Have you ever heard someone in your business or team say just that? Are off-site meetings necessary?

If you consider both the actual cost (cold, hard cash) and the soft cost (what we could have been doing tied to our desks) to be the deciding factors, it’s time to look at this another way.

Sure, organising meetings off-site costs money, time and energy – and you always think you’re missing those calls, emails and work is backing up (we’re all indispensable, right?). In reality, don’t the benefits outweigh the costs? Especially for remote or hybrid workers who run the risk of becoming socially isolated and maybe only talking to their dog (or worse themselves) on a daily basis.

So, we talked to our Group Meeting and Events Manager, Shannon Grist, who gave a round-up of some of the key reasons given by some of our frequent flyers for booking meetings with us at Casa Hotel.

So, firstly (and not to be underestimated) is the simple change of scenery. They say, “A change is as good as a rest,” and this is true at work as elsewhere. Boredom and monotony have never been great ways to increase productivity.

Talking of focus, there is one massive benefit of not being distracted (or at least distracted less…though you can have a phone ban if you choose). Holding meetings in a new, external space reduces all those daily interruptions. And anything, unless you work in A&E, can probably wait at least an hour or so. Remote workers can benefit from fewer distractions and feel fully engaged in the discussions or activities. No putting their virtual hands up waiting for a break in conversation. Zoom and Teams are great, but face-to-face has its place.  You can’t put people on mute and you can see their facial reactions close up. Whether that’s always a positive, we’ll let you decide.

“Many organisations come to us for project meetings or to bring remote workers together to tackle business planning. I think it gives a real sense to those around the table that this topic is important and a priority”, says Shannon, “and because we are an independent hotel, we are incredibly flexible when it comes to providing what the client needs.  Space for break-out sessions, a large conference suit or a more relaxed layout for a truly creative session”.

Then, there is the real human side of this. People generally like people – we’re a sociable lot – and enjoy learning from each other. Involving remote or hybrid workers in strategic initiatives will always foster a greater sense of being valued and included—they are more than just a cog in a wheel. There is no need to reiterate the importance of people feeling heard, appreciated and listened to (we know how important it is), but equally – let’s be honest – it’s harder to be rude, abrupt or difficult with people you have met face to face and built a relationship with.