As the global economy grows more competitive, business philosophy becomes more insightful. If we’ve learned that how we do our jobs and with whom we do them affects our sense of efficacy, now where we work seems to be taking the stage. The “green” Hearst Tower, opened in New York City in October, 2006, banked on a building flooded with light to mentally stimulate workers. Google maintains its 11 cafeterias make their headquarters so desirable, employees don’t want to leave—even when hungry. Perhaps nowhere is setting more critical than in corporate retreat destinations, where dramatic landscapes and proximity to the elements promise to jump-start innovative thinking.

But anyone who has flown to a famed resort, only to spend meetings in windowless conference rooms and cocktail hours in enormous ballrooms, knows that these aren’t places where creativity typically seems to flow. For whatever reason, our brains seem hard-wired to respond best to intimate locales. And as business travelers become more sophisticated, they increasingly desire smaller properties that offer a more personalized hospitality. The hotel industry has jumped on this trend, as evidenced by its movement away from the anonymous and generic towards the authentic and particular.

If the point of a corporate retreat is both to get away from it all and to get deeper inside thought, where do you go when you can choose any place?“There’s something about an island,” one executive told me last autumn. “Maybe because you’re so removed, you can dream bigger.” She had come to Nantucket to stay at the aesthetically indulgent Wauwinet, reasoning that if it’s a favorite spot for honeymooners, why not for those who want to cocoon with ideas?

The Wauwinet, which humbly calls itself “an inn by the sea,” is Nantucket, Massachusett’s only Relais and Châteaux property. Its restaurant holds the highest Zagat rating on the island, and its wine list has repeatedly won Wine Spectator’s Grand Award. But the greatest feature of the inn is its location, between Nantucket Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Nine miles outside of town, its property abuts the Great Point Wildlife Refuge, which means its closest neighbors are albatross and sea lions. Originally a restaurant in the mid-19th century, when Nantucket was still a whaling capital, the inn today offers excursions to the refuge, as well as lobster cruises and surfcasting expeditions aboard its boat.

Because of its small size (32 guest rooms and cottages) and exceptional level of service, The Wauwinet has begun to draw top-level management for retreats during its shoulder seasons, spring and fall. Both John Hancock and Spinneybeck Enterprises have rented the entire inn for conferences. In fact, when Spinneybeck flew its sales representatives in from all over the world, they voted it their favorite spot for a corporate retreat.

“We loved it because it was so unusual,” says Sandra Summers, vice-president of sales for Spinneybeck. “The setting was obviously spectacular, but the real appeal was that it’s not, in a lot of ways, set up to be your typical corporate retreat. We’ve done the real big hotels, and we don’t get quite the level of service that we want when we’re just one of many.”

“Logistically,” says Summers, “there wasn’t a hiccup. They have an incredibly sharp staff who go out of their way for every detail. One of our Canadian representatives likes a certain liqueur, but the bartender couldn’t find it. He ended up finding the off-duty bartender and obtaining a bottle, so she could have her favorite after-dinner drink.”

“And yet,” says Summers, “the inn is like a big old house. There’s nothing snooty about it. It’s an unusual, eclectic experience. We’ve been to Sedona, Sonoma, Hawaii, and Bermuda, but The Wauwinet was our representatives’ favorite spot. The hard part for us now is, what will we do for our next meeting?”

Wauwinet News
Last year, The Wauwinet introduced the Spa By the Sea, featuring rejuvenating and relaxing treatments that reflect Nantucket’s native habitat. Signature treatments composed of local and sea-inspired ingredients include the Cranberry Crush Body Treatment, the Garden Facial, and Atlantic Seaweed Wrap. Massages are offered outside on the lawn and feature seasonal wildflowers and herbs cultivated in The Wauwinet’s spa garden. When not indulging in spa treatments, guests can complete the holistic experience with yoga on the beach, biking along miles of scenic paths, running with customized iPods, or walking along Nantucket’s picturesque dunes and white sand beaches.

Details
The Wauwinet: An Inn By the Sea
120 Wauwinet Road
Nantucket, MA 02584
800-426-8718
www.wauwinet.com

Photo Captions:
Picture 1: The Wauwinet boasts an ideal location at the head of Nantucket Bay between the Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
Picture 2: Each of the Inn's guest rooms is individually decorated.
Picture 3: Visitors have a choice of five dining options at the Wauwinet.
All photos courtesy of The Wauwinet.