Building a Great Team Starts with Memorable Moments

First days can be nerve-wracking, especially in the hospitality industry. New starters are stepping into a fast-paced environment filled with expectations and endless opportunities to make someone’s day better. But imagine this: instead of dull orientation sessions or monotonous PowerPoint slides, you're welcomed with an engaging experience that introduces you not only to hotel operations but also to your co-workers, surroundings, and the essence of what makes the hotel unique. Let's talk about how hotels can level up their onboarding and team-building strategies while throwing a dash of creativity into the mix.

Just picture walking through the hotel as part of a hands-on, learning-based scavenger hunt. Sounds pretty fun, right? This approach not only helps break the ice for the team but also helps new hires build confidence and familiarity with the space they’ll soon call their workplace. And it could be a great tool for managers tailoring memorable experiences during onboarding. Curious? Let’s dig deeper.

Make Onboarding Feel Like an Adventure

Onboarding is where it all begins. It sets the tone for how well new employees will settle into the hotel's culture, grasp their roles, and connect with their peers. A first impression matters—not just for guests, but for staff too. So why stop at a checklist when you can create something exciting?

Transforming the traditional orientation into a learning-based scavenger hunt can be a game-changer. Incorporate tasks like locating specific rooms, identifying landmarks within the hotel, or completing mini challenges that teach them about services and policies. For instance, rather than simply reading about the housekeeping team, include an activity that encourages interaction. This playful approach ensures that new staff remember key details about the property while fostering team spirit right from day one.

You can even introduce digital platforms to make these onboarding activities seamless and interactive. Apps allow for personalised challenges, meaningful feedback, and tracking progress, keeping the process flexible yet rewarding. It’s not just more enjoyable—it’s smart onboarding that’s designed to stick. Activities like these can even be inspired by innovative corporate training platforms, such as the AI-driven templates you’ll find at MAKE.

Turning the Hotel Into a Learning Zone

Hotels are vibrant spaces teeming with stories, legends, and little-known details that can make work both interesting and fun. Why not explore that? A good scavenger hunt can be stretched beyond onboarding and used as a continuous learning method. For example, tailor mini games or challenges for staff to learn what’s on the menu in the restaurant, identify different types of guests likely to stay, or even understand eco-friendly initiatives the hotel may be working on.

You can take it a step further by designing treasure trails that guide staff around their immediate surroundings. Think about how valuable it is for hotel employees to know the best local coffee spots or key attractions they can recommend to guests. By incorporating challenges to explore neighbourhood landmarks, employees not only expand their knowledge but cultivate pride in being a valuable guide for visitors.

Beyond building knowledge, games like these create moments that stick. For example, an activity task that encourages collaboration between newbies and seasoned employees boosts shared learning and starts building trust from day one.

Creating Space for Team Bonding

Success in hospitality often hinges on collaboration. Staff aren’t just individuals independently checking off tasks; they’re a cohesive unit aiming to give guests the best experiences possible. Team-building activities for hotel teams help nurture this cohesion, ensuring everyone is working towards shared goals while genuinely enjoying the process.

Interactive challenges work brilliantly here. A dare to solve a mystery using teamwork or an escape-room-style activity that’s grounded in the setting of the hotel creates just the kind of camaraderie that boosts employee engagement. These activities help departments like housekeeping, concierge, and front desk teams communicate better, fostering an environment where colleagues feel empowered rather than siloed.

On-site team building doesn’t have to stop at newer employees, either. Seasonal updates, such as summer or holiday-themed challenges, can reinvigorate staff morale throughout the year, ensuring that bonding is never seen as a one-off task.

When planning these experiences, you might consider working from inspiration available through game-based platforms like MAKE. Imagine creating fully customised activities tailored specifically for teams within hotels, helping cultivate shared memories that keep motivation strong and smiles even stronger.

Don’t Forget the Guests

Team activities aren’t just for the staff! Hotels have the opportunity to bring similar excitement to their guests, too. Leisure games, workshops, and experiences can be integrated right into your property offerings, encouraging guests to engage with the space in unique ways.

Host scavenger hunts around the hotel property, where families can laugh together over quirky clues, or organise interactive storytelling nights in the guest lounge. You could even align themes with local festivals or historical tidbits from your surroundings. These activities create unforgettable guest experiences that go beyond the standard "bed and breakfast" offering, earning loyal customers and glowing reviews in the process.

For example, a hotel situated near a national park could create adventurous nature-based challenges that encourage discovery and outdoor play. Or, a property in the heart of a city might invite corporate retreat attendees to test out team-building challenges blended into guided tours of local landmarks. A blend of leisure and learning? Memorable for everyone involved!

Bringing Play and Purpose Together

Incorporating creativity into training processes doesn’t just make things fun—it makes them effective. When employees enjoy learning about their workspace and surroundings, engagement skyrockets. Engaged employees lead to happier teams, and happier teams lead to unforgettable guest experiences.

Similarly, offering guests unique activities that combine enjoyment with discovery is a recipe for success. Hotels exist as central hubs for exploration, connection, and relaxation. When you think about adding layers of interactivity, whether for your staff or your guests, you unlock opportunities to build stronger bonds all around.

For effortless planning and customisation of these kinds of activities, platforms like MAKE are invaluable. With features that cater to in-person, remote, and hybrid setups, MAKE helps your team designs belong uniquely to your space. By taking inspiration from adaptable technology and AI-driven creativity, your hotel’s activities inspire connection and learning in all the right ways.

Do you have a hospitality team eager to grow together or a vision for guest engagement that stands out? It’s about time to get started!