Case Study

How Laurel found the retreat partner they had been looking for.

After two disappointing retreat experiences, Laurel brought 250 employees to Fort Lauderdale and found an offsite that exceeded expectations from planning through execution.

250

Team Members

Hotels Coordinated

Long-Term Partnership

Client

Laurel

Duration

4 days

Location

Fort Lauderdale

Number of people

250 employees

The Challenge

What Was Getting in the Way

Laurel is a fast-growing software company with a largely remote workforce. Their annual offsite was one of the few opportunities to bring more than 250 employees together, making it a critical moment to strengthen relationships, reinforce company culture, and align the team around the year ahead.

The challenge was that Laurel had been here before. After working with two previous retreat planners and walking away disappointed each time, leadership wasn’t just looking for another well-organized event. They wanted a retreat that felt intentional, where every detail supported the experience instead of distracting from it. They needed a partner who could anticipate challenges, communicate clearly, and allow their internal team to focus on their people rather than the logistics.

As planning progressed, the company continued to grow, eventually outgrowing the original hotel. It was exactly the kind of unexpected complication that had created friction in the past, making this retreat an opportunity not only to bring the team together, but to prove that it could all come together seamlessly.

“Morgan, Rachel, and Sarah were incredible. Thoughtful, patient, kind, hard-working, and helpful. They made my job so much easier and were incredible partners throughout the planning and execution phases of our offsite. I would recommend this team to anyone I know. I am looking forward to working with them again!”

Reilly Moran, Laurel

The Approach

What We Did Together

Together, Wilder and Laurel chose Fort Lauderdale, giving the team the energy of a walkable city while providing the meeting space and flexibility needed for a productive all-company offsite. The agenda reflected Laurel’s priorities, with dedicated time for company meetings balanced by afternoon activities and evening experiences that gave employees opportunities to connect outside the conference room.

As planning progressed, Laurel’s rapid growth introduced an unexpected challenge when the original hotel could no longer accommodate the expanding attendee list. Wilder secured a second property, coordinated transportation, room assignments, and communication, and managed the additional complexity behind the scenes. The experience remained seamless for attendees, allowing Laurel’s team to stay focused on their people instead of the logistics.

The Outcome

What Changed

The offsite delivered the meaningful team connection leadership wanted while removing the stress that often comes with planning a large-scale event. Challenges were anticipated before they became problems, allowing Laurel’s internal team to stay present throughout the retreat instead of managing the details.