Five Reasons Why Villas Are Ideal for Corporate Retreats

With the continual advent of advanced technology in the workplace, it’s no wonder that more and more companies are organizing offsite corporate retreats to bond, increase productivity, problem-solve in a new environment, and generally have a good time. More and more employers are realizing that planning a corporate retreat is one of the best investments they can possibly make. Whether it’s transporting staff to a Caribbean paradise, a historical European city or any other inspiring location, the perfect luxury villa for your team is out there. Renting out chic, modern, well-equipped spaces in gorgeous locations is the ideal place to make staff feel renewed, productive, and appreciated.

Here are 5 reasons villas are extremely conducive to corporate retreats:

1. Being in a new and beautiful place fosters motivation and efficiency

Research has shown over and over that taking breaks and going on vacation greatly raises productivity. Being in a new space for the sole purpose of working on a specific project or task helps companies gain focus and helps employees feel more dedicated. According to one study, a bank official who simply changed the coffee break schedule to allow workers to take their break together ended up creating a $15 million projected productivity increase and a 10% rise in employee satisfaction. Imagine how much projected productivity and employee satisfaction could be gained from a corporate luxury retreat in Barbados? White sand beaches and deep blue sea are just the beginning.

2. Luxury villas are well-equipped

Luxury villas around the world are often very well-prepared for corporate retreats, coming fully equipped with all manner of technology, internet, brainstorming tools (like easel pads), espresso machines, snacks, and if desired, a fully stocked fridge and/or hired villa chef. Some innovative spaces even have large format movie screens for presentations, gathering rooms for corporate planning sessions or presentations, and smaller rooms for breakout sessions. Add beautiful informal meeting spaces for all that free time, space to play sports or work off stress, dining rooms designed to accommodate the whole team, multiple living areas, and it really is hard to go wrong. Whether it’s breathtaking mountain views, magnificent sunsets, or an endless shoreline, the view from where you’re staying is sure to bring it all together.

3. The best team building happens outside the office

At an offsite staff retreat, you can do engaging team building activities that you can’t do at the office. Offsite locations supply new resources to help strengthen the team and provide an ideal place for trust-building games, healthy competition, and simple bonding. Getting out of the office tends to reduce stress between co-workers and provides a chance to work on any other issues causing strain. According to a study by the Harvard Business Review, employees who connect directly with each other work more efficiently and with greater overall success. And in highly digital workplaces or companies with offices in multiple cities, villa retreats can provide a space to assemble the team for real face time. Bringing everyone together to work on a project—rather than doing it over video conference—makes staff feel more connected, and helps them work more effectively toward a common goal.

4. Problem-solving is at its strongest with a fresh perspective

Casual, relaxing, and natural settings help people feel renewed, and encourage an openness of spirit that facilitates putting workplace changes into place and making decisions that may seem much more arduous when approached at the office. New settings offer new perspectives, which in turn, offer new ways of thinking. The right corporate luxury retreat can encourage brainstorming and creativity, and eliminate barriers that regular office culture may be blind to. A retreat in Italy’s gorgeous Tuscany may be just the what the doctor ordered when it comes to giving your company a pick-me-up. From farmhouses in the countryside to the colourful excitement of Florence, the perfect villa rental is never hard to find in an area that has been catering to travellers for many hundreds of years.

5. People do the best work when they’re happy

Never underestimate the importance of celebrating team successes. No matter what ratio of work to play you have planned for your corporate villa retreat, understanding that team members often feel ready to get down to business after some nice downtime is pretty key to a successful getaway. A retreat is one of the best ways to reconnect staff both with their coworkers and well as with the work itself. After giving employees free time to enjoy snorkelling, whale watching, hiking, roaming aimlessly, or simply snoozing in a hammock, any business is bound to benefit from this show of appreciation for the integral relationships that sustain it!