CASE STUDY · CORPORATE RETREAT
Taking the Team Beyond the Office
RUMA Events was appointed by a specialist accounting and tax advisory firm to organise a countryside retreat for 30 colleagues, combining team building, shared dining and time to unwind away from the usual working environment.
The brief called for more than accommodation. The venue needed to support the entire experience, from group activities and private dining to spa time and overnight stays.
30
Total Guests
Kent
Champneys Eastwell Manor
Corporate Retreat
Event Type
Tax Advisory
Client Industry
Venue Finding
RUMA's Service
THE BRIEF
A Retreat Built Around Time Together
The aim was to take the team away from the office and create a setting where colleagues could reconnect, enjoy shared experiences and spend time together in a completely different environment.
The venue needed to feel special without creating difficult travel logistics from London, while also providing enough facilities to accommodate a varied programme within one stay.
The Client Needed
Within Easy Reach of London
A characterful countryside venue approximately two hours from London, making the retreat accessible without losing the feeling of getting away.
Accommodation for 30 Colleagues
Comfortable bedrooms and group facilities that allowed the full team to stay together in one location.
Space for Activity and Downtime
A venue capable of supporting team-building experiences, private dining, spa access and more relaxed time between organised sessions.
One Setting for the Full Retreat
A location where accommodation, hospitality, leisure and activities could come together without unnecessary travel between venues.
WHAT RUMA DELIVERED
Turning a Venue Search Into a Complete Retreat Programme
RUMA Events approached the project as more than a hotel search.
Once suitable venues had been identified, our role expanded across accommodation, activities, dining, transport and the practical details required to bring 30 colleagues together comfortably.
The result was a coordinated retreat programme where each element supported the wider experience rather than operating in isolation.
1
Venue Research & Shortlisting
Researching and presenting countryside venues within practical reach of London, with accommodation, dining, leisure facilities and suitable spaces for group activities.
2
Accommodation & Hospitality
Coordinating the group stay, private dining arrangements and access to the hotel’s spa and leisure facilities.
3
Activity & Supplier Sourcing
Working with specialist activity provider Bright Vision on outdoor team-building experiences, alongside arranging a Bake Off-style baking session for the group.
4
Logistics & Practical Coordination
Managing transport between the train station and hotel, dietary requirements and food allergies, while also considering wet-weather alternatives for planned activities.
THE EVENT
Competition, Connection and Time to Switch Off
Held in June 2026, the retreat brought 30 colleagues together at Champneys Eastwell Manor for a programme that deliberately mixed structured activities with more relaxed time.
A Bake Off-style baking experience introduced a creative element, giving colleagues the chance to work together in a different way.
Outdoor team-building activities added friendly competition and collaborative challenges to the programme.
Between organised sessions, attendees could make use of the spa facilities
and grounds, allowing the retreat to breathe rather than becoming an over-scheduled itinerary.
Private dining brought everyone back together over shared meals, creating another opportunity for the team to connect outside the working environment.
Champneys Eastwell Manor, Kent
Champneys Eastwell Manor offered the balance the brief required.
Its historic architecture and countryside surroundings gave the retreat a strong sense of escape, while the hotel’s accommodation, private dining spaces, spa and grounds provided the practical infrastructure needed for a multi-element programme.
Keeping the team within one venue also simplified the logistics.
Guests could move between activities, dining, leisure time and their bedrooms without repeated transfers, allowing the retreat to feel more relaxed and cohesive.
For a programme centred on team connection, that convenience was a meaningful part of the experience.
The Result
Returning for 2027
A first retreat that developed into an ongoing relationship
The event successfully brought together accommodation, hospitality, team-building activities and leisure time for 30 colleagues within one countryside location.
Ongoing Client Relationship
Following the success of the retreat, the organisation returned to RUMA Events to begin planning its next corporate event for 2027.
