Beyond the Screen: How to Build Stronger Teams and Partnerships Through Offline Events

In a global business environment, remote collaboration has become the default — both within teams and between long-term partners. But while digital tools help us stay connected, in-person meetings still offer something irreplaceable.

In this article, we explore the business value of offline gatherings in remote-first settings, share examples from industry leaders, reflect on our own experience at EvenBet Gaming — and offer practical tips for companies planning to bring their teams and partners together in real life.

Why Remote Teams Still Struggle With Connection

Distributed work may offer flexibility and global reach — but it also brings a challenge that’s harder to quantify: isolation. For fully remote teams, the absence of informal interaction isn’t always a problem — but it can become a structural weakness if not addressed thoughtfully. Without intentional moments for connection, teams risk drifting into disconnection, even when the work gets done.

By 2025, over half of full-time remote employees still say they “never get together” with colleagues — not for team bonding, not even for social events. For many, years can pass without a single handshake or shared moment outside the screen. Hybrid teams, by contrast, experience significantly fewer barriers to in-person connection. This stark divide highlights a key vulnerability of the fully remote model: it often leaves people professionally productive — and personally disconnected.

That disconnection has real consequences. In a 2024 study of remote employees, 1 in 5 reported a decline in their mental health, citing isolation and lack of social contact as the main contributors. Most respondents also shared that they don’t feel connected to their co-workers or broader community, painting a picture of emotional distance that no productivity tool can fix.

And the business world has taken note. According to a Harvard Business Review Analytic Services survey, 70% of respondents agreed that remote work makes connection harder — but 88% believe that in-person meetings are key to overcoming that gap. Business leaders echoed this sentiment with data: meeting face-to-face

• boosts team collaboration (60%),
• strengthens company culture (55%),
• improves engagement (54%).

For 46% of surveyed leaders, in-person interaction also enhanced inclusion across geographically dispersed teams.

In short, remote work solves for efficiency, but not for empathy. To keep teams strong, face-to-face experiences still matter — not as nostalgia, but as a necessary ingredient for long-term cohesion. Whether it’s a retreat, an offsite, or a full-company meetup, time spent together builds trust and shared understanding — the foundation of any great team.

Why Face-to-Face Still Matters

Remote work solves for flexibility — but not for connection. As Gartner notes, human interactions can boost collaboration by 23%, yet they’ve become scarce in distributed teams.

Team retreats help close that gap. A few days together builds familiarity, softens communication, and improves daily collaboration. People trust more, share more, and align faster.

And the business case is clear:

• Retention: Employees who feel isolated are more likely to leave. Retreats create belonging — and that drives loyalty.
• Onboarding: In-person time accelerates learning. Over half of business leaders say it’s more effective for integrating new hires than virtual-only formats.
• Productivity: 79% of executives say in-person meetings lead to better collaboration. Real conversations spark fresh ideas — and deeper team alignment.

In short, a well-timed meetup can recharge a remote team and deliver real business returns.

How Remote-First Leaders Make It Work

For remote-first companies, in-person meetups aren’t optional — they’re part of the model. Here’s how a few industry leaders approach it:

• GitLab brings its fully remote team together annually at “GitLab Contribute.” In 2024, over 1,800 people met in Las Vegas for a week of talks, workshops, and informal bonding. These gatherings are core to the company’s async culture — it’s easier to collaborate online when you’ve once shared a meal offline.
• Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, has held “Grand Meetups” since 2006. What started with 8 people now connects hundreds from around the world each year. Leaders see it as essential for reinforcing culture in a fully distributed setup.
• Zapier has run biannual retreats since its early days. From strategy sessions to campfires, these meetups help the team build trust, solve big problems, and stay aligned. As Zapier puts it, “some things are just better done in person.”

These companies prove that even the most remote teams benefit from moments spent together — and they plan for it by design.

Designing for Connection: Why We Brought Everyone Together

At EvenBet Gaming, we deeply understand the value of live interaction — both within our remote team and with our long-term partners. When face-to-face connection is rare, it becomes priceless. That’s why in 2025, we organized our second full-scale offline gathering — and this time, we expanded its scope beyond the team.

This was not just a team retreat. It was a seven-day experience, split into two distinct chapters:

• The first two days were dedicated to our partners.
• The following five days focused entirely on our global team.

The entire event took place in Belek, Turkey — a location we chose for its balance of comfort, accessibility, and logistics.

Why We Did It

The goal was clear: to create a sense of unity. Across time zones, languages, and screens, we work with brilliant people — but rarely together in one place. This event was designed to change that. We didn’t want it to feel like a business trip. We wanted everyone — partners and teammates — to feel part of something shared.

From the beginning, we approached this event as a strategic initiative, not just a celebration.

The Reality Behind the Scenes

Organizing a retreat of this scale is rarely as glamorous as it looks. Behind every group photo is a spreadsheet, a timeline, and a hundred micro-decisions. We began planning in March — and didn’t stop until the last person flew home.

The first major challenge: finding the right venue. We evaluated multiple locations across several countries, factoring in:

• Ease of travel: minimal layovers and visa-free access for as many people as possible (our team spans 20+ countries).
• Quality of stay: a place that balanced comfort, facilities, and privacy.
• Weather and timing: warm enough for the sea, but not overlapping with any major industry events or conferences.

Belek emerged as the clear winner — and the rest of the planning followed.

Planning with Intention

Choosing dates wasn’t just about weather — it was about finding a window when no team was traveling for industry events, main company deadlines, and when most people weren’t on vacation. To make this work, we had to lock in the schedule months in advance, to give everyone time to prepare and coordinate personal plans.

Then came logistics: how many rooms, which airports, who’s flying from where. We mapped every journey, every name, every visa, every transfer. No detail was too small. The end goal wasn’t just getting people to a resort — it was ensuring they felt expected, cared for, and part of the same story.

Even Better Retreat: Strengthening Partner Collaboration in Person

Dmitry Starostenkov, CEO at EvenBet Gaming:

At EvenBet Gaming, our core values — Top-Notch Quality, Trust in Action, and Reliable Partnership — go hand in hand. Together, they shape our approach: striving for excellence, taking responsibility, and building partnerships that stand the test of time. And personal meetings are a key part of creating this foundation.

While we work remotely with most of our partners day-to-day, we’ve never treated personal communication as secondary. That’s why we consistently make the effort to connect at major industry events, bringing not just our sales and leadership team, but also the specialists who work hands-on with partner projects every day.

The retreat was a natural next step in this approach. We wanted to create space for open, honest dialogue — to listen deeply, explore new opportunities, and find fresh ways to move forward together.

Over the course of two days, we had the chance to talk not just about roadmaps and features, but about shared goals, long-term vision, and what a truly productive partnership can look like in the years ahead.

From Remote Coordination to Real Conversation

The Even Better Retreat brought together our partners from across the world for two days of focused dialogue, planning, and connection. For many, this was the first face-to-face conversation after months or even years of remote collaboration.

Our goal was simple: to build shared understanding — not just about current projects, but about future expectations, priorities, and opportunities. The agenda was shaped around what matters most for sustainable growth on both sides:

• Where the product is going
• How our service evolves
• What technical improvements and support are needed
• What strategic goals our partners are pursuing next

To ensure depth and clarity, the EvenBet team was represented by both top management and hands-on experts — including technical specialists, account managers, and analysts — the very people who help bring our partners’ platforms to life every day.

Thoughtfully Structured, Personally Guided

Throughout the event, each partner was paired with a dedicated EvenBet buddy — a team member who stayed close, answered questions, helped navigate the schedule, and made sure every detail ran smoothly. No one had to check calendars or hunt for meeting spots. The goal was to remove friction, so conversations could happen naturally and focus stayed on substance.

Sessions were split into three thematic blocks:

• Product development
• Service and operations
• Technical deep dives

Each was designed to foster open discussion, surface feedback, and align future plans — not in slides, but in real conversation.

Informal Time That Built Real Trust

Beyond the agenda, we created space for what can’t be scheduled: informal connection. From sports and outdoor activities to a relaxed gala dinner and evening party, we made sure the energy stayed human — and fun. Yes, there was even a friendly golf competition with prizes. Because sometimes the best insights emerge not in a meeting, but on the course.

The setting helped. With the sea in the background and no rush to jump to the next call, our partners and team had time to slow down, talk deeply, and get to know each other beyond job titles and email threads. It wasn’t just a meeting — it was a true retreat.

What We Gained — Together

The feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive. Partners appreciated not only the hospitality and attention to detail — but the care we showed for their goals, roadmap, and users. The event became a touchpoint for renewed trust and alignment.

And we’re already seeing the impact. In the weeks since the retreat, we’ve noticed:

• Faster, more confident decision-making from partner teams
• Deeper understanding of our product’s capabilities
• Smoother collaboration and shorter iteration cycles

For us, it’s evidence that time invested offline pays off online — in clarity, in momentum, and in shared results.

Even Better Fest: Creating a Shared Experience for the Team

After the partner retreat, it was time to shift the focus inward. Over 200 EvenBet Gaming employees from around the world arrived in Belek for a five-day team experience we called Even Better Fest.

This was more than just a company offsite — it was a full-scale festival, designed to bring everyone together around a shared culture, shared values, and a shared beat.

Dmitry Starostenkov, CEO at EvenBet Gaming:

We crossed the 200-employee mark earlier this year — and during periods of rapid growth, trust becomes more important than ever.

Trust is something we build through daily actions — not just by completing tasks, but by how we communicate, support each other, and work together.

An offline gathering creates the kind of environment where people really listen. It helps reinforce connections across the team — and across functions — in ways that day-to-day remote work can’t fully replicate.

A Festival, Not Just a Corporate Trip

Planning an international event for over 200 people isn’t a sprint — it’s a marathon. From travel logistics to creative production, we spent months preparing every detail. The goal? To create a single space where everyone could feel included, energized, and connected.

We started with the idea and identity for the fest. Our design team developed a full branding concept: merch, stage visuals, Telegram stickers, digital signage, photo zones, presentation templates, and more. We even created a festival emoji pack — because even coordination messages deserve good vibes.

The Jungle Concept

Our theme was The Jungle — as a metaphor for our values we presented this year. We may live and work across 20+ countries, but we thrive by following a shared code: values, support, mutual respect.

Key activities were built around this idea:

• Jungle Party: the headline evening event, with live DJ sets from our own team
• Jungle Run: an open-air teambuilding challenge designed to break the ice and build bonds

Daria Fot, HR Director at EvenBet Gaming:

Reliable Partnership and Trust in Action were the core values we focused on while designing the festival activities — and we took it a step further with our main event, the Jungle Party, built entirely around our internal ‘laws of the jungle’ values.

The team games, strategy sessions, and group challenges gave us space to actively practice trust, partnership, and collaboration — not in theory, but in a setting that felt natural to how we work.

From an HR perspective, this was also a rare chance to observe how people interact in person: where the team’s communication flows smoothly, and where there’s room to grow.

Offline meetups create the kind of space where people open up. And that’s the foundation of any real culture — the part you can’t build through video calls alone.

Work Hard, Learn Together

Even Better Fest wasn’t just about celebration — it was also about making the most of being in one place. When over 200 teammates gather offline, it creates a unique opportunity not only to connect, but to focus on real work, strategy, and growth.

One of the core activities was a business simulation game, designed specifically around cross-functional collaboration. The scenarios mimicked real situations our teams face in daily operations — encouraging participants to step into unfamiliar roles, understand how other departments think, and approach problems strategically together. It wasn’t just fun — it was practical, immersive learning that deepened mutual understanding across the company.

We also dedicated a full day to business updates and live discussions. These included:

• Company-wide sessions covering shared goals, major milestones, challenges, and what’s ahead
• Team-level meetings focused on current processes, pain points, and how we can improve the way we work
• Internal knowledge sessions where teams exchanged market insights, discussed trends, and shared learnings from different regions

These conversations would never be the same over a screen. In person, discussions became deeper, more candid — and often sparked immediate decisions or fresh ideas.

It’s easy to think of offsites as just parties, games, or sunsets by the sea — and yes, those moments matter too. But that’s not the whole picture. For us, this retreat was also a chance to have strategic conversations that remote work often dilutes. We used the time fully — to align, to improve, and to move forward, together.

Connecting Through Play and Music

To help people connect, we introduced Jungle Bingo: a Telegram bot assigned each participant three random names. Your mission? Find them, ask five questions, take a selfie, and upload it. It was fun — and surprisingly effective for getting people out of their comfort zones.

And of course, there was movement: morning runs, yoga, volleyball, tennis, ping pong. The goal wasn’t just fitness — it was to give people more spaces to find shared interests and real conversation.

Soundtrack of the Team

From the high-energy Jungle Party — our headline event with full festival staging and lighting — to the relaxed Acoustic Night with live guitar and group singing, we aimed to create moments that felt both big and personal. Of course, karaoke turned out to be one of the most in-demand activities.

Our DJs? None other than Ivan Shumilov, Regional Head of Sales for Asia, and Dimitri Marutiani, Account Manager — who not only played at the main party, but also hosted our Morning Coffee Rave the next day. Nothing like a dance floor at 9 a.m. to reset your work-life boundaries.

 Dimitri Marutiani, Account Manager at EvenBet Gaming:

This fest was a great chance to reconnect with the team — and finally meet many of the new faces that joined us recently. There were so many standout moments: from light, spontaneous chats to structured networking sessions where we exchanged ideas and shared experiences.

One of my personal highlights was the DJ set with Ivan. We put together a mix in different styles, trying to capture the energy of the evening and lift everyone’s mood. Judging by the crowd — it worked! The atmosphere was warm, open, and full of drive.

What stuck with me most was how energizing it felt to see colleagues not just as messenger avatars, but as real people. The company is growing, and it shows — more talent, more personality, more people you genuinely want to collaborate with.

There were laughs, meaningful conversations, and a lot of mutual support — the kind of moments that remind you why working in a team can be truly inspiring.

What We Learned

After the event, we asked everyone for feedback — what worked, what didn’t, and what we missed. The insights were as heartening as they were helpful:

• Clear and timely communication made people feel supported and well-informed
• Face-to-face contact significantly improved team dynamics, especially around problem-solving and mutual understanding
• And on a lighter note: we’re a musical company — karaoke, acoustic jams, and DJ sets all scored among the top-rated moments

Tatyana Chernysheva, Account Manager at EvenBet Gaming:

It was legen—wait for it—dary! As someone who works fully remotely, this retreat was the one chance to see everyone in person — and I had been looking forward to it for months.

The organization was spot-on: info, logistics, travel — everything ran smoothly without chaos.

It was amazing to catch up with familiar faces and finally meet so many new ones.

The jungle-themed party? Absolute highlight. Everyone looked wildly good.

And the photos… pure love. Way beyond what I expected.

Lessons Learned: Tips for Organizing a Multi-Day Corporate Event

Planning a cross-border event — whether for your partners, your team, or both — is a complex, high-stakes project. Here’s what we learned from organizing Even Better Retreat & Fest, and what we’d recommend to anyone preparing something similar:

• Start early, especially with partners. Confirm participation as far in advance as possible. Ask where they’re flying from, how many are coming, and whether they’ll need visas.
• Overcommunicate. Never assume things are clear — always confirm that partners or team members understand the plan. Ask clarifying questions even when you think everything’s obvious.
• Plan for change. Headcount can shift. Always have a backup plan for accommodation, transfers, and agenda — whether numbers go up or down.
• Double-check everything. Mistakes in names, dates, or documents happen — sometimes from the participant, sometimes in booking systems. Only a second layer of review will catch them before they become costly.
• Make questions unnecessary. Your job as organizer is to remove confusion before it appears. Communicate clearly, even about things that seem self-explanatory. What’s obvious to you may be new for someone else.
• Remember: travel experience varies. Some people are exhibition regulars. Others may be flying internationally for the first time. Offer step-by-step guidance — from buying insurance to passing airport security. Encourage group travel and peer support.
• Set up a shared info channel. We used a Telegram group for updates, reminders, schedule changes, and casual conversation. It reduced pressure on the organizers — participants helped each other stay informed.
• Stay in touch during travel. Track team movements from departure to arrival. If something goes wrong — like a transfer going to the wrong hotel (yes, that happened!) — fast communication makes it fixable, and even memorable.

Conclusion

In a remote-first world, live connection isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s a strategic asset. When teams and partners meet in person, they build trust faster, communicate more openly, and align more effectively. A thoughtfully planned offline event can spark the kind of momentum, clarity, and shared ownership that remote workflows alone often struggle to achieve.

And most importantly — it reminded us once again just how strong, talented, and connected we are as the Even Better team.