How to Plan a Staff Retreat Agenda in Mexico

On the list of the nine most stressful jobs, you’ll find event planner on there. It can be a real nightmare trying to coordinate every little detail, so if you’re not a professional, any sort of event planning may have you pulling out your hair.

For example, your workplace may be going on a retreat to Mexico soon, and you’re in charge of figuring things out. Without a clear strategy, things can go wrong quickly, and you might miss key details.

Here’s how you can plan a staff retreat agenda in Mexico so you don’t miss a thing.

Decide How Long You’re Going First

Before you can actually write up the team retreat agenda, first decide how long the trip will be (if that’s up to you). Without this vital step, it can be difficult to slot in activities at the right pace.

We’d say that on average, corporate retreats last around 3-5 days. Three days is perfect if you don’t want your staff to miss too much work. You can leave early Friday morning and be back by Sunday night.

Otherwise, consider your budget and what you want to achieve with this retreat. Don’t forget to factor in your employees’ home lives too, as any time away will affect their loved ones.

Don’t Forget About Travel Time

Something that’s easily overlooked is travel time. You might book a 3-day retreat and think it’s enough, but in reality, there’s barely room for quality time at your destination since Days 1 and 3 will mostly consist of traveling.

This is why we’d suggest going with 4 or 5 days instead.

General Tips

Every retreat agenda will be different, which is what makes every experience unique and memorable. However, here are some things you should keep in mind.

Balance Work and Play

Of course, it’s vital to balance work and play. But the order you do them in is important too. 

In general, you should schedule work sessions in the morning when everyone’s bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, and keep afternoons for leisure and activities.

Mingle and Network

One of the main goals of company retreats is to create stronger bonds between staff members. While this can certainly happen with things from the work and play section, you should also build in time for informal mingling.

Have various socials for your employees to choose from, such as poolside, mealtime, or evening ones. This gives them the opportunity to interact with one another in different settings.

Have Local Experiences

You’re going to a new country, so soak in what it has to offer! Incorporate cultural and local experiences to give participants a true taste of Mexico. Do your due diligence to avoid tourist traps so that not only do you put together authentic activities, but you also support the local economy.

Factor in Flexibility

Not everyone will want to participate in everything on the schedule, and that’s okay. They may also want to rest at certain times, so allow some flexibility. That way, they can opt in or out of activities based on their interests and energy levels.

A Staff Retreat Agenda Sample

Now it’s time to put everything above into practice. In this section, we’ll give you a 4-day agenda sample that you can base your own plans on.

Day 1: Arrival and Orientation

Allow everyone to arrive at their own pace in the morning if you haven’t arranged for group transportation. This gives them time to settle in, explore the hotel, and freshen up. Once everyone’s there, host a welcome lunch at the hotel, complete with local Mexican cuisine.

Afterward, gather everyone together for orientation to introduce them to the retreat objectives. Follow that with team-building games or icebreakers to help everyone connect. Give them free time to enjoy hotel amenities or to go explore on their own once that’s done.

In the evening, have a themed welcome dinner on the beach or at a local restaurant. Include traditional entertainment like mariachi or folklore dance.

Day 2: Work and Play

Have a group breakfast at the hotel and then get straight to work for the next few hours. Hold the following (with short breaks and refreshments):

• Workshops
• Brainstorming sessions
• Strategy discussions

In the afternoon, provide a mix of both Mexican and international options for lunch to cater to all tastes. You can then proceed with two hours of an engaging team-building activity, such as a scavenger hunt around the resort or beach volleyball. Again, leave room for free time so people can unwind on their own.

For a real treat, take your employees out on a sunset cruise with dinner included. Or you can organize a trip to a nearby cultural site like Tulum, Chichen Itza, or a cenote for swimming and exploration. Then, have dinner at a local restaurant so you can experience authentic Mexican cuisine.

Day 3: Deep Work and Cultural Experience

Repeat the same morning process as Day 2 for an easier time. It’s also beneficial since you can continue any interesting conversations that happened the day before.

You can always have lunch on-site for convenience, or you can arrange a beach picnic for a change in scenery. Either way, head out for a cultural immersion activity afterward, such as:

• A visit to a local market
• Cooking class
• Tequila tasting
• Historical ruin exploration

After everyone’s had a chance to relax in the afternoon, take them out for a casual BBQ or taco night. Then enjoy some music and dancing by hiring a local band or DJ.

Day 4: Reflection and Farewell

Wake up and have a group breakfast for the last time on your retreat. Next, hold a reflective session for takeaways from the retreat and goal-setting; this is also a good time to get feedback. Consider incorporating a group activity like creating a vision board or sharing key learnings.

Everyone should then check out and relax or do last-minute sightseeing before departure. If possible, have a farewell lunch at a scenic location before people start leaving. Remember to leave plenty of time for people to get to the airport and to get through security for their flight.

Come Up With a Fantastic Staff Retreat Agenda

Putting together a staff retreat agenda can be stressful. But if you start planning ahead of time, it can actually be a fun thing to do.

By following the tips we’ve given you, you can create a fun and flawless itinerary that everyone’s sure to love.

Don’t want to do all the planning? Then get in touch with us. Give us the key details, and we at Grupo Events will take care of everything for you.