Executive Retreat: Research Directors from the G8 Countries Meet on Cape Cod

Guests frequently ask if the Palmer House Inn hosts business groups or executive retreats. The answer is ‘yes,’ we have hosted a range of gatherings. In fact, we hosted this fascinating group a few years ago.

In May of 2008 Falmouth’s Palmer House Inn, a bed and breakfast played host to the research directors of the prestigious G8 international science group. As you might remember, the G8 countries comprise the eight largest economies in the world.

During their stay our lovely Cape Cod town was its most beautiful. The sky was bright sparkling blue, the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, and the tulips and daffodils were also blooming. An additional treat was that the directors brought their wives. The ladies were able to do some sightseeing while directors were in meetings. (Executive retreat activities.)

For the executive retreat, we provided lodging for the two-day G8 conference. Our location near the center of Falmouth and Woods Hole was a wonderful for the group. The meetings for the research directors, took place on May 5th and 6th at the National Science Foundation’s Jonsson Center in Woods Hole. The countries represent about 65 percent of the world’s economy. Each year the meeting is  hosted by a different country. Last year, in 2007, the meeting was hosted in France and the directors gathered in Paris. I don’t want to brag but we did hear that some of them might have preferred the Cape Cod accommodations.

The Jonsson Center is a magnificent Victorian-style cottage that was built in the late nineteen hundreds as a summer residence for a wealthy family. It has been meticulously restored and maintained by the foundation and is used for meetings by the Woods Hole science community. It is located on a bluff and has sweeping views of Quisset Harbor, The Knob and Gansett Point. The sunsets are spectacular.

In the United States, the National Science Foundation is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, and was the representative organization to the group that hosted the meeting. Ardent L. Bement, JR., PhD. is the director of the Foundation.

The countries represented were Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, United Kingdom, and the United States. The goal of the National Science Foundation is to promote research in all fields of science and engineering. The foundation is responsible for much of the federal funding granted to colleges and universities to support research. The foundation selected Woods Hole for the meeting this year because of the atmosphere of science and research in the village. Some participants remained after the conference to enjoy a few rounds of golf on Falmouth courses and to do some sightseeing around the Cape.

Some of the projects that the NSF are currently exploring are: The measuring of antiproton magnetic charges. This method measures the charge 680 times more precisely than in the past. They are also studying the digestive system of Alaskan trout. Additionally NSF is researching some of the quirky features of the lyme disease bacteria.   Also, one of NSF’s most significant work centers around research that probes how pancreatic cancers metastasize.

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You too can stay in the room worthy of a G8 director. For guests with a discerning scientific leaning we recommend the charming Harriet Beecher Stowe room or the Emily Dickinson room. Both rooms feature comfortable king beds, fireplaces and jetted tubs.

Executive Retreats at the Palmer House

For more information on corporate events, executive retreat amenities, team-building activities or to request more information contact us at 508-548-1230 or innkeepers@palmerhouseinn.com.