 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||
Summer temps and vacation schedules may be hitting their peak, but it’s never too soon to begin planning autumn’s busy conference and meeting season. While there are plenty of in-town venues, often a group retreat away from city and office distractions is exactly what the corporate agenda requires. Isolated, all-natural settings often hold the key to capturing group focus and unleashing creative synergy. Here are a few unique, off-the-beaten-path venues to consider: Unique Teambuilding Take a cue from the art of horse whispering to lead your retreat’s purpose down new roads of communication and leadership. Offering customized hands-on awareness-building activities with horses, WaterStone Estate & Farms in King Township, ON is a100-acre idyllic country setting for one- and two-day day retreats with overnight accommodation coordinated close by. The year-round equestrian-centric facility houses a well-appointed main meeting/dining area and several breakout rooms where groups of up to 150 people to learn about solidifying interpersonal relationships and “herd” respect. Stage your own outdoor teambuilding exercises in surrounding meadows and paddocks including horseback riding (for smaller groups) and horse-led scavenger hunts. www.waterstonefarms.com  E'Terra Eco-luxury Nestled among the ancient forest of the Bruce Peninsula with sparkling Georgian Bay lapping its shoreline, E’Terra is a new multi-million dollar luxury eco-lodge just outside of Tobermory, ON. A LEEDS-certified, award-winning green venue, this spectacular 8,400 sq. ft. hideaway for up to 14 peope inspires in its quest to balance, earth, ecology, economics and ethics. Sumptuous two-story suite lofts, fireside meeting space, handsome, fully equipped boardroom and library, and massage sanctuary offer amenities plus. Exclusivity available: custom design team activities around nature experiences and wellness activities. An onsite heli-pad, and nearby airport, make fast work of the just over three-hour drive from Toronto. www.eterra.ca
 Westwind Inn. Cottage-country Wilderness Deep in Peterborough, ON’s Kawartha country, surrounded by pine forest and Buckhorn Lake, the Westwind Inn pulls together the best of when a corporate meeting collides with nature. The 35-room inn, available for exclusive takeover, has three meeting rooms, the largest accommodating up to 80 people. Overflow accommodation is available near by. Sixty acres of grounds, gardens and ponds make for a natural teambuilding playground. Take to the lake in canoes and kayaks, or hold orienteering activities along interpretive nature trails. In winter, the dining-room fireplace lounge, and in summer, lakefront dock seating, beckon as natural gathering spots for guests. Swimming pool, hot tubs and sauna offer an attractive quotient of post-meeting r&r. www.westwindinn.net
 Silver Springs Retreat. Cooking Up Goals Gourmet culinary classes and tutored wine tastings are the icing on the cake after a day of corporate-intense workshops — or an integral part of – at the 139-acre Silver Springs Retreat, located 25 minutes south of Collingwood, just outside of Flesherton, ON. With on-site deluxe accommodation for groups of 13 or more, planners can book resort exclusivity plus call on the neighbouring locale for additional sleeping rooms. While the resort is open to any itinerary, its structured packages are worth investigating. Taking the lead from meeting session timing, suggested retreat schedules can include a Great Canadian Trivia Challenge that encourages guests to explore the spectacular property, a seasonal physical activity, gourmet cooking class and bonfire and beer networking in the woods. www.silverspringretreat.com
 Riverbend Inn & Vinyard. Among the Vines Old-world, stately Georgian elegance amid 17 acres of new-world Ontario vineyards offers a charming and potentially exclusive haven for groups of up to 48 at Riverbend Inn & Vineyard in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Hold brainstorming sessions in the onsite Coach House (48 classroom-seating), gather a dozen VIPs in the overlooking-vineyard’s boardroom, and host post-work cocktails/supper on the dining room’s outdoor terrace for up to 50 (heated tenting available). With 21 fireplace-appointed double guest rooms (and loads of additional local accommodation), planners can build in many of the area’s offerings. Organize a cycling event along the Niagara Parkway Trail adjacent the inn. Parallel professional development programs around the ideology of cultivating vineyards, and, of course, celebrate talent by taking in the Shaw Festival. www.riverbendinn.ca
|
