How to Plan Corporate Retreats for Higher Employee Retention

Corporate retreats are a phenomenal way to increase employee morale, which inevitably results in a higher efficiency, productivity, and retention rate. This can be especially true for today’s hybrid workforce, where often, employees are spread throughout the country, or even across the world.

Many team members work remotely most, if not all, of the time. And they often have a hard time forming strong bonds with colleagues, which can negatively affect team productivity, strategic planning, and the overall morale of employees.

A well-planned corporate retreat is essential. Poor or hurried planning can backfire by creating undue stress and anxiety among participants, which is exactly the opposite of what a corporate retreat is all about. 

Step 1: Define Your Event Goals for the Company Retreat
We were tasked with planning a rather large conference in Atlanta, GA, under demanding circumstances. The primary challenge was identifying a venue capable of accommodating not only the event’s size, but also providing essential amenities, and operating on specific dates within a limited 11-month timeframe.

Planning a corporate retreat without specific goals in mind can lead to a very chaotic affair. Remember, not planning is planning to fail.

Here are a few potential goals to consider for your corporate retreat, based on the needs of your organization:

1. 1. 1. 1. Team Bonding: As stated before, with our hybrid/remote workforce, team bonding can be difficult, ultimately hurting the company. In-person retreats with the goal of team bonding can help remedy this situation by building a foundation of trust and improving communication and collaboration among team members.
            
            
         2. Strategic Planning: Sometimes planning a corporate retreat allows team members to have uninterrupted time for much-needed strategic planning. This can relieve a lot of stress when your team has ample time to plan for the future without worrying about the everyday workload.
            
            
         3. Skill Building: Building up the skillsets of your team in an environment where collaboration is key can have a long-term positive effect on how your employees work together. Creative thinking and problem-solving are skills that staff may be lacking or could use freshening up.
            
            
         4. Having Fun: Sometimes the only reason to have a corporate retreat is to give your employees a break from the daily grind. Let them know how much they’re valued. And gives them a chance to relax, decompress, and have fun on the company’s tab.
            
            
         5. Company Loyalty: As important as brand loyalty is to your organization’s growth and success, building loyalty from within is just as essential. Showing your employees how much you value them by way of an annual corporate retreat goes a long way when it comes to creating loyal team members.

Step 2: Plan Out Your Corporate Retreat’s Activities Based on the Event Goals

Again, if you don’t plan, in essence, you’re planning to fail. For example, strategic planning isn’t going to be productive without a solid agenda in place. 

For that matter, team bonding will not happen without well-planned team-building exercises. And skill sets will not level up without activities focused on building them. 

Besides, how fun is a retreat if nothing fun is planned either?!? 

Your next step is to plan your retreat’s activities so that you:

• • • Can provide an itinerary or agenda well ahead of time so everyone knows what to expect, to entice attendees to participate, and to build excitement for the event as a whole.
    • Know what type of specialized personnel may be needed to carry out the activities. 
    • Can build a requirements list for the location and venue. Logistics are a part of planning. So keep them in mind as well.

Once you’ve planned the activities you can start staffing them with the appropriate outside experts or internal personnel.

Step 3: Determine the Location and Venue Requirements
Location and venue requirements completely depend on the goals of your corporate retreat. Below are some questions you can answer about locations and venues to help accomplish your event goals. Think of them like an event pro checklist.

1. 1. 1. Is the venue in a location with easy access to air travel?
      2. How long will you need the venue?
      3. Do you need lodging for the retreat?
      4. What types of indoor and/or outdoor activity space will you need?
      5. Will your retreat incorporate free time where attendees can explore the location on their own?
      6. If so, what types of entertainment activities might you want to provide?
      7. Do you need to secure transportation for guests during the retreat?
      8. How will meals, snacks, and drinks be provided?
      9. Will you use an outside caterer or depend on the venue to cater everything for the retreat?
      10. Does the venue offer accessibility to all types of guests?

Putting It All Together
Managing all the steps above and working to stay on or under budget, can be daunting. You are not alone.

That’s why there are companies like us, Applied Meetings & Hospitality Solutions, who specialize in helping Human Resource teams and Corporate Event Managers:

• Choose venues
• Find appropriate lodging if not located at the event location
• Negotiate packages
• Arrange transportation
• Coordinate special off-hours activities
• Recommend exquisite caterers 

All you need to do is focus on planning your retreat activities to ensure the event is as thrilling, productive, and insightful as possible for your guests. Schedule a complimentary discovery call to learn more about how we can help you with your next corporate retreat.