How to plan a company offsite event (with 10 creative ideas to try)

According to Nectar, people who have friends at work are happier, collaborate better and experience improved mental health. It just makes sense for companies to invest in helping their employees build friendships.

But it can be challenging for busy teams to step away from siloed digital tasks and build meaningful relationships face-to-face – especially when their 40-hour work week is filled with a list of job duties to complete.

So what’s a surefire solution to help your team members get to know one another? Plan a fun company offsite event where employees can put work away and focus on building friendships.

This article will cover the best tips for creating an inclusive company offsite event and offer 10 creative ideas to help your team bond.

Creating an inclusive company offsite

Inclusivity should be at the heart of your offsite planning process. An inclusive event ensures that every team member feels respected, accommodated and engaged regardless of their background, abilities or personal preferences.

Here are some ways to build an inclusive event:

Prepare diverse activities. Your workforce varies in age range, ability and interests, so plan different physical, creative and intellectual activities. Some team members may enjoy a hike, while others will enjoy a cooking or pottery class. Mix it up and prepare fun and varied activities that appeal to everyone.

Have a variety of meal options. Conduct a survey before your event. Ask your team about any dietary restrictions, religious needs or allergies. This way, you don’t have to prepare for every potential diet, but you can accommodate the specific needs of your team. Alternatively, you can give team members meal vouchers and let them order a meal from the local establishment of their choice.

Guarantee accessibility. If the location you pick doesn’t have accessibility features, it could exclude a portion of your team members. Pick a venue that makes it easy for people of all abilities to move around with ease. Also, settle on group activities that are adaptable to different levels of physical ability. If you plan a hike, for example, include different trail options. One trail could be paved and wheelchair-accessible, while other trails could be more rigorous.

Tips for planning an offsite

According to a TravelPerk survey, 37% of respondents said they care most about driving attendance when planning a company event. If your goals are similar, here are 4 tips to help you boost your attendance numbers:

1. Set clear goals and objectives

Before planning your company’s offsite event, identify what you want to achieve. Do you want more employees to meet each other? Do you want leadership to interact with their teams in a more casual environment? Are you most interested in deepening interdepartmental relationships? After you know what you want to achieve, you can align activities with your goals and communicate them to your workforce.

2. Involve the team and schedule wisely

The last thing you want to do is plan an event your team members can’t attend. Avoid this common mistake by involving your employees in the planning. When your team owns the planning process, they’ll pick a time that works for the majority.

3. Choose the right offsite location to ensure comfort

How do you know where to host your offsite event? According to TravelPerk, 33% of employees say picking a location close to the office is essential. It may seem fun to pick a far-off, exotic location, but that won’t work for families with young children, employees caring for older adults or workers with pressing local commitments. Choosing a practical location makes it possible for more people to attend and enjoy your event.

Another comfort consideration involves providing the necessary amenities for all participants. For example, do you need to request a private room for breastfeeding mothers? Have you planned ample meals and snacks, or are there restaurants nearby to keep your team fed and energised? Ask for a volunteer to serve as the point person to manage the required amenities.

4. Communicate plans in advance and gather feedback

After you’ve planned your event, share details with your team. Give them enough time to prepare for and schedule their social and family calendars around the event. This increases the likelihood that they’ll be able to attend.

Another smart idea is to conduct a survey after the event. Ask questions about what worked well, what didn’t work and what could have been improved. Then use these insights to make future offsite events even better.

10 creative ideas for offsites

Now it’s time for the fun part – planning activities for your offsite event. Below are 10 ideas to inspire connection, creativity and camaraderie among your team members.

1. Pottery or art class

Pottery and art classes are fun ways to tap into your team’s creative side. You can hire an art teacher to show participants how to mould clay into unique pottery pieces, paint or draw. These classes provide a relaxing, engaging and hands-on experience. The best part? Everyone will go home with a personal masterpiece to remember the day.

2. Game nights

Game nights bring out the competitive spirit in a fun and friendly way. Switch it up with board games, card games and video games to cater to various interests. Games help teams strategise together, fostering collaboration outside the office. Above all, shared experiences while playing games create lasting memories.

3. Karaoke

Who is the office diva? There’s only one way to find out. A karaoke night is an outstanding way to unleash your team’s performing talents. Team members can either showcase their singing skills or simply enjoy the entertainment (if they avoid the spotlight). Either way, the lighthearted environment is a great way to break the ice and build camaraderie.

4. Field day activities

Sometimes, the best way to energise yourself is to get physically active. The good news is you don’t have to go far to get moving. You can find a local park and engage in classic field day activities like relay races, tug-of-war or obstacle courses.

5. Social impact projects

Participating in social impact projects allows teams to step outside the earning mindset and give back to the community. Volunteer activities can include doing environmental cleanups, helping local charities and planting trees. Service-based activities bring teams closer together and make a difference in your local area.

6. Cooking classes

One of the best ways to forge bonds is to spend time together over a stove and around a table. First, survey your team and ask them what cuisine they’re most interested in learning how to cook. Then hire an expert chef in your area to teach that cuisine or a new culinary skill. If you want to go a step further, consider teaching the skill and then turning it into a competition with judges.

7. Outdoor fun

Activities like hiking, beach volleyball, swimming or a picnic provide a refreshing change of scenery from the office. Encourage your employees to get some natural vitamin D, engage in physical activity and enjoy nature together. It’s a great way to build unity and rejuvenate your team. Alternatively, if you have team members who can’t move well or don’t enjoy participating in outdoor activities, you could plan for your team to attend an outdoor activity like a soccer game, basketball game or rodeo.

8. Dance workshop

From jazz and hip-hop to ballroom and Irish dancing, the world is your oyster when it comes to connecting through dance. Dancing together is relaxing, breaks down barriers and is a fun way to energise the group.

9. Wellness retreat

If there’s anything your hardworking team deserves, it’s time focused on self-care. Consider a wellness retreat that’s all about relaxation and wellbeing. Look for a spa or wellness centre with a serene environment that offers yoga, meditation and massage.

10. Virtual reality (VR) rental experiences

You may have tried a video game night, but have you tried a VR rental experience? VR sets transport participants to a new world – surrounded by interesting graphics and fun tasks. This immersive technology provides a fun way to engage and bond with one another.

Wherever you go with your team, Uber for Business can help you get there

Your employees work hard and they deserve company-supported leisure time together. Not only does it help them build relationships with one another, but it also shows them that you genuinely care about their wellbeing.

Take your offsite event to the next level with Uber for Business by providing everyone on your team with vouchers or gift cards. Your employees can redeem them for rides and meals, making it easy for them to get to and from the event and enjoy whatever meal they prefer (all on the company dime).

The best part for your company is that you don’t have to worry about the logistics of planning rides and meals or handling expense reports. You can control your budget and manage everything beforehand in the Uber for Business platform.

Products and features mentioned in this article may not be available in your region. Please reach out to Uber for Business customer support if you have questions.

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