How to Plan a Company Retreat

We’ve all heard the age-old saying, “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail”, and planning for your company retreat is no different. Putting in thoughtful preparation time will ensure a productive, enjoyable, and memorable experience for those attending and those leading the retreat as well.  

Thinking Through Your Goals

Understand the goals of your retreat before you begin planning. Is your retreat a reward trip? A team-building exercise?  A way to reconnect and strategize? It may be all of the above. Keep your goals in mind during the planning stage, keeping your sessions and activities aligned. Clearly communicating the agenda ahead of time will help participants to prepare, including knowing what to pack.  

Thinking Through Timing

Decide on the length of your company retreat. The duration will vary based on what the team wants to accomplish work-wise, the budget available and the time spent on leisure activities, touring, etc. You will also need to factor in travel time, especially if folks are traveling long distances and adjusting to different time zones.  

You will also want to consider the personal lives of your employees. Those with families may not wish to be away over weekends. Keep holidays in mind during your planning as well.  

The most productive retreats tend to be 3-5 days in length.  This gives enough time to settle in, focus on the tasks at hand and still have time for fun.  Make sure you have allotted for enough unstructured time for employees to relax, enjoy the local attractions and get to know each other better as individuals.  

Thinking About Location

Decide upon the location of your retreat. If your employees are spread over the country, consider a location mid-way in between. Look for a city with a big enough airport to avoid puddle jumping and layovers. Travel to your destination should be as seamless as possible to avoid frazzled travelers.

Research your technology requirements. Will all attendees need a laptop? Will you be streaming for those not in attendance? Will you need reliable internet or will you be planning a tech-free retreat? Planning ahead for potential technology pitfalls needs to be part of your plan.  

Planning for downtime is an important component of your agenda. Does your retreat venue offer activities or classes? How about golf outings, boating, or wine tours? Get to know the local culture and lay of the land so that you will be able to offer a variety of options for leisure time.  

Company Retreats at the Retreat at Crystal Creek

The Retreat at Crystal Creek is ready to host your next company retreat!  We are a locally owned, intimate retreat venue in Austin, Texas. We’ve crafted an environment where teams can reconnect, innovate and align.  If you are interested in hosting your next event with us click here