Traveling Together to the Spanish Metropolis
From June 18 to 20, 2026, this year’s Online Group company trip took us to Valencia. For three days, the focus was on shared experiences, the Spanish zest for life, good food, and, above all, connecting with colleagues across countries and teams. The trip offered the perfect opportunity to leave our daily work behind and enjoy an unforgettable time together as a group.
A refreshing start at Zurich Airport
For the Swiss delegation, the adventure began on Thursday morning at 9:45 a.m. at the Bye Bye Bar at Zurich Airport. With temperatures already feeling like summer, we treated ourselves to a quick refreshment before going through customs and got ourselves in the right frame of mind for the days ahead.
We then headed toward the gate and were soon on board the plane. A dent in one of the wings initially caused a delay of more than half an hour. However, we didn’t let that spoil our excitement. The flight was smooth, and after about two hours, we began our approach to Valencia.
Reunion with Our Polish Colleagues
We took the bus from the airport directly to our hotel in the heart of Valencia. Because of the delay, our planned break was a little shorter than originally intended.
At the hotel, we met up with our Polish colleagues, who had already arrived before us. The reunion demonstrated once again how valuable face-to-face interactions are in an international company. After a brief welcome, we set off together for the first item on the agenda.
A cocktail reception above the rooftops of Valencia
The official kickoff took place at an impressive rooftop bar. With perfect weather, cool drinks, and a magnificent view of Valencia, we enjoyed a relaxed aperitif.
The atmosphere was lively and cheerful right from the start. People laughed, chatted, and toasted to the days ahead. It’s moments like these that create space for conversations that often get overlooked in the day-to-day work routine.
Spanish cuisine and traditional flamenco
After the aperitif, we headed to a restaurant where a delicious dinner awaited us. The highlight of the evening was a traditional flamenco show, which created a truly Spanish atmosphere with its energy, passion, and impressive music.
At the same time, the Swiss national team was playing against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the FIFA World Cup. So, during the show, some people kept glancing at their cell phones as discreetly as possible to keep track of the score.
After the official program, the group split up. While some set out to explore Valencia’s nightlife in more detail for the first time, others opted for the tranquility of the hotel after a long day of traveling.
A morning with mild signs of fatigue
The next morning, it was already clear at breakfast who had been out a little later the night before. Nevertheless, almost everyone was on time and in good spirits for the first event of the day.
In the hotel’s meeting room, we were briefed on the upcoming photo challenge. After a brief introduction, we split into different teams and got started. The goal was to complete various tasks in Valencia as creatively as possible and upload the results directly via a specially developed app.
An app from our own back office
Nikky from our back office played a special role in this. She had programmed the app herself, including all the tasks, instructions, and upload options. It was a really cool solution that not only impressed from a technical standpoint but also made the challenge particularly straightforward and interactive.
The teams set off on foot through Valencia and completed the various tasks with plenty of creativity and humor. This resulted in numerous original, surprising, and at times very amusing photos.
A close race for the win
Finally, each group selected its best photo for nomination. At 11:00 a.m., everyone met again to vote together.
The result was incredibly close. In the end, two groups tied for first place. As a prize, both winning teams will enjoy a group lunch paid for by Online. It’s a reward that’s sure to be remembered fondly—and not just because of the food.
Tapas and Valencian specialties
After the photo challenge, we headed to a traditional Valencian restaurant. There, we were served a variety of delicious tapas specialties.
The group lunch provided a welcome opportunity to look back on the most creative moments of the challenge and to refuel for the afternoon program.
Discover Valencia in Two Different Ways
In the afternoon, there were two different activities to choose from. Part of the group explored Valencia by bike and discovered many of the city’s sights along the way.
The other group visited the City of Arts and Sciences, Valencia’s world-famous architectural complex. The impressive buildings and futuristic atmosphere left a lasting impression. Both excursions offered exciting insights into the city’s diversity in their own way and were highly recommended.
After the bike ride, we had a little time to catch our breath. With the warm temperatures, this break was more than welcome.
Sangria and the Art of Paella
Afterward, the program took us to a special venue where we were able to prepare our own paella.
Before we started cooking, we were first shown how traditional sangria is made. Some watched the preparation with great interest, while others preferred to focus on the tasting that followed.
After that, two groups were formed, and they set to work in separate kitchens under expert guidance. One group prepared a seafood paella. The other group cooked several variations, including a seafood paella, a vegetarian paella, and the traditional Valencian version.
Cook Together, Enjoy Together
The results were impressive. All of the paellas tasted excellent, even though the snails in the traditional Valencian version didn’t meet with the same level of enthusiasm from everyone.
Of course, everyone then sat down together to enjoy the meals they had prepared. And, of course, a glass or two of wine or sangria was a must.
After dinner, the evening was free. Some returned to the hotel, while others were drawn back into Valencia’s nightlife. Exactly what happened there, however, is best left out of this blog post.
A free morning between the market hall and the beach
Saturday morning was free time. Some visited the famous market hall and stocked up on Spanish delicacies.
Others were drawn to the beach, where they enjoyed the Mediterranean atmosphere, the warm weather, and the sea. That way, everyone was able to spend their last few hours in Valencia exactly as they wished.
Back to Zurich with Many Memories
At 12:00 p.m., we met up again at the hotel. After checking out, we took the bus back to the airport.
This time, everything went smoothly. After an equally uneventful return flight, we landed back in Zurich. There, we went our separate ways, taking with us many wonderful memories, countless shared stories, and the feeling that we’d simply had a really great time together.
A corporate culture that brings people together
A company outing like this is much more than just a group trip. It shows appreciation for the employees and creates opportunities for interaction outside the usual work environment.
At the Online Group, the focus is not only on projects, technologies, and results, but above all on the people behind them. Shared experiences build trust, foster communication, and bring teams together across locations and national borders.
The fact that such a trip is made possible every year is a reflection of a corporate culture that consciously fosters collaboration, team spirit, and personal relationships. Valencia 2026 has once again demonstrated how valuable it is to celebrate successes together, create new memories, and continue to grow closer as a team.
Would you like to join us next year?
Then check out our job openings here and get in touch with Salischa!
