Hybrid working has lots of perks, but it does mean that teams don’t get as much time as they used to just hanging out together, brainstorming or creating those all-important bonds that make teams work.
We’re seeing retreats becoming increasingly popular with clients – getting the whole team away for just a couple of days. You can use the daytime for those important meetings and planning sessions, but you also have the evening and dinner together when everyone can relax, chat and enjoy spending time together away from the normal working environment.
There is still time to plan an autumn retreat and, if you’re quick, you may even be able to take advantage of some of the lovely late summer sunshine we’ve been having. If not, why not combine a retreat with a festive meal or activity? Alternatively, an early January retreat can double as your annual Kick-Off meeting, with the added advantage of the lower winter rates sometimes available at this time of year. Resort hotels in Europe can offer particularly good value during their quieter, off-season months.
Make the Place Your Own
When you’re on a retreat, it’s lovely to feel as though you’re the only people there. You don’t necessarily have to pay for exclusive use to achieve at least the illusion of it – choosing a smaller property where your team is the largest group staying can create much the same feeling.
One of my favourite UK groups of boutique hotels and pubs is The PIG. Their concept is simple – it’s all about the food. Most have their own kitchen gardens, with much of the produce used in their restaurants grown on site or sourced locally.
The properties vary in size and a number can accommodate smaller meetings and private dining, making them ideal for a team that wants to get away together and enjoy that exclusive-use feel without necessarily taking over an entire hotel.
Château Life
If you fancy taking the team a little further afield, Châteauform’ has a collection of venues across Europe specialising in corporate meetings and retreats, with many offering exclusive use.
The concept is slightly different from a traditional hotel. Pricing is all-inclusive, so once you’re there your meeting space, food and drinks are included rather than having to think about lots of additional costs during your stay.
Châteauform’ started in France, with a wonderful collection of châteaux across the country, but now also has venues in Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands.
Something a Little Different in the Netherlands
Also in the Netherlands, WestCord Hotels has a collection of individual properties that could add something a little different to a team retreat.
You could stay aboard the SS Rotterdam, a former ocean liner permanently docked in Rotterdam, or at Hotel Arsenaal in Delft, housed in the city’s historic former armoury.
If you really want to get away from it all, WestCord Strandhotel Seeduyn is right beside the beach on the Dutch island of Vlieland. WestCord has around 15 hotels, each with its own character, so there are plenty of different options depending on the type of retreat you have in mind.
Think Outside the Hotel
A retreat doesn’t have to mean staying in a hotel at all. Cottage complexes, lodges and self-catering properties can work really well, particularly when you want the team to feel as though they have escaped from the normal working environment completely.
We’ve previously featured Knockerdown Cottages in Derbyshire, where groups can stay across a collection of cottages while still having communal space to meet, eat and spend time together. A set-up like this can effectively give you your own little team village for a couple of days.
[Read more about Knockerdown Cottages]
What Makes a Good Retreat?
Before deciding where to go, think about what you actually want to get out of your time away.
You might need plenty of meeting space for serious planning, activities that get everyone working together, somewhere to walk and clear your heads, great food, or simply a comfortable bar or lounge where everyone can sit and chat at the end of the day.
Sometimes those less structured moments can end up being just as valuable as the meeting itself.
And a retreat doesn’t have to mean flying everyone somewhere exotic for a week. A night or two away somewhere that feels different from the normal working environment can be enough to give everyone time to reconnect, think and plan together.
Whether you fancy a country pub, a château in France, a hotel beside the sea or your own little collection of cottages, tell us what you’d like your retreat to achieve and we can help find somewhere that works for your team – and your budget.
