When was the last time your company organized a corporate retreat?
The impacts of COVID-19 haven’t left a single area of life untouched. Everything from trips to the grocery store to international travel has been rethought and replanned.
Any office worker understands the dramatic nature with which COVID-19 shifted the relationship between employees and their workspaces. Since the onset of the pandemic, over 35% of all workers reported switching to remote work. Of these, 60% of workers choose to work from home as much as possible when given the chance.
However, although the benefits of remote work are clear, leaders face new challenges in bringing employees together and providing a sense of organizational unity. Many companies haven’t reunited since the pandemic’s onset, but this is starting to change, and corporate retreats are returning. The reason for this is clear: any successful institution requires togetherness, and corporate retreats and team excursions are excellent ways to form bonds and rally around a shared goal or mission.
The need for corporate retreats is more prominent than ever, but the scattering effects of COVID-19 pose many obstacles. Planning needs to be extremely meticulous. When it comes to the location, it’s necessary to choose a retreat location with proper accessibility, a wide range of activities, and a variety of meeting spaces.Giants Enterprises offers excellent Bay Area corporate retreat space for any California-based organization. Here, teams of all sizes can finally unite in person. There are plenty of first-class venues and its location in San Francisco provides endless activities, food, and cultural opportunities for teams to enjoy together.
Understanding the Benefits of Corporate Retreats
Whether you’re running a scrappy startup or are part of a massive multinational corporation, remote work presents a growing need for team-building. Surveys show that workers greatly miss certain in-person elements of the work-life:
- 73% miss in-office socializing
- 50% miss commuting
- 45% miss in-person meetings
Although returning to in-office settings may be difficult, a corporate retreat is a great way to reestablish a sense of togetherness and affirm the common purpose that connects your organization.
Strengthen Communication and Team Building
Not only do corporate retreats allow employees to reconnect with the people they’ve worked with for a long time, but they also provide teams with a chance to bond with new members. This bonding is crucial for groups that received new hires during the pandemic.
Cultivate Company Values, Culture, and Morale
Corporate retreats work wonders in terms of bonding, but they’re also excellent for intentionally planning events, talks, meetings, and exercises centered around a company’s mission and values. When a team becomes unified around a company’s shared mission, it increases morale and fosters more open and honest communication channels.
Likewise, retreats also can accomplish the crucial task of securing a sense of trust and care between the employer and employee.
Take Time for the Development of Skills and Professional Relationships
Retreats provide plenty of time for relaxation, but if executed correctly, the itinerary should include workshops, sessions, and panels dedicated to fortifying essential skills. There are many ways to accomplish this, and segmenting it into smaller groups is always wise. Teams can use these opportunities to understand each other’s strengths and personalities.
Plan Events to Improve Decision-Making and Problem-Solving
Finally, because corporate retreats provide a break from dealing with work stress, they are excellent for planning fun events that create dynamic situations for employees to sharpen problem-solving skills as a team offsite.
Ensure the activities are easily related to real-life work scenarios. However, it’s crucial to keep the events light-hearted enough so they don’t feel like work.
Planning a Successful Corporate Retreat
It’s no secret: the level of planning that goes into corporate retreats is massive, whether for a small team or an enormous group. However, there are many tips to ensure you get the most from your time together.
Prioritize Inclusivity and Diversity When Planning
The event planning must include a variety of voices to guarantee the retreat produces the same beneficial effect across all demographics. It’s essential to ensure that every faction of an organization has input during the planning process—only then can you achieve your desired results across the entire organization.
Research and Select Location that Matches Personalities, Needs, and Goals
Finding that perfect location is difficult, especially when looking for corporate retreat locations in California. Not only do you need to find a place that is fair to all parties travel-wise, but there also needs to be adequate meeting and breakout space. Lastly, this central location should have a wide range of activities and outings for potential team-building excursions.
To accomplish this, always look for input from the invitees. Asking for opinions beforehand can help shape and narrow down options for planning. Only then can you select an inclusive space that meets everyone’s taste and supports the overall goal.
Implement Methods for Communication and Logistical Management
Streamlining communication and logistics is the best way to avoid snafus during the planning process. There needs to be a centralized method of sharing information and compiling data, vendors, expense details, and all other logistics and updates. In addition, you should leverage available technology, like event platforms, which boost planning efficiency. However, even using a basic information-sharing platform, like G-Suite, can significantly reduce the stress of planning.
Case Studies of Successful Corporate Retreats for Remote Teams
The sheer size of California and the Western United States can make finding a suitable corporate retreat location challenging. However, San Francisco is an excellent candidate for planning a corporate retreat, as it’s geographically central and offers plenty of options for air travel and city-wide transit.
Whether you’re looking to pursue professional skill development or want to bring remote employees together, corporate retreats are a unique way to accomplish these goals. The results are undeniable: organizations that decide to plan corporate retreats report having stronger, more honest communication, teams that work better together, and greater engagement and shared purpose over the company’s mission.
Giants Enterprises’ event space offers unique corporate retreat locations in California and is fully set up to host gatherings and meetings. Many companies of all sizes have enjoyed the venues and meet company goals, reunited their telecommuting staff after a long social winter, and learned the importance of prioritizing the value of togetherness.
Begin Planning a Retreat for Remote Workers in California
Consider booking one of Giants Enterprises’ diverse and dynamic venues. Located right in the heart of the beautiful Bay Area, the luxurious event space is excellent for accommodating parties of all sizes. Visit Giants Enterprises’ website to view and book event space for your next corporate retreat.
FAQs
What is needed to plan a successful corporate retreat?
The number one rule of guaranteeing success for any large event is planning, planning, and more planning. Start laying the groundwork early, get a headcount, and define your goals upfront. Then build up, and plan inclusively by bringing in voices from all departments and demographics.
How do I plan for the cost of a corporate retreat?
Begin by dividing significant expenses into categories: event space, food, lodging, activities, and transportation. Then get a sense of how many you expect to attend, and from there, you can narrow your options to items that meet your budgetary limits.
How do I pick the best location for a corporate retreat?
Cost and accessibility are two of the biggest concerns from a logistical standpoint. From there, you can analyze the event-space offerings and ensure it’s in an area that will provide a relaxing and engaging environment that will serve the preferences of all attendees.