Corporate retreats are a great way to bring everyone together after a long year in business. Some employees will be itching to find out where they get to go this year. That puts pressure on the corporate team to find something suitable. Here are some important considerations to keep in mind when choosing your next location.
Important Factors When Choosing The Best Corporate Retreat
1) Location
This has to be the starting point when planning a trip. Where do you want to go? If you are keen to keep things simple and stay within your home state, that might be possible. You just might have fewer options. If you are happy to pay out for a resort anywhere in the United States, the options become more interesting. You can check out your choices by state, such as deliberately looking at places in Florida or the Midwest. Or, you can go by theme. City-based retreats can be fun, but many of the more relaxing ones are out in the country or near the beach. You can also find some in the desert or mountains.
2) Logistics
Next, you need to figure out how you are going to get everyone there. A trip upstate isn’t too bad if everyone has their own mode of transport or is happy to car share. A country retreat in upstate New York or rural Massachusetts might be ideal for those working in urban markets in the Eastern Seaboard. The alternative is to find somewhere that’s close enough to a major airport or that has good shuttle services. Essentially, it needs to be accessible and not so bad you need another holiday to recover from the journey home.
3) Local culture
Choosing a location for a corporate retreat is about more than the local landscape. The area needs to have enough going on to pique the interest of employees and give them a good vacation. Many retreats will have on-site perks, which we’ll get to in a moment. Still, it is nice to explore off-site and see what’s on offer. This means places with thriving art and music, plenty of good restaurants, and something they can’t enjoy at home. For example, this is why so many people head west to southern California.
4) Nearby experiences
In addition to the general scene and atmosphere of a location, it helps if there are more experiences on offer. Local tourist traps and businesses can help provide fun group excursions and team-building days for all your employees. Anywhere that offers private tours is a must – especially any wineries or boat companies. The former is why you see so many of these retreats located in wine country. Local museums, zoos, and other strange tourist attractions also give guests another way to relax and feel like they are on vacation. This is important because as much as you need those team-building moments and corporate parties, a little time away is essential.
5) Accommodation
There are a few important factors to consider when it comes to the actual accommodation in these retreats. First, what type of accommodation is on offer and what are you after. Employees will appreciate a nice hotel room with a bathroom and comfy bed after months of hard work. However, there are perks in getting a more rustic lodge with a homely feel or a more basic campout in more rural areas. From there, you need to look at the quantity and quality of rooms. Is everyone getting their own space with a high-end room, or are they sharing something a little cheaper?
6) Dining
All the corporate activities and excursions in these top corporate retreat locations mean employees will work up an appetite. The best high-end options with an all-inclusive feel should have enough on-site catering. This means plenty of opportunities for breakfast and catered dinners. The best resorts may also help you create a welcome party with canapes and drinks if you are lucky. The alternative is somewhere where employees either have to rely on self-catering or delivery at the venue, or go out into town and spend their own money.
7) Facilities
Beyond the ability to cater to guests’ needs with food and drink, a good corporate retreat location should offer enough corporate facilities. A quality wi-fi connection is a good start because you’re all still going to want to check emails and keep in touch with loved ones back home. A corporate entertainment room or conference room also helps with any team-building activities and talks. Then there are all the bonus leisure facilities, such as an on-site gym, pool, and spa. There is no guarantee that all retreats will offer these, but sites like teamout.com are pretty varied. The more rustic ones in the countryside will be more bare-bones. So, think about what features are essential and what you can do without.
8) On-site activities
Initially, there are all the areas within the grounds of the resort to take advantage of. A lot of these places will have sports facilities, such as pools and tennis courts. Some of the expensive options away from the big cities may even have their own golf course. Others in more laid-back areas, such as down in San Diego, may have rooms for yoga and meditation. If not, most will have attractive grounds for some gentle walks, reading, or other activities.
Find The Right Fit For Your Team
Clearly, there is a lot to think about when finding the best corporate retreats for your team. You can’t focus purely on the location and promise everyone a trip to Vegas, the Florida Coast, or the Colorado mountains. You have to be sure that the retreat you choose fits your teams’ expectations for the type of location, type of accommodation, and overall sense of quality. Are they going to be able to relax there after all those team-building activities? Is there enough to enjoy in the local area to make it feel like a vacation? If you can tick all those boxes, you’re on to a winner.
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