Corporate culture is ridiculed in pop fiction. They’re easy targets, and there’s hardly a better setting for drama and satire to play out than at a corporate retreat. The exaggerated motivational speeches, the groan-inducing team-building exercises, and the notion of your work still being in control of your vacation are all perfect targets for satire.
In reality, however, corporate retreats haven’t resembled the nightmare you’ve seen parodied since the ‘90s. There are some groan-worthy and legitimately horrific examples from the past, but ultimately corporate retreats serve a straightforward and valuable purpose: they get the team together.
Especially since COVID has turned work into a remote affair for many, teams have never been so widely distributed. It’s more critical now to gather your team together so that they might open better channels of communication between one another.
Here are the best corporate retreat locations in North America.
San Francisco, California
San Francisco has long been the core of the technological industry, but it’s also a perfect city for relaxation. Your team can enjoy a tour of Alcatraz, learning about the infamous prisoners who were housed there, and kick back with some retro arcade games at Fisherman’s Wharf.
Still, San Francisco offers more than just entertainment. It’s a great city for stress relief, so it may be ideal for taking the team there after a particularly difficult few months. Though reports of high crime rates in recent years may dissuade you, there are some arguing that the statistics are overblown.
After a long, hard quarter, your team will appreciate the brisk, California air rolling in from the Bay.
Denver, Colorado
If you know your team enjoys the outdoors, look no further than the Mile High City. Affectionately called such because it is 5,280 feet above sea level, the air pressure is said to make athletes perform better.
There are plenty of athletic activities, too, to keep you and your team busy, including hiking, skiing, or walking through the nightlife of Latimer Square.
To unwind, take them on a tour of one of the several craft breweries for which the area is famous. The evenings are ideal for a live show at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre, which is made entirely out of red rock.
Puerto Vallarta, MexicoMany corporations tend to lean towards a tropical retreat, particularly if they’re in one of the year-round colder cities. Event planners have named Puerto Vallarta “the friendliest city in the world.” Your team can relax on pristine, white beaches and swim in aquamarine-coloured water. Snorkelling, scuba diving, and boat trips are all available for exploring the ocean’s depths.
On the shore, the city is perfect for conferences and meetings. Venture into La Zona Romantic, where the city’s best restaurants and shops are located.
It’s vital that your team feels relaxed on a corporate retreat. Whatever your goals may be, ensure that they include well-deserved vacation time.
Kenny Hedges | Contributing Writer
