Corporate Retreat Activities Near Me

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FAQs:

What is a Corporate Retreat?

Corporate retreats are a time away from the office that is meant to encourage team building, boost morale, and can allow employees some rest and relaxation to help avoid burnout at work. These retreats can take place at hotels, wilderness retreats, corporate retreat centres, or even spas. There are four elements that help to build a successful retreat.

What are Corporate Retreat Locations?

Corporate retreat locations are usually corporate-owned or leased facilities that are used for corporate events, such as team-building exercises, strategy meetings, or employee training programs. Common corporate retreat locations include conference centers, mansions, and hotels. Some companies also hold corporate retreats at outdoor venues, such as camping grounds. When choosing a corporate retreat location, companies should consider the size of their group, the desired activities, and the budget. Corporate retreat locations can offer a wide range of amenities, such as meeting rooms, conference facilities, on-site catering, and recreational activities.

Corporate retreat locations can be a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and connect with nature. There are many different corporate retreat locations to choose from, and each one has its own unique benefits. For example, corporate retreat locations in the mountains can provide employees with a chance to get some fresh air and exercise, while corporate retreat locations by the beach can offer a relaxing atmosphere for team-building exercises. No matter what type of corporate retreat location you choose, it's important to make sure that it's situated in a place that will allow your employees to bond and relax.

How Does a Corporate Retreat Boost Morale and Productivity?

With the absence of office space and easy office conversations a corporate retreat boosts connectivity, morale and improves productivity. 

Retreats use a combination of coaching, consulting, and exercises to improve management and communication skills to managers of remote teams. A retreat is a strategic resource to build relationships and culture inside an organisation with the absence of a central focused office space, which has become more normal with remote working. A corporate retreat develops the feeling of senior management and organisational support. It is a powerful and effective way to renew employees joy, excitement and enthusiasm for their work roles.

Team building activities outside of work build morale, but they also provide key performers with the opportunity to reflect on their skills and develop stronger skills and attribute that will enhance their career and role with the organisation; which in turn will better their chance – and the organisations chance – for improvement.

After a relaxing retreat, organisations improve ROI because the returning teams are more interested, engaged, excited and productive.

What Makes a Good Work Retreat?

A team retreat is an out-of-office staff gathering designed to combine work, play, and team building. Retreats can be as short as a couple of hours or even a week-long travel experience where staff experience a new place together. 

A diverse blend of activities, strategic meetings, and team bonding is key to making the team retreat worth the company dime. Through shared experiences, staff retreats help employees connect and feel mentally refreshed when they return to the office.

What are the Objectives of an Executive Retreat?

Executives need time to recharge, refresh, and connect with each other outside of their day-to-day work functions. Executive retreats are a strategic tool for nurturing hard-working executives, building relationships, and enhancing creativity and new ideas. A well-planned executive retreat will help your executive team unite, get inspired, and renew their focus on organizational goals. Furthermore, executive retreats foster interpersonal engagement, communications, productivity, and more precise decision-making.

What to Expect at a Staff Retreat?

Typically, corporate retreats contain a mix of programming including (and not limited to) team-building, learning about new annual goals and broad company updates. Retreats are a great way to take yourself outside of your day-to-day work schedule, and the retreat can inspire you to hit your new company goals by having a refreshed positive outlook on the company’s mission. You can expect activities planned with your coworkers, smaller team meetings and one or two larger all-staff meetings. And sometimes, there are even guest speakers.

How Long Should a Company Retreat Last?

A company or corporate retreat (sometimes referred to as an “offsite”) is an event which takes employees out of the usual working environment. It can last a day, a few days, or even five—it all depends on the nature of the retreat and where it’s held.

How Much Does a Corporate Retreat Cost?

The average corporate retreat cost in 2023 is US$4,000 per person for around a four day retreat. Of course, this can vary widely depending on destination, goals and hotel. However this is a great jumping off point for you to decide to host your first company retreat.

Types of Corporate Retreats

There are a few types of corporate retreats:

1. Some corporate retreats could be one day only, or even half a day, on site at a company office, headquarters or local venue.

2. Corporate retreats could be a work-focused trip during which employees work on projects, strategy and team-building in person at a given destination. For example, I have a friend who went to a corporate retreat with a small company at a woodsy destination in the US at which everyone worked on team-building and trust exercises.

3. Corporate retreats could also be more like a gift to all the employees from a company. They could be focused on having fun, making friends, meeting new colleagues in person and having a memorable time. If these types of corporate retreats are held at a resort, a hotel or even a cruise ship, there can be ample time to relax.

Elements of Corporate Retreats

The elements are:

1. Learning: During the retreat, employees can have the opportunity to learn something new. This can be a new skill, information about a new business practice, or something new about their co-workers.

2. Sharing: Having employees take part in exercises where they share can be a great way to develop new relationships and give each employee a voice within the company. They can share their ideas for how the company can improve, they can offer encouragement to each other, or they can express their desire for what they want to see in the company.

3. Bonding: Providing time for employees to bond with each other can help to create a great team atmosphere at work. They can do this bonding through workshops, or in a more casual way, such as a dinner party.

4. Unifying: Having a team that wants to progress together can increase effectiveness and productivity. Use retreats as a time to share the direction of the company and some goals that the business may like to reach.

Benefits of a Corporate Retreat

Listed below are some benefits of hosting a corporate retreat:

Encourages Team Building

Working as a team can increase effectiveness and can create a positive work environment. If the employees feel like they're a team and that they're all working towards the same goal, this can make a more productive office and increase the likelihood that people may be happy at their jobs. Corporate retreats offer a great chance to host many team-building exercises that can allow the entire company to bond and create a sense of community at work.

Helps in Avoiding Employee Burnout

A major concern in corporations is their employees becoming overworked and feeling physically and emotionally burnt out. Without a proper work and home life balance, employees can feel overwhelmed. Retreats can help to combat this at work by providing employees with an event that promotes rest and relaxation for them. Having the corporate retreat in a place where people can relax but is also conducive for workshops and training, making it a great way to blend relaxation while still being productive. If this retreat happens regularly, it also gives employees something for them to look forward to and work towards.

Boosts Morale

Finding ways to boost morale around the office is very essential for an effective workplace. Low morale can create a more negative work environment. Companies can avoid this by finding ways to raise morale and keep employees happy. Corporate retreats offer the perfect opportunity for this because it allows the company to have a physical expression of gratitude for their hardworking employees. When employees feel like their managers and company are truly grateful for their work, it can help create a very positive work environment.

Provides an Opportunity for Brainstorming

Employees can develop many great ideas for the company, and a corporate retreat offers a great space to facilitate brainstorming. The retreat offers a more casual environment than their normal workspace and helps to remove the normal workplace barriers between managers and employees. This can create a more comfortable environment for free thinking and sharing ideas. Retreats can also have workshops or specific brainstorming sessions that are designed to help uncover the best ideas and discover how the company can put them into practice.

Re-assesses Company Priorities

Retreats are also a great time to look at the priorities of the company and reassess if there are still relevant. Retreats are a good time to do this because most of the staff is all in one place, which allows management to get the opinions of their staff easier and assess the priorities based on those opinions. After re-assessing the priorities, it's easy to now present them to the entire company, which helps to keep everyone aware of expectations and in what direction the company is looking to move.

Offers Additional Training

At a corporate retreat, it's common practice to offer a variety of workshops and training courses. These courses can help employees improve themselves and their performance at work. It may be leaderships training, learning an additional part of the business, or training for a promotion at work. The retreats allow for multiple different courses to be set up at the same time and for employees to pick the workshops that they believe can best benefit them. This is also a great way to encourage career development and personal improvement.

36 Best Corporate Retreat Activities

Below are our all-time favorite team building activities for corporate retreat workshops. We’ve split them up into the quickest, the most time-intensive, and the most unique corporate retreat activities! Wherever you decide to take your team, and with whatever budget, we hope that you find the perfect activity for a corporate retreat! 

Quick Work Retreat Activities

Quick corporate retreat activities are any activity that takes an hour or less. Here are 12 of our favorite quick corporate retreat activities.

Trivia night

Test your team’s knowledge with a game of trivia. To play, split your employees into teams and call out questions that are work-related, such as “how long has our company been in business for?”, or “what was our revenue last year”. The team who gets the answer right first then wins the point. You can offer fun prizes to make your team trivia night the perfect corporate retreat team building activity! 

Throw a welcome party 

Kickstart your corporate retreat by getting everyone settled in with a welcome party. This party can include whatever you like, but we recommend including some welcome drinks and food, an introduction to the purpose of the retreat, and a chat about the itinerary and what your employees can expect. It’s really important to host a welcome party in order to manage expectations and help your team feel welcomed and comfortable.

Karaoke night

Karaoke can be a hilarious and endearing way to help your team relax and feel connected. Learn who can sing in tune by finding a local karaoke bar and singing the night away as a united team. Alternatively, you can hire a karaoke machine and get immersed in an evening of fun without even having to leave your retreat location! 

Team hike

A team hike is a fantastic corporate retreat team building activity because it encourages your team to get up and move, whilst allowing them to connect with nature and with each other. Wherever you decide to carry out your team retreat, it’s worth taking the time to find local hikes, suitable for all abilities, that you can take all your employees on.  

Art class 

Creativity is where most great ideas stem from. Help your team get their creative minds working by scheduling an art class. We recommend doing this in the morning so that you can get your team’s creative juices flowing early, which will help them come up with excellent ideas during the rest of the day!

Host a bake-off

Separate your employees into different teams and give them the ingredients, and one hour of time, to bake the most delicious cake as a team. In the end, everyone can taste each team’s cake and decide which team should be crowned the winner. This is a great activity to include as it encourages a team to use their problem-solving, promotes creativity, and encourages teamwork. 

Go for a meal together 

Connecting over food is an ancient tradition, and it works! Connect your team during your work retreat by taking them for a yummy dinner together. You can do this with your whole company going for one huge meal together, or you can separate it so that each workplace team can go for their own meals together. 

Create a team scavenger hunt 

A scavenger hunt is a classic team building activity and is an activity that you should definitely be including in your corporate retreat! To arrange a scavenger hunt, hide various objects around your corporate retreat site. Send your employees off in teams to find these objects in a race against the clock, with the team that comes back first being crowned the winner. Alternatively, you can send them to find objects which are already there, such as fire extinguishers, forks, or loo rolls!

Incorporate back-to-back drawing

Working in pairs, one player must describe a shape or image without saying it. The other must then draw it! Back-to-back drawing is a great activity to add to a retreat as it promotes communication, problem solving, and creativity ahead of a busy few days.

Team jigsaw puzzles 

Jigsaw puzzles are a classic childhood activity. Incorporating them into a work retreat gives your team a sense of nostalgia and stimulates their brain! Give each team a jigsaw puzzle and set them the challenge of completing it in the quickest time.

Team sunrise walk

Not suitable for everyone (some of us need our sleep more than others!) a sunrise walk is a great way to start any day. Find a beautiful route and arrange a sunrise walk for your keen early risers. To make it an extra special corporate retreat activity, kickstart a discussion on what each employee is looking forward to in the day ahead and what they are grateful for.

Quick-fire icebreakers

Icebreakers are excellent activities to help people get to know each other by creating warm, welcoming, and safe spaces. At the start of your corporate retreat, play a few rounds of icebreaker questions.

Time-Intensive Company Retreat Activities

The beauty of being on a corporate retreat is that you are away from the businesses of normal office life and, as a result, have far more time than you otherwise would! Spend the time on longer, more intense, corporate retreat team building activities. 

Wine tasting

Take your team out for an afternoon of extravagant, boozy fun. Wine tasting, or champagne tasting if the budget allows, is a sophisticated corporate retreat activity that everyone can get involved in. To arrange, all you need to do is find a local vineyard and take your employees. 

Team sports day 

A great way to get your employees up, active, and competing against each other is through a friendly team sports day. Ensure that you hire a retreat location with a large ground/green area and plan a day that includes all types of sporty fun. From sack races to tug of war, egg and spoon races to 100m sprint, this corporate retreat team building activity is a great way to engage an entire team.

Camping trip 

Make a standard hiking trip a little better by taking your team camping in the great outdoors! Make sure you light a campfire so that you can encourage your team to bond, share, and learn whilst toasting marshmallows and drinking hot chocolate! 

Blindfolded tent build

If you decide to take your team camping, you could kill two birds with one stone with a blindfolded tent build: the tents get put up, and your team gets to engage in a fantastic team building activity! To encourage problem solving, teamwork, and leadership, put your teams into pairs where one player is blindfolded and must listen to instructions from another player to put the tent up. To make it competitive, you can make it a race to put the tent up the quickest. 

Board game competition

Anyone who’s ever played a game of monopoly knows that board games can take absolutely hours. Take advantage of the gift of time offered on a company retreat and incorporate a board game contest. You can play this by setting up the easiest board game first and getting everyone to play. The winners play the winners and losers play the losers in the next round, where the board game gets harder.

Factor in some much-needed free time

An afternoon off during a corporate retreat is quite a time-consuming endeavor, but it is incredibly important as it helps your employees to feel like they have some time away from others to gather their thoughts, recuperate, and socialize without feeling pressure. Company retreats can often be exhausting and require travel away from the family, so give people some alone time to catch up with loved ones. 

Take a kayaking adventure

An afternoon immersed in nature is one well spent. Take your team on a kayaking adventure to help them bond together and enjoy the great outdoors. If you want to make it even more exciting, you could go for white water kayaking where things can get a little more hair-raising! 

Pamper afternoon

With research finding that 75% of workers have experienced burnout, one goal you should always be aiming for is to reduce burnout. Burnout, which presents itself as fatigue, stress, lack of sleep, or irritability, can cause severe problems for individuals and teams. Try to prevent burn-out and increase morale in your organization by including a pamper session on your work retreat!

Brainstorming meetings 

Time away from the boardroom is a great way to get your team thinking outside the box and coming up with show-stopping ideas. A change of scenery can boost work productivity and enhance creativity, so company retreats, away from the familiarity of the office, are promising ways to come up with some fantastic new ideas and company directions. 

City hunt

A city hunt is a fantastic (and free) activity to incorporate into a company retreat. Explore a local city by sending your team to find different significant monuments or statues. To make it more competitive, teams can take photos with each object and the team who takes photos with all objects first is the winner. This is a great corporate retreat activity because it allows your team to explore, use their problem-solving skills, connect with each other, and it’s easy to organize! 

Mini golf 

Most big cities have mini golf courses, so find your local one! Take your entire company to a mini golf course and let them unwind and relax into some friendly competition. You can even get drinks and food to lighten the mood.

Host an awards ceremony

Take advantage of having your entire company together by hosting an awards ceremony. Ensure you find a way that is fair and includes all employees or each workplace team. You could offer awards for the most social teams, teams who have smashed their targets the most, or the kindest team. It’s a great way to celebrate success and show your team that you care. 

Most Unique Corporate Retreat Activities

All corporate work retreat activities have many benefits and are great ways to WOW your team. However, if you really want your corporate work retreat to stand out from any other retreat your team has been on, check out the most unique corporate retreat activities out there! 

Join an exercise class 

Places such as Soul Cycle or Barrys bootcamp are international fitness companies, so if you’re booking a corporate retreat near a big city, you could book your team onto one of their exercise classes. With even a little bit of exercise being shown to improve our mood and make us happier, this is a unique team building activity that you can’t afford to not include!

Team cooking class

You can book your team into a special cookery class at a cookery school. From pizza to sushi, Greek meze to Indian curries, there are hundreds of cooking courses out there that make unique corporate retreat activities. 

Participate in an Art Thief mystery game 

Built by team building experts, a great unique corporate retreat activity is to get your team involved in a puzzle-filled race that promotes communication, problem-solving, and team work! The Art Thief mystery game can be delivered to your team wherever they are. After completing a few icebreakers, your team will work through physical boxes that are filled with clues to figuring out who the art thief is.

Take in local tradition

The best way to make an impact on your team’s success and productivity is to change their environment. In a recent survey, 34% of participants revealed that they had their most creative ideas whilst traveling for work! So, conserve your big budget items for another time.. Immerse yourself and your team in local culture. Whether that’s visiting temples, museums, or traditional eateries, allow your team to relax in these cultures to bring you the most creative results! 

Escape Rooms

Escape rooms are fantastic ways to engage a whole team as they race against the clock in an immersive and engaging challenge. In 60 minutes, your employees will work as a team to crack codes, uncover clues and solve puzzles. Designed to increase collaboration, communication, and leadership, this team building activity is not one to be missed.

Celebrate in style with a fancy dinner

Take all the employees on your corporate retreat to a high-end restaurant and have them waited on hand and food with an extravagant dinner. Pick a budget and then pick a restaurant with a wow factor and watch as your team relax and understand how much you appreciate and value them. 

Team skydive

Truly unique and truly memorable, a team skydive is sure to have your team feeling excited, nervous, but still connected. At 10,000 feet in the air, your entire company can bond as they overcome the fear and anticipation of jumping from a plane together.

Sports car day

If your budget allows, a team sportscar day is a fantastic way to let your team bond with each other and to provide a retreat activity that is one to remember. Find a sports car experience local to your retreat venue and book for your employees to drive sports cars. If the car hire company allows, members could even sit in the same car and bond over a hair-raising experience around a race track 

Invite a guest speaker

Find someone who can offer your company some educational and motivational advice and ask them to do a presentation. If you want to make this truly unique, you could bring a celebrity around to make the day as unique and memorable as possible.

Theme park trip

A great way to get your entire workplace bonding is at a theme park where they can scream their heads off as they’re thrown around at 60mph. Find the local theme park at your retreat location and take everyone there. The excitement, nerves, and adrenaline are sure to help build lasting connections.

Laser tag

Encouraging friendly competition and teamwork, a game of laser tag is a truly unique way to get your team working together. Less intense than paintballing, laser tag is a sporty game that encourages critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving. 

Mountain biking experience

Biking is a fantastic way to encourage fitness, get some fresh air, and face some people’s fears! Find some wonderful local trails, rent some bikes and get your team laughing around the countryside!

Things to Bring in a Company Retreat

With things steadily getting back to normal after the global pandemic, company events like retreats and team-building trips are going to pick back up again… And soon. With that comes the age-old doubt about what you actually need to take with you, and what you can afford to leave behind.

1. 1-2 outfit options per day

Chances are, your work retreat isn’t going to have a strict dress code. A good rule of thumb to stick to is that you should dress business casual. You don’t need to dress like you’re going to the office, but you’re also not going to Uncle Gerard’s Sunday barbecue pool party. A comfortable pair of chinos, some nice sneakers, and a sensible polo shirt or top will go a long way!

It’s also a good idea to bring something slightly dressier in case there is a dinner or a party planned. Again, you’re not going to the Met Gala so there’s no need to bring your highest heels or your snazziest tie. But you could be having dinner and drinks with colleagues, after all. Leave the Hawaiian shirt for another occasion.

2. Something warm in case it gets chilly

Depending on where your corporate retreat is being held, it could get a little chilly at night. Especially if you’re being whisked away to enjoy nature, or heading to a city in colder climes than you’re used to. Packing something small like a cardigan, blazer, or sweatshirt can save you from shivering through whatever evening event your colleagues have planned.

3. Don’t forget your toiletries

It may sound obvious and even a little silly, but there’s always that one person who didn’t bring their shampoo or toothpaste and needs to borrow from everyone else. But it’s not that difficult to avoid! You’re going on a company retreat, not to an all-inclusive resort. Remember to pack your essentials:

- Toothbrush

- Toothpaste

- Face cream

- Shower gel

- Shampoo

4. Sports clothes

Chances are that your company off-site is going to feature some kind of outdoor activity. Whether that’s hiking through the woods, looking for clues in a scavenger hunt, or playing dodgeball - you’re probably going to get sweaty. That’s why it’s always a good idea to bring something sporty with you.

Think about bringing a pair of sweat or yoga pants, a dry-fit t-shirt, or even a pair of jogging leggings. It’s always better to bring them and not have to use them than to be caught unawares.

5. A bathing suit

Realistically, you’ll probably know in advance if the place you’re going to has a pool or if it’s near a beach or a lake. That’s why it’s a great idea to check your company retreat agenda before your first day there!

If you are one of the lucky ones and will get to enjoy a pool or a spa at your off-site, then don’t miss out on that opportunity by forgetting your swimsuit! It’s also a good idea to bring a pair of flip flops with you - hotels and other accommodations don’t normally tend to provide them.

6. Sunscreen

Whether it’s a nature getaway with the company or a city escape, you’ll probably be spending a lot of time outdoors. Team off-sites normally take place throughout the warmer months and the risk of you getting a sunburn can be quite high. Sunburns can get pretty uncomfortable, so why take your chances when prevention is so easy?

5 Things to Consider Before Planning a Company Retreat

A company retreat is a great way to bring a team together and help them bond. Every year, businesses plan out activities for their crew and team members to engage in workshops and fun activities. Retreats can also be a great time to relax and recharge before jumping back into day-to-day responsibilities. However, when the time comes to plan a company retreat, there is plenty to consider. Here are five things to consider before planning your next company retreat.

BUDGETING AND ESTIMATING TOTAL COSTS FOR RETREATS

Budgeting is one of the most important parts of planning any event, including a company retreat. Depending on your team’s goals and how many attendees you’ll have, your costs and needs will vary for your activities. Standard budgeting charges to consider include:

- Venue rental

- Lodging arrangements

- Meeting settings/venues

- Meals

- Activities and workshops

- Travel arrangements

It’s best to set these decisions in stone weeks ahead to avoid mishaps or hefty, last-minute costs. To accurately estimate total costs and choose the best option for hosting your retreat, you need to know how many people will be attending and consider your necessities.

SELECTING THE RIGHT VENUE AND LOCATION FOR YOUR TEAM

There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a venue and location for your company retreat. You want to choose a place that will provide fun activities while allowing everyone to feel included and have a chance to connect. You also want to make sure that you have enough space so there’s room for everyone to sleep comfortably and enjoy themselves at the same time.

Fun and inclusive activities help you get to know your coworkers on a more personal level, allowing the formation of closer relationships that benefit your day-to-day interactions! Building friendships and valuable memories are only part of a great company retreat. So, choosing a setting and venue that offers everything you and your team will need to enjoy the activities and knock out your to-do list is essential to a great experience.

CREATING A SCHEDULE FOR EACH DAY OF THE RETREAT

Preparing a schedule for anticipated accomplishments and what activities are in store is an exciting part of planning a company retreat. When arranging a schedule for your team, you’ll need to decide how long your retreat will take place and what you’ll accomplish in that time frame. This will help people make the best use of your team’s time, energy, and resources.

Even though departments may differ in goals and topics to cover, you can set apart company-wide activities and breaks. Here are some day-to-day retreat activities and needs to consider for time management:

- Meal times

- Transportation time

- Breaks during the day

- Workshops/Sessions

- Group break-outs

- Free time/Leisure activities

Your company retreat needs good planning and a set schedule for your team to follow regardless of the goals for the retreat. With ample options at our Frogbridge company retreat venue in New Jersey, you won’t run out of ideas and activities to add to your schedule. 

DECIDING WHICH ACTIVITIES TO ADD TO YOUR SCHEDULE

Another component of planning a company retreat is deciding on the activities and sessions to take advantage of when your team gathers together. Some things that your team will enjoy during a retreat includes activities like:

- Outdoor activities and sports

- Team-building workshops

- Exploring the surrounding location

- Eating meals together

- Enjoying venue amenities

Setting the retreat’s tone and giving everyone an idea of what to expect makes the event more exciting for your team. Your company workshops and fun activities can help promote bonding within the team and allow people to relax and rejuvenate before returning to work.

HIRING STAFF TO HELP WITH LOGISTICS

It is crucial to have all the necessary components mapped out for a retreat. This can be stressful because you don’t want to miss any necessary parts, and your company wants to make the best of your time and budget for the retreat.

In addition to planning everything from budgeting and selecting a venue to creating a schedule and deciding on activities, it is also important to have staff who can help make the retreat run smoothly. Event planning can help with food service, transportation, and cleaning while your team enjoys the retreat. An event planning team can ensure that everyone has a great time and that everything goes according to plan so you can attend your activities stress-free.

How to Plan a Corporate Retreat

Now that you have a general idea of what you want your retreat to look like, let’s get into the nitty-gritty. Follow these eight steps to plan the company retreat of your dreams:

1. Find and book the venue

Choosing the right venue can make or break your team retreat. These trips are typically designed as something of an escape from the usual workspace, so make sure you’re looking for venues that will provide a fun and unique experience for the entire team.

But the right venue will look different for different teams. With a small group, you could probably book a group home or another short-term rental. If you have a large group, you may want to consider a boutique hotel or resort as accommodation. 

Whatever you choose, make sure you’ll be able to plan activities that take place outside of a conference room – remember, you’re trying to avoid the mundane corporate environment!

2. Book lodging for the offsite

Depending on which venue you choose, you may need to provide offsite lodging for your team. If that’s the case, you’ll want to ensure the lodging isn’t too far away. If your employees are driving to the retreat and have their cars, you may have some wiggle room. But if they’re taking a bus or flying to the retreat, make sure it’s going to be easy for them to get from their room to the venue each day.

3. Secure transportation

Your employees must be able to safely get to and from the retreat, and then to and from their rooms once they get there.

If your retreat is close to home, decide if you want employees to drive themselves or if you want to rent a shuttle or a bus to take everyone there and back together. If you’re choosing the shuttle route, ensure your employees won’t need their vehicles while on the retreat. If your employees will be driving there, ensure there are ample parking spots.

If you’re traveling further away for the retreat, make sure you take care of all the flights and subsequent rental cars, Uber rides, or shuttle services. You don’t want your employees to get stressed about transportation during the retreat. The more you plan for a smooth ride, the easier it will be for everyone in the long run.

4. Manage food and catering if needed

One of the best parts of vacation is the food– it should be no different on a corporate retreat. Shared meals can offer a great bonding experience, so plan what food options to offer your team.

5. Coordinate and plan team-building activities

These are essential retreat activities, but they can either be really fun or cheesy. Make sure you think long and hard about the team-building activities you plan and think through what sounds like fun.

Some popular options you can incorporate at any venue include icebreakers that allow people to get to know their colleagues better and scavenger hunts that let them have some fun and explore the retreat location. You want your employees to get to know each other’s personalities better and cultivate better working relationships. 

Then depending on the venue, there are plenty of other fun team-building exercises you can plan to promote employee engagement. Wherever you are, try to think about ways to get out and enjoy some fresh air – beach days, hiking, skiing, etc.

When planning your retreat, make sure you incorporate a variety of activity styles to accommodate people’s preferences and comfort levels. Some activities can be more active (like hiking and yoga), while others could be more laid-back (like board games or crafts). 

Include different options for people with varying physical needs and capabilities. If there’s a strenuous hike option, plan a shorter guided loop for those with different needs. 

You could make personal sessions where everyone has the chance to share a bit about their lives outside of the workplace, and even offer people the opportunity to teach their colleagues about something they have a passion for. AvantStay retreat coordinators can help book activities like mixology classes, beach picnics, and more if you want someone else to take care of the planning!

Remember, team-building activities aren’t just about bringing your team closer together in a work environment. It’s about building relationships and helping people get to know their colleagues better. Ideally, your employees will leave the retreat feeling like they’ve developed friendships with their colleagues.

6. Organize work sessions

Retreats can be fun, but you’ll likely need to get some work done at some point. Check that the venue has everything you need, including comfortable work seating, WiFi, and meeting rooms.

While working on a retreat doesn’t always sound appealing, it can be a fantastic opportunity for remote-work companies to have in-person brainstorming sessions, which are often more productive than over the phone. It can be hard to achieve a sense of teamwork in a remote team, so factoring in some working hours during the retreat may help.

7. Provide restaurant recommendations and activities in the area

Sure, the retreat is technically a work thing. But you must schedule some downtime for your employees as well. Make sure you not only allow for some free time but also provide some recommendations of things to do.

One way to do this is to create a pamphlet or information card waiting for each employee on their bed when they check-in. The card could list information about restaurants, activities, and other interesting locations in the area. Include some that are walkable, and some that may require a drive, depending on what they’re feeling up for.

8. Create a post-retreat survey

No matter how much thought you put into planning your retreat, you can never really know how well it’ll go. That’s why it’s always good to talk to your employees and get a feel for how much they enjoyed it. You can take their feedback and use it when planning your next corporate retreat.

While you may have good relationships with some employees, not everyone will feel comfortable voicing any questions or concerns they had in one-on-one chats. You’ll want to make sure you get as much honest feedback as you can.

Consider creating an anonymous post-retreat survey. That will allow people to be as honest as they want without fear of retribution.

But if you send out one of these surveys, just make sure the leadership team takes any concerns or suggestions into consideration when planning the next retreat. People will notice (and appreciate!) the change, but they’ll also notice if their concerns get ignored year after year.

Sources:

Indeed

Adele Stickland

Team Building Hub

Half Half Travel

Wander

Avant Stay

Science of People

ASAP

Travel Perk

Moniker Partners

Frogbridge Events

Wokshopper

 

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