Teambuilding activities are a proven way to engage attendees, foster cooperation and teach new skills. Linking locally authentic culture, attractions and traditions to the process can help create a more memorable experience, as it satisfies the increased demand for more “experiential” travel.
Canada and Mexico are especially good places for incorporating natural and cultural attributes into group activities, and thanks to both nations’ large size and diverse regions, the possibilities are extensive.
In Mexico, lovers of the great outdoors can enjoy a variety of interesting group experiences around the nation. In Monterrey, which is the nation’s third-largest city and the most important business destination in the northern part of the country, planners can take advantage of easy access to dramatic landscapes, including sprawling desert terrain and soaring mountains, that make it ideal for outdoor group excursions and adventures with an active edge. Nuevo Leon Adventure Company offers teambuilding excursions that can include rock-climbing, rappelling, mountaineering and spelunking amid some of the region’s most stunning scenery, including the beautiful Potrero Chico and Huasteca canyons.
For a more urban experience, planners sending attendees to Mexico City can get in touch with companies like Wildgoose, which encourages groups to explore North America’s largest metropolis with fast-paced scavenger hunts that pit teams against each other as they use GPS to negotiate their way through historic neighborhoods, past some of the city’s most noteworthy landmarks.
Attendees can connect with Mexico’s ancient culture in Cancun, where a company called Experienca challenges teams to solve mysteries while learning about centuries-old Mayan traditions. They can also learn valuable negotiation skills while competing with other teams to get the best prices at an authentic Mexican market.
In Vancouver, a company called Team Higher Ground casts attendees as competitors in a reimagined version of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, complete with opening ceremonies and an array of sporting activities for every experience level. They just might feel like real champions by the time they finish this action-packed event.
Canadian Outback Adventures & Events offers teambuilding activities in cities throughout British Columbia and Alberta, which can range from a smartphone-based scavenger hunt in Calgary to a dining in the dark group meal function in Edmonton. Other options include a boat-building challenge in Victoria and a CSR event helping disadvantaged local communities in Vancouver.
In the Canadian Rockies, Inside Out Experience features teambuilding options in Banff National Park, Canmore, Calgary and surrounds, including raft chases and challenges on the Kananaskis River and a Rocky Mountain Relay.
Meanwhile, in Eastern Canada, Conundrum Adventures provides outdoor teambuilding activities in a variety of popular neighborhoods in Toronto, including the historic Distillery District, where a group outing fosters a greater appreciation for the neighborhood’s traditions as they score points for everything from posing for an anti-prohibition photo campaign to finding a rare specimen of local wildlife.