AUBURN, Ala.—The Laurel Hotel & Spa, Alabama’s first and only AAA Five Diamond hotel, has introduced a new collection of group experiences designed to bring meeting attendees and other groups together through culinary, wellness, and educational programming.
Located on the Auburn University campus in Auburn, Ala., The Laurel is a luxury teaching hotel developed in collaboration with the university’s Horst Schulze School of Hospitality Management. The property provides hands-on training for the next generation of hoteliers, restaurateurs, and chefs while offering groups an immersive setting for gatherings.
Designed for groups of six to 45 people, the new experiences are suited to corporate retreats, client appreciation events, family celebrations, and other gatherings. The offerings span food and beverage, wellness, and horticulture, with an emphasis on interactive activities and opportunities for participants to learn together.
Among the culinary offerings is the Sensory Wine Experience, a guided, multisensory tasting featuring six 3-ounce pours paired with curated cheeses. Participants learn about regional terroir, varietals, and winemaking traditions.
The Distilled Spirits Tastings allow groups to choose between whiskey and tequila while sampling six distinct expressions. The guided experience highlights the character, craftsmanship, and depth of each spirit.
Groups also can participate in a Mixology Experience, where attendees learn foundational cocktail-making techniques while crafting their own drinks.
The Cake Decoration Experience takes a similar hands-on approach, with a pastry chef guiding participants through cake decoration and presentation techniques before they personalize their own creations.
For groups interested in culinary craftsmanship, the Art of Handmade Pasta focuses on the process of making fresh pasta, from mixing and kneading dough to rolling and shaping it by hand.
The Culinary Theater Experience transforms dinner into a live event, with The Laurel’s culinary team preparing a seasonal appetizer, an entrée, and petit fours in front of guests. Curated wine pairings accompany the meal.
The new programming also includes wellness and educational experiences. Yoga on the Rooftop offers private sessions in The Laurel’s rooftop garden, while the Roots of the Rane Center experience connects guests with Auburn University’s Department of Horticulture.
During the horticulture experience, guests meet the university’s horticulture team on the rooftop before continuing to campus for a guided tour of vertical gardens and raised beds. The program explores seasonally grown plants and how they are incorporated throughout the Tony & Libba Rane Culinary Science Center.
The group experiences can be combined with overnight accommodations and group dining at The Laurel’s onsite restaurants. Options include 1856 – Culinary Residence, a MICHELIN-recommended restaurant led by chef in residence Joël Antunes, and Walt’s On The Roof, an alfresco rooftop concept serving cocktails and tapas, with views across Auburn.
The Laurel offers 26 accommodations, including 16 king rooms and 10 suites. Suites feature separate living rooms and powder rooms, while guest amenities include remote-controlled blackout curtains, luxury bedding, five-fixture bathrooms, bathrobes, slippers, and scenic views.
Guests also have access to The Library, a private, club-style lounge offering F&B service throughout the day, including breakfast, midday light bites, and evening hors d’oeuvres and desserts.
Additional amenities include The Spa at The Laurel, which features a Himalayan salt room, a eucalyptus steam room, and treatments designed for relaxation and rejuvenation.
