There are several reasons to consider a corporate retreat abroad.
Company trips and getaways are excellent ways to get your team motivated. Find out what a business retreat is and why it's a beneficial idea to hold one.
When you need to get the team together, a business retreat is different from other ways to do that. With clear goals in mind, vacations help people get closer, talk to each other better, and feel less stressed.
Many people can find a better work-life balance with remote and mixed work, but face-to-face time is just as important. For instance, the Global Business Travel Association found that work retreats made 79% of North American business travelers and 83% of European business travelers happier with their jobs.
So, whether you work from home or just need a change of scenery from the office, a retreat after a business trip is a great way to get your coworkers together for some quality time that will boost mood.
What is a business retreat?
A corporate vacation is a type of business trip that takes place away from the office, like on the weekend or a day when people aren't working. It doesn't have a specific business purpose. They could be for the whole company or just a small group, and they're a memorable way for coworkers to get to know each other.
Offsite company vacations happen somewhere other than the office, like a villa, hotel, or small glamping site.
At onsite company retreats, workers from different places come to the main office to learn new skills and work together better.
Even though the places and activities are very different, business retreats usually have a relaxed vibe and include a mix of training, presentations given by coworkers, and fun, casual activities.
What is the point of a vacation for the whole company?
With the rise of globalization and remote work, workers often collaborate virtually from a distance. Peers who might not have otherwise had the opportunity to meet and get to know each other come together for a vacation.
If your team works in an office, a business retreat can help them be more creative and come up with new ideas by getting them out of their normal environment.
The goals of a business vacation are:
- We are getting to know each other as colleagues.
- We are collaborating to strengthen our core teams.
- Finding problems and coming up with answers as a team
- Brainstorming is a method to generate new ideas and products.
- Getting employees more involved and keeping them
The location of the work retreat and your goals will determine what you do. Instead of just talks, you could plan enjoyable things for the whole team to do, like a day of whitewater rafting, cooking class, or walking around a new city.
Business wellness camps aim to assist employees in managing stress and preventing burnout. If they happen in nature, the day might be filled with relaxing activities like forest bathing, spa treatments, hikes, and yoga.
Task-oriented retreats could happen in a private house or a hotel with meeting rooms set aside just for that purpose. Official presentations, group discussions, and testing of new products would divide the day, leaving time for casual conversation and group meals.
Learn how to set up a business vacation.
Step 1: Write down your goals.
Before choosing a business retreat location and activities, you must know your goals. Is this trip a prize for a job well done? A way to feel less stressed? Could this be an opportunity to refine your plan? First, list your main goal and any supporting goals.
Step 2: Make a spending plan.
The next step is to create a budget. Global companies aren't the only ones who go on business vacations; startups also like them. Make a budget for each person you can stick to, regardless of your income. This budget should include costs for food, housing, transportation, and activities. Also, it's smart to have a 15–25% cushion in case something goes wrong.
Step 3: Pick a date and time.
Check your company's future calendar to find a suitable date. Take into account the busy and slow times for your industry as well as any planned employee holidays.
Step 4. Pick a good place to hold the event.
There are a huge number of places to hold a company retreat. To narrow down the choices, think about the type of retreat you want to hold. Boutique hotels are ideal for short business trips that are full of team presentations and breakaway meetings. On the other hand, large country houses are ideal for vacations that focus on wellness.
Step 5: Make sure it's safe and simple to move.
Get your team on board by explaining the vacation and its goals. Before you book, make sure that everyone can make the times and travel arrangements work for them. If you need to, get travel insurance and visas. Then, book flights, hotels, and rental cars all from one place using a small business trip management tool, such as Booking.com for Business.
Step 6: Make a calendar and structure
Now that you know what the big picture is, it's time to plan your getaway. Plan out how you'll break up the day. One popular way to do this is to have training and hard work sessions in the mornings and activities that bring people together in the afternoons.
Paying attention to strategy? Allow time for activities that break the ice: brainstorming and talks by team leaders. Thinking about how to relax? Plan to have a lot of free time so that you can naturally meet new people.
During cold winter mornings, I like to take hot showers before applying either coconut oil or shea butter because they help me maintain a radiant glow while also hydrating and revitalizing my skin.
Why Your Skin Will Love the Ultra Rich Anti-Ageing Face Cream
Here’s what makes it special:
1. Frankincense for Wrinkles
This cream’s secret weapon is frankincense, a natural ingredient that’s fantastic for reducing the appearance of wrinkles. For centuries, people have used frankincense for its skin-smoothing and anti-inflammatory properties. If you’re looking to fade age spots and smooth out fine lines, frankincense is a must-have in your skincare routine.
2. Intense, Long-Lasting Hydration
The blend of natural ingredients in this cream is an ideal solution for hydration.
- Beeswax locks in moisture, preventing dry, flaky skin.
- Avocado butter provides natural sun protection while deeply nourishing your skin.
- Virgin Organic Shea Butter ensures your skin stays plump and moisturized around the clock. This rich formula works wonders day and night, leaving your skin feeling smooth, soft, and rejuvenated.
How to Get the Best Results with the Ultra Rich Anti-Ageing Face Cream
This cream is easy to incorporate into your routine, whether you use it in the morning to start your day or as part of your nighttime routine. For the best results, I recommend applying it after your toner and serum for a dewy, glowing complexion that lasts all day. At night, allow the deeply hydrating ingredients to do their work while you sleep, resulting in softer, more radiant skin when you wake up.
Why Shea Butter is My Skincare Staple
You are all aware that I am an avid advocate for shea butter, and this cream contains the highest quality version: Virgin Organic Shea Butter. It locks in moisture like no other, leaving my skin feeling soft and plump. Combined with frankincense, it’s been giving my skin a youthful glow that I’m obsessed with.
Eco-Friendly Beauty That’s Good for You—and the Planet
One of the reasons I love this cream (besides how amazing it makes my skin look) is the eco-friendly packaging. The brand strives to make their products beneficial for both your skin and the environment. This brand meets all the criteria for sustainable beauty!
Hi everyone! I am so excited to share this travel post with you. Let me begin by telling you how it all started. My partner and I are always looking forward to our next trip. We get thrilled about riding together and exploring amazing views.
On the morning of this trip, my partner was feeling sick, which upset me. He went to the pharmacy to get some medication, and afterward, he insisted that we should still go out because we had been looking forward to this trip for a while, especially since I had been working a lot and finally had some days off.
Due to his brief illness, we started our trip later than planned, and we were concerned that we might not have as much fun as we could have on a sunny day. Initially, we wanted to visit the Devil's Pulpit in Glasgow, but since that location is a cave, it was already late, and it would be better to visit on a sunny day.
Instead, he took me to a surprise location. I had no idea where we were going; I just tagged along. But when we arrived, the first thing I saw was a huge rock. Oh my, I was so happy! We saw cars parked nearby, but there weren’t many people visiting at the same time, probably because the weather looked like it was going to rain, which it didn’t until the end of our climb.
We visited Dumbarton Castle, located in Dumbarton, a town in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland.
Question. I have high blood pressure, and a friend suggested I take a potassium supplement. Is that a good idea? If so, how much should I take?
Answer. That’s an excellent question, and it’s one that many people ask for good reason—potassium can be a bit complicated. The short answer is no; you shouldn’t take potassium supplements unless your doctor specifically prescribes them. Here’s why:
First off, it’s better to get your potassium from food rather than supplements. Many fruits and vegetables are high in potassium, including spinach, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, bananas, and avocados. Diets rich in potassium can help manage blood pressure and are linked to a reduced risk of stroke. These diets are also typically lower in sodium and packed with other beneficial nutrients, which may contribute to improved blood pressure.
Now, it can get a little confusing. Many blood pressure medications, especially a common class known as diuretics, can affect your potassium levels. Some diuretics lower potassium levels, while others can increase them. Additionally, certain ACE inhibitors, like lisinopril (Prinvil, Zestril) or ramipril (Altace), may also raise potassium levels. Common pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve) can have a similar effect.
Business travel comes with its own set of problems. While some problems, such as jet lag, are predictable, others, such as flight cancellations, are unexpected. To get through these problems without any problems, you need to be ready, plan ahead, and have backup plans ready in case things don't go as planned.
Let's look at 7 common problems that come up when people travel for work and how to solve them in real life.
Employees may find it challenging to manage their expenses or determine reimbursement when your company's travel policy lacks clarity or detail. This often leads to confusion and frustration when something’s not covered.
Solution:
Software for managing business travel expenses helps keep track of costs and makes it easier to submit receipts. Additionally, it automatically highlights prohibited items.
Make your business travel policy better by making it complete, clear, and simple to follow. This prevents common misunderstandings before they occur.
Solution:
- Flexibility is key—offer a range of accommodation and transport options within the budget to meet different needs.
- Provide a clear travel policy using templates and checklists to ensure nothing is left out, so employees know exactly what’s expected.
Dealing with travel disruptions such as delayed or canceled flights can significantly disrupt business travel plans, potentially resulting in missed meetings or lost time.
Solution:
- Use corporate travel management software to make re-booking easy and provide 24/7 support for quick adjustments.
- Plan ahead with detailed itineraries and leave buffer times between flights, meetings, and other commitments.
- Book early morning flights whenever possible as they are less likely to experience delays.
Keeping business travel within budget while ensuring employees are comfortable can be challenging. Finding affordable flights, accommodations, and transportation takes effort.
Solution:
- Set clear budget guidelines upfront to avoid misunderstandings.
- Utilize corporate travel and expense software to book within the budget and access special rates.
- Plan trips in advance—early bookings often offer better deals on flights and hotels.
Raisins, dates, figs, and other dried fruits might not be as appealing as fresh fruits, but these little sweet bites can help you meet your goal of eating at least two servings of fruit a day.
One major benefit is their long shelf life, which means you won’t have to worry about them going bad. They’re also lightweight and make for easy snacks, especially when paired with nuts. A classic duo is raisins and peanuts, while dried apricots with almonds make another delicious combination.
Keep in mind that dried fruits are energy-dense and higher in calories, so it’s important not to overindulge— a serving size is just a quarter-cup. However, they also pack in a lot of nutrients along with those calories. Most dried fruits are excellent sources of potassium and fiber, and they’re rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Just be aware that some dried fruits may have added sugar, so always check the label to avoid unnecessary empty calories.
Dried fruits are also great mixed into oatmeal, baked into muffins, or added to salads and grain-based dishes.