Corporate retreats made simple

A corporate retreat can serve as a way for remote companies to come together in person and for regular companies to take a break from the office and spend quality time together. It allows employees to bond and connect with their co-workers in different settings.

Corporate retreats enables employees to get together in a chosen location outside the office for some days to have different activities, ranging from fun activities to productive sessions.

The fun activities provide a team-bonding experience, while the productive sessions allow employers to clarify company culture, company goals/ missions, and employee roles.

Corporate team-building retreats are increasingly popular among forward-thinking companies, especially with the rise of remote work.

Traditionally, these retreats were exclusive to upper management, characterized by extravagant locations and lavish spending.

However, they have evolved beyond wastefulness and now serve as opportunities to unite entire staff offsite for both business and leisure. Employers organize these events to foster camaraderie, enhance morale, articulate the company's mission, and cultivate a positive company culture.

Companies host corporate events to facilitate team bonding, boost employee morale, and help everyone understand the company’s missions and their roles in goal achievement.

A corporate retreat is an excursion that takes the entire company out of the workplace for team bonding experiences. However, it is not merely a happy getaway for the team.

While the focus is not solely on work, corporate events typically include business-related activities such as workshops and presentations. These productive sessions provide opportunities for companies to clarify aspects like company goals and values.

How much you spend on your corporate retreat depends on several factors, including:
‍
- The number of employees
- The length of the retreat (the number of days your team will spend out)
- Location
- Transportation
- The retreat venue
- Accommodation
- The planned retreat activities
- Meals

In terms of figures, the “on-site experience” (excluding transportation) typically costs $200 to $700 per person per night. European locations generally have lower costs compared to those in the US. Many European corporate retreat centers can host companies for $210 to $400 per person per night, while US centers typically range from $350 to $700.

To get how much a corporate team-building retreat will cost your company, use our Budget Estimator and receive an estimation for your next adventure.

Corporate retreats that bring real value to companies perfectly balance work and fun elements. Thus, a lot of thought goes into planning and executing successful corporate team-building retreats.

Some things to help you plan a successful corporate retreat are:

‍Define your goals. You should clearly outline what your company wants to get out of the retreat. For example, do you want to define company values? Do you want to improve communications? Do you want to celebrate achievements?

‍Communicate the plan and expectations. Taking people out of their comfort zones for a retreat can create anxiety. They may worry about whether they’ll be safe, whether accommodations will be conducive, etc. Clearly communicating your plan and expectations will alleviate pre-retreat anxiety and set the tone for a more enjoyable retreat.

‍Balance the agenda with work and play. Plan your retreat itinerary to include a fair share of work and fun activities. Too many workshops may make your retreat tiring. When a location promises so much fun, the last thing employees will want is you always ushering them to conference rooms to listen to speeches. Also, limit organized sessions, and leave plenty of time for organic team-building exercises.

To organize a corporate retreat that your team will love, consider the following:

‍The perfect retreat location. Never use the office or any other place your teams work. You may do a retreat venue research by asking sampling employees. However, endeavor to go for an exclusive venue with a little bit of the wow factor. Think about something on the beach, by a lake, or in the mountain…

‍Plan an event that caters to everyone. People in your group will have different needs. For example, while some will like physical activities, others may like more laid-back activities. To ensure your entire staff will love the retreat, plan the corporate event with inclusivity in mind so everyone’s needs are attended to.   

‍Work with a professional facilitator. Work with expert facilitators to lead productive workshops. Employees tend to open up to a stranger than a boss in such settings.

‍Build fun into the agenda. Retreats are only truly enjoyable when employees get to unwind and have fun. Fun means different things to different people, so there’s no end to activities you can include. However, favorite fun activities include guided tours, quiz games, scavenger hunts, horseback riding, etc. 

‍Don’t cram your agenda. Your daytime should not be packed full of organized sessions. People love time for themselves to do their own thing. So, also plan for times when people can venture off on their own. Such organic interactions facilitate bonding.