My only concern about Chaminade was whether it would be too relaxing for the meeting I was to attend — I found myself dreaming of long walks on the nature trails and endless hours watching the view of Monterey Bay from the terrace overlooking the bluff. Then there was the newly renovated spa, the heated pool and Jacuzzi…but we were there to work, alas.

We used three of the center's 12 meeting spaces: the 1,100-square-foot New Brighton was our headquarters; just across the hall was the 800-square-foot La Selva, which served as a resource room and breakout space; and the 270-square-foot Lighthouse was ours for more intimate small-group discussions. All were flooded with natural light from the large windows, had ergonomic furniture, and included all the technological resources we needed to get down to business. I stuck my head into the other meeting spaces — including the center's largest, the 2,600-square-foot Santa Cruz room — and was equally impressed.

And the food! The continuous breaks were just the beginning. With two on-site restaurants, think endless buffets whose offerings changed daily — including a fabulous dinner seafood buffet that I will be dreaming of for months. When I went back to my room — one of the 153 guest rooms the center offers — to sleep it all off, I encountered what has to be the most comfortable bed I've ever slept in. It also was great to be able to plug my laptop into the in-room high-speed Internet access, then check my e-mail on the walk-out patio.

But what impressed me most was the staff — from our CSM to the guy flipping omelets. I can envision what a perfect spot this would be for teambuilding, because the staff at Chaminade exemplifies what being a real team is all about.