Our 2026 Travel Maestro Team Retreat: Barcelona & Mallorca
Every year, one of our favorite things to do as a team is get out from behind our desks and experience a destination together. Not just to relax (although we certainly make time for that!), but to see the hotels, meet the people, try the experiences and understand firsthand what makes a destination special.
This year, we headed to Spain, splitting our time between the energy and creativity of Barcelona and the laid-back beauty of Mallorca. And after six days of hotel visits, private touring, incredible meals, and plenty of time together, we came home with a notebook full of ideas for our clients.
Barcelona: A City That Has It All
Our first stop was Barcelona, where we stayed at the Mandarin Oriental Barcelona. Its central location on Passeig de Gràcia made it an ideal home base for exploring the city, and our time there gave us a chance to experience the property not just as travelers, but through the lens of what our clients need and expect from a luxury hotel.
One of the most valuable parts of a team retreat like this is getting to personally tour different properties. We visited Hotel Alma Barcelona and Hotel Arts Barcelona, each offering a very different experience and style. Seeing the rooms, public spaces, service and location firsthand gives us a much better understanding of which hotel is the right fit for a particular client, not simply which hotel looks beautiful in a brochure.
And then there was the food! We kicked off our Barcelona experience with a private foodie walking tour through the Gothic Quarter and El Born. Rather than simply checking restaurants off a list, we were able to explore the city through its food, stopping at locally loved spots and learning about the traditions behind what we were tasting.
It was exactly the kind of experience we love recommending to clients because it feels personal and authentic rather than overly structured.
Seeing Barcelona from a Different Perspective
The next morning, we traded four wheels for three and explored Barcelona by sidecar. It was such a fun way to see the city, taking us through neighborhoods and past some of Barcelona's most recognizable landmarks, including Casa Batlló, Casa Milà, Parc Güell and the Sagrada Família. We even stopped at a viewpoint for a glass of local Cava while taking in the skyline.
Later that afternoon, we explored more of the city with a private guide, including the Sagrada Família, Passeig de Gràcia and the Gothic Quarter.
Experiencing these tours ourselves reminded us of something we tell our clients all the time: the best itineraries aren't necessarily about seeing everything. They're about choosing the right experiences and having them arranged in a way that makes the destination feel effortless.
And, of course, we couldn't leave Barcelona without pizza. Dinner at Sartoria Panatieri was a deliciously casual way to end the day and a good reminder that luxury travel doesn't always mean formal dining. Sometimes it's simply finding the place everyone in town is talking about.
Mallorca: A Completely Different Side of Spain
On Thursday morning, we flew from Barcelona to Mallorca, and almost immediately, the pace changed.
We began with a private tour through Palma's Old Town, exploring the city's layers of history, from the Jewish Quarter and Gothic Cathedral to the Arabic Palace and the lively Olivar market. It was such a quaint, charming little town and we didn’t want to leave!
From there, we headed toward Deià, one of Mallorca's most beautiful mountain villages, for a site inspection and lunch at La Residencia, A Belmond Hotel. La Residencia was one of those properties that is difficult to fully appreciate until you've been there. The setting, the sense of place and the relationship between the hotel and the surrounding village create an experience that feels distinctly like Mallorca. It was truly magical.
After our visit, we continued to our home for the next two nights: Mandarin Oriental Punta Negra, Mallorca. Set along the coast near Puerto Portals, the property gave us a completely different perspective on luxury in Mallorca. After the energy of Barcelona, this was the place to slow down, enjoy the setting and actually take a breath. We toured the property, enjoyed cocktails with the team and finished the evening at Leña Mallorca, the hotel's contemporary steakhouse. It was delicious!
Fun fact: they have a menu of knives to pick from when you order steak! We both selected Spanish knives for obvious reasons.
A Change of Plans in Mallorca
Our plans for a day on the water were quickly changed when the winds picked up and made boating a no-go. And honestly, sometimes the best travel moments are the ones you don’t plan. Instead, we slowed things down and enjoyed a quintessential Mediterranean day.
We swam in the Mediterranean, collected colorful rocks along the shore, lounged by the pool, and spent some well-deserved time relaxing in the spa at the hotel. We also made our way back to Palma for a little shopping before enjoying dinner in town. It was the perfect reminder that luxury travel doesn’t always have to be packed with activities. Sometimes the most memorable days are simply about having time to enjoy where you are.
Why We Do These Trips
While the photos and experiences are certainly the fun part, the real value of our team retreats goes much deeper.
We believe that firsthand experience makes us better travel advisors.
When a client asks, “Which hotel would you choose for us?” we want our answer to come from more than a website or sales presentation.
We want to know what the lobby feels like when you walk in.What the rooms are really like.How the location feels.Which properties are best for families, couples or multigenerational groups.Which experiences are truly worth the time.Which restaurant is perfect for a special evening, and which is better for something casual.And perhaps most importantly, what details can make a trip feel completely seamless.
Our time in Spain gave us the opportunity to do exactly that.
It also gave our team something equally important: time together. Travel is what brought all of us into this industry, and there is something pretty special about getting to experience it alongside the people you work with every day.
Spain, We’ll Be Back
It was truly the trip of a lifetime for our team. Whether you're dreaming about the architecture and food of Barcelona, the villages and coastline of Mallorca, or combining both into a longer Spanish journey, we'd love to help you experience the country in a way that feels personal to you.
Hasta luego, España!
— Megan & Heather
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