The Inspiration: January Blahs!
January can feel a little bland. The post holiday blues mingle with early sunsets and bitter cold which often leads to hibernation. However, we decided to combat that low January energy with a fun filled family & friends retreat at The Neighborhood Hotel Grand Beach!
The weekend kicked off with a family friendly dinner at the newly opened Post Boy restaurant in downtown New Buffalo, MI. The following day included a yoga class and sound bath at Prana/Life Studio in New Buffalo, MI. There was plenty of time built in for fire pit gatherings, games in the communal living room and naps in cozy suites. However, we did turn to The Neighborhood Hotel’s official partner for Corporate & Group Retreats, WCF Events, to create a proper team challenge in order to bring some extra flavor to the weekend! We highly recommend booking a WCF Events’ activation along with your retreat!
The WCF Events Team Challenge
The Team Challenge by WCF Events is one of their most classic events and a super popular choice for a team building experience. The Team Challenge is a fully customizable, rotational activity that’s a great way to create a focused experience that addresses all business (ideal for a corporate retreat) and fun (friends/family retreat) objectives/key takeaways. Participants choose the stations which have all been developed to pinpoint certain pain points like communication, group problem solving, building relationships, innovation and more! Most importantly, each team has fun building better business skills and unlocking their potential as a team!
Team Challenge Schedule – Custom Created for The Neighborhood Hotel Grand Beach Friends & Family Weekend
–Puzzling Planks (the 14 piece wooden puzzle) really focuses on ownership. It is the perfect metaphor for how every employee/friend/family member is a piece of the puzzle and points to how humans work most effectively and efficiently when we know how our pieces attach to those around us. The group had about 15-20 minutes of practice time to get to know the puzzle and come up with a strategic plan on how to assemble it as fast as possible. For reference, the record time is 13 seconds! After the practice, they must stack their boards in a pyramid before the timed final race. Once that puzzle is put together the team erupts in excitement with high fives and cheers to celebrate what feels like a huge accomplishment. The puzzle is harder than people expect so it is so fun to watch how excited teams get when they put it together and how quickly they can get it done when working together!
–Geometric Puzzler is an activity all about perspectives and group problem solving. Teams have to solve as many tangram puzzles as they can in the time allotted. The funky shaped yellow and red puzzle pieces only fit together one way to build the images. This activity is a good mix of nostalgia with numerous chances of success as teams usually complete 2 to 4 puzzles during the station.
–Minute to Win It Bucket Station is essentially adult Bozo buckets! It is fast paced and fun, easily making it a crowd favorite. It was a perfect opportunity to get the kids involved in the activities too! Since we always play this game at our summer picnics with families, it’s a seamless choice for kids and adults.
The Neighborhood Hotel Grand Beach Accommodations
-14 Guest Suites w/ 1-3 Bedrooms // 24 Bedrooms Total // Sleeps 50 People Total
-4 Acres of Indoor & Outdoor Communal Spaces
**Communal Outdoor Fire Pits
**Communal Grills
**Communal Lawn + Deck/Porch
**Communal Pool
**Communal Living Room + Kitchen [Equipped to Host Meetings or Activities]
**Communal Basement Game Room + Bar [w/ TV, Ping Pong Table & Boxing Equipment]
-Proximity to Nature [Lake Michigan + Warren Dunes] & Culture [Wineries, Breweries, Shopping, Hiking & Golf]
-Concierge Services Available to Design Custom Programming & Uniquely Curated Experiences
Guest Suite Amenities:
-In-Unit Fully Equipped Kitchens
-A/C throughout
-In-Unit Smart TV (w/ YouTube TV!)
-In-Unit Yoga Mat
-In-Unit Hairdryer
-In-Unit Moccamaster Coffee Machines w/ Local Beans
-In-Unit Private Patio (select suites)
-In-Unit Malin + Goetz
-In-Unit Bath Towels
-In-Unit Steamer
About The Neighborhood Hotel
The Neighborhood Hotel was founded in 2020 by travel enthusiasts who enjoy spaces that inspire, comfort and fuel. Each suite is well equipped for short and longterm stays (i.e. kitchens, laundry, etc.). The Neighborhood Hotel transforms old buildings with compelling history into well outfitted apartment style hotels that honor the old while representing the now. The vibe is fresh and fun with rooms that are stocked to support everyone from the homebody to the adventurer. The hotels provide a basecamp for the explorer and a sanctuary for the traveler who needs to recharge, reset or just chill. The suites are simple and clean, punctuated with accents that bring the right amount of pop. The Neighborhood Hotel has locations in Chicago: Lincoln Park, Little Italy, West Loop (2026 opening) and Southwest Michigan: New Buffalo and Grand Beach.
Read about TNBHD in: Architectural Digest, Midwest Living and CN Traveler!
Connect with @the.neighborhood.hotel on Instagram and LinkedIn!
