The Anatomy of an Unforgettable Team Retreat
Credit: Unsplash
Published: November 2025
Retreat season is HERE!
Who are we kidding? Every day is the perfect day for a team retreat! And, I'm so glad you reached out. At UNMUTE™, we believe team retreats are the perfect way to celebrate everyone's hard work, unwind a bit, and even make time for a little professional development between activities.
If you've never done a team retreat, planning can be overwhelming. That's why our team is here – to make everything from agenda planning to finding sponsors, to curating the best menus and being on-site so everything runs flawlessly.
We put together a planning guide for your inspiration below! Remember, every retreat we produce is custom, and these are just examples of what's possible to make your retreat unforgettable.
1️⃣ THE AGENDA
The most successful retreats follow a rhythm of connection, training, and celebration, all designed to feel seamless and not overstimulating. We find that 2 days of programming is the sweet spot for most teams. It's just enough to deep dive and leave energized.
Some previous clients have added an additional programming day for the executive team only to do high-level planning together.
2️⃣ LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
The right venue doesn't just host your retreat, it sets the tone that reinforces your company culture & style. More importantly, it helps your team visualize the next level of success. We prioritize venues that are travel-accessible for everyone, and then look for venues that check off your experience wish-list.
Venues we've hosted at & some we're keeping in our back pocket for yours!
The Lincoln Hotel (Biddeford, ME, USA – a Michelin key hotel)
Windy Hill Farm & Preserve (Tennessee, USA)
Monhok Mountain House (Hudson, NY, USA)
Walden Retreats (Hill Country, TX, USA)
A nice reminder; most retreat venues are all-inclusive, so meals, meeting rooms, and amenities are already built into the cost.
3️⃣ BRAND PARTNERSHIPS
Brand partnerships bring retreats to life, from gifted products and sponsored dinners to custom swag bags that make your team feel genuinely valued. These collaborations offset costs while adding memorable touches that elevate the entire experience. This might be our favorite part!
At a recent team retreat, employees received a gift bag worth over $700 in goodies from brands the company had worked with and new ones that simply loved the retreat theme and wanted to be part of it. Because so many brands got involved, employees had gift stations in their hotel bathroom, bed, and mini bar PLUS a packed to the brim tote bag too!
Some of the brands included PopFlex, LL Bean, WIMP Decaf, Alice Mushrooms, Before oral care, and Magic Tea Hour!
This specific retreat was also sponsored by local vendors for plants, decor, and team activations. Overall, the client saved ~$9000 thanks to brand partners!
4️⃣ ACTIVATIONS
The moments your team remembers aren't always the planned sessions; they're the unexpected experiences that bring everyone together. Activations and entertainment create those stories your team will retell for months, whether it's a murder mystery dinner, a goddess photoshoot, or a surprise themed activity that matches your retreat vibe.
Many venues offer complimentary activities on-site. For instance, at Monhonk Mountain House, they offer hiking, skiing, and yoga; or at Windy Hill Farm & Preserve, you can take a beekeeping class! Depending on what time of year your retreat is, planning an activation that matches the season (like Molly's murder mystery on Halloween) is 10X more fun!
5️⃣ FACILITATED TRAINING SESSIONS
Retreats create the perfect opportunity to finally tackle the professional development you've been putting off. When your team is out of their day-to-day routines and actually present together, learning sticks in ways it never does over Zoom.
These facilitated training sessions help teams build the skills they need to collaborate better, communicate clearly, and actually enjoy working together.
6️⃣ HIRING THE EXPERTS (US!)
With over 15 years of event experience, we've produced everything from intimate team retreats to large-scale conferences. When you work with us, you're in good hands.
Here's what to expect:
Timeline: We recommend starting 3-4 months before your ideal retreat dates. Peak seasons book fast, so the earlier we start, the more venue options we'll have.
Budget: You already ran the calculator, so we have a ballpark estimate. The good news? We typically come in under budget by securing brand partnerships and negotiating with vendors on your behalf.
🤠 NEXT STEPS
Let's go OOO! Schedule a call with me, Sara (Founder @ UNMUTE™), to lock in your team's next retreat. From venue and programming to surprise moments, we'll plan the ultimate, unforgettable offsite celebration your team will never forget.
P.S. Mention this article & you'll get 10% off production!
