Recently we had the pleasure of hosting the business Talent Web Recruitment at Eleven Eighty. Talent Web contacted us looking for a space which could host their beginning of year “sales kick off” for a team of 30 people. They were looking for a venue which could accommodate the Directors staying on site, accommodation off site but close by for the sales team, a large room to conduct their conference, catering for 30 people, entertainment and a team building challenge. Could we help? We were up for the challenge.
Day one saw the Directors arrive and enjoy an informal lunch under the pergola. The weather gods were on our side and the group of 10 were able to stay in this space all afternoon to conduct their Directors meeting. At 5.30, business for the day was concluded and they migrated across the courtyard to our bar for a few well deserved pre dinner drinks. For the evening we opted for a long table dinner served under the chandeliers in the barn. Relaxed vibe, shared platters and maybe one too many bottles of decent red wine summed up the evening!
Day 2 and everyone was up early to ensure things were set up to welcome the rest of the sales team who were to arrive by coach from Sydney that morning. Again we had beautiful blue skies and a predicted 32 degree day ahead (thank goodness we had checked the forecast and our wonderful electrician had come to our aid the day before to install two huge 2 meter fans in The Old School Hall).
After coffee and morning tea a very excited team entered the Old School Hall to start their sales conference.
Lunch was served on the veranda by The Monkey Express and people had some time out to explore the gardens, street art and buildings. The savvy few found the air con on in the train carriage and chilled there until it was time to be back in the hall to complete their conference.
At 5pm, with presentations complete, the team were driven to their accommodation in Berry to check in and get changed, giving us the perfect opportunity to set up for dinner and to bring out the courtyard games. With such a beautiful evening we went with alfresco dining in the courtyard, once again catered by the Monkey Express. The feedback on the set up for dinner and the food was incredible. Add in the talented Greg Townley on guitar and it all set the scene for a magical night.
Day 3 saw a few sore heads but lots of smiles. The Directors cooked up the bacon and eggs on the bbq and I tested out my newly found barista skills on the coffee machine. All went well as long as no one wanted anything more creative than a short black or a flat white! A quick wrap up and the bus arrived to take the team to Tree Tops in Nowra. An overwhelming majority of the guys had never experienced zip lining before (our chosen team building and “push you out of your comfort zone” activity for the retreat). There were a lot of nerves, a possible panic attack (Rob!) and lots of adrenalin. When we met up with the team again for the last lunch in Berry before carriages back to Sydney the vibe was incredible. So many people had faced and overcome their fears. The team was buzzing and the experience had bonded them. A lot of happy but tired bodies climbed onto the buses home.
What a success! Our maiden voyage into the land of corporate retreats proved what we had already suspected in that Eleven Eighty is a fantastic space to offer business teams something really special and totally different to what they have experienced before. It was a lot of hard work in planning and bringing these 3 days to life but it really paid off. The reviews from the guys and the fact that they want to book again in July, made it all worth while.
I recently spent two days at Eleven Eighty with a group of colleagues. Such a beautiful and unique experience and property.
A big shout out to Clare and Richard for your great hospitality. You really couldn’t do enough for us. I hope to return in the near future!
Eleven Eighty is such a unique and magical venue! We hosted a corporate retreat recently and our guests were literally blown away. The decor is sublime, the food from Monkey Express far exceeded expectation and the ambiance is electric. I cannot recommend it highly enough and can’t wait to get back there!
What a fantastic venue! The design is unique with a charming personality that shines through in every detail. Richard and Clare were the epitome of hospitality, making us feel right at home with their warm welcome and impeccable attention to detail.
I can’t wait to return to this hidden gem and soak up its amazing atmosphere once again.
We have proved that the flexibility of the grounds, the versatility of the buildings (The Old School Hall, The Barn, The Train Carriage) our relationships with caterers and “experience providers” that we have in place on the South Coast make Eleven Eighty an incredible base and experience for corporates looking to reward and bond their teams with…..well….something just a little different. Contact clare@eleveneighty.com.au to discuss your businesses goals and bespoke needs for your next corporate retreat.
