A brand new year is fast approaching and with it comes the promise of business growth, new goals and opportunities. Companies of all sizes often plan a few days away from their regular responsibilities to plan for the future of their business. These offsite events hold so much promise to unlock creative ideas, foster teamwork, and increase productivity.

And yet if they are not well constructed, they present a real risk to hindering progress in a business. So, how do you create an engaging offsite event that everyone can get excited about? We’ve listed several ideas to ensure your next outing is a success:

Tapping the destination for interesting off-site meetings

Choose an interesting venue. Think beyond a hotel ballroom. Consider unusual locations. Museums, yacht clubs, cultural centers can give  glimpse into the destinations history and vibe offering a refreshing break for traditional meeting space.

Consider taking your meeting outdoors to stir the creative juices and boost productivity. Groups heading to Newport Beach, CA can indulge their senses with a private yacht cruise through its picturesque harbor. Just being in fresh air and on the water puts both mind and body at ease.  Newport Harbor provides the perfect backdrop for meetings or private dinner cruises. Spanning three miles to the ocean, this gorgeous harbor is lined with group-friendly restaurants and dotted by several estate filled islands. Holding meetings on these  waters puts a spin on the basic corporate event, offering a stress free environment that can lead to inspired ideas.

Arrange sports or other physical activities. Offer attendees a chance to have a bit of fun by adding a physical activity to your program. This is a great way to encourage team bonding without usual team building bike builds or death falls. Research shows that regular physical breaks can lead to increased  productivity because the mind has a chance to simply play.

Incorporating a destination specific activity into your program will help enhance the attendee experience. Every destination has offerings that are unique to the area. By tapping into these experiences you’ll be giving your attendees a true feel for the vibe of the destination.  Consider private historical tours through the destination via foot, coach or in Newport Beach, CA via bike or boat.

Hands-on experiences lead to engaging off-site meetings

Interactive lessons: Educational sessions help to stimulate creativity through hands on learning. Consider cooking classes or mixology sessions many hotels offer both options. Perhaps visit to a local winery for a wine blending course or a wine pairing and tasting. Tap into the artistic spirit of your attendees with a team building inspired activity in which local artists create landscape paintings and invite guests to add their touch to the masterpiece.

Partake in a local event. Give your group the chance experience the essence of a destination. Incorporating community events, or exhibits into your program can bring the destination to life for attendees. Newport Beach has several annual events that celebrate the area’s outdoor lifestyle, including the annual sandcastle competition where teams gather to create masterpieces along the coast. Additionally, groups in town anytime between mid-June and mid-October can enjoy a fantastic line-up of top entertainment at the annual outdoor summer concert series. The concert can be a great way to cap off a dine-around or celebrate another successful program!

A productive and engaging program can have a powerful influence on a company. Not only can it align executives, it can motivate employees, encourage collaboration an strengthen a company’s industry position.

When you’re ready to begin planning your next group meeting, contact the staff at Visit Newport Beach, the destination marketing organization for Newport Beach, CA. Visit Newport Beach opens the doors to this Pacific paradise with destination expertise, customized site visits, strong partnerships and resources that ease the planning process.