Corporate Travel Destinations

A little competition can go a long way, particularly when it comes to team building activities. Team building challenges that break your group up into smaller teams competing against each other are a great way to build camaraderie, encourage participation and get your attendees working together in new and different ways. This type of team building activity can also be particularly useful if staff members who are of different levels in the company work together as equals on each team. When friendly competition and small working groups are involved, you will often see your natural leaders shine, your staff’s wallflowers become more involved and the rivals begin to work together for the greater good.

There are many types of competitive activities that can be used in team building. One example is requiring each team to build a solar powered vehicle using provided materials. This timely activity is a great way to increase environmental awareness while building your team, which makes it an even more appropriate choice for this era of increasing environmental concern. Of course, it is not enough to simply build a solar powered vehicle; in order to really have some fun and encourage some friendly competition, there must also be a race. This activity is a great way to blow off steam at the end of a long day of more strenuous team building activities, or even a fun way to spend an afternoon during a regular work day.

If you are searching for a unique, fun team building experience that will fit your budget and can take place anywhere you choose, look no further than the Corporate Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp. Whether you are organizing a corporate training at your company’s headquarters, or are looking for an exciting new option for entertainment at your next corporate event, there is nothing quite like a Rock Camp to get things rolling.

The consultants from the Corporate Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp will work with you to create a package that fits your needs and budget, including one-, two- and three-day options. All musical equipment is provided and no prior musical experience is necessary. This is the type of team building experience that everyone can enjoy and participate in, while also allowing employees at different levels to participate equally in decision making and goal setting.

The rock star counselors are members of touring bands and use that experience to assist your team in learning to work together as they choose a song to perform and rehearse. Some of the recognizable names who have participated in the Rock Camp as counselors include Brian Wilson, Slash, Steven Tyler and George Thorogood. The experience culminates in a confidence-building stage performance where your participants will be rocking out alongside their counselors and in front of their colleagues.

For more information, visit www.RockCamp.com.

When planning for a successful executive retreat, there is much more to keep in mind than simply finding the right venue and arranging for transportation and accommodation. Of course, these are critical aspects of retreat planning, but if you are also involved in the hands-on planning for the day-to-day aspects of the executive retreat, these seven tips will help you plan for success.

Ensuring the success of an executive retreat starts long before arriving at your destination. Here are seven tips for meeting planners to make sure your executive retreat is productive and effective:

1. Double-check your guest list. It is crucial that you make sure you have invited all of the major players and that they are on your list for receiving materials and planning logistics.
2. Determine the main goals and objectives for the retreat.
3. Distribute materials beforehand that clearly state these goals and objectives so that your participants know what to expect.
4. Assign homework to ensure that your participants are prepared.
5. Send out reminders a few days before the retreat to make sure everyone remembers to complete and bring their homework.
6. Arrange to have a professional facilitator run the business portions of the retreat.
7. Assign someone with the task of maintaining a thorough record during the retreat of who volunteers or is assigned to complete tasks, as well as the deadlines.

Are you planning your next team meeting and are in search of a new, exciting venue? If so, why not consider Puerto Rico? There are several reasons to look at this island destination that has been dubbed La Isla del Encanto (the enchanted island), including beautiful scenery, great hotel venues and a plethora of local attractions.

With San Juan being a hub for many airlines, Puerto Rico is often the first stop for travel to the Caribbean. Also, as a U.S. commonwealth, the U.S. dollar is Puerto Rico’s currency and U.S. citizens do not require passports. These added benefits allow travelers to experience a land that is unlike any other area in the U.S. without the hassles of foreign travel.

Whether it is a meeting to further engage your clients, a teambuilding trip to rejuvenate your employees or an executive retreat, the Hotel Condado, El San Juan Hotel, Marriott, Hilton or Ritz-Carlton are all excellent venue options that are located in San Juan and offer corporate discounts, small and large meeting rooms, and all of the amenities you expect from topnotch meeting venues.

After your participants have met their goals and objectives, take an overnight trip to Culebra Island, which is accessible by ferry or a 15-minute plane ride. Here you can take jeep rides through the dunes, visit the Culebra National Wildlife Preserve and the Bioluminescent Bay, or sunbathe on any of the eight exquisite beaches, including Flamenco Beach, which is ranked #2 on a list of the top 10 most exotic beaches in the world.

Halloween is almost here, bringing to mind ghoulies and ghosties and wee little beasties not to mention things that go bump in the night.

Blow some of the stuffiness out of your next corporate meeting and book your team onto the Boston Ghost Cruise. David Goldstein and David Stickney, also known as the two Davids, produce a spine-chilling, eye-opening account of Boston history and the ghosts that haunt Boston Harbor. Your group will never forget the tale of The Lady in Black or the Hanging of the Dread Pirate Fly.

Now that your team has worked up an appetite, keep the festive mood going and take them to the Elephant & Castle Restaurant & Pub. The dinner theater provides a great meal and outstanding live entertainment. One of their upcoming shows is Hell of Kitchen, a hilarious murder mystery featuring top super sleuth chefs Bobby Filet, Merrill La Gasseous, and Marta Stewing. The show runs from October 21, 2009 through February 27, 2010. Who know – maybe Gordon Ramsey will show up to stir the pot?

It’s the time of year to have a little fun and remember the thrill of ghost stories and murder mysteries. Stop in at Boston Harbor and take your team on a ghostly sea cruise for Halloween or stop by one of the areas best dinner theaters for a good meal and whodunit.

Getting out of the office and enjoying the fall foliage is a tradition in the New England states. The explosion of color is especially vivid in Connecticut and while pricing might be a bit high during the short autumn season, it is well worth it.

Litchfield Hills is home to the incredibly cozy boutique hotel, the Winvian. Situated on 113 acres, the rural setting offers incredible scenery along with peace and quiet. Each individual cottage has its own themed décor allowing guests to experience settings as esoteric as fairytale woodland to a modern helicopter interior. The Charter Oak cottage is designed around a live oak growing through the middle of the building, offering a green vacationing experience of a lifetime.

Guests can dine at the Winvian Restaurant or investigate local cafes. The Wandering Moose café serves a spectacular almond crusted trout. If you’re in the mood for something quite different, you can dine on barbequed duck legs at the Good News café.

Bring your hiking boots and trek the rolling hills or get in some quality fishing time. Bicycle trips are a popular way to view the wildlife in the area. Spa treatments are available after a day in the great outdoors. One last outdoor adventure may be just what you need to make it through the winter of 2009.

“Would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon?” It was the 60’s and no one was really sure if the Fifth Dimension was singing about hot air balloons. Hot air ballooning is popular in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. Pilots in each country must have either a license or certificate.

A balloon trip builds team spirit and bonds team members in a unique way. The largest balloon carry 20 people, smaller baskets hold 3-4 passengers. Ballooning affords members a unique opportunity to pull together, especially if they are given the task of filling the balloon before take off.

Some variety of retrieval vehicle follows the balloons path and carries passengers and freshly packed balloon back to their point of origin. The chase crew constantly communicates with the pilot, keeping him informed of other aircraft in the area. Repacking the balloon can also be a team challenge – just how do you get thousands of feet of fabric into a three-foot bag?

There is no turbulence in a balloon, no sense of vertigo. The ride is peaceful and relaxing. Passengers are advised to dress warmly and in layers, as if they were going on a hike. Bring a camera and take some amazing images.

Hot air ballooning is a great way to build team camaraderie and is the experience of a lifetime. After all, the world’s a better place in a beautiful balloon.