Corporate retreats are a growing trend in the corporate world, and it is no coincidence why. When planned and organized correctly, it relieves stress, sparks inspiration, creates time to reflect, and most importantly boosts company morale. A successful work retreat is an investment back into your business, creating substantial differences in the way your business performs for years to comes. Luxury retreats, all hands retreats, leadership retreats, and team-building retreats are some of the many retreat ideas that bring your company together while allowing you and your employees time out of the office for both work and play.
An Investment Back Into Your Company
Before we start talking about planning your corporate retreat, let’s talk about the importance and benefits of a successful one. Did you know that businesses with high morale outperform their counterparts by 20%? Company retreats show your work team that you care about them and appreciate their hard work and dedication. A special treat for your company retreats creates an inclusive and positive work environment. A corporate retreat is planned and created entirely for your business and its needs, goals, and values. It is meant to bring your entire team together while focusing solely on how to make your business better. Work retreats can be used for training, leadership development, team-building, networking, conferences, and even for branding and marketing. The corporate world is competitive, fast-paced, and takes a lot out of your team. Give you and your team a “work vacay” with a retreat that focuses on company goals, a positive work environment, and future business, while planning for off-site fun.
Reviews From Our Clients
“Not only did you create a great ambiance with the lounges, lighting, and music, but the food displays were a work of art. And the entertainment? People are still talking about it. My guests all enjoyed a wonderful evening. Thank you so much for making me look good …Denise and Nikki, Event Solutions is lucky to have such a dynamic duo. I will continue to recommend your services to everyone I know! ”
Angelisa – O’Melveny & Myers LLP
Which Corporate Retreat is Best for Your Company?
The first step in planning your corporate retreat is deciding which retreat is best for your business. Looking to plan a luxury retreat for executives or do you want to plan an all-hands retreat for your entire work team? Do you want to stay local or do you want to travel to a top city like Las Vegas? (Click here for help with destination management.) Retreats are planned according to your company’s needs and goals. Leadership retreats differ from health and wellness retreats or weekend retreats at the local spa with a group of friends. Rather than a weekend away, these retreats are business focused and goal oriented. Team-building retreats are great for bringing employees together and boosting morale. Appreciation retreats are perfect for celebrating business milestones and preparing all-hands and leaders for what’s next. Look below to find out which retreat is best for your company.
Different Types of Retreats Include:
- Seminar Conference Retreats
- Fitness Retreats
- Leadership Retreats
- Trade Show Retreats
- Silent Retreats
- Family Retreats
- Executive Retreats
- Destination Retreats
- Adventure Retreats
- Incentive Programs
- Weekend Retreats
- Appreciation Retreats
- Mountain Retreats
- Health Retreats
- Team-Building Retreats
- Wellness Retreats
- Spiritual Retreats
- Product Launch Retreats
- Women’s Retreats
- Board Retreats
Planning A Successful Retreat
Now that we have an understanding of the importance of retreats and the different kinds you could plan, let’s talk about how to organize them and what you might need. We know that it takes a lot to manage a retreat and that it can become a bit overwhelming. That is why it is important to organize your retreat in steps, focusing on each important detail that makes your retreat successful, rewarding, and productive. Not only do you have to organize the retreat itself, but you also must plan ahead with destination management, transportation, hotels, flights, and picking the right retreat venue. And don’t forget catering, entertainment, design, and themes. Whether a day retreat or weekend retreat, there are important factors that you must consider. Read on for tips and tricks!
Finding the Right Location
Let’s say you’re planning a team-building retreat for your entire company. The first step would be finding a location that works for team-building games, activities, and training. Do you want a venue that is close to your offices or do you want to travel to your company’s headquarters? Or maybe you want to travel to a top city where employees can site-see on their time off. When the stakes are high, pick a top retreat location that allows for both work and plays.
Visit Us in Southern California, Las Vegas or Dallas, TX
Travel to Los Angeles and host your retreat at the Los Angeles Convention Center, The Shrine, or Pomona Fairplex. These locations can handle large groups in the thousands with ease, making these venues great for conferences, conventions, seminars, or networking events. Read about AltaMed’s All Hands Employee Meeting by Event Solutions.
Planning an international conference or public seminar? Travel to Las Vegas and host your event at the Las Vegas Convention Center Halls, Cashman Center, or at one of Vegas’ massive 5-star hotels. Or maybe you want to host your company retreat in Dallas, Texas. The Addison Convention Center is one of our favorite DFW venues. If you chose to travel to any of these amazing cities, it’s important to plan things to do in between your work agenda to make sure you get the most out of your retreat. The best corporate retreats focus on business strategy while planning for on-site and/or off-site fun.
Our destination management company services all of Southern California (including the Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego), as well as Las Vegas and the Dallas – Fort-Worth area of Texas. Click here to contact an event planner near you.
Corporate Retreat Themes & Ideas
Who said your company retreat couldn’t be both productive and fun?! While your event is focused on your business and its goals (such as new training or meeting to discuss budgets) you can still create a retreat that is an absolute blast. The best kinds of corporate retreats should be professional, reflecting your business, but also planned with unique and fresh entertainment, ideas, and themes. Plan ahead with fun activities like bowling, employee karaoke, movie night, or a sightseeing tour if you’re traveling to a new and exciting city. Take a break from a day of meetings and plan a team-building Olympic themed company outing.
Selecting a corporate retreat theme is a great way to bring your employees together while focusing on collaboration, leadership, and strategy. Employees will have a great time participating in some healthy competition while blowing off some steam. Want to blow your employees away? Plan an over-the-top casino night themed event after your long day. A themed casino party is a perfect opportunity to bring some fun and excitement to your retreat. Employees will think they’re at a real casino with poker and blackjack tables and even some classic games like baccarat.
Some of Our Other Favorite Retreat Themes Include…
- World of Opportunity
- Health & Wellness
- Team Building
- Your Industry’s Theme
- Growth
- Sports
- Company Culture
- A Weekend Away
- Destination Themes
- Inspire Creativity
- Leadership
- Networking
- Your Brand/Company
- Your Specific Event Goal
Celebrate Your Business
Since your corporate retreat is all about your business, create a theme that reflects it! Celebrating a milestone or anniversary? Plan your event around it and create a theme like “Don’t Stop Believing” or “In it to Win it” that reflects your corporation. Decorate and design your party with your logo, colors, and success. (Click here to find out how you can take advantage of your event for marketing and branding.) Since your retreat is all about making your business better, take a moment and celebrate what is already great about it. Plan an award ceremony and acknowledge employees who made a great sale, broke a new record, or never missed a day of work. Award ceremonies are a great way to not only celebrate accomplishments but also show appreciation and inspire others. When planning your company retreat, the more personalized and tailored to your business- the better.
Work With a Little FUN
While the retreat’s destination location may have plenty of local activities and things to do, a successful retreat also includes a little fun and some much needed R&R. Have your facilitator plan a live band for during the luncheon or breakout of the monotony of the meeting with an employee scavenger hunt that is designed to boost your event! Reinforce company goals, your brand, culture, networking, and communication with team building activities that are created specifically for your company and event. (Find the Top 10 Team Building Activities in Los Angeles). Some of our favorites are The Amazing Race, Corporate Trivia, and Family-Feud. Activities like these create a fun and carefree break, while also reinforcing teamwork. Plan icebreakers for networking events and all-hands meetings where you have employees from all different offices and locations. Organize a fun and exciting Escape Room to encourage leadership and to work together. Looking for some other retreat activities? Some of our favorites include…
- Improv Workshop
- Brainstorming Sessions
- Corporate Team Building
- Appreciation Award Ceremony
- Parody Music Video Contest
- Scavenger Hunt
- Corporate Trivia
- Professional Development Workshop
- Group Painting Class
- Sports Tournament & Picnic
- Company Outing on a Yacht
- Networking Icebreaker Games
Keep Your Employees Happy
While it’s important to make sure you have plenty of activities and an organized schedule, it is equally important to make sure you plan plenty of breaks to avoid cranky and overworked employees. Organizing meals and catering is an easy way to do this and ensures that everyone stays fed and happy! You can choose to go simple and easy with a potluck style luncheon or go all out for a sit-down dinner. Want to mix entertainment and catering? Food walls, strolling tables, and food action stations are always a crowd favorite. For catering ideas and menus, click here.
Plan Your Corporate Retreat Today
A lot goes into planning successful and memorable company retreats. But don’t worry- Event Solutions is here to take care of it all! From destination management, to entertainment, catering and design, our team is here to assist from start to finish. Being in the industry for around 30 years, we have the expertise and connections to make your next corporate retreat a hit. Ready to get started? Click here or call us at 1.800.366.0603 to speak with one of our event organizers.
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