When the board of directors or the top brass at a company gathers for an off-site retreat, you want to make sure you’ve chosen a place where every detail will be taken care of impeccably. Here are three properties where you can rest easy while your C-suite clients relax in luxury.
Nestled in the coastal village of Del Mar, with views of the Pacific and a private path to the beach, the 121-room L’Auberge Del Mar, by Destination Hotels, offers elegant seaside hospitality. The AAA Four Diamond property regularly wins accolades such as inclusion on the Condé Nast Gold List and Travel & Leisure Magazine’s ranking of world’s best resorts. In 2008, the 5-acre property underwent a $26 million renovation, including posh Barclay Butera décor for the guest rooms. The seven suites range from 500 to 1,222 square feet, most with two balconies and fireplaces. Kitchen 1540, the signature restaurant, takes advantage of bounty from San Diego’s many farms and also uses herbs that are grown on the grounds. The private dining room is wrapped in wine-encased walls, and the private cabanas on the spacious patio offer another option for intimate dining.
Located 20 minutes north of the San Diego International Airport and 90 minutes south of Los Angeles, L’Auberge Del Mar has 16,500 square feet of function space, including the Library, Boardroom, Ocean Terrace and several other intimate meeting rooms under 1,000 feet. The 5,000-square-foot Spa L’Auberge has 10 cozy treatment rooms and services inspired by the sea.
The Mansion at Casa Madrona Hotel & Spa
In 2014, this 11-room historic mansion made its debut as part of the multimillion-dollar renovation of the separate 64-room hillside Sausalito property. Built in 1885 as a private residence for a San Francisco Gas and Electric Co. executive, Casa Madrona was for decades a bed-and-breakfast, then served as temporary lodging for military families during World War II. Reopened as a resort in the 1960s, Casa Madrona drew celebs like Dick Van Dyke, Carol Burnett, Warren Beatty and Pink Floyd.
The Mansion at Casa Madrona offers a one-of-a-kind venue that’s seamlessly paired with cutting-edge technology, the finest amenities, and brilliant views of Richardson Bay and the San Francisco skyline, says General Manager Sietse Nabben. Beautifully restored, the mansion is an extraordinary property for a (very) high-end retreat. (Angel’s List and Electronic Arts are among the companies that have chosen it for an executive pow-wow).
The mansion can be fully bought out or reserved in a variety of room combinations. The jewel in the property’s crown is the 5,000-square- foot, two-bedroom Alexandrite Suite, which includes a guest suite, a two-tiered 1,500-square-foot patio, a nine-panel Samsung media wall and a fitness center. A mirrored wall in the fitness center is actually a secret door that leads to the second and third floors of the mansion and its additional nine guest rooms. If the C-suite retreat will be combined with a larger reception, the all-new Juno meeting and event space, which is just steps away, can accommodate 80 seated and 125 guests reception-style. For even more flexibility, there are seven guest cottages along the upper hillside near the mansion.
Newly reopened after a four-month top-to-bottom transformation, the Bernardus Lodge & Spa in Carmel Valley has already welcomed numerous groups, including Fortune 500 companies in software, biotech, telecommunications and e-commerce. “Our layout of 28 acres, expanded break-out venues, specifically designed team-building events and a new state-of-the-art culinary exhibition kitchen have reset the bar for cor- porate retreats,” says Sue Dreyer, director of sales and marketing. “The resort also stepped up our commitment to personalized service with the new renovation, making it one of California’s top destinations.”
The 57-room luxury wine country property is designed for guests to feel like they’re relaxing at the sophisticated ranch estate of an old friend. It succeeds beautifully, thanks to numerous amenities such as bocce, croquet and tennis courts, a bottle of Bernardus wine and fresh fruit in every room upon check-in, a working garden of herbs, fruits and vegetables, and the fragrance of lavender and grape blossoms wafting through the grounds. Guest rooms range from 525 to 625 square feet, with two-bedroom luxury suites as large as 1,750 square feet.
There are several options for private dining, including a chef’s table that can accommodate five; the Cellar, with seating for 10; the 10-seat Magnum Room; and the Harvest Room, which accommodates 50 and includes a demonstration kitchen for an exhibition dinner and wine tasting. The pool area, with spectacular mountain views, has private cabanas; the Spa at Bernardus Lodge and the fitness center offer pampering as well as guided meditation, escorted hikes to nearby Garland Ranch Regional Park and classes centered on the property’s annual lavender harvest. With 4,300 square feet of indoor meeting space and 10,000 square feet of outdoor space, options include the Rose Garden, 10 acres set in the vineyard and a favorite choice for team-building events and dinner under the stars.
