What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. More Asian corporates are humming the tune, showing willingness to embrace some adventure in teambuilding programmes

Reporting by Xinyi Liang-Pholsena, Mimi Hudoyo, S Puvaneswary and Paige Lee Pei Qi. Written by Raini Hamdi

As they say, the higher the risk, the greater the reward, but most Asian corporates are still shying away from ‘not-for-sissies’ types of teambuilding primarily due to safety concerns. However, many are beginning to put more action into teambuilding programmes, a sign they are willing to push the limits a notch further.

For some, cooking together or fun obstacle courses on the beach are making way for something more physical. From dragon boat racing and white water rafting, to jungle trekking and a hiking challenge, corporates are no longer averse to “manicured” adrenaline-pumping activities, said Laurent Kuenzle, CEO, Asian Trails, referring to organised outings that are by no means hard-core adventure, but are nevertheless challenging.

Explaining this further, Ferdinand Tabaluyan, who is in charge of Adventure Indonesia Outbound Division and Extreme Expedition, said: “To us, activities like flying fox, white water rafting or jet skiing are skilled games or adrenaline challenges, while adventure is putting participants in extraordinary environments and facilities with significant outdoor and natural elements. For example, participants need to build their own tents and hunt for/cook their own food or else there is no shelter or food.

“When a company requests a training programme with medium or hard-core adventure elements, it is usually a continuation of a number of programmes done earlier, i.e., they have gone through ranks of training and reached the advanced level.”

Kuenzle said Asian groups, particularly the more mature markets such as Hong Kong and Singapore, and MNCs doing incentives with focus on teambuilding, are becoming more active and do not “only eat, shop, enjoy nightlife and do a bit of sightseeing”.

Tour East’s group vice president of sales and marketing, Judy Lum, too, noted that most Asian markets are asking for teambuilding activities they have not done before – not necessarily adventurous, “just different and more activity-based”, she said. Before, Asian professionals tend to prefer being pampered when on business, meeting or incentive, said Lum.

Holly Richter, director of ExoAdventure, Exotissimo Travel Group, said the company is receiving more requests from Asia for corporate challenges, be it cycling from Saigon to Nha Trang, or adventure racing through Chiang Mai, Bagan or Luang Prabang.

“Japan supports running challenges. Indonesia targets cycling challenges. Singaporeans simply love sports – water sports, cycling, running, etc. Hong Kong requests trekking, cycling and running. Notably, we just received our first request for a cycling challenge for a Vietnamese corporation,” said Richter.

One reason could be that baby-boomers are starting to make way for Gen-Y executives, while a healthy lifestyle with regular exercising has caught on in today’s world.

Noor M Ismail, head, sales & marketing, Asian Overland Services Tours & Travel and AOS Conventions & Events, said while baby-boomers prefer activities that are more mentally than physically challenging, companies with a lot of Gen Y’ers and male employees are more willing to try new ideas such as swimming with sharks or survival cooking in the jungle.

Saini Vermeulen, head of international sales, Panorama Tours Malaysia, believed that an increase in the number of mergers & acquisitions in Asia also facilitates the use of medium to high-adrenaline activities to integrate staff.

Typically, action-packed teambuilding programmes are geared not so much towards rank-and-file but middle to senior and C-level executives of a company, with the objective of instilling a resilient corporate culture where executives are able to confront and overcome fears and operate outside comfort zones.

“We find active sessions really important to keep our team close,” said Trevor McDonald, managing director of Mango Tree Worldwide, based in Singapore, who has done a few marathons in the past where staff did different distances and is now looking at going to an adventure resort next.

“It’s of the utmost importance to get everyone out of the box, see who people really are and help them develop (through adventure teambuilding). I myself did many personal development courses in Canada and they helped me become who I am today. In Asia we have less opportunity for these and I believe that it’s important for staff development.

“We have grown to over 70 restaurants worldwide and our staff count has increased accordingly, so to find activities that bring them together and increase personal bonding is key to our success in the fast-paced restaurant business when there is a lot of pressure and reliance on colleagues.”

Observed Exotissimo’s Richter: “It is not uncommon for top CEOs to be avid cyclists, marathon runners or tri-athletes. The qualities that make them successful in business also hone them as athletes. Dedication, determination, perseverance, humility, good sportsmanship and the drive to be successful are a few qualities developed through adventure challenges. Corporate challenges develop these same characteristics in their work force. They bring teams together beyond the work place.“

Part of the reason why Asians are more willing to try new and more adventurous teambuilding is also because they are becoming more familiar with it while excellent safety records with these exercises bolster their confidence, said Andrew Chua, founder of Focus Adventure, Singapore.

Adventure operators interviewed report virtually zero accident in the years they have been in operation, but admit that the fear of putting their team at risk is what holds back corporations to embrace more adventurous teambuilding.

“The biggest myth (about adventure teambuilding) is that it is dangerous,” said Sobek Bali’s CEO, Eelco Koudijs. “As an adventure activity provider, we minimise the risk by proper staff training and SOPs, and proper judgement of the client’s capability, but the main problem I see is that clients cannot judge which provider is good and safe, which is not.”

The other big myth is that it is only suitable for males or young people, added Nomad Adventure Malaysia director Chan Yuen-Li. “Often people in their 40s or 50s are much better prepared for adventure activities because they have mental resilience. Women also do well in adventure sports because balance, poise and collaboration are more important than brute strength or fearlessness,” Chan said.

While adventure operators have their work cut out to dispel such myths, DMCs believe destinations too have to put in more effort if they want to see a bigger market share.

Said Adventure Indonesia’s Tabaluyan: “Indonesia has unity in diversity, we have so much nature and culture. But what the country needs is better infrastructure, consistent regulations across the country and a well-managed environment (i.e., cleanliness and sanitation). And it should eliminate high airfares (to travel between destinations in the country), which are due to the different regulations each regional government applies. This has made adventure travel in Indonesia more expensive than in other countries.”

Malaysia, on the other hand, needs to upgrade some of the “extremely basic” lodges, said Asian Overland’s Noor. On Noor’s wish list are also more venues in Malaysia that are incentive and team-building friendly, and for certain public venues to be more open to innovative ideas when DMCs want to use their facilities for teambuilding.

Added Panorama Malaysia’s Saini: “We need more adventure parks in the country and these have to be well maintained by the venue providers. These parks should also keep up with the latest trends and needs of clients, otherwise they will become outdated. The venue providers should also work with DMCs in marketing and promotions.”

– Meet the adventure operators, turn to pages 22-24

Meet the adventure creators

Nomad Adventure, Malaysia

Founded in 1994, Nomad Adventure played a pivotal role in developing outdoor activities like rock climbing, white water kayaking, rafting and adventure racing in Malaysia. S. Puvaneswary speaks to director Chan Yuen-Li 

How do you assess the client’s ability to do an adventure? Firstly we need to understand what the client has in mind when they want an adventure programme. To some companies, an outdoor programme is when participants stroll around a park in khakis and polo shirts; others envisage staff neck deep in rivers and sleeping in tents. We need to understand the client’s expectations and objectives first more than their physical ability.

We adhere to the principle, Challenge by Choice, so we never force participants to measure up to our mark of what is “adventurous”. We believe that it is our job to design a challenge that is appropriate for the client, because if they do not willingly make that choice there will be no learning, only coercion. (That said) we aim to stretch the limits of participants and get them to push through their perceived boundaries, so they go away feeling, ‘If I can do this, I can do anything’.

Have you ever said no? Yes – when clients have unrealistic expectations of logistics and timings. Typically, this is when they want to put through too many people in a too short a timeframe for everyone to get an appropriate safety briefing, which includes demonstration, practice and proper use of equipment.

How do you prep up the team before the big event? Any training required? Usually everyone needs to know what type of clothing and footwear to bring, so we need to give them an idea of the type of accommodation and facilities. For 99 per cent of our programmes, no pre-training is required.

What safety measures/insurance are in place? Nomad Adventure has two independent audits every year to ensure all our procedures, equipment, facilities and staff qualifications are in accordance to safety standards, and to our ISO 9001:2008 certification and Professional Ropes Course Association accreditation. Apart from this we have continual staff training on First Aid, rescue skills, risk assessment, group management and facilitation skills.

We offer personal accident insurance for our participants and the company also has public liability insurance.

How many accidents have occurred and why? In the last five years, out of around 30,000 participants we had five injury cases requiring medical attention: a participant who suffered three cuts by slipping or falling unexpectedly, another who lost a tooth because she was accidentally hit in the mouth by another participant’s paddle, and another who dislocated her shoulder from a normal activity due a pre-existing injury.

The majority of cases actually happen after the activities, during down times when people are relaxing or playing around. Our data is similar to the majority of outdoor adventure camps around the world.

What risks do you bear? Outdoor sports are perceived as high-risk activities and perhaps because of that, the level of responsibility of providers is higher. In a study of several thousand sports centres in the UK, researchers found that indoor football was seven times more likely to have injuries than climbing artificial walls. Yet operators of futsal courts are not required to have any safety precautions in place, whereas climbing wall operators are deemed responsible for any accident that happens.

Are prices thus higher?  Good equipment that is certified, and safety training and facilitation expertise, are expensive. However we keep our prices affordable by providing basic and eco-friendly accommodation.

Is it a profitable business? If you are motivated by profit, then this is not the business for you, However, Nomad Adventure is a successful business and provides employment and growth opportunities for our staff. It is tremendously rewarding to see people learn and grow, and develop an appreciation for the natural world and for each other.

What are the pros and cons of running this business? Con – getting clients to appreciate what we do, especially for safety and learning experience. There are clients who would rather spend their budget on air-conditioned comfort than safety or quality learning. In Malaysia, awareness is poor as to what safety standards actually mean.

What rewards do companies gain from adventure teambuilding?

There are two kinds of risk: perceived risk and actual risk. Our adventure-based learning programmes are effective because we work in the realm of perceived risk.

We confront FEAR – False Evidence that Appears Real. This kind of fear is mostly a fabrication of our egos or beliefs that keep us imprisoned. Overcome this unhealthy fear and we will wake up to news perspectives and possibilities.

Sobek Bali, Indonesia

Caldera Sobek is group of companies which specialises in teambuilding and corporate adventure programmes such as white water rafting and cycling, and experiential travel programmes, for Indonesian companies and international clients, especially in Bali. The group has its own highly trained staff to execute programmes but uses outside providers for specialised activities for example, canyoning in Bali, where it partners French-owned Adventure and Spirit. Mimi Hudoyo speaks to CEO, Eelco Koudijs.

How do you assess a client’s ability to do an adventure? Normally we use a questionnaire to learn how experienced the company and individual participants are, including the type of training sessions they have done before and if there were any problems. We ask for relevant medical records.

Have you ever said no? We have refused people on rafting trips and other adventure activities because of asthma, heart problems or broken bones history. Sometimes we get the information beforehand and our doctor at our resort in Sukabumi, West Java evaluates a participant before the start of the programme. But at times we only find out that a person has a health problem after they arrive in camp, through our observation.

How do you prep up the team before the  big event? Any training required? For long activities like mountain climbing or bike touring we give them a training schedule. But for a lot of activities there is no real physical preparation needed.

What safety measures/insurance are in place? We have a doctor and paramedic joining us for the activities. All our staff are trained in First Aid and CPR. We have our swiftwater rescue teams. And of course we have insurance for all clients; for international clients it is up to US$100,000.

How many accidents have occurred? Why? In 25 years of operation, Sobek has a zero accident track record.

With white water rafting there are certain safety procedures to avoid accidents. For instance if it is raining hard and the water level is rising and gets too high for safe rafting, we have to cancel the activity. This can happen even when we are already on the river, when the water level rises faster than expected and we have to evacuate. This is always hard for the client. They have been in the bus for a couple of hours, only to find that the activity has to be cancelled. However, a standard procedure is a standard procedure.

Having said that, light incidents like sprained ankles and bruises are normal. Long fingernails are a big problem for rafting – while paddling, they can ‘hit’ the raft and come off completely.

What risks do you bear?  People who do not inform us of their health problems are the worst. Also, there are clients who want extreme programmes without really considering participants’ (physical condition). We always have to be ready to change a programme.

Are prices thus higher? No, but if a client wants something custom-made, we need a lot of time to create it and that will be reflected in the pricing.

Is it a profitable business? Not extremely profitable, but it’s alright, we do it because we like it. We love the outdoors, we love training people and we love to see the results of our training.

What are the pros and cons of running this business? Pros – we have to be constantly creative and constantly improve our programmes through evaluations and feedback from customers. Cons – we depend on manpower and equipment, which are our biggest costs. Training staff until they are competent takes a long time and training is seasonal.

What rewards do companies gain from adventure teambuilding? For the individual, personal development. For teambuilding, it depends on the internal follow-up by the company itself. Does it set up a mentoring and coaching system to take maximum advantage of the training? We can help them with the follow-up to make sure that what is learned will be applied. Some clients are serious about this, but a lot only want to finish their training budget or say they don’t have the time.

Our experience is that even though people make a commitment during training session, most of it disappears after two to three weeks. So a follow-up should start shortly after the training.

Asia Ability, Singapore

Established in 1996, Asia Ability has offices in Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Viet-nam, and also holds regular events in Australia, Hong Kong, China, the Philippines and Indonesia.

Each of its team programmes falls under one of eight abilities – Activeability, Businessability, Createability, Exploreability, Innovateability, Interactability, Responsability and Rhythmability. Paige Lee Pei Qi speaks to managing director David Powell

How do you assess a client’s ability to do an adventure? The key part of the event design process is to align the desire, preferences, profile of participants and their physical ability to the proposed team adventure activity. Once the programme and activities are finalised, and the participants are selected by the client, each individual would be requested to provide a brief medical history and any specific dietary requirements.

Have you ever said no? We have indeed declined clients who have requested specific adventure activities for their teams. Safety is Asia Ability’s top and a non-negotiable priority and if we do not believe that a particular activity, venue, external provider or weather conditions will allow the event to be conducted, we will decline, although in most cases we will propose an alternative.

How do you prep up the team before the big event? Any training required? We provide a detailed event briefing well in advance – this is normally in written format and includes an equipment list, an outline of the itinerary, tips for success and training suggestions. Some clients arrange for this briefing to be done in a face-to-face presentation which works well when logistically possible as it already begins the team development process.

Depending on the nature of the activity and the level of physical challenge, training is recommended. For multi-day adventures it works well for teams to be formed in advance and for teams to do some training together.

What safety measures/insurance are in place? Asia Ability and our sister company Ability Expeditions pride ourselves in managing all our activities and facilities to international safety standards. We conduct detailed risk assessments, do extensive staff training on safety management, provide high quality equipment and strive to create a safety culture among all participants. We hold appropriate public liability insurance for the events.

How many accidents have occurred? Why? We have been operating for 16 years with no major incidents. Safety management is our top priority and this focus reduces the risk factors significantly.

What risks do you bear? Are prices thus higher? Good insurance, qualified staff and quality equipment are all expensive but are vital components to a safe and successful corporate adventure.

Prices need to reflect the substantial time, staff and expenses involved in creating and managing such activities.

Is it a profitable business? Such activities are still quite a niche offering and as such it is difficult for us to run a successful business with only these types of events on offer. Thus, they are part of a wider offering of creative teambuilding events.

What are the pros and cons of running this business? The amount of preparation and planning time for a two to five-day event is substantial, often months in advance, thus can be draining on our resources.

What rewards do companies gain from adventure teambuilding? These activities create powerful bonds between people and such a shared experience is never forgotten. When people are challenged to step out of their comfort zone in a well-managed, safe environment, there is a huge opportunity for self development.

How do suppliers track the gains? We offer clients the option of a follow-up session with the participants to discuss with them the impacts and benefits of their shared experience. In addition, many participants share their feedback and comments with us both informally and through formal surveys.

What are the biggest myths about adventure activities? A big myth is that participants need to be very athletic or super fit to participate – we design and conduct adventure experiences that anyone can participate in and enjoy.  I have in the past guided a 77-year-old executive to the top of Mt Kinabalu!

Sail in Asia, Thailand

Established in 2004, Sail in Asia offers a range of watersports including dragon boating, sea kayaking and wake boarding; sailing activities on its fleet of yachts; luxury yacht charters; and professional and recreational sailing and safety courses certified by International Yacht Training. The Phuket-based company also provides teambuilding and event planning and management for corporates, and outdoor education and adventure activities for international schools. The company operates mainly in Phuket and Pattaya, but is able to offer programmes elsewhere in Thailand upon request. Xinyi Liang-Pholsena speaks to CEO Mike Downard

How do you assess a client’s ability to do an adventure? We don’t really assess their ability to do an activity. All of our activities can be done by most people, regardless of physical strength, body type, etc.

How do you prep participants up before the big event? Any training required? Before the event, we give a thorough safety briefing to the whole group. Then we break them into smaller teams, where each Sail in Asia representative will give another briefing and introduce themselves. There will also be instructions and a brief sailing lesson before the regatta, so everyone knows what their role is and what they should be doing on the boat.

What safety measures/insurance are in place? Sail in Asia regattas take place with at least two safety boats on the water. All the instructors are trained in man-over-boards, First Aid and safety at sea. The most common problem is seasickness, and we have tablets for this.

How many accidents have occurred and why? No serious accidents have occurred. Boats can be dangerous places, but thanks to our boat safety and briefings, we have avoided problems.

What risks do you bear? Are prices thus higher? Prices for sailing yachts are higher than dragon boats or cardboard boats because of the extra risk, as well as the cost of boat maintenance, etc.

Is the corporate/incentives segment a profitable business? What are the pros and cons of running this business? MICE events provide a significant contribution to our yearly turnover. There are many pros – fun events, highly visible therefore good advertising, people returning for sailing courses. Cons – the events require a lot of energy and careful client management to make them as successful as possible.

What rewards do companies gain from adventure teambuilding? We offer a unique package: large-scale, mass-participation water-based teambuilding events in a stunning setting. We reduce the risk for our clients as much as possible. The fact that we have been doing this for 10 years helps client trust us, and that is reciprocal. From the moment teams arrive to when they leave, we help them to feel relaxed and at ease. During the event itself we encourage synergy and togetherness in an informal, positive and enthusiastic environment. Clients have regularly commented that their entire team has enjoyed the activity and that the teambuilding felt seamless and natural. That is the environment and the emotions we endeavour to foster at Sail in Asia.

Let’s get physical

For corporates considering a bit more action and adventure to build a team’s strength and character, here’s a list of ideas

By Natasha Dragun, Caroline Boey, Xinyi Liang-Pholsena, Paige Lee Pei Qi, Mimi Hudoyo, S. Puvaneswary and Prudence Lui

Fly a fighter jet, Australia
Ever wanted to be Tom Cruise in Top Gun? Jet Ride flights in Melbourne and Brisbane allow executives to channel their inner fighter pilot, taking them from zero to 600km/h in less than 20 seconds! Each adventure includes a full safety and mission brief covering the area of operations, weapons delivery and G-force preparation. Plus, executives will be outfitted in a full military pilot flying suit, helmet and oxygen mask. Customised corporate flights are available.Purpose An exhilarating ride that will have everyone screaming together as a team as they zip through the sky.

Pricing From A$1,400 (US$1,225)/person
Operator Jet Ride; jetride.com.au

Agroventures, Rotorua, New Zealand
The park offers five adventure activities, Agrojet, New Zealand’s fastest jetboating experience; Freefall Xtreme, a flying experience in an outdoor wind tunnel; Swoop, which hauls up three people in sacks and swings down at 130km/h; Shweeb, the world’s only human-powered 600m recumbent aerodynamic pod that reaches speeds of up to 50km/h along two 200m inverse tracks five metres high; and the 43m drop Rotorua Bungy Jump can be done individually or in tandem.Exclusive use of the adventure park for teambuilding activities can be arranged depending on the number of people and the activities selected. The 142ha park can accommodate up to 600 people.

Purpose Overcome fear and creates sense of achievement.
PricingFrom NZ$19.70 (US$16.35) per ride

River rock challenge, Philippines
This activity is conducted in a virgin forest behind the property of Gratchi’s Getaway in Tagaytay, and takes around 2.5 to three hours, depending on group size. The risk element is the jump from a rock.Team descent from a mountain path in the forest (which is rather steep at times and requires a rope in some areas to descend) to an untouched river. They will walk the natural river path and swim to a large rock down by a waterfall. Then as a group they need to figure out how to ascend the rock while waterfall is rushing down on them. The climb requires teamwork as it’s difficult to climb alone. Upon reaching the top, each team member is asked to recite his name and his individual Goal for the Year for their company, then jump off, plunging to the river below.

Some clients often need two or three tries and extreme encouragement from teammates to get them to jump. Some cried before doing their jump.

Purpose A leader will emerge from the group to get the team up the River Rock.  Extreme physical teamwork is needed to get to the top of the rock, giving the team an unforgettable memory of accomplishment to bring back to the office.
Pricing 500 pesos (US$11) per person
Operator Playworks Team Building; www.playworks.ph; tel.+63-915-477-PLAY (7529)

Firewalk on the beach, Philippines
On the beach at night, after a small fire is put out, the embers are spread till they fizzle out. The facilitator takes a reading of the temperature to ensure that the embers have become slightly warm. He is the first to walk barefoot over the bed of embers, followed by participants. Embers are not a good conductor of heat so they won’t burn the person walking on it. Also, the amount of time the feet are in contact with the embers is not enough to induce burn.

Purpose Mind over matter; confidence building
Pricing Upon request
Operator Playworks Team Building; www.playworks.ph; tel.+63-915-477-PLAY (7529)

Bangkok to Phuket by Bike, Thailand
Riding on good quality tarmac roads with a few days of undulating hills – termed a ‘4 Chilli ride’ in cycling lingo. Riders should be confident of their physical condition and bike-handling skills. In some cases the distances may be short but due to heat or altitude, the riding is still a challenge.

The ride covers the route from Bangkok to Phuket, however the days can be customised to suit the needs and abilities of the group. A mix of distances with longer days up to 200km can be set. The ride is a guided point-to-point event, with full vehicle support to ensure that the riders are always supported by a team of guides on bikes and drivers, usually at a ratio of one guide, one vehicle and one driver to eight riders. For corporate groups, the organiser, SpiceRoads, can help to design and source customised cycling jerseys.

Purpose Wellness benefits, improving the health of staff and thereby the positivity and morale within an organisation. CSR elements can be included.
Pricing Varies, depending on group size, standard of accommodation, etc.
Operator SpiceRoads; www.spiceroads.com

Panda tracking in Xi’an, China
The place is Foping Nature Reserve, Qinling Mountains, 215 km north of Xi’an. Be prepared to walk about 10km a day for four days in valleys and mountainous terrain of up to 2,500m high to track pandas and other wildlife. Rural accommodation in the 115,000ha nature reserve may not have running water or hot water, and only Chinese cuisine is available.

The best season for this programme is between May and October. Temperatures in the mountains can be quite cold and range between -5°C and 10°C. Panda sightings are not guaranteed and participants will not be taken to captive sanctuaries as the programme is designed to view pandas in the wild.

Purpose Suitable for individuals and a group of up to 12 people, the idea is to provide a sense of adventure and anticipation of what lies ahead. It also tests each individual’s endurance in the wild to build character and team spirit.
Pricing/Operator Part of a five-day/four-night Beijing-Xi’an Shanghai programme offered by Destination Asia (China). Land tour prices are from RMB10,365 (US$1,688) per person twin-share.

Forest Adventure, Singapore
Get the team ready for up to three hours of exhilarating fun in the trees. This is an aerial course built in trees comprising ladders, bridges, swings, nets, trapezes and zip lines where participants move unaccompanied, from tree to tree, five to eight meters above ground. All participants are equipped with harnesses and are responsible for securing themselves to a safety line at each stage. The course has 34 different stages including four zip lines (flying foxes) across the water. Divided into four sections, participants descend from the trees to the forest floor on a zip line at the end of each section, together as a team.

Purpose Participants will be exposed to the physical challenges of height and will learn to take risk and push their limits in a safe environment.
Pricing S$70 (US$55)/participant
Operator Forest Adventure; http://forestadventure.com.sg; email: info@forestadventure.com.sg

Flores Trail Adventure, Indonesia
A combination of 4WD ride, climbing up the steep hills of Flores up to Werang and trekking through patches of the island for 1.5 hours to Cunci Rami waterfall to swim and cliff jump, then onto Cunca Wulan waterfalls for canyoning.

Groups are divided into teams of four and the whole track is set as a teambuilding scavenger hunt.

Purpose Better teamwork, create a team spirit; conquering fear (canyoning down the cliff of the waterfall).
Pricing Unavailable, based on seasonality.
Operator Plataran Komodo Beach Resort & Phinisi Vessels. www.plataran.com

Sumatra Challenge, Indonesia
This one-day outbound training combines an amazing race, treasure hunt, city survival and charity, with 30 per cent done indoors and 70 per cent outdoors in West Sumatra. Participants will need to break codes and finalise a challenge before moving on to the next challenge.

Purpose Teamwork; a new experience
Pricing From 2,369,000 rupiah (US$204) per person, minimum 60 persons
Operator Sumatra and Beyond Tour-Training-Event Planner; www.sumatraandbeyond.co

Humpback whales, Australia
Swim with, or watch, migrating humpback whales from Mooloolaba, along Australia’s Sunshine Coast in Queensland from July to November. While whale sightings are not guaranteed, you have to be unlucky not to spot one. When whales are spotted, groups of people are permitted into the water with snorkels, always maintaining a safe distance.

Can be done as a team or individual. No more than 10 people are allowed in the water at any given time, but larger groups can tag-team between snorkelling and watching from the deck of the boat.

Purpose It’s the only activity of its kind in Australia – how many people have experienced the exhilaration of getting up close and personal with these majestic animals?

Pricing AU$114/person
Operator sunreefsuperstore.com.au

Climb Harbour Bridge, Australia
Climbing the Harbour Bridge is one of the best ways to take in Sydney’s sights. The climb is not for the faint hearted – winds can whip over the bridge, and there are lots of stairs. But the BridgeClimb team is a stickler for safety and everyone is secured using a state-of-the-art harness system. Climbs are held throughout the day, and from dawn to night.

There is a limit to the number of people climbing with one guide (14 people), but multiple guides can be used.

Purpose Sense of immense achievement reaching the top of one of the world’s most famous landmarks.
Pricing From A$198/person

Skyline Rotorua, New Zealand
Participants can compete in Luge gravity races in New Zealand-designed three-wheel carts with a unique breaking and steering system. Or do the  Skyswing, which is a bungy-like swing ride for three people.

The latest attraction is the high-speed twin Zoom Zipline where participants descend 385m down the side of Mt Ngongotaha at 80km/h followed by a unique a Quickjump from the landing platform (optional). Individuals and teams can compete in a variety of teambuilding challenges based on the different adventure activities selected.

Purpose Suitable for building team spirit and bonding through fun adventure activities.
Pricing From NZ$38 (US$30)

Twilight Adventures, New Zealand
Adventure activities take place when the sun begins to set and participants are taken on jetboats, a Monster 4×4 Thrill Ride, and drive in 4WD Bush Safari convoys navigating tricky offroad situations like plunging down a “waterfall” or manoeuvring a 45°-angled slope.

Purpose Suitable for individuals or teams, they foster team spirit by participating in adventurous activities and bonding over a campsite bonfire and native bush camp dinner.
Pricing From NZ$50 per head; packages are from NZ$114 per head.

GeoPark Adventure, Hong Kong
This adventure starts at 10am with a transfer by speedboat or junk from Sai Kung waterfront to the kayak base at Sha Kiu Tau fishing village close by. This is followed by activities such as kayaking, swimming, snorkelling, paddling through a sea arch (weather permitting ) and a short jungle ridge walk in the Sai Kung GeoPark. Then return to kayak base at around 2pm for lunch and back to Sai Kung at 4pm. Speed boat/ or junk follows to offer safety and support.

Paddling through the sea arch is the key aspect of the challenge. Teams have to improve their kayaking skills on the journey to the sea arch. Failure to do so results in not being able to pass through safely.

Only double-seat kayaks are used for teamwork, safety, fun and logistic purposes. Ideal for groups of up to 20pax.

Purpose A shared experience in a new environment; improved communications and coordination skills.
Pricing  HK$800 (US$103) to HK$1,200/person
Operator Kayak and Hike; Tel: 852- 9300 5197; www.kayak-and-hike.com

Team Challenge Hourglass, Singapore
High ropes courses. Group of five to six pax in a team will move up an hourglass in spiral manner, going through different challenges. The only way down is up. To come down, the team has to first reach the hourglass summit. A short version will take only two hours while the full experience can take up to four hours.

Can be done alone or as a team. However, it is highly recommended to do it as a team.

Purpose A fun  adventure in an urban environment that focuses on character-building through teamwork
Pricing From S$150 per pax
Operator Focus Adventure; http://focusadventure.com
Email: info@FOCUSAdventure.com

Survivors in the jungle, Singapore
An extraordinary experience with nature inculcating basic survival skills like making fire, cooking over camp fire and building a shelter. From morning till late afternoon, the team will be trekking around the only wild island in Singapore, Pulau Ubin, and exploring the fauna and flora with customised activities. When the sun is down, the team puts into practice the skills it has learnt during the day.

Purpose To build team spirit by working together in a cohesive environment.
Pricing S$99/pax
Operator Adventour; http://adventour.com.sg
Email: info@adventour.com.sg

Mini Regatta, Thailand
Can be a simple afternoon affair with a few boats, to a full-day event with up to 15 boats competing for a prize. The mini-regatta is split into two sessions to familiarise participants on the activity, the first teaching participants how to control the sails and equipment, and each team member is given a role on the boat. Following lunch the second session kicks off with a series of short races amid the Andaman’s stunning backdrop.

Whether in Pattaya or Phuket, this activity is tailored to the clients’ wishes, but each boat will always have at least two highly experienced sailors onboard to steer the boat, manage the sails and be in constant communication with other yachts in the fleet.

Purpose Like the corporate environment, sailing requires communication, positive encouragement, working together and personal strength, so the main purpose is to encourage people to work together to achieve a goal.
Pricing From 2,000 baht (US$63) per person,
Operator Sail In Asia; www.sailinasia.com

Outdoor adventure survival, Thailand
A two-day/one-night adventure on an island in the vicinity of Samui or Phuket only accessible by boat. Once there, delegates will be given material for shelter, food and water. The time spent on the island will be split between the essential tasks necessary for survival, such as building camp, fishing, cooking and orienteering. With an emphasis on active, physical challenges and adventure, this event involves surviving as a team on a tropical island with a minimum of equipment.

Ideal for young and adventure-oriented business people seeking new challenges.

Purpose To encourage positive thinking, motivation and innovation; to learn about others under pressure; to improve trust, cooperation and leadership skills
Pricing From 155,000 baht for a group of 50 pax
Operator Making Teams; www.teambuilding-thailand.com

World’s highest via ferrata, Malaysia

Activities include mountain hiking and via ferrata climbing on Mt Kinabalu, the highest trekking mountain in South-east Asia. It has one of the lowest risks in adventure sports and will require a commitment of at least two days and one night on the mountain terrain.

Suitable for individuals and teams. A trainer will provide a safety briefing to participants and training on how to use the safety devices. Trainers will also climb with the group and provide tips along the way on how to negotiate difficult spots.

Purpose For personal development as it will make individuals push their personal boundaries and step out of their comfort zone. It will also foster greater teamwork as ranks and seniority give way to motivation and encouragement.
Pricing From RM1,300 (US$412) for a two-day/one-night experience
Operator MountainTorq;  Tel: +60 88 268126; www.mountaintorq.com

Stanchart KL Marathon, Malaysia

Held annually in Kuala Lumpur since 2009, the marathon starts and finishes right in the middle of the city, at the historical Independence Square. Open to both individuals and teams.

The corporate challenge is a 10km competitive yet fun platform for organisations to register and compete as a team. It is open to all companies in Malaysia. Minimum three runners are required for each organisation, and there is no maximum number of runners. Team members must be employees from the same organisation. The average time of the top three finishers from each organisation will determine the winning corporation. Next year’s marathon will be on October 4.

Purpose Enables corporate teams to raise money for charity; encourages a healthy lifestyle.
Pricing Cost per runner is RM1,000 (mandatory charity donation) + RM50 (registration fee)
Contact www.kl-marathon.com

How adventurous are you?

Louis Than, general manager of Hotel Clover 5 Hong Kong Street and Hotel Clover The Arts, Singapore

“We have not done any medium to hard-core adventure activities. However, we recognise the benefits of such activities and will consider planning one in the near future.

Such activities not only help to build bonds and strengthen relationships between employees but also help to break down barriers between employee and management which in turn encourages healthy communication among all staff. We believe this also helps us in retaining our employees, and the bonds help to instill a sense of belonging between employees and the company.”

Cecilio Tuanquin, head of sales, Samsung Enterprise Business Team, Philippines

“We have not tried medium to hard-core adventure activities, as staff prefer and perceive teambuilding as more of easy and fun activities. But we might consider going for medium to high adrenaline adventure activities depending  on what the staff want and taking into consideration the risks and dangers involved.”

Christopher Wong, director-business development, Bake180, Malaysia

“As a company, we went hiking from Ulu Bendol Recreation Park to Angsi Mountain in Negri Sembilan. This activity is suitable for people of average fitness. It can be done over a weekend as Negri Sembilan is less than 1.5 hours drive from Kuala Lumpur. It is suitable for both men and women and not too exhausting. It allows the team to communicate outside an office setting in a neutral and relaxed environment.

We went prepared with raincoats and First Aid kit in case of rain or injury.

As this is in the outdoors without toilets and cooking facilities, it may be a turn off especially for city folks.”

Lancy Chui, regional managing director, ManpowerGroup Greater China Region, Hong Kong

“ManpowerGroup believes that staff engagement and teambuilding activities are critical to financial performance, customer satisfaction and employee retention. In Hong Kong, we have conducted various engagement programmes, for instance, dart competition for whole company, while some teams tailored their own teambuilding programmes such as cooking, drinking, hiking, etc.  We do not conduct ‘trendy’ or ‘fashionable’ hard-core teambuilding exercises that would jeopardise the health or safety of our employees – our teambuilding exercises are designed around staff and clients first.”