Team Travel Strategies Evolve as Offices Remain Closed

Salesforce’s upcoming “Trailblazer Ranch” represents the beginning of a new trend that will see some companies build their own retreats to host offsite meetings for their employees, according to the world’s biggest corporate travel agency.

American Express Global Business Travel’s meeting division is in talks with some of its larger customers about round-the-calendar management of such facilities, while specialist group booking platforms are reporting an uptick in demand.

So-called “team travel” is becoming a major priority as organizations keep their offices closed.

Salesforce first touted the idea of a ranch for team-building last year, but has now confirmed it will use an established 75-acre site run by educational non-profit 1440 Multiversity in Scotts Valley, California, on an interim basis. It will develop employee engagement programs, and start onboarding, training, skills building and talent development from March. More “Trailblazer Ranches” are planned globally.

“Trailblazer Ranch is an exciting new gathering place where employees can forge trusted relationships with their colleagues, learn from one another, get inspired, grow in their career, get trained on the company, and give back to the community in a fun and safe environment,” said Brent Hyder, president and chief people officer, in a blog post.

Other tech companies may soon join Saleforce, either building their own offsite facilities or refurbish existing ones to offer employees, according to Linda McNairy, vice president Americas, American Express Meetings and Events.

“We’re being asked about our ability to manage events at these facilities,” she said. “They don’t need us to find the venue, they’ve taken care of that bit, but what they’re looking for is someone to run the events. This is a dramatic shift in thinking. It used to be around having U-shaped tables and proper AV, and now it’s a conversation around a ranch.”

McNairy said Amex GBT was seeing a spike in demand for offsite meetings caused by delays in companies reopening offices. “May seems to be the month, in all parts of the world, where everyone is throwing a pin in the calendar,” she said.

But that delay is sending mixed messages to the wider industry. McNairy said one client was told their offices wouldn’t open until April, but they had just spent the week in L.A. hosting clients at the Super Bowl,