Choosing the Perfect Venue for Your Retreat: Tips & Tricks
The first step for choosing the right venue for your retreat is to determine the goal of the retreat. If the goal is to relax and recharge, then a remote location possibly away from Wi-Fi is more desirable. However, if the goal is team building and you would like to provide outdoor activities then you might want to choose an urban location with plenty of options for entertainment.
So you know why you’re going…what’s next?
Make sure you have an accurate count of how many attendees there will be. This will help you choose a venue that will be able to accommodate everyone. Keep in mind the weather when doing so if your location is outdoors or have a backup indoor plan.
Make sure prior to choosing a location that you have a budget in mind. This can be adjusted, if necessary, but it’s best to start out with a ballpark figure to eliminate any venues that are too costly. Make sure you get an estimate with what’s included so there are no unpleasant surprises later.
Make sure the location is easily accessible to airports and highways so guests can easily travel there. If the location is too remote that guests have a difficult time finding it or getting there it can start the retreat off on the wrong note. Instead of arriving ready to relax and unwind, they will start the retreat feeling stressed.
Be sure that the space you choose will be providing you with a private room so you are not sharing the space with others that are not a part of your group. This will help your team to be able to connect better.
Other things to consider…
If you are providing meals and snacks for your retreat, make sure that there is a kitchen or another area to prepare meals or there is a caterer nearby to bring in food for the event. Planning for this ahead of time can alleviate unnecessary stress during the event.
Finally, do not plan too many activities for the retreat that guests are left feeling overwhelmed keeping up. Give them options to attend as many of the activities as they would like and plan for downtime for everyone to relax.