Top "Big City" Winter Destinations for Team Retreats
New York, Denver, and Chicago highlight our best "big city" destinations for the upcoming winter season if you can't make it to warmer weather spots.
As cooler weather sets in, you might find yourself looking to add a little holiday spirit to your upcoming team retreat.
Big cities like New York, Denver, and Chicago are bursting with festivity and endless opportunities to balance team-building fun and company-building productivity.
Here are three of the most sought-after, city-centric winter destinations for teams, featuring some of our top partners in the curated Offsite marketplace. These locations are sure to get your team excited and engaged, without breaking the bank (as most are conveniently located for distributed teams).
New York City
New York has something for everyone, making it a go-to destination for company offsites.
There are world-class museums and attractions, an incredible variety of dining options, a vibrant city scene day and night, and plenty of activities for team bonding.
Broadway-themed karaoke was just one of our favorites when the Offsite team visited New York this past spring (at Sid Gold’s Request Room - they also have locations in Nashville and Detroit!).
One of our recommended partner venues is the Mondrian Park Avenue, a stylish hotel in the heart of Manhattan.
It’s a stone’s throw away from signature New York landmarks such as the Empire State Building, Macy’s Herald Square, and Madison Square Garden, among other key attractions.
Mondrian Park Avenue also has an indoor and outdoor rooftop terrace (pictured below) that offers an abundance of natural light and serves as a great alternative to more traditional team venue spaces.
It’s walkable to major subway and train stations, and many of our clients with NYC offices will only be 10-15 minutes away from this property should you only need a room block (if you’re planning to use your office for meeting space).
Here are some top picks for teams to do in New York City during the winter:
Inter_: Manhattan's newest multi-sensory museum of 4D art
Color Factory: Color Factory’s signature ball pit will turn wintry with a chance to go sledding indoors through confetti
Governor's Island Winter Village: Only a 5 min ferry from Manhattan. 5,000-square-foot ice rink, sled rentals, warm drinks, fire pits and winter activities.
Denver
Denver is known for its outdoor recreation (such as hiking, skiing and, rock climbing), its vibrant arts and culture scene, and its friendly people. A team retreat here offers big city fun with outdoor adventure only a short drive away.
One of our favorite venues in Denver is the Limelight Hotel, a boutique property located in the heart of downtown.
(Click here to make a free Offsite account, then search “Denver” to see this and other vetted options for your upcoming team retreats in Denver.)
Limelight Hotel boasts “urban meets alpine” design aesthetic, as well as expansive indoor and outdoor venue space. The Aspen Ballroom can accommodate large groups and breakout spaces are available for smaller, more focused sessions.
Limelight Hotel is close to many popular attractions, such as the Colorado Convention Center, Coors Field, and the Denver Art Museum.
Here are several team options to do in Denver:
Stir Cooking School - Group cooking classes
K1 Speed: Go-cart racing
Punch Bowl Social: The “mothership of fun” according to our team, featuring bowling, arcades, and karaoke plus great food and drinks
Red Rocks Park: private tour to see snow on the Rocky Mountains
Chicago
Chicago is a great winter destination for teams as it is full of great venues as well as indoor and outdoor activities. There are world-class museums and attractions, a vibrant theater scene, and easy access from most major cities across North America.
The Hoxton Chicago is a stylish hotel located in the West Loop neighborhood.
Its creative apartment-style meeting spaces make teams feel at home with space to spread out while also being able to connect in smaller groups.
The Pantry on-site is an open plan kitchen that works beautifully for team meals, and can transition into a custom bar once meetings have concluded.
The hotel is close to many popular attractions, such as the Willis Tower, Millennium Park, and the United Center.
Here are a few top activities for teams in Chicago:
The Gwen and Stones Throw Curling: both offer Olympic-sized curling courts along with curated cocktails and beverages. Between rounds, warm up inside heated yurts decked out in 80’s nostalgia.
Art Room Murder Mystery Party: use their services to host a holistic wellness retreat, creative workshop, or theater party with your team.
Underground Donut Tour: donuts….’nuff said. You’re welcome.
Where Do You Want To Go This Winter?
New York, Denver, and Chicago are just a few great options for offsites this winter. If you want to go somewhere warmer, Offsite has plenty of options in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, New Orleans, Miami, Mexico, and other destinations globally.
Our partnership with top boutique hotels, resorts, and other unique offsite venues ensure clients receive excellent service and great rates (typically 20%+ off room blocks, meeting space, F&B, activities, and more).
Not only that, but you’ll have an exceptional on-the-ground experience with our trusted partners much like hundreds of other companies (including Webflow, Buffer, 15Five, Linear, Hampton, and others) have enjoyed when using Offsite.
Visit Offsite.com to view more hotels in these cities (and other top destinations).
There's no cost to make an account, and no credit card required.
Within minutes, you could submit detailed requests to curated offsite venues around the world that are perfect for your next team retreat whether you’re looking to a big city or a more remote destination.
Get ready to experience the best that winter city life has to offer!
PS - special thanks to Ellery Schaar for her help on this article. Please wish her a happy birthday on LinkedIn!!!
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