How to Host and Plan a Team Retreat

Slowly but surely, the hustle and bustle of life is returning. Families are reuniting, school is back in session, and employees are heading back to the office. Getting back into the swing of things can only mean one thing… planning team retreats! While Zoom and technology kept the business world together in a trying time, it doesn’t fully replace the communication and camaraderie that comes from working as a team in-person.

You’ve decided it’s time to get the team together, so now what? It’s time to start the planning process!

Time and Location

Time and location are some of the biggest components to the retreat planning process. Are you looking to stay local or are you looking to travel with your group? If you are interested in traveling more than an hour or two away from home base, you will need to arrange hotel accommodations, preferably in a central location to your main group activities.

Choosing the actual location for your group requires more to consider. Depending on your location, weather can play a factor in your decision. For example, Northeastern Pennsylvania experiences four unique and beautiful seasons with weather that includes hot, cold, and everything in-between. This will help to determine what type of location would be best for your event, whether it be indoors or outdoors. The size of the group is also something to consider as some locations are equipped to accommodate a group of a particular size.

Activities

Planning group activities goes hand-in-hand with location planning. Having the type of event that you envision in your mind is important while finding a location. Once you choose a location, then you can truly begin the activity planning process. The first question that might come to mind is whether your event will be more formal or informal. A more formal event may include a few lighter icebreaker activities, followed by speakers or brainstorming sessions. An informal event grants more leeway for the planner and participants. Icebreakers may include a team hike or fun games, followed by team-building exercises and brainstorming sessions. The options are endless once you determine the scope of the retreat itself.

Food

Food is thought of as a universal way to bring people together and this is no different. Your retreat may only include one meal or it may include two or more, depending on the type of event and length of time the group is together. One option to keep participants satisfied is to offer light refreshments during the event, such as appetizers or small sandwiches. This would also include beverages such as coffee, water, and soda. Another option would be to attend at least one traditional meal together.

This may be subjective, but after spending a day or weekend building your team, we can’t think of a better way to create memories than by dressing up a little and enjoying a fabulous meal together!

The Extras

There are many other things to consider when planning your team retreat. Transportation is near the top. Consider carpooling if the event is a slight distance away. Retreat agenda is something else to take into consideration, especially if training materials or reservations to book a speaker are needed. Don’t worry, we didn’t forget the creative people either.

Pinterest is a great tool to find inspiration for those who love to get crafty and decorate! Mason jars with decorative marbles and battery-operated fairy lights are a pretty and inexpensive way to bring a little flair to your event.

Let The Beaumont Inn Plan Your Next Event

Event planning can be a daunting task, especially in addition to balancing other priorities. If you decide that you need a nudge in the right direction or someone to take a little of the planning off of your plate, let The Beaumont Inn help! Our staff will work with you to ensure that your team retreat goes smoothly and help to create the ultimate experience for you and your team. Our beautiful Northeastern Pennsylvania locale will provide the perfect background to the memories that your team retreat will bring. Contact us today!