Why do we wait until the end of the year to plan corporate meetings?
Fresh new venues, like the San Diego Creative Space, feature rooms like the "Big Idea Space" or "Serenity Garden," perfect for innovative, culture-boosting summer corporate events.
After our Meetings & Incentives team took in a stunning 8pm summer sunset over the ocean at a potential beachfront event venue, we immediately put it on our list of local spots to recommend... But there was one small problem.
When peak event season finally rolls around at year-end, the sun will be scheduled to set as early as 5:30pm, meaning a company would lose approximately two hours of work per attendee in order for them to arrive in time for the front row nature show.
Minor details, but the scenario does raise the question: why aren't there more summer meetings? Besides longer days and more activity options, it could be a strategic business decision.
Further inspired by the Fast Company article, "The Best Time of Day to do Everything at Work," we've developed some findings on a strategy behind summer Meetings & Incentives.
Better rates and availability:
Group room rates and venue costs can be much lower in the summer when there is less demand for holiday parties. You'll have less competition over your ideal event setting, especially newly opened venues that tend to fill up quickly, like the San Diego Creative Space.
Business results:
Just as the article referenced a boost in performance after our midday lunch breaks, perhaps there's something to splitting up the year with a summer meeting to refresh the company culture. Even if it's just taking a department off-site for a day, you'll see an undeniable boost in morale and energy.
Relevancy:
You can't always count on annual tradition to be the right time for an event that could produce results. New product launches, necessary training, changes in leadership, team building, or even second quarter goals are all constructive reasons to bring people together.
Digging deeper:
If the purpose of your year-end event is to recognize and reward accomplishments, a second annual meeting in the summer could be reserved solely to drive innovation. In the article 6 Ways to Create a Culture of Innovation, Fast Company suggests companies should reward employees with time to think while providing them with the structure they need. Create a platform for new ideas: if you build it, they will come.
Tell us in the comments section below- do you feel a summer event is an untapped resource for accomplishing organizational objectives?