QuoIntelligence helps companies navigate cybersecurity challenges. With a fully remote team based across Europe, their mission to protect businesses digitally was met with OnsiteHub's commitment to foster real-life connections.
This October marked our second year partnering with QuoIntelligence for their annual retreat (read all about last year’s Workshop in Rimini), this time on the opposite shore of the Adriatic Sea in the beautiful Dalmatian town of Šibenik.
For QuoIntelligence, the annual meetup, or as they like to call it, “The Workshop,” is a vital gathering for team connection. It provides the opportunity for in-person conversation, workshops, and simply spending time together as a team.
This year, our journey led us to the Adriatic shores of Šibenik, where team members could escape virtual screens and engage face-to-face. Based on feedback from the previous meetups, this year’s focus was on giving the team enough downtime to recharge, chat over coffee, and bond without a packed agenda.
Big European cities come with many conveniences, including more available flight routes. Smaller cities like Šibenik, on the other hand, can pose some logistical challenges. With QuoIntelligence employees scattered across Europe, getting to Šibenik meant a bit of a longer travel time — but overall, was it worth it?
There’s something unique about a retreat in a less-traveled destination.
Šibenik, with its coastal charm, stone architecture, and stunning sea views, offers a unique Croatian experience even if you’ve visited other parts of this country. Located in between two airport hubs, Split and Zadar, you can reach Šibenik with just an hour’s drive. The climate is mild for most of the year, and sunny days make it an ideal retreat spot across multiple seasons.
Everything is close by, too, restaurants, shops, historical sites, and the city center are all within a 10-minute drive, and the absence of heavy traffic adds to the relaxed vibe.
Another aspect to consider when choosing a location is the quality of hospitality. In smaller cities, hospitality offers a personal touch that can’t be compared to bustling big cities, where tourist attractions, restaurants, and team activity options often feel like products on an assembly line.
Typical metrics don’t quite apply to gatherings like these. How can you measure the fun people had or the connections they made? But for data-driven people in a data-driven company, the ROI of hiring OnsiteHub can be quantified.
OnsiteHub brings expertise in choosing locations and securing venues that truly fit team needs, often at rates that would be hard for clients to secure independently. With our industry connections, we negotiate better prices and adapt to varying budgets, offering flexibility without sacrificing quality.
Not to forget the second important ROI aspect, which is time invested. Sourcing the right locations and vendors translates into savings of dozens of man-hours and our bullet-proof retreat planning process diminishes the time input we require from our clients, leaving them the freedom to focus on their day-to-day tasks.
We believe that our local knowledge is the foundation of our service quality. Without it, unique spots like Šibenik’s hidden gems would go unnoticed. Our onsite support completes the experience, allowing us to handle unexpected challenges and ensure everything runs smoothly.
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One of the key points we always emphasize when discussing event organization for companies is that local support is crucial. A person who is familiar with the area, knows how to handle situations, and can communicate effectively with locals is especially important when dealing with larger groups, where any change can impact the planned schedule.
Working with various groups means addressing different needs. It’s important to approach each group with a personalized touch and understand their expectations for coming together and spending time in person.
Planning a company gathering, whether for 20 or 220 people, requires months of preparation, numerous calls, emails and coordination of many moving parts. It’s essential to have one dedicated person overseeing the process from start to finish.
With QuoIntelligence, the schedule was cleared for a lot of fun possibilities in five days. Here’s what we got up to:
We kicked things off with a welcome barbecue at a gorgeous hotel overlooking the sea. Serving up some traditional Balkan barbecue created the perfect mingling opportunity. Sharing a meal together is such a great way to start conversations, and it really sets the tone for the next day’s workshop.
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We were excited to take part in Šibenik’s first treasure hunt for corporate groups, and it turned out to be a blast! This little coastal town is packed with fascinating historical facts. Did you know that Šibenik was the first city in the world to get electricity, thanks to Nikola Tesla, who was born just an hour and a half away?
The speedboat trip from the hotel to the city center, where the treasure hunt took place, was a quick 10-minute boat taxi ride, giving us a whole new perspective on the area. After the hunt, free time was on the agenda, but thanks to the strong team vibe, over 90% of the team ended up having a lovely dinner together in the old town.
When it came to activity time, we let everyone pick their own adventure. They could join in for a kayak ride or do their own thing. The group was pretty evenly split. Some braved the windy yet sunny kayak trip around the Šibenik archipelago, while others chose to relax over coffee in the old town or just enjoy each other’s company at the hotel with its stunning sea view.
Kayaking was a blast! We paddled through the St. Anthony Channel and along the walls of the UNESCO-protected St. Nicholas Fortress. A few of the group even recognized the fortress as the entrance to Braavos from Game of Thrones!
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Dalmatia is a stunning region with so many great places to explore. For the farewell dinner, we decided to “pop over” to the charming town of Skradin, just a 20-minute drive away. The bus ride felt like a school field trip, adding to the fun of the outing. Skradin is known for its traditional dishes that have been around for ages, and the atmosphere of the family-run restaurants makes you feel more like you’re visiting friends than just dining out.
Farewell dinners are always special, giving everyone a chance to reflect on the people they’ve met over the past few days. For those of us planning these events, it’s incredibly rewarding to see a company gathering go off without a hitch. Watching everyone go from feeling a bit awkward on the first day to laughing and chatting like old pals by the last dinner is such a joy.
When downtime takes center stage at an annual gathering, it reflects the real team dynamic among people who share a work life together. At QuoIntelligence’s retreat, giving people the space to relax led to more natural conversations, real connections, and the chance to create stronger bonds.
Instead of tightly packed schedules, team members enjoyed the freedom to explore, reflect, and engage on their terms. This laid-back time built trust and friendships in a way that video calls simply can’t. By making downtime a priority, the retreat turned into a true opportunity to recharge and connect, leaving everyone more refreshed for the work ahead.
Let us do the hard work for you. Bring your remote team together with ease and enjoy an unforgettable retreat experience.
