Remote and hybrid work arrangements have become the new normal. More and more companies are taking full advantage of bringing talent from different locations together in a virtual setting.

While remote employees work great in the digital environment, team building can be an issue. Surveys show that the remote workforce is quickly becoming disengaged. That’s why arranging company retreats is no longer an option – it’s mandatory to keep employees happy and productive. Frogbridge Events can help you plan and run a company retreat for your remote team.

How to Run a Company Retreat For a Remote Team

Organizing a company retreat for a remote team means keeping multiple aspects to keep in mind, such as:

Choosing the Location

Just like in real estate, the location of your company retreat is a major factor, especially when it comes to bringing a remote team together. Since your employees may be working from different cities and states, you need a place they can all access easily.

Another thing to consider when choosing the perfect location is the variety of activities. The place you pick should offer an opportunity for your team to bond. Be it sports and swimming or picnicking and singing, the location should accommodate your wishes.

Making It Last

Chances are, with your team being remote, you don’t have an opportunity to bring these people together often. That’s why a corporate retreat shouldn’t be a one-day gathering. Consider arranging at least a two-day event so your team members can spend more time with each other. 

You can pack one day with various team-building activities, including sports games, karaoke, cooking, and picnicking. Leave the other day for unchaperoned interactions. The more free time you give your team in a relaxed setting, the more they can learn about each other.

Focusing on Event Goals

The way you run a company retreat for your remote workforce depends on the goals you set for this event. If you want the team members to get to know each other and enhance collaboration, you may want to focus on team-building activities.

If your goal is to drive inspiration and come up with some new ideas, you could consider arranging a conference setting.

Communicate your goals to your workforce. They should have a clear understanding of what to achieve during this event. However, don’t demand too much effort. One of the goals of any retreat is to encourage relaxation. While working during the outing is possible, it shouldn’t be the centerpiece of the event.

Arranging Ice-Breaking Activities

Remote team members may feel comfortable communicating online but could feel a little lost when meeting in person. To facilitate face-to-face communication, you may want to arrange ice-breaking activities.

Icebreakers are fun games that help people get to know each other and remove the tension that’s usually present at first in-person meetings. With time, these games turn into a team-building activity that you may take advantage of at the following retreats.

Controlling Your Expectations

Company retreats for remote team members often require plenty of time and financial investments. That’s why executives tend to expect too much from them. By controlling your expectations, you can reap all the benefits of a retreat while having fun and relaxing together with your team.

Not all company retreats end with excellent team-building results. It can take more than one outing to turn your department into a well-oiled machine. And that’s perfectly fine.

Start Planning Your Company Retreat in New Jersey with Frogbridge Events

Choosing the ideal locale for your company retreat is the foundation of its success. If you want everything to go smoothly, you need beautiful outdoors mixed with activities and sprinkled with top-notch entertainment. That’s where Frogbridge Events comes in.

No matter how long your remote employees haven’t seen each other, Frogbridge Events can bring them together. From fun swimming games and sports activities to picnicking and conferencing, we’ve got it all. To start planning, please fill out our contact form or call our team at (609) 208-9475 today.

Bringing your team together outside the formal work setting can go a long way. From strengthening communications to boosting productivity, you can achieve a wide variety of goals while keeping your employees happy.

Arranging a successful retreat starts with some serious brainstorming. Figuring out how to encourage team building isn’t always easy. By leveraging decades of corporate retreat experience, Frogbridge Events can share ideas to drive your event forward.

Company Retreat Ideas

Planning a company retreat can be difficult, but we are here to help. Some great retreat ideas to unite your team include:

A Technology-Free Day

No matter what industry you are in, your team is likely to be leveraging all kinds of tech for work and communication. Running around with a smartphone in your hand can be highly stressful. Thankfully, you can take this stress out of the picture by arranging a tech-free day.

An outdoor retreat with a variety of activities can take your team’s minds off work and encourage clarity of thinking. No-tech retreats can work amazingly well since the number of distractions is limited. Bring plenty of pens and paper. Outdoor no-tech meetings are bound to bring numerous fresh ideas to the table.

Winery Retreat

A visit to the winery can be a fun experience for the entire team. While they can learn something new about the history of wine and the way it’s made, your employees can relax and have fun without thinking about work. The beautiful scenery coupled with world-class wine can encourage communication and team bonding.

Also, when it comes to arranging alcohol-related events, make sure to check the way your employees feel about it in advance. Some people may not be happy with this choice for religious or health reasons. If that’s the case, you may want to choose another option.

A City Tour

The city or town you work in is bound to have some history your team doesn’t know anything about. To bring your employees closer together, you can take them on a day-long city tour with an experienced guide. During the tour, you can explore the local cuisine, visit museums, and learn more about the place’s history. Such explorations do wonders for bringing people closer together and inspiring new ideas.

If you can’t find a worthy tour in your area, consider taking a bus to the nearest city that can offer something fun and exciting.

Cooking Class

Learning to do something together is the pillar of team building. During a corporate retreat, you can consider arranging a cooking class. Being together in one kitchen and sharing responsibilities is a great way to foster trust and collaboration.

Besides having fun and developing new skills, a cooking class creates an opportunity for sharing a meal afterward. 

Play Team Sports

Team sports are as close to teamwork as you can get. Volleyball, basketball, or bowling are fun to play. Even if one of your team members has never played the game before, they can easily learn the rules and join the excitement.

When you arrange a team sports event, you don’t just encourage teamwork. You take care of your employees’ well-being. After the game is over, employees can discuss their achievements over a tasty meal.

A Picnic

If the weather allows, company picnics are always fun and relaxing. The opportunity to cook and share food can give your team members a chance to collaborate outside the traditional setting. Outdoor picnics aren’t just entertaining, they are great for your team’s health.

Research shows that spending just 20 minutes in the park can improve a person’s well-being. A well-planned picnic can reduce stress levels, boost relaxation, and drive inspiration.

A True Adventure

If your team members have an adventurous nature, you can get away with planning an unusual company retreat. From zip lining and bungee jumping to snorkeling and scavenger hunts, your team members will love the idea.

Excitement coupled with adrenaline can help your team members discover each other’s strong sides and learn how to make them work for the common cause.

Plan the Ideal Company Retreat with Frogbridge Events in New Jersey

The key to the ideal company retreat is the locale. Frogbridge Events offers the perfect location that puts excitement, activities, and relaxation into one package. Whether you are planning a basketball game, an anti-conference, a picnic, or a tech-free day, we can make it work.  Our team can help you bring even the boldest corporate event ideas to life. 

To learn more about this comprehensive retreat opportunity, please fill out a short contact form or call our team at (609) 208-9475.

At a corporate retreat, achieving the perfect balance between work and fun is never easy. Finding the ideal place that resonates with your team’s wishes while keeping focus on the agenda requires some serious planning.

When organizing a perfect retreat, you have to keep hundreds of things in mind. However, you don’t need to go through this planning process alone. Our team at Frogbridge Events is here to provide all the support you may need as you plan your corporate retreat.

Corporate Retreat Planning Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

There are a multitude of things to keep in mind while planning your retreat. Some common mistakes – along with how to avoid them – include:

1. Ignoring the “Employee Persona”

While you and your employees are a strong team, you may have different retreat preferences. Since the goal of your corporate event isn’t just to focus on work but to create a relaxing atmosphere, ignoring these preferences is a mistake.

Consider taking the time to learn what your team wants to achieve during this retreat and how it prefers to relax. The easiest way to do this is to ask. A quick email survey can do the trick.

2. Forgetting About Schedule Conflicts

If your team members have to miss a Thanksgiving dinner because you are taking them away on a retreat to a different state, they are going to have some serious trouble focusing on work. Discussing the date and time with your team members is a great way to make sure that they are emotionally and mentally available for the event.

3. Staying in the Office

Many executives make the mistake of thinking that a corporate event in the office does wonders for the team’s focus. In reality, the reason why it’s called a “retreat” is because you are “retreating” from the traditional work setting.

The place for your retreat should be as different from the office scene as possible. Changing the scenery encourages relaxation and creativity. 

4. Focusing Solely on Work

The point of the corporate retreat is to create a relaxing atmosphere for your team. It means adding the entertainment element to the event. Whether it’s miniature golf and beach volleyball or horse riding and poker games, you need to make sure your team is having fun.

While brainstorming, searching for new solutions, and discussing the work agenda can be integral to a successful retreat, giving your mind a chance to relax can streamline the process tremendously.

5. Not Planning for Families

If you want to encourage some serious team building, you may want to consider inviting families and children to your corporate retreat. The goal is to make sure everyone feels comfortable. So, if you are ready to reap the benefits of employee family bonding, you need to make sure their families are part of the fun.

6. Sharing Rooms

If your retreat is more than one day long, you have to think about lodging. When booking rooms for the team, many companies try to save money and put two people in one hotel room. While it’s definitely a great way to save, this type of arrangement can lead to a disaster.

Working together and living together are two completely different things. Two people who hit it off perfectly in the office could hate each other’s sleeping or showering habits. Forcing them to share accommodations could ruin your team-building plans and cause burnout.  

7. Not Planning Enough Free Time

No matter how great of a planner you are, don’t overplan the retreat. Your team should have some free time to have fun, relax, and even get some sleep. By the way, scheduling early morning meetings during a retreat is a big no-no. If your employees have to get up at 6 a.m. to get ready for a meeting, you take the fun out of the entire day.

Instead, you can schedule a fun morning activity and move the meeting to the afternoon. Then, you can let your employees choose how they want to spend their evenings.

8. Expecting Too Much

The success of your corporate event depends on hundreds of factors, many of which aren’t under your control. Keep your expectations reasonable, and you can truly enjoy the process while reaping maximum benefits.  

Start Planning Your Perfect Corporate Retreat with Frogbridge Events Today

When it comes to making the most out of your corporate retreat, you need the perfect location. Frogbridge Events offers a highly versatile outdoor locale with everything you need to make your team happy. From sports activities and swimming to comfortable meeting spaces, we give you everything you need to reach your retreat goals.

If you are looking for a beautiful location, we are here to help. To explore our multiple options, please fill out a contact form or call us at (609) 208-9475.

Corporate retreats are an excellent way for companies to foster collaboration, recharge, and engage employees. After COVID-19, hybrid systems of work became the new normal for most companies. Employee engagement becomes a significant hurdle, leading to low morale and stifled productivity. 

The need for corporate retreats that combine both in-person and virtual experiences has increased. With careful planning and help from Frogbridge Events, you can host a hybrid corporate retreat that engages participants and delivers meaningful outcomes for the company.

The Power of Hybrid Corporate Retreats

Hybrid events are not a digital supplement to in-person employee engagement. They offer the opportunity to increase attendance by accommodating those who cannot attend the event physically. Hybrid events also allow remote and geographically diverse presenters to interact seamlessly with virtual and in-person attendees.

Hybrid events also lead to low operational costs by reducing the number of in-person attendees and professionals. It opens the door to involve professionals who would have otherwise declined to attend the event due to travel and time constraints. Rather than setting aside a few days to travel and attend the event, they only need to spare a few hours.

Tips for Planning an Immersive Hybrid Corporate Retreat

The following tips will help you shake things up and plan an engaging hybrid event:

Leverage Collaborative Technology

Incorporate innovative technology platforms that offer live-streaming and virtual networking features. Conduct thorough research on the available video conferencing and communication options before settling on any platform. Ensure the platform provides the right tools for your event and at the right price for your budget.

Promote structured networking sessions for both in-person and virtual attendees as well. Virtual networking sessions and online discussion forums encourage participants to share ideas and build lasting professional relationships.

Include Feedback

Use polls and Q&A features during the event to gather feedback from both online and in-person participants. This makes your audience feel that their opinions are valued and appreciated. Surveys can be used to gather post-event insights to measure the event’s impact and success and gauge improvement areas.

Integrate Virtual Breakout Sessions

Engaging the virtual audience at every stage is crucial so that they don’t just feel like spectators. Virtual breakout sessions allow virtual attendees to be divided into smaller groups for discussions and other activities. 

Send Swag to Virtual Employees

As the in-person attendees are being treated to the indulgences of a corporate retreat, their virtual counterparts should not be left out. If lunch is catered for in-person attendees, consider reimbursing virtual attendees for their lunch or sending them meals and any gifts that in-person participants will receive.

Choose a Location

Many corporate retreats are hosted in remote areas, allowing attendees to take a break from their everyday environments. When choosing the venue to host a hybrid corporate retreat, consider venues that offer reliable internet and on-site audiovisual equipment.

For in-person attendees, ensure the venue is close to transportation and accommodation facilities for a seamless experience.

Additional Tips

Here are some bonus tips to make your corporate event enjoyable for both in-person and virtual participants:

• When planning a hybrid event that involves geographically diverse employees, it is crucial to consider time zones and schedules.
• You also need to consider the duration of the event. Virtual attendees will be less inclined to sit at their screens all day. Consider scheduling the event for an allocated amount of time.
• Allow in-person attendees to settle down before starting the video conference. Similarly, make it clear when the retreat is over, so people know when it is time to leave.

You can create a memorable and immersive hybrid corporate retreat experience by strategically combining in-person and virtual elements. Remember to adjust the planning process according to your organization’s specific needs and dynamics.

How Can Frogbridge Events Help With Your Corporate Retreat Planning?

Planning an immersive hybrid corporate event is an intense, time-consuming activity. Frogbridge Events‘ team is here to take the pressure off. We have years of experience planning corporate events for companies of many sizes. We offer many options to customize your event to suit your organization and team.

We will coordinate all aspects of your company retreat, allowing you to enjoy and engage with your team. With proper planning and execution, a hybrid corporate event can drive positive change in your organization. Call us at (609) 208-9475 or complete our form online to start planning a stress-free, one-of-a-kind hybrid corporate retreat.

Corporate retreats are valuable opportunities that allow team members to collaborate, develop new skills, network, and take a break from their daily work environments. In today’s digital age, companies can hire talent from anywhere globally. Employee engagement has become a significant challenge as more companies adopt remote and hybrid workforces.

However, hybrid corporate retreats are gaining popularity among hybrid workforces. It combines in-person and virtual experiences to bridge the physical gap between team members in different locations.

Benefits of Hybrid Corporate Retreats for Geographically Diverse Workforces

There are numerous benefits of hybrid corporate retreats for geographically diverse teams. The following are some ways that mixed corporate retreats help to foster connections:

Inclusive Participation

Regional diversity among teams can lead to isolation and a lack of cohesive team spirit. Hybrid retreats allow employees from different locations and time zones to actively participate in team-building activities and networking. Remote employees can participate in the retreat and voice their opinions and perspectives.

Bridging the Gap

Working in geographically dispersed teams presents unique challenges in building relationships among colleagues. Hybrid retreats can allow employees to network and interact face-to-face, promoting unity and shared purpose. Employees get to know each other personally, leading to better communication and collaboration.

Increased Empathy and Understanding

When teams from different locations come together, they get a chance to understand each other’s work environments, challenges, and cultural perspectives. This sharing of experiences fosters empathy and breaks down biases and misunderstandings. 

Teams learn to leverage video conferencing and collaborative tools through hybrid retreats to communicate seamlessly across different locations. Hybrid retreats are vital in enhancing effective communication practices in a geographically diverse workforce.

Collaboration and Team Building

Hybrid retreats also create a conducive environment for collaboration and innovation. By bringing together diverse perspectives and skills, employees can engage in brainstorming sessions, problem-solving activities, and workshops that promote creative thinking to generate fresh ideas. 

Team building activities during hybrid retreats help strengthen teamwork. These activities encourage collaboration across locations, foster trust, and enhance cooperation among geographically dispersed teams.

Networking Opportunities and Relationship Building

During hybrid retreats, attendees can be put into virtual breakout sessions that divide them into smaller groups for discussions and group activities. This allows employees to connect with colleagues they may not have had a chance to meet otherwise. 

Breakout sessions are an excellent opportunity to connect in-person attendees with their virtual counterparts. Team-building activities and social events create networking and relationship-building avenues, which foster trust, cooperation, and a sense of camaraderie among team members.

Knowledge Sharing and Company Culture

Hybrid retreats encourage sharing knowledge, expertise, and best practices across different locations. Attendees can present their projects, share insights, and exchange ideas, leading to knowledge exchange and continuous learning within the organization.

These retreats cultivate a sense of belonging among geographically diverse workforces. Employees who feel connected and valued are more likely to be motivated and loyal to the organization. Hybrid retreats help create a shared company culture, reinforce organizational values, and strengthen employees’ overall sense of belonging.

Discover the Power of Hybrid Corporate Retreats at Frogbridge Events

Are you looking to connect your geographically diverse workforce, foster collaboration, and strengthen team dynamics? Explore the transformative potential of hybrid corporate retreats at Frogbridge Events! We have experience planning corporate events for numerous Fortune 500 companies. We provide many options to customize your event to fit the needs of your company and your team.

Organizations can reap the immersive benefits of a cohesive and inclusive workforce by strategically combining in-person and virtual elements. Contact us online or call us at (609) 208-9475 to start planning a one-of-a-kind hybrid corporate retreat. Don’t miss this opportunity to revolutionize your corporate retreats and drive organizational success.

There is a lot of planning that goes into creating your company retreat itinerary. Whether you’re looking to offer training in an unstructured atmosphere, improve company culture and boost morale with an offsite team building event, or simply get your whole team together after several months of being apart, a company retreat is definitely something to think about.

However, making the decision to invest in and take the plunge into a company getaway is the easy part. The challenging part is the planning. From sorting out logistics to choosing a destination, the entire process can be a bit overwhelming as well as time-consuming.  Below you’ll find some tips that will help you create your itinerary for your company retreat.

Tips to Create Your Company Retreat Itinerary

Here are some tips that you can follow that may help you create your company retreat itinerary with more organization and ease.

1. Company Retreat Purpose

It’s important that you determine what the purpose of your corporate retreat is early on to ensure that this purpose will be supported by your itinerary. For instance, will you require team-building exercises? Will work-related discussions need to occur? What goals are you looking to accomplish with the retreat? 

2. Company Retreat Goals

If team building is an important activity on your itinerary, it’s essential that you consider locations that will provide enough activities either in the hotel/resort or in the surrounding location. Some examples of activities may include:

• Hiking
• Yoga
• Skiing
• Boating
• Water sports

If you’re looking to implement some morning teamwork and then enjoy a little afternoon downtime, it’s critical that you choose locations with work-friendly venues, such as suitable table space, fast internet, and more.

3. Company Retreat Duration

It’s essential that you carefully consider the duration of the event. Typically, it’s recommended that international trips last around a week to account for jet lag and travel time. For domestic trips, three or four days tends to work well.

If you’re planning a domestic trip but you have members of the team that are coming from overseas, it’s recommended that you fly them in one or two days early to give them more time to settle in. By doing this, you won’t have to increase the length of the trip for everyone (which will increase your expenses).

4. Company Retreat Location

The transportation to the retreat location is just as important to consider as the retreat itself. It may be in your best interest to find locations for your company retreat that are close to major airports and only require a short drive. This will help the members of your team feel more relaxed and excited that they’ll have more time to spend with their colleagues.

Keep in mind, if you have members of the team spread out all around the world, it’s a great idea to switch the locations up — this way, everyone will have the chance to take shorter flights.

5. Company Retreat Team-Building Activities and Recreation

Now, it’s time to plan out the fun retreat events and activities since you’ve gotten the difficult logistics out of the way. Plan out activities that you can do as a team. It’s best to book them in advance. Also, since this isn’t entirely a vacation but instead a company retreat, you can plan in team-building exercises and talks.

Some examples of retreat activities you might want to consider incorporating into your itinerary include:

• Scavenger hunts where the members of your team will be broken down into smaller teams
• Hiring an industry expert or motivational speaker to deliver a speech
• Wine tastings or cooking classes with the option for individuals to opt out if they prefer not to be around alcohol
• Hackathons where members of the team from various departments are put into a group to come up with a new product or business idea that they’ll present to the whole staff
• Escape rooms where you’ll break your team members down into groups
• Kickball, dodgeball, or paintball, where different departments will compete against others

If this is your first company retreat or you’re not sure where to start, you may want to look into services like Frogbridge Events. We can come in and help you plan out your dream company retreat itinerary while answering any other questions you may have.

Choose the Right Company Retreat Venue with Frogbridge Events

A big step towards a successful company retreat is planning out an itinerary that works with your and your team’s goals. It can be challenging to plan the perfect corporate retreat that will make everyone happy, especially if you’re on a tight budget. Let Frogbridge Events‘ highly-efficient team come in and handle the planning for you.

For your next company retreat to be a success, you’ll want to plan out a fun itinerary that will keep your employees engaged while fostering a sense of teamwork. Frogbridge Events specializes in planning out company events and retreats and can take the burden of your itinerary away from you. Call our team at (609) 208-9475 or fill out our contact form on our website for more information on how we can help you plan out your next successful company retreat.

Not all concerns regarding accessibility are centered around ADA compliance and wheelchair ramps. There are many other forms of accessibility to consider as well. If you have members of your team that have special needs, it’s important that you ensure they’re already covered so they don’t have to approach you and ask. Also, certain members of your team may not be comfortable with things such as heights or noises. Learning these aspects ahead of time will make planning your retreat easier.

Your ultimate goal is likely to plan a company retreat that the members of your team want to actually attend. By asking for input from your team, it can help improve engagement and make your retreat more accessible. Today, accessibility is a topic of conversation that comes up often. Whether you’re hosting a retreat that will last for days or just an overnight event with a small meeting, you need to ensure your planning will provide all your attendees with an inclusive and positive experience. There are a number of reasons why accessibility is essential during a company retreat, which we delve into below. 

Three Reasons Why Accessibility Is Important

Everybody who attends a company event should be made to feel welcome so they can enjoy all aspects of the event completely. A vital part of planning out your company retreat is ensuring that any attendees with disabilities are able to participate fully. Not to mention, the law requires that all public events are accessible to everyone. 

Some reasons to ensure that your next company retreat is more accessible are:

1. It Will Address the Needs of Your Attendees

Your attendees will likely require something during the retreat that helps them enjoy the event more and have the ability to settle in. Each individual’s needs may vary, which is why it’s recommended that you ask them about any special requirements ahead of time and keep the lines of communication open for any concerns. This way, you can ensure they’re informed of what’s available or what may need to change.

2. It Will Help You Plan and Implement Inclusive Activities

Ensure competitions, breakout sessions, ice-breakers, and other event activities are also multi-sensory or accessible. Work with facilitators to make sure the mechanics and rules still enable people with disabilities to participate.

3. Enables You to Accommodate Individuals With Mobility Challenges

When considering mobility changes, you should think about more than just wheelchairs. Certain individuals with mobility challenges might use walkers, canes, or scooters. Others with mobility impairments might not need the help of assistive devices but may require extra space, time, support, or seating options.

Ramps don’t always solve all mobility challenges. For instance, an individual who needs to use a cane might find the stairs easier to navigate. Portable lifts might offer some individuals with better access. Also, those with chronic inflammation or arthritis might benefit from being allowed extra minutes between sessions since they might require a little time to rest as they walk.

Accessibility Is Imperative To Make Everyone Feel Included

From print materials, interpreter services, and seating to spaces for attendees to rest between each session, company retreat planning involves planning an event that’s accessible to all attendees.

It’s important that you keep all attendees in mind when planning truly inclusive events, regardless of the types of accommodation requests that you receive. You can reach out to disability organizations and groups for planning solutions and resources, and you should welcome any feedback from attendees (and act on it), as every event can be an opportunity to improve over your last event.

Make sure your attendees can put in requests for reasonable accommodations. These are adjustments to the environment that enable individuals with disabilities to fully participate. You’ll also want to reach out to your attendees and ask if they were able to participate fully and if they were comfortable. 

Accessibility in company events and retreats is a must these days. With 15% of the population in the world experiencing some type of disability, it’s important to ensure your company events and retreats are inclusive and accessible. As the event coordinator, planner, and decision-maker, you need to plan your events with accessibility in mind. 

Enlist the Help of Frogbridge Events to Create an Accessible Company Retreat

Planning a company retreat can be a challenging process when you’re attempting to make adjustments and incorporate new ideas for a broader audience. The good news is that you don’t have to do this challenging project all on your own. You can enlist the help of a team of experts who specialize in company retreats to help make sure your event is accessible.

At Frogbridge Events, we partner and work with organizations to help plan out their retreats and events while focusing on their primary goals to make every event accessible to their attendees. We can help you plan out an outstanding corporate retreat that’s ideal for all your attendees. Give us a call at (609) 208-9475 or use our contact form to talk with a professional for your next company event.