The 25 Best Corporate Retreat Locations In The US [2024]

If you search for “best corporate retreat locations” on Google, you’ll get hundreds of opinions on the top cities in the United States. But just because Tina says Texas is the number one spot or John swears by a venue in Rhode Island doesn’t mean you should start booking flights.

You wouldn’t make any other business decision from just one person’s opinion, so why would picking a company retreat location be different? 

For this article, we decided to get more data by considering factors like airport location, lodging availability, and city popularity. (Click here to see the full process.) This way, the list of best cities is based on evidence outside of just one person’s thoughts.

If you want actionable data to help you pick the best place for your staff retreat, keep reading for the cities that made the list (plus venue and activity ideas for the top ten). 

 

👉 The Top 25 Locations For Your Company Retreat 👈

 

1. Miami, Florida

Total points: 60

Miami won the number one spot thanks to good airport access, gorgeous weather, and lots of Airbnb options. Who wouldn’t want a corporate retreat near a bay in the Sunshine State? Miami offers water activities, shopping, and good dining – everything you need to create a memorable corporate retreat.

• Airport points: 17
• Popularity points: 14
• Weather points: 14
• Lodging points: 16
  • Airbnb points: 15
  • Hotel points: 1
• Price points: -1

If you want ideas for your team retreat, we’ve got some places to kickstart your planning: 

 

Great Lodging

For a hotel within walking distance of lovely restaurants, shops, and bars, check out Hampton Inn & Suites Miami/Brickell-Downtown. It’s ranked in TripAdvisors’ list of top 10 business hotels in Miami. We chose it because of its great access to downtown Miami: you can walk almost anywhere within the Brickell area. If you want to see some other Miami attractions, the hotel offers free transportation. This location right outside of downtown Miami makes planning easy. The hotel has access to boating along with a bar/lounge, swimming pool, and billiards. Plus, with free breakfast and a business center, Hampton provides options for getting brainstorming done, too. 

Great Meeting Venue

If you’d like a focused place to hold your team meetings, why not get a conference room you can rent by the hour? This affordable downtown Miami workspace is only ten minutes from the hotel, and it gets great reviews for its wonderful staff and clean spaces.

Cool Place To Check Out

There are dozens of restaurants in the Brickell area that offer fun and interesting eating experiences, but if you’re willing to drive a few minutes (or take hotel transportation) downtown, you need to experience CVI.CHE 105. This restaurant serves Peruvian food with a great menu of unique choices. Reviewers rave about the special ambiance and friendly staff. Plus, what better place than Miami to enjoy some Latin cuisine and seafood?

 

2. Las Vegas, Nevada

Total points: 59

• Airport points: 19
• Popularity points: 21
• Weather points: 9
• Lodging points: 10
  • Airbnb points: n/a
  • Hotel points: 10
• Price points: n/a

Las Vegas ranks number two on the list because of its popularity with travelers. There’s so much to do! If you want to create a team retreat that has endless entertainment opportunities, Vegas might be your city. Look below for some ideas to get your plan started:

Great Lodging

The Cromwell Las Vegas is a good lodging option for your retreat if you’re looking for a little bit of everything. It’s small but gets great reviews for the prime location (as evidenced by its TripAdvisor walking score of 100!). It has a nightclub, a convenience store, a restaurant, and a casino. Even though you have everything you could imagine at the hotel, you can also venture outside to see Vegas from the Eiffel Tower viewing deck just down the street or enjoy the Bellagio Fountain.  

Great Meeting Venue

If you need to eliminate distractions for a team meeting, check out this rent-by-the-hour Las Vegas conference room about 18 minutes from The Cromwell. A clean, focused environment amid the excitement of Vegas could be just the ticket to get new ideas flowing.

Cool Places To Check Out

When given the opportunity to experience an upscale Chinese food restaurant surrounded by glitzy fish aquariums, we always recommend you take it. That’s why we’re putting Beijing Noodle No. 9 from Caesar’s Palace in this section. There are tons of crazy dining experiences in Vegas, but this one caught our eye.

If you want an interesting and fun team experience that’s more centered around drinks, try this hidden speakeasy that only admits 22 people at a time. The Laundry Room has a mysterious atmosphere focused on serving interesting drinks. Reviewers say the mixologists know their stuff.

 

3. Orlando, Florida

Total points: 39

• Airport points: 18
• Popularity points: n/a
• Weather points: n/a
• Lodging points: 23
  • Airbnb points: 14
  • Hotel points: 9
• Price points: -2

Orlando comes in third with its fantastic choices of Airbnbs and hotels. With a city that’s so near Disney World, Universal, and SeaWorld, you really can’t go wrong planning a staff retreat to Orlando. If you need some other ideas to get a team retreat planned, check out the options below:

Great Lodging & Meeting Venue

The Hyatt Regency Orlando is a fantastic lodging option less than 20 minutes from Disney and Universal. The hotel offers tons of amenities, including bars, a steakhouse, a diner, a pool, a 24-hour gym, a spa, a business center, and meeting rooms. Your team can enjoy the lounge and grab some food before heading to a brainstorming session in one of the hotel’s meeting spaces. Now that’s a good way to encourage innovative thinking.

Cool Place & Activity To Check Out

Chatham’s Place in Orlando is a must-see for your team. Reviewers gush, calling it a “hidden gem” and “utter perfection”. With a relaxed culture (the restaurant promises you can have your table the whole night), a talented piano player, and a delicious and classy menu, Chatham’s checks all the boxes for a restaurant your team will enjoy.

For a group activity (outside of food) that will improve teamwork and creativity, try The Escape Ventures‘s escape rooms in Orlando. Escape rooms are entertaining, immersive, and usually only sixty minutes, so they provide a great way for corporate teams to bond. We recommend The Escape Ventures’s “Fraternity Hiest” room – it’s hilarious and well done, with a fun storyline everyone will like. 

 

4. Dallas, Texas

Total points: 37

• Airport points: 24
• Popularity points: 9
• Weather points: n/a
• Lodging points: 4
  • Airbnb points: n/a
  • Hotel points: 4
• Price points: n/a

Dallas won spot number four thanks to being both popular with travelers and accessible via the Dallas Fort Worth airport. If you’re looking for interesting things to do, check out some ideas below for your staff retreat:

Great Lodging

If you’d like a hotel with the full experience (spa services, massages, a sauna, and more), check out The Joule in Dallas. This boutique hotel is revitalized from a neo-gothic bank built in the 1920s, and its design is enthralling. We chose this as a top hotel option for a team-building retreat because it has both great ratings for cleanliness and a great walkability score from Tripadvisor. If you have team members with pets, this animal-friendly hotel will let them bring along their pets for an even better time.

Great Meeting Venue

For a meeting venue away from the distractions of the city, check out this coworking space with meeting rooms in Richardson (about 22 minutes outside of downtown Dallas) that will help your team get focused. The workspace has a creative atmosphere, with intriguing artwork by Theo Ponchaveli (an Emmy award-winning artist). 

Cool Places & Activities To Check Out

Dallas has a host of interesting activities to offer teams, like the immersive Van Gogh experience and a free trolley through the city (TimeOut suggests getting off to try bourbon at The Standard Pour). 

Beyond seeing the sights, go to Meso Maya Comida Y Copas for authentic Mexican food and flavorful margaritas to finish off the day.

 

5. Los Angeles, California

Total points: 35

• Airport points: 21
• Popularity points: n/a
• Weather points: 23
• Lodging points: 5
  • Airbnb points: n/a
  • Hotel points: 5
• Price points: -14

Los Angeles gets a top spot on our list thanks to the gorgeous weather. While it can be a bit pricey, the cool location and history of stars are worth the cost. Look below for some ideas for your trip:

Great Lodging & Meeting Venue

The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, made up of The Tower (built in 1927) and The Cabanas (built in the 1950s), is perfect for companies looking for Hollywood history. After all, famed actors like Charlie Chaplin and Marilyn Monroe stayed there! From a spa and massages to a heated pool and evening entertainment, The Hollywood has all bases covered to make sure your team has a good time. Plus, it’s got all sorts of activities and restaurants within walking distance.

The hotel also has boardrooms and meeting spaces that companies can rent. What better place to work on new ideas than in a historic Hollywood hotel?

Cool Place To Check Out

You can’t beat free, and with thousands of rave reviews on TripAdvisor (it’s ranked as the best activity in L.A.), it looks like you need to include a visit to The Getty Center in your itinerary. A spacious art museum, The Getty Center features the work of iconic artists like Monet and Van Gogh and has beautiful gardens.

 

6. Denver, Colorado

Total points: 34

• Airport points: 23
• Popularity points: 23
• Weather points: n/a
• Lodging points:
  • Airbnb points: n/a
  • Hotel points: n/a
• Price points: -12

While a little on the expensive side, Denver is a fantastic choice for a corporate retreat thanks to its easy accessibility and many activities. If you need a jumpstart on planning your team retreat, take a look at the ideas below:

Great Lodging

The Hotel Teatro in Denver is a great option for team lodging. Not only is it a unique, historical design, but it’s within walking distance of the downtown, which means there are restaurants and activities only a few blocks away. With meeting rooms for business and bicycles to rent for sightseeing, this hotel is a great option in the heart of Denver.

Great Meeting Venue

For a fantastic, trendy studio with a creative vibe, check out this Corner Office from Lohi. The cool decor and natural light will inspire your team as you come together to brainstorm.

Cool Place To Check Out

There are tons of activities and restaurants to check out in Denver, but Union Station stands out as a crowd-pleaser. Since it’s a mix of dining, shopping, and history, it’s a great place for everyone to explore.

 

7. San Diego, California

Total points: 29

• Airport points: 2
• Popularity points: 25
• Weather points: 24
• Lodging points:
  • Airbnb points: n/a
  • Hotel points: n/a
• Price points: -22

When you hear San Diego, you probably think enviously of the copious amounts of sunshine and sand. Why not choose it for your next corporate retreat location? It’s highly popular with travelers and features temperate weather almost all year. If you need some ideas for unique locations, look at the ideas below:

Great Lodging

For a hotel in San Diego within walking distance of theaters, restaurants, and nightlife in the Gaslamp District, check out the Westgate Hotel. Beyond the great Tripadvisor reviews for the hotel’s fantastic location and friendly staff, the hotel offers access to AquaVie Fitness + Wellness Club. This fitness club has everything a person could want, from fitness and yoga classes to massages and saunas. It’s a great company retreat location, only a few minutes away from North San Diego Bay.

Great Meeting Venue

If you want a flexible workspace where you can rent out a conference room for the day, check out Moniker Commons. Since this is a coworking space, you’ll have access to their free beer on tap and complementary drip coffee. If you ask us, that’s not a bad way to start a business meeting.

Cool Activity To Check Out

After exploring some of San Diego’s out-of-this-world beaches, why not get the team together for a private sailing excursion? Companies like Sail San Diego provide a great experience (with a crew), so all you need to do is sit back and enjoy the weather. This is a great way to help your team bond!

 

8. Atlanta, Georgia

Total points: 29

• Airport points: 25
• Popularity points: 3
• Weather points: n/a
• Lodging points: 9
  • Airbnb points: 9
  • Hotel points: n/a
• Price points: -8

Atlanta gets the best score for airport options. Since it boasts one of the busiest airports in the world (Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport), it offers more flight choices for getting your team to the city. Plus, with well-known attractions like the Coca-Cola Museum and The Varsity, it’s a cool place to experience as a team! Take a look at the ideas below to start planning your trip:

Great Lodging

The Candler Hotel in Atlanta gets a lavish number of five-star reviews on TripAdvisor, and it’s not hard to see why. This historical skyscraper has been restored to create a luxurious and beautiful atmosphere. Reviewers love the intricate design and say the employees are helpful and friendly. With meeting rooms and conference space available, you’ll even be able to get work done.

Great Meeting Venue

Want a focused place to meet as a team while you’re on your retreat? Castleberry Hill Rustic Loft is only minutes away from downtown Atlanta and can be rented by the hour.

Cool Activity To Check Out

Atlanta has a variety of great team-building activities to explore, but the one that stood out the most to us was the Grant Park Food and Cemetary Tour. After all, who wouldn’t want to learn about the history of Atlanta while getting to enjoy the finest food and beverages the city has to offer?

 

9. Charlotte, North Carolina

Total points: 28

• Airport points: 16
• Popularity points: 12
• Weather points: n/a
• Lodging points:
  • Airbnb points: n/a
  • Hotel points: n/a
• Price points: n/a

Charlotte is a great place to plan a company retreat. It’s easy to get to, it has fun activities for teams, and it’s not too expensive – all the things to look for in a small corporate retreat location. If you’d like ideas for planning your retreat, take a look at the fun options below:

Great Lodging

For a high-class Charlotte experience, book rooms at The Ivy Hotel across from the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. It’s within walking distance of some fantastic restaurants and bars, and reviewers on TripAdvisor say the hotel staff is phenomenal. Besides a restaurant and bar, the hotel also has a business center if you need to get some work done before exploring the area.

Great Meeting Venue

If you want a meeting venue with more flexibility than a hotel conference room, check out Industrious in uptown Charlotte. They offer meeting rooms you can rent by the hour, plus breakfast and snacks for your team. Reviewers love the experience and appreciate the amazing location.

Cool Place To Check Out

For an immersive group activity, visit District 57, a dystopian-themed entertainment venue. One of District 57’s activities is called The Grid. The Grid is comprised of 7,000 square feet of rooms. Each room has a challenge or puzzle to complete, and teams must complete as many tasks as they can before the time runs out. It’s a fun (and unique) take on team building you won’t want to miss.  

 

10. San Francisco, California

Total points: 28

• Airport points: 12
• Popularity points: 11
• Weather points: 21
• Lodging points:
  • Airbnb points: n/a
  • Hotel points: n/a
• Price points: -16

The Golden Gate City is a fantastic corporate retreat location. While it’s on the expensive side, it makes up for it with sunny weather and iconic attractions (like the bridge the city earned its nickname from). If you’re planning on hosting a corporate retreat in San Francisco, these ideas will get you started: 

Great Lodging

The Argonaut Hotel in San Francisco gets fantastic ratings for its location – it’s in a walkable area with views of the bay. If you still need convincing, take a look at their cool building and sea-themed rooms. The hotel also has an entire webpage dedicated to good group activities for team-building, so you know it’s the perfect atmosphere for a staff retreat.

Great Meeting Venue

If you don’t want to meet in the Argonaut Hotel’s meeting rooms, check out Mission Loft about 22 minutes from the Argonaut Hotel. The building, owned by a photographer named Peter, was built around 1917 and used as a printing factory to produce cursive writing examples for schools. Now, Peter rents the space out to businesses (including Google!) for meetings. The meeting venue has both an indoor and outdoor space, and we love the creative artwork (Peter’s photography) on the walls. 

Cool Activity To Check Out

Since Sonoma County, California is a famous wine region, why not embrace the opportunity to take a San Francisco wine tour? Edge of the World Tours takes you by the Golden Gate Bridge and Sausalito Boardwalk as a part of their tour, so you’ll be able to fit sightseeing and taste-testing into the same experience. 

 

See Also: 37 Staff Retreat Ideas For Your Next Team Trip | 50 Team Retreat Activities Your Team Won’t Hate | 5 Staff Retreat Agenda Templates For Next Meetup

 

The Process We Used To Rank The Corporate Retreat Locations

We knew the ranking process would need to be based on several factors, so we considered five below:

• Airports: How easy it is to get flights to the city
• Popularity: How popular the city is with tourists
• Weather: How temperate the weather is
• Lodging: How easy it is to find accommodations
• Price: How expensive the city is

Below we’ll show the sources we used to find this data.

 

Airports

We picked airports as a factor because companies need to be able to get everyone to the city quickly and easily. The airport should have multiple flight options to ensure a smooth trip. To determine how easy it is to get a flight to each city, we found a Wikipedia list of airports in the U.S. with the highest traffic. This list helped us narrow down the top 25 busiest airports for our data. We assigned 25 points to the city with the busiest airport, 24 points to the city with the second busiest airport, and so on, all the way down to one point for the city with the 25th busiest airport. 

 

Popularity

We chose popularity as a factor because, if you’re planning a company retreat, you’ll want a place that people enjoy. The best locations are the ones employees already associate with fun activities. To find the most popular cities in the U.S., we turned to YouGov’s list of the most popular cities in the second quarter of 2023. This list shows the percentage of people who already like each city, so you know which cities are the most fun to visit. We assigned 25 points to the city with the highest popularity score, 24 points to the city with the second-highest score, and so on, all the way down to one point for the city with the 25th-highest score.

 

Weather

We added weather as a factor because you wouldn’t want to plan your company retreat only to be snowed on, rained out, or canceled because of a major weather event. To find which cities have the most temperate climates, we looked at a U.S. News article ranking the top 25 locations for weather in 2023 and 2024. The article looks for the places with the most temperate days on average – with lows above freezing and highs below 90 degrees Fahrenheit. It also factors in which locations have the most sunny days. We assigned 25 points to the city with the best weather score, 24 points to the city with the second-best score, and so on, all the way down to one point for the city with the 25th-best weather score.

 

Lodging

We picked lodging as a factor because you need lots of options for good places to stay when you’re planning a company retreat. For this factor, we decided to find cities with the most Airbnb and hotel options and add Airbnb and hotel points together. We found an Investment Properties Exchange Services article showing 15 cities with the most Airbnb properties per capita. Then we used Statistica’s list of the 10 cities with the most hotel rooms. 

For Airbnbs, we assigned 15 points to the city with the most Airbnbs, 14 points to the city with the second-most Airbnbs, and so on, all the way down to one point for the city with the 15th-most Airbnbs. For hotels, we assigned 10 points to the city with the most hotel rooms, nine points to the city with the second-most number, and so on, all the way down to one point for the city with the 10th-most rooms. We summed these two rankings into one lodging ranking for our list.

 

Price

We chose price as a factor because no company wants to break the bank when they plan a corporate retreat. To find which cities are the most expensive, we found a GOBankingRates article that ranks the most expensive cities in the U.S. The article considers multiple costs for a three-day trip: food, drinks, hotels, and flights. We assigned -25 points to the city with the highest cost, -24 points to the city with the second-highest cost, and so on, all the way up to negative one point for the city with the 25th-highest cost (aka the least expensive city).

By using these five factors, we were able to create a list of locations based on multiple facets instead of one person’s opinion. Hopefully, this list helps you find the perfect location for your small corporate retreat!

 

The Best Corporate Retreat Locations: To Sum It All Up

Your choice of location and venues for your company’s team retreat is up to you, but using data instead of opinions will make your decision easier (and smarter). We hope this article gave you enough information to pick the perfect place for your team to explore. If you have any suggestions or locations you’d like to recommend, reach out to us in the comments below.

Now that you’ve picked the perfect place for your retreat, use this guide to plan everything else.