This article was updated by Sarah Merians on 7/16/24.

Company Summer Events are heating up!

Summer is the perfect time for companies to bring their employees and leaders together for bonding, team building and FUN!

To cultivate a team that supports each other, it is SO important to reinforce relationships among your workforce. Summer team building activities are pivotal in fostering team bonding, leadership and collaboration. Summer team outings also teach workers problem solving skills while reinforcing company culture.

Some events may be sport/activity based, while others opt to create purpose with a charity/fund-raising component.

Here are some ideas:

1. Charity Work / Fundraising – Use your next summer event as an opportunity for your team to share a memorable philanthropic experience.

2. Field Day / Office Olympics – Engaging high-energy, competitive games outdoors – your team will be thrilled to get outside and soak up with sun with co-works!

3. Cocktail Party – What better time for a delicious cocktail than during the hot summer months? Also a great way to encourage networking and interesting conversation

4. Scavenger Hunt – Especially good for team building and networking, a scavenger hunt is a great way to get your team to interact authentically

5. Comedy Night – Laughter brings us closer and a comedy night is the perfect way to lighten up a corporate event. We know that good vibes are essential for team bonding and what better way to stir up some joy than by sharing laughs!

6. Bowling/Mini Golf – a great way for your team to get to know one another and bond over some friendly competition and engaging team play

7. Hiking/Kayaking – Outdoor activities like hiking, kayaking and canoeing are great choices for team outings if you work with adventurous people. Spending time on the water is an enjoyable and relaxing way to spend a beautiful, summer day.

8. Golf Outing – Corporate golf outings/tournaments are often used raise money for a corporate foundation or favorite nonprofit, but don’t have to include a charitable component. They are a great opportunity for team-building across departments, to entertain clients or prospects, or as a give-back initiative.

Here are some recent summer off-site events / office parties that we had the opportunity to photograph 😊

IMA Financial – Games, Cocktails, Networking and Fundraising

Sarah loved working with this incredible Insurance Company, IMA Financial.   The event took place @Sunset Terrace in Chelsea Piers right on the water.   Insurance men and woman from around the country flew in for high energy games and a very chill networking event all rolled into one.  Employees and leaders dressed in fun summer attire while drinking, eating and playing a cornhole tournament.  The company raised $150,000.00 for the event and everyone loved competing with their team to support a great cause.  The event was called The Big Apple Blast and the sponsors were Travelers, The Hartford, Imperial PFS, First Insurance Funding, Pure Insurance and Anthem.  Check out these photos of one fun cornhole tournament at Sunset Terrace, Chelsea Piers.  The views are awesome on the Hudson River.

East West Bank – Team Building Wellness Event – Bowling  and Bites

Another fabulous company that we work with on many events throughout the year is East West Bank.  Sarah had a blast capturing their summer event @Bowlero also at Chelsea Piers.  East West Bank is the primary subsidiary of East West Bancorp, Inc.  It is the largest publicly traded bank headquartered in Southern California, ranking 42^nd on the list of largest banks in the United States.  East West was founded in 1973 in Los Angeles to serve the Chinese American community.

Check out this group of 75 employees bowling, eating, laughing, networking and having a blast!!!  Many of them had never bowled before and loved it!

Published August 2023

Summer is here.  Companies are back to work in full force, and we are thrilled to connect with our corporate clients and capture their events all summer long.

What better way to do this than on a golf course, by a pool, or at a fun venue?
Whether it is a member/ guest tournament, professional/amateur day, or a company retreat, Sarah Merians Photography & Video Company is here to capture it all.

Togetherness for companies has never been more important and this energy is trickling down to Fall events and Holiday parties being booked now as well.  Today it is important to show employee and customer appreciation and these events say, “You are important”.

Companies are bringing their employees together more than ever to add to the culture in the office and among work peers.  These company retreats continue to foster growth and collaboration which is so important to the success of a company today.

A company retreat may be an effective way to encourage your team to bond and build trust.  The events may have games and activities to achieve this.     #teambonding
Corporate retreats provide an opportunity for team members to step out of their regular work environment and engage in these activities that can promote strong team spirit. It is through these shared experiences that these retreats help build camaraderie, increase morale, and ignite motivation within a team and company.

We love being asked to photograph and video these events and capture everyone socializing together and having fun!
Business events on the golf course are a great way to do business.  Many organizations couple a golf day with an evening Gala or fundraiser.

Have you planned your summer corporate retreat yet?

Will it be at a fun venue with employees and their families as well?

We hope this article has inspired you to get out of the office and show your employees they are valued!

Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall is the perfect time to host your next Company event.  We look forward to helping you capture all the fun.

Virtual Enterprises International Charity Golf Tournament

Virtual Enterprises International (VEI) is an in-school entrepreneurship program and global business simulation that draws on the European tradition of apprenticeships. While VEI thrives in all types of schools and is open to all interested students, the program targets high school and college students from underserved communities, empowering them to unleash their potential through creating and managing business ventures. Each year, VEI transforms 500 classrooms into offices and 10,000 students into business executives.

Pratham Golf Outing with Special Guests – Cricket Legends Kapil Dev and Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Click here to view video:

https://www.sarahmerians.com/events/corporate/corporate-video-gallery/pratham-golf-tournament/

Pratham is an innovative learning organization created to improve the quality of education in India. Established in 1995 to provide education to children in the slums of Mumbai, Pratham has grown in both scope and scale, with programs today reaching children and youth across the country.

Hyve – Summer Party / Employee Appreciation Event 

Hyve is a global events company that connects global industry communities through unmissable
in-person events, powerful online experiences, and ground-breaking meeting programs.

Perella Weinberg and Partners Holiday Party at The Pool 

Perella Weinberg and Partners is a leading global independent investment banking firm.

Click here to view photos from event:

Perella Weinberg Partners

New York County Dental Society Golf Outing

Founded in 1860, the New York County Dental Society is one of the largest groups
of dentists in the United States. With more than 2,000 members practicing in Manhattan,
NYCDS members have made a special commitment to uphold its ethical code and
practice standards, as well as those of New York State and the American Dental Association.

Mt. Sinai / Ichan School of Medicine – Summer Party for Employees and their Families at NY Hall of of Science

The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City is a leader in medical and scientific training, education, research and patient care. It is the medical school for the Mount Sinai Health System, which includes eight hospital campuses.