Meetings/Retreats

[editorus]

Have you ever planned a meeting/retreat in an awesome venue?  Let us know where you have planned a fun meeting or if you haven't actually planned one, where would you like to!     It is a bit different then a vacation, but how would you still have fun?

I would SO go back to my favorite venue.  I planned a meeting (wow about 7 years ago, time flies) to the Hyatt Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona.  It was SO beautiful.  I would go back for their chicklen chilpolte cesear salad alone!  But they had desert jeep rides, air ballooning, outside dinners oh golfing of course.   We all had a free spa treatment as well!   I am a forest type of person over a desert, but I found the sunsets breath taking.  The food was great, and they had a flamingo guitarist who was excellent.  Such a good memory.

Hawaii would be another choice. I have never been to Hawaii but I bet there would be a ton of fun activities.  Yea!!   DeskDemon needs a company meeting in Hawaii!!!!    What about everyone else?

[diamondlady]

IF your into Las Vegas, that seems to be a great place to hold meetings.  We've held several there as it' s a central location for all of our field operations.  If your into the gambeling scene, even if your not there are so many entertainment places to go that there is no reason to be bored.  I have yet to attend a Meeting/Retreat.  My function is more behind the scenes and in one location, unfortunatley.  But with my current homelife situation, this suits me just fine.  Someone has to hold down the for while management goes to play, .

Diamondlady
Peer Moderator

[tiffanyctd]

We had a meeting at Callaway Gardens (about an hour's drive from Atlanta, Georgia). We purposefully chose a place that was a little out of the way to make it truly a retreat type setting. Our hotel included unlimited admission to the Gardens. It was in May, so a lot of things were in bloom (absolutely beautiful!). We also planned a Scavenger Hunt through the Gardens (we had almost as much fun placing the clue boxes as the teams did finding them). For two nights, we had a volleyball tourney on the beach, and the last night, we had a BBQ. The food was outstanding (if you go, try the Muscadine Ice Cream. It's sinful). We had people that have been on the team for years tell us that this was the best meeting they had ever been to!

[misslynn]

I'm pretty lucky in that my area covers Southern California, Las Vegas AND Hawaii (among others, but they're more boring) - talk about a lot of great locations!  Diamondlady, where in Vegas have you planned meetings at?

I think one of my favorites has been the J.W. Marriott in Palm Springs.

[peaches2160]

Lake Lanier Islands, Emerald Pointe Hotel - North of Atlanta GA USA is very nice for a meeting.  Lots to do.

Evergreen Conference Center at Stone Mountain, St. Mtn GA USA is a nice meeting location.


Marriott Los Suenos in Costa Rica is nice too.

LaCosta in California is great for golf events as well as Pinehurst NC.

[lisahansen]

I am jealous! Most of our meetings are held here in Salt Lake City. Every 4 years we attend a big MinExpo in Las Vegas, which includes sidebar meetings and entertainment, but mostly we stay close to home.

Lisa H

[officeguru]

Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale is a wonderful venue ... I attended a high school function there so many eons ago!  

The Phoenix/Scottsdale area has some absolutely fabulous spots ... I'll be going there to visit my sister later this month.  I miss it - even the ridiculous hot temperatures!  LOL

[itsme_calista]

The UK seems so boring when it comes to these things, but then again maybe I just haven't organised enough?  

I work just over the road from a Conference Centre, and within 50 miles have some fantastic areas and centres to choose from.

We're off to Las Vegas in September but it's purely for pleasure, no business involved there

[movinonup]

The two coordinators in our group are invited to a meeting in Nashville June 13-15.  (That includes me.)  We've never been able to attend--we're usually just behind the scenes, arranging it all.  So, this should be fun.  Well, not all fun--there actually will be 1 1/2 days of meetings, and I'll be taking notes.

Has anyone here ever been to this locale for a conference?

Movinonup

[raindance]

My company has had some lovely events, for our VIP guests, mostly as part of bigger meetings and conferences - dinner at the House of Lords, followed by one at the Royal Pavilion in Brighton (feast your eyes on www.royalpavilion.org.uk) and an event at my favourite house, Dorney Court (www.dorneycourt.co.uk).  All of them are very special in their own way.  There is always lots of detail in the planning  - and it is the detail that makes or breaks an event - but the great thing is that I get to go as well, which is fun even though I am "working".  I'm always very happy to "work" by putting on my evening frocks and help entertain our guests .

But I quite agree, a DeskDemon event in Hawaii would be nice.  I suggest a world conference for DD members .

Raindance