A Beach Resort for a Corporate Retreat - Yay or Nay?
I recently brought my family to an all-inclusive resort in the Dominican Republic. We ate, drank, swam, and basked in the sunshine..a true respite from the northeast winter. Despite having mixed opinions about all-inclusive resorts, we had a wonderful time. We rested, recharged, and reconnected as a family. We felt invigorated returning to reality. But I couldn’t help but wonder, would I bring a corporate group here? Let’s explore:
The pros:
Stress-free flat-rate.
There’s something liberating and somewhat utopian about not having additional expenses once you arrive at your destination. There are no surprises, there’s no sticker shock. This may be especially valuable if you’re working within a budget and really can’t afford to go beyond it. From an accounting perspective, this may provide peace of mind.
From an employee perspective, you have the freedom to enjoy all the experiences without having to ask for permission. Since everything is paid for upfront, everyone can focus on the experience at hand, not the financial aftermath.
There’s something for everyone.
Since all-inclusive resorts are designed to accommodate large groups with varying interests, there’s something for everyone in your group. While not everyone may enjoy archery (yes, this is something we did and had a blast doing it), it may appeal to a subset of your group and get them excited.
These archers can bond over the experience without inflicting the activity on the entire team. And since everything’s an invitation, you can appease various groups without the extra cost and effort of trying to find something for everyone. Having choices becomes liberating and crowd-pleasing, not expensive.
It’s all an invitation.
If participants sign up for an activity and miss it, it’s not the end of the world. There’s no commitment. A participant can change their mind without feeling guilty. The organizer won’t feel resentment if a guest doesn’t show up for a pre-paid activity. Participants may feel more open to relaxing and embracing the experience if they’re not on a strict itinerary with mandatory obligations.
The cons:
Not all resorts are corporate-friendly.
Resorts may have systems in place for individuals and families to book their stay easily. But not all resorts have experience hosting corporate groups. A LOT of communication is required between the company organizer and the group sales director. If the resort is unresponsive or communicates poorly, it can be incredibly frustrating.
As an organizer, you’ll want to have all your bases covered and the resort in your corner every step of the way. You’ll want the trust of the vendor. If there’s a lag in communication from the beginning, it’s best to pick a different hotel. You’ll be saving yourself a giant headache in the long run.
Beach resorts are weather-dependent.
Even if you meticulously plan every detail of a retreat, the weather is out of your control. Yes, we all prefer decent weather when we travel. But when it comes to a beach vacation, this is especially important.
Options become very limited if it rains the entire time. Most of these places aren’t equipped to offer a viable alternative in the case of poor weather. Basically, you’re $H!+ out of luck if the weather gods aren’t in your favor.
Isolated from the destination’s culture.
So this was a first for us. Typically when we travel, we make an effort to learn about the culture, eat local food, and take public transportation. The setup of this particular resort felt like an island within an island. We weren’t at all integrated into the culture of the Dominican Republic. We could have been at any beach anywhere in the world.
Although everything was convenient at the resort, we didn’t feel like we could easily immerse ourselves in typical local life. For a 3-day family beach trip, this was fine. But we couldn’t help but feel like we missed out on truly embracing the country in which we were visiting
The verdict
A beach resort for a corporate retreat wouldn’t be my first pick. First of all, not everyone’s a beach person. If the weather’s poor, then no one’s a beach person. Plus, the secluded nature of all-inclusive resorts can be limiting when it comes to cultural experiences. Working with local vendors to maximize the authenticity of a destination is one of the best parts of travel. Working closely with small businesses is an additional perk for both parties.
If you do indeed decide to bring your team to a beach resort, work closely with a hotel that has experience in corporate gatherings. They’ll know how to structure an experience that caters to all kinds of preferences so everyone on your team is a happy camper.