The Ultimate Checklist for planning an offsite.
(That your team will talk about all year)
By Elsewhere Offsites
A great offsite doesn’t just tick boxes—it creates stories, sparks new thinking, and brings people closer. But getting from idea to execution requires more than booking a venue and sending out calendar invites.
Whether you’re planning your first team retreat or looking to level up from your last one, here’s your ultimate checklist to create an offsite experience that truly lands—and lingers.
For the ultimate checklist, start with “defining the purpose”
1. Define the Purpose
Start with clarity. Ask: What do we want to walk away with?
• Strengthened team relationships?
• Big-picture strategy alignment?
• A burst of creative energy?
• Simple rest and reconnection?
The purpose should guide every choice you make—from venue and tone to structure and activities.
2. Pick a Venue That Matches the Vibe
Your environment sets the tone. Skip sterile hotels and look for spaces with warmth, character, and flexibility.
At Elsewhere Offsites, we start with our unique venues (think countryside inns, design-forward manors, and historic farmhouses) within 2 hours of London. Every location is chosen to help your team feel relaxed, inspired, and ready to connect.
3. Get the Right Mix of Work and Play
Too much structure, and you miss the magic. Too little, and it turns into a free-for-all.
Build a rhythm that balances:
• Focused sessions (strategy workshops, brainstorming, vision setting)
• Energizers (walks, games, guided conversations)
• Downtime (quiet mornings, cozy nights, solo recharge time)
Need support shaping that arc? Our retreat planners can help.
4. Add a Signature Team Experience
The best bonding doesn’t happen in breakout rooms—it happens in shared, surprising moments.
Choose something playful, creative, or just plain weird. We’ve helped teams make fresh pasta together, build mini protest marches, or even do goat yoga. It’s those unexpected experiences that become legendary.
Explore our custom-built team experiences to find one that fits your culture.
5. Don’t DIY the Details
Trying to manage logistics and be fully present with your team? Not ideal.
A great offsite runs like clockwork behind the scenes—so you’re free to focus on what matters most: your people. With Elsewhere, our team handles everything from agenda shaping to on-site hosting.
Learn more about how we plan stress-free, high-impact offsites.
6. Capture the Energy
It’s all about the energy. Don’t let the retreat end when the taxi pulls away.
Send a recap. Share photos. Reflect as a team. Keep the conversation going and anchor the momentum in your day-to-day culture.
The Takeaway?
An offsite should feel meaningful, human, and worth remembering. Use this checklist as your launchpad—and if you want expert help making it all happen, we’d love to hear from you.
Start planning your next team retreat with Elsewhere Offsites