MOTIVATe & CELEBRATE Yarari Royale, Dominican Republic Rio Chico Private Estate, Jamaica 5 NON-TRADITIONAL OPTIONS FOR GROUPS Chalets WOW (across Quebec) chaletswow.com/en/events/corporate Evermore Orlando Resort (Orlando, FL) evermoreresort.com Wedge Mountain Lodge (Whistler, BC) wedgemountainlodge.com/your-group/corporate Yarari Royale (Dominican Republic) yarariroyale.com Rio Chico Private Estate (Jamaica) riochico.com and we’ve seen such success in the incentive market,” says Baran. Concierges can make arrival day seamless with the ‘Evermore to Your Door’ meal program, where dinner is waiting in the unit’s fridge for guests arriving at different times to heat up at their leisure. The extensive range of activities for groups includes two golf courses, watercraft or a ‘spacuzzi’ floating hot tub on the lagoon, plus mixology and sandcastle-building classes. MAKING IT WORK With a private property, you can lose some built-in infrastructure and support, cautions Gibson. “In a hotel, there are teams dedicated to housekeeping, maintenance, food and beverage, security, front desk operations and guest services. In a private property, planners often need to recreate many of those functions themselves,” she says. “The key is detailed advance planning. We recommend conducting thorough site inspections, creating comprehensive operational plans, identifying contingency options and ensuring clear ownership of every aspect of the guest experience.” Lee suggests ensuring there’s space for attendees to work or spend time on their own, and that the rental has sufficient AV equipment. While platforms such as VRBO or Airbnb may work well for personal travel, Gibson says corporate events require a more bespoke approach. “Issues such as insurance, commercial use permissions, guest capacity, supplier access, event activities, catering, transportation and contractual protections all become important,” she explains. “Working with a managed accommodation provider such as Evermore offers a level of reliability and service that peer-to-peer rental platforms can’t match,” says Baran. “If the dishwasher goes down, we have added stock; we operate like a luxury hotel with a 24-hour concierge and engineering team.” COVER YOUR BASES Non-hotel venues can create memorable experiences for attendees, but they require a planning mindset that considers the entire guest journey, says Gibson. “How are guests arriving? Where are they gathering? Who’s responsible for guest services? What happens if the weather changes? What does the experience feel like from arrival to departure?” she says. “When planners invest time in operational planning and work with experienced local partners, non-traditional venues can deliver a level of personalization, exclusivity and destination immersion that is often difficult to achieve in a conventional hotel environment,” says Gibson. “For the right group and objective, they can be incredibly powerful.” Evermore Orlando Resort, Orlando, FL Wedge Mountain Lodge, Whistler, BC Fall 2026 | Ignitemag.ca | 57
