Spruce Up Holiday Parties With Virtual Teambuilding Games
December 11, 2020
'Tis the season for holiday work parties! In line with most of 2020, the festivities are going to look and feel quite a bit different. Why not one last Zoom call to ring out the year?
The challenge facing event planners is overcoming the most complicated aspect of virtual events—creating engaging teambuilding activities—so the party feels…well, like a party. After all, the ROI on a virtual gala is quite a bit different than an in-person event.
Networking and teambuilding are items 1) and 1a) on the agenda. The goal is to have fun and escape, albeit momentarily, the joys of working with children in virtual school and the lack of in-person engagement. The need for levity right now is clear: the CDC reports that 40% of workers have struggled with their mental health during the pandemic, while the same percent acknowledge burnout directly related to COVID-19’s effects, according to a survey from FlexJobs and Mental Health America. But there’s nothing like a well-executed holiday shindig to lift everyone’s spirits.
Game shows and dance competitions are emerging as popular alternatives from corporate event planning companies like Eventurous in the U.K. Such activities also allow for the shipping of tangible prizes and/or e-vouchers.
Here are a few notable teambuilding tricks to help prevent any company team member from feeling like poor Rudolph shut out of reindeer games:
- The Miami-based Vibe Agency, which counts luxury and beauty brands among its clients, is teaming with British-based entertainment guru SongDivision to produce a virtual singalong competition for a French banking group. Vibe is sending out ingredients for attendees to craft their own holiday cocktail.
- MeetMax Games is off to the races with its holiday offerings. Groups work together on strategies to pick their horse during a virtual race. The day at the races includes myriad options for settings, from a standard track to snow-lined courses.
- Say “cheers” to the season with virtual wine tastings from vineyards used to entertaining large groups. Inglenook, a Napa Valley classic, showcases its Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc in individually sized bottles shipped to attendees. It also offers virtual tours of the premises, chef demonstrations and wine trivia. Meanwhile, Benovia Winery in Sonoma County spotlights its Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc in gift boxes and private virtual tastings.
- Education technology company Course Hero has come up with the clever idea of building gingerbread houses, as well as cookie decorating classes and virtual doughnut-making workshops.
- Eventurous gets in the spirit with an Advent calendar challenge featuring daily puzzles and challenges through the month of December. It, too, offers race nights and a virtual cookery event with all ingredients shipped to attendees’ homes prior to the event. When in the North Pole, do as the elves do!
Photo courtesy of Inglenook
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
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