13 Corporate Retreat Locations in the U.S. Your Team is Sure to Love

If you’re trying to figure out where to hold your next corporate retreat, you may feel overwhelmed by all the options. There are a lot of amazing places to visit. But here’s the thing: A corporate retreat should involve not only beautiful scenery and inspiring history but also thriving nightlife and plenty of unique opportunities for adventure. It also certainly doesn’t hurt if you plan to visit a location that’s already a rich hub for business, commerce, and entrepreneurism. But above all else, a corporate retreat location should be inspiring. We did some research and came up with 13 incredible cities that offer all of this and more.

Table of Contents

1. Los Angeles, California 2. Scottsdale, Arizona 3. Austin, Texas 4. Denver, Colorado 5. New York City, New York 6. San Francisco, California 7. Las Vegas, Nevada 8. Orlando, Florida 9. Honolulu, Hawaii 10. Nashville, Tennessee 11. New Orleans, Louisiana 12. Washington, D.C. 13. Jackson Hole, Wyoming

13 Best Corporate Retreat Locations In The United States

Here are our favorite corporate retreat options in the U.S:

1. Los Angeles, California

Home to the iconic Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles is a place to dream big and find BIG motivation. This city is home to attractions like Paramount Pictures, Zuma Beach, Runyon Canyon Park, and the world-famous Sunset Strip. If you want to focus on team-building activities but also want to schedule a legitimately enjoyable getaway for your employees, you can’t do much better than this one. Plus, let’s not forget that Los Angeles is most definitely a world business center to be reckoned with. If Los Angeles County were a standalone nation, it would boast the 19th largest economy in the world. As the nation’s top international trade and manufacturing center, home to more than 244,000 businesses, L.A. County offers much to learn about business growth.

2. Scottsdale, Arizona

When speaking about United States destinations, Scottsdale is one of the more “visually exotic” locations to visit. This gives you the potential to light a bonfire of inspiration within your team. Some attractions to consider include Old Town, Pinnacle Peak Park, the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, and Tom’s Thumb Trailhead. Whether you’re looking for corporate meeting spaces, beautiful golf courses, or outdoor adventures in one of the most beautiful states, Scottsdale has a lot to offer. Plus, this city is actually a surprisingly impressive location to live in, work in, and travel to. It’s one of Arizona’s 10 largest cities and boasts a population of more than 240,000 people. That may not be a population size to rival a massive metropolis like New York. Still, the fact that it’s recognized nationwide as a top market for business performance, job growth, and livability definitely makes it an attractive corporate retreat selection.

3. Austin, Texas

Texas is a state that combines modern civilization with rich American history, but it also gives you access to incredible outdoor adventures. And if you want to visit Texas, well, there’s really no better city to start with than Austin. Plus, there’s a reason why big businesses are migrating to Texas: The state is quickly becoming a corporate lifestyle center point. Elon Musk has even decided to move the Tesla headquarters to Austin. Some attractions to consider visiting here include the Texas State Capitol, the Lady Bird Lake Hike And Bike Trail, the LBJ Presidential Library, and Zilker Metropolitan Park.

Need some help finding awesome business hotel options in the Lone Star State? Check out this guide: 10 of the Best Business Travel Hotels in Texas.

4. Denver, Colorado

Denver may be our favorite location on this entire list. There’s almost nothing as inspiring or motivating as waking up to a sunrise over the Rocky Mountains. Plus, did you know that Engine actually chose Denver as our home city? (Yeah, we may be a bit biased on this one…) You could definitely say that we’ve developed a deep love for Denver, and for good reason. Not only is it beautiful, but it’s also quickly becoming a prominent player in the US entrepreneurial scene — especially in emerging tech fields. There’s also no shortage of stuff to do. Visit The Rocky Mountain National Park, travel to Pikes Peak, hike on and around Mount Evans, and pay a visit to the Denver Botanic Gardens. This is just scratching the surface of everything there is to do in this special city.

5. New York City, New York

New York City is a worldwide hub for business and commerce. It’s also a rich cultural center and an incredible place to re-awaken that drive to succeed within your team. There are all kinds of sightseeing tours available to take you around the Big Apple. You can also take your team to see the Statue of Liberty, catch a helicopter tour, and tour the Empire State Building. Not to mention, you’ll gain access to some of the world’s best restaurants, bars, event venues, and nightlife locations in the world. This is truly one of the world’s best locations for a high-quality and memorable company retreat. Just make sure to stay long enough to see some of the city while you’re there. There’s a lot to take in.

Need an awesome business hotel option in New York? Check out this guide: 10 of the Best Business Travel Hotels in New York.

6. San Francisco, California

San Francisco is one of the most culturally diverse and romantic cities in the U.S. Where better than the Bay Area to revitalize your team’s commitment to both themselves and their future? Some attractions to consider visiting include the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and Dolores Park. There are also a number of amazing local wineries that call the Bay Area home. There’s just nothing better than brainstorming business ideas with your team while sampling fine wines and cheeses. There’s also certainly no shortage of meeting rooms that you can use for retreat gatherings, as this city obviously has business hotels in abundance. Looking for an added thrill? Consider some bay area zip-lining to crank up the excitement meter by a few notches!

7. Las Vegas, Nevada

Not surprisingly, Las Vegas is a big-time player in the tourism and gaming industries. But did you know that it’s also a major hub for conventions, health and medicine, and information technology? As it turns out, Las Vegas brings some serious entrepreneurial flair to the limelight. And that vibe makes it worthwhile as a retreat venue option. Helicopter night flights, an Emerald Cave Kayak Tour, and the Fountains of Bellagio are obvious top contenders for attractions and outdoor activities. You might also consider renting guest rooms on the strip along with one of the many available event spaces.

8. Orlando, Florida

There’s almost nowhere quite as magical as Orlando. From Disney theme parks to Universal Studios, this is a place where dreams come alive and flourish. And that inspiration is highly likely to rub off on your team. Looking for some attractions to add to your to-do list during the course of your visit? Try visiting some of the hottest tourism spots in the country! You have options like Kennedy Space Center, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Studios, and Magic Kingdom Park. Need some extra inspiration to help motivate your co-workers and make your trip as memorable as possible? How about a scavenger hunt in the area around Lake Eola? Plus, never discount the value of just enjoying the beach! Cocoa Beach is less than an hour away, and it’s known for its beautiful sand and family-friendly vibe.

9. Honolulu, Hawaii

Odds are good that most people on your team haven’t been to Hawaii. But a trip to Hawaii’s Honolulu Island will have them feeling revitalized and renewed — not just in their professional lives but also in their personal lives. There are all kinds of group activities to choose from on this amazing island:

• Tour Pearl Harbor
• Sign up for a submarine adventure
• Schedule a night at Paradise Cove Luau (along with some of the incredible dining options to be found in the area)
• Experience the Ultimate Circle Island

… and lots more. If you’re looking for a place where you can have a premier glamping experience, teamwork exercise, or even a hot tub party with a view unlike any you’ve ever seen before, Honolulu will rock your socks off.

10. Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville (also called “The Music City”) is a hub for rich American culture, live music, and the arts. Plus, several major corporate groups that call this city home. What better place to inspire your team to dream big? In addition to booking one of the many boutique hotels and world-class meeting facilities the city has to offer, you can explore Nashville by trolley, experience the Grand Ole Opry, and visit the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. If you love live music, this is an especially good option.

11. New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans presents adventure and scenery that truly can’t be replicated. The diverse and rich culture is highly inspirational and will doubtlessly get those creative juices flowing. Walking downtown will expose you to old-fashioned architecture and decor like you’ve probably never experienced before. Attractions include the Haunted Voodoo Tour, airboat rides, a walking food tour, and a visit to The French Quarter. If you’re looking to schedule a business retreat with more than a bit of pizazz added in, “The Big Easy” may be the perfect place for it.

12. Washington, D.C.

As the capital of the United States, Washington D.C. is a place where ideals like “legacy” and “meaning” can really come alive to inspire and motivate your team. There’s so much history here that you’ll barely be able to scratch the surface. Tour a number of historical monuments, visit The Smithsonian National Museum Of Natural History, and even take a tour of The U.S. Capitol. You can also book conference rooms year-round in this bustling business center. But there’s enough to see here that you’ll definitely want to schedule enough time to get away from work to see the sights.

13. Jackson Hole, Wyoming

If you want to experience as much wild natural American beauty as possible, Jackson Hole, Wyoming is one of the best business retreat locations on the books. The parks, the skiing, the beautiful picturesque countryside — it’s impossible not to be inspired by these incredible experiences. Some of the attractions within range of Jackson Hole include Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, various different skiing slopes, and the historic Jackson Town Square. If you choose this rather rural location for a corporate retreat, don’t forget to leave the conference center (or the lodge) for some off-site adventure. Consider activities like archery, horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking, shooting target clays, and more.

Here are some other articles you might be interested in:

How to Create an Employee Travel Budget | Gifts for Frequent Business Travelers | How to Adjust a Company Mileage Policies for Gas Prices

Conclusion

At Engine, we travel a lot, and the list above contains 13 of the best corporate retreat locations we know of. They’re sure to guarantee a lively and productive retreat for your team. Of course, making the plan is just the beginning. Now, it’s time to book your trip and make it happen. Need some help with hotel rooms? Consider signing up for Engine. We help business travelers save big on business lodging through corporate hotel discounts. Plus, get access to more than 700,000 hotels worldwide on our free-to-use hotel booking platform. There’s no catch, and we’d love to be of service. In any case, we’ll look for you on the open road. Happy travels!