Corporate Retreats I'd Like to See
By Mike Werling
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Ever wonder where top executives get together for high-level meetings or corporate retreats? (We don't have to wonder about AIG after its well publicized taxpayer-sponsored shindig a couple of weeks ago.) Well, the folks at Hideaways International have an idea. They "hide executives away so that they can plan their company's next corporate takeover, brainstorm for a new product line or outline next year's business plan."
The travel specialists there organize retreats for company CEOs and presidents in ultra-private and exclusive locations:
- Private islands. Hope there are clothing-mandatory beaches.
- Elite villas. Each titan of industry with a crown of his own.
- Exclusive inns. I see Larry, Darryl and Darryl in tuxedos.
- Luxury cruise ships or private yachts. Lots of calf-high black socks and white deck shoes.
- Adventure getaways. Plenty of next-day sore muscles and agonizing leg cramps.
While it's easy to see top-level executives at places normal people couldn't gain access to, I got to thinking about business barons and the settings I'd like to see them in just once for an ultra-important meeting.
- Real Estate Mogul Donald Trump--The house I grew up in (people, bathroom)
- Focus on the Family Founder James Dobson--Playboy Mansion
- Skin-Magazine Pioneer Hugh Hefner--Focus on the Family headquarters
- Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig--The upper deck of any stadium during a rain delay
- CEOs of the Big Three Automakers--On any rush-hour-clogged L.A. freeway in the fastest car any of them makes
- Home-Everything Maven Martha Stewart--A state-sponsored hospitality facility bereft of windows and any other luxury items...wait...
- Celebrity Chefs Emeril, Bobby Flay, Wolfgang Puck, Mario Batali--Chuck E. Cheese (complete with birthday seranade)
Anyone else wanna send an executive somewhere nice?
