Designing Space for Alignment, Trust, and Momentum

The Ask

Following Bacardi’s acquisition of Stillhouse in late 2019, the brand’s extended ecosystem — corporate leadership, agencies, and distributors — had never gathered in person. With the pandemic delaying face-to-face connection, the challenge became clear: create an environment where key stakeholders could align on a full year of business planning while building the kind of relationships that make collaboration actually work.

Our Point of View

We believe the most productive work happens when people feel comfortable, connected, and cared for. By balancing focused working sessions with thoughtful hospitality and shared adventure, we could create space for both strategic clarity and genuine relationship-building. The goal wasn’t just to get through meetings, but to leave aligned and energized.

What We Did

Created a Purpose-Built Retreat Environment
We brought more than 30 key Stillhouse stakeholders to Palm Springs for a three-day offsite designed around rhythm and flow. Mornings were reserved for structured meetings and planning, while afternoons and evenings shifted into experiences inspired by the surrounding desert landscape.

Hosted With Intention
Outpost secured and fully bought out the ARRIVE Hotel, establishing a centralized home base for the retreat. From there, we designed a hospitality program that felt personal and elevated: a four-course dinner in a private courtyard, a relaxed poolside buffet, and a final evening celebration at a ranch in Pioneertown. Each setting was thoughtfully transformed into a custom Stillhouse environment, reinforcing brand identity without overt branding.

Handled the Entire Working Experience
We managed every aspect of Stillhouse’s meeting needs, from venue selection and room layouts to furniture, AV, and on-site production. This ensured meetings were efficient, comfortable, and distraction-free, allowing the group to make meaningful progress together.

Designed Experiences That Matched the Brand
Stillhouse encourages its audience to take whiskey where glass can’t follow, so the retreat mirrored that spirit. After the first day of meetings, the group spent an afternoon riding ATVs across the dunes near the Salton Sea. The following day, we partnered with Joshua Tree’s nonprofit organization to host a private, ranger-guided hike, offering rare access and a deeper connection to place.

Captured the Moment
All meetings, activities, and hospitality moments were documented through photo and video, creating content that extended the value of the retreat across Stillhouse’s social channels.

“I almost never get all our agency partners in the same room. Being able to kick off the year together like that was incredibly valuable.”

— Ludlow Dawes, Senior Brand Manager, Bacardi

Impact

For the first time, Stillhouse’s extended team came together in one place, completed a full year of business planning, and built relationships that strengthened collaboration moving forward. The retreat demonstrated how thoughtful hospitality can turn a working offsite into a foundation for trust, alignment, and long-term momentum.