Entrance to "Carefree Resort", Phoenix, Arizona

Carefree Resort & Conference Center is a wonderful resort stay less than an hour from Phoenix Sky Harbor in the High Sonoran Desert, located on 20+ acres… ideal as an affordable corporate retreat, conferences, meetings, or business related get-a-ways.

Carefree Resort opened in 1963. In the low-season, the hotel solicited vacancies at low rates with fliers – in the high season, room rates were offered as low as $89.

Lariat Restaurant, Carefree Resort

Newly renovated in 2009, the Carefree Resort is located a ways off Tom Darlington Road. To date, it has been somewhat ignored, perhaps due in part to the continuous success of “The Boulders.” Now, it is that exact laid back tone of the property that has made the hotel a best kept secret of the area.

We had a very enjoyable and relaxing weekend at Carefree. Two events took place during the weekend, the Leann Rimes concert, which drew over 600 people, and the Carefree Chili Cook-Off 2012, for which Maralyn was a judge. As part of the International Chili Society sponsored cook-offs, rules for judging the chili were exact, whereas verde and salsa rules had somewhat more flexibility for judges.  …One of the best blind tasting experiences Maralyn has ever experienced as a food judge…

Our site inspection showed the resort’s transformation. Four types of rooms are now available, Resort, Premier, Sonoran, and Villa. The first two, along with villas, have been made into a southwestern mode, while Sonoran, where we stayed, is more contemporary. Villas have 12 units currently completed with updating. They are part of a time-sharing structure. Villa owners were assessed renovation costs, just as the new management firm, on behalf of owners, paid for the rest of restructuring.

Premier King Room, Carefree Resort

In total, there are now 234 rooms available. High season rates are around $159, quite reasonable. We appreciated the complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi and the size of the rooms. In our spacious room we slept through the night, a good test of mattress and pillows.

Carefree Resort provides the usual range of features with a full service spa, five lighted tennis courts and tennis professional on property, heated serenity pool and tennis villa pool, and a 24 hour fitness facility.

In addition, complimentary shuttle service to local shops and restaurants of Carefree and Cave Creek is provided and golf is nearby.

The resort’s impressive entrance lobby features a fireplace that connects to the Lariat Restaurant. Set up in a circular design, the restaurant provides excellent service and offerings. Connected to Lariat is a circular bar, once used only for meetings. During summer months, Lariat opens its windows to provide de facto outdoor dining. A short distance outside, the Red Horse Saloon was the original bar. Now, with a more conveniently located bar adjacent to Lariat, Red Horse serves as a large scale meeting room, complete with pool tables. In addition, Carefree offers The Opera House as a venue, where “Grand Ole Opry” roots have been reinterpreted to fit Carefree’s western character.

We enjoyed first-rate meals at Lariat where every meal exceeded our expectations. Our primary dinner on Saturday night featured Maralyn’s choice of Chilean Sea Bass, while Norm enjoyed a 14-ounce pork chop with chutney. We started with lobster bisque and shared carrot cake for dessert. Our wines were paired perfectly.

The previous night, we ate dinner al fresco, on the terrace adjoining the spa. Norm had French onion soup and a main course of shrimp pasta, while Maralyn enjoyed a quesadilla.

Spa services were excellent. Norm chose a regular deep tissue massage, applied with medium pressure, and Maralyn, as usual, had the deep tissue as deep as possible with a body treatment. The spa is medium size and excellent in every way.

It is helpful to know that the Carefree and Cave Creek area was founded in the 50s and a center for culture and art. Since then, the area has developed into a haven for artists and artisans who are inspired by its desert landscapes, spectacular sunsets and majestic rock formations. They are both fun and interesting destinations, with Scottsdale and Phoenix just a short distance away.

We both felt carefree and relaxed at the Carefree Resort.

Fly the Open Skies!

By Michelle Morañha Winner and Maralyn D. Hill

The thought of going to Paris in shoulder season kept playing a tape through our minds. Would it be chilly along the Champs Elysees?  Would long lines into the museums truly be gone? Would the magic of Paris still be there?

Our group of 2 couples, comprised of 4 journalists, soon found that Paris wears many faces and would be fantastic anytime of the year.  But first we had to get there. The positive responses to our queries began with the all-business class airline “OpenSkies,” a subsidiary of British Airways. Never heard of them?  You are not alone, but Parisians and U.S. East Coast-based business folks have been using this direct to Paris airline since its debut in 2008. Decide on one of the daily flights from Newark, New Jersey, to the less frantic than Paris’ Charles de Gaulle, Orly Sud, and a jaunt to Paris is easy. In the complementary OpenSkies pre-flight lounge in Newark, you’ll see in-the-know wine brokers, Asian and American businessmen, and many Parisians of all ages hunkered over laptops or enjoying a glass of champagne, croissant sandwich, or a steaming cup of cappuccino. Flights are discounted for certain routes during shoulder season, which makes a good value now an outright bargain. Check the website frequently.

In flight food service

In the air, flying roomy albeit older Boeing 757s, two classes of service provide different experiences. The fully reclining Biz Bed (to 180 degrees) with duvet cover is available for a higher fare that includes, individually plated meals, nicer amenity kit, and noise cancelling headphones.  But our seats in Biz Seat section were large and comfortably reclined to 140 degrees with only two seats on each side of the aisle. We had all of the complementary wine, meals, and amenities, including iPads with movies and games that  rival  most U.S. airline domestic business class, but without the hefty ocean-crossing  price tag of  international business class.

Our cabin attendants to Orly were two great looking aloof young men, but on the way home, we were welcomed and looked after by two lovely women wearing sharp suits and big smiles. This was an ideal way to go to Paris for value conscious travelers, interested in a comfortable overnight flight.

While transferring to baggage claim, we asked a few of the other passengers about their experience. They were happy with the price, comfort, and service. That was the best testimony of all.

Pool at the Enchantment Resort

When entering the gated grounds of Enchantment Resort & Spa in Sedona, one can easily see why in the know organizations pick this site for small meetings, incentives, or corporate retreats. It is an ideal secluded destination, self-contained, that offers everything you want and need in amenities for meetings and personal get-a-ways. Located in the midst of the Coconino National Forest and the Red Rock/Secret Mountain Wilderness area in Boynton Canon, you find luxury and a well-trained staff that provides excellent service.

Tennis Courts Beneath the Red Rocks

Each Enchantment villa is exquisite in its design that reflects natural surroundings, as well as views of host of giant red rocks, which are incredibly comforting. When traveling from the your room via foot or golf cart to the clubhouse, Mii amo Spa, or tennis courts, you usually will observe one or two deer or other wildlife along the way. This is true especially at dawn and dusk. From a business point of view, available services include:

• The Front Desk Staff will fax, scan, or copy whatever is necessary.
• Computers and printers are located at the Clubhouse 24 hours a day on a complimentary basis.

There is a resort fee, but it covers more than usual:

• Local and toll free calls.
• Access to Mii amo Spa, fitness classes, and lectures.
• Tennis courts with lessons, mountain bikes with maps and safety equipment, croquet, pitch & put golf, ping pong, as well as no additional charge for use of the equipment.
• Various activities, including lectures, performances, classes, and Native American Programs.
• Laundry facilities and products.
• Postage for postcards and letters.

Yavapai

Mii amo Spa offers spa services that appeal to men, women, and couples, all age sixteen and over. Their signature treatments revolve around Native American traditions of the local area. In addition to the optional spa services you need to reserve, workout facilities should meet the needs of most, with treadmills, elliptical trainers, free weights, exercise bikes, and a Cybex circuit. If you are escaping as a family, Camp Coyote has a unique children’s program, which explores culture and traditions of the Southwest through arts and crafts, hikes, and sports. Dining is covered in a wide variety of environments.  The Yavapai Restaurant focuses on regional cuisine while providing a panoramic view of red rock canyon walls. Yavapai takes pride in its fine selection of wines and provides a relaxed atmosphere for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Our own experiences were a memorable breakfast and dinner that included outstanding corn chowder. Til Gavo provides a view of the canyon and is a relaxed environment for cocktails, a casual lunch, or dinner. This experience was not first hand, as we ran out of time. Mii amo Café uses healthy cooking techniques to

Our Room

provide regional eclectic cuisine. Its menu offers nutritional breakdowns for all selections and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Chef Corey Shoemaker combines an outstanding variety of grains, legumes, and seasonal products to create his delicious entrées of fresh seafood, meats, poultry, and vegetables. The Café also has a Juice Bar that turns out tasty energy drinks, smoothies, wines, and all sorts of specialties. In addition, Enchantment has a seasonal Pool Bar, as well as 24-hour Room Service for in-room dining. We highly recommend Enchantment for a corporate retreat or personal get-a-way, partly because attention is paid to every detail. The surrounding mountains do interfere with mobile phones, so you have to go to certain areas in the resort to gain the best reception. Any minor inconvenience, of a temporary cut-off from mobile phones is not necessarily all bad. Plus, with wireless in our rooms, we could use Skype without a problem. While we were experiencing Enchantment, the resort was at 100% occupancy. But it was not evident any way. One can easily see why so many guests and corporations return, we would. We used Sedona-Phoenix Shuttle Service to take us from Phoenix Sky Harbor to Enchantment. Generally, they stop at a central location however, you can arrange service to the resort.

The Mill House Inn, East Hampton, New York

Surrounded by spectacular ocean beaches, pristine bays and picturesque country roads, the East End of Long Island is a fisherman’s playground, a vintner’s paradise and an artist’s inspiration. Enjoy foggy mornings, lazy days, blazing sunsets and starlit nights. Walk from our East Hampton inn to world-class restaurants, shops, galleries and theaters. Take a scenic drive to all that the Hamptons have to offer – from the fishing boats in Montauk to the farmers market in Amagansett, antiquing in Sag Harbor, the wineries in Bridgehampton and the mansions in Southampton!  Curl up with a novel on The Mill House Inn’s front porch overlooking the historic Old Hook Windmill or sneak away for a bit of solitude in our lush gardens.

Whether you travel to Long Island on a honeymoon or a family vacation, a business conference or a romantic getaway, comfortable beds, gas fireplaces, deep soaking tubs, spacious dog-friendly suites, a  leisurely breakfast  our guests proclaim “simply the best”, our attention to detail, old fashioned hospitality and a wonderful relaxed atmosphere assure your visit to our East Hampton New York inn will remain a treasured memory.

Please spend a moment and read a few of our  Reviews  to see what they are saying about the Mill House Inn.  Check out our Calendar of Events to see what’s happening, our Gallery to see why we love it out here so much, Breakfast to start salivating over Gary’s menu, Accommodations to choose the room that’s just right for you, and Availability to book your reservation online. Or give us a call – we always love to hear from you.

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www.millhouseinn.com     631.324.9766     innkeeper@millhouseinn.com

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Italian Volcano Lemonade Cocktails

Just two weeks ago, we were unloading four pallets of products for our attendees to experience and test while sailing on the Holland America ms Westerdam. We were tired, worn, laughing, almost crying, and looking for a finish line.

The staff of HAL was assisting as they could, and moving the numerous boxes in and out of the staging room. Since most products were new-to-market food and beverage, Walter Schmuckenschlag, the Beverage Manager for the ship, made frequent appearances to check-in and see what we were unearthing.

One of our generous sponsors, Italian Volcano Lemonade, provided enough 100% Organic Old Fashioned Lemonade for each participant, as well as extra for us to serve at professional development breaks. We shared some with the helpful crew and Walter, with his fine eye for spirits, thought this product looked especially promising. He said it would be perfect with a flavored vodka, maybe blueberry —“for research” he said through his smile — Maralyn handed him the fine old fashioned glass bottle of lemonade.

The following Monday, after one of our conference breaks, Walter came by to say that the Italian Volcano Lemonade might be a great base for fine cocktails. So we bribed him, by saying, “We will give you more if you make us some special drinks and provide the recipe for our readers.” Convincing ourselves that this was a stellar idea, we continued to remind him throughout the week.

Maralyn D. Hill, The Ship Captain, and Michelle M. Winner

Finally, Thursday evening, the ship’s Captain hosted a cocktail party for our IFWTWA group. When we walked into the Crow’s Nest, there was Walter, making lemonade cocktails for the two of us. When the Captain asked why he was behind the bar, we told him. The captain then commented on Walter, former bartender, then chef, now Beverage Manager. “At this moment, Walter is in the role of our most expensive bartender.” With our new friend, the affable Walter, we all shared a laugh and a very good drink!

In any case, here are Walter’s two wonderful summer drink recipes:

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Mt. Etna Volcano Martini ( E.V. M.)

The lemonade, made at the foot of the still-smoldering Mt. Etna, is a lovely base for this refreshing libation by Walter Schmuckenschlag.

Ingredients:

1.5 oz Vodka

1 oz Poire Williams

.5 oz Triple Sec

1.5 oz Italian Volcano Lemonade (Organic)

Method:

Shake and strain into super-fine sugar-rimmed martini glass.

Garnish with cherry.

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Walter Schmuckenschlag & Organic Volcano Lava (Photo by Maralyn D. Hill)

Organic Volcano Lava (Non Alcoholic) | by Walter Schmuckenschlag, Holland America

Ingredients:

1.5 oz Strawberry Mix *

1.5 oz Mango Mix **

3 oz Italian Volcano Lemonade (Organic)

Method:

Put ingredients in blender.

Pour into pint or hurricane glass.

Garnish with fresh strawberry.

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MDH and MMW Note:

Add a shot of vodka for an alcoholic version.

*Use 4 or 5 frozen strawberries with a ¼ teaspoon simple syrup, if desired.

**Use 4 or 5 frozen mango slices with ¼ teaspoon simple syrup, if desired.

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We bet Walter could do wonders with the Italian Volcano Blood Orange Juice. Too bad we did not have him at our beck and call last year.

Where else could two women who kept requesting extra favors and service get such customized attention?  We offer up a glass of Italian Volcano Lemonade and salute you, Walter, for your help with our successful conference and our customized drinks. Thanks to Holland America for having Walter on board. We work hard, but the people we meet along the way make it worthwhile.

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Maralyn D. Hill and Michelle M. Winner

Freelance travel writer Maralyn D. Hill, The Epicurean Explorer, is President of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association. Maralyn focuses on food, spas, travel, and wine, while still covering meetings, incentives, and corporate assignments.

Freelance travel writer Michelle M. Winner, The Culinary Traveler, is Vice President of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association. Michelle focuses on all aspects of luxury for food, spas and travel.

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ms Westerdam

During the past two decades, my experience has included organizing incentive programs and conferences on cruise ships. They have proven to be easy to justify and budget, and provide a high-perceived value. A drawback with many large ships is that high achievers are limited to receiving verandah cabins. This has caused many incentive programs to turn to higher end smaller ships that could provide the exceptional service, but not the space required for a large group.

Holland America Lines has solved that dilemma with penthouse and deluxe verandah suites. The majority of the cabins are verandahs. However, on the ms Westerdam, Oosterdam, Noordam, Eurodam and Nieuw Amsterdam, as well as various classes of ships, this category is available with approximately more than 60 deluxe verandah and penthouse suites. Guests enjoy the use of the Neptune Lounge, which provides a relaxed atmosphere with up-to-date newspapers, magazines, and television, in addition to coffee or tea with fresh cold snacks all day.

The Neptune Lounge

The Neptune Lounge concierges are able to assist you on the spot with front office transactions, reservations for the Pinnacle Grill and Canaletto Restaurant, or other restaurants available on other ships, and shore excursion information and bookings. Each suite phone has a direct line to the Neptune Lounge concierge, which provides concierge service 24 hours a day.

In addition, suite guests enjoy priority tender service by simply presenting their suite keycard to access the tender embarkation deck—no lines in the lounge waiting for a tender ticket.

Here are my own personal favorites for suite guests: Complimentary laundry, dry cleaning and pressing services; high tea service and hors d’oeuvres delivered to your suite upon request with 24 hours notice; and preferred luggage handling. In addition, breakfast is available in the Pinnacle Grill for penthouse and deluxe verandah suite guests.

It will probably be only a matter of time before the other major cruise lines offer a similar service. However, Holland America has it in place and working well.

deluxe verandah suite

So for just about any size incentive group, you could divide up your categories between verandahs, deluxe verandah suites, penthouse suites, and for a lower category, ocean view cabins. The entire ship offers a wide variety of entertainment, activities, and services. These numerous suites make a huge difference in being able to award top achievers.

Private chef's dinner for 20

Board rooms and meeting rooms are readily available and comfortable. Private functions are able to schedule in numerous venues. Shore excursions, spa services, and extra amenities are easily arranged, or you can contract local tourism bureaus for assistance. Many of the ships will set up a Chef’s Table Dinner for 20 where the Culinary Arts Center is converted for the event.

In general, most participants in cruise incentives remember cruises as providing memorable positive experiences, with everyone feeling special.

Since it has been my preference to stay with Holland America Lines the past three years, this is not meant to be a comparison between cruise lines. I would have to sail on other lines before I could intelligently make that comparison. Even though I have sailed in the past on other lines, ships are regularly refitted every five years or so. What is evident is Holland America’s approach works, and works well. Its well-planned and orchestrated program with a controlled budget provides a perfect answer for an incentive program. The group sales department is willing to work to ensure positive results.

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Freelance travel writer Maralyn D. Hill, The Epicurean Explorer, is President of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association. Maralyn focuses on food, spas, travel, and wine, while still covering meetings, incentives, and corporate assignments.

Website, Blogs & Email:  Where and What in the World, NoraLyn, IFWTWA Profile, mdhill@noralyn.com

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Over the years, people not familiar with Northern California’s Wine Country always ask, “What’s the difference between Napa and Sonoma Counties for my meeting?” I wrestle with this question on a daily basis in counseling clients. Because Symtrek Partners is focused on high-end experiential corporate ‘happenings/events’, the best location for a business meeting or board meeting or any off-site meeting is really dependent on the purpose or objectives of the event. To that end, Symtrek Partners spends most of its time collecting critical data from the client, analyzing their needs then making recommendations for meeting site and activities.

Napa County’s success is a result of a perfect storm: a convergence of a super sized ego(s), marketing genius, success in Paris, big name players (private and corporate) and a very defined geographic region. If any one of these elements had been lost in the 70’s and 80’s, Napa would probably have less of a cachet today. On the other hand, Sonoma County was the first wine region in California. It is 3 times larger than Napa County, enjoys a 55 mile picturesque coast line and is dominated by established lineages of family owned vineyards and wineries. But each, with their differences offer a great place to experience…a great board meeting, a great team building exercise, a great incentive program — as we say, “A pinnacle experience”.

Mondavi Wine Barrels

Napa of today was born of a well executed marketing strategy to make Napa an icon of culture, wealth, corporate presence, and food, while being wine centric. It was/is “the place to see and be seen”. Like Sonoma, Napa has a great infrastructure that caters to corporate and leisure events; it’s just much more concentrated. Some say Napa’s success is due to the prophesying of one man: Robert Mondavi. On the other hand, Sonoma is about generations of families who work the land and produce the broadest range of varietal grapes and wines without much fanfare, but with equal sophistication. Because Sonoma is so large, compared to Napa, it has many significant appellations that are disparate and do not coalesce into a single defined area like Napa. With approximately the same number of luxury hotel and estate properties and activities their diversity is spread out over a larger area that includes Redwoods, the ocean and interior valleys. Sonoma and Napa are also defined by their commitment to nature. (More on this in a moment.)

Both counties have their equal share of high-end self contained ‘destination resort’ properties (inclusive of hotel, spa, fine dining and golf amenities—all on-site). Napa and Sonoma are equally populated with prestigious exclusive hotels and restaurants/chefs. Finally, activities are plentiful to support great corporate meetings. For example, winey visits, hot air ballooning, golf, green winery/vineyard tours, etc. Going one step further, great options exist for small corporate meetings using exclusive private estates with all the amenities such as a private chef.

Food is still a major attraction and reason for a Wine Country meeting. To start with, I mention the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in Napa and Ramekins in Sonoma. The Culinary Institute of America is all about training professional chefs and Ramekin’s is dedicated to a cooking school experience for people interested in cooking as an avocation. Both are great facilities for team building exercises. If there are requirements for a private/personal chef; Napa and Sonoma are rich in well known chefs. Of course, The French Laundry is the only Michelin 3 Star restaurant in Wine Country; well worth the experience. Together, in the 2007 Michelin Guide, Napa and Sonoma had a total of 10 restaurants rated 1, 2 and 3 Star (4 in Sonoma and 6 in Napa). Interestingly, approximately 35% of all Bay Area and Wine Country Michelin rated restaurants are in Wine Country. Not bad for farming communities!

If you are involved in a company that supports the “green, sustainable, organic and/or Biodynamic’s®” movement, coming to Wine Country will be your Nirvana. There are 13 wineries in Napa certificated by Napa County Environmental Management as “Green”. The Federal government has certified 150 Napa and Sonoma vineyards as “Organic”.  A lesser known certification that has been around since 1928 in Europe is a little more esoteric; “Biodynamic® Certification” is a method of grape production that goes well beyond organic into the realm of eco-system management. I am aware of 8 vineyards that are certified as “Biodynamic®” vineyards. The first such vineyard to be Biodynamic® in the U.S. was Benziger Family Winery in Sonoma County. If you want to experience a Green winery, Organic winery/vineyard or Biodynamic® certified grapes, Wine Country is holy ground. Of course, hundreds of wineries are certified by the State of California as “Sustainable”.

Finally, remember I said there was a connection with Napa’s success and Paris? The year 1976 is the year to remember for Napa and Wine Country. Well, this was the year that California wines broke the proverbial viticulture glass ceiling in Paris. At that French competition, Napa’s Chateau Montelena Winery’s 1973 Chardonnay (made from Sonoma County grapes) was judged the finest white wine by French judges. Chateau Montelena was competing against 4 French wines and 6 American white wines. At that same tasting, Napa’s Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars’ Cabernet Souvenian also took the top prize. This seminal tasting event was recreated at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in 1996 to mark the 20th anniversary of the event. At that time, bottles of the first-place wines–the 1973 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars’ Cabernet Sauvignon, and the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay–were accepted into the Museum’s collections.

If a wine country visit fits your corporate needs, both Napa and Sonoma Counties have great airports/FBO’s that cater to corporate jet clients. Both airports offer corporate turbine helicopter charter services for quick transportation to Carmel, San Francisco and Monterrey.

Some quick facts:

Steven Lay, a long-time veteran of the travel industry, is the owner of www.SymtrekPartners.com and www.ImageofWine.com.

To reach Steve, e-mail to: stevenlay@symtrekpartners.com

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Often it can be a challenge to discover a property or destination that is ideal for an incentive program or an upper-level meeting. The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort satisfies both objectives. Kiawah Island has long stood on its own, but The Sanctuary represents an ideal complement.

The Sanctuary is a combination of extraordinary southern hospitality and a relaxed atmosphere. Its lush surroundings include oceanfront dunes that are natural and all-encompassing. Just 30 minutes from Charleston, SC, it is relatively easy to reach.

Aerial View of the Sanctuary (Photo Credit: The Sanctuary, Charelston, South Carolina)

Kiawah (Kee-a-Wah) is on a carefully developed 10,000-acre barrier island. It lies along the Atlantic Ocean with ten miles of what is considered one of the top beaches of America. The island is a sanctuary for wildlife, including egrets, loggerhead turtles, and alligators.

Long known as an exceptional golf destination, Kiawah Island started with many villas and condos. When we lived in the Carolinas, we experienced Kiawah as a perfect getaway. The addition of the Sanctuary in 2004 took the island to an entirely new level. When the hotel was opened in 2004, it represented the finishing touch to an exceptionally well-developed destination.

Flying Heron are easy to sight (Photo courtesy of The Sanctuary)

Ocean, dunes, wildlife, and casual atmosphere in luxurious facilities combine to provide an elegant feeling. The Sanctuary appears like a stately seaside mansion gracing the grounds. Its exterior is manicured with welcoming gardens and pathways leading to the boardwalk and ocean. Upon entering, the interior welcomes you with grand spaces and high ceilings, two massive sweeping staircases, up to ballrooms on one end and a luxurious spa on the other. Antiques and comfortable seating areas, including a library, provide private and intimate gathering retreats. The Sanctuary was designed to provide the feeling of a 19th century Southern mansion. It is decorated so authentically, you would not realize it only opened in 2004.

What sells The Sanctuary for me is exceptional service. It is a five-star, five-diamond property with six- star-plus service. The level of service surpasses that of many other properties in the same category. The resort staff has an exceptionally low turnover rate and, according to staff, it should continue to stay low. The staff is friendly, loyal, helpful, and pays attention to every detail. At every level, they are happy and proud to be there.

Long famous for its golf, Kiawah also offers numerous other activities. The resort boasts five championship golf courses by top designers: The Ocean Course by Pete Dye; Osprey Point by Tom Fazio; Turtle Point by Jack Nicklaus; Cougar Point by Gary Player; and Oak Point by Clyde Johnson. I played the Ocean Course in 2005. The terrain was beautiful, windy, and extremely difficult, resulting in one of my not-very-good rounds.

For tennis lovers, The Sanctuary was rated one of the top five tennis resorts by Tennis magazine. There are 23 clay courts, five hard courts, and a practice court.

The spa is one of only 13 Forbes 5-Star Spas in North America. It features 12 treatment rooms. Treatments are derived from the ocean, forest and botanical extracts. Many of the ingredients are indigenous to Kiawah. Whether you want to indulge with a Mint Julep Facial or Lowcountry Verbena Body Polish, a complete line of services is available. I experienced the Signature Massage one day and had to go back for Reflexology the next, after discovering the therapist specialized in that area. This was also an exceptional treatment.

The nature center with staff naturalists offers different programs all week long. Walking tours, marsh creek canoeing, ocean kayaking, back-river excursions, and biking are all available. In a prior visit, one afternoon, we rode a tandem bike all over the island.

Breakfast buffet (Photo credit: Maralyn D. Hill)

Food service throughout the property is consistently good. The Culinary Team is headed up by Executive Chef Robert Wysong, CEC, who oversees all restaurant and banquet dining experiences.

Banquets and catering are always a challenge for meetings or incentives. The Sanctuary is willing to work with meeting planners to keep costs within budget.

With the meeting we attended, breakfasts were different each day, as were appetizers at the cocktail receptions. Food at our two banquet functions was superb. All were prepared with the finest attention to detail in presentation, flavor and freshness.

One evening, we dined at The Ocean Room at The Sanctuary. This is the resort’s premier steakhouse. It holds the distinction of being the only Forbes Four Star/AAA Four Diamond steakhouse in the U.S. Chef de Cuisine Nathan Thurston and his team source the finest meats from artisan and local cattle ranches. The menu also has fine choices for the non-meat diner. While we were dining in the Ocean Room overlooking the sea, Chef Nathan was cooking at the James Beard House in New York. His team carried on without a glitch in the service. The wine list paired well with menu offerings, providing global varietals to complement everyone’s dining experience.

Jasmine Porch (Photo courtesy of The Sanctuary)

Jasmine Porch also has an ocean view. Chef de Cuisine Ryley T.McGillis features traditional Lowcountry favorites, as well as casual selections. Its dishes are presented well and portions are quite large. It is a popular gathering spot for guests.

Chef de Cuisine William Morrison heads up The Atlantic Room at The Ocean Course clubhouse. This is The Sanctuary’s premier seafood restaurant. We enjoyed a delicious and relaxing lunch overlooking the course.

There are other alternatives we did not experience: The Osprey Point Grill offering casual fare; Tomasso at Turtle Point Clubhouse, with its classic Italian cuisine; Loggerhead Bar & Grill, which is poolside at The Sanctuary; Shrimper’s in The Straw Market in West Beach; Night Heron Poolside Grill & Bar; the West Beach Market; and the Market at Town Center.

The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort is a 255-room, ultra-luxury oceanfront hotel and spa and AAA Five Diamond and Mobil Five Star property. Additional units/villas on Kiawah Island are available in The Villas at Kiawah Island Golf Resort. Six hundred spacious and well-appointed private luxury homes are included. At an earlier time, we’ve been fortunate enough to stay in two different units. They both exceeded expectations.

Meeting space is over 19,000 square feet. In addition, there are several unique outdoor function areas.

The list of awards given to this destination are as long as this article. If you would like to view the list, I’d suggest clicking the resort’s website.

One article cannot do this property justice. My hope is for it to pique your interest for further investigation if you are searching out a premier upscale incentive or meeting destination.

For more information: www.kiawahresort.com | 843 768 6000

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Freelance travel writer Maralyn D. Hill, Epicurean Explorer, is President of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association. Maralyn focuses on food, spas, travel, and wine, while still covering meetings, incentives, and corporate assignments.

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