“Overall, one of the best leadership experiences overall.”
That was the verdict from Josip at Spamhaus after their leadership team spent three days meeting in Edinburgh this September. It’s the kind of email that makes every spreadsheet, site check and supplier call worth it.
What struck us most was what Josip picked out. Not one headline moment, but a run of small, practical decisions that added up to a week that simply worked. So we thought we’d unpack them, because they’re the same things we think about for every leadership meeting we plan.
The brief
Spamhaus needed a base in Edinburgh for their leadership team: somewhere comfortable to stay, a proper space to work across three days of meetings, and evenings that felt like a chance to connect rather than another item on the agenda.
A hotel in the right place: the Adagio Royal Mile
Location does a lot of quiet work on a leadership trip. We based the group at the Adagio Royal Mile, right in the heart of Edinburgh’s city centre.
Josip told us the rooms and facilities were “exactly what we needed for this kind of event”. That’s the bar we aim for: not the flashiest option, but the one that fits how the group will actually spend their week.
The central location had a knock-on effect in the evenings too. Every dinner restaurant was within walking distance, so instead of waiting for coaches and taxis, the team strolled through the city centre together. Those walks are where a lot of the real conversations happen.
Two minutes to the meeting room
It’s tempting to keep everything under one roof. But spending a full week inside the same hotel can leave a team feeling flat by day three.
So we chose the Edinburgh Training & Conference Venue, just a two-minute walk from the hotel. Close enough to be effortless, separate enough to give the day a natural rhythm. As Josip put it, it worked really well instead of being locked in a hotel for a week.
The venue held up its end too. The conference rooms were well equipped, everything was in working order, and the staff were friendly and supportive across all three days. When the tech just works, nobody notices it, which is exactly the point.
Catering that got the timing right
Josip rated the catering among the best the team had experienced. Not because it was lavish, but because it was right: the right amount of food, served at the right times, with lunches the group genuinely enjoyed.
Good meeting catering keeps energy steady through long sessions. Too much and the afternoon slump hits hard; too little or too late and focus drifts.
And then there was the fridge of drinks in the meeting room. A small touch, but the kind people remember, because it means nobody has to leave the room or wait for a break to grab something.
What this tells us about planning leadership meetings
Looking back at Josip’s feedback, a few things stand out that apply to almost any leadership meeting or offsite:
- Location shapes the whole experience. A central hotel turns evenings into easy walks rather than transfers.
- A little separation helps. A meeting venue a short walk away gives the day structure and stops the week blurring into one.
- Reliable rooms and tech matter more than wow factor. Everything working, with supportive staff on hand, lets the team focus on the agenda.
- Catering is about timing, not volume. The right amount at the right moments keeps energy up.
- Small touches get noticed. A drinks fridge in the room costs little and says a lot.
This is what we mean when we talk about being an extension of your team. Getting the venue right matters, but so does how the whole week fits together, from the walk to breakfast to the last dinner.
Thank you to Josip and the Spamhaus team for trusting us with it.
Planning a leadership meeting for 2027?
Whether it’s Edinburgh or somewhere further afield, we’d love to hear what you have in mind. Get in touch at events@eventuelle.co.uk and let’s talk about what would make it work for your people.
