If you’ve ever planned and hosted a company retreat, you already know the many benefits one can have for your employees and team morale. It’s not only a chance to get out of the office and relax but also an opportunity to learn about each employee’s individual personalities and grow together as a team, away from the stress and demands of the office.
While you could host your retreat at the local theme park or the hotel across town, if you want to maximize the impact of your event, you need to take it outside. There’s no denying the perks of time spent outdoors. Your employees will enjoy a boost of energy and creativity, a reduction in pain, improved focus, and more. In this relaxed, happy state, they’ll be better able to bond and grow their relationships, returning to the office happier and more productive than ever before.
Zion National Park is the perfect place to host a company retreat. Besides the incredible scenery, it offers activities for every interest and a slow-pace experience that leaves visitors relaxed. Keep reading to learn how to plan the perfect company retreat in Zion.
Get Out in a Way That Suits Your Company’s Style
You don’t need to take your company backpacking through the remote wilderness to enjoy the perks of time spent outdoors. And unless you’re the manager of a trendy outdoor gear company, trekking overnight on one of Zion’s rugged backwoods trails probably isn’t a great choice of itinerary.
Instead, it’s important to choose activities that fit your company’s style and your employees’ abilities. Easier hikes are a good choice if you know that most of your employees aren’t overly athletic. You can also go sightseeing, horseback riding, or plan other activities that don’t require a lot of exertion.
Give Your Employees Some Options
The last thing you want to do is make your company retreat feel like it’s one annoying obligation after the next. While you should plan some team building activities that your employees can participate in together, you don’t necessarily need to require everyone to spend every second together.
If you know that your team has very different interests, try offering some variety. For instance, you might schedule a hike, a Jeep tour, and free time in Springdale for shopping and art galleries all at the same time. Then, allow your employees to choose how they want to spend their time. Giving them the freedom to do what they enjoy will help make your retreat feel more like a vacation and less of a chore. Plus, when your team does come back together for shared activities, they’ll feel relaxed and refreshed.
Mix Departments
It’s only natural that your employees will tend to stick with the people they know best. But rather than actively encouraging this, seek to encourage them to mingle with people they might not normally work within the office.
When you’re planning team-building activities, avoid grouping your employees by the same departments or teams they usually work with. This will help your employees get to know each other better, which will, in turn, translate to all of your company teams and departments working better together back at the office.
Don’t Over-Plan
Another way you’ll wind up making your company retreat feel like the opposite of an escape from the office is trying to over-plan. This isn’t a normal workday; don’t try to pack in something to do every minute of the day.
A few tips for avoiding over-planning and packing too much into one trip include:
- Giving your employees a chance to relax, even if that just means free time in your hotel.
- Choosing a few key team building activities that will have the greatest impact.
- When it comes to letting your guests enjoy Zion or other nearby activities, plan to hit the highlights rather than trying to see everything in one trip.
- If your team has been working together for a while or if the majority of your guests have been with the company for some time, don’t waste too much time with basic, get-to-know-each-other activities.
- Make sure that your guests have plenty of time to get a good night’s rest and full meals; nothing puts an end to the fun faster than grumpy moods and hungry stomachs.
Choose the Right Base Camp
Where your employees rest and relax is just as important as how they spend their time. Choose a resort that not only offers plenty of opportunities to unwind in comfort, but also one that shows your employees just how much you care about them.
Cliffrose Lodge offers luxurious accommodations that will help your guests unwind after a long day of fun and team building. In their free time, they can wander the botanical gardens onsite and relax in the shadow of Zion or take a dip in the pool. Contact us today to see how we can help you plan the perfect company retreat at Zion National Park.
