A well-time retreat can bolster morale,
facilitate brainstorming or gird the troops
for battle. But a blue-sky session held in
the confines of a hotel conference room
is no way to kick-start productivity.

Sun Tzu, the ancient Chinese military theorist, had much to say on the subject of the strategic retreat. For the benefit of today's time-pressed corporate captains, his wisdom can be summarized thus: In the face of sustained attack and unrelenting pressure, fall back, reassess and regroup. As Sun Tzu himself put it, more or less: He who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day.

In business, as in battle, the well-timed retreat can bolster morale, improve productivity and kick-start lateral thinking--results that many companies clearly feel are worth the investment. Amex Canada Inc., the nation's largest corporate travel agency, estimates that in 1998 Canadian corporations spent $3.9 billion--roughly one-third of their total travel-related costs--on off-site group meetings.

And that figure is growing, even in an era of videoconferencing, on-line meetings and other comparatively cheap alternatives to face-to-face communication. There is, apparently, still no substitute for skipping out with the gang, liberated from the obligations and interruptions of the daily routine. "A well-run retreat leaves people feeling on top of the world," says Amex manager of Group Travel Management Services Marilyn Dalzell. "They feel valued by the company. They've learned new skills. They feel they've forged some great new relationships."

On the other hand, she warns, a poorly planned retreat can do more damage than no retreat at all. "People feel their time has been wasted. You've disrupted their life, at home and at work. They were already frazzled, and you've made it worse: The work's been piling up on their desk while they were gone. If you're going to counteract all that, you'd better run a really good meeting."
How? By following some basic rules of thumb:

n Know when to retreat. "Get people out of the building whenever you need 150% of their attention," advises Dalzell. "Maybe you've just been through a merger, or you have a new product to introduce to your sales team."

n Focus on objectives. What is the purpose of the retreat? Is the meeting intended purely as a bonding session? Are there specific problems within the company to be rectified? At what level? In general, what problems, specifically, do you want to be solved as a result of the retreat?

n Know your audience and plan for it. Who is attending? A board of directors requires different handling than a junior sales team.

n# Don't go it alone. Too often, the responsibility for retreat planning falls to an already overloaded junior employee. A professional meetings planner can co-ordinate everything from menu planning to special events such as golf tournaments. Ask for a proposal; it's free. If you like what you see, check credentials carefully. A seasoned planner has strong relationships in the hospitality industry and can cut excellent deals.

n# Don't skimp on surroundings. "It's not enough to book a conference room down the hall, because people will duck out to check their E-mail and you'll never see them again," says Dalzell. "An overnight retreat keeps people focused longer--but don't keep them away from home any longer than necessary."

Indeed, in the end, no aspect of the retreat is more important--and no potential oversight greater--than its location. Vancouver lawyer John Singleton, whose firm retreats regularly to a small island off the West Coast, swears by the value of being "free of the attractions, distractions and stress of the city to achieve our goals. We need to be clear in our thinking and relaxed in our surroundings." A blue-sky session held in the confines of a hotel conference room becomes an exercise in futility when there aren't even any windows to look out of.

But imagine that same meeting aboard the parlour car of a vintage train as it rolls through the Rockies. Or a board meeting hosted on a glass-domed boat as it cruises Ontario's Thousand Islands. Or a sales rally convened around a natural hot spring, after a morning of ocean kayaking. Even one day's shore leave can invigorate tired troops if the setting is right. With that in mind, here's our guide to unique retreats, across the country and for every taste.

ROLLING RETREATS

A century ago, captains of industry traversed the country in their own train cars, surveying the far-flung sites of their empire and touching base with fellow capitalists. As it turns out, a club car is still a good place to do business.
n Western-based Rocky Mountaineer Railtours, travelling between Vancouver, Jasper, Banff and Calgary, has lavishly refitted two cars to cater to corporate groups. Rolling along with 60 regular coach cars, the new so-called club and parlour cars, exquisitely detailed with wood, brass and velvet, can be reconfigured to host between eight and 25 people for meetings, lectures, receptions and even product launches. The cost: $2,500 a person for a four-day, three-night getaway. The Rocky Mountaineer's two-day, all-daylight run through the Rockies can be tailored to allow pleasure stops along the way, such as fishing on Alberta's beautiful Lake Minnewanka, high in the mountains. Tel: (800) 665-7245, or check out the Web page at http://www.rkymtnrail.com.

n Oceanfront vistas, river canyons, dramatic waterfalls, desert: BC Rail's Cariboo Prospector (Tel: 800-663-8238) delivers stunning views as it follows the trail of the 1860s gold rush north from Vancouver to Prince George. Just a few hours into the ride (which runs $218 a person; $174 for groups of 20 or more; $127.50 from mid-October through April) is the Best Western 108 Resort, a 260-hectare backcountry paradise that boasts a golf course, riding stables, tennis courts and bike and ski trails, in addition to its new conference centre. Tel: (800) 667-5233.

CALL OF THE WILD

There is, if we are to believe poet Robert Bly, something of the wild man in every pinstriped peon. (He did not say anything about the wild woman, but we'll assume he meant to.) Outdoor-focused corporate retreats are increasingly popular--all part of the rapid rise of adventure travel over the past decade--and a great getaway for drones who spend most of their workdays jostling for a space on the subway, hailing cabs in rush-hour traffic, and toiling away in veal-fattening pens under fluorescent lights.

n Outward Bound is the granddaddy of all wilderness retreats, famous for hands-on "action learning." More than a million people--from companies that include Gulf Canada, Wood Gundy and Maple Leaf Foods--have taken part in its intensive outdoor education programs. Year-round, Outward Bound offers courses at its four Ontario locations strung between Algonquin Park and Thunder Bay. In Pemberton, near Whistler, B.C., courses run from May to October. Outward Bound tailors each course to meet a company's goals--perhaps to energize a stale team or help build trust between budding business partners. Be warned: The programs can be physically and emotionally challenging. The Outward Bound Professional Development Program, an executive retreat, can be customized for your needs. Four days and three nights, for instance, costs about $1,200 a person. Tel: (888) OUTWARD, or (604) 737-3093, or check out its Web site at http://www.outwardbound.ca.

n Perched on the calm waters of Quait Bay, in majestic Clayoquot Sound, the Clayoquot Wilderness Resort is accessible only by float plane or helicopter. The picturesque village of Tofino is 15 minutes away by water taxi, and there is also an airstrip nearby with regularly scheduled flights to Vancouver and Seattle. But there is little reason to leave, considering all that's on offer: cozy guest rooms, a meeting room that seats 15 people around a boardroom table--or 30 in a classroom setting--a superb water view, exquisite food prepared by star chef Timothy E. May, whale-watching and fishing excursions, canoeing and kayaking, horseback riding and hiking.

Room rates range from $189 to $249 (including meals and snacks) depending on the season. Other extras include guided fishing at $95 an hour, whale-watching at $75 per person for a two-hour trip, and guided kayaking at $49 a day. Tel: (888) 333-5405, or head to http://www.wildretreat.com on the Internet.

TOASTING SUCCESS

Vineyards are not just pretty places perched on sunny slopes and ringed by rolling hills. They're also the birthplace from which comes a perfect beverage for toasting a job well done, a mission accomplished--or a new business challenge on the horizon.

n Just a short drive from Toronto, in the village of Jordan, is Cave Spring Cellars, home to the distinguished On the Twenty, Ontario's first on-site winery restaurant. The comfortable Vintner's Inn, across the street, offers year-round conference packages to groups of five or more, which include single overnight accommodation, breakfast and two coffee breaks, meeting-room rental and a private tour and tasting at the Cellars for $217 a person, plus tax. A customized retreat might also include tickets to the nearby Shaw Festival, a round of golf at the Peninsula Lakes Golf Course or a class at The Good Earth Cooking School. Tel: (800) 701-8074.

n Near Summerland in the south Okanagan Valley, a four-hour drive east of Vancouver, is the Sumac Ridge Estate Winery. Lauded by industry experts for its wines, the estate is fast gaining a reputation for the quality and service of its on-site restaurant, the Cellar Door Bistro, which also caters to corporate events. The winery's boardroom can hold up to 75 people, and runs $200 for the first two hours and $50 an hour after that, with food starting at $10 a person. Overnight lodging is in Penticton, a 15-minute drive away. There is a challenging nine-hole golf course next to the winery, and the independent Kettle Valley Railway offers tours of the area. Sumac Ridge is located in the heart of Okanagan wine country, and offers personalized educational tasting seminars to corporate guests. Tel: (250) 494-0451, or head to http://www.sumacridge.com.

WATER WORKS

Boats, like trains, are a major part of Canada's corporate heritage. In the 19th century, the so-called gin palaces that floated on Lake Ontario and the Niagara River were as common a sight as Mercedes sedans on today's urban highways, and with similar high-end passengers.

n In Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., the S.S. Pumper, a former rumrunner and North America's only remaining wood-fired, steam-screw vessel, can today be chartered ($600 an hour, with a maximum of 75 people) for informal corporate functions such as receptions and product launches. For more formal events, such as dinners and meetings, the vintage ship will deliver passengers from their hotels to historic Old Navy Hall, rentable at $500 a day, in Fort George National Park. Tel: (905) 468-8343, or http://www.niagarasteamship.com.

n Kingston 1000 Island Cruises, just a few hours east of Toronto, operates three ships well suited to floating business meetings, dinners and receptions. Between April and November, a replica St. Lawrence River steamer, a paddle wheeler and a glass-topped catamaran tour the province's renowned Thousand Islands and Kingston's historic harbour. Regular sightseeing tours range from 90 minutes ($13.50 a person) to three hours ($19 a person), and private charters offer tailor-made itineraries to fit the needs of retreat-minded businesses. They usually last about three hours and start at $29.95 a person, including food. Tel: (613) 549-5544.

n For those who wish to float further afield, V.I.P. Cruises Inc. will organize corporate cruises to exotic international destinations for groups of 10 to 300 passengers. President Barbara Clements has been the point person for dozens of group cruises over the past 13 years, and uses her connections to secure great rates for her clients. A sample price: For a group of 24, taking a January week in the Caribbean, including airfare, transfers, meals, entertainment, a conference room, catering, a cocktail party and a souvenir gift--$2,000 a person. Clements generally needs at least four months lead time to make bookings. Presumably it takes a while to carve those ice sculptures of your corporate logo. Tel: (800) 487-0837.

ISLANDS OF THOUGHT

You can get a lot done when there's a moat between you and the rest of the world. You just don't want to waste too much time on the crossing.

n With the opening of the Confederation Bridge, the hospitality industry in Prince Edward Island has seen a dramatic increase in business. The Inn at Bay Fortune, well known in Maritime Canada for its gracious ambiance and excellent food, is one of the winners, and has recently added six new guest suites and expanded the dining room. The conference facilities, in the tower of the inn, can accommodate meetings of up to 20 people. For breaks from all those slide shows about product competitiveness, try the nearby Links at Crowbush Cove golf course, granted a coveted five stars by Golf Digest. Rooms start at $125 per person, based on double occupancy; conference facility fees are included. Tel: (902) 687-3745, or scan the Web site at http://www.innatbayfortune.com.

n There is at this point no bridge to tiny Bowen Island, just north of Vancouver, but the 15-minute ferry ride across Howe Sound is one of the most breathtaking in the country. The Vineyard at Bowen Island, evocative of a French country estate, can sleep 16 people in eight panorama-view rooms, and can adapt its dining and conference rooms to accommodate larger groups, with some participants either returning to the city at night or moving to other bed-and-breakfasts on the tiny island. In addition to her talents as a chef, proprietor Elena Waldman is a gifted concierge: Whether you want to unwind with a facial or a fishing trip, she can make it happen. Rates per person: Standard rooms are $95; terrace rooms are $150; deluxe suites are $195. Prices drop 20% between October and March, and there's no extra charge to use the conference facilities, hot tub or pool. Catering costs are negotiable. Tel: (604) 947-0028, or http://www.vineyard.bc.ca.