SEATTLE -- Being in control is one of the advantages of having a
meeting at sea, according to Noel DeChambeau, Windstar Cruises'
director of charters and incentives.
This is the feedback DeChambeau is getting from clients who are
delighted to have a captured audience.
At a land resort, meeting-goers may want to sneak away, but when
they are on board a ship, it becomes a difficult option.
DeChambeau said the trend to hold meetings at sea is growing,
and in fact, more than 20% of the line's business is generated from
charters and incentives.
Windstar is coming up with innovations for its meetings held
aboard the Wind Surf.
When the Wind Surf goes into dry-dock this November, the line
will add a computer center. The center will have 12 dedicated
computers for e-mail and Internet access.
Another addition will be a presentation room that can
accommodate 60 theater-style and be used for roundtable meetings as
well.
A barbecue station will be installed on the Star Deck, and 28
tables will be added to the veranda. The line's Bisto restaurant
will boost capacity to 108, while the ship will remove two cabins,
dropping to a 308-passenger vessel, to make way for a gangway on
Deck 2.
Windstar's fleet includes the Wind Surf and the 148-passenger
ships Wind Song, Wind Star and Wind Spirit.