A corporate away day is a great opportunity for teams to bond and take a break from routine. The question for organisers, though, is where to gather for maximum teambuilding and relaxation potential.
Meeting up in a corporate setting might be convenient, but a true escape from the ordinary is far better. That’s exactly why a luxury house is just the right venue for team away days or even corporate weekends away.
A gorgeous cottage or holiday home provides heaps of features that an office just can’t provide. Here’s a list of just a few ways that a luxury house can take a company away day to the next level.
1. A breath of fresh air
While some office workers may be lucky enough to have views of nature from their desk, most either look out onto less scenic vistas or have no windows near them at all.
But it’s been shown that interacting with nature is good for mental health. So, if you’re planning a corporate away day to revitalise your team, it just makes sense to choose a spot with some gorgeous greenery that can help make them feel refreshed and renewed for the road ahead.
For example, Melksham Court in Gloucestershire offers ten acres of beautiful countryside to admire or walk through, plus a terrace where you can have work chats amid fresh air and the sounds of the outdoors.
2. Employee appreciation
Employee job satisfaction is crucial for keeping your valuable colleagues engaged and enthused by their work. Sure, activities like pizza parties can help boost morale a little in the moment. But larger activities like corporate weekends away in a gorgeous manor house truly tell workers that their dedication and efforts are appreciated and important.
What’s great about luxury houses from kate & tom’s is that many of them combine luxury features like hot tubs and swimming pools with smart business-related features like meeting spaces. That way, you can get crucial tasks done during the day, then indulge and chill out in the evening.
That’s one reason why Marsden Manor near Cirencester is perfect for corporate away days. Overnight, team members can rest easy at a classic Cotswold manor house, even taking a dip in the heated pool or blowing off steam in the games room. Then when it’s time for business, they can head to the beautiful Rural Boardroom at Marsden Manor, a beautiful Arts and Crafts-style space with full fibre Wi-Fi.
3. A getaway from the norm
A team getaway should be just that – an opportunity to step away from the ordinary and into a brand new, luxurious setting.
If you’re planning a corporate away day that’s intended to kickstart a new project or spark new thinking about an old one, it just makes sense to choose an environment that’s new and special. Different types of activities, like a stroll by the beach or a dip in the pool, can reinforce that sense of departing from the humdrum – thereby igniting imaginations.
How about a corporate away day at a Castle on the Coast in Dorset? There’s nothing everyday about this stunning house sleeping up to 40 with a terrace overlooking the water. The indoor pool is a luxury not easily forgotten, while the elegant living spaces and dining room provide a venue for work and collaboration that couldn’t be less like an everyday office.
4. Teambuilding at its best
Teambuilding is a core component of a successful business or project. When you have a set of brilliant and talented employees, you still need to make sure they’re in sync with one another. Moreover, establishing mutual respect and familiarity helps teams hop over hurdles like differing opinions or thorny problems.
What’s the best way to go about teambuilding? The right activities do depend somewhat on the team that you have. A group of sporty, active colleagues might love corporate weekends away where they can work up a sweat on the tennis court or go for a hike among rolling hills. On the other hand, other groups might prefer more slow-paced activities like watching films together in a cinema room or playing billiards in a games room. Either way, the right bonding activity can be the key to unlocking a whole new level of camaraderie in your team.
At Eastwood Observatory in East Sussex, for example, guests can enjoy the pool, hot tub, and tennis court – or they can take part in a game of giant chess by the terrace. That’s an activity perfect for becoming part of a great team-building memory.
5. Dog-friendliness
If your office is pet-friendly, you might have a beloved team dog that can provide a little extra fun and laughter on team away days. After all, petting a dog can be a great booster for mental health on a corporate trip for relaxation.
Not all away day venues are dog friendly, though – and even if they are, they might not be best suited to a dog that needs to go for walks and get exercise.
A dog-friendly luxury house is a great solution. Your pooch can enjoy all the pampering it loves from team members and then race around in the outdoors when it’s time for a break.
Take Linhay House in Devon. It has an acre of garden and grounds just by Exmoor for dogs to roam. Then they can nap by the log fire or stretch out on the patio while the humans bond, chat or brainstorm in this classic hunting lodge.
Take your company away day to the next level with kate & tom’s luxury houses
To plan a corporate away day your team will remember for years, turn to kate & tom’s. Our array of large, impressive houses across England and Wales are perfect for any team or away day agenda, whether it’s focused more on work or on rest and bonding. And each home’s gorgeous bedrooms will ensure everyone has a fantastic night’s sleep to start the next day with energy and enthusiasm.
Just browse through kate & tom’s listing of teambuilding getaway cottages to find the perfect spot for your team away days or corporate weekends away. If you’d like advice about which home to pick or what services you can add on to make the experience even more special, we’d be delighted to help. All you have to do is send us a note at [email protected].
