The Office Is Dead. Long Live the Offsite.

Why distributed teams thrive—and how intentional events are the new operating system.

The New Way to Work

Let’s face it: the traditional office isn’t coming back—not the way it used to be. And that’s a good thing. Remote-first work isn’t a temporary fix; it’s a smarter way to build companies.

According to LinkedIn’s 2024 Global Talent Trends report, nearly 80% of companies say that going remote has helped them hire better people from anywhere in the world. On top of that, research from Global Workplace Analytics shows that each empty desk costs companies around $6,500 per year. That adds up fast.

And here’s the kicker: remote teams aren’t just cheaper. They’re more productive. Stanford studies have shown they get more done—20% more, to be exact—when managed well.

But here’s where it gets tricky: without the office, you lose more than desks. You lose a sense of rhythm, connection, and real-time collaboration. That’s where intentional events come in.

What the Office Used to Give Us

The office wasn’t perfect, but it did a few things well. It gave us spaces to meet, moments to bond, and a feeling of working in sync. A chat in the hallway could turn into a decision. A lunch break could build trust. Being physically together made coordination easier.

Remote teams don’t have that by default. Without a plan, people end up working in silos, feeling disconnected, and moving slower. So how do you fix that? Not by bringing everyone back. But by bringing people together—on purpose.

Why Offsites Work So Well

Think of offsites as the new heartbeat of a distributed team. They’re not perks. They’re the new system.

At a quarterly offsite, you can do what endless Zoom calls can’t: align your team around goals, build real relationships, and make big creative moves. Shared meals, hands-on workshops, breakout sessions—they bring energy and clarity you just can’t replicate online.

At Parcy, we live this model. Every quarter, we run internal planning summits using our own tools. Room setups, breakout scheduling, dashboards—we treat it like mission control. Because that’s exactly what it is.

How Top Companies Are Doing It

Parcy isn’t alone. Companies like Airbnb, Shopify, and Automattic have all embraced offsites as core to their operating rhythm.

Airbnb brings the whole team together three times a year. Shopify lets individual teams choose their own city and format. Automattic goes big with company-wide meetups in rotating locations. Each of them approaches it differently—but the goal is the same: run offsites with the same focus you’d bring to a product launch.

These events have agendas. Dashboards. Clear goals. And they work.

What It Looks Like in Practice

Running a great offsite starts before anyone gets on a plane. First, you send out a prep kit: goals, context, expectations. During the event, you track everything—attendance, sessions, feedback. After it’s over, you follow up with notes, recordings, and next steps.

At Parcy, we’ve built the infrastructure to make all of that seamless. Need to manage rooming? Easy. Want live travel updates? Done. Need to scan check-ins or assign last-minute tasks? It’s all built in.

The result? Happier teams. Faster decisions. More clarity. Our post-event surveys show a 25% jump in connection, an 8% bump in retention, and fewer wasted meetings.

Why the Office Doesn’t Make Sense Anymore

Let’s talk numbers. Office space can cost $300 per square foot per year. A world-class offsite? Around $3,000 per person per year. And instead of constant overhead, you get focused value. No daily commute. Better energy. More inclusion, no matter where your team lives.

Offices are about always being there. Offsites are about showing up when it matters.

Make Events Your Operating System

Start by picking your team’s moments: a kickoff, mid-year check-in, or demo day. Define what success looks like. Use the right tools to plan, track, and follow through. And most importantly, make it a habit. Great teams run on rhythm, not randomness.

Why This Matters to You

If you run events, you’re building more than an agenda—you’re building culture. If you manage travel, you’re not just booking flights—you’re designing company flow. And if you work in product or ops, tools like Parcy are the infrastructure behind every team moment that matters.

The Bottom Line

Remote work is here to stay. But without intentional connection, it falls flat. Offices are expensive and outdated. Offsites are the smart replacement. They align teams, build trust, and get results.

At Parcy, we don’t just power this shift—we live it.

Ready to run your offsite like it actually matters?

Parcy helps you plan, track, and deliver high-impact events for distributed teams.