A vortex of choices
Some say that the picturesque community of Sedona, Arizona, 117 miles north of Phoenix calls to them because of the energy centers located there. Others point to the rich red rocks, the dramatic craggy landscape and the serenity of the wide-open spaces. As an International Dark-Sky Association-designated city, it boasts awe-inspiring views by day and night. Meeting professionals may want to bask in the range of opportunities for venues that bring out the best in attendees.
A recent visit explored the many definitions of the concept of a “retreat” from minimalist to luxurious and found there is something for everyone in a destination that boasts more than 400 miles of hiking trails and a growing list of award-winning restaurants.
Meet & Stay
Looking for a corporate retreat that is lavish in meaningful team-building activities, but restrained in accommodations? The 173-acre Sedona Mago Center for Well-being campus perches at the end of a 10-mile dirt road as a cluster of 120 casitas and suites, 10 meeting rooms that can accommodate groups from 20 to 200 and 13 new outdoor team-building structures. The word “Mago” means unconditional love and spirit of Mother Earth in Korean and the campus is designed to connect visitors with themselves and their surroundings by offering access to walking trails, meditation sites and multiple labyrinths situated near identified “energy vortexes” and a man-made lake.
Read More: Caesars Demonstrates the Power of Wellness at Inaugural Global Wellness Summit
Founder Ilchi Lee, a Tao master and author of “The Call of Sedona: Journey of the Heart,” discovered the property in 1997 after the previous retreat center went into foreclosure and brought it back to life as a wellness destination. Inclusive pricing covers meeting space, all audiovisual equipment and meals in the pescatarian kitchen (no meat, alcohol or tobacco is allowed on the property).
On the exclusive side, L’Auberge de Sedona boasts 62 luxury cottages and 21 lodge-style guest rooms along with a five-bedroom Creekhouse. L’Occitane bath products and four-star service await along with sweeping canyon views. A total of 3,500 sq. ft. of largely outdoor meeting space make it a popular executive retreat destination. The signature restaurant, Cress on Oak Creek boasts a French-trained chef and level one sommelier and annual Wine Spectator Awards of Excellence.
Another award-winning property with four-star appeal and a generous 20,000 sq. ft. of indoor-outdoor meeting space is Enchantment Resort in exclusive Boynton Canyon. The 218 casitas blend with the surrounding red-rock cliffs and welcome guests in adobe comfort with fireplaces and access to a world-class spa and outdoor adventures. A recent $40 renovation of Mii amo spa put the emphasis on wellness with ancestral stone massages and sound bath healings.
Do
When in Sedona, leveraging the high-impact team-building skills of guides such as Body & Brain Wellness to help attendees improve their focus, communication and energy is a natural fit. The wellness experience designers, executive coaches and brain education instructors lead retreats at Sedona Mago using Eastern Asian practices for body-brain integration, empathetic DEI and sustainable wellness.
That could look like tapping, deep-breathing exercises, guided meditation or DahnMuDo, a Korean version of Tai Chi that translates to “the way of limitless energy.”
This article appears in the May/June 2024 issue. You can subscribe to the magazine here.
