Read how Marco Helped PebblePost create an effective company offsite.
Cost Savings: Saved 30% on total retreat cost
Time Savings: 100+ hours
Employee Satisfaction for HQ Week: 100% rated 5 or 4
Saved Customer 5X our service Fee
Remote work is becoming the norm, companies like PebblePost are seeking innovative ways to foster collaboration, creativity, and leadership among their employees. PebblePost recently embarked on a week-long offsite retreat in Dallas, meticulously planned and executed by Marco.
"This retreat exceeded our expectations and set a new standard for team collaboration and creativity," says John Germinario, Head of People at PebblePost.
How Marco Helped
Finding the perfect venue for a retreat is crucial to its success. PebblePost entrusted Marco with this task, providing a budget, space requirements, and specific needs for the event. Marco presented eight options, all of which included substantial discounts due to their partnerships and venue relationships. These options were then narrowed down to three, and finally, one venue was chosen. John Germinario, Vice President People at PebblePost, praised the selection process, stating, "Marco was fully in charge of all that. That's part of the wonder of what they do. The venue was fantastic, and the hotel was beautiful." The venue included a high-end hotel and a kickoff event in an artsy park in Dallas, setting the tone for an engaging and memorable retreat.
Event Planning of Retreat
The planning phase of the retreat was a collaborative effort between PebblePost and Marco. John Germinario emphasized the importance of a well-structured schedule to avoid burnout and ensure maximum engagement. The retreat schedule was designed to balance work and leisure, starting with optional morning workouts, a late breakfast, and a 10 AM kickoff. The day included three-hour sessions, followed by lunch and an open office space environment for business activities. The day concluded with dinners and happy hours, allowing employees to relax and socialize.
Clear Budgeting: Before the retreat, Marco provided a comprehensive report outlining the financials and logistics of the event. This meticulous preparation impressed PebblePost's CFO, who appreciated the thoroughness of the financial breakdown. John Germinario highlighted this aspect, saying, "Marco did a great job. One of providing incredibly detailed finances that was easy to digest and impressed our CFO to say, 'Wow, I know what I'm getting for my money.'"
Facilitation and Icebreakers: Marco played a pivotal role in crafting engaging icebreakers and overall experience design. Court Roberts, the facilitator from Marco, was involved in pre-retreat calls to help create effective icebreakers and ensure a seamless experience. John noted, "Court Roberts worked with the team a month prior to the retreat, participating in prep meetings and helping to maintain focus and engagement during sessions. She helped us focus and not just get up there and say a bunch of words that might not be meaningful."
Engaging Sessions and Balanced Schedule: John highlighted that the retreat's success was partly due to Marco's facilitation during sessions, which kept them interesting and interactive.
People were most engaged with the sessions that we did, which I was a little surprised at. Sometimes those are boring."
He also emphasized the energizing effect of a balanced schedule, "The structure was energizing because you could wake up, you could do your own thing, to get your mind right and then bring a lot of energy."
Results
Employee Satisfaction: John Germinario reported that 100% of attendees rated the retreat either a four or five out of five, underscoring the event's success. He shared, "We asked some pretty direct questions in a brief survey after the trip...100% of people rated it a four or five. So that's, you know, pretty resounding stuff."
Intention of Retreat: A key focus of the retreat was cross-functional collaboration. Activities like dinners, scavenger hunts, and a Shark Tank-style event were designed to mix people from different functions, promoting interaction and teamwork. This approach led to noticeable improvements in collaboration and faster decision-making. John remarked, "Everything we did was pretty intentional on getting folks to cross-functionally work together."
Marco's involvement was crucial in organizing these activities, particularly in facilitating icebreakers and maintaining the schedule. Onsite support from Court Roberts and Anna Nikiforov ensured smooth execution. John acknowledged this support, saying, "Having their support for icebreakers was helpful."
PebblePost Executive Team Satisfaction: John concluded, "The hardest job is the first one you do with Marco as a company if you haven't done this before. Their diligence and willingness to go above and beyond stood out to me." The retreat exceeded expectations, earning high marks from the executive team.
PebblePost's retreat, organized by Marco, was a resounding success. The careful venue selection, detailed planning, and balanced schedule contributed to a memorable and impactful experience. The retreat not only provided a platform for cross-functional collaboration but also demonstrated the value of investing in employee engagement and well-being. Marco's expertise and attention to detail were instrumental in making this retreat a benchmark for future events.
