Are virtual team building activities sustainable?
Virtual events and team building activities have become very popular since the pandemic took over our planet. Do they have a future? Wether online room escape games, live quiz shows or tasting events: You might think that the entire event industry has suddenly gone virtual. But does this new kind of event management have a future?
I spoke to both, event planners and clients about their thoughts on virtual events and team building activities. And there seems to be a bright future for this kind of event management.
The pros and cons of virtual team building
On the one hand, virtual team building activities offer many advantages: They are very cost effective, you can reach a global audience and they are perfect for companies with multiple locations. But on the other hand, some people feel that virtual events are isolating them from the real world. Instead of meeting with people face-to-face, they are talking to them over a computer screen. ‘I still don’t feel comfortable meeting my boss over the web cam for some reason, looking over the forecast, talking numbers. I would imagine, meeting in person will always be the way, people want to meet each other. BUT: virtual events such as games or tasting classes are different to standard meetings’, says Gina, a sales consultant in Chicago.
Let’s stick to the advantages that virtual events bring to people
But now at the latest everyone knows about setting up the mic and the webcam to get started with platforms like MS Teams and Webex. And with virtual team building activities, virtual meetings can be just as effective and productive as in-person meetings. Online Escape Rooms are very popular as virtual team building activities. Virtual escape games work as live escape rooms do, yet virtual. So, team members can work together online to escape a virtual room. This is an excellent way for team members to bond and get to know each other better. Virtual escape games are great for corporate events, too. They provide a fun and unique experience that participants will remember for a long time.
Virtual tasting events with cocktails and more
Nowadays, virtual events turn into tastings such as online cocktail classes have become a real craze. They are the perfect way to engage with customers and to show them what your company is all about. These events can be booked by companies of all sizes and they are perfect for all kinds of occasions. Whether you want to host a virtual cocktail class for your employees or for your customers, there is something for everyone. You can book these events with event agencies that specialize in virtual tastings. One such event company is ‘Bright & Epic USA’. This company is located in Florida but operates throughout the U.S., specialized in virtual events. They offer a wide range of virtual team building events, such as virtual quiz shows, room escape games and also tasting events.
Their virtual cocktail class is a real event-highlight for corporate customers as it covers all needs for a truly exceptional virtual event experience. Each participant receives a rich box with mixers and ingredients needed for the class by mail right before the event takes place. And on the day of the event, everyone logs in via a communication tool and experiences a live cocktail class with real BArkeepers on screen. I think this is a great idea to bring people together, regardless of their location
Do virtual events have a future in our world?
There are many reasons why virtual team building activities have become so popular. For starters, they’re a great way to bring people together who are located in different parts of the world. And with the rise of remote working, virtual team building activities are more important than ever. They can help build trust and camaraderie among team members. Since many companies have multiple locations, virtual events will definitely will have a future. They are more efficient in costs and time, as employees do not have to travel around anymore. Virtual events bring families together, as they can focus on their work and go straight to their family life when they call it a day at the home office.
A tremendous change in communication
Many companies are now using platforms like MS Teams to organise virtual events. It has been a tremendous change in their communication and daily office-structure. Reporting is different but not only employers but also their employees like the new kind of remote-work.
My favourite platform for virtual events
MS Teams is a great platform for virtual team building activities because it offers many features that make virtual events easy to organise and participate in. For example, you can set up virtual rooms and breakout sessions within a minute. Moreover, you can simply invite people to MS Teams, no matter if they got the app or not. All participants can either use the desk top app, mobile apps or even the browser app on their computers and laptops. To conclude, MS Teams makes it very easy to use and setup the cam and the mic.
