Winter team building of Stenik at Grand Hotel Therme: A restart for the team, synergy, relaxation and fun
Sometimes the most important conversations within a team don’t happen during daily meetings or while solving complex cases. They begin with silence, a pause, and quality time spent outside the context of deadlines and technical specifications. At the beginning of February, the Stenik team gathered at Grand Hotel Therme, Banya village, for three days dedicated to the people behind the tasks. In this article, we’ll share how we recharged our batteries and why these events are key to maintaining our high performance.
Why did we choose Grand Hotel Therme for our winter team building?
We chose Grand Hotel Therme because of its excellent combination of diverse activities and first-class relaxation conditions, including thermal pools. The location in Banya village provided the perfect atmosphere for a true “restart” and a balance between professional discussions and entertainment.
Our activities began in one of the hotel’s halls - Grand Event Hall Therme – where we switched to “game mode” early on Friday morning. A change of environment is a proven way to overcome writer’s block and stimulate innovative thinking, which we apply in the projects we work on.
What activities helped strengthen our team on the first day?
Our program included strategic games such as “Who Is This Colleague?”, “Black and Red,” and “Zin Obelisk,” aimed at team bonding and building trust. These activities tested our communication skills, decision-making under pressure, and ability to work as a unified team.
Here are the main highlights from our team challenges:
Icebreaker “Who Is This Colleague?”
By anonymously sharing personal facts, we discovered unexpected talents and interests among us. Some of the curious facts included:
- “I wanted to become an artist…”
- “I sleep with the window open…”
- “I used to be a track and field athlete…”
Laughter, doubts, guesses - and one important realization: how much do we really know about the people we work with every day beyond tasks and deadlines?
Strategy Game “Black and Red”
The next challenge involved two cards, five rounds, and no communication between teams. The question wasn’t “How do we win?” but rather: “Will we give in to the temptation to undermine the other team for a quick point, or will we show the maturity to play as a whole where everyone wins?”
The game taught us that one team’s success should not come at the expense of another. In business, just like in that room, those who invest in long-term loyalty and mutual trust are the real winners.
Mission “Zin Obelisk”
For the finale, we had a mission: “Zin Obelisk” - 29 artifacts, a lost civilization, and a solution hidden in the details, plus two specific questions whose correct answers secured victory. There was no Google and no external help - only collaboration, idea sharing, calculations, data analysis, and strategic thinking.
This challenge mirrored our workflow, requiring data analysis, idea exchange, and synergy without outside assistance. In moments like these, the true essence of a team becomes clear: not who speaks the loudest, but who listens to the smallest details; not who is the smartest, but who unites the knowledge of others.
How did we spend our free time between the ski slopes and the thermal pools?
Our free program combined conquering ski slopes, morning workouts, and time for informal conversations in nature. Conversations that start with a joke and end with insight or a new idea. Coffee discussions where solutions to challenges are born. Shared silence while enjoying the mountain view.
Mornings began with movement and discipline - small victories over inertia that gave us energy and allowed us to enjoy well-deserved relaxation without guilt.
Then the focus shifted outdoors:
- Active sports: Some conquered the ski slopes, while others rediscovered the peace of mountain trails.
- Party: Afternoons turned into pool party vibes in the hotel’s thermal areas.
- Socializing: Evenings were dedicated to board games and conversations where new ideas and solutions to work challenges often emerged.
Investing in shared experiences improves resilience and communication when executing complex technical projects. When colleagues know each other well, trust comes naturally, and workflows become more efficient and less stressful.
A team is a living organism. When you know the person next to you beyond their tasks, communication becomes easier. Seeing how colleagues think in a game environment helps us better distribute roles in real projects. This boosts morale, motivation, and helps build a strong company culture - the foundation of Stenik’s success.
Why does Stenik organize two major team building events each year?
We organize both a summer and a winter team building event to maintain strong connections between colleagues in our hybrid work model. These events are the “fuel” for our future success, helping us reset our energy and prevent burnout.
We’re often asked why we dedicate so much time to activities outside of work. Here are the main reasons:
- Team bonding: Getting to know each other beyond daily tickets and tasks.
- Culture of trust: Building loyalty that allows us to play the “infinite game” in eCommerce.
- Well-being: Supporting the team’s mental health and balance through sports and relaxation.
- Leadership development: Informal settings often reveal new qualities and leadership skills.
- Identifying areas for optimization: Informal environments make it easier to spot workflow and communication areas that need improvement.
- Recognizing individual and team achievements: Celebrating every success to build a sustainable and positive work environment.
- Investing in new knowledge: Encouraging the exchange of experience and expertise that form the foundation of our eCommerce solutions.
We left Grand Hotel Therme not just rested, but more united and knowing more about each other as people—not only as colleagues.
At Stenik, we believe the team comes first when it comes to company success. For us, it’s important to feel that you’re in the right place, with the right people—and that the best is yet to come.
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