You’re getting everyone to the sales meeting…you’ve set the agendas, booked the speakers and ordered the food. But have you thought about entertainment? Savvy meeting planners know that for a business conference to really stand out, you need to do more than just cover the basics. You need a special event – whether it’s a hot air balloon flight, a barbecue under the stars or a Murder Mystery party aboard a vintage train.

To shake up your meeting attendees with something fresh, fun and unexpected, consider the following.

LET THEM LIVE A FANTASY: Rent a local mansion for a Gatsby-themed party, or take the group to the track for an afternoon of horse racing. The Napa Valley Wine Train hosts murder mystery parties, and whodunits can also be held at museums or B&Bs. Speaking of wine – local vineyards make great backdrops for dramatic parties or, as one California company learned, you can hit the vats and stage an I Love Lucy grape-stomping contest. Many zoos provide sunset safaris, or at the Los Angeles Stadium you can even create a Field of Dreams where retired ballplayers suit up against your own employees.

SPORTS RULE: Take advantage of the change of scenery to introduce your group to a new outdoor activity. Depending on where you’ve chosen to hold your meeting, you can go kayaking, rock climbing, sailing, Jeeping, river rafting, snorkeling, biking, fishing or horseback riding. Not only will you be experiencing a new part of the country, but also if sports instruction is required the group rate is usually far cheaper than booking activities for individuals.

If the group is up for a bit of adventure, many small airports offer skydiving classes or hot air ballooning. In NASCAR country, car racing is the ultimate adrenaline rush. Racetracks have formula one or stock car driving schools and can help you organize your own race. In northern climes, some resorts can even outfit you for dogsled racing. One note – adventure activities are not everyone’s cup of tea, so it’s a good idea to provide milder alternatives for those who aren’t quite up for bungee jumping.

WHEN IT COMES TO DINING, THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX: Sure your resort has a nice ballroom and a good banquet service, but why not live a little? The hotel chefs can offer a cooking class in the afternoon or a tasting menu at night. People who have been sitting in meetings much of the day usually enjoy the chance to get outdoors, so host your evening meal by the pool or in the garden. If it’s a weeknight, many resorts let you “close a place” and rent an entire nightclub or restaurant for your function.

CREATE YOUR OWN CORPORATE CULTURE: Meetings can be a great opportunity for team building through friendly competition. Paintball wars between the East and West teams (complete with trophies, natch), scavenger hunts, or mock-ups of such game shows as Jeopardy! or Wheel of Fortune can be terrific icebreakers.

Remember to get management into the mix. In their book 301 Ways to Have Fun at Work (Berrett Koehler), authors Dave Hemsath and Leslie Yerkes described how Manco, an Ohio company that makes duct tape, fired up their staff before the annual fall meeting. President Jack Kahl challenged his team members with a tough sales goal and said that, if they made it, he would swim across an outdoor pond in his Speedo bathing suit. If they failed to meet the goal, the sales team would have to take to the waters.

Needless to say, the fear of an icy Ohio pond coupled with the chance to see the boss in a Speedo proved to be a powerful incentive. The team made the goal and Jack made the swim, and the lake challenge has now become an annual event.

Even if you’re not prepared to take such a radical plunge, there are plenty of ways to spice up the usual round of meetings and banquets. Resort meeting planners can help you understand the area, scout unusual venues, and act as a liaison between you and local businesses. From there the only limit is your imagination