Where to Go for an Offsite Corporate Event: 10 Destinations in Russia and Abroad

Off-site events are an important part of the corporate culture of any large company. Internal employee trips fall under the MICE industry, that is, business tourism. Such events are especially relevant for organizations operating nationwide and internationally. They foster business networking, image enhancement, and the exchange of experience and knowledge. Within this segment, MICE events include off-site negotiations, presentations, conferences, exhibitions, press tours, forums, seminars, trainings, and so on.

Another reason for including off-site corporate events in company life is to express gratitude and reward employees for their achievements, strengthen team spirit, increase loyalty and engagement among the team, and attract new talent by strengthening the HR brand. Here we are dealing with incentive tours, team building, off-site corporate parties, motivation programs, festivals, and more.

Choosing the format for a MICE event is a serious task that depends on the company's goals and positioning. But it is equally important to decide on the destination. In this article, we will tell you which regions are popular for business tourism in Russia and where you can currently organize an off-site event abroad.

Top 5 Destinations for Off-Site Events in Russia

Altai

Mountain air and breathtaking views make Altai an ideal place to reset away from civilization. Corporate events in the region help relieve stress, release excess energy, and prevent burnout amid the monotony of everyday work. Excursions, hikes, master classes, quests, and meditation — these event program options in Altai are perfect for small teams that want to combine active recreation with solitude and immersion in wild nature.

St. Petersburg

Russia's cultural capital boasts a variety of venues, event services, and logistics infrastructure. So St. Petersburg is equally well suited for team-building events that can be held on a comfortable motor ship, and for festive corporate parties in a real palace or in nature. And the abundance of studios, concert venues, and educational spaces makes it possible to organize master classes, seminars, workshops, and so on.

Sochi

The center of the business and leisure program for corporate trips to Sochi is the mountain resort “Krasnaya Polyana”. The main advantage of the region is its mild climate, which allows events to be held year-round without fear of bad weather. Business events here are organized at the highest level thanks to numerous conference halls equipped with the necessary equipment. And the scenario for team building in Sochi can include trekking routes, quest storylines, hiking, setting up a tent camp, ski relays, and so on.

Kazan

Kazan is located in the center of Russia, which makes it convenient from a logistics standpoint. The city is actively developing its infrastructure while preserving its national identity. Here you can hold atmospheric corporate events with immersion in Tatar traditions or supplement the business program with excursions and gastronomic tours. Kazan is home to one of the largest exhibition centers in Russia, as well as world-class hotels. The city hosts international conferences, industry fairs, business forums, sporting events, and educational seminars.

Baikal

The region is known for its opportunities for corporate team eco-tourism. In summer, boat trips and island excursions are organized here, while in winter, walking routes on skates, skis, jeeps, and icebreakers across the lake are popular. Some companies also choose Baikal as a destination for charitable projects as part of strengthening the brand's corporate social responsibility.

Top 5 overseas destinations for off-site events 

Turkey

This is one of the most popular destinations for MICE events thanks to its developed infrastructure, unique culture, and convenient location. Istanbul, Ankara, and Antalya regularly host international summits, exhibitions, congresses, forums, and industry conferences. Incentive and motivational trips to Turkey are associated with holidays on the coasts of the Mediterranean, Black, Marmara, and Aegean Seas. In addition, companies often request Bosporus cruises, active team building in Cappadocia, and SPA programs in Pamukkale.

UAE

The Emirates offer modern venues for various events: luxury hotels, high-tech conference halls, and unique locations in the desert and on the coast. Companies organize business meetings with VIP clients and partners, team building, and training programs here. The entertainment program can be complemented by gastronomic tastings, international sports competitions, and concerts by world-class stars. The most popular destinations in the region are Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah.

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan's capital, Baku, is popular in the business tourism sector thanks to its modern infrastructure and proximity to Russia. Business events, PR events, and corporate motivational tours are held here. National cuisine, excursions around the old city and ancient fortresses, diverse exhibition venues, and congress centers make this MICE destination popular with brands from around the world. In turn, for environmental programs and active holidays in the mountains, one can go to Azerbaijan's national parks, as well as resorts such as Gabala and Lankaran.

Thailand

This destination is chosen for events with a focus on adventure or relaxing holidays. Beach team building, master classes immersing in national cuisine and culture, island tours, and water quests are held here. To get acquainted with local crafts and the Thai way of life, one should visit Chiang Mai, and to immerse in the world of exotic nature — Phuket, Samui, and Krabi. And Bangkok, the capital, is rightly considered the business and cultural center of Thailand.

Georgia

Beautiful natural landscapes, a rich program of wine tours, hearty cuisine, and a sea coast — this country has all the conditions for organizing incentive overseas tours in the format of excursions, quests, hiking trips, and team building. For example, to get acquainted with winemaking, one should go to Kakheti; for informal holidays — to Batumi; for SPA programs — to Borjomi; and for mountain air — to Kazbegi. For business meetings, it is better to go to Tbilisi: the capital offers modern venues (ExpoGeorgia, Rooms Hotel Tbilisi, etc.) where large-scale conferences, forums, and exhibitions can be organized.

How to choose a destination for an offsite event

• Start with the goals and objectives of the event. This will help you decide on the format of the event, the content of the program, and the specifics of the venue. For example, sports team building outdoors to strengthen the team is best held in regions or countries with a comfortable climate. And a large-scale presentation of a new product should be organized where your clients or partners are located.

• Consider the budget. The same event in different parts of Russia or abroad will cost different amounts. The largest expense items are transport, accommodation, meals, and venue rental for the main activities. If you want to cut costs on some items (for example, getting to the destination cheaply), find out in advance whether there is an option to save money in the place you are going to.

• Ask your team. If your offsite event is a form of praising employees for their achievements, it is advisable to learn their needs and interests. Conduct a survey or questionnaire to understand what expectations your colleagues have for the trip.

• Study the weather and climate conditions. If the date and duration of the event are important to you, you need to choose a destination taking into account seasonality. For example, a company anniversary during the rainy season in Southeast Asia will be difficult to hold: some attractions are simply inaccessible. Traditionally, summer events are held by the water, and winter ones at ski resorts.

If you have doubts about choosing a specific destination, a team of professional event organizers can provide support in this matter. Our agency Aventura will help determine the best country or region for an offsite corporate event, develop a detailed business and entertainment program, plan transfers, and book specific venues. We discussed how to put a trip together step by step — from the brief and logistics to a fallback plan — in the article “How to Organize an Offsite Corporate Event: A Plan Without Failures”. We work with events of any scale and engage reliable partners and contractors for our projects.