Client partnerships, celebrations, Chronos, collaborations, and culture were all on the agenda as our A-team reunited in Berlin for our final co-working retreat of 2024. 

The week-long gathering in Germany saw us reflect and reminiscence on what has been a busy and productive year that has saw us establish new offices and work with clients in more fields than ever before. 

Plenty of work, however, was also carried out to ensure we continue a best-in-class engagement experience for our clients and professional partners in 2025, and setting key targets and priorities. 

Our team also made the most of each other’s company and a week in one of Europe’s most historic cities for collaborative and cultural purposes. 

The Berlin retreat came immediately after members of our senior leadership group and other staff had contributed to the success of the inaugural Saudi-Swiss Fintech Forum. 

Our Client Partnerships team, however, were straight back to work looking after ongoing projects while also examining new commercial opportunities. 

The discussions will help us maintain our high level of client service but also potentially provide other offerings that can enhance the engagement experience. 

Meanwhile, our Design and Hyphen of the Future teams reviewed the first few months of feedback and data from our digital tool Chronos as well as other projects under way behind the scenes. 

The sessions look at ways in which further improvements could be made to give ourselves and both sides of the Hyphen a more efficient and enjoyable engagement experience. 

Team bonding is a key aspect of all of our co-working retreats and this was no exception – particularly when everyone came together for our company awards night, the Hyphies.

Our final night together saw everyone in the team receive a personalised honour in recognition of a notable contribution or commitment in a light-hearted spirit to celebrate our collective success.  

Examples included Kamila Potocorova receiving praise for her role in launching our timekeeping solution as she was branded the ‘Mother of Chronos’, Avinash Nandakumar’s international travel exploits seeing him named ‘Mr Worldwide’, and Eleah Ketting’s passion, drive and determination meant she received the award for ‘Real Hyphen Boss’. 

The award ceremony was just one of the activities that took place in a city once described by music legend David Bowie as “the greatest cultural extravaganza that one could imagine.” Our team added to that cultural legacy by embracing it in the form of a street art graffiti workshop that led to some interesting artistic creations. 

Escape rooms and team meals also encouraged individuals and teams that might not typically work so closely together to get to know each other more during a fantastic final co-working retreat of the year. 

Our team will join up again in 2025 for more intriguing adventures and hard work – keep your eyes peeled on our LinkedIn feed for details! 

 Travel guide: Bustling Berlin 

Where to stay 

• H10 Berlin Ku’damm – located next to the vibrant Kurfürstendamm and in close proximity to the Tiergarten, this exclusive four-star hotel is a comfortable base for business and leisure that meshes contemporary style with the historic structure. 

Where to eat 

• Gasthaus Krombach – if you want to sample some hearty, authentic Berlin cuisine and get a real sense of a traditional inn is like in the city, this is the place to go.  

• El Sol – the German capital is a +long way from the Philippines but you will get a full flavour of South East Asia if you visit this funky restaurant and karaoke bar. 

• Amrit Schoneberg – curries, cocktails and comfort are just some of the treats you will get at this Indian establishment. The group also has three other restaurants dotted around the city.  

• Burro Unchained – the only thing more vibrant than the walls in this Mexican-style taqueria is the food, which will wow your tastebuds, while the drinks are pretty good, too. 

• Katz Orange – gastronomy and sustainability, local ingredients and international inspiration all go hand in hand at this casual fine-dining restaurant that has adopted a farm-to-table philosophy. 

• Cantinerie – there are few venues more perfect if you are looking to host an event in Berlin as you can expect high-quality cuisine at a special space in the Mitte district. 

What to do 

• Street art graffiti workshop – channel your inner artist and leave your mark on Berlin in the way many locals do by decorating a bit of the urban landscape your way. 

• Deutsche Oper Berlin – the city’s biggest opera house is the home to some of the world’s finest singers and incredible acoustics for a magical musical experience. 

• The East Side Gallery – one of the few remaining parts of the Berlin Wall still standing is now home to a smorgasbord of colourful art and is one of the most famous open-air art installations in the world. 

• The Topography of Terror, The Palace of Tears, The DDR Museum and the Stasi Museum – these four museums offer an illuminating – and at times horrifying – look into the history of a city that was at the centre of many of the biggest moments of the 21st century. 

• Berghain – simply put, it’s the world’s most famous nightclub and not one for the faint-hearted.