How to Plan a Memorable and Meaningful Winter Corporate Retreat
Winter is a wonderful time to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy the beauty and tranquility of nature. If you are looking for a place to host your next corporate retreat, look no further than Gull Lake Centre, a premier destination for winter retreats in Alberta.
Gull Lake Centre is a year-round camp and retreat centre that offers a variety of services and facilities for groups of all sizes and ages. Whether you are planning a retreat for your company staff, church staff, or school staff, Gull Lake Centre can accommodate your needs and expectations.
In this blog post, we will share with you some practical tips and advice on how to plan a memorable and meaningful winter corporate retreat at Gull Lake Centre. We will cover the following topics:
Accommodation: How to choose the best lodging option for your group, from cozy cabins to spacious lodges.
Catering: How to enjoy delicious and nutritious meals prepared by the professional catering partners of Gull Lake Centre.
Activities: How to have fun and bond with your team through a variety of indoor and outdoor activities, such as ice skating, snowshoeing, sledding, board games, and more.
Transportation: How to get to and from Gull Lake Centre safely and conveniently, whether by car or bus.
By following these tips and advice, you will be able to plan a successful and enjoyable winter retreat that will enhance your team spirit and productivity. Let’s get started!
Accommodation: How to pick the right venue for your corporate retreat
One of the most important aspects of a successful corporate retreat is accommodation. Gull Lake Centre offers a range of options to suit various group needs and preferences. Our facilities are designed to provide comfort and functionality, ensuring a pleasant stay for all attendees. Here's a closer look at what Gull Lake Centre has to offer:
Cabins: we have 21 cabins, each offering a rustic and cozy ambiance. These cabins are ideal for groups looking for a more intimate and team-oriented setting. Each cabin can comfortably sleep between 8 and 12 people in bunk beds and is equipped with its own bathroom, including a shower and three sinks. The simplicity of the cabins allows teams to focus on bonding and collaboration, away from the distractions of daily life.
Retreat Centre: Distinct from the cabins, the Retreat Centre offers a dormitory-style accommodation with 20 rooms. Each room contains two single beds, making it perfect for corporate teams who prefer a bit more privacy. Bathrooms are conveniently located at the end of the halls. The Retreat Centre is also home to cozy sitting areas, large meeting rooms, a fully equipped kitchen, and kitchenettes, facilitating both relaxation and professional activities.
Main Lodge: The main lodge at Gull Lake Centre serves as the hub for dining and various indoor activities. It includes a dining hall, meeting spaces, a games room, a board room, and a gymnasium. While the main lodge doesn’t offer sleeping accommodations, it is the centerpiece for meals, meetings, and indoor recreation, playing a crucial role in the overall retreat experience.
Chapel: The chapel is another key facility at Gull Lake Centre, primarily used as a meeting space. It doesn’t provide lodging but offers a serene environment ideal for group gatherings, discussions, and reflective activities.
Each of these facilities at Gull Lake Centre contributes to a well-rounded retreat experience, combining the beauty of simplicity with the functionality needed for corporate groups. Whether your team seeks the rustic charm of cabins or the more conventional setup of the Retreat Centre, Gull Lake Centre caters to varying preferences while ensuring a comfortable and productive retreat environment.
Catering: Know your options early, for a memorable corporate retreat
Another important aspect of planning a winter corporate retreat is finding a delicious and nutritious food service. Gull Lake Centre offers a full-service through a select list of catering providers. Whatever the size, whatever the preferences, our partners can meet any request. Here are some of the features and benefits of our partnerships for catering services:
Quality: The catering partners of Gull Lake Centre are trained and experienced in preparing and serving high-quality food for large groups. They use fresh and local ingredients and follow strict health and safety standards. They also cater to special dietary needs, such as gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, and halal.
Variety: Our catering partners offer a variety of menu options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can choose from a range of dishes, such as pancakes, eggs, bacon, sandwiches, salads, soups, pasta, pizza, burgers, chicken, beef, fish, and more. You can also enjoy snacks, desserts, and beverages throughout the day.
Flexibility: Our catering partners will work hard to meet your needs. Even though our meal times are predetermined you can choose the location, whether in the dining hall, in your lodge, or in a meeting room, for an extra charge. You can also request special items or changes to the menu, as long as you inform them in advance.
To book your catering service at Gull Lake Centre, you can visit their website and fill out the online reservation form. You can also contact them by phone or email to discuss your specific needs and preferences.
Activities: the secret sauce of successful corporate retreats
A third important aspect of planning a winter corporate retreat is finding fun and engaging activities for your team. Gull Lake Centre offers a variety of indoor and outdoor activities for groups of all ages and interests. Here are some of the features and benefits of the activities:
Indoor: If you want to stay warm and cozy indoors, you can choose from a range of indoor activities, such as board games, card games, puzzles, crafts, karaoke, movies, and more. You can also use the meeting rooms, which are equipped with audio-visual equipment, to conduct workshops, presentations, or brainstorming sessions. You can also relax and unwind in the lounge area, which has a fireplace, sofas, and a library. Other indoor activities include a games room (ping pong, pool, foos ball) bouldering wall, fully sized gymnasium with a fully stocked equipment room.
Outdoor: If you want to embrace the cold and snow outdoors, you can choose from a range of outdoor activities, such as ice skating, snowshoeing, sledding, hiking, cross-country skiing, and more. You can also use the fire pits, which are located near the lake, to roast marshmallows, make s’mores, or sing songs. You can also enjoy the wildlife and scenery, which include deer, squirrels, birds, and trees. We do not provide cross country skies or snowshoes, but you can bring your own! Our biggest winter activities are the toboggan hill and the ice skating rink.
To book your activities at Gull Lake Centre, you can visit their website and fill out the online reservation form. You can also contact them by phone or email to discuss your specific needs and preferences.
Transportation: easy, safe, simple to find from Edmonton and Calgary
A final important aspect of planning a winter corporate retreat is finding a safe and convenient way to get to and from Gull Lake Centre. Gull Lake Centre is located in Lacombe County, Alberta, about 150 km north of Calgary and 150 km south of Edmonton. Here are some of the transportation options available for your group:
Car: If you have your own car or can rent one, you can drive to Gull Lake Centre by following the directions on their website. You can also use a GPS or a map app to navigate your way. The drive takes hour and a half 2 from Edmonton. You can park your car at the designated parking area near the main lodge.
Bus: If you don’t have your own car or prefer not to drive, you can take a bus to Gull Lake Centre by booking a charter service from a reputable company. You can choose the size and type of bus that suits your group, from mini buses to coach buses. The bus will pick you up and drop you off at your desired location and time. The bus ride takes an hour and a half from either Calgary or Edmonton. You can also request a driver who is familiar with the area and the road conditions.
Conclusion
We hope this blog post has given you some useful tips and advice on how to plan a memorable and meaningful winter corporate retreat at Gull Lake Centre. Gull Lake Centre is a wonderful place to host your next corporate retreat, offering a unique combination of natural beauty, modern facilities, and professional services. By following these tips and advice, you will be able to plan a successful and enjoyable winter retreat that will meet the needs and expectations of your staff and enhance their team spirit and productivity.
Don’t wait any longer, book your winter corporate retreat at Gull Lake Centre today and experience the magic of winter in a beautiful and inspiring setting. You can visit their website to learn more about their services and facilities, or contact them by phone or email to make a reservation or ask any questions. You can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram to see the latest updates and photos from Gull Lake Centre.
We look forward to seeing you soon at Gull Lake Centre, where winter is not a season, but a state of mind.
