Ideas for the Post COVID-19 Retreat

Originally posted on https://smallmarketmeetings.com/articles/ideas-for-the-post-covid-19-retreat/

Ideas for the Post COVID-19 Retreat

By Andrea Cannistraci

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May 28, 2020

The meetings world as we knew it is changing. Many aspects of live meetings and events will join the history books. All events — tradeshows, conferences, board meetings and retreats — will operate differently as live meetings. Every aspect  will be adjusted to fit into the post-COVID-19 world. Even smaller company and leadership retreats will look different as we adhere to new safety guidelines.

Company retreats have always been a separate breed of events. Usually smaller in size, longer in length, and with a schedule conducive to networking and team bonding, the way they look post COVID-19 will change. While it will still be important to build in “free time”, and team building activities like personality assessments (DISC), a few aspects will change. What exactly will a retreat agenda look like?

Retreats should continue to have a more relaxed schedule, and format. Start your day a little later, have a few breaks, and provide downtime. Team building activities are key—both outside and inside activities. Click here for a sample retreat schedule.

Here are a some ideas for changes you can incorporate into your next live retreat:

Masks will be required by most, and if not many attendees will still likely wear them.

Temperature checks at entrance.

Ample hand sanitizer will be stationed at registration tables—really, everywhere.

Try having attendees register online ahead of time to avoid a bottleneck of people in a crowded space.  Also try, mailing badges and materials ahead of meetings.

Signs will be placed throughout the meeting space, reminding and to encouraging hand washing.

Hand shaking will be discouraged. Air hugs and foot taps are the new handshake.

Additional hotel staff will need to be secured to assist with cleaning surfaces, distributing coffee, and assisting with food.

If there are any 1:1 or small group meetings, you may be meeting through a plexiglass shield, and wiping it down after each meeting.

Meals will be modified. Nix the buffet and try ordering pre-packaged lunches for attendees or have stations, like a coffee station or cafeteria-style setup, where hotel staff will serve to avoid multiple people touching the serving tools.

The amount of meeting space you’ll need will increase. The new setup will discourage lots of people sitting at each table—you may see four people at 60” rounds now instead of 8-10.

If you’re seating format is theatre or classroom, you’ll need enough space to accommodate your group with current safety guidelines.

Snack breaks and happy hours will no longer consist of passed hors d’oeuvres and finger foods. Instead, opt for individually packaged foods and boxed options.

Try going digital with collateral. Goodie bags and giveaways may be a thing of the past now as well. Instead of receiving a bag with branded pens, stress balls, and stickers, your giveaway will likely be a bottle of hand sanitizer, your badge, mask, gloves, hand sanitizer, and wipes. And that Maui Jim sunglass experience may be regulated to a gift card to go online and redeem your elected pair—without the ability to try on first. The new norm will be gifting companies creating custom gift experiences at home using technology and shipping methods.

How will you be changing up your next live retreat?

About Andrea Cannistraci
Andrea is the President & Founder of andgreat—a marketing, branding, and events firm that specializes in helping businesses design unique and unforgettable experiential marketing programs.

Five Smart Tech Gadgets for the Home Office

Is your home office in the 21^st century?  Are you utilizing “smart technology” to make your home office smarter, safer, and more efficient? These five gadgets are worth looking into:

1.     Video doorbell.
A motion activated video doorbell enables you to see and even speak with visitors at your door—from anywhere. So even if you’re working at the coffee shop or on the beach—you can see—via the app—who is at your door.  When the “no solicitation” signs don’t work, and your day is constantly interrupted, this gadget is a must have.

2.     Smart Speakers

Certainly not new, smart speakers use wifi to sync with your electronics allowing you to use voice commands like play music, turn off lights, or even make the coffee.  Now if they could only make your lunch too!

3.     Smart Light Bulb

By no means a new concept, these $10 bulbs are dimmable and wifi-enabled. These LED light bulbs allow you to adjust your lighting from the app—or even from your smart speakers.  Great for when you don’t want to walk into a dark home at night.

4.    Smart Plug

This wifi enabled adapter allows you to shut off appliances—like your coffeemaker—remotely. No more burnt coffee.

5.    Remote Thermostat

Devices like Nest learn the climate of your home and adjust accordingly. If you’re like me and adjusting to AC, this is a must have.

What are your fav smart tech gadgets for the home office?

Healthy meetings must start with a healthy planner

In the report The 10 Most Stressful Jobs of 2017 by Forbes, Event Management came in 5th, beaten only by enlisted military, firefighters, pilots and police, which are undoubtedly high pressure, high-risk careers. While no one is going to die as a result of planning an event or meeting, any meeting planner will attest, the job is stressful and demanding and requires heavy travel (you often live in airplanes and hotels) and deadlines rule your world.

With a new focus on healthier meetings that incorporate wellness, it’s fair to state that healthy meetings must start with a healthy planner. How can a planner take better care of themselves so they can focus on planning healthy meetings? The first step is to acknowledge that health and wellness is a lifestyle, not a seasonal hobby. As a figure competitor and meeting planner, Here are my top five tips for staying well:

1. Disconnect. Studies have shown that you’ll be 30% less productive if you check email within 60 minutes of waking. Why? You go into fear and stress mode straight away. The number one cause of stress is the feeling of not having enough time. Oh and btw, stress is highly contagious.

2. Keep 45–50 minute hours. In other words, schedule meetings/calls for 25 minutes vs 30 minutes or 50 minutes instead of 60. This will allow you downtime in between meetings to process, and avoid the feeling of being rushed.

3. Recharge daily for 5–10 minutes several times throughout your day.We need downtime. Examples include connect with a friend, perform an act of kindness, physical exercise, aromatherapy, take a walk outside, play with kids, or pets, guided meditation, listen to music.

4. Eat healthy. Drink at least one gallon of water a day. Stay away from sugary snacks and opt for healthy whole fruits, plain nuts, raw veggies.

5. Exercise. Find an activity that raises your heartbeat and that you truly enjoy. That may be a run in your neighborhood, or a session on the treadmill in your house while you watch the Young & the Restless. It may be playing beach volleyball a few nights a week, or weight training. Find what works for you, and stick with it.

Feel free to reach out and share your tips on staying well. Look for my next blog post where I’ll discuss tips for incorporating wellness into your meeting.

Where to Take Your Incentive Groups in 2019

When meeting planners educate and pitch their first-hand experiences of off-the-radar destinations to their clients, companies become more risk-adverse and more adventurous.

As an experiential marketer and meeting planner, I love introducing off-the-beaten-path destinations to my clients. My distributed model clients particularly demand undiscovered hidden gems for their company retreats. Their employees are based around the world, so it makes sense to look beyond those first-tier cities and help them discover something new.

Beach destinations are always a hit—especially in the beginning of the year when it’s freezing in most of the northern hemisphere. Culturally-rich destinations are also a draw as they allow the teams to learn in different ways and incorporate local customs into their bonding time. Not to mention, attendees will walk away from these destinations more worldly, and you can bet they will always remember the event.

Here are my four off-the-beaten-path destinations that should be on your radar for incentive groups in 2019:

Cartagena, Colombia

You may be thinking “Narcos,” but you should be thinking safe, cultural, beach, with unlimited unique meeting space. In Cartagena, you have both city life and the beach all within a few blocks. The old, walled city is a must for dinners and even a scavenger hunt during the day. Coffee is king, and I highly suggest a coffee tasting class for team building. Cartagena also has ample infrastructure to host meetings of all sizes—and it’s affordable!

Anchorage, Alaska

While this is not exactly a warm destination, it’s certainly one your attendees will never forget. It isn’t called the “Last Frontier” for nothing! Plan your incentive around the Iditarod (March 2 this year), and let your attendees meet and greet the mushers and dogs. With more than 8,000 sleeping rooms and two convention centers, Anchorage is a beautiful destination that’s also affordable—and did I mention there’s no sales tax? Oh, and your attendees may even see the Northern Lights.

Panama City, Panama

Panama City has modern infrastructure, easy air access, and a wealth of cultural and natural attractions for team building. Of course, it’s home to the Panama Canal, which is a bucket list item for many people. Plus, it’s home to various indigenous tribes that welcome visitors into their villages for a day of cultural learning. Panama City is just plain easy: English is predominantly spoken, no U.S. currency-exchange is needed, and it’s safe. There are more than 15,000 sleeping rooms from boutiques to big-box chains. Choose a beach destination, a rainforest destination or the city. You can’t go wrong.

Asheville, N.C.

Who knew this little mountain town—known for its bohemian flair—had so much to offer? With the second-growing airport in the U.S., it’s easy to access. Plus, new boutique properties are popping up left and right. And the food: Top-notch cuisine is available all around, coupled with craft breweries. With more than 8,000 sleeping rooms, this walkable destination offers unique team-building activities galore. An added bonus: The CVB staff is one of the best in the country.

This article was first published in Prevue Meetings on January 29th. https://www.prevuemeetings.com/spark-blog/flip-the-script/take-incentive-groups-2019/