From the founder Note 01 · 3 min read · By Jonathan Riccobono
Interview with the founder
An interview with founder Jonathan Riccobono, on why he started Tro.
Q: Was there a specific moment when you realized there was something missing?
Jonathan
Absolutely. For years, as the Director of Sales, I'd get the same email from clients:
"Do you have time to connect? We have a few questions we’d like to ask…"
The questions were always some version of:
"What have you seen other companies do?"
"We're missing something."
"How can we make this feel different?"
"What would you recommend?"
I'd offer the templated answer: team-building activities, unique vendors, entertainment, branding and swag opportunities. We'd create a proposal, the client would book it, and the offsite would be a success.
But it never quite landed.
Clients were essentially asking for a different way for the event to help facilitate interactions with team members, leadership, or their clients beyond grabbing a passed appetizer at a high top.
The answer wasn't another activity. It wasn't another group exercise or team-building package.
It was a different container altogether.
That's what became The Renewal Office
What clients asked, and what they needed Tap a card to flip it
Q: So what exactly is The Renewal Office?
Jonathan
We're a global retreat design company specializing in company retreats, executive offsites, and client appreciation experiences.
Your agenda stays, we design everything in between.
TRO is trying to change the way companies think about gathering.
The most meaningful connections and conversations happen in the moments between the meetings, when people have the space to connect as humans.
Most retreat planners sell hospitality, tablescape design and logistics. They'll tell you they can negotiate great hotel rates or manage room blocks.
That’s expected, and anyone can do that.
We focus on what happens because people gathered in the first place.
Whether it's a guided breathwork session, an intuition workshop, a shared meal, or simply creating space for reflection, each element is chosen to support the outcomes your organization is invested in: stronger relationships, clearer thinking, better collaboration, and more aligned leadership.
The research supports it.
Studies from organizations like Harvard Business Review, Google, Gallup, and McKinsey consistently show that intentional company retreats strengthen trust, psychological safety, leadership alignment, and employee engagement, all linked to stronger business performance.
Q: TRO mentions stillness a few times. Why?
Jonathan
Because it's becoming increasingly rare.
We're constantly connected.
We're great at reacting, but we've forgotten how to pause.
Stillness isn't the absence of work. It's clarity.
When people finally slow down, they listen differently.
They communicate differently.
They see each other differently.
That's where meaningful work begins.
Q: What do you hope people take away from a TRO retreat?
Jonathan
We strive that every attendee leaves feeling like something shifted.
Not just because they visited a beautiful destination, but because they connected with others in a way that felt authentic and more impactful than the typical offsite.
More than anything, we hope it becomes something offices look forward to every year.
Not another company retreat on the calendar, but a tradition. A moment to step away from the day-to-day, reconnect with one another, and return with fresh perspective and renewed momentum.
The Renewal Office isn't about planning events. It's about designing experiences that help companies move forward.
To transcend.
To renew.
And to create the kind of offsite people still talk about long after it's over.
