What does your job entail?
I work closely with the CEO and leadership team as a partner toward achieving corporate goals, and execute board events and board-related projects.
Describe your recent meeting in Newport.
It was a two-day board retreat for 25 people held at Vanderbilt Grace Hotel. It’s important to us to find a setting removed from the office where folks can focus on the meeting, and that also provides opportunities for casual interactions mixed in with nice surroundings and time for fun.
Ideally, I like to find smaller, more intimate venues with an outdoor setting that allow for moments to step outside, get fresh air and regroup. It’s also important that we don’t make people travel too far, so Newport was great, “a gem,” as one attendee put it, being 1.5 hours from Boston with easy access if you don’t travel during rush hour.
Was anyone particularly helpful in executing the event?
Patricia Smurro at Discover Newport was a great help in introducing me to the venues, restaurants and sites that made this event successful.
What did your attendees seem to enjoy the most?
The Vanderbilt Grace was a huge success. Everyone there looked after us superbly. They accommodated all our meeting needs, including turning the dining room into a spacious meeting room with a square table that allowed for a good interactive meeting, and providing ample space to move around in between. Everyone was thrilled with their guest rooms, stating how beautiful and modern they are. They also enjoyed an informal dinner on the first night, which was set up in the hotel’s conservatory.
We took a sunset sail cruise with Sail Newport, which was great fun and featured a beautiful clear blue sky followed by a perfect sunset and a magical moment when a school of dolphins accompanied us for a while. I think it was a highlight for everyone.
We dined at Clarke Cooke House on the second night. We had a lovely dinner on their porch complete with sunset and sailboat views.
Would you return/recommend Newport to other planners?
Working with all the people I encountered through my Newport connections helped enormously in organizing, executing and making our board retreat a memorable success. They made my job easier and I’d like to work with them again in the future.