AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - A Dutch travel agent is offering a holiday package with a difference -- a night in a cardboard box on a Paris street.

The mini-break, which has come under fire from a French charity for homeless people, is aimed at companies wanting to instill a team spirit in staff.

Groups of 10 contestants are left "homeless" for one night without cash or credit cards and compete against work mates to collect money by busking or begging.

Those who want to try their hand at begging are given guitars, while would-be street artists are provided with pencils. The less talented have to resort to panhandling.

"They get a good meal and after that they sleep under a bridge in a cardboard box," said Kamstra Travel director Bart Jansens.

The package, which costs about $400 per person, has yet to find any takers, although Jansens says he has had a number of inquiries.

Probably all from the media. Frankly, I think the Dutch have been watching too many "reality" shows. Of course, they claim it's a team building exercise, but it's about as sophisticated as a Candid Camera prank. And notice they ship them off to France for this little foray into the world of street survival. They wouldn't want to sully their own streets with beggars, even the imitation kind.

Personally, I think the French are right to complain. However, this inspires me to come up with my own team building exercise. I think I'll force executives to pose as volunteers for non-profit institutions. They'll have to stand at corners with coffee cans and try to get contributions to a "Stop Domestic Violence" fund, or attempt to obtain 10,000 signatures in favor of unilateral disarmament. They want to experience indifference and futility as a method of bonding? Just try to engage someone walking to work in meaningful dialogue about societal problems. That'll bring 'em to their knees.

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