The right time to reconnect and reignite creative spark

After more than two years of remote working, lockdowns, and stress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no question in Brian O’Grady’s mind that his digital marketing team needed an in-person retreat – some dedicated time together to reconnect, have fun, and relax as a group.

“We knew that we needed to get together as soon as possible, not necessarily for business reasons, but more for human reasons,” says O’Grady, founder and principal consultant at Search Warrant, based in Guelph, Ontario. “If you’re going to keep performing at a really high level in a competitive industry, you need more to keep you going. You need that team spirit, that mingling of creative juices. We knew we wanted to collectively let our hair down together.”

For O’Grady and his staff – who work together from various locations in Canada and the United States – finding a central location with both a relaxed and lively atmosphere was essential for the three-day reunion in June. It was not long before the group settled on Kingston, Ontario – a city that sparked excitement among staff for its “marquee attractions” and waterfront location. In addition, Search Warrant counts Tourism Kingston as one of its clients, and the trip was a perfect opportunity to learn more about what the city has to offer.

“We were expecting to have a good time, because of the knowledge we already had  about activities such as the 1,000 Islands cruises, the Kingston Penitentiary tour, and Fort Henry. But what surprised us were all the little things and how well they came together, the little extras that make a group experience so much better,” says O’Grady.

These little things included the ease of travel in downtown Kingston, where everything is walkable, and where journeys on foot take you through historic, limestone-surrounded walkways, along the scenic waterfront, and past exceptional, top-rated restaurants.

“There’s a thriving food scene in Kingston that punches well above its weight,” O’Grady explains. “So while you’re doing that walkaround, you can pop into any number of places and get amazing gelato and incredible tapas, anything you can think of. There are also hidden courtyards and patios to discover – great places to enjoy a drink and live music later in the evening.”

During their time in Kingston, O’Grady’s team stayed at the Delta Hotel on the waterfront, dined at the well-loved Chez Piggy and Pan Chancho restaurants, and enjoyed a tapas food tour featuring five local restaurants, including Dianne’s Fish Shack & Smokehouse, Tango Nuevo, Kingston Brewing Company, Frontenac Club, and Mio Gelato. They also took a sun-soaked cruise through the islands, and appreciated the sombre, enriching experience of touring the Kingston Pen.

To organize the retreat, the Search Warrant team leaned on the expertise of Ted Robinson, Business Events Specialist at Tourism Kingston, who provided the “inside track” they needed to make the event a success.

Robinson specializes in creating signature experiences tailor-made for a group’s particular interests or needs. These experiences can include any number of activities, such as wellness tours linked with local yoga studios and spas, microbrewery and winery tours, learning opportunities with members of the Indigenous community, art tours, and outdoor adventures on the water (canoeing, kayaking) or in the woods (with Treetop Trekking zipline tours).

“When you are building an itinerary from a distance that absolutely needs to go right, it is really valuable to have somebody who is local and knows all the things to see and do, and can give you that first-hand knowledge of what will work and what won’t,” says O’Grady. “Ted was the real glue that brought the itinerary together.”

For O’Grady, it was essential to keep this trip light and fun, focused on reconnection instead of work. There will be other opportunities in the near future to plan retreats that concentrate more heavily on strategic planning and business goals, he says.

“This may not be everyone’s approach, but I wanted to put good people in a good situation and let that germinate and gel and see what happens,” says O’Grady. “After two years of working apart, noses to the grindstone, I wanted this to be about being together. And since the retreat, there has been a positive vibe running through the team – that esprit de corps that you really need has definitely come charging back.”