Plan a Year-End Celebration Your Team Actually Wants

As the end of the year rolls in, so does the pressure to plan your company’s year-end function. But with busy schedules, varying budgets and team members craving something beyond the norm, the traditional stuffy lunch just doesn’t cut it anymore.

Enter BON Hotels, perfectly set up with versatile spaces and locations to suit every type of event and budget, whether you’re looking to toast your wins on a sunset cruise, enjoy a mini road trip or truly disconnect and recharge with a full weekend retreat.

Here are four end-of-year ideas to take your office function from ‘blah’ to ‘talk of the town’.

1. In-Town Ease: A Stylish Lunch without the Logistics Nightmare

Where: BON Hotel Bloemfontein Central or Riverside Hotel in Durban

Perfect for: Teams with tight schedules who still want to make it special

An elegant city venue is your answer if you want to celebrate but keep it short on travel time. BON Hotel Bloemfontein Central is in the heart of Bloem and delivers both affordability and old-school charm.

Meanwhile, Riverside Hotel in Durban North has 11 versatile venues spread over two conference centres and is fully equipped for any size event.

Think richly set tables, heritage vibes and a menu that puts “catered lunch” in a whole new (much more delicious) light.

What makes them great:

• Central city locations with professional hospitality

• Fully catered, flexible event packages

• Heritage charm in Bloemfontein & modern elegance in Durban

• No overnight stay necessary – but you could if you like!

Fun Team Add-On: Paint and Sip Experience!

Host a playful “paint-and-sip” session with a local artist – creative, relaxing and a way to bond with your team. You don’t need any artistic experience either – just a willingness to have fun and unleash your inner creativity together.

2. The One-Hour Escape: Out of Office; Out in Nature

Where: BON Hotel Rustenburg

Perfect for: Jozi and Pretoria teams looking for fresh air and freedom – fast

Need a breather but don’t feel like packing a bag? We hear you.

Located just an hour from Gauteng, BON Hotel Rustenburg provides a quick escape but a complete change of scenery. Tucked beneath the Magaliesberg mountains, it’s the kind of place where you can swap emails for poolside cocktails and meetings for wildlife encounters – all in one single, feel-good day out.

What makes it great:

• Serene setting, close to home

• Flexible indoor and outdoor venues

• Delicious team lunch options

• Budget-friendly with big value

Fun Team Add-On: Pilanesberg Game Drive

Enhance your day out with a team outing to Pilanesberg National Park, just 45 minutes away. This bite-size safari offers a chance to spot the Big Five and creates lasting memories your team will be talking about long after the day ends.

3. The Hybrid-Friendly Mini Getaway

Where: Majorca Apartments by BON Hotels, Century City, Cape Town

Perfect for: Hybrid teams in Cape Town needing a laid-back overnight reset

With so many teams still working remotely or in hybrid mode, the year-end function might be the only time everyone’s in the same room. Face-to-face catchups are scarce, and that’s exactly why destination year-end events are catching on.

Majorca Apartments by BON Hotels, tucked into Cape Town’s lively Century City district, is perfect for turning your wrap party into a one-night team retreat. It’s got the space to connect, chill and celebrate.

Look forward to sunset walks along the canal, a stylish dinner and a night in modern apartments that feel just far enough away from your day-to-day routine.

Why it works:

• Central location with easy Uber or driving access

• Apartments ideal for braais, board games or team drinks

• Walking distance to cafés, bars and Canal Walk

• No commuting out of town = more time to connect

Fun Team Add-On: Canal Kayak & Walkabout

Reconnect with nature (and each other) on a laid-back paddle through Century City’s canal or a team stroll through bird-lovers’ paradise Intaka Island. It’s a relaxing, screen-free environment that sets the tone for winding down and wrapping up 2025 in true Cape Town style.

4. The Full Weekend Retreat: Celebrate, Reflect, Realign

Where: BON Hotel Empangeni or BON Hotel Waterfront Richards Bay

Perfect for: Leaders, departments or full teams seeking quality time together

Got a bit more time (and budget) to play with? Why not go big and treat the team to a proper weekend escape? This is your chance to unplug, reconnect and refresh before the new year rolls in, whether it’s soaking up the seaside vibes at BON Hotel Waterfront Richards Bay or kicking back in the leafy charm of BON Hotel Empangeni.

What makes them great:

• Full weekend of rest and connection

• Close access to beaches, forests and culture

• Ideal for planning sessions or wellbeing workshops

• Calm spaces for real conversations and celebration

Fun Team Add-On: Sunset Boat Cruise

Revel in the magic of the ocean on a peaceful team cruise in Richard’s Bay harbour. Toast to 2025 with sundowners and sea breezes as your boat glides past anchored ships, mangrove-lined estuaries and distant dunes.

So, What’s Your Team’s Year-End Style?

• Short on time? A stylish Bloemfontein lunch could be your answer.

• Need a change of scenery without the schlepp? Rustenburg delivers.

• Ready to reconnect IRL? Majorca Apartments bring the vibes.

• Planning something more intentional? Let Richards Bay or Empangeni host your reset.

No matter your company’s style or budget, BON Hotels offers an elevated alternative to the same-old event routine. The only thing left to decide is… what will you toast to?

End 2025 With Intention (And a Bit of Sparkle)

Explore our year-end offers or speak to our events team about your perfect company send-off.

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