Three nights, two days and a whole lot of autumn magic in the Swiss Alps.
Earlier this year, a client came to me looking for something a little different for their team, they wanted to bring everyone together for an autumn retreat in Switzerland, somewhere they could reconnect and align the team, create their strategy for the upcoming years, have some fun, enjoy a little luxury and return to work with a new sense of energy, plus feeling refreshed and ready for what comes next.
Now that's a brief we love at HOWARD&Co!
The idea? Three nights in the mountains, with two full days of experiences, team activities and plenty of time to simply enjoy being together.
And why wait until everyone arrives at the hotel to start the experience?
We planned the journey by train, winding through the spectacular Swiss countryside, past lakes, golden forests and mountain villages before arriving at a wonderful alpine hotel.
From there, a programme with something for everyone. Guided mountain walks for those wanting to explore, gentler activities for those who prefer a slower pace, spa treatments for a little well-earned relaxation and some carefully chosen team experiences to get everyone talking, laughing and working together.
And then there was dinner, not another hotel dining room, but a cosy mountain hut, with local food, a wonderful atmosphere and the sort of evening where people end up staying at the table far longer than planned which for me, are the moments that make a retreat work. A colleague you rarely speak to becomes someone you know a little better, teams share experiences outside their normal roles, conversations happen naturally and people return with stronger relationships and understanding of each other.
Of course, behind all that mountain magic is a fair amount of planning, including the trains, transfers, hotel, activities, guest speakers, dining, timings and those little unexpected touches all need to work together and it's our job is to make sure the whole experience feels effortless for the guests and the organisers.
At HOWARD&Co, we design and manage the entire experience from A to Z, with programmes built around your people, your objectives and your budget.
If you're thinking about bringing your team together in Switzerland or neighbouring France, perhaps before the end of the year or to kick off the next one, let's have a conversation as all seasons, especially Autumn in the Alps is rather special and your next team retreat could be too.
Howard
Founder, HOWARD&Co
Based in Switzerland. Working globally.
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