Taking your team on a retreat can cost your company a lot of money, so it’s important to plan it out properly to ensure you are getting a return on your investment.
We have had many companies stay at our villas for executive and team-building retreats, so we thought we would share some of our learnings with you!
1. Make sure to have a main purpose of the retreat.
Like any company meeting, it’s vital that everyone knows the goal of the event. This will help to keep things on track and to ensure that everyone is prepared for the day ahead.
2. Give notice in advance.
The more time you allow for your employees and team members to prepare, the better the overall experience will be. You want everyone to be present during the retreat. By giving ample notice, everyone will be able to block off time without having extra pressure of getting caught up with work prior to or the retreat and can organize personal arrangements ahead of time. This is also just a way of being respectful of your employees’ schedule so you don’t throw off anyone’s personal obligations.
3. Choose an ideal location.
If you’re asking your team to go away with you, it’s important that they are excited about the location. It should be easy to access, as well as have nearby restaurants and activities that they can partake in when they have a bit of downtime. Many of our villas would be the perfect option for something like this!
4. Plan a few activities for after the workday.
You want to keep everyone motivated, so a great way to incentivize this is to reward them with a few fun excursions. If you end up coming to Turks and Caicos, there is so much to do as a group. We recommend taking a boat trip, an ocean horseback ride, or book yourself in for some ocean snorkeling.
5. Create a schedule.
You can never over-communicate or over-plan too much when putting together a company retreat. Create a schedule to ensure everyone knows what is expected of him or her and when. Make sure you delegate where you can.
6. Check technology & props in advance.
This is a big one! Make sure that the location will have enough internet to cater to the entire group. If you need props, such as markers and a whiteboard, make sure that you bring them with you or plan to have someone pick them up. These are little details that are often missed.
7. Plan to video conference others in.
Not everyone will be able to attend company retreat due to various circumstances, so with that being said, plan to video conference them. You still want everyone to feel included and to be on the same page so you’re not having to fill them in after the productive meetings.
8. Book a luxury villa for your retreat.
A luxury villa may be the perfect option for your next company retreat! With lots of private rooms, a fully operating kitchen, or a catered BBQ night combined with a company pool party, a villa will create the perfect atmosphere to inspire and motivate your employees. The per head costs of a villa are surprisingly low in comparison to hotels, even with extras like in-villa catering.
To learn more about booking your next company retreat with us, click here.
We look forward to hosting you soon!