Attendees seeking a way to relax while staying at a hotel often go to the spa or pool. But at some properties, an ideal way to unwind or clear one's head is to take a stroll in the garden.
For example, take the gardens at the Grand Hotel in Mackinac Island, MI. The striking property, overlooking Lake Huron, has the the longest front porch in the world (at 660 feet) and a nearly 130-year history. But one of its most memorable features are its expansive, rolling gardens.
The wide lawn is ideal for a range of group activities -- from croquet and bocce ball to receptions and outdoor concerts. But just as valuable for planners is how the garden can be used for individual contemplation or quiet conversation with just two or three people. The Grand Hotel's labyrinthine Vita Course of waist-high ferns and its fragrant Rose Walk provide ideal sites for stepping away from day-to-day distractions in order to look at one's work or life through a wider lens.
"We have a tendency to move quickly through our day and get used to being busy just for the sake of it," says Kristina Preble, the Grand Hotel's head gardener, who oversees the planting and maintenance of the grounds. "A garden doesn't care about that -- it gives you a chance to slow down, consider what you're looking at, and feel present."
That's easier to do on Mackinac Island than many destinations, as this small island, located in Lake Huron between Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas, feels like an escape to a simpler time. No cars are allowed on the island -- only horse-drawn carriages -- and shops and restaurants have been selling fudge or serving local whitefish as far back as the 19th century. The Grand Hotel's more than one dozen meeting rooms -- from the 7,080-square-foot Theatre to the 500-square-foot Museum Meeting Room -- also exude this sense of history and a bygone era. But the Grand Hotel gardens provide a particular allure.
"Being outside here can make you feel more thoughtful and thankful," says Preble. "It's a great way to get centered before a big presentation or meeting."
Bringing a group into the garden can provide business benefits as well. Last year, a trio of management professors reported in the Harvard Business Review that they found that of 150 workers surveyed, those who participated in walking meetings were 5.25 percent more likely to report being creative at their job than those who did not. Further, those who participated in walking meetings were 8.5 percent more likely to enjoy high levels of engagement in their work.
Neuroscientist Andrew Tate, noting that giants such as Steve Jobs and Charles Dickens were avid walkers, has said that the increased blood flow can help walkers express ideas in more compelling ways to colleagues.
Planners looking to incorporate an on-site garden into their event offerings can consider a number of properties, each with its own unique flora. The Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles boasts a garden of more than 200 species of plants and flowers and an idyllic Swan Lake with three resident swans. The Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, in Florence, Italy, includes the 11-acre Giardino della Gherardesca -- a walled park of shade trees and bright flowers.
To experience a garden worthy of kings, planners should keep their eye on LOV Hotel Collection, which has begun transforming three buildings on the property of the Palace of Versailles -- yes, the stunning chateau built west of Paris by King Louis XIV -- into a luxury hotel. Estimated to open in 2018, it will allow guests to step out into the almost 2,000 acres of trees, fountains, and flowers that make up the famed Gardens of Versailles.
Another standout garden can be found at the Belmond Hotel Cipriani Venice. A number of the property's 95 rooms and suites look out over its Casanova Gardens -- a well-manicured lawn and bursts of flowers, accented by sculptures throughout. The name comes from the fact that the famed lover, Giacomo Casanova is believed to have held romantic rendezvous in this location.
Since wine goes so well with romance, it makes sense that in 2000, the Cipriani replanted the garden vineyard, after years of disuse. New grape varieties -- Refosco, Cabernet, and Merlot -- were planted, and are blended to make the property's exclusive Casanova Salso wine. The space also includes a botanical garden of herbs, fruits, and vegetables, which provides ingredients -- thyme, lavender, liquorice, chili peppers, and more -- to the property's Michelin-starred Oro restaurant. Behind a secret passage at the end of the backyard, chef Davide Bisetto and organic farmer Michele Savorgnano maintain their own "Garden of Eden" of more than 300 species of plants -- 15 types of basil, 20 types of tomato, and so on.
Whether guests are partial to garden walks or not, they can enjoy the Casanova Garden's riches by visiting Oro. It offers an impressive chef's menu with dishes created from the backyard ingredients. Each course is paired with a drink -- not just wine, but cocktails, beer, and even tea -- that enhance or complement each dish, many of which are garnished with garden ingredients.