Cisco Meraki · Case study
A full-day virtual retreat, and they immediately rebooked
Coffee tasting in the morning, a DIY lunch workshop where teams cooked together, creative sessions and a management training.
Read the case studyTeam building activities for a company retreat
A two-day retreat has more to fill than a one-day offsite: an arrival night, an evening event and a slow last morning. Our hosts run games at your venue in 17 US cities, from about $35 a person, and remote attendees join live on Zoom.
3,000+ teams served · Plan back within 24 hours
What to put in each retreat activity slot
Every overnight company retreat has the same six slots. Give each one a different kind of activity and the work sessions in between go better.
Arrival night
Something drop-in
People arrive tired and in waves. Music Bingo lets them join whenever they get there. Or keep it to one icebreaker question per table at dinner.
Day 1, after lunch
Something competitive
Energy drops after lunch. An hour of Team Trivia or Blitz-Speed Trivia with teams that mix departments.
Day 1, evening
The main event
The night people talk about later. A hosted Feud Night after dinner. Keep drinks optional and the room well lit.
Day 2, morning
A quiet start
A walk, a stretch or one check-in question before the strategy session. Nothing loud before coffee.
Day 2, afternoon
A creative block
Hands busy, minds open: Canvas Painting or Watercolor Card Decorating.
Last session
A reflection to close
One sentence each: what I'm taking back to my team. Then a thank-you wall on the way out.
Team building activities we run at company retreats
About an hour each, with a host who runs everything so leaders get to play too. Prices are live from our catalog.
At your retreat venue
Our hosts come to your hotel, lodge or office in 17 US cities, including New York, Chicago, Austin, Denver, Atlanta and San Diego. Book about 2 weeks ahead.
Feud Night
From $1,750 · covers 50 people(about $35 each)1 hourin person
Pub trivia meets Family Feud-style survey rounds. The best fit for the big evening slot.
Team Trivia
From $1,750 · covers 50 people(about $35 each)1 hourin person
Host-led pub trivia answered on phones. Seat it by mixed tables to break up the cliques.
Blitz-Speed Trivia
From $1,750 · covers 50 people(about $35 each)1 hourin person
Fast trivia where everyone plays solo on their phone. Wakes a room up after lunch.
Music Bingo
From $1,750 · covers 50 people(about $35 each)1 hourin person
Bingo with a live DJ. Easy for the arrival night, when people drift in at different times.
Canvas Painting
$55/person + $750 base fee1 hourin person
Paint your own canvas with an instructor. A calm creative block for the second afternoon.
Watercolor Card Decorating
$52/person + $750 base fee1 hourin person
Paint four watercolor cards. Quiet, social, and everyone leaves with something.
For anyone joining remotely
Live on Zoom by default (Teams, Meet or Webex on request), with the room on a big screen so everyone plays together. Games need 2 weeks' notice, kits 3 weeks. More in hybrid team building.
Quiz Showdown!
From $975 · covers 25 people(about $39 each)1 hour
Hosted trivia on Zoom. Remote players and the room can play on the same teams.
Fun-Filled Feud
From $975 · covers 25 people(about $39 each)1 hour
A Family Feud-style survey game with twist rounds, run live for remote attendees.
Kit included
Candle Making
$68/person + $379 base fee1 hour
A kit shipped to each remote attendee, then a live candle-making session together.
Sample 2-day company retreat agenda
Two days and one night. The work blocks are yours; the activity slots are what make it a retreat.
Day 1: arrive, align, play
- 9:30Arrive and coffeeBadges, bags, a seating chart that mixes teams.
- 10:00KickoffWhy we are here and the three questions we answer by tomorrow.
- 10:45Working session 1The hardest topic first, while everyone is fresh.
- 12:30LunchAssigned seats, so people eat with someone new.
- 1:30Team gameAn hour of Team Trivia with lunch tables as teams.
- 2:45Working session 2Small groups, one problem each, a five-minute report back.
- 4:45Free timeCheck in, call home, nap. Unscheduled time is part of a retreat.
- 6:30DinnerSeat leadership apart, one per table.
- 8:00Evening eventA hosted Feud Night or Music Bingo. Done by 9:30.
Day 2: decide, create, close
- 7:30Optional walkFor early risers. A loop and one question to talk about.
- 8:30Breakfast and check-inOne word each: how are you arriving today?
- 9:00Strategy deep diveBack to yesterday's questions with a night's sleep on them.
- 11:00Creative blockCanvas Painting while the morning settles.
- 12:30LunchShort, so the last session keeps its time.
- 1:30Decisions and ownersEvery decision gets one name and one date.
- 3:00CloseWhat I'm taking back, then travel home.
Staying a third day?
- A half day off. The best conversations of a long retreat happen in free time.
- A volunteer morning booked with a local organization, if your venue can help arrange one.
- A second evening event that differs from the first: if night one was trivia, make night two music or painting.
- A team-only session where each department plans its own next quarter.
Team retreat planning checklist
Counted back from the first day. Our lead times are firm; venue, rooms and travel are yours to book.
4 to 6 months
Goal, budget and venue
- Write the one sentence the retreat has to achieve.
- Fix dates, headcount and a budget per person that covers rooms, food, travel and activities.
- Book the venue and rooms. Overnight groups need the longest lead time.
3 months
Travel and the agenda skeleton
- Send a save-the-date with travel details and who books what.
- Block work sessions first, then one activity slot per half day and one per evening.
- Decide how remote people join.
6 weeks
People details
- Collect dietary needs, accessibility needs and room-sharing preferences.
- Plan quiet options for every evening for people who skip the social event.
4 weeks
Anything custom
- Custom trivia rounds or branded game content need at least 4 weeks.
3 weeks
Kits for remote attendees
- Kit workshops need 3 weeks to ship, 3 to 4 for international addresses.
2 weeks
Lock the hosted activities
- Hosted games, at the venue or on Zoom, need about 2 weeks.
- Send the final agenda, with free time marked as free.
1 week
Final checks
- Final headcount to the venue and to us.
- Game teams that mix departments, and a seating plan for meals.
- Test the screen, camera and link for remote attendees from the actual room.
After
Follow through
- Send decisions and owners within 24 hours.
- A five-question survey while the retreat is fresh.
Company retreat vs offsite
People use the words loosely. The difference that matters for planning is the night in between.
| Aspect | Retreat | Offsite |
|---|---|---|
| Length | Two days or more | Usually one day |
| Overnight | Yes | Rarely |
| Balance | Work, social and free time | Mostly work sessions |
| Activity slots | 4 to 6, including evenings | 1 or 2 |
Planning a single day instead? Our company offsite guide has a one-day agenda. Taking only the leadership group away? See leadership team building activities.
Staff retreat ideas that cost nothing
For the gaps between sessions and the evening you don't book anything.
20 minutes
Team timeline wall
Draw the company's history on a long sheet. Everyone adds the moment they joined and one highlight.30 minutes
Skill swap
Pairs teach each other one thing in ten minutes each: a spreadsheet trick, a recipe, a chess opening.15 minutes
Letters to future selves
Everyone writes what they hope the team achieves by next year. Seal them; open them at the next retreat.Evening
Fireside questions
A bowl of questions, one pulled at a time, and anyone can pass. Borrow from our hot seat questions.
45 minutes
Question walk
Pairs who rarely work together walk a loop with one question to answer by the time they're back.5 minutes
Two-word check-out
End each day with two words from everyone on how it went. Fast, honest, and it shows you the mood.
More in our team building exercises with debrief questions and team bonding activities.
Company retreat questions
What are good team building activities for a company retreat?
Fill each slot with a different kind of activity: something drop-in on the arrival night, a competitive game after lunch, one main social event in the evening, a creative block on day two and a short reflection to close. Hosted games like Feud Night and Team Trivia suit the evening and after-lunch slots, and Canvas Painting suits the second afternoon.
How do you plan a work retreat?
Start 4 to 6 months out with one sentence the retreat must achieve, then dates, headcount, budget and the venue. Three months out, send travel details and block the agenda: work sessions first, then an activity per half day and per evening. Book custom content 4 weeks ahead, ship kits 3 weeks ahead and lock hosted activities 2 weeks ahead.
What is the difference between a company retreat and an offsite?
A retreat usually means two or more days with an overnight stay and more social and free time. An offsite is usually a single working day away from the office. The words overlap; see our company offsite guide for the one-day version.
How long should a team retreat be?
Two days with one night is the most common length: enough time for real work, one evening together and a proper close. Add a third day only if you also add free time, or people go home more tired than they came.
What should a staff retreat agenda include?
A kickoff that names the questions to answer, two or three working sessions, meals with mixed seating, one activity per half day, one evening event, unscheduled free time and a closing session where every decision gets an owner and a date.
Can you run activities at our retreat venue?
Yes, in the 17 US cities where we run in-person events. Our hosts bring Feud Night, Team Trivia, Blitz-Speed Trivia, Music Bingo, Canvas Painting and Watercolor Card Decorating to your venue. We don't book venues, rooms or travel. Somewhere else? Send us the city and dates and we will look at options, or run a hosted game on Zoom with the room on a big screen.
How far ahead should we book retreat activities?
Hosted games, at your venue or on Zoom, need about 2 weeks. Kit workshops need 3 weeks (3 to 4 for international addresses), and custom or branded content needs 4 weeks. Venues and rooms usually need far longer, so book those first.
How much do retreat activities cost?
Feud Night starts at $1,750 for up to 50 people (about $35 each). Canvas Painting is $55 a person plus a $750 base fee. Quiz Showdown! starts at $975 for up to 25 people (about $39 each). Every card on this page shows its live price, and you see the full price before you book.
Keep planning
Company offsite activities
A one-day offsite agenda, hosted games at your venue and a planning checklist.
ExploreTeam building for large groups
How we run 50, 100, 250 and 1,000 people, with a group-size planner.
ExploreIn-person team events
Hosted trivia, Feud Night, music bingo and painting at your office in 17 US cities.
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