Treating your employees to a Christmas getaway? Here’s what you need to know

Planning a Christmas getaway for your employees can be extremely rewarding.

It’s a great way to boost morale, foster team bonding and show your appreciation for their hard work throughout the year. 

However, organising these events, especially for a large group, requires careful planning to ensure you provide them with the most memorable and inclusive experience. 

So, if you’re planning a trip for your employees, here’s what you need to consider. 

It’s important to set a budget

One of the first steps towards planning a successful trip is to set a budget to determine how much you’re willing to spend per person or as a whole. This will determine where you go and stay. 

But it’s not just about booking group flights and accommodation either. You need to account for all extra expenses, such as transportation, meals, activities and contingency funds for any unexpected costs or issues. 

Choose your destination wisely 

It’s important that you think about your destination carefully. It needs to be somewhere convenient and inclusive for every employee, factoring in travel times, costs and any special requirements.

It’s best to opt for destinations with activities that cater to the diverse preferences of your team, and you could even ask them about the types of trips and activities they enjoy. For example, you could choose nature retreats, exciting city tours, wellness centres or fun sporting activities like skiing. 

Better still, choose a destination that aligns with Christmas festivities, company values and the local weather conditions.

Be sure to balance team-building activities with free time

Make sure to balance work and fun. You should certainly consider team-building exercises during the trip, but make sure to balance this with leisure activities and downtime. This allows your employees personal time to explore or relax.

What’s more, be careful to avoid any activities or places that may exclude individuals based on physical ability, religious beliefs or dietary restrictions. The trip should be about bonding, having fun and spending time as a team outside of the office environment. 

Booking early can secure better deals 

Christmas is a busy season, and prices usually skyrocket around this time. So, if you’re hoping to secure budget-friendly group flights, accommodation and transportation, it’s best to book this well in advance.

If you know that your team will be going away as a festive treat, don’t wait until the end of the year to arrange this. Start booking the year before, and you increase your chances of securing a great deal across the trip. 

You should also leverage discounts for group flight bookings, hotels, activities and more.

You don’t have to do it alone 

Group travel planning can be stressful, and there’s a lot to consider, but you don’t have to do it alone. By working with flight specialists and group travel agents, you can bag the best flights, accommodation and more. 

Their dedicated agents will be on hand to sort out everything from booking group flights to securing hotels, planning activities and booking tours. 

Don’t forget about legal and tax considerations

You need to understand how the trip will be treated for tax purposes in your company, as employee perks can sometimes count as taxable benefits. So make sure to look into this before booking. 

It’s also crucial to ensure the getaway complies with all company policies, particularly regarding conduct and liability, and that you have all the correct insurance and coverage. 

Lastly, make sure to communicate any local rules, regulations and laws that your team may need to be aware of. The same applies to any local customs, holidays or cultural differences they need to know to conduct themselves in the most respectful way. 

It doesn’t end when they take off

Gathering feedback on corporate travel and employee getaways is the best way to ensure your team gets the most from their trip. 

So, after the event, ask them about the activities, accommodation, food, etc., to improve future outings and see what works well. You should also reflect on how the getaway affected morale, team cohesion and employee satisfaction.

Are you ready to get the ball rolling?

A well-executed Christmas getaway can strengthen your company culture and create lasting memories for your team. You need to pay careful attention to detail at every stage to ensure its success.

If you’d like help planning your employee getaway or any other corporate travel arrangements, we can help. Get in touch with our expert team today to get started.