Retreats aren’t a one size fits all situation. Often different locations, environments and levels of organisation are required, depending on your reasons for holding a retreat.
Two things that are really important to consider are -
- Retreat style - It’s really important to arrange a retreat that reflects and amplifies company culture.
- Outcomes - What do you want to accomplish during your time together?
Here are some additional things to consider before you get booking -
Group size
You can just about go anywhere and do anything with a small group (say below 6). Whether that’s your whole team, or a few people that you’ve decided to get together - decisions and bookings can be made relatively last minute. With small groups - execution is easy.
As the numbers get bigger - things naturally become more tricky. Finding a hotel with a enough rooms, a property with enough beds, or restaurants with enough tables becomes less and less likely the less notice you have. Also as the size of the group grows - the more frustrated people can get if they don’t know what’s going on.
Short retreats (between 1 → 5 days)
If you want your team to get some quality time together and have some fun, or if you have a few team members who need to get together to focus on particular business issue then shorter breaks are likely the efficient way to go.
Small groups of people being together for long periods of time can end up being exhausting and inefficient. Keeping the schedule tight and productive will result in a much more cost efficient trip.
Also think about where the individuals are coming from. If you’re flying a team member from far a field then you need to ask yourself if it’s worth it. After a long flight will they be at their best, and will you get what you need out of them? If they are jet-lagged, and tired from travelling then it’s possible you wont.
City Retreats
City breaks really lend themselves to short retreats, or at least locations where teams can travel quickly and easily, and without large costs. City locations make things like catering and team building type activities incredibly easy to arrange. Hotels, or accommodations that provide retreat services are a really good use of time on a short retreat.
Longer retreats (5 days +)
If you have a larger team (say, 10 +) and you want to achieve multiple outcomes, then giving yourself the time to do those things is really important. If the purpose of your retreat is to really get to know each other, solve some business issues, and give people the chance to relax and have fun - then a longer retreat is far more cost effective and productive.
Outside the cities
Because hotels and city stays can be pricey - travelling away from a major towns and cities becomes more worth while. This is when self-catered properties, or companies who provide retreat services become more interesting.
Retreat services
One option could be investigating companies who provide retreat services such as The Workation Village. Overall costs usually end up being a little more than doing it yourself, but these are practiced people who know what they’re doing. This often ends up being a lot less work and alongside that - a lot less risk. However there’s rarely the chance to curate your own retreat style, can more more expensive - and often you’ll have to share the retreat space with other companies.
Doing it yourself
All companies and teams are different, and different groups need different things. If you want to arrange a retreat that’s cost efficient, and gives you free reign to curate your own retreat style then planning your own retreat is the best option.