How to organize a company seminar?

What is a corporate seminar? 

The word " seminary " comes from the Catholic education of priests, who enter specialized training for the priesthood in a specialized institution called a "seminary". Corporate seminars were initially inspired by these high-level training courses, which take future executives to new horizons.

Corporate seminar: definition 

A corporate seminar is an event organized by a company, usually away from its usual premises, to bring its employees together for a variety of professional and social activities. It's a short stay during which employees from a team or department share their time between work meetings and leisure activities. The seminar is also a motivational tool for employees. It can be used to take stock of the company's activities, or to promote a new strategy while fostering team spirit.

These events can have several objectives, such as:
- Training
- Professional development
- Team building
- Motivating employees
- Communicating strategic projects
- Improving exchanges between teams, hierarchical levels and departments
- Launching a new positioning, a new range or new products

Corporate seminars can vary in length, from a few hours to several days, and can be held in a variety of locations such as hotels, conference centers, monasteries, under a tent or on a boat, and so on. They are often seen as key moments for the company, strengthening internal relations, clarifying objectives and boosting employee motivation.

The different types of corporate seminars

Apart from the traditional fixed-date gatherings held every year, such as at the beginning of September or at the start of the calendar year, each seminar has a clearly defined objective, which will influence its duration, choice of venue and destination.

Management seminar

Gathering together the CODIR or the main senior executives, depending on the company's structure, the management seminar addresses the main strategic aspects, to align objectives and fine-tune language. To be effective, these discussions must be held in a small group. There's no need for an amphitheatre in this configuration; villas with welcoming spaces or rented châteaux will welcome executives for brainstorming sessions and small-group workshops.

The team building seminar

Sales and marketing teams, or production and after-sales departments, often need to work better together. A team building seminar is the best way to strengthen cohesion and team spirit, improve communication and encourage collaboration. The seminar will combine group games, collective challenges, outdoor workshops and problem-solving workshops. Evenings stargazing on the terrace or by the pool will facilitate informal exchanges. Count on 3 full days to create the right atmosphere and the most effective memories.

The launch seminar

Bringing all departments together avoids repetition and favoritism when launching a product, service or project. After the presentations, employees can meet in working groups to work out the next steps to be taken. These seminars are usually very condensed and meticulously prepared. 

Creativity and innovation seminar

Its aim is to provide a surprising or disruptive working environment to stimulate creativity and innovation within the company. Design thinking sessions and surprising activities such as escape games will fuel inspiration.

Integration seminar

More common in large companies recruiting large numbers of young graduates, the induction seminar will introduce new arrivals to the various operational departments and familiarize them with the company's values. Team-building exercises are used to reinforce the recruits' enthusiasm. In this type of seminar, it can be useful to separate the accommodation of the management team from that of the younger generations, to allow the younger ones to get to know each other without being impressed by the presence of senior executives.

Organize a corporate seminar in
3 steps

Step 1 in organizing a seminar: choosing the venue

Whichever destination you choose for a residential seminar, opt for a location no more than 2 to 3 hours from the home address of the majority of participants. Ideally, a train station or airport should be nearby, especially if you need to bring together traveling sales representatives or distributors from all over Europe. Arrange for minibuses to pick up employees at the station, especially if the seminar venue is not located in the city center. It will be easier for them to take a metro or streetcar in Amsterdam than on the Cote Azur... but with a shuttle service, the most beautiful beaches are within easy reach of the meeting. If your sales team is widely dispersed, don't start the seminar until lunchtime on the first day, or plan to spend an extra night on site. If, on the other hand, they all work at the head office in the city, you can launch a car pool as a first cohesion exercise.

Step 2 for organizing a seminar: choosing the duration

Two or three days are enough to present new products, organize a number of workshops and plan time for relaxation. But don't forget the essential downtime: welcome and set-up at bedrooms, check-out on departure, coffee breaks and meals, as well as time to serve guests, welcome speeches, time to change into swimwear or sportswear, etc. The smaller the number of participants, the shorter these times are, but they're still essential. By opting for a venue where an experienced incentive manager takes care of all these details, catches up with latecomers and briefs chefs or caterers, you'll avoid a lot of stress.

Step 3 in organizing a seminar: choosing activities 

For a corporate seminar to be a real success, you need to take a break from the slide show and offer activities other than meetings. This is a good time to conduct an in-house survey before any organization. Can your staff ski? Do they have the sea legs for a catamaran trip? Chances are, everyone knows how to swim and enjoys a break by the pool...

Ideally, program at least one new activity that puts everyone on an equal footing. It could be a rally in a historic district or in the garrigue, an escape game in a castle or an encounter with the local wildlife. The key is to surprise!

Step 4 for organizing a seminar: choosing the catering

Manger des repas goûteux ne suffit pas pour faire d’un séminaire d’entreprise un succès. Mais un bon chef à domicile et un bon organisateur peuvent radicalement changer l’ambiance. Sans forcément être gastronomique, un repas léger, avec des produits locaux et de saison, ajoute une touche de gourmandise et facilite la détente. Un buffet au déjeuner, dans les jardins, est idéal pour garder les esprits vifs et créatifs. Pour le soir, vous avez le choix entre un cocktail pour favoriser les conversations et un dîner assis pour les prolonger.

Why choose Homanie to organize your corporate seminar? 

For all your corporate seminars, Homanie opens the doors to the most beautiful properties in France and Southern Europe. All are equipped with chef and hotel services. The collection is made up of large private homes of up to 25 bedrooms. These residences are set in remarkable sites, and feature unique architecture and refined interiors. 

Whether your business seminar takes place by the sea, in or near the capital, in the countryside or in the mountains, Homanie has a team of incentive specialists to take care of everything. Each seminar is tailor-made: identification of the most suitable property, activity program, menu design, etc. Would you like to bring your management committee together, get your teams together in an enchanting setting, or organize a team-building event? Homanie welcomes up to 70 participants for timeless seminars and moments of sharing essential to the cohesion of your company. 

Homanie helps you choose your ideal destination

Whether you're looking for sunshine or fresh air, a long way away or a change of scenery nearby, we can offer you a thousand and one inspirations.

near paris: our seminars with heated swimming pool

• A seminar in GivernyGiverny, just a stone's throw from Monet's marvellous garden, offers 5 hectares of landscaped parkland and historic buildings, including an orangery, before relaxing in the heated swimming pool.

• A seminar in Perche, 1h30 from Paris, the Normandy countryside is home to an immense, century-old property, which, in addition to its indoor swimming pool, welcomes executive seminars in its 18 bedrooms. All seasons are catered for in the utmost comfort.

For emission-free travel: a few examples of addresses accessible by train

• A seminar in Deauville, the town welcomes the biggest American stars every year. Play star on stage with your teams and brainstorm before a horseback ride along the seafront.

• Pour un séminaire des plus créatifs, suivez Léonard de Vinci pour un séminaire proche de Chambord pour prendre possession d’un château et invitez votre équipe à faire une pause dans l’espace bien-être.

A change of scenery guaranteed in Portugal and Spain

• La cuisine portugaise est déjà irrésistible et pourrait à elle seule mériter des réunions stratégiques. Et si un chef étoilé préparait tous les repas, que la salle du séminaire à Alqueva donnait sur un immense lac et que les membres de l’équipe pouvaient choisir entre les piscines extérieures et le jacuzzi extérieur ? L’esprit d’innovation prendra certainement des couleurs !

• L’inspiration et l’innovation se multiplient aussi sur les pas de Dali avec un séminaire à Cadaqués en Espagne. L’influence de l’artiste surréaliste ne peut que donner un nouveau souffle à vos futurs produits.

homanie A wide choice of leisure activities

A seminar doesn't have to be interrupted to create good memories. On the one hand, you can use the "downtime" to invite staff to take a dip in the infinity pool, work up a sweat in the gym or take a stroll around the grounds. Or you can organize team-building workshops far from the meeting room, where they can relax and bond as a team.

Here are just a few examples of popular fun activities

To develop team cohesion, it's essential to offer a variety of unusual seminar activities. Are you repositioning your company as one with a mission? We can organize a bee-keeping and honey-tasting workshop, or an awareness-raising and litter-picking workshop on the beach. Do your sales executives have an Olympic competitive spirit? We'll offer them a friendly sand Olympics, with tests of thinking, strength and nautical relays on the shores of the Mediterranean. If they enjoy gourmet delights as much as friendly challenges, if they dream of becoming top chefs, our range of inspirations is almost unlimited: a discovery of vegetarian cuisine, a pizza workshop, cooking classes based on regional specialities, chocolate-making workshops, etc. 

Sports for everyone to discover

Not everyone spent their childhood on skis or in the saddle, but some lesser-known activities can win over and seduce even the least athletic. An introduction to yoga, the discovery of a creek in a kayak or a short hike to the nearest castle are within everyone's reach. We can help by turning the hike into a treasure hunt, to increase motivation.

The right location, the right duration, with flawless organization, and your return on investment is guaranteed. Interested in a seminar with Homanie ? Contact us now!