There may be no “i” in team… but there’s a tee. Yes, the golf course is a tried-and-true setting for teambuilding among meeting groups; but because planners know that fun is serious business during meetings, they look for ways to get more people in the game.
Which is why so many golf courses have added games like frisbee golf, glow-in-the-dark golf and the perennially popular Bingo Bango Bongo, a great choice for varying skill levels.
But away from the golf course and more traditional teambuilding options, take a look at how some venues are helping planners build their teams up during down time.
Luxor Hotel’s New Play Playground
Newly opened at Luxor Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas—home to 35,000 square feet of flexible meeting space—Play Playground is the first-of-its-kind, fantastical immersive play area, with 15,000 sf of interactive fun for all ages during the day, and for adults only at night. More than 20 larger-than-life nostalgic games require zero skill but a whole lot of soul and are accompanied by two bars, VIP mezzanines and private event spaces. Is there any question about the teambuilding potential here?
Created by Play Social Inc., there are no VR, AR or arcade games in this Playground—nothing is “off the shelf” (except the drinks, of course). Large-scale, tactile games and attractions offer something for everybody—over-the-top physical games, memory games, puzzle games and team games all in a high-energy environment designed for friendly competition and sharing on social media as players scale the leaderboard.
It feels a bit like being dropped into the middle of a game show, and the Playground was designed with a wide audience in mind, including companies looking for their next outing. Corporate retreat? Try corporate recess. Come manifest some mayhem and discover the ROI on PTO (Played Time Off). The 15,000-sf space is available for a buyout of up to 475 people. playplayground.com
The Curtis Hotel, Denver
The Curtis Hotel prides itself on being a fun and unique destination for travelers, meeting-goers and everyone in between. The pop culture-themed hotel boasts 13 hyperthemed rooms with designs like Barbie, Star Trek, Video Games and more.
Additionally, the iconic happy hotel carries their love for fun into the lobby and event spaces with a giant camper, a pool-inspired lounging area with a “no skinny dipping sign,” movies always playing for guests in the lobby, giant connect board games throughout the hotel and lots of fun murals on each floor’s landing.
So it’s an easy segue from being a meeting group to a teambuilding group. But when it’s time to work, The Curtis offers a variety of ballroom space, including the new Four-Square Ballroom boasting upscale finishes, tons of natural light, cool modern art elements and the latest in advanced technology. A large retractable nano glass wall separates the modern indoor space from a sizeable outdoor patio complete with a private bar, custom lounge furniture and a fireplace. The ballroom can host up to 260 people in rounds while the 2,500-sf terrace can accommodate up to 200 people, making it Denver’s largest outdoor hotel meeting space.
If your team includes members of the four-legged variety—whether a pet-industry association or animal-focused corporation—walk, don’t run (unless the pet insists) to The Curtis, where both the guest- and meeting rooms are pet friendly. From cozy corners for pups to play to spacious seating arrangements for human guests, The Curtis is committed to providing a seamless and enjoyable experience for everyone. thecurtis.com
Village Camp, Flagstaff
For planners who want to take their groups to the top (literally), Village Camp—a new glamping and outdoor resort brand—presents an inspiring new retreat for small meetings and events in Northern Arizona’s high mountains. Village Camp was designed for today’s adventurous travelers, from digital nomads and outdoor enthusiasts to anyone seeking a modern yet unpretentious base camp for meetings and events in Flagstaff.
The camp offers a versatile space for sporting and teambuilding events, workshops, live music, retreats, and celebrations under the open sky, with multiple places to play and create including an expansive clubhouse, an amphitheater and an event lawn hosting everything from yoga and live music to archery contests. Attendees can unwind in the hot tub, enjoy the resort-style swimming pool and playground, or simply relax in the peaceful ambience of the great outdoors.
Village Camp’s guiding principle is to build community and bring people together through a shared appreciation of the outdoors. Accommodations offer comfort and modern convenience while remaining connected to the outdoors, with 35 deluxe adventure cabins each sleeping up to eight people. More accommodations are planned on the site, which now can host 100+ for corporate and association events; the entire space also may be rented. villagecamp.com
Hotel Polaris is Virtually One-of-a-Kind
Set to start welcoming guests in late 2024, Hotel Polaris will be located at the new TrueNorth Commons mixed-use development just outside the North Gate of the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, set in the shadow of majestic Pikes Peak.
But its real location is somewhere beyond the clouds, as the 375-room Polaris will offer the only in-hotel flight simulators in the country, providing groups with high quality, immersive, fully tactile, real-life pilot action. Effectively reproducing the flight deck experience, the simulators include seats, throttles, switches, pedals and yokes from original parts of real aircraft, while other parts of the flight deck are scale reproductions. This unique teambuilding experience also will include a 220-degree wraparound screen with HD imagery to make the experience as lifelike as possible.
When they’re not “taking flight” or meeting in more than 26,000 square feet of expansive indoor meeting space—on one dedicated floor—groups can gather on the 9th-floor rooftop bar, an outdoor pool and sun deck with stunning mountain views, or have some wellness time together at the full-service spa and fitness center.
In addition to onsite dining options, attendees will want to explore the surrounding $345M TrueNorth Commons, home to restaurants and retail outlets as well as a new visitor center illustrating the USAF Academy experience with state-of-the-art technology. The new facilities also will offer access to the nearby Santa Fe Trail. thehotelpolaris.com
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