Company seminars: places and activities not to be missed

Why have a well thought-out company seminar?

According to a recent study by Homanie, 95% of employees believe that these events significantly improve the company's overall performance. Away from the daily grind of work, a seminar creates a favourable context for strengthening team cohesion. This is the number one objective cited by 85% of employees. What's more, 50% of positive developments in internal communication stem from informal interactions outside the office. A well-orchestrated seminar can break the work routine while strengthening the commitment of participants over the long term.

Top places to hold a company seminar

The choice of venue is important: it sets the tone for the event and must serve your objectives.

Atypical venues near major cities

Unusual seminar venues exist on the outskirts of major cities (Paris, Lyon, etc.):

Urban farms
Rehabilitated old workshops
Industrial lofts
Châteaux close to the city
An indoor beach in Paris

These places offer an immediate change of scenery while remaining easily accessible (close to public transport). These unusual places offer a break from the daily grind without wasting time travelling, and encourage social interaction.

Modern, business-friendly centres

For a seminar focused on work and productivity, modern business centres and other seminar hotels are preferable. These generally have high-tech meeting rooms, high-speed Wi-Fi connection, full audiovisual equipment and on-site catering. Le Karé, in Boulogne Billancourt is the ideal atypical space for this.

The atmosphere is designed for concentration and professional exchange in comfort. The atmosphere is studious but friendly, conducive to both formal presentations and informal discussions during coffee breaks.

Choosing a business-friendly centre, often located in the heart of the city or in the immediate suburbs, guarantees smooth organisation. Your participants benefit from an easily accessible venue, with all the necessary facilities on site. It's the reassuring choice of venue for a smooth event, perfectly suited to training seminars, conferences or project launches.

Green residential seminars

To bring your teams together in a more relaxed setting in the heart of nature, we recommend a residential seminar in the countryside like Oxygène Factory. Far from the urban environment, your staff can enjoy a natural setting (countryside, mountains, coastline) where they can relax and get away from it all. These destinations often offer a breathtaking view and a relaxing atmosphere that reinforce group cohesion. It's an ideal setting that offers enough space to accommodate several dozen or even hundreds of people, perfect for a large group.

The figures show just how attractive these venues can be. More than half of employees prefer the seaside (55%) or the mountains (23%) for a seminar, well ahead of the big cities.

Ideas for team building activities to include in your seminar

Escape & serious games

Escape games and other team-building activities plunge participants into a collaborative role-playing game where they have to solve enigmas or take up a common challenge in a limited time. They are an excellent way of stimulating strategic thinking, creativity and mutual support in a fun context.

Serious games go a step further by including an educational or sustainable development objective. For example :

CSR Escape Game: an interactive investigation to correct the poor environmental practices of a fictitious company.
Crisis management simulation: participants have to manage an emergency situation and take collective decisions.
Express Project" strategy game: a challenge in which each team has to complete an entire project in a limited time, managing the budget, resources and unforeseen events.

Creative, culinary and tasting workshops

There are plenty of options.

cooking or pastry-makinglessons with a chef
a mixology workshop to create cocktails
wine tasting with a sommelier
painting or pottery workshops...

This type of workshop encourages people to work together (creating a work of art or a recipe together) and showcases everyone's talents outside a professional context. In the end, everyone leaves with a shared skill or tasty souvenir, which strengthens team cohesion. You also create unique and memorable souvenirs.

Sporting activities and well-being

There's nothing like team sport to build camaraderie and relieve work-related stress! Depending on your employees' preferences and profiles, you can opt for outdoor activities:

Olympics (team sports games, skill or strength challenges)
Canoeing if you're on the banks of a lake
A nature hike to combine reflection and physical exercise.

Outdoor sports and activities are the second most popular activity for employees at seminars. These sporting challenges create healthy competition and, above all, lots of laughs. You could also offer a group yoga workshop or an introductory session to meditation or relaxation. These well-being activities allow everyone to relax completely and recharge their batteries.

Fun activities & theme evenings

The themed evening concludes the day or days on a festive note. You can also organise fun activities during dinner or the evening, such as a Murder Party or a personalised interactive quiz about the company. These entertaining activities help to break the ice between colleagues from different departments and create and share common memories.

Social events such as aperitifs, dinners and dances are among the most eagerly awaited by participants. 55% of employees cite the aperitif as their favourite part of the seminar. So don't overlook this festive part.

Why put your trust in our agency for your seminar?

Our team of experts will be with you from the design to the production of your event:

We analyse your needs (budget, objectives, values, workforce) to suggest the most suitable venues and activities.
Thanks to our network of partners all over France, we can find the best setting for your event: an original venue, a modern space or a green estate.
We manage all the logistics (bookings, catering, transport, accommodation).
We coordinate all the activities to ensure that your seminar runs smoothly and without a hitch.

When you call on us, you save time, secure your organisation and offer your teams a perfectly orchestrated, unifying experience.

FAQ - Company seminars

What budget should I set aside for a successful company seminar?

The budget depends on a number of factors:

The number of participants
The duration (one day, several days)
The type of venue chosen (near or far, upmarket or more basic)
The activities included
Catering and transport costs.

On average, you should expect to pay between €120 and €300 per person for a one-day seminar, and between €400 and €800 per person for a 2-day/1-night residential seminar (transport included).

How far in advance should a seminar be organised?

Organisers should plan their corporate seminar several months in advance to benefit from greater choice and peace of mind. Ideally, start preparations 3 to 6 months in advance. For a small, one-day local seminar, a few weeks is enough.

What activity formats are suitable for different numbers of participants?

Small groups (5 to 10 people) : friendly, immersive activities that encourage direct discussion, such as an escape game in a single room
Medium-sized groups (up to 50 people): flexible activities with multiple teams or facilitators, ideal for keeping everyone involved.
Large teams (several dozen people): group formats where everyone participates simultaneously, like an Olympiad,
Very large groups (over 100 people): activities that bring people together and are easy to organise, often outdoors, such as a large rally or team challenges.