A sales kickoff (SKO) brings the sales team together, usually at the start of the fiscal year, to review results and explain the targets, products, and sales priorities for the year ahead. It gives reps time to ask questions and practice customer conversations before they return to selling. A typical agenda combines leadership presentations, product updates, small-group workshops, and a team dinner. Plan two days if colleagues are traveling; a local team can fit a focused kickoff into one day.
Choose a few outcomes that matter after the kickoff. A presentation can explain a change; practice and feedback help people apply it.
Explain the market, customer segments, and priorities for the coming period.
Try this: Use specific examples and leave time for questions. Share detailed targets and territory material through the team's normal process.
Use realistic customer situations to rehearse discovery, demonstrations, or objection handling.
Try this: Give participants roles and a short feedback rubric. Rotate roles so people practice rather than only watch.
Bring relevant product, marketing, and customer teams into the sessions where they can help.
Try this: Map one handoff and agree the information needed, the owner, and the expected response time.
You need more than a stage. Check plenary seating, breakout-room capacity, microphones, Wi-Fi, and places where small groups can practice without competing noise.
Useful when participants travel and you need a plenary room, breakouts, meals, and bedrooms together.
Useful for structured learning with several practice groups running at the same time.
A practical option for a one-day kickoff when most attendees are based nearby.
This one-night schedule alternates presentations with practice. Replace sessions with your actual priorities and send supporting material beforehand.
Keep early arrivals occupied while the full group gathers.
Explain the customer focus, goals, and choices behind the plan.
Mix sales regions or functions at tables.
Use a customer example and leave time to challenge assumptions.
Allow time away from the plenary room.
Use one scenario, rotate seller and customer roles, and record feedback.
Collect questions for subject experts and summarize changes to try.
Keep recognition specific and brief, then let colleagues talk.
Allow an open arrival window.
Work through the actual conversations and handoffs each group needs.
Store luggage before the closing sessions.
Choose two changes per team with an owner and a review date.
Explain where materials live and how managers will follow up.
Leave a buffer for transport and onward travel.
Compare accommodation, meals, meeting space, and support for your chosen length of stay. Use supplier quotes for your dates before approving a total.
Example budget / USD
$619per person
40 guests · 1 night · 40 rooms
Change the guest count, nights, and room arrangement. Replace the sample allowances with supplier quotes. Enter zero for anything included in another line.
These are editable examples, not market prices. Add quoted taxes and service charges below; budget separately for flights if needed.
| Budget line | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Rooms 40 rooms × 1 night × $250 | $10,000 |
| Meals & refreshments 40 guests × 2 days × $75 | $6,000 |
| Meeting rooms & AV 2 days × $1000 | $2,000 |
| Ground transport | $2,000 |
| Local planning & production | $2,500 |
| Quoted taxes, service charges & other fees | $0 |
| Contingency 10% of the subtotal | $2,250 |
| Working total | $24,750 |
Example total: $24,750 for 40 guests.
Give the organizer, enablement lead, and facilitators a shared run sheet. Each session needs a purpose, materials, a room, and someone responsible for keeping it on time.
Divide the audience by role or learning need and give each group a named facilitator.
Test microphones, slides, clickers, sound, logins, and customer demonstrations in the actual room.
Put approved slides, practice prompts, FAQs, and manager follow-up tasks in one accessible place.
Assign an owner to each task. Work through these checks with everyone helping organize the event.
See how venues, meals, and activities come together. Use these events to help shape your own plans.
12–30 guests · 2 nights
From $1,800 per person
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12–30 guests · 2 nights
From $2,200 per person
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12–30 guests · 2 nights
From $1,500 per person
View eventOur collection provides inspiration. Vantly connects you with a local event planner and producer who adapts the venue, schedule, suppliers, and logistics to your brief.
Share your goals, headcount, dates, and budget. Start with an event from our collection or with your own brief.
Discuss the venue, schedule, and supplier options with someone who knows the area.
Confirm the agreed scope, inclusions, quote, and terms before committing.
A day can cover a focused update and practice session. Two days give more room for multiple roles, travel, and cross-team conversations. Choose the length from the outcomes and audience rather than tradition.
Give each participant a chance to try the conversation and receive feedback. Break larger groups into smaller sessions with enough facilitators, rather than having most people watch a demonstration.
Invite people who support the planned outcomes: product experts for product sessions, marketing for messaging, or customer teams for handoffs. They do not need to attend every session.
Choose a date that supports your sales planning cycle and leaves enough time for preparation. Check customer commitments, travel, and venue availability before announcing it.
Yes. The collection is a starting point. Share your purpose, dates, headcount, preferences, and budget. Your local producer prepares a tailored proposal with the final scope and quote.
