12 Corporate Retreat Ideas Your Team Will Love

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Summary. A corporate retreat is an event that takes place outside the office, focused on employee well-being in an effort to boost morale, team-building, and overall company performance. The goal of these retreats is to get teams together in one place to brainstorm, work on a project, or define company roadmaps.

Often a multi-day event, corporate retreats have gained popularity in recent years, especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, where many companies shifted to remote or hybrid work models. These events are typically hosted in a destination location, near large cities, or in a central location for all employees.

How you choose to structure your corporate retreat depends on your business type and what you’re hoping to accomplish. For example, remote companies may want to get all teams in one room so that they can work on an important project, or more traditional companies may choose to get all employees in one location to share annual results and a vision for the upcoming year.

Key Takeaways:

According to TravelPerk, 34% of employees shared they have had their most creative ideas on company or executive retreats.
In today’s world of remote or hybrid-work models, corporate retreats give your employees the opportunity to be in one room together, working on a collective goal.
According to Harvard Business Review, in-person communication is 34 times more effective than virtual alternatives.

Why Organize a Corporate Retreat

According to TravelPerk, 34% of employees shared they have had their most creative ideas on company or executive retreats. This number increased to 53% for employees between the ages of 16 and 24. Corporate retreats get your employees out of the office and into a new environment, acting as a surprising motivator for your company.

In today’s world of remote or hybrid-work models, corporate retreats give your employees the opportunity to be in one room together, working on a collective goal. It puts faces to people named on Slack or Microsoft Teams and helps employees and teams feel more bonded and aligned on their projects. Here are some of the benefits of a corporate retreat.

Save money. Although it seems counter-intuitive, corporate retreats can actually save you money. Rather than needing multiple work trips between cities for meetings and training, teams can utilize a corporate retreat to get things done. It’s also more financially efficient to book all tickets and hotels at once rather than at different times.
Recognize high performers. When you have the entire company in one place, you’re able to highlight employees who are performing well. This can be done in a variety of different ways, but it gives the executive team the opportunity to highlight and recognize employees for their hard work.
Team bonding. Although many prefer remote or hybrid work, it can sometimes be difficult for new employees to integrate into the workplace, and over time, existing employees may begin to feel disconnected. Corporate retreats help to break down barriers while providing an inclusive environment where everyone feels needed.
Boost morale. Corporate retreats aren’t just about work. Fun activities help to boost employee morale and give them a deeper connection to the company, especially if they feel they’re being rewarded for their hard work. Corporate retreats show you’re interested in investing in your employees.
Company branding. Corporate retreats are a perfect opportunity for company branding, both internally and externally. Showing that you care about your employees and their growth is exciting to existing employees, potential candidates, customers, and stakeholders, too.

How to Plan a Great Corporate Retreat

According to Harvard Business Review, in-person communication is 34 times more effective than virtual alternatives, so don’t exclude anyone from your planned corporate retreat. There are plenty of ways to plan a great work retreat, but here are some best practices to consider when planning yours.

Pick a location that works for your team. Depending on your team and your company, the location of your retreat will matter. Some may look to get away from the fast-paced nature of cities and retreat in the countryside; others may host their retreats in major cities, providing more opportunities for activities outside of the retreat.
Plan an agenda. Be sure you and your event teams work on a comprehensive agenda for the retreat. Understand what problems need to be solved and if certain areas of the business need to be improved. Give teams time to meet with one another, and be sure you schedule plenty of breaks and socialization time.
Balance work and play. Though you will have many goals for your corporate retreat, it’s important to balance work time with fun activities that have nothing to do with work. After a day of brainstorming, planning, and learning, take your employees out to do something fun to boost morale and camaraderie.
Prioritize. You won’t be able to tackle everything you need to work on during your work retreat, so be sure to prioritize things that are most important to accomplish. Thinking about higher-level ideas is a good way to spend your time, leaving the details for when you get back home.
Have enough tools at your disposal. When booking your event space, be sure it has enough room to accommodate everyone comfortably. Be sure you have all the necessary tools for a successful corporate retreat, like projection screens, microphones, internet access, whiteboards, and more.

Corporate Retreat Location Ideas

As mentioned above, it’s important to consider your employees and your business when deciding on the location for your corporate retreat. The size of your company will certainly impact where and when you can hold your event, so be sure to plan well in advance. Here are some ideas for corporate retreats.

Resort. Hosting your retreat at a resort is one of the most popular corporate retreat locations as they tend to be group-friendly. These spaces typically offer lodging, food, and outdoor events providing you with a great balance. Additionally, most facilities have staff that can help coordinate team-building activities.
Office. If you’re on a budget, hosting a company retreat right in your office or a central co-working space is a great idea. You’ll have access to all of the tools you need and have an opportunity to explore the external location of your office.
Conference Center. Another popular choice is a conference center. They provide a professional atmosphere for companies of all sizes with different meeting rooms, lecture halls, ballrooms, and banquet rooms. They are also typically able to provide all equipment you need as well as food and oftentimes, lodging.
Abroad. If you can afford to, moving your company retreat abroad is a great way to go big or go home. This can be especially appealing to global companies. It can be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many of your employees, boosting their morale and giving them an experience they’ll never forget.

Corporate Retreat Ideas and Activities

Once you’ve chosen your location for your retreat, you’ll want to fill the time between meetings and presentations with fun activities. Don’t forget to give your employees some downtime in the evenings and mornings to eat and call home, if necessary. Here are some activities to consider for your corporate retreat.

Trivia. Everyone loves a little competition. Consider hosting a trivia event and putting employees on teams with people they may not work with on a regular basis. This is a great way to be sure everyone gets to know one another. Consider offering prizes or incentives like an extra PTO day to the winning teams.
Karaoke. If you have an outgoing team, consider hosting a karaoke event. Your teams may feel more relaxed and better connected by immersing themselves in a fun event.
Hiking. Getting out of the location where your retreat is being held is essential, and hiking is a great activity to suggest. It encourages movement while allowing your teams to connect with each other and nature.
Classes. Consider taking your employees to an art or cooking class where they have to work together or get their creative juices flowing. This is a fun, stress-free activity that almost anyone can do.
Meals. A great activity is to simply take your team out for a meal. Connecting over food is a generations-old activity. Go to a great restaurant in the area or consider something fun, like a Brazillian steak house or a restaurant with an arcade.
Scavenger hunt. Scavenger hunts aren’t only for kids; they can be a great team-building activity for your corporate retreat. Build teams and send your employees off to find hidden objects or locations. Consider a reward for the team that finishes first.
Team sports. If you have employees that like to move, consider getting them involved in a team sport. You can do anything from sack races to tug of war. This is a great way to boost morale, create camaraderie, and engage your entire team.
Awards ceremony. Consider hosting an awards dinner or ceremony where you highlight high performers within your company. Awards can be for success in sales or customer service, completion of a large project, and more.

Corporate Retreat Ideas FAQ

How much do corporate retreats cost?

Although it will depend on your location and the activities you’re looking to pursue, a corporate retreat typically costs between $2,000-$3,000 per person. Remember, hosting a corporate retreat actually saves you money in the long run by consolidating travel and lodging costs into one event.
Is a corporate retreat tax deductible?

Yes, corporate retreats are tax deductible, but you must make sure you provide the proper documentation to your accounting team. To be considered tax-deductible, the retreat must focus on business topics and show demonstrable professional development for the employees that attend.
Are there benefits to corporate retreats?

There are a number of benefits for corporate retreats, primarily fulfilling the desire for in-person contact for your employees. Corporate retreats often solidify professional connections, encourage creativity and innovation, spark loyalty for the company, boost morale, and improve the overall culture of your business.

References

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Author

Caitlin Mazur

Caitlin Mazur is a freelance writer at Zippia where she has written 140+ articles that have reached over 1 mil viewers as of June 2023. Caitlin is passionate about helping Zippia’s readers land the jobs of their dreams by offering content that discusses job-seeking advice based on experience and extensive research.