1. Plan the corporate retreat with a clear goal in mind

a. Is there a problem you want to get together and solve?

b. Is there an aspect of the company culture that needs improving or nurturing?

c. Do you want to use the retreat as an opportunity to offer training in a certain area?

d. Do you want to focus the company retreat on celebrating achievements and boosting morale?

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2. Set the retreat budget, theme and intention

a. The retreat budget consists of transportation costs, facilitator, accommodation costs, meal allowance, and team activities.

b. By setting a theme, it will help you better curate the program, training and/or experiences.

c. Set the intention early on so everyone is on the same page.

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3. Decide how many days your retreat should take

a. For a retreat to be successful, it needs to take at least 2 days, as 1 day should be spent off-site. The ideal number is typically between 3 and 5 days –depending on the size of your team and if you need to focus on larger tasks.

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4. Find the perfect location for your corporate retreat

a. A location that will allow the kind of activities or experiences you want.

b. Gives a “Wow” factor.

c. Best retreat locations encourage people to relax and explore during their free time.

d. Accessible location.

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5. Don’t overpack the agenda, leave room for down time and play

a. Have an itinerary.

b. Include essential workshops and group sessions and leave plenty of space for organic team building and downtime, too.

c. Aim for balance and ensure people have enough time, energy, and flexibility to grab a coffee with a colleague, go for a nice walk, or have a swim at their own leisure.

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6. Build fun into the agenda

a. Put on some activities that are purely for fun—and, in doing this, remember that “fun” means different things to different people.

b. Plan a variety of activities that will appeal to as many people as possible, and make sure there are options that are accessible for everyone.

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7. Plan a corporate retreat that caters to most of the people

a. Plan your retreat with inclusivity and accessibility at the forefront.

b. Ensure everyone has sufficient food options and that your planned activities don’t risk excluding certain people or making them uncomfortable.

c. Its impossible to make everyone happy. Target to make majority of the people happy. A survey in advance will help identify success factors.

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8. Communicate the plan (and expectations) ahead of time

a. Inform exact dates, location, accommodation, transportation, purpose, and itinerary if they are expected to answer work emails and if anything needs to be prepared.

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9. Work with an expert facilitator

a. An expert facilitator will enable effective, solution-focused discussions and equip your team with new ways of working that they can take with them beyond the retreat.

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10. Establish action points at the end of the retreat

a. Towards the end of the retreat, carve out some time for everybody to get together and turn the retreat learnings into concrete actions.

b. Ultimately, what needs to be done to ensure that you all continue working towards your goal? And who is responsible for implementing those actions and changes?

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11. Get feedback

a. After the retreat, send out a short survey to gather feedback—and make it anonymous, so you get to hear people’s honest thoughts.

b. When it comes to planning your next company retreat, refer to your survey data so you can address any pain points and ensure an even better experience the next time around.

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12. Bonus tip: Treat your guests to a VIP goodie bag

a. If you have the budget, start your retreat on a high note with a VIP goodie bag for your guests. Make it unique, relevant and as personal as possible—it’s a great way to kick off the retreat on a positive note.

b. VIP goodie bag may include: Branded company gears, local specialties, and/or things they will need during the retreat (e.g. slippers, bathrobe, sunblock, towel, etc.)

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This is a small preview of all the amazing things we can plan for your next company retreat!

LET’S CHAT TO MAKE THE BEST OUT OF THIS EXPERIENCE!

Seetha.