Hornblower Cruises & Events

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Hornblower Cruises & Events

Business Meetings Editorial Copy

All Hands on Deck : Meetings on the Water

If there’s one thing slowing down the pace of American business, it has

to be the meeting. Despite advances in technology and

telecommunications, the need to sit down in a room and discuss a project

face-to-face will probably always be an important part of any corporate

success story. But just because you have to schedule meetings, they

don’t have to be boring. After all, most of the time you hold a meeting

in hopes of generating some creative ideas to boost productivity or to

motivate your staff. And endless hours shut up in the company

conference room or a stuffy hotel meeting room hardly qualifies as an

energizing environment.

Instead, imagine your meeting taking place aboard an elegant yacht.

Picture gentle sea breezes and the beautiful California coastline

instead of icy air conditioning and windowless conference rooms.

Envision coffee breaks up on deck and a delicious lunch freshly prepared

on-board at the end of a truly productive work session.

Sound too good to be true? Just like a field trip can be a refreshing

way to help kids learn outside of the classroom, a business meeting held

on the water will spark the spirits of your employees and your clients.

Just picture the look on the face of your out-of-town customer or your

field employees when you lead them aboard a private yacht for a business

meeting and delightful harbor cruise rolled into one.

A chartered yacht offers a wonderful environment for conducting

business. There are no annoying ringing telephones, no inter-office

pages, and no other distractions to concern you. Your guests will have

a better opportunity to focus on the subject at hand and no chance to

run back to the office at breaks or to duck out at lunch time. You will

have a captive, and usually, a grateful audience.

If the idea of a luxury yacht sounds too expensive, take the time to do

some research. Yachts vary in size, style and amenities, and a program

can easily be tailored to fit your needs and your budget. In fact, a

meeting on the water falls into the same price range as one in a

conventional hotel meeting room, but a chartered yacht offers much more

in the way of comfort and panache. Many cruise companies can provide

event management, so you’ll get help in planning and organizing your

meeting down to the final detail. And, if you’re concerned about queasy

meeting attendees, rest assured that chartered cruises take place on

calm bay waters, not rolling ocean swells. Fine weather usually

prevails in California, but if not, most yachts offer climate-controlled

decks year round.

What kinds of meetings work best on a yacht? Well, almost any type of

corporate get-together can work. The following are some tried-and-true

successes:

* Brainstorming , When the object of a meeting is to develop some new

ideas or business strategies, there is hardly a more perfect place to

think creatively than on a private yacht. The change in scenery far

away from the office provides a fresh and stimulating environment in

which to let ideas flourish. Breaks up on deck will invigorate your

team as they work, and you won’t have to worry about interruptions

putting a stop to creative flow.

* The Sale Pitch , If you’re looking for a unique way to land a new

account, holding your sales presentation on the water can be a real deal

clincher. Rather than trapping your new business prospects in a dull

conference room, invite them aboard a private yacht and then “wow” them

with a polished, professional pitch. Treat them to delicious gourmet

treats during breaks and a lavish lunch afterwards. Your clients will

feel not only well-informed but pampered. And since they’ll be a

captive audience, they will more likely listen carefully to what you

have to say.

* Team Building and Employee Appreciation , The trend toward team

building is still going strong, so next time hold your company’s

off-site meeting on a bay cruise. You’ll have the space you need for

your team building and communications exercises, and they’ll seem much

less tedious in a different and luxurious shipboard setting. And this

is a terrific way to let your employees know they’ve done an outstanding

job.

* Client Appreciation and Entertainment , Don’t bore your clients with a

standard dinner in a restaurant. As nice as that can be, give them an

honest-to-goodness breath of fresh air along with an exquisite meal and

fine wine, complete with the sun setting on the water as an

unforgettable backdrop. You will have plenty of opportunity to give

your guests personal attention, thank them for their patronage and show

your appreciation.

* Special Events , Awards ceremonies, holiday parties, annual

meetings,almost any type of corporate event works well on a yacht, and

they are not only fun but unique. Custom-designed give-aways imprinted

with the company or meeting theme can help pull your event together.

Many yacht charter companies offer the in-house capability to coordinate

every aspect of an event, down to customized invitations,

transportation, audio-visual equipment, professional photography and

entertainment, even ground transportation, to ensure that your event is

a success. When you’re planning your next business meeting, try a

splash of ingenuity: take it to the water.

This article courtesy of Hornblower Cruises & Events. For more

information on chartering a Hornblower Yacht in Marina del Rey, Newport

Beach or Long Beach, call 310-301-6000.

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