| Centers across the country offer a wide variety of | | | | center, dining hall fare, equipment available for usage, |
| venues for hosting conference retreats. These | | | | climate, insurance requirements, and deposit |
| destinations are capable of hosting groups of all sizes | | | | information. Other details to investigate are the |
| and types. Most centers are located near geographic | | | | policies on pets, alcoholic beverages, quiet hours, and |
| features like mountains, lakes, and deserts. All | | | | smoking. |
| conference retreats are unique and are best suited | | | | Conference venues generally feature guest speakers |
| to a place that fulfills the particular need of the group | | | | who are experts in their field. Rooms should be |
| attending. | | | | comfortably filled to capacity, but not over crowded. |
| Common conference retreats are developed around | | | | The room should reflect the appropriate atmosphere |
| the following interests: team development, couples' | | | | for the topic. Rooms can be set up in one of these 4 |
| retreats, youth groups, artist workshops, spiritual | | | | basic seating styles: theater style, banquet style, |
| retreats, weddings, birding adventures, yoga | | | | classroom style, or reception style. |
| workshops, family reunions, and also retreats just for | | | | Centers for conference retreats and their meeting |
| women or men. | | | | rooms should include most of these items: sound |
| It is key to find a center that has specific amenities | | | | system, lighting options, podium, stage, chairs, tables, |
| that are best suited for each of the particular | | | | and water service for guests. Speakers' needs must |
| interest groups. Obviously, retreats featuring | | | | also be addressed. Equipment that is typically |
| adventures in bird watching would need to be located | | | | requested includes: projectors, screens, and TV/VCR |
| in a region known for its diversity of bird species. | | | | DVDs. |
| Yoga retreats would need to be removed from noisy | | | | Conference retreats offer the attendees a place to |
| traffic. | | | | withdraw from the daily routine. They also offer a |
| The following is a checklist for event planners when | | | | time and place to focus on business, relationships, |
| searching for the perfect center for its conference | | | | hobbies, or spiritual renewal. The trick is to find the |
| retreats: transportation available to and from the | | | | place that best suits the need. |