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Key Takeaways
Significant Time and Workload Savings: By partnering with Wilder, Govini reduced their internal planning efforts by 30%, allowing their leadership to focus on the retreat’s content rather than logistical coordination.
Seamless Venue Sourcing and Event Management: Wilder took full responsibility for sourcing and booking a venue that fit Govini’s needs, as well as negotiating costs and requirements directly with the venue management.
Creative and Effective Team-Building: Wilder organized a unique, non-traditional team-building activity that Govini employees rated as the best they’d experienced in years, helping strengthen team bonds and foster collaboration.
Hands-On, White-Glove Service: Wilder provided hands-on, on-the-ground support during the retreat, managing all logistical aspects and day-to-day logistics to ensure a smooth event.
Long-Term Partnership: Govini was so impressed by Wilder’s service that they are planning future retreats with them, including executive and incentive-based events, marking the start of a lasting partnership.
Overview
Govini, a leading data analytics firm specializing in government services, felt like they were climbing a logistical mountain when trying to plan a strategic retreat for its 170 employees. As a rapidly growing company with dispersed offices, they needed a retreat that would allow their team to come together in one place, focus on business goals, and strengthen cross-departmental relationships.
The demands of managing an event of this scale, however, became overwhelming for Govini’s internal team. That’s when they turned to Wilder Retreats to handle the logistics and ensure the event was not only successful but impactful for their employees.
Challenges
For Govini, the main challenges in planning their retreat were tied to capacity and time. Govini had held this event for over a decade, but this year, due to rapid growth and increased demands, their internal team lacked the resources to manage it. Govini needed a partner to handle everything from venue sourcing to on-site coordination, which had previously taken up months of their planning capacity.
Another major challenge was finding a venue that could accommodate their large group while still offering a unique and engaging experience. Govini’s leadership despised the typical ballroom-style meetings and wanted to avoid a generic corporate retreat atmosphere. The event needed to reflect Govini’s innovative and forward-thinking culture, while still facilitating the strategic discussions and team-building goals at the forefront of the retreat.
Managing the logistics of an event that included 170 people coming from various locations, including remote offices in the U.S. and abroad, presented its own set of challenges. Govini needed a retreat planning partner that could alleviate these burdens and allow their leadership team to focus on content rather than coordination.
Why Govini Chose Wilder
Govini’s decision to partner with Wilder was largely influenced by Wilder’s reputation for high-touch service and its ability to handle large, complex events.
From the first conversation, Wilder’s approach stood out. Kirk and his team asked insightful questions, clearly understanding Govini’s specific needs. Abi Raj, who led the retreat planning on Govini’s side, noted that, “Wilder immediately made us feel taken care of — they provided a white-glove service that reflected exactly how we do business at Govini.”
Wilder’s flexibility also impressed Govini. Initially, Govini had hoped to hold an offsite retreat in a more nature-focused location, but due to time constraints, they had to shift the venue to Washington, D.C.
Instead of backing out, Wilder adapted, helping Govini execute the event in D.C. while keeping future offsite events on the table. Wilder’s ability to pivot and still deliver a high-end experience despite the change of plans solidified their partnership with Govini.
Process & Highlights
Wilder took on the bulk of the logistical challenges, saving Govini’s internal team from the usual months of time-consuming planning. In past years, venue sourcing alone could take up to two months, but Wilder quickly identified and secured a suitable location, managing all communication with the venue. This included working with the on-site event coordinator, a task that had previously placed a heavy burden on Govini’s internal resources.
Wilder helped negotiate costs with the venue to ensure the event stayed within budget while maintaining high-quality service. Wilder even found creative ways to cut costs without sacrificing the attendee experience, demonstrating a strong commitment to Govini’s bottom line. As Abi noted, “They were very considerate about finding ways to save costs where possible, without compromising the quality of the event.”
Wilder’s team also provided on-the-ground support during the retreat, including managing the flow of sessions, ensuring AV needs were met, and handling any last-minute issues. Govini’s executive team was able to focus on their retreat agenda without worrying about the hour-to-hour and day-to-day thanks to Wilder’s calm and efficient leadership.
Strategy sessions were complemented by carefully planned activities that allowed employees to relax and connect outside of the formal retreat setting. Best of all, Wilder planned a unique, non-traditional activity that stood out from the typical happy hours or networking mixers that Govini had experienced in the past.
Abi described the event as “the best team-building exercise we’ve ever done in my five years at Govini,” which not only helped employees bond but also re-energized the team before heading into a full day of strategic discussions.
Results
The retreat broke down silos within the company and improved communication and collaboration between departments. Employees returned to work with a renewed sense of purpose and alignment. The leadership team was particularly impressed with how smoothly the retreat unfolded, from the venue coordination to on-the-ground management. Abi estimated that working with Wilder saved Govini’s team about 30% of the time they would have otherwise spent on planning and executing the retreat.
The partnership between Govini and Wilder didn’t end with this retreat. Govini is already planning future events with Wilder, including an executive retreat and a potential incentive-based event for achieving company goals.
“Wilder’s high-touch, white-glove service made all the difference for us. From the moment we connected, Kirk and his team were incredibly organized, proactive, and genuinely invested in making our event a success. They handled all the logistics, from venue coordination to on-the-ground support, and saved us about 30% of the time we would’ve spent managing the details ourselves. Wilder didn’t just plan our retreat—they brought fresh ideas, personalized touches, and a level of care that left a lasting impact on our team. We can’t wait to partner with them again.”
Abi Raj - Chief of Staff
Ready to plan the ultimate corporate retreat? Contact Wilder Retreats today to begin designing an experience that will inspire your team and bring everyone closer together.
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