The Value of Offsites in Today’s Workplace
The Value of Offsites in Today’s Workplace
BoomPop Team · 4/2/2025
Global Meetings Industry Day shines a spotlight on the incredible impact of meeting in person
As we celebrate Global Meetings Industry Day, let’s take a look at the dramatic transformation of how we work today, and why opportunities to meet in person as a team are more important than ever.
Flexible & Remote Work Continues to Grow in 2025
While we saw return-to-office rates rise post-pandemic, we’re still seeing an increase in work location flexibility. The Flex Index reports that only 31% of companies are now in-office full-time, a trend that has continued to fall even as pandemic work restrictions eased, with a significant 69% of U.S.-headquartered companies embracing flexible work options.
According to the Flex Index, “Just five quarters ago, the US was roughly evenly split, with 51% of companies offering work location flexibility and 49% requiring Full Time In Office.”
It’s clear that flexible and fully-remote work is more than a fleeting trend—it’s a fundamental shift in the way organizations operate, which also means a shift in how teams connect and collaborate. With flexible and remote work now becoming the norm, organizations are developing new best practices for team building, vision-casting, and driving innovation. Enter the era of the offsite.
Offsites are the New Office
In this evolving work landscape, research has shown that in-person gatherings and retreats are essential for maintaining team cohesion and driving business success. A Harvard Business Review study emphasizes this point, revealing that 88% of business decision-makers consider in-person interactions—including meetings, offsites, and workshops—critical for fostering positive long-term relationships among employees and coworkers and driving revenue.
Today, savvy teams are balancing the benefits of flexible and fully-remote work with the need to connect in-person by developing a regular cadence of company offsites, bringing teams together in person across the year with intentionality. This approach offers the best of both worlds.
Meetings: An Economic & Social Engine
Global Meetings Industry Day 2025 reminds us that meetings, especially in-person offsites and retreats, deliver significant value on multiple levels. Meetings and events aren't just about getting down to business; they're also powerful drivers of economic growth and innovation. Globally, business events generate more than $1.15 trillion of direct spending annually, and in 2024, meeting and event-related travel spending in the U.S directly supported nearly 620,000 American jobs.
Specifically, corporate retreats and offsite: “support small and local businesses in the communities in which they are hosted,” according to U.S. Travel. Retreats bring teams to new locations, which directly support local economies. Attendees stay in hotels, dine at restaurants, and utilize local services, providing a vital source of revenue for these destinations.
Building Stronger Teams
Beyond the economic boost, the offsites are a vital strategy in building stronger, more connected teams. Strong relationships are the foundation of any successful team, and face-to-face gatherings like offsites and retreats are the most effective way to forge and deepen those bonds. These shared experiences help team members create a collective mission and purpose, foster empathy across departments, and cultivate the camaraderie that propels organizations forward.
After their recent retreat in Napa, the Atomic team said, “The injection of collaboration, camaraderie, and chemistry from the event set our team up for a strong year.”
In a world where flexibility is key and distributed teams are becoming the norm, these in-person offsites aren't just a perk; they're a strategic imperative. They're a powerful way to bring people together, drive business growth, and support communities, all while strengthening the very core of your organization: its people.
Ready to plan your next in-person team offsite? Book a free consultation with one of our expert Event Planners.
