Getting away from it all can be the best thing for many management or executive teams. The stresses and distractions of the workplace can make it difficult to be creative, innovate, or think deeply and strategically. However, the right environment can spur fresh thinking and new ideas, and few environments are as relaxing and energizing as the great outdoors.
Planning a Corporate Retreat at a Rustic Venue
Rustic venues often offer the best natural locations and opportunities to escape the urban grind. If your team is hearty and can do without certain luxuries and creature comforts (like room service, televisions and turn-down service), you may be ready to plan a corporate retreat at a rustic venue.
Rustic Company Retreat Venues
Lodges, cottages, cabins, B&B’s, and even tents are available to rent in some of the most beautiful locales in the U.S.—mountains, rivers, lakes, deserts—there’s no end to the fascinating terrain you can explore during your company retreat. Hiking, mountain biking, rafting, kayaking, rock climbing and fishing provide great opportunities to relax, bond and rejuvenate. Combine these activities with skills training components around leadership and communication or team building adventures, and you’ve got a world-class rustic retreat.
Having a completely foreign environment in which to practice teamwork skills, build relationships, brainstorm and set strategy may be just the thing your team needs. Another selling point for rustic venues is that they tend to be much less expensive, so if you’re on a tight budget, these properties can offer an affordable alternative to the conference centers and resorts in your area.
Planning Tips for Management or Executive Retreats
As idyllic as some of these venues can be, there are also some important issues to consider.
- Health. Do you have team members who are sensitive to poison oak or ivy? Bee stings? Hay fever and allergies? You don’t want your group to be physically indisposed, so check in with your team before choosing a rustic venue.
- Interest Level. Do you have team members who are not fans of the outdoors? While most of us appreciate a nice sunset, fish leaping out of a lake, and the smell of wildflowers, not everyone prefers that to room service, air conditioning and marble showers.
- Technology. Do you require state-of-the-art audio visual equipment? While many rustic venues are getting onboard with wireless internet connections and overhead projectors in their meetings rooms, there’s no guarantee.
- Logistics. Rustic retreats are usually off the beaten path, so will require additional planning and driving, either via bus or auto. This additional travel time can cut into your overall corporate retreat agenda.
- Off-site Options. Depending on the venue, your rustic retreat center might be “the only game in town.” If there aren’t other attractions, restaurants or amenities nearby, you have to make sure that all your needs will be met by the retreat center.
- Site Visit. Don’t trust the website photos to accurately depict what the venue looks like. If you can at all afford to send a representative ahead to scout the location, you should. Rustic doesn’t have to mean dirty and uncomfortable, but it can. A good rule of thumb is if the cost to send one person is 10% or less of the total retreat cost, it’s worth it.
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