Coca-Cola building dream teams in Hong Kong - Discover Hong Kong

Coca-Cola buildingdream teams in Hong KongIncreasing numbers of corporate clients are turning to teambuildingactivities and annual outings to build morale amongtheir employees in order to achieve a common goal.Team-building has shown to be an effective tool inhelping a company to enable staff members to increasetheir motivation and performance.As a team-building destination, Hong Kong is the ideallocation, with everything to help make an event a success.Venues of any size, both indoors and outdoors, professionalcoaching support and expertise, language efficiency, as well assuperb infrastructure and various leisure activities, guarantee thatevery participant’s stay in Hong Kong is both fruitful for thecompany and unforgettable for the individual.A boat trip to Lamma Island was highlyappreciated by the Coca-Cola China group.Read the testimonials here – and book your next corporatemeeting in Hong Kong ...

The participants had a great dinner whereby enjoyingthe magnificent harbour view of Hong Kong.When the employees of Coca-ColaChina’s marketing department were giventhe opportunity to vote for a destinationfor their annual corporate outing, the vastmajority chose Hong Kong.“This was the first time we went toHong Kong. It is an ideal place withgood facilities for a business conference;it is also convenient, and very popularfor shopping and dining. Most of all, theprices were very competitive, withHong Kong having even lower pricesthan other venues in Mainland China,especially since we managed to get avery competitive flight and hotelpackage,” says Howard Lam, groupsparkling director of Coca-Cola (China)Beverages Ltd in Shanghai.to Hong Kong in 2000 with her formeremployer. While that trip’s focus wasmainly on fun activities, this recent tripcombined team-building with bothtraining and leisure.“The business feeling was muchstronger this time and I learned a lotthrough the group discussions when weevaluated the activities,” says Shelly.She also observes that Hong Kong hasbecome much less expensive comparedto seven years ago: “Food,accommodation, transportation andeven cinema tickets cost much less thanI expected. Hong Kong has reallybecome a cost-effective destination.”Marketing manager Mandy Chen isfamiliar with Hong Kong, having workedthere previously for six months: “I votedfor Hong Kong because it haseverything: food, leisure activities,shopping, etc. Hong Kong also hastourist attractions, such as Disneyland.Most of my colleagues really wanted tocome to Hong Kong for this activity.”Cooperation and effective communication among all teammembers was essential in all team building activities.Everyone from the marketingdepartment was invited – from the topbosses to the secretaries – on the fiveday/four-nightevent that was held inNovember 2007. The purpose of thetrip was to strengthen the staff’steamwork, and to help them tounderstand the importance ofcooperation and communication, whichultimately helps improve their workwhen they return to their office.Satisfaction in every wayAssociate brand director Shelly Linexperienced a similar team-building trip

The Hong Kong supplier providedexpertise in tailor-made experientialteam training.Achieving company goalsThe first day’s meeting featureddiscussions about company issues andwas followed by the second day’s teambuildingactivities.The local organisers had chosen theDuke of Edinburgh training camp in theNew Territories as the location. Most ofthe activities were held outside, whichwas pleasant for the participantsbecause of the cool, but sunny,November weather in Hong Kong.“Weather was an important factor thatwas to Hong Kong's advantage when wechose the destination,” says Lam. “Wedropped the other two suggested cities inMainland China because there might besnow at this time of the year, making itimpossible to hold activities outside.”The demand in Hong Kong for highquality,professional and effective teambuildingactivities is increasing. As aresult, the city is home to manyexperienced service suppliers that canmeet the various needs of corporateclients, whether that be organising ameeting or setting up a programme ofteam-building activities.For Coca-Cola, the first day’s businessconference at the Hong Kong DisneylandHotel was facilitated by the hotel.The second day’s outdoor activitieswere provided by a supplier withexpertise in tailor-made experimentalteam training. The facilitator, whoassisted Coca-Cola in setting up theobjectives of the exercise, guided theparticipants during the programmes,and asked them to analyse theirstrengths and weaknesses in each of theactivities held.The icing on the cake was when thegroup was split into two teams, each witha huge parachute. In the middle of thetwo teams were two large balloons. Theteams’ mission was to successfully throw aballoon to the other team with the helpof the parachute, a task that could neverhave been achieved without cooperationand effective communication among allteam members.Superb professional supportMost staff members had neverparticipated in games like this one andwere impressed by the professionalismof the Hong Kong service suppliers.What they learned from the activity wasthat communication within your ownteam is not enough; you have to payattention to everyone if you want toachieve a common goal.The planning for the event was acomplete success. “Planning only tookone-and-a-half months after thedestination was selected,” says SunnyChan, senior human resources manager.“Coca-Cola China has many employeeswho come from Hong Kong, so we alsogot many valuable internal referrals.”“From a human resources perspective,Hong Kong is much more professionalthan Mainland China, with moreexperience in team-building activities,not to mention the excellent quality ofthe service industry.”“We are all deeply impressed by howthe facilitator incorporate our keycommunication objectives throughoutthe activities in such interesting, inspiringand interactive way.”The Coca-Cola team comprises peoplewho speak English, Putonghua andCantonese, and Chan added: “It is noteasy to find an organiser outside HongKong who can manage these threelanguages fluently.”(from top to bottom)Howard Lam concentrates on the inspiringteam building activities offered by one of theprofessional service suppliers in Hong Kong.“I learned a lot through the group discussionswhen we evaluated the activities,” says Shelly Lin“Hong Kong has everything: food, leisureactivities, shopping and tourist attractions,”says Mandy Chen.Sunny Chan is impressed by how the facilitatormade the activities interesting, inspiring andinteractive.

Perfect balance between business and funCoca-Cola had chosen theHong Kong Disneyland Hotelfor the business conference.Coca-Cola is the world’s top global brand and one ofthe world’s largest beverage companies. It has been inChina for 80 years and has expanded heavily over thepast decade, making China now Coca-Cola’s fourthlargestmarket after the US, Mexico and Brazil.The 60-plus participants on the team-building trip toHong Kong all came from Coca-Cola China’s marketingdepartment, which is based in both Shanghai and Beijing.The group arrived on a Tuesday in November andattended a full-day business conference the next day.Thursday was fully dedicated to the outdoor teambuildingactivities. Then, on Friday, they took aconvenient boat trip from the Hong Kong Disneylandpier directly to Lamma Island, before visiting Victoria Peakfor dinner, where they enjoyed the magnificent harbourview, and the spectacular multimedia light and soundshow, “A Symphony of Lights”. Free activities, such asInformation is correct as of February 2008, but is subject to change without prior notice. The Hong KongTourism Board disclaims any liability for the quality or fitness for the purpose of third-party productsor services, or for any errors or omissions.© Copyright Hong Kong Tourism Board 2008shopping, going to the cinema and visiting Hong KongDisneyland, were also included before the groupdeparted on Saturday.All participants stayed at the Disney’s Hollywood Hotel,and their business meetings were held at the Hong KongDisneyland Hotel. The hotels are close to each otherand connected by frequent shuttle bus services. Some ofthe participants had even bought air tickets for theirfamilies so that they could enjoy Hong Kong Disneylandand Hong Kong’s other tourist attractions.“From a planner’s point of view, you have to find a goodbalance between conference, activities and leisure.Everyone is very happy with the programme, and withall the services and the facilities Hong Kong offers. Wewill definitely come back,” says Sunny Chan, Coca-Cola’ssenior human resources manager responsible forplanning this event.The Hong Kong Tourism Board encourages international corporations to hold their meetings and incentive travel activities in HongKong. For more information about how the Board can assist in these areas, please visit www.DiscoverHongKong.com/mice.02084893768005419Printed for the Hong Kong Tourism Board, English, February 2008 (0541)