One of the most-asked questions in my inbox: what does a team retreat actually cost? The retreat-planning industry has a real incentive not to answer this clearly. I'm going to do the opposite — give you real numbers, the line items that move them, and the hidden costs nobody publishes.
One of the most-asked questions in my inbox: "What does a team retreat actually cost?"
The retreat-planning industry has a real incentive not to answer this clearly. Quotes get bundled. Per-person rates get presented before scope is set. "Starting from" pricing dominates marketing pages. By the time a founder sees the real number, they're already invested in the conversation and the budget conversation feels uncomfortable.
I'm going to do the opposite: give you real numbers, the line items that move them, and the hidden costs nobody publishes. No fluff. The math is what it is.
Team retreats cluster into four roughly recognisable tiers. The tier you pick should match your team's expectations, your founder/board comfort level, and what you're actually trying to deliver — not what you can afford in the abstract.
These numbers are per person, per day, all-in — including venue, food, beverage, activities, and standard ground transport. They don't include flights (priced separately) or the planning fee (separate line, covered below).
| Tier | Per person / day | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | $250–$450 | Co-living venues (Selina-style), shared rooms, simple meals, basic activities |
| Mid-tier | $500–$800 | Boutique hotel takeovers, private rooms, full-board food, curated activities |
| Premium | $900–$1,400 | 4-star resorts, private rooms with views, multi-course meals, partner-programme perks |
| Luxury | $1,500–$2,800 | 5-star or destination luxury (Aman, Four Seasons, Belmond), full board including bar, private experiences |
(Estimates as of 2026. Costs shift seasonally and by region — Europe in summer runs higher than Europe in shoulder season, and US prices have widened versus European equivalents over the last two years.)
Most teams overshoot or undershoot their first time. Quick framework:
Per-person/day pricing hides where money actually moves. Here's the real breakdown for a 25-person, 4-day mid-tier retreat in Europe:
| Line item | Typical cost | % of total |
|---|---|---|
| Venue (rooms + meeting space) | $24,000–$36,000 | 40–45% |
| Food & beverage | $16,000–$22,000 | 25–30% |
| Activities and experiences | $6,000–$10,000 | 10–12% |
| Ground transport (airport + on-trip) | $3,500–$5,500 | 5–7% |
| Audiovisual + materials | $2,500–$4,000 | 3–5% |
| Contingency (5–10%) | $3,000–$5,000 | 5–8% |
| Planning fee | Variable — see below | — |
Flights are usually paid by the company but booked individually by team members, so they sit outside the retreat budget on most P&Ls. Budget $400–$1,200 per person for domestic US trips, $800–$2,500 for international.
Here's where founders get surprised — usually 10–14 days before the retreat starts:
This is where the industry gets murkiest. Three pricing models you'll encounter:
Number three is how I work for most retreats. I don't charge you a planning fee for standard retreats because the partner-programme commission structure pays me through the venue. For complex or fully custom itineraries, a planning fee may apply — always quoted upfront before any work begins. The math has to work for both of us or it's not the right engagement.
If the platform quoting you can't break down their per-person rate into venue / F&B / activities / contingency, walk away. You're being charged for opacity. The good operators show their work.
Let's run a 4-day, 25-person, mid-tier retreat in Portugal — call it Lisbon or the Algarve, partner-programme property:
| Line | Cost |
|---|---|
| Venue (25 rooms × 4 nights × $220 avg) | $22,000 |
| Food & beverage (full board) | $18,500 |
| Activities (1 group day, 2 evening experiences) | $7,500 |
| Ground transport | $4,200 |
| AV + workshop materials | $3,000 |
| Welcome amenity | $1,800 |
| Gratuities (~12% on F&B + activities) | $3,400 |
| Contingency (8%) | $4,800 |
| Total | $65,200 |
| Per person, all-in (ex-flights) | $2,608 = $652/day |
Add flights ($800 avg domestic / $1,400 international) and you're at $3,400–$4,000 per person for a real, well-designed mid-tier retreat. That's the honest number. If a platform is quoting you significantly less than this for similar scope, look hard at what's been cut.
This is where my work actually pays for itself. The partner programmes I have access to — Virtuoso, Four Seasons Preferred Partner, Hyatt Privé, Marriott STARS, Belmond Bellini Club — include benefits the venue can't sell direct:
On a $65,000 retreat, partner-programme perks routinely add $8,000–$15,000 of value to the experience — at the same headline rate you'd pay booking direct. That's the math that makes my work worth doing.
Free 30-minute intake call. I'll walk you through the realistic budget for what you're planning — including partner-programme perks that don't show up in public pricing.
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