How to position your Hawai’i tour business for corporate retreats

If you run tours in Hawaiʻi, you’ve likely seen seasonal dips or leaned on leisure travelers to fill your calendar. But there’s a growing audience you might be overlooking—corporate retreat planners.

From team-building experiences to thoughtfully designed cultural activities, planners are looking for ways to engage their teams in meaningful, memorable settings. And for those planning with care, Hawai‘i can offer a balance of business, learning, and connection—with respect for the land and the people who call it home.

Attracting corporate groups takes more than a great tour. Planners need customizable options, a smooth booking process, and confidence that their experience will be impactful and well-run.

In this article, we’ll explore how to position your Hawai‘i-based tour business for corporate retreats by understanding group needs, adapting your offerings, identifying new opportunities, and using tools that help you stay organized—all while operating with care and intention.

Why corporate retreats are a growth opportunity

Corporate travel is making a strong comeback as companies invest in culture, collaboration, and employee well-being. Retreats are no longer limited to boardrooms—they’re about shared experiences that foster connection and creativity.

Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) projects global business travel spending will hit $1.57 trillion in 2025, growing 6.6% year over year (Travelweek). Companies are increasingly investing in meaningful, team-focused trips, and they’re looking for trusted local partners to help guide the experience.

For tour operators, corporate bookings offer benefits like longer planning windows, higher per-group spend, and repeat opportunities — helping you build revenue and operational stability. 

When it comes to corporate retreats, Hawai‘i stands out as a premier destination. With consistent year-round weather, nonstop access from the mainland U.S., and a wide range of activities—from ocean adventures to cultural experiences—it offers the ideal backdrop for teams to recharge, connect, and get inspired. For planners, it’s a destination that checks many boxes. 

Where to find corporate retreat opportunities

If you want to attract corporate retreats, it helps to know where planners are looking and who they’re working with. Many companies rely on established programs and organizations that specialize in meetings and incentives.

One valuable resource is Meet Hawai‘i — a collaboration between the Hawai‘i Visitors & Convention Bureau, the Hawai‘i Convention Center, and the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority. In 2023 alone, they helped generate $572 million in meetings, conventions, and incentives (MCI) business  (Hawai‘i Tourism Authority). TMeet Hawai‘i also offers opportunities for local operators to connect with international markets like Japan, Canada, and Oceania.

The Global MCI team is another strong partner. They work with planners to design culturally respectful and sustainable events, and they understand the unique needs of international groups. For instance, Japanese planners often prefer detailed, advanced itineraries and value group harmony—making team-focused activities especially appealing.

Beyond these programs, there may be opportunities to collaborate with the Hawai‘i Visitors & Convention Bureau through co-op advertising, digital promotions, and travel trade events—each designed to help local businesses stand out to corporate buyers.

And don’t underestimate the value of local relationships. Resorts, hotels, and destination management companies (DMCs) often look for trusted activity providers to enhance their group offerings. Building these partnerships can lead to long-term, repeat business.

Pro tip: Want to get your tours in front of more planners? The FareHarbor Distribution Network connects your availability to resellers, OTAs, and affiliates—making it easier to get discovered by the right people.

Understand the needs of corporate groups

Working with corporate groups can feel intimidating if you’re used to casual bookings. But it doesn’t have to be. Most planners just want a reliable partner who gets what’s at stake. Corporate retreat planners are juggling a lot of details, and they expect their activity partners to make things simple. 

To stand out, focus on flexibility, clear communication, and an understanding of what matters most to them.

Corporate groups often need:

• Customizable activities that can be tailored to different group sizes and fitness levels.
• Streamlined logistics, including transportation, timing, and coordination with other events on their agenda.
• Safety and professionalism, with staff who are comfortable handling large groups.
• Value-added services, such as private bookings, catering, or branded gear that enhances the experience.

For example, a hiking tour can be adapted for mixed skill levels by offering both a shorter, scenic trail for those who prefer a slower pace and a more challenging option for adventurous team members. Both groups can reunite at a lookout for a shared moment, ensuring everyone feels included without compromising the experience.

Activities rooted in local traditions, like a canoe paddle or hula workshop, naturally reinforce teamwork while giving groups a deeper connection to the islands

Pro tip: Use FareHarbor’s Private Events tools to make group reservations easy for planners, from quoting to final confirmation.

How Hawai‘i tour operators can shape standout experiences for corporate groups

How Hawai‘i tour operators can shape standout experiences for corporate groups

Corporate groups often look for more than a typical tour—they want something that brings their team together, feels tailored to their needs, and creates lasting memories. With a few thoughtful adjustments, your tours can become the highlight of their retreat.

Here are a few ways to adapt:

• Offer private group options with flexible timing and custom itineraries.

• Emphasize team-building elements already built into your experiences—like paddling together in an outrigger canoe, solving clues in a cultural scavenger hunt, or sharing mo‘olelo (stories) on a guided food tour.

• Collaborate with other local operators to create half- or full-day packages. For example, pair an adventurous morning with a wellness activity or a locally catered dinner.

Even small shifts can make a big impact. A snorkel tour, for instance, becomes a team-builder when you add a friendly reef-spotting challenge, a private boat charter, and refreshments onboard. Suddenly, it’s not just an activity—it’s a shared moment the team will talk about long after they’re back at the office.

Pro tip: Use FareHarbor Sites to highlight your offerings with a clean, mobile-friendly website built to convert.

Streamline the booking process

Even the best experience can lose a booking if the process feels complicated. Corporate planners expect clear pricing, easy communication, and a way to manage details without back-and-forth emails.

To make booking simple:

• Provide transparent group pricing and flexible payment options like deposits or invoicing.
• Make it easy to request quotes online instead of relying only on phone calls.
• Use digital waivers so groups can complete paperwork in advance.
• Organize schedules and itineraries in one system so nothing gets missed.

For example, a kayak company that handles multiple tours in one day can use FareHarbor’s Dashboard to block off specific time slots for a corporate group, manage headcounts in real time, and automatically send reminders to participants. This avoids double-bookings and gives planners peace of mind that everything is under control.

Pro tip: Use the FareHarbor Dashboard to manage complex schedules and large groups with ease.

Deliver an unforgettable group experience

The booking may get a group to your door, but the experience is what makes them remember you and recommend you to future planners. Corporate groups value professionalism, but they also want moments that feel unique to Hawai‘i.

Ways to elevate the experience include:

• Adding personal touches, like welcome signs, branded gear, or a short cultural introduction.
• Training staff to balance efficiency with a warm, welcoming approach that makes large groups feel comfortable.
• Collecting feedback after the event to refine your offerings and secure repeat business.

For example, a sailing tour could surprise the group with locally sourced snacks and a Hawaiian storytelling session on board. That small addition transforms a pleasant afternoon into a retreat highlight that strengthens team connections and feels authentically tied to the islands.

Position your tours as the highlight of every retreat

By thoughtfully tailoring your experiences, building the right connections, and streamlining group logistics, you can position your business as a trusted partner for meaningful, memorable team events.

Retreat planners aren’t just booking an activity—they’re looking for a seamless, professional experience that reflects well on their team and their brand. When you deliver that level of service, you open the door to long-term relationships, repeat business, and more stable year-round revenue.

If corporate retreats are on your radar, now’s a great time to take the next step. With the right approach—and the right tools—you can become the go-to provider for companies planning their next gathering in Hawai‘i.

 Explore how FareHarbor’s Private Events tools can simplify group reservations from the first quote to the final confirmation.