Plan it in this order: define the objective and the outcome you want, choose the format and the group size, pick the base city and venue, build a rhythm that alternates work and shared experience, then settle transfers, meals and a fallback plan. Marrakech works well for European companies thanks to direct flights, and a private desert evening 40 minutes away can anchor the whole programme.

Start with the objective, not the venue

A retreat can aim to align a leadership team, reward a high-performing group, launch a strategy, reconnect remote colleagues or simply build trust. Each objective points to a different programme. A strategy retreat needs quiet, uninterrupted working time. A reward trip needs memorable moments. A reconnection trip needs unstructured time together.

Write the objective in one sentence and share it with everyone involved in the planning. When a decision is difficult later, such as dropping an activity or adding a session, that sentence is the criterion.

Choose the group size and the base

Retreats range from a small leadership team to several hundred employees. The format changes with the size: a small group can share one table and a flexible schedule, while a group of 150 or 300 needs clear waves, signage and a larger team on the ground. At The Long Table Marrakech, base formats run from 30 to 300 guests, with up to 300 seated at dinner, and smaller or larger on request.

Marrakech is a practical base. Madrid is under 2 hours by direct flight, Paris, Geneva and Zurich about 3 hours, London about 3 hours 30, and New York about 9 hours. For other cities, guests connect via the European or Gulf hubs. Hotels or riads in the city host the group, and the desert venue is 40 minutes away.

Build a rhythm that alternates work and experience

The most common mistake is to fill every hour. A retreat works when intense moments are followed by recovery. A reliable pattern is:

Arrival day: welcome and an easy evening, no heavy session.
Working day: sessions in the morning, free or light time in the afternoon.
Experience evening: the desert dinner as the shared highlight.
Final day: a short closing session, then departures.

Evening schedules are studied with you from the brief, so the dinner, the music and the activities fit the energy of the day rather than a fixed timetable.

Work sessions and meals

Hold the main working sessions in a venue that suits meetings, such as a hotel or a dedicated room in the city. The desert works best as the place where the group changes pace: a long table, a meal shared around a mechoui cooked over embers, live Gnaoua music and stargazing. If you would like a daytime format on the plateau, raise it at the brief and we will tell you what is possible.

For meals, plan the dietary needs of your group from the start. Ask guests to declare allergies and preferences at registration, not in the final week, so the menu is composed with those needs in mind.

Transfers and logistics

Private transfers take guests from the airport to their hotel and from Marrakech to the site in 40 minutes, with the final stretch on a 4x4 track. Transfers are included in our proposal for the desert evening. There is no phone use on site, so brief guests in advance on how the evening works.

A simple planning checklist

Write the objective in one sentence.
Fix the number of guests and the dates, including a margin for arrivals.
Choose the hotel base and the working venue.
Decide which evening is the shared highlight.
Collect flights, dietary needs and special requests early.
Plan a fallback for weather, delays and last-minute changes.
Share one clear schedule with all guests before departure.

Key points to remember

The objective decides the programme; write it down first.
Alternate working time and shared experience.
Marrakech is reachable by direct flights from many European cities.
The desert evening is the memorable moment, not the whole retreat.

Frequently asked questions

How far ahead should we start planning?

As early as you can, particularly for large groups and for dates around school holidays or major events in Marrakech. Early notice gives you a choice of dates and a smoother travel plan.

What group sizes do you work with?

Base formats from 30 to 300 guests, with up to 300 seated at dinner. Smaller or larger groups are possible on request.

Can the retreat include team activities?

Yes. Activities are composed for your group, so describe the profile of your team at the brief and we propose a programme.

How quickly do we receive a proposal?

Within 24 hours of receiving your brief.

To see how the offer fits a company event, read about corporate events in Marrakech and the page on corporate seminars in Agafay. For reward trips, see incentive travel. Then send us your brief, or write to table@thelongtablemarrakech.com. We take bookings from mid-December 2026.