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.