Team Building Venues: Four Things to Look for As We Rebound from COVID

I think we would all agree that while virtual events are pragmatic, they can’t compete with the energy, stimulation and emotion of an in-person event. That’s true of sporting events, theater productions, business meetings, and yes, team building.

Virtual team building has served its purpose, but its benefits pale in comparison to face-to-face events at team building venues. Thankfully, it looks like the days of getting the team back together again in person are finally here.

If you are considering your first in-person team building event in a long time, it’s even more important to pick the right venue. You don’t want to settle for something mundane when everyone’s expectations will be so high.

So, what should you look for in a team building venue?

1. Look for a provider that has deep experience in team building

There are a lot of so-called team building venues out there, but many are just opportunistically looking to expand their services. For example, that high-end steak house may advertise its meeting room as great for team building, but do they have the facilitators, experience and context to really pull off a team building event?

The same goes for golfing venues. They may advertise for corporate outings and team bonding events, but are the servers bringing you wings and beer really qualified to manage or facilitate a team building event? Same with bowling. If you are in lane 6 and your teammates are in lane 11, where is the interaction?

2. Choose a purpose-built venue

To get the most out of your in-person team building event, the physical space that you are in will be very important. There are custom-built team building venues around the country. Group Dynamix in Dallas, Texas is a good example. But many team building experiences are shoe-horned into other spaces, including Class C office space that is rented on a six-month basis and jerry-rigged for the latest fad. So-called team building chefs will show up in a hotel ballroom with Bunsen burners and a few recipes. That’s not team building. At Team Building with Taste, our team building venue is designed from scratch for team building. Our kitchens are wide open, creating plenty of space for movement and participant interaction with our chefs and each other.  We have big count-down clocks on the wall and stages in the event rooms for plate presentations.

3. Check out the reviews

Team building, like everything else, is an efficient market. And the best way to gauge the quality is through user reviews. You can see reviews on Google, Yelp, TripAdvisor as well as on the venue’s website. Many reviews are fake. Be wary of general, non-attributed reviews. For example,

“We loved it!”

Judy

If you are not swayed by online reviews, call the company and ask for actual testimonials. They should have them.

4. The pre-event sales process will mirror the event

If you call to inquire, are you kept on hold or routed to a generic voice mail box? Does your web inquiry get answered in a timely manner? Is there a live chat feature on the website for your convenience? Most importantly, does the team building venue ask you about your team building goals and objectives during the sales process? If the answer is “no” to most of these, the chances of a successful team building event are lower. Why? Responsiveness, attention to detail and the ability to meet your team building objectives are the hallmarks of successful team building.

To make the most of your first in person team building event since COVID-19, keep the four points noted above in mind. Your chances of a successful event will go up, and you will be on your way to building (or rebuilding) a more collaborative team.