When it comes to conferences that add real meaning to your business – not to mention benefit your bottom line – taking time out instead of cramming it all into one day is your best bet.

Stepping away from the office almost immediately multiplies the benefits of any summit. Think of a holiday: staying at home has its perks, but you invariably get caught up in the same old day-to-day drudgery of running a household, boring chores and keeping the garden shipshape. No wonder it’s tempting to just chill on the couch! But if you opt for a vacation far from home, your mind immediately opens up to new surrounds, leaving you stimulated, refreshed and inspired.

The same goes for conferences. If you stick to your usual office environment, there will surely be disruptions. Phone calls are bound to interrupt sessions, it’s unlikely that anyone will think out of the box, and the company hierarchy will seem firmly in place, stifling spontaneity and blue-sky thinking.

Winelands - Franschhoek Conference Getaway

Benefits of an overnight conference

• Setting: A venue that’s warm and welcoming (rather than office-like) is neutral territory that levels the playing field. It’ll open minds for fresh ideas – and tells employees that you value their input and encourage their ideas in high-level planning.
• Timing: Overnight conferences allow for a healthy balance between high-octane strategizing and relaxing activities. One brainstorm after another isn’t really a conference – it’s just a very long meeting with an endless agenda! A two-day conference allows you to offset focused problem-solving sessions with chilled sundowners and shared meals, ensuring that everyone is fully present and bring their best selves to the table.
• Agenda: Many companies start an overnight conference with a day of serious workshops and brainstorming, followed by an evening of social activity. If this social activity is a surprise event, employees will find the conference all the more memorable, adding to stronger bonds and trust forged between colleagues. The second day usually includes either another conferencing session in the morning or a team building activity – which provides yet another opportunity to cement inter-team relationships.

Overberg - Karoo Conference Getaway

The Value of a Great Conference Venue

Keep these 6 guidelines in mind when you select a setting:

1. Free from distractions Be sure that there are no outside noises – especially not traffic. A private area like a garden surrounding the meeting room will facilitate tea breaks and relaxed interactions.
2. Easy access The idea is to get away – not to lose half the delegation en route! The venue should be far enough from the office to induce fresh thinking, but near enough for easy access – nobody should have to drive back for hours.
3. Efficiency throughout While you focus on brainstorming, the venue’s staff should be able to seamlessly take care of the group’s needs. This entails intuitive attention to detail, flexibility and excellent service.
4. Wired up From Wifi to big screens and sound systems, the tech offering has to be flawless.
5. Good taste Make sure the menus are fresh, flavourful and varied – delegates should feel nourished and nurtured.
6. Sound asleep The second day of a conference can easily go downhill if no one got enough shuteye. Comfortable, quiet accommodation is key.

Winelands - Stellenbosch Conference Getaway

Inspiring Conference Venues

From the unique appeal of the Cape’s vineyards to the pristine shorelines of our coastline and the mountains and valleys inland, these conference locations in the Winelands, Cape Peninsula and Overberg are the cream of the crop – and within easy reach of Cape Town.

Winelands Are Calling

Just an hour from the city centre, historic wine farms surrounded by majestic mountains await in the Winelands.  With gourmet food, excellent accommodation and peaceful surrounds, venues in and around Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek not only offer high-end conference facilities, but will leave delegates feeling thoroughly spoilt and refreshed to boot.

Enhancing the experience is a cinch: opt for a team building challenge that prompts everyone to explore these picturesque and historic destinations as they complete a variety of tasks; and add a surprise element with a suspenseful Murder Mystery dinner or a swanky Casino Cocktail party.

The Peninsula’s Appeal

Wide open spaces, world-class beaches and unlimited fresh air – it’s no wonder the Peninsula is known as the “Playground of the Cape”. Here, various conference settings cater for all kinds of groups, like the picture-perfect beachfront of Noordhoek.

Here a sense of tranquillity and unmatched natural beauty form the backdrop for a conference for up to 150 delegates. With accommodation overlooking the beach, generous spreads including set menus and braais, as well as a range of conference rooms among Milkwood trees, it’s just the ticket for inspired thinking and formulating fresh ideas.

Top up the experience up with a team building activity like an Amazing Race – guaranteed to light up some competitive spirit; and a potjiekos event to make even accountants tap into their creativity.

The Great Outdoors

Is your team quite small, nature-loving and fans of the restorative power of fresh air and magnificent scenery? Then a conference venue in the Overberg is just for you.  The Elgin Valley is just on the other side of Sir Lowry’s Pass, about 90 minutes from the Mother City, and provides the perfect setting for 10-30 delegates.

Quirky trailer accommodation, convivial gourmet meals and an outdoor swimming pool and deck perfectly complement a barn-style conference venue nestled on the slopes of a pine forest.

This kind of conference truly lends itself to old-school team-building activities; think feel-good outdoor games surrounded by lakes, mountains and forests. And a Beach Bar event – complete with hammocks, cocktails and a mouthwatering spit braai – is the ultimate springboard for laidback connecting and unwinding.

Peninsula - Noordhoek Conference Getaway

By Design

At Team Orange, our years of experience in designing and matching events with specific destinations and venues enable us to offer your team a conference that fits your company culture to a T. From assisting with decisions about leisure activities to handling dietary requirements with ease, we are there for you every step of the way.

Taking your capacity, budget, preferences and location into account, our overnight packages also come with a range of add-ons – from inspired team-building activities to surprise social events, all woven into your theme of choice.

With an extensive range of venues in our network, we can cater for just about every type of business and event: whether it’s a 15-seater boardroom in an aquarium or a breathtaking auditorium for 500 in a magical forest – just say the word!