With the last weeks of summer upon us, businesses all across North America are beginning to plan their holiday season corporate outings. It’s never too early to start planning, after all. There are many things to consider when planning a corporate group outing for you and your team to ensure a memorable time for everybody involved. We’ve put together a list of some tips to keep in mind when planning your next company outing.

Step 1 – Figure Out The Basics For Team Building

The first thing to consider is always the who, what, where, when, and why – as well as how many! What is your budget? In what city will the event be held? What type of venue would accommodate your needs? Who are the targeted external clients? What type of event will draw them in? An upscale cocktail event? Dinner? Fun interactive activity? Who will be attending from your company? Why is the event being held? What is the ultimate goal? Who will be responsible for inviting clients and RSVP management? Write down the answers to those questions before you start anything else.

Step 2 – Get Input From Your Awesome Staff

Not everybody loves surprises – so keep this in mind when planning your next corporate outing. It’s unreasonable to think that all of your employees will have similar interests and likes, so getting a quick read of what might go over well can go a long way. Keep in mind that you’re all not likely to agree on the same thing, but using valuable input from each of your employees can bring you closer to finding an activity that everybody can get behind.

Step 3 – Save The Date: We’re Going Axe Throwing!

Once the proposed date has been selected and city identified, check not only your calendar but that of your industry and location of the event. Is there an industry conference scheduled at the same time? School breaks, religious holidays and other significant events can affect your attendance as well as the logistics of an event. Ideally, you should plan your event at least eight weeks out, allowing for invite list development, Save the Dates to be sent six weeks out, invites to be sent four weeks prior to your event, with reminders two weeks in advance of the event.

Step 4 – Picking the Right Location

While the newest trampoline park on the outskirts of town may be appealing for your event, your venue should reflect your audience and the business purpose of the event itself. Take into consideration the commuting patterns in the city where your event is to be held. For instance, in Toronto, venues that are close to subway lines and GO Transit or Via Rail Canada trains draw large after-work crowds. Whereas in Ottawa, most people drive, so venues with easy access to major highways are preferred.

Step 5 – Make Sure Your Employees Needs Are Met

When setting up your invitations and RSVP options, be sure to provide and allow for information that makes your guests feel welcome. Make sure your guests can provide any dietary restrictions. Can they bring a partner or business associate with them? If so, make that clear. Are you providing valet parking? The more information you can provide at this point, the more welcome your clients will feel—and the less you’ll need to manage the night of the event!

Step 6 – Choosing Your Activity: Axe Throwing at BATL

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for team-building activities. But by paying attention to the everyday routine of your team, getting employees involved in planning, and asking strategic questions, you can keep the eye rolls to a minimum.

With all these things considered, where do you go next? Gone are the days of traditional staff get togethers – and nothing quite breaks tradition like axe throwing. The sport of axe throwing was established in 2006 in the Toronto backyard of Matt Wilson. What started as a personal passion sparked by a camping trip with friends soon spread through word-of-mouth in Toronto. Matt Wilson spent his career learning the ropes of the hospitality business in Toronto, which enabled the creation of the first-ever urban axe throwing venue in Toronto, The Backyard Axe Throwing League. Urban axe throwing is comprised of ‘arenas,’ which are similar to a cross between a batting cage and bowling alley, with private space for groups of any size, and a music selection.

The Backyard Axe Throwing League has never been more accessible and now boasts 15 venues across North America (Toronto, Kitchener, Pickering, Niagara Falls, Hamilton, Ottawa, and Calgary in Canada and Novi, Chicago, Nashville, Scottsdale, and Houston in the United States – not to mention more venues opening this year, including BATL Orlando).

BATL is the perfect venue to host your next staff outing. Our private axe throwing events last 2-2.5 hours and are run in the safe and comfortable environment that BATL has become famous for by our expertly trained staff, who also happen to be the best axe throwers in the planet. They will run you and your guests through training to ensure that you’re all sticking bullseyes before launching you into a round robin tournament, followed by a playoff (in order to crown a champion, of course). A little friendly competition is a key to a team building outing so if you’re looking for the perfect event for your next corporate party, look no further than BATL. You can check out our event guide to learn more on how we can accommodate your team!