<--more Florida Resorts More Absolutely Florida -->
|
Feature Story: |
 Corporate By Helen Hill o o o o |
Tampa30 minutes from Tampa International Airport available. Easy access from major highways.
THE RESORT Saddlebrook
covers 480 acres but the compact layout puts everything nearby in the
resort's Walking Village. The guest accommodation, (800 rooms and suites)
restaurants, meeting facilities shopping, tennis and the first tee of
the golf course surround the Superpool. Two championship 18-hole golf
courses and the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy for personalized instruction.
There is one of the US's largest tennis complexes with 45 hard, clay and
grass courts. Racquet magazine
says Saddlebrook is "Arguably the best tennis resort in the nation."
The Harry Hopman Tennis Academy offers clinics for players of matched
abilities. Swimmers will enjoy the Superpool which is as large as football
field. Fish for bass in privately-stocked resort lakes.
THE PROGRAMS
Saddlebrook has transformed 5 acres into an impressive Executive Challenge Course specifically designed to improve groups' leadership, communication skills, creative problem solving, trust and teamwork. It includes 16 initiatives such as the Energy Circle and Space Web -- (no part of your body can touch the threads and only one pass per opening is allowed -- as well as 11 High Ropes course activities. Learn how to convert stress into a positive force for improved health and productivity.
The Saddlebrook activities staff also organize a number of Corporate Challenges: "Build a Boat & Hope It Floats Regatta" has a serious purpose in a fun setting. competition is downplayed, in favor of getting people involved. The teams develop creative problem-solving techniques and new relationships that will endure well beyond the moment the last boat crosses the finish line. Groups are divided into teams which design and build boats that float --out of cardboard and duct tape. Imagination and teamwork are the keys to success as the individual personality of each team member comes across in their creation. After the boats are completed it's off to the pool to test their cardboard inventions in this hilarious regatta.
In keeping with the spirit of
the event, prizes are awarded for the most creative boat design and for the most
spirited team -- sink or swim. Other corporate challenges include Night Golf Gala,
"Not Necessarily Official" Olympics, Super Sports and TeamVideo Challenge.
Mission Inn Golf and Tennis Resort
10400 County Road 48
Howey In the Hills, FL 34737
Reservations: 800-874-9053
Fax: 352 324-2636
Located 35 minutes northwest of Orlando, equidistant from both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico and easily accessible from major highways and interstates.
THE RESORT The Mission
Inn Golf and Tennis Resort nestles among green hills, framed by picturesque
stands of tall pines, oak and cypress trees. Red-tile roofs, open courtyards,
wrought iron gates and bubbling fountains give this country inn a unique
Spanish flavor. The decor
and furnishings are authentically Spanish throughout the 189 deluxe hotel
rooms, suites and villas. Three restaurants, extensive banquet and meeting
facilities, a business center and first class recreational amenities complete
the picture. The award-winning
golf and tennis resort boasts two challenging and championship golf courses,
six clay-type tennis courts and two hard courts, a heated pool and spa,
exercise room, a two mile jogging/fitness trail, volleyball and shuffleboard.
Over at the Marina del Rey complex, a 2,976 square ft, screened lakeside
pavilion overlooks scenic Lake Harris, one of the largest in Florida.
The Mission Inn's fleet of boats with its flagship, the river yacht La
Reina, takes guests pleasure cruising or out for some of the best fishing
in the state.
THE PROGRAMS
Mission Inn is the home of the largest year round experiential training course in the southeast US. Built by the resort in 1993 in partnership with Action Learning Associates, Inc., it hosts many of the nations's top Fortune 500 companies for an innovative corporate training program. The state-of-the-art course is located in a lush and serene setting, amid the orange groves and heavily-wooded forests overlooking Lake Harris. The pavilion at Marina Del Rey is used for many of the training activities.
Teamworks facilitates the program with the slogan -- "If business is war, then welcome to its commando course." The Executive Training Course presents opportunities for individuals in an organization to learn communication, cooperation and leadership by working together to complete physically challenging obstacles. Walking among the trees, a clearing reveals a tall pole or walls with names like "The Spider Web," The Corporate Tower' "The Pole" and "The Trust Fall." Each one represents a challenge that may be faced in the work place.
Training programs are designed
specifically to meet the objectives and goals of each company. With a choice of
60-70 events on the ropes course and around the 625 acres of Mission Inn, the
programs may involve a series of outside challenges or entail using "the
Team Management System." This system measures individual preferences, and
provide a means for participants to explore their strengths and weaknesses within
a specific department. Teamworks staff may also facilitate indoor advanced business
simulation or a combination of any of these learning experiences. As executives
work together to complete a task, facilitators will discuss real-life applications
as they relate to business.
Grenelefe
Golf and Tennis Resort
3200 State Road 546
Haines City, FL 33844
Reservations: 800/237-9549
Group Sales: 800/422-5333
Fax: 941/421-5025
Centrally located 45 minutes from Orlando International Airport & 75 minutes from Tampa International Airport. Approximately 30 minutes from Central Florida's famed attractions.
THE RESORT Grenelefe
Golf and Tennis Resort: Set in a peaceful, nature-laden setting of 1,000
acres. The world class sports resort and conference center has been completely
refurbished after a multi-million dollar, two year renovation program. Over 850 villa/suites
and deluxe club rooms are housed in two-story contemporary buildings among
stately oaks and Florida pines. Floor-to-ceiling glass doors lead to a
large porch or patio with scenic views towards the golf course or tennis
courts. The Grenelefe Conference Center can accommodate groups of 10 to
2,000 in flexible meeting space totaling over 50,000 square feet. Outdoors
a 5,000 square foot poolside pavilion seats up to 500 guests. The three
"E's" -- eating, exercise and entertainment are well catered
to with three restaurants, a fitness club and 1.7 mile fitness trail and
the Lancelot Lounge - high energy sports bar with 10 TV screens showing
the top sporting events. At night there's the Piano Bar with DJ'd dance
music. When it comes
to golf, Grenelefe has collected more than its share of awards. Among
them, ratings as one of Golfer Magazine's Top 100 Resorts in the World
in 1996 and for the last two years, a "Golden Links" certification
by Corporate Meetings and Incentives Magazine. The three
championship golf course in natural rolling terrain and plush fairways
offer three distinctly different golf experiences. This is where the pros
come to qualify. For the fourth time Grenelefe hosted the prestigious
PGA Tour Qualifying School finals. Tennis players
can choose from 20 hard, clay, or grass tennis courts and fishing fans
can try their luck in the 6,400 acre bass-filled Lake Marion. Daytime
cruises from the marina showcase the abundant wildlife including eagles,
blue herons, alligators and many other species. Four swimming pools, two
heated, add to the amenities.
THE PROGRAMS
Grenelefe Golf and Tennis Resort is a noted for corporate conferences and meetings. Team building programs are offered throughout the resort and on a special ropes course. "Team Challenge" is a series of activity stations where individuals must work together to complete each challenge. Teams of any number from 10 to 35 keep score as the members learn the essentials of group dynamics through creative and cooperative problem-solving techniques. The atmosphere is competitive but also fun with programs such as "Fortune 400" Road Rally, the Wacky Olympics, Indiana Jones Adventure, Scavenger Hunt and more. For the Cardboard Boat Regatta, teams are challenged to build two-person boats out of corrugated cardboard and other materials and then race them -- if they don't sink -- across the pool.
Each program, designed to create high-performance teams, is customized for the needs of the group, whether physical or non-physical.
"Our programs ultimately, are
designed to challenge people to go beyond their perceived boundaries and to work
together with others to solve problems and experience success." says Nadine
Broadie of Adventure Corps, the company that runs the programs at Grenelefe.
Dodgertown
Vero Beach, FL 32961
Tel: 561/569-4900
Reservations: 800/HCC-MEET
Fax: 561/562- 5199
Easily accessible from major highways or from West Palm Beach International Airport to the south, about one hour and 30 minute drive. Orlando International Airport to the north, is one hour and 40 minutes away. Melbourne Regional Airport is about a 50 minute drive. Vero Beach Municipal Airport is located just 5 minutes away. Executive Charter and Taxi Services are also available.
Located in
the heart of Vero Beach on Florida's Treasure Coast, Dodgertown is an
exclusive Conference Center facility dedicated to the professional delivery
of conference and meeting services. The Center is owned by the Los Angeles
Dodgers and managed by Harrison Conference Services. Specially
designed conference rooms, guestrooms with work areas, fine cuisine and
total flexibility make up just some of the facilities and support services
offered to enhance business meetings and corporate conferences. In keeping
with the Dodger theme, the main meeting rooms are named after baseball
greats. With only 88 guestrooms, Dodgertown provides an exclusivity rarely
found at meeting sites. A staff of 300 to cater to every need and professional
staff often outnumber the conferees. Palm trees
dot Dodgertown's 220 acres. Recreation facilities on-site include Olympic
size swimming pool, six tennis courts, 27 holes of championship golf,
jogging trails Nautilus Health club, lighted basketball and volleyball
courts and six softball fields. One of Dodgertown's most impressive facilities
is Holman Stadium, the 6,500-seat Spring Training home of the Los Angeles
Dodgers, where guests can enjoy the experience of playing ball where the
pros play.
THE RESORT
THE PROGRAMS
The Dodgertown Executive Leadership Course emphasizes experiential learning through competition and building team spirit both indoors and out. The course consists of ten low challenges and two high challenges. Some utilize teamwork, others are personal pursuit.
The Team Wall and Quantum Leap make up Dodgertown's high challenges. Just the names of the low challenges give warning of what to expect: The Corporate Spider Web, Corporate Islands, the Log Jam, Bridge of Freedom, Team Juggle, Lean on Me, Mission Impossible, Mohawk Walk, Acid River, Nitro Crossing. Each activity is designed as a learning tool metaphor that can be translated back into the workplace.
