Team-building in hotels: 5 activities to strengthen teamwork

A team is also built outside meetings and day-to-day tasks. Sharing a different experience can change the way colleagues relate to one another, lead to conversations that would not normally arise in the office or help them discover new ways of working together. Because sometimes, stepping out of the routine is precisely what allows you to see the team from a different perspective.



Team building is based on this idea: creating experiences that leave a lasting impression beyond the moment in which they take place. To achieve this, there is no need to resort to major challenges or extraordinary activities. The important thing is to find an idea that connects with people and makes sense for the team.

In this article, we suggest five team-building activities that offer opportunities to share new experiences, encourage collaboration and discover different ways of working together.

What is team building and what is it for?

Team building encompasses activities designed to improve relationships between the people who make up a team and can take many forms, such as a logic game or a gastronomic challenge. What these experiences have in common is that they set a shared goal that participants must achieve together.

Their value goes beyond spending some time away from the usual routine. During an activity, colleagues can discover how they organise themselves when faced with an unexpected situation, who tends to take the initiative or what happens when they have to agree on how to solve a problem.

That is why these activities can be suitable at different stages in a company's life and are an ideal way to encourage interaction between departments and make time for socialising during a corporate meeting.

Team-building activity.

Why organise team-building activities in a hotel?

One of the main advantages of holding a company event in a hotel is being able to adapt the day's programme as it unfolds. The morning can be set aside for meetings, followed by a group activity before lunch or dinner. This allows the activity to fit into the programme without necessarily becoming a separate outing.

The available space also determines the possibilities. A meeting room can be transformed into the setting for a collaborative challenge, while a terrace or garden offers opportunities for outdoor games. If the aim is to enjoy a gastronomic experience, the hotel's own restaurant service can become part of the activity.

The choice will, of course, depend on the size of the group and the duration of the event. Organising a short activity for ten people is not the same as coordinating challenges for fifty participants. In both cases, having different spaces available makes it easier to adapt the proposal to the company's needs.

Team-building activity.

5 team-building activities to do in a hotel

Not all activities work equally well for every team. Some encourage participants to solve problems under a certain amount of pressure, while others create opportunities for more relaxed conversation:

1. Logic challenges and problem-solving

Riddles, logic tests and clue-based games are a good way to test a group's organisational skills. The challenge can be as simple as solving a series of riddles within a time limit or as elaborate as a treasure hunt that takes participants through different areas of the hotel.

In these types of challenges, knowing how to listen is often just as important as finding the right answer. One person may spot a crucial clue, while another finds a way to connect it with the information the team already has. To make progress, participants need to share what they discover and decide how to divide up the tasks.

There is also no need for dedicated facilities to organise the activity. A meeting room may be enough for a short exercise, although several spaces can also be used to create a route. The level of difficulty can be adapted to the time available and the participants' profiles.

Team-building activity.

2. Gastronomic experiences and cooking workshops

Preparing a recipe with several people requires a very different kind of organisation from that of a work meeting. Tasks must be divided, timings coordinated and decisions made about how to deal with the minor setbacks that arise during preparation. That is why a cooking workshop can become a team-building activity without the need to introduce a formal competition.

The possibilities do not end there. It is also possible to organise gastronomic challenges, tastings or experiences in which participants work together to create a dish or culinary concept. The format will depend on the group and the type of event being planned.

Another advantage is that the activity can easily be incorporated into the event programme. A cooking workshop can be followed by a shared lunch, for example, while a tasting can take place before a corporate dinner. This gives the time spent together a natural flow rather than reducing it to an isolated activity during the day.

Gastronomic challenge.

3. Outdoor sports activities

Swapping a meeting room for a garden or terrace may be enough to change the tone of an event. If the hotel has suitable outdoor spaces, it is possible to organise challenge circuits, team games or orienteering activities. Depending on the facilities and the characteristics of the group, sporting activities such as golf or certain water-based experiences may also be an option.

It is worth choosing a format with the participants in mind. An activity does not have to be physically demanding to be entertaining, and competition does not need to be at the heart of the experience. Often, a challenge in which everyone has a specific role offers more opportunities for collaboration than a test based solely on individual performance.

The time of year and weather conditions also come into play. Before choosing an outdoor activity, it is advisable to check that the space is suitable and have an alternative in mind in case the weather changes.

Golf course at the Vincci Valdecañas Golf 4* Hotel.

4. Creative workshops and group activities

Creativity offers another way to bring colleagues together around a common goal. A painting, photography, music or writing workshop allows participants to work on a shared creation without there necessarily being a single correct solution.

Another option is to set a challenge in which each team has to develop an idea and present it to the other participants. Different ways of approaching the same task emerge during this process: one person contributes an initial idea, another develops it and the group decides how to bring it to life.

These activities can be particularly interesting when the aim is to encourage interaction between professionals from different areas. By working on something outside their usual responsibilities, participants have the opportunity to discover different ways of thinking and collaborating.

Creative workshops can also be organised as standalone activities or incorporated into a programme that includes meetings and working sessions. The key is to set aside enough time for the group to engage with the activity.

Person preparing a paint palette.

5. Wellbeing and relaxation activities

Not every corporate event needs to end with a competition or challenge. After several hours of meetings, incorporating a space to unwind may be a more suitable option for the pace of the day.

If the hotel has specialised facilities and services, it is possible to arrange a yoga session, a mindfulness practice, a relaxation activity or a spa circuit. These options provide a break from work and allow colleagues to share a more peaceful moment together.

They can also be combined with other activities. For example, a wellbeing session can bring a particularly intensive day of meetings to a close, while a gastronomic experience can lead into a period of relaxation. The choice will depend on the programme and the participants' preferences.

Yoga at the Vincci Selección La Plantación del Sur 5* Hotel.

How to choose a team-building activity for a company

Before booking an activity, it is worth defining the role it will play within the event. Looking for a relaxed moment after a meeting is not the same as organising an activity to encourage interaction between people who rarely work together.

The size of the group is one of the first aspects to consider. Some activities work better with a small number of participants, while others make it possible to divide a large team into smaller groups. In the latter case, it is also important to consider how to coordinate the challenges and share the results at the end.

The time available will determine another part of the decision. A logic challenge may fit into an extended break, while a cooking workshop or sporting activity may require a significant part of the day to be set aside. It is also worth considering the time of year if the activity depends on an outdoor space.

From there, the activity should reflect the objective of the event. Collaborative challenges may be suitable when the aim is to work on communication and decision-making. If the goal is to help colleagues from different departments interact in a more informal setting, a gastronomic or creative workshop can be a good starting point. And if the day has been particularly intense, a wellbeing activity may be a better fit than a competitive one.

Finally, it is important to check which spaces and services the hotel offers. Having a clear picture of the options from the outset makes it easier to organise timings and avoids designing an activity that is not suited to the available facilities.

Event room at the Vincci Marítimo 4* Hotel.

Vincci Hotels: spaces and services for corporate events

At Vincci Hotels, the organisation of meetings and corporate events is coordinated through Vincci Expert Meetings & Events, a service designed to cater for different corporate formats and needs.

Event on the Roof 66 terrace.

Event room at the Vincci Marítimo 4* Hotel.

Event planning is also supported by Vincci Human Touch, which provides personalised support throughout the preparation and delivery of the event. This support is particularly valuable when the programme combines a professional meeting with group activities and other opportunities to spend time together.

Meanwhile, Vive Vincci App incorporates event-specific features that make it easier for both organisers and participants to access information about the event.

These services are complemented by Vincci Hotels' commitment to incorporating sustainability criteria into the organisation of meetings and events through initiatives aimed at reducing their environmental impact.

This allows companies to assess the different spaces and resources available for their event and consider how to integrate team-building activities into the overall programme.

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