Shelley Gutta has seen it all—sweaty suits on surprise hikes, dress-shoe paddling disasters, and agendas so tight they squeeze out any real connection.
The biggest killer of attendee engagement? Forgetting the in-between.
As Director of Sales at Stonewall Resort, Shelley is on a mission to make meetings more meaningful… and fun.
The Problem with Packing It All In
"Nobody wants to be doing [team building] in dress shoes," Shelley deadpans.
The most common mistake she sees? Planners shoehorn recreational activities into the schedule without giving people enough time to change out of their conference armor.
"It could take that long just to get to your room," she adds, pointing out that a measly 15-minute window between a workshop and a kayak outing isn't cutting it.
What gets lost in the shuffle? Not just comfort, but the point of the entire experience. You’ve spent good money and creative energy designing a standout activity. But if attendees show up physically unprepared and mentally elsewhere, that effort sinks fast.
Why Fun Actually Fuels Focus
Here’s the twist: leisure isn’t a distraction—it’s a fast track to real results.”
Shelley explains, "It gives your folks a chance to connect or reconnect... develop relationships that you normally wouldn't do." Instead of another stiff networking hour, think group hikes, raft races, or yoga stretches.
Incorporating movement and fun helps people retain information better.
"Mentally being able to clear your head helps all that information... stick with your attendees a little bit more," she notes. After all, you remember the shared laugh on the lake a lot longer than the third slide deck of the day.
Short on Time? You Can Still Add Fun.
Worried you can’t fit it in? Shelley has a few tricks.
Start with morning music: "They've had a drum duo... just getting people jazzed up in the morning." It’s not a concert—it’s an energy shift. Or try 10-minute yoga breaks that get people stretching in their suits. "You're not doing anything too crazy," she says, "but it makes a big difference."
And let’s talk "bleisure"—that magical mix of business and leisure. Adding a pre- or post-event day lets people settle in or linger longer. "Just getting on a plane, getting off a plane... and then hurrying up, packing, and getting back—that’s not an experience," Shelley says. Give people time to explore the venue and actually enjoy where they are.
One Wild Race, One Unforgettable Outcome
Want proof that it works? Shelley shares a story about a group that ran a four-raft race on Stonewall Resort's lake. The twist? Only two paddles per four-person group. Cue laughter, chaos, and a surprising level of strategy.
"Everybody was just stoked when they came off the lake," she recalls. The energy didn’t just spike—it lasted. So much so that the group rebooked for a repeat.
"Their people were so enthusiastic about it, had so much fun and really benefited their goal of getting everyone to network and connect and really bond."
Don’t Just Book It. Build It.
The takeaway is simple: Stop thinking of recreation as the "extra" part of your event. It’s not fluff. It’s fuel. Build in the margin to breathe, move, and shift gears, the permission to play, and the time to connect. Your attendees might just leave with more than notes—they might leave with real relationships.
So the next time you plan a conference, don’t forget the flip-flops. Or the raft paddles.
Want help planning an event that blends strategy with soul?
Reach out to the team at Stonewall Resort—and leave space for something unforgettable.