This was the 2nd time of working together with Surf Office and surely not the last. This year we made it to Kyoto, Japan, and Surf Office made the execution of moving an entire remote-working company into such an amazing destination possible.
The communication is flawless, responses for any inquiries are rapid - regardless if it's in the pre-retreat planning stage or during the event.
Stef has been outstanding in anything she touched and her support was incredible. Constructive brainstorming of topics, providing event ideas, support in bookings - you name it, she did it!
Absolute pleasure of working with Surf Office and a big shoutout to Alvaro and Stef for making crazy ideas become reality for teams like us. Thank you!
- David Borenius, HR/ Company Trainer at Cal.com
Cal.com makes scheduling simple by providing an open scheduling platform used by teams and businesses around the world. As a fully remote company with teammates spread across dozens of countries, its annual retreat is one of the few opportunities for everyone to meet face to face.
This year, 40 teammates gathered in Kyoto, Japan for seven days. Japan wasn't the obvious choice. In fact, the idea started as a joke before becoming an ambitious goal. The challenge was bringing together a global remote team on the other side of the world while delivering the same experience Cal.com had come to expect from its annual retreats.
Their remote team retreat wasn't built around packed schedules or traditional corporate team-building. Instead, the focus was on creating opportunities for people to spend time together naturally. Work sessions were balanced with shared meals, cultural experiences, and plenty of time to explore Kyoto in smaller groups.
The week began with a welcome evening accompanied by a live pianist, giving everyone the chance to reconnect after arriving from around the world. Later, the team explored Kyoto's famous Arashiyama district, walking through its iconic bamboo forest before continuing to discover the city together.
Later in the week, the team gathered at the Yoshimoto Building to watch live sumo while enjoying an all-you-can-eat Japanese dinner, creating one of the retreat's biggest highlights. For those looking for a completely different kind of adventure, a full day at Universal Studios Japan in nearby Osaka added another memorable chapter to the week.
The retreat ended with a farewell dinner that also celebrated the CEO's birthday. It was the perfect way to close seven days filled with shared experiences, new friendships, and memories the team is still talking about.
Behind the scenes, Stef, Cal.com's dedicated Surf Office retreat planner, supported the project from the first planning call through the final day in Kyoto. She helped shape the itinerary, coordinated venues and activities, and quickly resolved any unexpected issues along the way, allowing the HR team to focus on the people rather than the logistics.
The feedback afterwards couldn't have been stronger. Japan exceeded every expectation, from the outstanding food - including the best vegetarian and vegan options the team had experienced on any retreat - to the smooth organization throughout the week. During one of the team events, the CEO turned to the organizer and said, "I have never seen the team so happy altogether. Great job." That single moment confirmed that the retreat had achieved exactly what it was meant to do: bring a global remote team closer together in a place no one would forget.
