Design around arrival, not around dinner
Build a soft first afternoon that works whether a guest lands at 11:00 or 19:00. Fix the programme only from the first evening onwards.
Corporate retreat at sea — how to plan it properly
Discretion, logistics and a clear reason to be there.
Corporate coastal programmes live or die on arrival windows and contracting. Guests arrive from different cities at different hours; the programme has to absorb that without anyone waiting in a lobby.
One contracting party
Where possible contract the venue, catering and transfers through a single entity with one liability clause. Multiple direct contracts multiply your exposure and your invoices.
Budget per head, verify per line
Quote internally per head, but verify the supplier quote line by line: service charge, taxes, AV, staff meals and overtime are routinely quoted separately.
Ask these before you pay a deposit
- What is the service charge and tax treatment on the quoted total?
- Is AV and technical staffing included or billed separately?
- What is the attrition clause if the final guest count drops?
- What confidentiality terms apply to venue staff and crew?
Shores that suit this occasion
Dubai Marina & Palm Jumeirah
A skyline built to be seen from the water at blue hour.
French Riviera & Monaco
Côte d'Azur couture, port side, where the schedule stays yours.
Miami Beach & Fisher Island
A private island three minutes from a skyline that never sleeps.
Porto Montenegro & Boka Bay
Our home shore — a fjord of limestone and lantern light.
Let Velvet plan this one
Tell Velvet what you want to feel. You receive one recommendation at a time, explained — then a full private-client dossier with budget, hidden costs, red flags and booking paths.
Start your brief