120 Employees Sent on “Survivor”-Themed Work Retreat That Fell Apart, from Eating Tarantulas to Army Crawling in 100-Degree Heat

**Corporate Retreat Turns Chaotic: Plex’s Survivor-Inspired Adventure in Honduras**

In an unusual approach to team bonding, a technology firm based in the United States orchestrated a corporate retreat that has since become a subject of reflection for its employees nearly a decade later. In 2017, Plex, a free streaming service, organised a weeklong trip for 120 of its fully remote employees to Honduras, modelled after the reality television show, Survivor. The ambitious getaway, dubbed “Plexcon,” aimed to foster teamwork through challenging activities amidst tropical surroundings.

Keith Valory, the CEO of Plex, who had become an avid fan of Survivor, envisioned himself as the host of the event, inspired by the show’s charismatic presenter, Jeff Probst. However, the retreat quickly devolved into a string of unforeseen disasters. As employees began to arrive, Valory fell ill with an E. coli infection after consuming a salad, losing a significant amount of weight in the process and requiring medical attention that included an IV drip.

Sean Hoff, founder of Moniker Partners which coordinated the trip, commented on the sheer commotion that followed. “It was just such a calamity,” he explained, encapsulating the chaotic essence of the experience. The organisational challenges did not stop with Valory’s illness. Key staff members, including the hotel’s general manager and head chef, were absent during the employees’ stay, further complicating the intended agenda.

The first planned contest involved teams courageously sampling unidentifiable food items from covered platters. Shawn Eldridge, Plex’s head of business development, was faced with the challenge of eating a tarantula—an experience he described as regrettable. “My team was just like, ‘If you don’t want to do this, you are totally fine,’” he recounted, but he pushed through. “Pretty horrible, not going to lie. Those hairs.”

As Valory recovered from his bout of illness, he could hear the chaotic activities continuing. Employees were subjected to physically demanding tasks, including army-crawling along the beach in sweltering 100-degree heat. Scott Olechowski, Plex’s co-founder and Chief Product Officer, admitted that the group was not particularly athletic, leading to struggles in completing the rigorous challenges.

Adding to the disarray, several employees experienced unexpected encounters with local wildlife. Senior product manager Greta Schlender recalled being bitten by fire ants after landing on their nest. Despite her discomfort and the need for an antihistamine shot, she remained undeterred and participated in other activities.

Throughout the week, the group faced additional setbacks, including intermittent power and water supply issues at the hotel. One employee even reported an incident involving a porcupine unexpectedly appearing in his room. Nevertheless, the team pushed on, managing to arrange an excursion to a nearby island, which provided a much-needed respite from the calamity of their stay.

The unexpected challenges reached a culmination when the group found themselves stranded at a small airport after failing to secure flights back to the mainland before nightfall. Hoff encouraged his colleagues to remain positive, suggesting they make the most of the situation by finding a beach hotel where they could unwind and enjoy themselves. “We found some beach hotel and drank beers all night,” he said, highlighting their resilience in the face of adversity.

Despite the chaotic nature of the retreat, the participants managed to enjoy themselves, bonding over their shared experiences. Schlender spoke of wearing matching tank tops and enjoying a reggae show as the trip came to a close. They eventually flew back at dawn to enthusiastic applause from their colleagues, who acknowledged the challenges overcome.

Looking back nearly nine years later, many employees have fond memories of the tumultuous retreat. Schlender remarked that it remains “one of the most fun trips ever,” a testament to the unexpected joys that can emerge from difficult experiences. The tale of Plex’s corporate retreat in Honduras serves as a unique reminder of the unpredictable nature of team-building exercises and the bonds that can form even in the midst of chaos.