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Motivation Vacation: Why Team Building Matters

November 27, 2019 by Conference Desk

Team building amongst colleagues is a valuable method of improving co-operation, productivity, and positivity in the workplace. It’s an opportunity to get people out of the office, and their comfort zones, to encourage them to interact and develop better relationships with their colleagues. But is there really more to team building then a break from work?


Causes For Concern?

Sometimes, yes, we all need a break from work. From the pressures and confines of the office, from the constant scrutiny of supervisors, managers, and directors, or just from the people you sit next to every day. It’s natural we are all human, we all cope with stress and expectations in different ways. But if you’re the person in charge, and you see that there are very real divisions if not outright conflicts going on in the office, what do you do?

You might feel like you should step in, but won’t out of fear of escalating the situation, a very real problem and not one to be taken lightly. You might feel that some behind the scenes subterfuge, shakeups in the chain of command, relocating warring colleagues from each other, or thinly veiled directives for everyone to stop causing problems and get on with their jobs or else is the best way to handle a tricky situation.

Different situations call for different measures but, sometimes, it’s better to take these problems out of the office. Put them and the people with them, in a different territory where they can be wrong-footed, challenged, put-on-the-spot and made to step-up and tackle issues in a more productive and hopefully, more positive manner. Perhaps I’m overselling it to you at this point and what you actually have is an office or workspace full of disgruntled, unmotivated, and anti-social colleagues who really just need a chance to lighten up.


Enter: The Team Building Trip

Team building getaways are an ideal way of beating all of these problems if not just short of being a guaranteed solution. Raft building in Tenerife. No one would ever think they would be there doing it, let alone doing it with the people they spend 40 hours a week with, yet here they are. Having the time of their lives, on an expenses-paid trip with work, learning to laugh and get on with each other. A fire-pit at night, people are actually talking to each other, engaging in levels of discourse previously unheard or even thought of, helping to embolden employees to communicate with each other in a way they never had previously.

Picture this. The first day back at work, post-trip, and people are smiling. There is laughter, genuine laughter being heard in the office for the first time in months, unforced, as people chat with each other with genuine interest and enthusiasm. Colleagues who were once animous are now amicable. The relationship between management and staff is more relaxed and informal, more open, communicative, better for both parties. The team-building process is complete and you now have a happier and better-connected staff then you did previously.


But Can We Really Achieve That Much From Team Building?

Beach Team Building

If I have said it once I’ll reiterate it now; there are no guarantees when it comes to these trips. You cannot always pick a venture or an itinerary which satisfies anyone (which is also why in my opinion you are better off going into these things blind and leaving it to the pro’s like us), and some issues just cannot be resolved in a weekend or a week, and neither should you try to force them to be, because your focus shifts away from the enrichment of your staff as a whole, and you will end up scrutinising (possibly unfairly as well) a few select individuals.

But if you’re smart, you pick the right time of year, end up in the right environment and atmosphere (which should come courtesy of yours truly at Conference-Desk) then there is no reason why you will not end up going on the team-building adventure of your workplace lifetime. In fact, the only problem you should ever have after a successful motivation vacation is that everyone won’t stop asking you when the next one is!

To enquire about booking your next team-building trip click here.

Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: conference-desk, corporate travel, Incentive travel, incentives, teambuilding

Destination: Prague “The City of a Hundred Spires”.

November 25, 2019 by Conference Desk

Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. There is a good reason for that. For centuries, it has managed to hold on to its distinctly medieval and Gothic feel, thanks to the fantastic restoration and maintenance of its many historical buildings. The Old Town square, Charles Bridge, and the former royal palace are just a few of the more recognisable attractions. Even some of their older Trams are a part of the cities iconic imagery!


More Than Touch of History…

Located on the banks of the river Vltava, Prague has been a key city in Europe for centuries. The castle of Prague and a fledgeling settlement had existed since 800 AD, and the city was occupied in some form before that for much of the last thousand years. The city was relatively obscure however until the Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, designated Prague the new capital of the empire. Prague was transformed and became the third most populous city in Europe. The Saint Vitus Cathedral was constructed, and its Gothic design influenced the construction of many other projects in the city.

Despite numerous civil disorders and being ravaged by war throughout the centuries Prague has endured. After the “Velvet Revolution”, and subsequent divorce at the start of the 1990s, Prague was reinvigorated by the collapse of the Iron Curtain. Today it is a hub for tourism in central Europe, and an important cultural centre for the arts, hosting numerous festivals throughout the year.


A City of Food...

There are other attractions to Prague aside from Architectural and artistic delights. The local cuisine deserves special mention. Contrary to popular belief, Goulash is not a dish native to the Czech Republic but instead comes from neighbouring Hungary. However, you may still Goulash in just about every restaurant in Prague, and the local variety is delicious. Served typically with the trio of traditional Czech dumplings or as a soup, it’s perfect at any time of year. Svickova is a local classic that contains beef pierced with speck, as well as dumplings. Kulajda is a creamy potato soup served with mushrooms, and usually a poached egg on top. Carp is an interesting acquisition to the Czech national cuisine from the orient but is now the most farmed fish in the Czech Republic. For those who are fans of fish, it is definitely worth trying some of the “local” servings.

There is no possibility of talking about Prague and not mentioning one of its most famous delights. Beer, or Pilsner for the more cultured visitor. The town of Plzen may hold the name and fame for the original amber delight, but Prague is where you go to find if in a thousand other forms. Craft beer was probably a thing in Prague before it was ever a thing. Budapest may be famous for its ruin bars but Prague is a paradise for those who love all things beer. Make that beer cellars too… There are hundreds of subterranean bolt-holes to escape the crowds or bad weather and indulge yourself in the flavours of one of the world’s best beer-making nations. Failing that, it’s a pretty incredible place to go absinthe tasting too!


A City For Every Event…

Prague is an amazing destination for events of any kind. The city is a natural home for conferences thanks to the presence of so many buildings of grandiose designs from both past and present. The hotel industry is thriving thanks to the boom in tourism, which is now a full-time economy to the city and sees millions of visitors throughout all months of the year.

We haven’t even begun to cover some of the attractions that are located just outside of the city that offer a break from the crowds during the high-season. A perfect location for a short trip of two-three days, and with a variety of options to entertain yourself and your party once there. Prague is one of the most exciting destinations conference-desk has the pleasure of doing business in. To find out more about bookings for Prague, click here.

Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: Conference, conference-desk, Czech Republic, Czechia, Event, Incentive travel, incentives, Prague, Travel

Dubai – EYES WIDE OPEN!

October 30, 2017 by Conference Desk

I was lucky enough to be invited by Corinthia Hotels and Alpha Management to come and experience the wonders of Dubai with a group of #eventprofs…! Never had an imagined what this country beholds…!

 

First stop – Heathrow Airport to Abu Dhabi. Lucky for me I managed to upgrade my ticket to Business Class, thanks to Etihad Airways. So on my arrival via the Business Lounge I was greeted (with a glass of bubbly of course!) and shown to my seat by my very own personal waiter Patrick.

The 6.5 hour flight was a very comfortable, and went by quickly, since I was constantly being plied with delicious meals and current movies, in between snoozing in my bed.

 

Next Stop Abu Dhabi…. The first thing that hits you when you exit the doors of the air-conditioned airport is the HEAT!!! I have never experienced this type of heat at 11pm in the evening….! After a quick exit I was met by Alpha Destination Management who transported me to my first stop ‘The Meydan Hotel ‘ home of the renowned Dubai World Cup and longest hotel in world at 1.3km!!!! I was amazed when walking in by the glistening of the largest chandeliers ever seen and beautiful fresh flowers everywhere… I was also overwhelmed by the hospitality service as soon as you arrive

 

    

After checking in I was shown to my bedroom …it was not like stepping into any normal size hotel bedroom it was like stepping into my very own large apartment … beautifully decorated and very’ GOLD’ but modern….greeted with personalized gifts and my very own camel teddy!!

 

Next morning I was shown to breakfast where right in front of my eyes was a buffet of beautifully presented food..from scrambled eggs to sushi and every freshly squeezed fruit , not forgetting Camel Milk!

Shortly after breakfast I was met by The Meydan Events Team and shown around the whole venue. I was astonished by the space and facilities the place had to offer, including the world class race course right in front of you. With rooftop infinity pools, race course, small to large open plan meeting spaces, nightclub on site… I could only imagine how the hotel buzzes when special events are in progress!

 

 

The hotel offers only the best cuisines, from the Shiba Restaurant embarking on a journey of Culinary Far Eastern delights, to The Farriers Restaurant, a gourmet extravaganza of traditional, Asian and European cuisine. Having being lucky enough to try all the restaurants I could not fault anything … from the service to the taste of each dish …. The food really is remarkable!

 

Day two …after experiencing the Dubai FRIDAY Brunch ….. I was collected by Alpha Destination Management and taken straight to ‘Fly High Dubai Helicopter Pad’, where I had the most incredible experience taking a helicopter tour from Atlantis and The Palm over the city. It was breathtaking being able to see the development of Dubai, which is ever expanding… not forgetting the famous Burj Khalifa, the tallest viewing tower in the WORLD right in front of your eyes. TRULY MAGICAL!

            

 

Dinner for the evening was held in the Steakhouse which was another culinary delight – very different to the other restaurants in the hotel but I would say more pristine… if you could get anymore pristine! Then if that wasn’t enough for the day I was on the guest list for ‘White’ the exclusive open air night club in the facility with the most amazing panoramic views of Dubai… great music and amazing atmosphere!

After leaving the club after a few tipples…whilst staggering back to the hotel we managed to spot the DJ – Mahmut Orhan entering the hotel so decided to harass him for a photo… !

Day 3 was time to leave The Meydan hotel and before heading to our next destination we were immersed into the culture centre for the heritage tour- by visiting the Gold and Spice Souk markets, Dubai museum, Abra Crossing –

   

and a visit to the local Mosque…

 

After lunch at the Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht club – Boardwalk Restaurant… we were then blown away by another highlight of the trip….A jeep Safari ride to our next destination… over the beautiful ‘no man’s land’ , the desert, capturing some memorable pictures …

   

not forgetting #usainbolting IN THE DESERT !

 

NEXT DESTINATION – Bab Al Shams situated in the heart of the desert and nestled in the dunes of Dubai. Bab Al Shams Desert Resort and Spa is the ultimate luxury retreat. Located in a perfect location only 40 minutes from Dubai airport – for those seeking a unique desert experience within easy reach of Dubai, Bab Al Shams is the ideal destination.

 

     

The first day I made the most of the luxury facilities whilst soaking up the sun… and of course experiencing the pool side cocktails….

     

It was very surreal moment sat by a beautiful swimming pool then looking aside and realizing you are in the middle of the desert. So tranquil and peaceful.

After a lazy afternoon in the sunshine … I was shown around the impressive conferences and banqueting facilities, comprising of 22 meeting rooms and event capacity of 5000 people! It was quite unbelievable that the resort had all these hidden meeting facilities, including the amazing open air arena which is a short 5 minutes away surrounded by the natural scenes of the Arabian desert…

After watching an unforgettable sunset over the desert….

we took a short walk to the extraordinary Al Hadheerah Restaurant which is within the Bab Al Shams resort! This was like another resort in itself offering an exquisite buffet with 14 live cooking stations. An authentic desert dining experience with live entertainment including, dancers, camel riding and a falconry show! A real WOW factor to end my incredible trip in Dubai!

This was like another resort in itself, offering a generous buffet with 14 live cooking stations. An authentic desert dining experience with live entertainment including, dancers, camel riding and a falconry show! A real WOW factor to end my incredible trip in Dubai!

         

 

After the exciting night before… my journey sadly came to a end, but this was a experience which I will never ever forget ! I came to Dubai with my Eyes Wide Open and wow this place you really do need to keep your eyes wide open!

 

I came to Dubai with my Eyes Wide Open and wow, in this place you really do need to keep your eyes wide open! Dubai is indeed a place that fuels the mind. It is constantly growing and rising high to become the biggest and the best, incorporating well known features and landmarks from other countries and making them their own… This place is definitely becoming a popular place as both a business and travel destination, making it the best in the world. If I could describe DUBAI in its letters it would be..

D efinitely U nforgettable B ut A lso I ncredible…..!

 

I would like thank Corinthia Hotel Residences & Alpha Destination Management for such a remarkable unforgettable Arabian Experience.

Thanks for reading!

Eleanor x

.

 

Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: babalshams, corporateincentives, desertsafari, dubaiconferences, dubaihotels, eventmanagment, eventplanner, eventprofs, events, incentives, luxurycoporatetravel, mydubai, teambuilding, themeydan, traveltodubai, venuefinder

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