Escape the Ordinary: Unique Retreat Ideas to Inspire Your Team

Looking for unique retreat ideas to level-up your next company gathering? This October, Online Optimism reinvented a cherished tradition as we celebrated our 12th anniversary. Breaking from our usual December team retreat—which typically features cozy camaraderie, eggnog, secret Santa exchanges, and a tinseled tree—we decided to rally the Optimists in New Orleans for an early autumn gathering. By choosing October, we enjoyed much better weather and avoided adding holiday stress for our team, freeing them from the seasonal juggle of work and family commitments.

But was this new twist a success? Absolutely—and we’ve got the feedback to prove it! Read on to discover the vibrant activities and thoughtful reflections that made our retreat unforgettable.

The Venue

Selecting the perfect venue is a critical component in crafting an unforgettable company retreat. There’s nothing worse than traveling to an interesting city and being stuck in a hotel conference room the whole time. We strategically chose to host our remote team at our home base: New Orleans. This allowed us to switch up the scenery often and treat our team to a local experience. 

Our retreat incorporated a dynamic blend of locations throughout the city, giving our team a taste of local life while providing opportunities for both excitement and introspection. From bustling city streets to the familiar coziness of our headquarters Uptown, the varied environments were crucial in setting the mood for each part of our retreat.

For downtime and accommodations, we chose Hotel Tonnelle, an elegant hotel conveniently located within walking distance of our office. Its central location near the streetcar line set our Optimists up for easy exploration of the city, ensuring our team could enjoy both the planned activities and the spontaneous delights of New Orleans.

The pinnacle of our retreat was the annual OOies awards ceremony, held at the fabulous Jack Rose restaurant, and featuring a pre-show happy hour and “green carpet” interviews at Hot Tin. This location offered breathtaking views of the city skyline, perfectly complementing the evening’s festive and celebratory atmosphere. The best part about these venues? They’re on the same block as the hotel we selected! Travel time and logistical chaos were essentially eliminated, allowing everyone to focus on the heart of what we were doing. 

Feedback from the team highlighted the impact of our venue choices, underscoring how the right settings can enhance engagement and satisfaction. The thoughtful selection of locations not only facilitated logistical ease but also enriched our team’s experience, proving that the venue can indeed make or break a company retreat.

The Agenda

This year’s company retreat was both enriching and entertaining, infused with our ongoing commitment to Keeping It Human. Some of our unique retreat ideas included:

• We kicked off the retreat with a meaningful volunteer session at Culture Aid NOLA, reinforcing our dedication to  Supporting Our Communities.
• On this theme, we also offered CPR certification training, ensuring that each team member not only feels safe but empowered to act in emergencies.
• Following our community service, we shifted gears and challenged our observational skills at the Clue Carré escape rooms, where teams worked together to solve puzzles under pressure. After a day of service, it was fun to problem-solve together in a low-stakes setting. 
• One of the highlights of the retreat was the OOies awards ceremony, a highly anticipated event where team members show their appreciation for one another—complemented by some truly impressive fashion choices. This ceremony was not just about recognition,  but also about strengthening bonds within our team.
• To align our efforts for the coming year, we dedicated time to setting departmental goals, ensuring everyone left with a clear understanding of their objectives and the path ahead.

We wrapped the retreat with a delightful twist on our traditional gift exchange. Embracing a “SpOOky Santa” theme, we exchanged gifts and enjoyed a tree decked out with ghost ornaments and purple tinsel, adding a fun and festive spirit to our gathering.

The Results 

Now that we’ve spilled the beans about all that we did, let’s go over the feedback (drumroll please)! Gathering with our team is the highlight of our year, every year. The diverse activities and unique settings provided ample opportunities for our team to connect deeply, reinforcing our culture of camaraderie and collaboration. In our anonymous feedback surveys, we achieved an average 9.67 out of 10 for overall satisfaction, an all-time high!

Moreover, the retreat’s focus on setting clear, actionable goals for the upcoming year has equipped every Optimist with a clear roadmap for success in 2025. This proactive approach ensures that as we move forward, we are not only stronger as a team but also sharply focused on our collective and individual objectives. The retreat was not just a celebration of another year but a pivotal step in preparing Online Optimism for a future filled with enthusiasm, creativity, and achievement.

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