How (and WHY) to Plan a Memorable Winter Corporate Retreat in Alberta at Gull Lake Centre
Winter season is awesome because almost nobody is left neutral. You either love it… or hate it. But you’re never “meh” about it. That’s Autumn’s role. When planning a business event, like an end-year retreat, or a business strategizing event, winters can be quite fun, and extremely productive for business planning.
So if you’re one of those businesses that love to be different, and you’re totally cool with putting together a corporate event in winter, you’ll find this blog post quite helpful. We at Gull Lake Centre have been providing the venue for such events for over 100 years now, and would love to share some tips on putting together a productive, memorable, fun corporate event in the Edmonton/Calgary area.
Introducing Gull Lake Centre
Nestled between Edmonton and Calgary, Gull Lake Centre stands as a historic landmark for corporate retreats in Alberta. With its rich history dating back to 1920, the venue has evolved over the years, ensuring it remains at the forefront of corporate event venues.
Before we go to the fun part, let’s just cross all the Ts early on, and mention some key amenities, to get the creative wheels spinning:
Meeting Rooms: Spacious, well-lit rooms equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including high-speed Wi-Fi, projectors, and sound systems, ensure productive strategy sessions.
Lakeside View: The serene backdrop of Gull Lake not only provides a tranquil setting but also offers opportunities for lakeside team activities and breaks.
Dining: Gull Lake Centre offers a selection of catering partners based on various dietary needs. Whether it's a formal dinner or a casual lunch, the culinary partners ensure a delightful dining experience.
Accommodation: With the capacity to house over 250 guests, the accommodation facilities range from luxurious suites to cozy cabins, ensuring every team member has a comfortable stay.
Whether you're from Edmonton, Calgary, or anywhere in between, Gull Lake Centre is the ideal venue rental in Alberta for your corporate event, ensuring a blend of work and relaxation.
Planning a Strategic Corporate Retreat in Winter
A successful corporate retreat is a nice mix of work and play. Here are some planning high-level tips to keep in mind, to ensure that you do get that balance of work and play:
Set Clear Objectives: Before diving into winter activities, outline the goals for your strategic planning retreat. Whether it's setting annual targets, team-building, or brainstorming new initiatives, having clear objectives will guide the retreat's flow. Consider conducting pre-retreat surveys to gather input from team members on what they hope to achieve. Knowing the workload will definitely help figure out how much play-time you have to work with.
Integrate Fun with Strategy: While wearing the corporate hat, you may start thinking that getting things done is more important, and fun time comes only after work gets done. But going off to a winter corporate retreat is actually about mixing work and play. This is why it is important to take each day, and strike a healthy balance between work sessions and leisure sessions. If you’re more adventurous, you can even spice things up by adding work moments in leisure time, and vice versa. Who says that doing ice skating can’t include some work topics.
Beneficial Leisure Activities For Winter Corporate Events
We’re no strangers to winter activities here in Alberta. But, the tiring pace of a 9-5 can quickly deflate even the most creative and playful of minds. So to make sure we’re in a playful mode, here are a few winter activities you can use for that cool mix of work-play winter corporate event. You can use this as a seed list, and create your own list of activities. As you’re planning these activities, it’s good to keep in mind what you can do, but also what benefits these activities can get for your corporate event. Let’s review just a handful of winter activities:
Snowshoeing:
What: Explore the scenic beauty of Gull Lake Centre with guided snowshoeing tours. This activity allows team members to traverse snow-covered trails, taking in the serene winter landscape.
Team Benefits: Snowshoeing promotes teamwork as participants help each other navigate the trails, fostering communication and collaboration. It also offers a different kind of challenge, so colleagues can start working on different, outdoors challenges that can strengthen the bonds and trust.
Business Outcomes: Enhanced team cohesion can lead to improved collaboration on projects, fostering a more harmonious work environment.
Winter Hiking:
What: The trails around Gull Lake Centre are even more enchanting during winter. Organize group walks to enjoy the crisp winter air and the beauty of the snow-covered landscape.
Team Benefits: Hiking provides an opportunity for team members to engage in deep conversations, share insights, and bond over shared experiences. This relaxed, outdoorsy hangout time may help the team cohesion, but it can also be a good time for smaller groups to build deeper friendships.
Business Outcomes: Strengthened interpersonal relationships can result in better communication and understanding among team members, leading to more efficient problem-solving and decision-making.
Indoor Activities:
What: Gull Lake Centre offers a range of indoor activities, from board games to team-building exercises and workshops, ensuring that there's something for everyone, regardless of their preference.
Team Benefits: Indoor activities can foster creativity, strategic thinking, and teamwork in a relaxed setting. They also provide an opportunity for team members to showcase their skills and talents outside of their usual work roles.
Business Outcomes: Engaging in fun, collaborative activities can boost morale, leading to increased job satisfaction and reduced employee turnover.
Campfires:
What: End the day with a cozy campfire session in our many sheltered campfire pits. Share stories, roast marshmallows, and enjoy the warmth of the fire.
Team Benefits: Campfire sessions provide an informal setting for team members to connect, share experiences, and build trust. It's a perfect opportunity for team members to get to know each other on a personal level.
Business Outcomes: Building trust and understanding among team members can lead to a more collaborative and supportive work environment, enhancing overall team productivity.
As we mentioned earlier, this is just a short list, and is by no means exhaustive. You can share these ideas with your team, and you can get even more ideas as you brainstorm together.
Whatever you pick, make sure you get as many colleagues to join at least one of the activities you pick.
8. Flexible Packages for Your Corporate Event
As times change, so do people’s needs and preferences. This is why we’re creating our packages based on what past clients have asked. So whatever your events need are, we have a package for you. If we don’t, we can make one for sure! There are all kinds of addon services that you can request, like guided tours. We can even help with ideas on putting together team building exercises.
If you have specific needs for props, branding, banners, etc. we can help guide you through all of those tiny tasks that add up to a huge success. We've got the tools to make your event stand out from the crowd. Let's work together to create a memorable and impactful experience for your attendees.
At Gull Lake Centre, we believe that your event should leave a lasting impression on your guests and align with your corporate objectives. Let us help you make it happen.
Beyond the activities we mentioned, consider cross-country skiing for endurance building, exhilarating team races, ice fishing for patience and reward, or winter wildlife spotting for a touch of nature's wonder.
Business Benefits of Winter Corporate Events
Winters are magical. Yes it gets freezing cold. But this is exactly why winters can be great for corporate get-togethers. The team will come together more often, and for longer periods of time compared to summer events. And this banding together can bring tremendous benefits for your organization. Let’s just name a few:
Bonding Over Shared Experiences: The cold weather naturally encourages team members to come together. Sharing a cup of hot cocoa after ice skating, huddling around a bonfire, or collaborating on building a snowman creates lasting memories and strengthens team bonds.
Enhanced Creativity: The tranquil winter landscape, with its blanket of snow and the stillness of the lake, can spark creativity. The change in environment from the usual office setting can lead to fresh perspectives and innovative ideas.
Cost-Effective: Winter, being an off-peak season, can be more budget-friendly. This allows you to offer a premium experience without breaking the bank. Additionally, off-season rates can lead to savings in accommodation, dining, and activity packages.
Health Benefits: Engaging in outdoor winter activities can boost physical health, improve mood, and reduce stress levels. The crisp winter air is invigorating, and activities like ice skating provide a full-body workout.
While these benefits of winter retreats are compelling, they're just the tip of the iceberg. Delving deeper, businesses can also anticipate improved cross-departmental collaboration, heightened employee loyalty, and a boost in overall brand morale.
These shared experiences from winter retreats can lead to increased employee referrals, a stronger company cohesion, and even potential PR opportunities showcasing company culture. However you look at this, doing winter corporate events packs quite a punch when it comes to business benefits.
Preparing for a Winter Retreat
While winter retreats offer unique advantages, it's essential to be prepared for the event. You’ll want to cover the basics and communicate with your team about specifics that will make this winter corporate event a pleasant memory. Let’s list a few?
Dress Appropriately: Ensure all team members are informed about the weather conditions and are dressed in layers to stay warm.
Safety First: While activities like ice skating and snowball fights are fun, safety should always be a priority. Consider having a first-aid kit on hand and brief team members on safety guidelines.
Flexible Scheduling: Winter weather can be unpredictable. Have a flexible schedule and backup indoor activities in case of extreme weather conditions.
Feedback Loop: After the retreat, gather feedback from team members. This will provide insights into what worked, what didn't, and how you can improve future retreats.
And don’t forget: even though preparing for retreats is a stressful situation, you’re actually going somewhere together… TO HAVE FUN. Safe fun. Productive fun. But primarily: FUN.
Wrapping It Up
Gull Lake Centre, nestled between the bustling cities of Edmonton and Calgary, stands as a testament to the perfect blend of history, modern amenities, and nature's tranquility. Its strategic location and well-equipped facilities make it an unparalleled choice for corporate retreats, ensuring both productivity and relaxation.
The art of planning a winter corporate retreat is a delicate balance between work and play. At Gull Lake Centre, teams can seamlessly transition from brainstorming sessions to exhilarating winter activities like ice skating, snowshoeing, and campfire bonding. These activities not only rejuvenate the spirit but also foster teamwork, creativity, and camaraderie.
But the benefits of such retreats aren't just immediate. The long-term business advantages range from enhanced team cohesion and creativity to cost-effectiveness. Beyond the immediate joys of winter activities, businesses can anticipate improved collaboration, employee loyalty, and a strengthened company narrative.
As the corporate landscape continues to evolve, the need for innovative team-building experiences becomes even more important. Gull Lake Centre offers just that—a unique, enriching, and strategic experience that goes beyond the ordinary. It's not just about escaping the office; it's about forging stronger bonds, igniting creativity, and propelling your business to new heights.
Contact Gull Lake Centre today to plan an unforgettable corporate retreat.
