Work retreats have so many surprising benefits, including empowering employees and boosting company success.
Looking forward to the benefits of a team retreat is the easy part - planning the retreat is often difficult.
The most important piece to plan an impactful work retreat is that it meshes with your team.
Planning an activity-filled, adventurous trip for a team with many employees who prefer to relax and recharge in their free time can end up doing more harm than good. Creating an atmosphere that your team will genuinely enjoy and appreciate ensures that you will see benefits following the retreat, and that your employees appreciate and take away something from the retreat.
So, learning more about our employees and what activities they enjoy outside of work is an essential step in the planning process. From there, you can find the best location for your team and prepare activities that they'll love.
Retreat Location Ideas
Choosing a destination that your entire team will enjoy can be difficult. The bottom line is that your location must align with your top goals. Team building requires many activities, so a goal of team bonding might require a slower trip with opportunities to mingle. If you need to get a lot of work done, then having access to the internet and quiet places to work are necessities. Budget should also be one of the first factors determined, then timeline (3-4 nights for domestic trips is typical).
Here are some location ideas to get the ball rolling and inspire your next retreat:
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Camping/glamping
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Beach or lake town
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Spa/wellness escape
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Theme park
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A fun city with a relevant seminar
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Cruise
- Skii resort
Retreat Activities
A retreat proves pointless if there are few or inadequate activities. The point of a retreat is to build your team while working and having fun together, so here are some exciting activity ideas to consider including in your next retreat’s agenda:
Welcome party
Hosting a party on the first evening of the retreat starts the trip on a positive, warm, and casual note. This allows employees to mingle and network without any pressure. Go further by assigning a theme, such as the 80s, beach, black tie, or blacklight.
Professional development
Career and skill development are becoming a top priority for employees when joining a team or establishing their career. Maximize your time at the retreat by providing professional development for your team. GettaMeeting makes it as easy as can be. With an instantly downloadable video and meeting enhancements such as team building activities, book recommendations, playlists, decor and food ideas, and much more, your team, perhaps for the first time, will leave a meeting feeling excited and more knowledgeable. Browse and download GettaMeeting modules here.
Tea, coffee, or wine tasting
Spend some time venturing out to different coffee or wine places in the town. Teams can split up to attend tastings that match their preferences, which gives everyone the chance to indulge in a common interest while getting to know each other better.
Icebreakers
Play games such as Commonalities, teammate trivia, Jeopardy, charades, or bingo to engage and bond your team.
Unplug
Encourage the team to unplug from all devices for a couple of hours. If work must be done, challenge employees to use non-electronic resources such as notebooks and each other!
Guest speaker
Welcome a guest, such as a comedian or a successful business professional, to share an hour or two with the team to inspire or entertain.
Board games
Have a laid-back night by playing board games with your team to grow more connected while creating lasting memories.
Exercise/adventure
After ensuring that the activity is accessible to everyone on your team, book a biking tour, Segway tour, horseback riding, hiking, or walking tour if retreating in a new city.
Ideas For Small Businesses & Small Budgets
Low price and convenience are big factors for many businesses when choosing retreats.
Day retreats are highly suggested for small businesses or organizations with a small and limited budget. These retreats can be more spontaneous and much easier to plan, but still produce adequate outcomes. Take advantage of off-season booking opportunities and local venues for a good deal. Here are some ideas for you and your team if your funds, time, or other resources are limited:
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Movie night: see a movie or play one at the office or an event space
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Special dinner: food truck, picnic, winery, brewery, or barbecue
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Bonfire with games and camping foods
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Escape room
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Trivia: host your own trivia night about your team/company, or attend a trivia night at a venue
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Attend a cooking class. Book a baking, cooking, or cooking skills class that all of your employees can take together.
Don’t want the hassle or price? Check out GettaMeeting’s culinary themes meeting module, Get Organized: Mise en Place. Download instantly and engage your team with a meeting video and many fun meeting enhancements for a memorable session.
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Volunteer for a local cause
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Indulge in some child-like, nostalgic fun: spend an evening at an arcade, playing laser tag, or going go-karting
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Go bowling
- Attend a sports event
Don’t want the responsibility (or expense) of coordinating and traveling to a sports game? Check out GettaMeeting’s team building series - three sports-themed comprehensive meeting modules for you and your team to experience without leaving the comfort of your office or home office.
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