Smart Meetings

What's Distinctive?

With views of the ocean and our spectacular gardens, impeccable service, and gourmet cuisine, La Playa Hotel and Cottages-by-the-Sea provides the ideal setting for events and corporate affairs. Spacious, elegant, and flexible, our five meeting rooms accommodate 10 to 120 guests with elegant sophistication. Set the tone for success in a landmark location - just two blocks from the ocean and four blocks from the village. From ambiance to cuisine ... events hosted here are always fresh, always special. Discover this intimate alternative to the traditional Monterey convention center, where natural beauty, historic ambience, and sophisticated settings inspire productivity.

La Playa Hotel offers a variety of team building programs that are both enjoyable and competitive. Each program offers unique challenges that require team members to collaborate on decision making, maximizing their resources and generate effective solutions - while having fun!

Wine Blending with the Winemaker
Hosted by family winemakers Bill Parsons and Frank Melicia, your group will be guided through the Parsonage Village Vineyard located in Carmel Valley.  Known for their finest quality grapes, your host will discuss the elements and techniques involved in wine blending. Inside the Barrel Room, teams are given four wines (Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah and a wildcard) to create a unique blend that is, ultimately, judged by the winemaker. Bottles are corked and foil wrapped for all to take home and enjoy.

Culinary Center of Monterey
Located on historic Cannery Row overlooking Monterey Bay, The Culinary Institute hosts groups of 12 to 75 for both casual cooking classes and team challenges. The wide variety of casual classes includes Appetizer, Dessert, International Dinners or California Cuisine. Team-based challenges are led by Chef Instructors who guide groups through meal preparation. Judges award prizes based on, among others, taste, appearance, garnishing, table décor and buffet styling. In the end, everyone sits down together to enjoy the great meal they have prepared.

Point Lobos Nature Hike
Led by Associated Hosts expert naturalists, your group will explore, on foot, Pirate's Cove, China Cove, Bird Island and the historic rocky shores where Edward Weston took many of his famous photographs. The group will also visit the shoreline to view sea lions, shore birds and sea otters.

Skip Barber Racing
Indulge your group with a day at nearby Skip Barber Racing School, the global leader in automotive education and entertainment. Corporate racing and driving programs accommodate groups of all sizes. Combining high-performance street cars and super-exciting Formula Skip Barber race cars, highly trained instructors teach effective car control, driver awareness and an appreciation for speed in a safe, fun environment.

GPS Team Quest
Based on precision, creativity and collaborative problem solving, Team Quest is a “high-tech” scavenger hunt throughout Carmel-by-the-Sea incorporating handheld GPS devices that teams use to find their way. Points of interest provide clues and information that lead teams along their own specific route.

Carmel Beach Team Experience
Sink your toes into the glorious sands of Carmel Beach while small groups compete in a variety of new and unique activities to achieve the right balance of competition, camaraderie and creativity. This program is not based on athleticism or physical prowess, but rather the collective strength of each team's members.

Road Rally Adventure
Equipped with Rally Packets that include driving directions, scavenger hunt questions, Polaroid cameras, handheld GPS devices and maps, teams explore Carmel-by-the-Sea, 17-Mile Drive, Carmel Valley and the Monterey Peninsula. Teamwork, creativity, humor and a good sense of direction guides groups through a competitive team scavenger hunt.