While company retreats have long been a staple of the business world, they often take place in a busy and overstimulated location like a major city for reasons including accessibility and proximity to a large airport. Planning a retreat in a remote location not only boosts your attendees’ comfort level as they ease back into in-person meetings, but time spent in a remote setting surrounded by nature is proven to improve brain health and stimulate creative thinking as well.
Here are four destinations to consider for your next company retreat that are near major cities and airports yet still feel remote:
Just 45 minutes from Manhattan and 20 minutes from the Westchester County Airport, Edith Macy Center is situated among 405 wooded acres on a mountainside in the heart of Westchester County. At Edith Macy, attendees will enjoy peace and quiet, without distractions or interruptions in a simply serene and relaxed environment. Attendees can choose from several team-building activities, including a walking meditation.
Just one hour south of San Francisco International Airport and 40-minutes from San Jose International Airport is Chaminade Resort & Spa. Set on 300 wooded acres in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Chaminade Resort & Spa is a spectacular retreat featuring breathtaking views of the Monterey Bay and the Santa Cruz Mountains. Attendees can participate in a plethora of team-building exercises while also maximizing downtime between sessions with a trip to the resort’s 1,700-square-foot nature-inspired spa. Only have a short window of time? Twenty-five-minute express treatments, like an anti-stress facial, foot and hand massage, and back and neck massage, provide a quick pick me up before you get back to an activity like forest bathing or a scavenger hunt with your team.
Easily considered the best conference center in Wisconsin, the IACC-certified Wingspread Retreat & Executive Conference Center is just 35 minutes from Milwaukee and 90 minutes from Chicago. In addition to collaborating on menus and meeting spaces, Wingspread will also work to craft group experiences that support your company’s goals. For example, attendees can participate in guided nature, sculpture and architectural tours along with golf outings, sailboat excursions on Lake Michigan, craft brewery and museum tours and much more in the greater Racine area.
Willows Lodge is the perfect destination for a Pacific Northwest retreat. Nestled in the heart of Woodinville wine country, the Lodge is just 30 minutes from Seattle but feels a world away. If your group will enjoy learning about wine, Willows Lodge offers several different wine tasting activities including “Wine 101” to educate your team; aroma and/or food-paired tastings to entice the senses; and a blind wine-tasting game to ignite the competitive spirit. At other times, attendees can ride a scenic trail on complimentary bikes while soaking up endlessly inspiring views of the Sammamish River Valley.
In today’s remote world, it can often be challenging to find a time (and place) to unplug and foster meaningful connections within your company. For those looking to escape the everyday and inspire innovation, collaboration and relaxation, consider a lakeside location for your next company meeting.
For meeting planners, finding new, unique and inspiring destinations for an upcoming event can prove difficult. Here are three Benchmark Resorts & Hotels' destinations dotted around the country, which offer unique experiences for meeting guests.
If your team’s connection relies on your internet connection, it’s probably time to think about making your workplace culture a little more personal. So, move morning coffee from your home office to one of Benchmark Resorts & Hotels’ boutique properties. We’ll bring the to-go cups.
Taking a step away from traditional office spaces and heading to new places can help teams refocus on business objectives, offering a fresh, relaxed environment, free of workplace distractions.
Happy employees are more likely to have a positive attitude when it comes to their work, increasing productivity and the overall culture of a company.
Whether it’s a large corporate gathering or a small group of meeting goers, Benchmark Resorts & Hotels has several excellent locations to host impactful and productive meetings:
Often, the best ideas come when we take a step (far) away from our usual surroundings. However, while the idea of jetting across the globe for meetings sounds inspiring, it can be a logistical challenge for meeting planners.
Over the past decade or so, sustainability has been at the forefront of workplace initiatives. But that shouldn’t just be a focus in the workplace itself – businesses should strive to ensure that they are engaging in sustainability practices even when traveling for conventions, corporate retreats and meetings alike.
Whether it’s an intimate conference or gathering for a small business or a chance to reward an individual team in a large corporation, Benchmark Resorts & Hotels has some excellent locations to host impactful meetings, executive retreats and events to meet the needs of smaller groups:
For meeting planners, technology can be a friend or foe. And, in this new hybrid environment with both virtual and in-person attendees to consider, meeting organizers must rely on conferencing technology – to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for all attendees.
With many companies making the switch to fully remote or hybrid work, there’s added pressure on offsite meetings to make up for lost facetime and build team bonds that can benefit business.
Breeze cooling your skin. Sun warming your view. Arms spread wide, floating down through the mountains. Can you picture it? A paragliding escapade through the Grand Tetons is just one of many teambuilding opportunities offered at Benchmark Resorts & Hotels properties around the country, designed to heighten your senses in a way that embraces creativity.
As meeting-goers begin to convene again in person, wellness should be top of mind. Meeting planners and attendees are increasingly aware of the benefits of therapeutic services and how they play a role in the success of any meeting, conference or program.
