Inside VenueNow’s corporate retreat at Rydges Geelong

Pulling up to the Rydges Geelong, VenueNow’s team of tech whizzes, content geeks, venue booking and corporate business development gurus were ready for anything. The ‘official’ purpose of VenueNow’s recent retreat to Rydges Geelong was planning for the financial year ahead, drawing on the strengths of each member to fortify VenueNow’s position in the marketplace. The unofficial, unspoken purpose was for each team to bind closer together and practice what we talk, write and think about every day at work – partying. And like any good events professional, we excelled at both.

Rocking up to Rydges Geelong, the bus bursting with excitable chatter, the team were ready to fire on all cylinders. Starting with a quick game that involved our team evolving from worms, to chickens to dinosaurs, to humans (full marks for total commitment), soon the team were tossing new ideas around. For customers, for our teams, for the website – the ideas came in thick and fast. Breaking to recharge, our team was introduced to one of Rydges Geelong’s finest features – its frequent and abundant supply of food. This instalment? Filled donuts and tea and coffee.

Session two focused on current and possible future features on the website that address customer needs. Workshopping each idea for future features, each team was comprised of members with varying day to day focuses, with their expertise lying in separate areas of the marketplace. Different perspectives on potential hurdles were offered, covering all bases. By the end of day one, the whiteboard was full of colour coded cards and ideas.

Heading upstairs to freshen up before dinner, the team got to explore their assigned rooms.

With our luggage greeting us at the door, the most common remark from the team was the beautiful view. Stretching seven stories high, the Rydges Geelong offers guests panoramic views of the bay, the surrounding Golden Plains and beyond.

Gathering in the foyer, Aperol Spritzes and espresso martinis were passed around the group. Warm of cheek, we soon happily filed onto the toasty bus, headed for Little Creatures Brewery.

From the street, Little Creatures Brewery seems almost austere. Behind the cold stone and steel however, is a world of warmth and charm.

Rounding the corner, festoon lighting guided us to the front door. With colourful party lights strung in the main courtyard, one could easily picture kicking back on a summer Sunday, the freshest of brews in hand.

For now, however, it was about five degrees, so we gratefully stepped into the warm embrace of the canteen. Donning fetching high-vis vests and safety glasses, the group were taken on a complete tour of brewery by the exceptionally knowledgeable Ainsley.

From boiling to bottling, the team were shown the elaborate process. Rubbing hops between our fingers, we absorbed a whole new appreciation for the art of brewing.

With beer now firmly on everyone’s minds, we took our places at a long banquet table. Starting with a small beer flight, the team settled into the experience. Soon, an array of snacks appeared. Fried mac n cheese balls, corn chips and handmade corn salsa, and gourmet pizzas were pounced upon by the hungry masses. The drinks kept coming, as did the irresistible treats. A carb-phobe’s worst nightmare maybe, but as each member tucked into their third or fourth slice of pizza, not a negative word was spoken.

Testament to the comfortable setting, the ample drinks and great company, three hours flew by. Filing back onto the bus, it’s fair to say the team were feeling jolly. And, as you can imagine, for a team that’s made up primarily of event planning experts, we know how to party. Not to say too much, but the evening ended with a 3am Maccas run.

At 8am, not quite as bouncy as the previous afternoon, one by one, VenueNow filled the dining room. The buffet breakfast was a sight for sore, tired eyes. Waffles and bacon cure all though.

In what was an impressively valiant show of resilience, each team member was in the seminar room on time, ready for day two. This morning, the warm up exercise involved Lego. A lot of Lego. Based around the innovative concept of Lego Serious Play, each person created their interpretation of what they bring to VenueNow, and what VenueNow means to venues.

One particularly popular creation, nicknamed ‘Bar Miami’, became the case study for the day. Reversing roles, we discussed what venues need from VenueNow. Common themes emerged, such as venues not having enough time or resources to merchandise their venue online, or needing help targeting their key demographic, or not having a team or the experience in fostering corporate business relationships. Using these ideas, we workshopped ways to improve and grow the service we offer to target problem areas such as these.

Our second day ended in similar style to the previous day – with a wealth of colour-coded ideas covering the whiteboard, and an abundance of delicious food from Rydges Geelong. Suitably stuffed, the team went for a brief afternoon constitutional before boarding the bus back to Melbourne.

Though only an hour down the road from our office, VenueNow’s retreat to Rydges Geelong was just the change of scenery our team needed. And if the ideas that were getting bandied about are anything to go by, the coming financial year for VenueNow will be full of exciting developments and achievements.

Keen on planning your own corporate retreat? Get in touch with the team at Rydges Geelong >>