What is a corporate retreat?
Also commonly referred to as work retreats, company retreats, or team retreats, the benefits are undeniable, whether it's an organization-wide getaway or a quick department outing. Taking the opportunity to bring employees together in new surroundings has always reaped rewards for forward-thinking businesses. But with a new world of work opening up, remote and hybrid companies have the chance to revolutionize the way their teams interact in real life (IRL).Company retreats can accelerate knowledge sharing, especially amongst teams spread out across continents. For example Shield, an IT intelligence organization based in Singapore, flew its employees to Sri Lanka for an action-packed adventure.The energy radiating from the employees as they talk about this experience is infectious! Several workers also note that they understand their colleagues better for having spent time socializing and engaging in team-building exercises outside their usual work environments.Creating space for coworkers to chat more informally can break down cultural differences and form a stronger sense of camaraderie. Back in the office (whether remote or on-site), this new level of understanding can remove the silo effect as teams have a greater appreciation for each other's approaches and contributions towards company goals.In the past, team retreats tended to be reserved for top salespeople. But as startups forged the way with remote working, they used corporate getaways to ensure their employees got face-to-face time to encourage better communication and collaboration once everyone returned home.As offices undergo a revolution, organizations are looking to these techniques to help their teams navigate the new world of work. Using offsites as a tool to schedule team-building and inspiring brainstorming sessions has increasing appeal. As traditional shared workspaces are scaled back, companies are looking to move from annual retreats to bringing employees together bi-annually or even quarterly to improve employee morale, brainstorm ideas, and share important updates.But spare a thought for travel managers and community teams who already face high workloads and a variety of responsibilities. Thankfully there are ways companies can streamline the retreat planning process. Technology provides solutions to assist with everything from booking group travel and renting meeting rooms to ensuring traveler safety in real-time.
What benefits do work retreats bring your business?
They boost employee esteem and belonging
They motivate ambitious team members
They crank up the creativity
They strengthen company culture
They build a buzz around your business
Looking for a retreat experience that will excite your entire team? Check out our guides to Europe and North America's most inspiring destinations for offsite and our recommendations for the ultimate team-building activities.