Traverse City Corporate Retreats for Team Building
In today's busy business world, time is valuable. Many companies turn to corporate retreats for relaxation and rejuvenation. But planning these experiences well takes skill and know-how.
Why Use a Corporate Retreat Planner?
Every successful retreat begins with meticulous planning. Organizing effective company retreats requires considerable deliberation and planning. The planning process will span months, drawing time away from regular duties. Coordinating a company retreat for a group of 20 or more individuals presents significant logistical challenges. Securing suitable meeting spaces and making reservations can be a daunting task in itself. Additionally, there's the intricate planning involved in arranging team-building activities to ensure they cater to the diverse needs and preferences of the participants. Moreover, preparing meeting rooms with the necessary technology adds another layer of complexity to the organizational process. Managing all of this requires careful attention to detail and strategic coordination to ensure the retreat runs smoothly and achieves its objectives.
Corporate Retreat Planner in Traverse City
Dashing Departure, a premier corporate retreat planner in Traverse City, crafts customized experiences that align with company objectives. From selecting accommodations to suit your group size to booking engaging team-building activities, we handle every detail with precision and care including things such as making large group dining reservations at the best restaurants in town, and booking transportation to safely get your group from one place to the other.
Why Choose Dashing Departure?
Dashing Departure has a passion for creating unforgettable vacation. They have 20 years of experience of planning vacations, events and experiences worldwide. On top of that they are local to Traverse City, meaning they have personally vetted every hotel, restaurant and activity in the area to ensure it’s the right fit for your group. Their expertise, professionalism, and dedication make them the ideal choice for companies seeking transformative corporate retreats.
Corporate Retreat Accommodations
Arguably one of the most important aspects of your corporate retreat is the accommodations. If you’re looking for great options that offer both hotel rooms and conference rooms for ultimate convenience check these out:
Delamar: Another great spot for accommodations and meeting space is the Delamar. Located downtown, they offer 173 luxurious rooms many with bay views and refined private event venues for up to 360 guests and over 5 room options. Enjoy ample natural light, a private waterfront terrace, an expert catering team, and over 4,000 square feet of meeting space. Not to mention, it’s in a prime location right downtown Traverse City and located on the bay, where you can fully leverage all the city and landscape has to offer.
Park Place: Located in the heart of Traverse City, Park Place is another great option for your event. One of the longest-standing hotels in Traverse City, this venue is crafted to make a lasting impression for corporate events, strategic planning sessions, and executive meetings.Park Place Hotel has 140 rooms each with its own stunning view of Traverse City, Boardman Lake, or Grand Traverse Bay. Park Place Conference Center offers fifteen meeting spaces, capable of accommodating events ranging from an intimate board meeting of 10 to a sizable conference for 450. Many of these spaces offer breathtaking views of the city and Grand Traverse Bay.
Grand Traverse Resort: Elevate your corporate experience at Grand Traverse Resort, where sophistication meets functionality. Immerse your team in a luxurious setting with top-tier conference facilities and upscale accommodations, creating an environment conducive to high-level business discussions and strategic planning. Within the six-story hotel with 16 floors, you'll find multiple golf course, a 16th-floor restaurant, several dining options, spa, indoor and outdoor pools, gaming rooms, casino shuttles, and more. With over 20 indoor and outdoor facilities capable of handling groups from 10 to 2,500, you can experience an all-inclusive retreat all at the Grand Traverse Resort.
Photo Cred: Grand Traverse Resort and Spa
Crystal Mountain: This resort provides a range of comfortable accommodations and conference facilities, each offering panoramic views. With diverse options for meeting spaces, room configurations, and group sizes, Crystal Mountain sets the perfect stage for a variety of strategic discussions and executive retreats.Crystal Mountain has 250 rooms from hotel rooms, suites, condos, townhomes and resort residences, all nestled against the backdrop of beautiful northern Michigan.
Alexandra Inn: Another great hotel and conference space option is the Alexandra Inn and Harbor Brook Hall conveniently located next to each other and jointly owned for seamless planning. This is a refined choice with luxury hotel rooms and a beautiful conference space with floor-to-ceiling windows with views of Lake Michigan, creating an elegant and efficient environment for your productive meetings and collaborative sessions.Alexandra Inn is a boutique hotel with 32 guest rooms to accommodate small company outings. Your guests can enjoy amenities such as a private beach, the Cafe, the fitness center and Blush: Rooftop Terrace. Have a smaller group? Alexandra Inn also offers a 12-person meeting room on-site that comes equipped with a 55” TV, fireplace, and a private bathroom, providing the ideal setting for your small gatherings.
Have a large group? Harbor Brook Hall — just right next door, is a versatile space with 4,400 square feet of indoor space and an expansive outdoor deck and gazebo perfect for any group size.
Hotel Indigo: Hotel Indigo is a distinctive and dynamic choice for corporate professionals. Providing comfortable yet stylish hotel rooms and versatile conference facilities, it creates a modern and energizing atmosphere, perfect for implementing forward-thinking business strategies and collaborative initiatives. Hotel Inidgo offers 107 guest rooms, many with waterfront views and amenities including a fitness room, lounge bar and their rooftop bar H&L. For meetings, they offer 2 meeting rooms, each accommodating up to 197 people. With a total event space of 5,500 square feet, Hotel Indigo ensures a flexible and vibrant environment for your corporate needs.
Corporate Meeting Space
If you're staying at a vacation rental or a boutique hotel without corporate meeting facilities, you're in luck! There are numerous fantastic venues available beyond traditional hotels as well.
To read about our top choices check out: Best Places for Corporate Events in Traverse City, read our blog here.
Photo Cred: Canva
What to do on a Corporate Retreat
Best Group Activities in Traverse City
Grand Traverse Spa
Golf at Grand Traverse Resort
Winery/Brewery or Distillery Tour
Catamaran or Nauticat Boat Excursion
Day trip to Sleeping Bear Dunes
Day trip to Leland
Ropes Course
Putt Putt
Skiing & Snowboarding
Photo Cred: Canva
Large Group Dining Spots in Traverse City
Red Ginger
Aerie
The Parlour
Blue Tractor
Filling Station
Black Star
Poppycocks
Loco Boys
Pangea
Photo Cred: Canva
Large Group Transportation
There are a variety of transportation options for large groups in town from SUVs, to sprinter vans, to buses to trolleys. Check out some of our top recommended vendors:
Traverse City Wine & Beer Tours
Corporate Retreat Logistics
There are many logistics that go into corporate retreat planning. some things to not forget while planning are:
Building an Agenda
Booking Speakers
Planning Breakout Sessions
Testing Audio/Visual
Collecting dietary restrictions and scheduling catering throughout the day- There are various local caterers in Traverse City that we recommend.
Photo Cred: Canva
Corporate Retreat Gift Ideas
Show your employees that you value them and all of their hard work with a special retreat gift. Corporate retreat gifts can vary depending on the budget and the preferences of the employees, but here’s a few local recommendations:
Cherry-themed Gift Box from Cherry Republic
Wine from any one of our amazing wineries
Olive oil and balsamic from Fustinis
Customized candles from Evil Queen
Coffee from local roaster (Mundos, Panther, Higher Grounds)
Experience Gifts: Offer solo experiences like spa treatments or cooking classes
Customized Swag: Items such as branded apparel (t-shirts, hats, jackets), water bottles, tote bags, or notebooks with the company logo or event theme can serve as memorable keepsakes.