waterbury-Oxford airports. We have even had busy executives land private helicopters just minutes away—a fact that is especially fun given that our Helicopter cottage features a Connecticut-built Sikorsky vintage helicopter converted into a cool cocktail lounge.