THE LURE OF azure waters and a genteel British influence were enough to coax this relaxation-deprived New Yorker to join a group of FICP (formerly ICPA) planners in an educational getaway to Bermuda in November, just after the association's annual meeting in New York City. The luxurious and seamless experience, sponsored by Fairmont Southampton, Fairmont Hamilton Princess, and Private Jet Services Group, provided a unique introduction to a destination less than two hours away from many major U.S. cities — and the gracious and comfortable experience onboard our chartered jet (see sidebar, page 38) contributed to the relaxed and upbeat mood of the group.

After years of being edged off planners' radar screens, “Bermuda is coming back into its own because of location, quality, and sophistication,” says Dave Strang, senior sales manager for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Bermuda. The insurance and financial sectors are central to the growth of Fairmont's Bermuda properties, he adds. “We're primarily an incentive destination, and insurance and financial groups are the ones doing upscale incentives.” The corporate group market accounts for roughly 70 percent of the mix at Southampton and about 40 percent at the Hamilton Princess.

Addressing the perception that Bermuda is pricey, Strang says that apart from the peak months of May and June, the Fairmont Bermuda properties have become very competitive with less expensive destinations like Florida. As well, “We can do shorter meetings because we are so close [to much of the United States].”

Two Hotels for the Price of One

Meeting attendees gain entree to a wealth of recreational and dining offerings at the posh, cliff-top Fairmont Southampton and its sister hotel, the elegant, Victorian-era Fairmont Hamilton Princess. The two properties, gleaming from recent renovations to the tune of more than $100 million, offer many meeting sites and outdoor venues for group events.

Poised atop the highest point on the island, the Fairmont Southampton is a lushly landscaped, 100-acre resort. All of its 593 rooms have a balcony or terrace. Amenities include the Princess Beach Club, the luxurious Willow Stream spa, swimming pools, tennis courts, and a challenging, 18-hole golf course. Meeting and banquet space can accommodate up to 1,500.

The 410-room Fairmont Hamilton Princess, located on the harbor in town, reflects old-world charm. There's indoor meeting space for up to 300, and outdoor space for up to 500. Guests at the Hamilton Princess and Southampton have reciprocal signing privileges and access to all facilities at both sites, which are connected by a complimentary 20-minute ferry ride. Both properties have a Fairmont Gold floor, with extra services and amenities.

Spa and Dolphin Encounters

Woman does not live by meetings and activities alone! Sometimes there must be pampering — and happily for me the 31,000 square-foot Willow Stream, the spa at the Fairmont Southampton, provided a wonderful environment for rejuvenation, with notes of color, sounds, and scents evoking the sea. I opted to have the kinks in my neck and shoulders worked out in a deep sports massage. Then I soothed my muscles in the steam room, soaked in the hot tub, and had lunch on the sun deck with the ocean in the distance.

Left to my own devices, I might have whiled away all my time at the Fairmont Southampton's beach and spa, and maybe had a Dark and Stormy (rum and ginger beer) or two. But Discover Bermuda — Southampton's in-house destination management company since January 2005 — which arranged our group's activities, had other great ideas.

Our day of Group Water Tour activities was my favorite. Decked out in Fairmont Bermuda windbreakers, we boarded the Wildcat, a high-speed catamaran that offers fun and informative tours around the islands. The best part of the exhilarating ride was my sense of having engaged in an “extreme sport” without ever leaving my seat! Then it was on to the Royal Naval Dockyard, once an important outpost of the British Navy and now a popular tourist destination. The Dockyard's six-acre Fortress Keep, Bermuda Maritime Museum, and Commissioner's House all offer historic venues for events, not to mention spectacular vistas.

Transitioning from the historic to the mammalian, our next adventure at the Dockyard was bonding with the bottlenose dolphins of Dolphin Quest Bermuda. We donned wet suits and life vests for our in-water interactive experience with the friendly, sensitive mammals. Even the cautious swimmers were thrilled to pet and play with our majestic new friends. Some of us were even spotted “dancing” with dolphins.

And we have photos to prove it.

Joan Westreich is a New York City — based business writer.

Fly Me to the Moon … Gladly

Who would have thought that air travel circa 2005 could be less taxing than juggling a drink and a samosa at a cocktail party? Not I, until I took my first-ever flight aboard a private chartered jet courtesy of Private Jet Services Group (PJS). The Hampton, N.H. — based company specializes in corporate clients, including incentive and meeting groups, and luxury leisure travelers.

Flying on a VIP-configured jet translates into first-class seats for everyone and represents “best practices,” says PJS President Greg Raiff, as “planners can deliver significantly greater value” compared to flying on commercial airlines. Everyone in our group of FICP planners seemed very happy with the experience. I know I was, with legroom befitting an NBA center, great food and amenities, and no lines or baggage hassles.
— JW