Whether you’re planning an intimate retreat, sizable conference, or incentive event, having the team together in-person presents a golden opportunity to plan activities that foster camaraderie, collaboration, and communication.
"A well-crafted, carefully curated, intentional team-building activity communicates value and commitment to your team," says Bobby Mikulas, CEO and co-founder of Kinship Landing, a boutique hotel, cafe/bar, and event space in downtown Colorado Springs, Colo. "Showing you care about them can shape the culture and future performance of your business, so choosing a location that is professional at achieving atmosphere and design is quintessential."
Keep scrolling for a curated list of 11 inventive team-building activities to consider pumping your team up to a new level...
Teams can channel their inner Bear Grylls at Beaverbrook Estate.Photo: Courtesy of Beaverbrook Estate
1. Put survival skills to the test
Beaverbrook Estate—an illustrious estate in the English countryside known for playing host to a handful of celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor, Charlie Chaplin, and Winston Churchill—joined forces with the Bear Grylls Survival Academy to offer a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities for teams, from bushcraft to survival skills to teamwork challenges, designed to bring people together. Here, a team of highly trained experts handpicked by Bear Grylls himself can deliver a host of team-building activities, including but not limited to wilderness races, navigation challenges, axe throwing, sniper-rifle shooting, rock rappelling, air crash scenario, and more.
Groups at Pendry San Diego can immerse themselves in the local surf culture for a gnarly team-building excursion.Photo: Courtesy of Pendry San Diego
2. Ride waves in San Diego
In partnership with Adventure IO, Pendry San Diego offers a series of locally inspired adventure experiences created and hosted by professional athletes and local experts for a gnarly team-building activity special to San Diego. Groups can explore the city’s best surfing and deep-sea fishing spots with World Surf League legend Damien Hobgood and Salty Crew Captain Kody Kessell during a memorable San Diego sea outing, or catch some waves with pro surfboard shaper Chris Clark.
Renowned local Seattle body artist Lolli (pictured) is currently the tattoo artist in residence at Thompson Seattle.Photo: Courtesy of Thompson Seattle
3. Get a group tat
Thompson Seattle, the Olson Kundig-designed luxury boutique hotel in downtown Seattle, launched a “Tattoo Artist-in-Residency” program with various well-known tattoo artists from around the country. The series of immersive, interactive body art experiences (for team members looking for an unforgettable souvenir) kicked off with renowned local Seattle body artist Lolli to much success followed by Portland-based artist Alice Kendall. The tattoos are either permanent or fade over time, for those looking for something less, well, permanent.
4. Be a DJ for a day
Hard Rock Hotel New York has tuned into the power of music with Audacy Live, a state-of-the-art performance studio that's part of a brand partnership with the multiplatform audio content and entertainment company. Unique meetings breakout offerings include Scratch DJ Academy "Learn to DJ" sessions or Spin Art Stations, where your team can create custom vinyl artwork using real LPs with custom labels commemorating the brand or event. There's also Tracks, a songwriting session with American Idol finalist, singer, and songwriter Najah Lewis. Groups can also dance like no one's listening with a silent disco.
Enchantment Resort is set on 70 acres surrounded by 360 views of towering buttes and signature red rocks.Photo: Courtesy of Enchantment Resort
Situated within Sedona’s iconic Boynton Canyon, Enchantment Resort is set on 70 acres surrounded by 360 views of towering buttes and signature red rocks. With access to more than 400 miles of scenic hiking and biking trails through the resort’s Trail House, groups can participate in private exploration within some of the most famed desert trails with an expert guide tailoring the hike or mountain-biking excursion to all skill levels and terrain interest.
6. Get silly with a comedy workshop
Located on the Lower Cape in Brewster, Mass., Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club is a historic, year-round property that offers classic New England charm and luxurious accommodations. The resort also boasts unique team-building experiences for those looking to bond meaningfully while loosening up their minds. For some spontaneity and giggles, teams can enjoy Ocean Edge's Improv Comedy Workshop. Designed like a televised session of Whose Line is it Anyway?, the workshop encourages participants to let go of daily stresses and get a bit silly. It includes various exercises that encourage creativity and whimsical thinking and invites group members to engage in communication and listening skills for up to 90 minutes.
Participate in a private PÄ«kai Ceremony as part of a team-building experience at Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa.Photo: Courtesy of Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
7. Heal in Hawaii
Located directly across from Kuhio Beach on land once occupied by Queen Lili'uokalani's summer home, Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa invites corporate groups to participate in a private PÄ«kai Ceremony as part of a team-building experience that incorporates the traditional Hawaiian practice of ocean water purification performed at sea. The ceremony is part of an extensive belief system held by early Hawaiians, whose ceremonies centered around spiritual purification, cleansing, renewal, and connection.
8. The ultimate scavenger hunt
Those looking to strengthen their team communication and problem-solving skills can try their hand at the Barnsley Resort scavenger hunt. The ultimate goal on this journey is teamwork while racing against time through the resort village, historic gardens, and Manor House Ruins. While solving riddles to navigate the resort, each team faces physical and mental challenges that require communication and teamwork to solve. Referees are stationed along the way to facilitate challenges and ensure teams arrive back safely.
9. Escape games in Bonaire
Bee Caribe offers "escape games" on Bonaire that take players on tours across the Dutch Caribbean island while telling a story based on a historical figure. As a team of two to four people, players will solve puzzles along their journey, carrying out assignments that eventually lead them to a hidden location. Whether visitors are interested in diving, the history of salt, or WWI, the goal of the escape games is to teach people something about Bonaire and allow them to explore the nature and culture of the island by leading them to places they otherwise wouldn't have explored. The games are supported by an advanced app on a smartphone or tablet where history is brought to life with special navigation tools and augmented reality. Each game covers a separate part of the island and its history.
The Short Course (pictured), located at the serene Mountain Shadows Resort Scottsdale, has been completely redesigned and offers nighttime glow golf activities for groups.Photo: Courtesy of Mountain Shadows Resort Scottsdale
10. Nighttime glow golfing
Gather the team for a nighttime glow putting contest or glow golf in the shadow of Camelback Mountain at The Short Course, located at the serene Mountain Shadows Resort Scottsdale. The 18-hole, par-3 course has been completely redesigned by acclaimed golf course architect Forrest Richardson, combining more difficult Diamond Tees, intermediate Square Tees, and easier Circle Tees to be selected by the golfer to form their course layout. Glow golf is available for team-building groups of 15 or more.
11. Competitive cooking
JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa's plethora of group-focused food and beverage activities are perfect for small and large groups. To channel their inner pro chef, teams can participate in a variety of classes like creating their personal poke bowl, cake-pop making, sushi rolling, mixology, crafting guacamole, pasta making, and more. Additionally, groups looking to stir the pot with some friendly competition can enroll in a master chef competition where teams of three to five people are tasked to create a three-course meal under the supervision of various on-site chefs. If baking is more your team’s style, there is a Nailed It-style competition where team members can compete to replicate intricate cakes and desserts for a grand prize.
