Planning a Retreat on Your Own: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

Planning a corporate retreat might seem like a straightforward task—choose a location, book accommodations, arrange some activities, and you're set. But as anyone who’s tried to DIY a retreat can tell you, the reality is far more complex.

We’re giving you some of the most common mistakes made so you can avoid them and have better success:

- Overwhelming Logistics and Schedules
Coordinating travel, accommodations, meals, and activities for a group is no small feat. The details can quickly spiral out of control, leading to missed reservations, overlooked dietary needs, and a jam-packed schedule that leaves no room for relaxation.

- Unexpected Costs
Budgeting for a retreat is tricky, and hidden costs can sneak up on you. From transportation hiccups to last-minute changes in accommodations, the expenses can add up fast, often surpassing your initial budget.

- Last Minute Cancels
Imagine having everything planned out, only to find out that the venue or your main highlight activity has been cancelled on you at the last minute. Scrambling to find a replacement on short notice can be a nightmare, potentially derailing the entire retreat.

- Hours Wasted Communicating with Vendors
Coordinating with multiple vendors can eat up countless hours, usually in the hundreds. Miscommunications, delays, and endless back-and-forths can lead to a retreat that’s more stressful to plan than it’s worth.

- Your In-House Event Planner Becomes Unavailable
If your in-house event manager is suddenly unavailable, you could find yourself without the key person who was holding everything together. This can leave you in a tough spot, trying to fill in the gaps on short notice.

- Logistical Nightmares with International Travel
If your retreat involves international travel, you could face complications with visas, travel restrictions, or other bureaucratic hurdles that could delay, be extremely costly or prevent some participants from attending.

- Overlooking Small Details
Small details, like room assignments, dietary restrictions, or even the timing of events, can have a big impact. Overlooking these can lead to discomfort, tension or dissatisfaction that detracts from the overall experience.

- Poorly Managed Expectations
If expectations aren’t clearly communicated to participants, they might arrive with different ideas about what the retreat will entail, leading to disappointment or frustration when the reality doesn’t match their vision.

Seems like a long list?
Reach out and let us take care of all of the details so you can focus on what matters most: your team.