Hosting a corporate retreat can allow your employees to form new connections, set goals, brainstorm together, and unwind as a team. Creative challenges can help your team tap into their problem-solving, communication skills, and trust. Additionally, adding networking events to your retreat can help create cross-departmental connections, resulting in a more cohesive culture.
Read on to discover how you can plan a retreat that engages, educates, and entertains your team!
A few of our favorite Atlanta company retreat ideas:
- Rent a unique Atlanta corporate retreat location
- Take a walking tour with your team
- Unwind with a cooking class or creative challenge
- Gift participants a swag bag
- Add some fun with a photo booth
In this guide, you’ll find:
- Corporate retreat locations in Atlanta, including unexpected and off-the-beaten-path company retreat locations
- Atlanta retreat ideas for teams of all sizes
- Activities to boost trust, friendly competitiveness, and problem solving skills
- Team building ideas and games
- Ways to add more fun to your corporate retreat
Corporate Retreat Locations in Atlanta
1. Plan a Retreat at the Loudermilk Conference Center
Located in the heart of Downtown Atlanta, the Loudermilk Conference Center is a convenient and innovative location for corporate retreats and conferences. This ethics-minded venue shares that they offer employees a livable wage, insurance, and benefits. They have event spaces ranging from 12 people to 600, as well as an on-site parking garage.
To make your retreat as convenience as possible, Loudermilk Conference Center has an on-site culinary team. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available upon request. Additionally, they have an internal production team to help you with presentations and other AV needs.
Loudermilk is located in Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn District, recognized as the birthplace of the American Civil Rights movement. Make your retreat more fun with an Unexpected Atlanta walking tour nearby!
2. Go Off-the-Beaten Path with a Museum or Cultural Venue
Did you know that many of Atlanta’s museums and cultural sites rent out their spaces for corporate meetings?
Hosting your corporate retreat at one of these sites is a fun, unexpected way to liven up your event. Additionally, your company can feel good about your venue fee supporting one of Atlanta’s educational institutions!
Atlanta Museums that Offer Event Rentals:
- Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Center for Puppetry Arts
- High Museum of Art
- Zoo Atlanta
- Michael C. Carlos Center
Looking for something different? Explore your favorite Atlanta museum’s website to see if they offer facility rentals!
3. Book a Unique Team Experience at Barnsley Resort
Located in North Georgia, Barnsley Resort offers a variety of team building packages for corporate groups. For instance, treat your team to a golf challenge to build camaraderie and create friendly competition.
On the other hand, maybe your team wants to engage in a wilderness survival skills challenge! Spend a half-day with certified survival experts who will train your team in wilderness skills like orienteering, shelter construction, and more.
Round out your experience with fun games, a chef’s demonstration, spa experiences, and more.
4. Book a Rental Home – Perfect for Small Team Retreats!
If you have a small team, consider renting a home for your retreat! You can find a VRBO or AirBNB with amenities your team will love. Additionally, a more private setting means your team is free to be a bit louder in your brainstorming, laughter, and fun.
Amenities to look for in your corporate retreat home rental:
- A fully-equipped kitchen to prepare meals together.
- Mountain or lake views, if you’re venturing away from Atlanta.
- A pool to enjoy happy hour around.
- Sporting equipment like bicycles, kayaks, bocce court, foosball table, or air hockey to encourage adventure and friendly competition.
- A fire pit to roast s’mores and hot dogs at the end of the day.
5. Host an Upscale, Rustic Retreat at Serenbe
Take a day trip to Serenbe, around a half-hour south of the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. As an upscale, intentionally-designed wellness community, Serenbe frequently plays host to executive retreats and team-building events.
Serenbe’s elegant conference rooms are well-suited for groups between 10-100 people. Additionally, Serenbe offers a variety of add-ons, such as wine tastings, farm tours, yoga, an evening bonfire, horseback riding and hayrides, dinner under the stars, and more.
Activities for Your Atlanta Corporate Retreat
6. Take a Walking Tour of Your City
Get everyone out of the office for a walking tour of Atlanta! This activity is perfect for retreat attendees coming from out-of-town, as well as locals who want to learn more about their city. Unexpected Atlanta offers two memorable tours to choose from.
During the Grant Park Past & Future Food Walk, your team will taste 9 Southern-inspired dishes at 3 local food stops. Along the way, you’ll explore one of Atlanta’s most beautiful and historic neighborhoods. This tour includes 1.2 miles of easy walking, including a stroll through Historic Oakland Cemetery. Dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice, so no one will be left out!
Or, your team could choose the King Historic District Tour to learn more about the people and locations that inspired Martin Luther King, Jr. On this tour, your team will hear moving and important stories about the American Civil Rights movement and be inspired by Dr. King’s legacy. Named by Conde Nast as one of the 16 best things to do in Atlanta!
7. Go on a Scavenger Hunt
Create some excitement with a team scavenger hunt! Send everyone around Atlanta to search for specific items. Then, have everyone snap a photo or selfie when they reach their destination.
You can create your own scavenger hunt, or purchase a scavenger hunt experience. Group employees together in teams, and see which group wins!
In addition to awarding a prize to the team who completes the challenge first, you can also assign prizes for other categories. For instance, award one team for having the most creative photos, or for completing the challenges with unique style and flair!
8. Challenge Your Team to a Cooking Class & Cook-Off!
Get your team cooking up some fun! Book a cooking class to help your team boost their communication skills and feel comfortable mingling with each other.
For instance, The Cook’s Warehouse in Midtown offers a variety of group cooking classes. Create a custom event and choose from sweeet and savory menu options for all skill levels! Popular classes include Spanish food, artisanal pasta, French Macarons, Southern brunch, and more.
To create an inclusive experience, be sure to include options for all the dietary needs in your group!
9. Host a Talent Show
Looking for a great icebreaker or happy hour event? Try hosting a team talent show! This idea can be especially fun if your retreat venue has access to a stage and AV equipment like speakers and video screens.
Encourage everyone to share their special talent – whether it’s playing a musical instrument, demonstrating a craft activity, performing stand-up comedy, or busting out some TikTok dance moves!
If your team members have stage fright, offer the option for them to read a favorite poem or short story. Sometimes, having a script can help people feel more comfortable coming out of their shell. This activity is also great practice for delivering presentations and interacting with clients!
Corporate Retreat Tips: Add More Fun!
10. Welcome Everyone with a Gift Box or Swag Bag
This idea is a classic for a reason. Your team will love being gifted something special as they embark on their corporate retreat.
For a DIY kit, put together a basket for each team member that includes a mix of fun and practical items. For instance, you might include a branded high-quality coffee tumbler or water bottle along with some retreat snacks and a nice notebook and pen.
Or, opt for an already-put-together option with a curated selection of local goods. Georgia Crafted is a great option for unique corporate gifts that also support Georgia’s small businesses.
11. Rent a Photo Booth
Give everyone a memorable keepsake by renting a photo booth! Employees will have fun posing together and showing off their silly side.
Depending on which company you rent from, some will include fun props and accessories. You can also create your own branded photo props that include your corporate logo! Many photo booths will immediately print a physical photo, or digitally send the photos to your email or phone – or both!
As a result, this idea creates instant fun and lasting memories for your team.
12. Go Virtual to Include Remote & Hybrid Workers
Did you know our sister company, Unexpected Virtual Tours, offers virtual corporate team building experiences? We’ve worked with companies like Google, The Home Depot, Coca-Cola, IHG, UPS, and more to create highly engaging, unforgettable virtual experiences!
Include your remote and hybrid team members with an exciting virtual session during your corporate retreat. Additionally, many of our experiences include DEI components, making them perfect for inclusive and equity-focused teams.
Virtual Team Building Experiences offered by Unexpected Virtual Tours:
- Best of Atlanta
- Design-A-Golf-Course
- European Vacation
- Music Evolution
- Street Art
- Seasonal events for occasions like Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Pride, Juneteenth, Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month, and Halloween
- Bespoke custom team building events
Looking for more Atlanta corporate retreat ideas? Browse our guide: 22+ Fun Team Building Activities in Atlanta.
