Selecting the Perfect Trivia Team Building Venue

So you’ve decided to have a trivia team building event for your employees. Where should it be held? The venue of the activity is a crucial component to the overall event’s success, and should be considered carefully.

Depending on your industry, company culture, geographic location and of course unique team makeup, there are a variety of options for where to hold your trivia event. In general, you will want to select a venue which is comfortable, convenient and appropriate for your group. Below are some possibilities to consider when selecting the location for your corporate team building activity:

Bar/Restaurant – Perhaps the most popular option, select a bar, restaurant, lounge etc. which is conveniently nearby- preferably walking distance, especially if you’re in New York City or other urban area. The venue should have ample seating to make it comfortable for the entire group, and should allow for either a private room/let you rent the entire space, so that there are no distractions from other customers. You can choose your company’s “regular” spot for lunches, happy hours etc., or try someplace completely new, depending on the event. Also, any place which serves food is a plus, as you have the option of serving hors d’oeuvres during the event as well.

Hotel Conference/Ballroom – A good option if there are no appropriate bars or restaurants around, or if your group is particularly large (100+ people). Many large hotels have a variety of spaces to select from, which you may rent out by the hour. If your company has an existing relationship with any hotels, reach out to them and see if they can accommodate your group at a good rate, and perhaps arrange for refreshments to be served.

Your Office – From a convenience standpoint, nothing is easier than holding the event in your own space. Your attrition rate will likely be less, since there is no travel involved, and the group will feel comfortable in their familiar surroundings. The downside, of course, is that a team building event is by its nature supposed to be an escape from the office; it’s hard to remove the team from an office environment, when they still feel like they’re at work.

Destination Spot – To create an environment for your employees which is truly separated from the office, consider taking the group somewhere completely outside of the geographic comfort zone of the office by renting a bus and piling everyone on. We’ve had groups come into Manhattan from companies in New Jersey, Connecticut and Northern Westchester for trivia team building events, when it would have been far easier for us to go to them.

Does this appear to be a comprehensive list of team building venue options? If not, what do you feel is missing?