Plan the best corporate retreat for your team

By Melanie VandenBoogaard

A corporate retreat can be a powerful way to connect teams, inspire creativity and improve an organization’s culture. A retreat shakes things up, breaking up daily routines and offering opportunities to learn, innovate and problem-solve. And with nearly 70% of employees saying they’d benefit from making deeper connections with their colleagues, a well-executed retreat can strengthen relationships and foster community. Plan a company retreat that’s both memorable and impactful using these five tips.

70%

of employees saying they’d benefit
from making deeper connections with their colleagues

Start by asking ‘why’

Before you start clearing calendars or booking venues, define why your organization would benefit from a team-building retreat. This purpose will inform all decisions to come. Perhaps the goal is to strengthen company culture, align teams or departments, drive creativity or deliver specific training. A change in leadership or an organizational restructuring might also drive the desire for a group experience. When people understand the retreat’s purpose, they’re more likely to be engaged, invested and ready to contribute.

Find the right place and time

Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. You may not find the perfect date and location, but a situation that’s practical yet inspiring can set a proper stage. With your “why” in mind, consider corporate retreat locations that check the right boxes. From nature to historical to luxury to unique, the options are limitless. Natural surroundings are often chosen for relaxation and creativity, while cities offer energy and convenience. Decide if an extra day for exploration would benefit your team. If so, bring together a small committee of employees from around the organization to offer suggestions or ideas. Show appreciation for their efforts by giving tech organizers or travel pouches as thank-you gifts.

Create a varied agenda

The ideal retreat blends purposeful work with opportunities to connect and recharge. While it might be tempting, avoid trying to maximize productivity by packing the agenda with too many activities. Workshops and group sessions might be important for accomplishing retreat goals, but they can be hard work, and you want employees to remain energized day after day.

First, build your schedule with the activities that most align with your “why.” These might include skill-building sessions, strategy workshops and team-building activities. Then sprinkle other sessions that are less taxing. Finally, add some fun. A group walk, hike or bike ride, tour, game, art class or museum visit might fit your outing.

A group walk, hike or bike ride, tour, game, art class or museum visit
might fit your outing

Give slingpacks to employees, along with the retreat schedule, as a surprise gift. They’ll come in handy on walks or rides and can get eyes on your logo. Don’t forget small team giveaways—like stickers and Koozie^® can coolers—to have as prizes for games and team-building exercises.

Communicate clearly

Clear and consistent communication throughout the retreat greatly improves your chances of success. Remind employees of the retreat’s purpose and how it benefits the team. Include requirements and expectations with regards to the schedule and how daily work will be handled throughout the retreat. Offer packing guidance based on the location, weather and activities. Take it a step further and provide duffel bags to help everyone prepare and look like a team.

Learn for next time

The experiences and lessons learned during a retreat can resonate well after the event itself. This is true not just for the main objectives, but also the planning and execution. As things wrap up, gather feedback from employees and leaders through surveys or group conversations to get a feel for what went well and what could be improved. Give attendees time and space for open-ended responses—not simply yes-or-no questions or ratings. Use these insights when planning future retreats.

After collecting feedback, give company-branded swag bags to commemorate the experience. Include trucker caps and tumblers with an event-specific imprint.

Make memories and a lasting impact

A well-planned and executed company retreat can bring a host of benefits, including stronger connections and improved culture. By defining your purpose, selecting the right setting, crafting a strong agenda, communicating clearly and thoroughly, and evaluating the experience, your retreat can provide results that reverberate for years to come.

Melanie VandenBoogaard

Melanie VandenBoogaard is a senior merchandising category manager with nearly two decades of experience in the merchandising industry. She specializes in bags—including backpacks, totes, and more—staying on top of trends to ensure 4imprint offers a wide selection that meets customers’ needs in both style and price. Melanie also leads product development for 4imprint’s private-label brands, where she enjoys creating, building, and designing new products.

Trademarks & Sources