Meeting and Event Planning - Bonding Time at a Corporate Retreat in the Mountains, in a Cabin

It is time to do a corporate retreat for your board of directors or that special committee. So, what are your plans for this year?

How about trying something different and do it in the mountains, in a log cabin.

This past month my wife and I celebrated our 40th Anniversary and wanted to get together with our two children, daughter-in-law and our two grandchildren.

We had the obvious choice of going to a nice hotel just like most corporate retreats. What you get are nice hotel accommodations, a comfortable room, a board room to meet and you get to have all the breaks catered. Then for breakfast, lunch and dinner your choice is to have it brought into the room or you take the group to the nearest restaurant.

This works great most of the time and it provides a professional setting to meet and discuss what needs to be covered.

But what about bonding time? When the meeting is finished for the day, everyone goes back to their own room and gathers back in the board room the next day. The meeting objectives are accomplished, but there is little or no interaction between attendees.

However, we wanted a different setting for our anniversary. We wanted a place that had plenty of room to do some family bonding.

Our choice was a cabin in the Smokey Mountains. It had three rooms that each had a king sized bed and separate bathrooms. There were also two couches that made into queen size beds. There was also a large room with a ping pong table, couch and chairs facing a 5' x 7' theatre size screen that provided space for watching anything you wanted.

Also included was a pool table, Wii station, hot tub and two video game machines. But the best part of the cabin was the great room which included a well stocked kitchen, a dining area, and a family area with a couch and chairs to gather or watch TV.

So, bonding time for my family was at a premium. We got up each morning and were able to eat together. Then we socialized until venturing out for daily activities. Upon returning, we could sit comfortably together without going to a bar, restaurant, or having to meet in someone's room.

Our quality time was phenomenal and this also works for corporate retreats or strategic planning sessions. Meetings can be conducted in an informal setting. Attendees can dress comfortably and you can bring in whatever food and beverages you want.

Your meeting agenda can be accomplished, but what you really get from a corporate retreat in a cabin is the atmosphere and place to let your hair down. You have the place to meet, talk, socialize and get to know your fellow board or committee members.

During the year problems will come up and decisions will have to be made that may strain relationships between board members. Normally you just try working together, but you really do not understand why that other person is being so hard headed or stubborn.

However, the informal corporate retreat setting in a mountain cabin gives board members much more time to learn about each other. Sometimes just getting to know about their family, background, education, pet peeves, sports preferences or political views helps you understand what makes them tick.

So maybe when problems arise and tensions get strained, maybe that extra time spent together in that mountain corporate retreat may give you the insight into that other person and decisions can be made instead of fights continuing or running into stalemates.

The choice is yours. You can do you board meeting like normal in a hotel setting or you can do something different and get some great bonding time. Do your corporate retreat in the mountains. My family did and your group can too.