Coral Gables has a noticeably different feel from Downtown Miami. The tree-canopied streets, Mediterranean Revival architecture, fountains, historic buildings, Miracle Mile, and landmarks such as the Biltmore give meetings here a more relaxed, polished atmosphere. Yet the “City Beautiful” is also a serious business and event destination, with corporate offices, hotels, restaurants, clubs, and meeting venues that regularly host conferences and executive gatherings. The Biltmore alone offers 76,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space.

That combination makes Coral Gables particularly good for retreats and meetings where the purpose is more than simply getting everyone into the same room. A Hopeful Horizons event can help a multigenerational team explore different approaches to communication and coaching while assembling useful items for teenagers in foster care. Rescue Bear® also works well for groups that want a hands-on experience centered on understanding the different strengths people bring to a team.

For larger meetings, Build-A-Bike® adds more movement and friendly competition, with teams earning the pieces they need and eventually assembling bicycles for children. The setting may be elegant, but the best team building rarely involves sitting elegantly in a chair. Give people a challenge to solve together, let some personalities emerge, let them laugh a little, and connect the experience to helping people in the local community. That’s a much stronger finish to a day of meetings than one more PowerPoint deck.