Effective planning and careful execution of a corporate retreat can have significant benefits for your company to get fresh perspectives and ideas, to strategize and to practice team building. Off-site retreats can help reduce the distractions of day-to-day business issues and help promote more creative thinking.
If you are looking for a unique spot to have a corporate retreat, board meeting, strategic planning meeting or even a company picnic, I’ve found a great spot in the Hill Country. It is easily accessible from Austin, Corpus Christi and San Antonio.
The Serengeti Resort in Bergheim offers a taste of Africa right in the Texas Hill Country. The accommodations are outstanding, and you can watch exotic animals graze and roam. You can even interact with some of the animals. The Serengeti Resort is off of Highway 46 between Boerne and Bulverde.
When you walk through the massive wooden doors of the Zafara Lodge, you enter a spacious room with a vaulted, timbered ceiling and a wall of glass where you gaze out into the Serengeti plains and see the animals grazing. The luxurious lodge features 2,000 square feet of meeting space that can comfortably accommodate groups of up to 75 inside and up to 300 outside. The Zafara Lodge combines a great corporate retreat atmosphere with a state-of-the art meeting facility.
For some social time, take advantage of the tasting room in the Zafara Lodge. You can take your pick of more than 74 wines from around the world, including South Africa, South America and of course, Texas. The outside patio overlooks the Serengeti plains and can be used cocktails or session breaks. The beautiful courtyards provide the perfect atmosphere for mixing and mingling with co-workers. You can unwind on the shaded patios that include Texas-sized outdoor bars. The pool area is great for relaxing or enjoying live music. For the early morning meetings, there’s even a full-service coffee bar and bakery available.
Part of the Serengeti Resort experience is, of course, the animals. Outside the Zafara Lodge you will meet Boomer the dog. He’s a Great Dane and is one of the popular, if not the most popular, animals at the resort. The monkeys in the shaded area off the patio are entertaining, too. You definitely want to take one of the safari vehicles – golf carts – and explore the Serengeti plains. Take along the bag of food the staff gives you. But watch out for Clyde the camel. He thinks he’s a dog and will probably try to get in your golf cart if he knows you have food. If you are lucky, the giraffe may come up to your cart. The ostrich can and will be quite entertaining. The zebras, wildebeests and other animals will likely keep their distance. The staff can help you create some incredible experiences for your party or retreat like a guided hayride tour through the Serengeti plains or a hilltop sunset wine tasting and Safari Base Camp meal experience.
The accommodations are outstanding should you want to stay the night or weekend. The Bush Bungalows each sleep six. The Sanctuary suite is luxury at its best and even offers a glass wall for animal viewing. The Jubulani suites are the two junior suites, one with poolside view and one with courtyard view. The Veranda rooms are quaint rooms located in the Zafara Lodge. Rooms start at $175 a night, and bungalows start at $395 a night. For reservations or more information, call Serengeti Resort at 830-816-3600.
It’s also a great spot if you are just looking for a break from work and want to enjoy a fun, relaxing Sunday afternoon with friends and family. The resort is open to the public on Sundays. Gates open at noon. It’s free to get in on Sundays, but there is a charge for food, drinks, wine tasting and extras like taking a golf cart out into the Serengeti to get up close with the exotics.
Learn more about my experience at Serengeti Resort on www.sweptawaywithjenniferbroome.com, or watch “Swept Away With Jennifer Broome” in the travel section on Time Warner Cable channel 988.
Jennifer Broome is a TV host, meteorologist, traveler and freelance writer. Check out her Web site at www.sweptawaywithjenniferbroome.com.
