Hammock Beach - Take 3

This year's annual work meeting that I planned was held for the third time at Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast, FL. It is an ideal vacation spot and I have developed relationships with most of their staff so it really is a treat to hold our meeting there year after year. Of course, that's easier to say on this side of the meeting when the hard work is behind me and the meeting was a success. As always, I end up wondering in the thick of it if I really have what it takes to pull the meeting off without too many other helping hands, but things usually turn out well and even the last minute changes or hiccups don't interfere with things running smoothly. All in all, it's a rewarding task and I enjoy the relationships that I have built with our advisors up and down the east coast (and now as far west as California!) because of my involvement in this meeting.

One of the perks of these planning gigs is that I often have super accommodations, but unfortunately, I do not usually spend much time in the room. My parents finally took me up on an offer to join me and enjoyed a week-long Florida vacation. I had a three-bedroom suite with full kitchen and living area so it was a sweet deal for them. 

View from our suite

Watching some of our guys play the Ocean Course from our balcony

Even though we were only in Florida two weeks earlier than usual, the weather made it seem like we were there months ahead. Of course, spring arrived late everywhere so that probably explains the cooler temps we experienced. The winds were strong so there was very little beach time this year. The protected pool was much more enjoyable! With each passing day, the weather got nicer so it was pretty perfect by the latter half of the week.

My pool time is always sporadic during this event because of running around trying to get things done, but I definitely was able to enjoy some Florida sunshine throughout the week when we weren't in meetings.

My only beach time was an afternoon walk between meetings and dinner

 

I finally took more than just scenic pictures on our last night there as we headed to dinner at a restaurant overlooking the ocean.

This meeting has always been close to my birthday. In fact, we purposefully bumped up the meeting to April this year so that it didn't have to overlap with my birthday. My main contacts at Hammock have always been sweet to remember since the very first year and have done something nice for me in the way of spa treatments or food. This year I found these delicious gluten free cakes in my fridge with a sweet card signed by the staff on my last day at Hammock. It was a nice way to celebrate my birthday early and the end of another meeting.  

Hammock Beach

The work event that I plan in May is an annual meeting for our advisors who are located all over the east coast.  We returned again to Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast, Florida this year because it was such a big hit last May.  I was fortunate enough to spend 6 days there.  It really is such a beautiful spot (nice enough for an ideal vacation destination) that caters to both the guys who play golf and the women who just want to enjoy the beach or lazy river.  I am not sure how we will convince our advisors to go anywhere else next year!  Being familiar with the resort and the conference services staff made my job a lot easier this go round.  Even though I am usually "on" from the time I get there till the time I leave (with flight delays, ride changes, dealing with room issues, reworking golf pairings to accommodate new adds, editing/creating last minute PowerPoints, etc.), I still find opportunities to squeeze in some beach time and enjoy the sunshine.  It's always hard for me to leave this place at the end of the week!

This rascal below stole the pineapple right off of my drink at the pool and went to town on it right beside me...literally one chair over!

 The infamous gift bags that I put together for all of our attendees.  Because making them ahead of time is not an option when shipping to sunny (and hot) Florida because all of the delicious chocolate melts and makes a huge mess, I always have to crank these out in my room quickly before all of our guests arrive.  A rainy first day there forced me to knock these out first thing (thankfully) rather than staying up late at night to get them done.

We managed to gather most of the group early in the morning before our last day of meetings for a picture. I am usually given lip over promoting a group picture, but the end result is usually appreciated.  This is proof that this is actually a work meeting and that I do not spend the entire time on the beach. :)