How to Plan a Team Offsite
Planning
How to Plan a Successful Company Offsite:
A Strategic Guide for High-Performing Teams.
BoomPop Team · 8/8/2025Have you been tasked with planning your company’s next company offsite or offsite retreat? You’re not alone—and you’re in the right place. At BoomPop, we’ve planned hundreds of corporate offsites, team retreats, and team building events for companies of all sizes, from small teams to large, distributed organizations.
When done well, a successful company offsite does far more than get people out of the office or conference room. Offsites provide the space for team bonding, meaningful connections, and strategic planning—all of which directly impact team morale, company culture, and long-term performance.
We consistently see the vast majority of teams leave offsite meetings feeling fully engaged, energized, and aligned. Whether your team works remotely, in person, or as distributed teams, a thoughtfully planned offsite can boost morale, strengthen psychological safety, and help build high performing teams that continue to collaborate well long after the event ends.
That said, a successful offsite doesn’t happen by accident. It requires a strategic approach, clear goals, and intentional planning.
So whether you’re organizing a single-day corporate event, a multi-day company retreat, or recurring offsite meetings for leadership teams, here’s exactly how to start planning.
How to Plan a Team Offsite (Step by Step)
Planning a company offsite is often a multi-month project that involves budgeting, venue sourcing, agenda design, and people operations coordination. Below, we break down the essential steps to help you bring teams together—effectively.
1. Create a Realistic Offsite Budget
The first step in planning any off site or offsite retreat is setting a clear budget. A realistic budget helps avoid last-minute trade offs and ensures the entire team has a positive experience.
Start planning by outlining major cost categories in a spreadsheet:
Flights and transportation (for remote teams and in person meetings)
Hotel or lodging costs
Daily meals (including delicious food)
Offsite activities and team building activities
Swag, gifts, and welcome kits
If your initial plan for a five-day company retreat exceeds budget, consider shortening the event. A focused three- or four-day offsite agenda can still foster meaningful connections and boost team morale—especially when time is used intentionally.
Need help? BoomPop offers an offsite budget calculator and a detailed budgeting ebook for people operations teams looking to go deeper.
2. Choose the Right Destination and Venue
Your destination sets the tone for your corporate offsite. Think of it as the backdrop where your team will spend time building trust, brainstorming new ideas, and strengthening relationships on a deeper level.
When evaluating destinations and curated venues, ask:
Do we want an urban setting or nature-based retreat?
Will we need enough space for a large group or breakout small groups?
Are we prioritizing in person meetings, offsite activities, or free time?
Is the location accessible so at least one person isn’t overburdened with travel?
Avoid defaulting to a hotel conference room unless your goals are heavily meeting-focused. The best company offsites intentionally balance workspaces with areas for unstructured time, informal conversations, and team bonding.
3. Build an Engaging Offsite Agenda
A strong offsite agenda balances business priorities with connection-driven experiences. Start with leadership teams clarifying strategic goals—such as alignment, strategic planning, or improving problem solving skills—then layer in team input.
Effective agendas typically include:
A brainstorming session for new ideas
Collaborative workshops focused on problem solving
Team building events that encourage friendly competition
Time-boxed meetings with a clear time limit
Free time and unstructured time for organic connection
Popular Offsite Ideas and Team Building Activities
Depending on your team’s size, interests, and energy level, consider:
Escape rooms or scavenger hunts for problem solving
Relay races or outdoor games for friendly competition
A cooking class, wine tasting, or food-focused experience
Volunteering with local children or community organizations
Small-group activities designed to foster meaningful connections
These engaging activities help teams relax, build trust, and work better together long-term.
4. Communicate Clearly With the Entire Team
Clear communication ensures everyone arrives informed, excited, and fully engaged.
Best practices include:
Announce the destination early to build anticipation
Share travel, hotel, and dress code details once confirmed
Set expectations for work sessions, offsite activities, and free time
BoomPop’s Guest Website helps centralize itineraries, RSVPs, dietary needs, and real-time updates—so no one feels out of the loop.
Additional Tips for a Successful Company Offsite
Gather Feedback Before and After
Survey your team ahead of time to understand preferences—and again afterward to improve future corporate offsites.
Prioritize Inclusion and Psychological Safety
Plan with accessibility, dietary needs, and comfort levels in mind so everyone can participate fully.
Balance Work, Play, and Rest
Teams need space to recharge. Offsites provide the rare opportunity to slow down, connect, and reflect—don’t overschedule.
We’re Here to Help You Plan a Successful Offsite
Planning a successful company offsite doesn’t have to fall entirely on your shoulders. BoomPop helps companies bring teams together through expertly planned team building events, offsite retreats, and end-to-end logistics support.
From venue sourcing to agenda design, we help companies foster meaningful connections, strengthen company culture, and build high performing teams.
Ready to start planning? Contact us today for a free consultation.
