Do you think face-to-face meetings enhance communication and relationship-building during orientation?

They absolutely should enhance the communication level but this also means that all individuals who are in the meeting have the right to not only speak but also listen, not talk over each other or be disrespectful. Communication in person whether in the actual office or virtually done, is a big necessity. That person-to-person contact is necessary to build rapport, give ideas and opinions, to just show you are present.