That included pizza-and-beer parties and company retreats to the beach.

NPR: New Book Shares Insights From Steve Jobs' 1st Boss

Of course, the deep pockets necessary to afford such a thing mean the typical clientele is corporate giants like Hyundai and Siemens that host their company retreats in the village-wide venue, forgoing a banal conference centre.

BBC: Rent an entire European village

In 2000 THLS signed a five-year contract with Rural Retreats, a British company that manages bucolic properties.

FORBES: Bed & Beacon