Corporate retreats are no longer about trust falls and conference rooms. Today’s best offsites combine inspiring locations, purposeful connection, and activities that everyone can enjoy.

Choosing the right activity for a corporate retreat is paramount. It sets the tone, shapes interactions, and often becomes the most talked-about part of the trip.

For years, golf has been the go-to choice for corporate bonding. Yet, there’s a sport quietly taking over luxury resorts and private clubs from Spain to Singapore. Needless to say, we’re talking about padel. 

Described as a mix of tennis and squash, this social doubles game is now played by more than 25 million people in 110 countries (Losberger De Boer). Easy to learn, fast-paced, and inherently social, padel is becoming a fixture in high-end corporate retreats. Could it be the ultimate sport for your next offsite? Let’s explore.

Why the Right Activity Matters on a Retreat

Bali Social Club, Indonesia. Credit: Padelgrapher.

The activities you choose can either unite a group or leave it fragmented. The best retreat sport should be inclusive, fun, lightly competitive, and accessible to all ages and abilities. It should energise without exhausting, encourage interaction without intimidating, and be memorable enough that people talk about it long after they return home.

Padel meets these criteria effortlessly. Unlike sports that require years of practice to enjoy, padel welcomes first-timers with open arms. Within minutes, even complete beginners can rally, laugh, and share in the thrill of the game. This inclusivity ensures that no one feels left out, whether it’s the CEO or the newest hire.

Why Padel Works for Every Corporate Group

Part of padel’s appeal lies in its simplicity. The smaller court size keeps the game dynamic yet manageable, while the walls make rallies forgiving and exciting. A typical match lasts 60 to 90 minutes (Corcuera Padel Club), which is short enough to fit into a packed retreat schedule yet long enough to allow real connections to form.

Luxury venues around the world now offer padel facilities, from glass-walled courts overlooking the Andaman Sea in Phuket to indoor, climate-controlled arenas in Dubai. Many of these locations also combine padel with wellness programs, spa treatments, and fine dining.

Networking and Team-Building on Court

Padel is always played in doubles, making teamwork non-negotiable. Success on the court depends on communication, quick decision-making, and mutual encouragement. The format encourages participants to rotate partners, allowing colleagues from different teams or even different countries to interact in a relaxed setting.

In many ways, padel is becoming “the new golf” for business networking (Padel Paper). Unlike a four-hour round of golf, an hour on a padel court keeps everyone engaged the entire time. The action is close, the conversation flows naturally, and the mood is light yet energising. 

Tech leaders such as Google and Microsoft have already embraced padel for staff events, while Kuwait’s telecom giant stc reported that its inaugural corporate padel tournament attracted 24 internal teams and significantly boosted employee morale (Teletimes International).

Friendly Competition Without the Pressure

One of the reasons padel works so well in a corporate environment is that it encourages healthy competition without alienating less experienced players. The walls keep the ball in play longer, so even novices can enjoy extended rallies. The result is a game where skill differences don’t dominate the experience, and laughter often outweighs the scoreboard.

Organising a mini-tournament during a retreat is easy, with multiple short matches and rotating partners. It creates light-hearted rivalries that carry over to dinner conversations and beyond, without the fatigue or injury risks associated with high-impact sports like football or basketball.

Health and Wellness Benefits

Velaa Private Island, Maldives

Retreats are a chance to recharge, and padel fits perfectly into a wellness-driven agenda. Physically, it provides a full-body workout that improves coordination, balance, and cardiovascular health. Mentally, it offers stress relief through both movement and social interaction. Studies show that regular physical activity reduces stress hormones and boosts mood (Health Line)

Pairing an active padel session with recovery-focused experiences such as a luxury spa afternoon or guided wellness programme can amplify these benefits. In the likes of Bali, the Maldives, and Koh Samui, resorts are now combining padel with yoga, meditation, and hydrotherapy to create holistic retreats that energise both body and mind.

How Padel Compares to Traditional Retreat Sports

Golf may still have prestige, but padel offers more time efficiency, lower costs, and a gentler learning curve.

Padel sits in the sweet spot. It’s active without being exhausting, competitive without being intimidating, and sociable without long downtime between interactions. It’s no surprise that corporate leagues are springing up across Europe, and resorts in Asia are building dedicated padel facilities to cater to this growing demand.

Destinations to Play

Bali Padel Academy, Indonesia

The global spread of padel means it’s easier than ever to incorporate into an international retreat.

• Bali: Boutique resorts close to elite padel clubs, with spa, surf, and cultural excursions.

• Maldives: Ocean-view courts, private coaching, and luxury recovery facilities.

• Koh Samui: Secluded villas, tropical setting clubs, and personalised wellness menus.

• Dubai: Indoor luxury clubs perfect for year-round play.

These destinations make it easy to balance boardroom strategy with leisure and play.

Closing

Padel is more than just a sport. It’s an experience that brings people together, fosters genuine collaboration, and leaves everyone energised. Its blend of accessibility, social engagement, and wellness benefits make it a standout choice for corporate retreats, whether you’re hosting a small executive gathering or a large company-wide offsite.

With the right setting and support, padel can be the centrepiece of a retreat your team will remember for years.

Enquire now for Luxury Padel Escapes to design a luxury corporate padel escape where every rally strengthens your team and every court comes with a view worth playing for.