A river runs through your meeting: corporate retreat ideas.

In the 1990s, the corporate retreat became another inflated part of the bubble. Instead of productivity and planning, companies opted for teambuilding on trapezes and hula performances on the beach. But in the post-9/11 world, corporate retreats have become more focused and less frivolous, an

"The word 'retreat' bothers me a bit," says Nancy Harvey, president of TenFold, a Utah-based software company. "Retreat conjures up a hideaway, while we use our retreats as a way to get a few days to focus intensely while being insulated from the huge number of obligations we have every day." Last fall at the Sundance Resort, eight people from TenFold's top tier spent two days "focusing, recalibrating and setting our sights forward," Harvey says. While Harvey admits that creating that kind of time for her team is difficult, the face-to-face time sans interruptions is incomparable.

Goals for a retreat usually include boosting morale, building loyalty, introducing a new vision and setting financial targets. Sometimes, companies use retreats to develop interpersonal relationships between employees through teambuilding activities. By leaving hectic offices and daily routines, participants often have more time and the freedom to think creatively and discuss issues that wouldn't otherwise be broached in "normal" meetings.

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Most often, these goals include employees other than top-level execs--and what better place to introduce new ideas or products to other employees and corporate partners than off-site in a focused environment? Many Utah companies consider incentive trips and dealer conferences types of corporate retreats, another example of the shift from frivolous 90s executive spending to a more open, inclusive approach.

Orem-based Tahitian Noni has been holding annual "Vision Retreats" for distributors and top managers in Hawaii since 2000. Each year, the events staff chooses a new Hawaiian island and resort to "offer some variety to participants," says Melissa Smith, global events coordinator for Tahitian Noni. This fall, 1,000 people traveled to the Hilton Hawaiian Village on Wakiki to meet and learn about the company's latest products. Tahitian Noni also holds annual planning retreats exclusively for its top execs.

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The adage "location, location, location" guides most of the initial decision about where to hold a corporate retreat. Harvey says that TenFold chose the Sundance Resort because "it's a refreshing and inspiring location with the mountains and trees all around." And participants could drive to the resort in less than an hour from the company's South Jordan offices, which allowed many levels of employees to participate. "Because of the close proximity to the office, we invited some of our emerging next-generation leaders to come up for a portion of the day," Harvey says.

Dynatronics, a Utah manufacturer of pain management, rehabilitation and aesthetic products, hosts executives and dealers from around the country at Deer Valley Resort. "We chose Deer Valley for the seclusion and atmosphere," says Janice Pehrson, marketing manager at Dynatronics. "It's so much better than being in a hotel. The meeting space is open, so you can see outside."

Because of the range of inspiring Utah scenery, local companies take advantage of many non-resort options, such as hosting an executive retreat at Falcon's Ledge, a fly fishing and hunting lodge east of Salt Lake, close to the rural town of Roosevelt. The lodge specializes in executive retreats because of its small size--maximum capacity is 16 people. Clients such as Great Western Insurance and Sysco Intermountain Foods have taken advantage of the lodge's isolated location, which is made readily accessible by a private airstrip 12 miles away.

Specific activities go hand in hand with location, which can fulfill participants' interests or allow them to try new things. At Falcon's Ledge, executives can participate in hunting and fly fishing excursions on 300 acres of private farmland and inside a private 600-acre red rock canyon. Surrounded by wilderness, guests can hike, bird watch or just soak up solitude during their spare time.

The Ken Garff Automotive Group usually chooses fishing as its primary activity, says Carolyn Larsen, executive assistant to the CEO. The company recently took its execs to a lodge in Ketchum, Idaho, and in the past, they've traveled as far away as the Silver King Lodge in Ketchikan, Alaska. "They usually spend the day fishing, and at night they hold dinners, meetings and study sessions," she says.

Ken Garff also prefers annual one-day, off-site teambuilding activities. Recently, the company went to the Olympic Ice Sheet, where after a morning meeting, attendees spent the afternoon learning how to do the Olympic sport curling. Two years ago, employees went to the Utah Olympic Park to learn how to race a bobsled at 80 miles an hour down an icy track. "It gets us into a different atmosphere where we're challenged and doing something we wouldn't have the opportunity to do on our own," Larsen says. "We were cheering each other on and it was very thrilling. A little healthy competition is always a good thing."

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Tahitian Noni gives its retreat participants a few hours of free time each day to enjoy all the activities that a Hawaiian location offers. But, the company incorporates the location into its teambuilding activities. At this year's retreat, employees participated in a raft building competition, where teams of twenty received a kit containing cardboard, plastic, knives and duct tape to build a raft in 45 minutes. "Everyone has a lot of fun with these types of events, and it gives you a chance to interact in a completely new environment," says Melissa Smith. Teams were given rewards for the best rafts, which eventually were raced on water.

Other activities may include a more traditional game of golf. Dyanatronics uses its location at Deer Valley to visit the Homestead Resort for an afternoon game. "The staff at the Homestead puts each individual's clubs in carts with their names on them, so golfers can just show up and go," says Janice Pehrson. "They really do a great job."

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At TenFold's retreats, planners find an activity that suits every executive. "Ours is a diverse executive team in terms of age and gender," Harvey says. "We look for activities in which everyone can participate, and at Sundance, we choose hiking." The team usually does an early morning hike and has breakfast on the trail before heading down and getting to work.

This year, let your company expand and grow by heading off-site for a retreat. With a range of purposes, from incentive-based trips to executive planning or teambuilding during a new and challenging activity, the corporate retreat can no longer be considered anything but valuable.

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How to make participants happy

* Give them as much detailed information as possible before they arrive. No one should be wondering about check-in times, what to wear to dinners or the location of important meetings.

* For a multi-day retreat, schedule some free time, so those who need to be alone to recharge can do it without missing anything.

* Give attendees thoughtful gift baskets or items that will help make them comfortable, such as afternoon snacks.

* If teambuilding is a goal, make sure that the location has a space that can fit all participants for at least one occasion.

5 signs your retreat was a success

1. Employees ask about next year's event because they're actually looking forward to it.

2. Participants return to work refreshed and motivated.

3. Everyone on the staff can articulate shared goals with ease.

4. Those who expressed dissent and disagreement during the retreat are viewed as positive contributors, not detractors.

5. Appropriate follow up meetings have been scheduled and follow up materials have been distributed.

Lucy Burningham is a Salt Lake City-based freelance writer.

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