A corporate retreat brings together a company’s employees, usually for the purposes of strengthening employee relationships. These gatherings tend to be held at an off-site location and can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Traditionally, corporate retreats include team-building activities, group workshops and time for socialising and leisure activities.
Corporate retreats are a great way to boost morale and show appreciation for your team. They give employees time and space to bond with each other which can improve the atmosphere in the workplace. With so many people working remotely these days, strengthening relationships through in-person events is more important than ever before.
It’s not uncommon for corporate retreats to include additional training in the form of workshops or sessions hosted by guest speakers and/or senior members of the team. Under the right circumstances, you can offer a range of training options, allowing employees to choose the workshops they believe will benefit them most.
Retreats can be incredibly unifying. They provide an opportunity to celebrate achievements and communicate targets, goals and the overall direction of the company. You can also facilitate brainstorming, inviting your team to share their ideas and suggest ways the company can improve.
As well as encouraging team building, a corporate retreat can also help prevent employee burnout. By prioritising rest and giving your team access to relaxing activities, you may increase their productivity in the long run.
Combine the word ‘corporate’ with ‘retreat’ and many people will imagine forced fun with your workmates on an outward-bound course! But this is outdated.
Nowadays, corporate retreats can include anything from a relaxing hotel stay in the big city to glamping in the English countryside. Employees might be expected to bond over dinner and drinks or participate in a group cooking class. Spa treatments, sporting activities, escape rooms, board games, puzzles, yoga and more – there are a million different ways to show your employees a good time, boost morale and unite your team!
So, where do you start? Here are a few things to consider…
1. What’s Your Objective?
The key to planning an effective corporate retreat is understanding your overall objective. What are you hoping to achieve by bringing your team together? For example, you might want to celebrate an achievement, facilitate professional development or strengthen the bond between employees.
2. What’s Your Budget?
It’s important to determine how much money you want to spend on your corporate retreat. To create an accurate budget, you’ll need to consider things like accommodation, the number of employees attending, and the proposed cost of any planned activities.
3. Where Will the Retreat Take Place?
The location of your retreat needs to reflect your overall objective and fall within budget. It should also meet all your needs and requirements. Corporate retreats can be held locally or further away. They can even take place overseas.
4. What About an Itinerary?
It’s a good idea to draw up a detailed itinerary so employees know what to expect. It’s also useful as a basic timetable everyone can follow. A successful itinerary usually includes a mix of structured and unstructured time. You can incorporate things like formal and informal team-building activities, workshops, training, rest and relaxation.
5. And Everything Else?
As well as choosing a location and planning the itinerary, you’ll need to take care of accommodation, transport, catering and any group activities that require booking in advance. You might want to arrange some extra special touches like welcome gifts, team rewards, entertainment or even a party to round off the retreat. You’ll also need to communicate with your team and keep everyone informed throughout the planning process.
At Benessamy, we don’t plan run-of-the-mill corporate events – we curate experiences for businesses who want to nurture and develop their team.
Whether you’re a small business or large company, we can help you deliver an uplifting, inspiring experience that unites your team and leaves a lasting impression on your bottom line. Please get in touch to arrange a consultation and discuss your plans. For more inspiration, read 5 Reasons to Host a Corporate Party or Event.
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A corporate event is any event sponsored or hosted by a business. They can focus on either clients or employees, and they can be large or small, simple or elaborate.
Jun 13, 2023
