While the objectives of company retreats are familiar to most, what may not be so obvious are the many different ways you can plan a unique event that will fit your staff and your goals perfectly. Whether you are able to invest a whole day or only a few hours, it really is nice to get out of the office together, if even for the refreshing change of scenery that can be a welcome respite from the monotony and stress of the daily grind. There are just some things that you likely won’t be able to work through in a one or two hour meeting, and a change of pace or eliminating daily work distractions definitely helps to set the tone for progress.
Company retreats are without a doubt a great way to rejuvenate your staff and build team camaraderie amongst employees. Creating a fun environment outside of the office where staff members can work on communication without the day-to-day business in the way is great way to build overall team morale.
One of the primary benefits to a Company Retreat is the social interactions between members of an organization in a social setting that lead to team building. Mike Hanafan, Membership & Event Director at Platteview Golf Club, says, “At Platteview Golf Club, we specialize in providing a turn-key golf outing for a wide variety of groups. Whether you’re a small business or a large corporation, we can customize a golf event to meet your specific needs.
All of our Group Golf Outing packages include:
• Green Fees • Golf Carts • Driving Range/Practice Area
• Prize Fund • Professional Event Management so you can have fun while we handle the details
In addition, we have endless Food and Beverage options for our golf groups with our most popular packages featuring a Burger/Bratwurst Cookout, a Mesquite Smoked BBQ Brisket Buffet, a Rib-Eye Steak Dinner, or a simple Sandwich Box Lunch including chips and a cookie. Our Professional Event Services include players’ assistance, rule sheets, flag/proximity management, scorecards, event scoring/tabulation, and cart signage. With Group Golf Outings offered seven days a week and with start times from early morning until late afternoon, we can accommodate any request.
So if your team is looking for a relaxed setting to get away from the office for an enjoyable golf outing, we can accommodate your next company retreat seven days a week at Platteview Golf Club.”
Lied Lodge & Conference Center is a natural fit for the ideal retreat getaway – where focus, service and attention to detail are delivered with each event they host. Tina Layman, Lied Lodge Sales Manager, says, “Stepping away from the surroundings of the busy world we live in is what happens during retreats held at Lied Lodge & Conference Center. We can accommodate any size of retreat – from 10 to 300 people – at Lied Lodge, where nature meets mission and the renewal of companies happens naturally. Furthermore, attention to detail is delivered in every area of the service we provide. From the meeting settings to food selections and group activities, Lied Lodge at Arbor Day Farm will provide the perfect distraction-free setting for your company to focus on retreat goals.
At Lied Lodge & Conference Center, some of the most important benefits of a company retreat are development of the team through focus, service and attention to detail. In order to gain success from a company retreat, the company must allow attendees to focus their attention in a distraction-free atmosphere. Doing so strengthens the retreat message, too. Service is another essential benefit of a company retreat. When a retreat is supported by consistent, reliable service it delivers an unspoken but still tangible message of ‘we care’ to the attendees. Service and attention to detail prove to work together, partnering to reinforce the retreat message that is carried back to the office in team unity and lasts well beyond the time spent at the retreat.
One key ingredient for growing a successful company is to incorporate regularly scheduled retreats. A planned/scheduled company retreat is a vital resource for company growth and development. When team members look forward to getting together with their peers and colleagues with the company in mind, the results offer endless positive outcomes. Stepping away from the normal company grind allows employees to refuel, review the past, refocus on the company goals, and to be an active part of the company’s future. Somehow a retreat builds a formula for the heart and mind to connect, which automatically engages the body into action. Lied Lodge & Conference Center is owned and operated by the Arbor Day Foundation. The mission of Stewardship and Caring is intertwined in all that we deliver to every guest. For success in company growth and development, you must commit to caring enough about your employees. A company retreat is one way to show your employees that you are invested in their progress and that you recognize their efforts.”
Getting outside of the office, and even out of town, is a very refreshing change of pace Bryson, the owner of Bryson Airboat Tours, explains, “Our beachfront property has been the setting for many team building events, company day retreats and even a few overnight retreats consisting of tents and campers. Our unique business location on the Platte River offers a low cost and very relaxing atmosphere for company retreats.” He advises, “Before you organize a company retreat, think about who really needs to be there. While the accounting department and programming interns might get along fantastically, the benefits of their collaboration are limited, no matter how much time they spend together. Bonding time is important though, even in small doses. Most times companies don’t need to hire expensive keynote speakers or put together anything too fancy. The last company that had a retreat at our landing was giving away iPad Mini’s as long as everyone passed a short test at the end. This gift was the highlight of the retreat and the employees were beyond excited about it. I think it is important to make your company retreat fun and to follow up by continuing to do small fun things throughout the year. The logic behind company retreats is compelling. If your business requires teamwork to succeed (and most businesses do), a company retreat is a great way to build and solidify those important relationships among employees.”
Miracle Hill Golf and Tennis Club is another outdoor venue that can accommodate your company retreat. Phil Palmer, General Manager of Miracle Hill, says, “Miracle Hill offers a full service facility for your next company retreat. Our 18-hole championship golf course with four sets of tees for all levels of players is the perfect setting to enjoy the day. Players start the round out by warming up on our 40 tee grass practice range, and then move to one of our two practice greens to prepare for the round ahead. And what trip to the course is complete without a pre-round stop in our newly remodeled clubhouse and café, where you’re sure to find something tasty to take with you on the course. After the round, you can choose to relax in our Legacy room while dinner is served and prizes are handed out. When that’s all done, you’re only minutes from home at our central location near 120th and Dodge!
Palmer advises, “Corporate golf retreats and outings are not only a great way to treat your employees to a day of team building, but they can also be a great way to say thanks to your best customers or a foot in the door with new clients. The biggest benefit of a company retreat is being able to actively engage in team and relationship building. Most all golf events play a scramble format where four players are a team. Those four players are able to form a bond, which improves communication within the company. This is critical for the success of any business. It is important for the event organizer to make the foursome pairings with this in mind. I can’t stress enough the importance of spending time and putting some thought into creating your pairings. This will allow you to get the most out of every interaction with your team and your customers. When we sit down with potential event organizers, I always ask what the company is known for and what sets it apart. I want to help them create an event that is organic and different; at Miracle Hills we want to host more than an afternoon of golf. We want them to remember the experience and be able to say ‘my company hosted this event and you will never believe what we did!’ For organizers, my advice is to meet with the professional staff at the course in order to create a timeline of tasks to be completed for a successful event. The course staff have hosted many of these events and are your best resource for success. If you plan ahead and stay on task, the day of your event will be drama-free and your players will see just how well organized and forward thinking you are. But most importantly, your boss will see this!”
When planning a company retreat you should consider the factors that will make the experience enjoyable for attendees such as location, environment, food, and entertainment. “Company retreats provide employers with a chance to improve or enhance employee engagement and are often times the perfect opportunity for employee rewards and incentives,” says Leah Parodi of Sam & Louie’s. Sam and Louie’s Event Catering, an extension of Sam and Louie’s New York Pizzeria Restaurants is dedicated in offering the next level of great catering for your company retreat, reception, or picnic with personal service and delicious affordable food. Whether your company event is for 5 or 500, Sam and Louie’s Event Catering is a full-service caterer with a large and varied menu, including Gluten Free options, designed to meet all of your needs. For more information on Sam and Louie’s Event Catering, visit us online at www.samandlouiespizza.com/catering or contact Leah Parodi, Corporate Catering Coordinator, at (402) 926-6444 or by email at Leah@samandlouiespizza.com.
Retreats can be used for all sorts of activities such as celebrating business successes, setting goals, developing business plans, team building, training of all sorts, and having fun just to name a few. Some organizations also integrate Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects into their retreats, and there are plenty of local organizations that would benefit from your time.
A company retreat gets employees away from the office allowing them to step back from their day-to-day responsibilities and take a fresh look at how things are working. It is a great way to re-evaluate company goals and procedures and to recharge. A well-planned retreat will give employees a chance to share creative ideas for the organization, to get to know their colleagues more fully and boost morale.