Firms Urged To Rethink Corporate Retreats, Cut Costs

The managing director/chief executive officer of Design Union Limited, Anthony Aihie, has urged companies to rethink the conventional approach to corporate retreats to reduce costs and derive greater value from such engagements.

Aihie, an architect, made the call during the informal unveiling of Domo, an urban retreat developed by his company in Elegbusi, Lekki, Lagos.

He said organisations could achieve better results from retreats by adopting a more integrated approach that combines meetings, accommodation, meals and recreational activities in one location, rather than spending more on moving between venues or operating within conventional hotel environments.

In a press statement issued to journalists in Abuja, Aihie said the new approach offers companies the opportunity to reduce logistical expenses while creating an environment that promotes concentration, team interaction and strategic thinking.

He said corporate retreats should not be viewed merely as meetings held outside the office, but as opportunities for organisations to review their strategies, strengthen relationships among employees and create time for teams to disengage from routine work pressures.

The firm’s chief added that the decision to develop Domo was informed by changing organisational needs and the need for a more private, focused environment for corporate engagements.

Aihie asserted that conventional hotels do not always provide the level of privacy and concentration required for certain strategy meetings, leadership sessions and team-building activities, particularly when several activities are taking place simultaneously within the same facility.

According to him, Domo was designed to provide companies with an alternative setting where teams could hold meetings and workshops, stay, dine and relax without leaving the facility.

Aihie added that the concept drew inspiration partly from Edo and Japanese approaches to space, nature and design, with the aim of creating an environment that combines productive work with relaxation.

The development comes amid growing use of off-site meetings by organisations seeking to improve team interaction, review business strategies and provide employees with opportunities to temporarily withdraw from the pressures of the workplace. Aihie said bringing key elements of a retreat together in one location could help companies manage costs while getting more value from their corporate programmes.