As corporate travel evolves, teams increasingly seek experiences that go beyond standard activities: meaningful moments that foster connection, creativity, and a sense of place. Few destinations answer this need as naturally as Venice.
Drawing on our local expertise and deep knowledge of the Venetian and Veneto territory, we’ve curated a selection of team-building experiences designed for agencies, event planners, incentive specialists, and corporate clients seeking something beyond the ordinary. These are activities that strengthen communication, foster shared achievement, and turn a company event into an unforgettable moment in the heart of the lagoon!
Traditional Rowing Lessons: Learning the Art of Voga alla Veneta
Few experiences connect participants to Venice’s identity as immediately as learning to row in the traditional Venetian style. Guided by expert instructors, teams stand and row facing forward in handcrafted wooden boats designed for the city’s narrow canals and shallow lagoon. This technique, known as voga alla veneta, has shaped everyday movement across the lagoon for centuries and remains an important expression of local culture.
What the Experience Includes
- Introductory briefing on land covering posture, balance and the function of the forcola, the sculpted wooden oarlock unique to Venice.
- Initial practice with the boat moored, allowing participants to become comfortable with the oar and standing position.
- Gradual navigation through calm canals under the instructor’s guidance at a slow, steady pace.
- Use of traditional flat-bottomed wooden boats designed for stability and suited to beginners.
Why It Works for Corporate Groups
- Encourages communication and coordination: progress depends on a shared rhythm.
- Inclusive for mixed-ability teams: technique rewards balance and attention rather than physical strength.
- Offers a clear metaphor for collaboration and collective alignment.
- Connects participants with an authentic Venetian tradition, adding cultural depth and sense of place.
Group Size and Logistics
- Ideal for small teams; multiple boats or rotating sessions can scale the experience for larger groups.
- Works year-round, with timing adjusted for tide and light conditions.
- Can be combined with a convivial break in a quieter campo or a tasting of classic lagoon flavors to celebrate the group’s achievement.
This blend of physical activity, heritage, and shared accomplishment makes voga alla veneta one of the most effective and memorable team-building experiences available in Venice.
Do you think it's the perfect activity for your team? Get in touch with us to organize your team-building event in Venice.
Mask Painting Workshop: Creativity, Expression, and Shared Identity
Venice’s mask-making tradition is one of the city’s most distinctive artistic heritages. Inside authentic ateliers, corporate groups step into the world of papier-mâché masks and the decorative styles that evolved through centuries of Carnival history. Guided by professional mascherari, participants transform blank masks into unique creations, exploring color, pattern, and texture in a relaxed, collaborative environment that naturally encourages conversation and creativity.
What the Experience Includes
- Introductory explanation of Venetian mask history, traditional models, and the cultural role masks played in the Serenissima.
- Selection of a blank papier-mâché or stucco mask base, depending on the atelier and workshop format.
- Hands-on decoration using paints, metallic finishes, brushes, feathers, ribbons, and other high-quality materials provided on site.
- Step-by-step instruction from a trained artisan who assists with techniques, color combinations, and final detailing.
- Completion of a personalized mask that participants can take home as a handcrafted souvenir.
Why It Works for Corporate Groups
- Encourages creativity and self-expression in a low-pressure, enjoyable setting.
- Helps break down hierarchies: everyone begins with the same blank canvas and works side-by-side.
- Fosters open conversation and collaborative energy, ideal after meetings or strategy sessions.
- Provides a cultural connection to Venice’s living artisan traditions, adding depth and authenticity to the group’s time in the city.
- Offers a tactile, memorable experience with a lasting keepsake.
Group Size and Logistics
- Suitable for small to mid-sized groups; larger teams can be accommodated through rotating sessions or multiple ateliers.
- Works well as a stand-alone activity or paired with a guided walk, aperitif, or creative challenge.
- Requires minimal physical effort, making it ideal for groups seeking a calm, restorative activity between meetings.
- Flexible scheduling allows it to be integrated into multi-day incentive programs, pre-dinner gatherings, or creative afternoon breaks.
This combination of artistic exploration, cultural heritage, and shared expression makes mask painting one of the most engaging and versatile team-building experiences available in Venice.
Do you think it's the perfect activity for your team? Get in touch with us to organize your team-building event in Venice.
Murano Glass-Blowing Experience: Precision and Team Focus
A short transfer from Venice brings participants to Murano, the island renowned for its centuries-old glassmaking tradition. Here, master glassmakers guide small groups into the world of molten glass, offering corporate teams a rare opportunity to understand - and safely try - one of the most demanding crafts in the lagoon. The environment itself is compelling: glowing furnaces, the rhythm of practiced gestures, and the remarkable transformation of raw material into shape through skill and concentration.
What the Experience Includes
- Introduction to Murano’s glassmaking heritage and the essential tools, materials, and techniques used in traditional workshops.
- Demonstration by a glass master showing how molten glass is gathered, shaped, and blown using controlled movements and precise timing.
- Hands-on exercises suited to beginners, such as helping shape small decorative elements or participating in simple blowing tasks under close supervision.
- Step-by-step guidance focused on safety, posture, and technique, ensuring participants can engage comfortably within the limits of beginner-level practice.
- Opportunity to observe additional stages of the craft, including color application or finishing touches, depending on the atelier’s setup.
Why It Works for Corporate Groups
- Encourages focus, attention, and disciplined teamwork: even simple tasks require calm coordination.
- Highlights the value of expertise and trust - essential elements in both craftsmanship and corporate environments.
- Offers an inspiring metaphor for strategic collaboration: when knowledge, timing, and collective effort align, results become exceptional.
- Provides access to a craft that is rare, visually striking, and deeply rooted in Venetian culture.
- Creates a memorable, high-impact experience that feels premium and exclusive.
Group Size and Logistics
- Best suited for small groups due to safety requirements and the intimate nature of the craft.
- Larger teams can be accommodated through rotating sessions, parallel demonstrations, or alternating workshop and observation periods.
- Requires coordination with the chosen atelier to align scheduling, group flow, and experience level.
- Works well as a morning or afternoon activity, easily combined with a guided visit of Murano or a private lunch on the island.
This blend of precision, heritage, and shared concentration makes glass-blowing one of the most powerful and high-value team-building experiences available to corporate groups visiting Venice.
Do you think it's the perfect activity for your team? Get in touch with us to organize your team-building event in Venice.
Blind Wine Tasting in the Veneto Hills: Shared Discovery Beyond the Lagoon
Extending a team-building program beyond Venice opens a window onto another striking dimension of the region: the gently rolling landscapes and vineyards of the Veneto hills. The Prosecco Hills to the north and the Euganean Hills to the south offer scenic settings, recognized for their wine culture and rural charm. For corporate groups, these areas provide a relaxed counterpoint to meetings and urban activities, creating space for connection, conversation, and shared discovery.
What the Experience Includes
- Guided blind tasting featuring a curated selection of local wines, allowing teams to compare aromas, flavors, and textures without label influence.
- Introduction to Veneto wine traditions, grape varieties, and terroir, tailored to participants with or without prior wine knowledge.
- Structured tasting rounds where groups collaborate to identify characteristics or guess varietals, adding a playful and competitive element.
- Optional vineyard walk or panoramic tour showcasing the landscape and cultivation methods of the chosen wine area.
- Possibility to include a cellar visit, learning about production techniques, aging processes, and regional winemaking practices.
- Opportunity for a countryside lunch or light pairing session with cheeses, cured meats, or seasonal local products.
Why It Works for Corporate Groups
- Encourages teamwork through shared sensory analysis and collective decision-making.
- Offers a relaxed, convivial atmosphere that promotes open conversation and informal bonding.
- Appeals to a wide range of participants, regardless of wine expertise, making it inclusive and accessible.
- Provides a refreshing change of pace after workshops or meetings, helping groups reset and reconnect outside the city environment.
- Highlights an authentic dimension of the Veneto region beyond Venice, enriching a multi-day corporate program with territorial variety.
Group Size and Logistics
- Well suited for medium to large groups, with tasting rooms and estates able to accommodate different capacities.
- Easily organized as a half-day or full-day excursion with private coach transfers from Venice.
- Works in most seasons, with spring and autumn offering particularly comfortable conditions for outdoor vineyard walks.
- Can be integrated into incentive itineraries, meeting breaks, or closing events to end a program on a high, convivial note.
This blend of sensory discovery, regional culture, and relaxed group interaction makes blind wine tasting in the Veneto hills an ideal experience for corporate teams seeking a memorable moment beyond the lagoon.
Do you think it's the perfect activity for your team? Get in touch with us to organize your team-building event in Venice.
How to Combine These Activities for Maximum Impact
Corporate events in Venice work best when they flow between discovery, collaboration, and moments of rest. Here are examples of how agencies or planners might structure a cohesive program:
Half-Day Format
- Start with a traditional rowing lesson on calm canals
- Follow with a mask-painting workshop to encourage creativity and shared conversation
Full-Day Format
- Morning glass-blowing workshop in Murano
- Lagoon-side lunch
- Afternoon rowing session or a tailored cultural activity in the historic center
Multi-Day Incentive
- Day 1: Arrival, welcome aperitif, light cultural walk
- Day 2: Team rowing + afternoon artisan workshop
- Day 3: Wine experience in the Veneto hills + gala dinner
Each format can be adapted according to group size, meeting schedules, or venue requirements.
Practical Considerations for Corporate Groups in Venice
- Activities such as rowing and artisan workshops work best in small groups; for larger groups, sessions can be staggered or structured in rotations.
- Murano glass-blowing must always be arranged with certified workshops to ensure safety and authentic craftsmanship.
- For any lagoon-based activity, it is advisable to check tide conditions and plan transfers with sufficient flexibility.
- Wine experiences outside Venice require coordinated transport; travel times typically range from one to two hours depending on the selected region.
- Many of these experiences run year-round, but spring and autumn provide the most comfortable climate for outdoor sessions.
If you want to plan a stress-free team-building activity in Venice, Venice Incoming is the perfect partner for you. Contact us for a tailor-made proposal that fits your needs!
Plan Your Next Italian Adventure with a Trusted Local Partner
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