For over 28 years, Carol Chorbajian, owner of CCM & E Destination Services (www.ccm-e.com) in Pacific Grove, Calif., has been putting a distinctive spin on ways that groups can experience the diverse pleasures of the Monterey Peninsula, whether it’s bouncing over the rugged terrain of Carmel Valley in a Land Rover or taking in the breathtaking coastal views of the 17-Mile Drive from the vantage point of a 1956 T-Bird convertible.
Even events at the most familiar of venues take on a different twist. When called upon to create a dazzling evening for members of the Society of Incentive & Travel Executives (SITE) at their annual convention last December, Chorbajian rose to the occasion with an Oceans of the World program staged at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
“Even though people have often been to aquariums, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is really a must for anyone coming to this area,” Chorbajian says. “Along with its great exhibits, the aquarium also happens to have an amazing chef who can do anything.”
With the Oceans of the World theme, Chorbajian spoke to SITE’s international membership with a series of food and entertainment stations representing various global destinations, including South Africa and Brazil. Each station featured a representative menu and live music of the region.
While the group of 600 took over the entire aquarium that night, Chorbajian says the facility can work for smaller groups as well.
“There are a lot of areas where you can create a feeling of exclusivity, which is especially important if you’re catering to an incentive group,” she says.
For team building, Chorbajian likes to work with Land Rover Experience Driving School, which has one of its three North American locations at Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley. The driving school uses a series of steep, deeply rutted trails with tight hairpin turns at the resort, where participants drive the terrain with instruction from expert drivers. Even more adventurous options are available as well.
“You can use the course for team-building events where the person driving the vehicle is blindfolded,” Chorbajian says. “The rest of the team talks the driver through the course, so a lot of trust is involved. The feedback from groups is fabulous on this.”
For a more relaxing experience, Chorbajian likes to provide groups with classic cars, whether for transportation to off-site venues or for road rallies and other events.
“People can go for a spin along Cannery Row or on the 17-Mile Drive, with two or three people in the car plus the driver,” she says. “These are valuable show cars, not just from someone’s garage. Many of them are American classics, so people get really nostalgic.”
