If you feel as though your team is in a rut at work, your workplace may be the culprit. While familiar surroundings can be comforting, a change of scenery can help stimulate creativity, bring in fresh ideas, and create new opportunities for team building. Here are our top tips for executing a successful and productive off-site meeting that will give your team a much-needed boost.
Pick the Perfect Venue
Picking the ideal venue for your off-site meeting is one of your most important decisions. You need a space that can easily accommodate all your attendees and has access to amenities, such as dining, recreation, and—for overnight retreats—accommodations.
Thankfully, at Vintage Hotels, we offer over 40 venues to choose from across our hotel locations, and our award-winning restaurants provide world-class catering services. Our experienced event staff would be pleased to discuss how we can make your next off-site meeting a success.
Develop an Engaging Agenda
Off-site meetings need an active agenda to keep attendees engaged and ideas flowing. Ensure that you clearly define the objectives of your meeting, keeping your goals specific, measurable, and achievable.
From there, organize activities that help you meet your goals. In addition to work-related goals, you may also consider secondary goals such as team building and fostering collaboration. Ensure that you have a varied blend of work-focused sessions balanced with fun and engaging activities to stave off burnout.
Elevate the Experience with Quality Catering
Nothing perks up your team after a long meeting like a delicious meal! Great food fuels great ideas, so ensure that you serve variety of menu options for your team to choose from.
At Vintage Hotels, our experienced culinary team elevates the ordinary to extraordinary with fresh, local ingredients and our signature gourmet flair. We’ll cater your meeting with a variety of fresh culinary delights, and we’re pleased to accommodate allergies or dietary restrictions so that everyone on your team can enjoy a five-star dining experience.
Foster Active Engagement
Off-site meetings are most successful when attendees are actively engaged with the work material and with each other.
While you should create plenty of opportunities for team building, don’t forget to also schedule free, unstructured time to allow for spontaneous interactions and networking. Having everything scheduled to the last minute can leave your team feeling burned out and disengaged.
Allow Time for Team Building
Team building is integral to any workplace. A strong team is happier, works well together, and is ultimately more productive.
Organize activities that allow your team to interact with each other organically. For example, our Wine Trolley Signature Tour is an excellent team-building experience, offering a relaxed outing where coworkers can connect and enjoy each other’s company. Remember that a good off-site meeting is about more than just work—it’s about creating unique opportunities for your attendees to network.
Follow Up with Meeting Attendees
Following up with your attendees is always best practice. Send out an email a few days after the meeting to thank everyone for their attendance and hard work, along with a summary of key discussions and decisions. You may also wish to solicit feedback or send a brief survey to discover what your team loved about the experience, as well as areas for improvement.
Make Your Next Meeting a Success with Vintage Hotels
With over 40 meeting venues and a knowledgeable event staff, we’ve hosted thousands of successful off-site meetings over the years. Contact us today to discuss how we can help you revitalize your team at your next off-site meeting!