Team-building activities play an important role in meetings and events by boosting morale and fostering strong bonds through interacting and connecting outside of a corporate setting. Participating in shared experiences and working toward common goals while learning something new encourages creativity, improves communication, and strengthens company culture.
Many destinations offer immersive activities that allow attendees to connect with the residential communities. From culinary outings to enriching arts and crafts and outdoor adventures, these specialized experiences educate participants, preserve cultural traditions, and support area businesses.
Food often holds deep ties to cultural identity, and cuisine-related activities provide a fun way for attendees to engage with resident communities. In 2015, Tucson, Arizona, was the first city in the U.S. to receive the UNESCO City of Gastronomy designation, recognizing the area’s rich culinary landscape. There, groups learn more about how the desert host city earned this honor by walking through its agricultural history at Mission Garden, a living agricultural garden and museum. For a taste, groups can dine at Tucson City of Gastronomy-certified restaurants, which are often independently owned by community members, use from-scratch recipes, and support the city’s food economy.
“What better way to experience and understand a culture than through taste?” says Mo Olivas, communications manager for Visit Tucson. She notes that Mission Garden gives groups a window into how Tucson’s foodways have changed over time. “It gives visitors context [by] showing how we [came to create] the dishes they’re tasting today at Tucson City of Gastronomy-certified restaurants.”
The city of Mount Pleasant in Michigan offers activities that inspire cultural education for visitors and reflect the history of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan, which comprises three bands of Ojibwe and owns the tribal lands of the Isabella Indian Reservation to the north of Mount Pleasant. The city’s Native Farmers Market showcases Indigenous artisans and culinary traditions, while Ziibiwing Center of Anishinabe Culture & Lifeways, a notable museum, features engaging exhibits and interactive activities that educate visitors about Great Lakes Anishinabe culture. Groups also might seek to host an event around the time of a powwow, which lets attendees engage with Anishinabe culture by observing traditional dancing accompanied by drums. Speakers are available for private events at the Ziibiwing Center, where they can give presentations about cultural topics including Anishinabe moccasin-making history, music, and more.
“Actively participating and learning about the history and stories of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan is a powerful way [to promote] learning, personal growth, broadening perspectives, and connecting to the local heritage and culture in the Mount Pleasant area,” says Jordan Ensing, marketing coordinator at Meet Mt. Pleasant, the city’s convention and visitors bureau.
Hawaii also has a rich culture that is deeply connected to land and place. On the island of Maui, Grand Wailea Maui, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, offers team-building activities rooted in Native Hawaiian culture such as hula dancing, lei making, and E Ala E, the greeting of the rising sun with a rousing chant on the sands of Wailea Beach.
“‘Aloha’ is not a word, it’s a way of life—one we share with intention, care, and authenticity,” says Kalei Uwekoolani, cultural programming manager and leadership educator at the resort. “Through language, hula, and customs, we don’t just tell our story—we live it, so our guests can truly feel it.”
Aside from beautiful beaches, Miami is famous for its boating scene and well known as a destination for water sports enthusiasts. Thriller Miami Speedboat Adventures offers exclusive and fun sightseeing speedboat tours that allow participants to enjoy and connect with Miami from the water in true “Miami Vice” style. The outfitter’s 55-foot power catamarans can accommodate 36 attendees on each vessel, and the 55-foot jet boat holds up to 75 people. Narrated group tours range from an hour to 90 minutes long and showcase city landmarks such as the Port of Miami, Biscayne Bay, and Star Island.
Home to a wide swath of mountainous terrain with many high-elevation summits, Colorado is a hotbed for mountain climbing. Telluride-based guide service Mountain Trip brings attendees in on the action through adventurous and exhilarating expeditions, including along the Telluride Via Ferrata, which is widely hailed for its incredible views of Bridal Veil Falls, the highest free-falling waterwall in the state. Led by experienced climbing guides, the hike is just over 2 miles and takes generally four to five hours to complete for most hikers. Along the route, attendees are likely to enjoy the challenging treks while experiencing some of southwest Colorado’s most spectacular high country.
Alternatively, Southern California is known for its relaxed beach culture and wellness trends like sound bathing (a meditative practice using the calming sounds and vibrations of tools like singing bowls and gongs). Sounds baths are offered at VEA Newport Beach, A Marriott Resort & Spa, by Newport Beach-based wellness practitioner Kyle Lam, founder of Kyle Lam Sound Healing. Groups of all sizes might enjoy the rejuvenating experiences Lam provides, from sunset sound baths with ocean views to floating sound baths at the spa pool. The company also customizes itineraries for private events that fit each group’s wellness goals.
“Our sound baths offer more than relaxation, they create a space where teams can reconnect, build trust, and deepen their bonds through presence,” says Lam. “Rooted in the essence of Newport Beach—with coastal vitality, natural beauty, and a refined spirit—our sound baths mirror the rhythm of the environment, fostering a sense of belonging that extends beyond the individual.”
grandwailea.com
kylelamsoundhealing.com
marriott.com
meetmtp.com
missiongarden.org
mountaintrip.com
sagchip.org/ziibiwing
thrillermiami.com
visittucson.org
