Residential seminar: the complete guide
How do you motivate a management team other than through bonuses? How do you create a sense of belonging to the company and emphasize common goals? By getting away from the office and videoconference meetings, and taking a fresh look at the year ahead... By organizing a residential seminar in a privileged location, for example.
Residential seminar: what is it?
A residential seminar is a type of corporate seminar where participants meet at a residential location, often outside their usual work environment, for a period of several days.
In fact, the majority of company seminars are residential. Alternatives could be traveling seminars or seminars on the company's premises, to which participants would go, as usual, every morning. While itinerant seminars are more than rare, large companies can take advantage of their own premises to bring teams together in their own meeting spaces. The main objective of a corporate seminar is to save money.
Why organize a residential seminar?
A residential seminar is a privileged opportunity for participants to detach themselves from their daily environment, focus on specific objectives, strengthen professional relationships and foster in-depth learning and reflection. The more exotic and/or exceptional the location, the more memorable the seminar.
Which location to choose for your residential seminar
When companies decide toorganize a residentialcorporate seminar, they look for inspiring venues that can accommodate, bring together and entertain participants. These venues therefore need to have a sufficient number of bedrooms or twins, meeting rooms in a variety of configurations (U-shaped, theater-style, workshop-style, etc.), and finally, a variety of catering areas.
It's not surprising that hotels get most of the votes, since they basically have bedrooms in large numbers, function rooms that can be adapted to a wide range of configurations, and service and catering teams that provide everything from coffee breaks to gourmet dinners. However, these hotels often fail to offer inspiring atmospheres and outdoor spaces that facilitate the organization of activities such as Olympiads or treasure hunts. The presence of other guests also limits the opportunities for intimate get-togethers.
Which country or region to choose for your residential seminar?
All French regions have their own charms and assets, and who doesn't love Southern Europe? Your choice of destination will depend on a number of factors, including :
The date
The communications or incentives team will forget about summer in the Paris region, or the Mediterranean coast, to avoid the heat. In spring and autumn, on the other hand, the Vexin and Eure regions of France display all their charms, as does the Côte d'Azur, appreciated for 200 years by the most privileged travelers. Some charming, easily accessible cities, such as Bordeaux, are becoming increasingly popular. In winter, the Alps offer the most beautiful panoramas.
Accessibility
France's strong centralization makes the Paris region the main center for corporate headquarters, especially when it comes to service companies. The closest regions, as well as the capital itself, are home to the largest number of residential seminar venues. The ease with which you can get to your seminar venue is also a big plus, as these locations are accessible by all means of transport.
Outside the capital, it's these means of transport that make all the difference. Whether in the Île-de-France region, the châteaux of the Loire or the Lyon-Marseille axis, residences need to be located close to traffic hubs. Increasingly, companies are looking for seminar venues that are accessible by train, not only for ecological reasons, but also because trains can reach certain regions, such as Provence or Bordeaux, in two to three hours, putting staff in or near a city center.
The presence of one or more swimming pools
Even if not all team-building seminar participants plunge into the sparkling waters of the pool, this must-see venue is a dream come true. It plays the starring role at cocktail parties, aperitif dinners and evenings under the stars, and always provides an attractive backdrop for photo shoots.
Organize your residential seminar in a prestigious location
In addition to hotels, prestigious locations such as manor houses, monasteries and castles attract the largest numbers of residential seminars. These private residences offer many advantages that hotels don't, not least cosy style, history and daylight meeting rooms. Team-building workshops and escape games can easily take advantage of the turrets, follies or former stables adjoining the main building. Terraces and swimming pool surrounds offer multiple viewpoints, while gardens and woods can be used for treasure hunts. The private aspect of these prestigious locations in no way detracts from their modernity, with, of course, high-speed Wi-Fi access and impeccable sound systems.
The ecological dimension of prestige venues can be underestimated, but many of them heat their swimming pools with solar panels, offer buffets made from local and organic harvests, or cycle instead of quad bike rides.
What activities can you organize during your residential seminar?
Many companies take advantage of their residential seminars to organize team-building activities. If they have to adapt to the type of employees (CODIR, sales, creative, etc.), they must not interrupt a well-planned program with excessively long trips. Ideally, the seminar venue and private space should be used for a variety of activities:
organize Olympiads, which are very popular, mixing sporting and creative competitions, to award prizes to all talents; organize treasure hunts or Murder Parties, etc.
introduce people to lesser-known sports that are nonetheless widely accessible, such as paddleboarding, kayaking, sand yachting, yoga, etc.
boost creativity by creating cocktails, perfumes, original dishes, etc.
The most popular activities are those that give everyone a chance to stand out from the crowd, and at the same time get to know each other better so as to appreciate colleagues and network discreetly.
Why choose Homanie for your residential seminar?
To inspire you for your residential seminars, Homanie invites you to browse through a carefully assembled catalog of the finest properties in France and Southern Europe. The finest chefs and experienced hotel services are at your service in large private homes with up to 25 luxurious bedrooms . These residences are set in remarkable locations and boast unique architecture and refined interiors. Meeting rooms are available with or without natural light. The sound and projection systems use the latest generation of tools, in complete discretion.
Tailor-made service for your residential seminar
Whether your residential seminar takes place overlooking the Eiffel Tower, a few leagues from a Loire château, on the Côte d'Azur, on the shores of the Portuguese Atlantic, or with Mont Blanc as a backdrop to the swimming pool, Homanie has a team of incentive specialists to take care of everything. Each seminar is tailor-made by the Homanistes: identification of the property best suited to your needs, proposal of ideal activities to encourage team-building, finalization of menus, timing of coffee breaks, and so on.
Sport, nature, bien-être, art de vivre, culture… Les grands espaces des domaines Homanie et leur localisation idéale vous permettent de pratiquer une multitude d’activités de séminaire sur place et à proximité. Vous souhaitez créer plus de connivence au sein de votre comité de direction, organiser un séminaire de cohésion d’équipe inoubliable ? Les villas Homanie accueillent jusqu’à 50 participants pour des séminaires hors du temps et des moments de partage essentiels à l’avenir de votre entreprise.
LUXURY VILLAS WITH DREAM POOLS
Discover our exclusive offers of luxury villas with swimming pools, located in the most beautiful regions of France and abroad. The properties are exceptional, and the pools are just as good: infinity, heated, indoor, with panoramic sea views.... These pools provide the perfect backdrop for seminars, which can end in the evening with a buffet dinner, or offer a fragrant setting for relaxed breaks.
Villas that inspire the planet
Do your teams prefer to avoid air travel and organize residential seminars, the images of which can be used in CSR reports? Homanie has selected houses for seminars that are accessible by train. In the Paris region, Normandy, the Côte d'Azur or the Alps, discover estates that are easily reached by TER or TGV train from Paris and other major French cities. Thanks to our hosts' in-depth knowledge of their region, arrivals take a minimum of transfer time. Activities take place on site or are accessible on foot or by bike, and meals are inspired by seasonal cuisine and local produce.
Organize a residential seminar in a "home-like" atmosphere
CODIR members appreciate being welcomed like distinguished guests, by owners who open all the doors of their family home to them. Just like the most beautiful addresses they can book for their vacations, Homanie unveils luxurious villas, with service to boot. The best cooks, the most talented coaches and a well-trained housekeeping service lighten the daily routine, without any apparent effort.
Need more inspiration? Contact us to find your ideal residential seminar venue!