Group Getaways · Our approach
Building on principles, not just plans
Group Getaways is brought to you in partnership with East Chop Capital, the private equity and real estate firm behind Getaway Society, our partner for this resource. They believe in building value that's financial, educational, and social: not just for shareholders, but for the communities they're part of.
“His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.'”
That parable is the starting point. Six principles the East Chop Capital team has taught in community settings follow from it, and each one shows up somewhere on this page.
Win in your mind first
Planning a reunion, a retreat, or a mission trip can feel like a lot before it even starts. Don't let that stop you from starting; the guides below break it into steps.
Education over entertainment
Keep learning the basics of money. The financial education section below is a start, and worth the time entertainment usually gets instead.
Seek partnerships
Teamwork makes the dream work, for a trip and for a community. See who's already partnering with us, down in Local to Kissimmee.
You already have what it takes
Planning something for your group doesn't require an event planner. The people already around you are usually enough to start.
Acquire assets
Sow seeds. Own things that produce income and grow in value. The homes down the road in Kissimmee are one nearby example.
Do. Evaluate. Adjust.
Take the first step, learn from it, keep moving. Planning your own group's trip is as good a place as any to start.
These principles show up in all kinds of decisions, including one very practical one: how you plan and pay for a trip together.
Group getaways and retreat planning
Plan a getaway your whole group will actually remember
Whether it's a family reunion, a church retreat, or housing for a mission trip, here's what we've learned from planning group trips like these, gathered in one place.
A trip-planning resource from Solid Rock Community Church, in partnership with East Chop Capital.
- Family reunions
- Church retreats
- Mission trip housing
- Group budgeting
Planning guides
Start here
Four guides built from real planning experience. Not general advice, but the specific things that trip people up.
Planning a family reunion
- Set the headcount early. It decides everything else, including whether one house works or you need two nearby.
- Pick a date 9 to 12 months out; large families need that much runway.
- Assign one point person per household for RSVPs and payments.
- Build in unstructured time. The best reunions aren't scheduled hour to hour.
Organizing a church retreat
- Decide the goal first: rest, teaching, or both. The venue and schedule should follow from that.
- Ratio matters for youth retreats. Plan adult chaperones before you plan activities.
- Build a simple permission-and-payment form before you announce dates.
- Leave the last session light; people retain more from the drive home than the final talk.
Housing for a mission trip
- Group housing near the work site beats splitting across hotels. It keeps the team together each evening.
- Confirm kitchen access if you're feeding a team on a budget.
- Build a buffer day into the schedule before travel days, not after.
- Keep a shared document of every team member's arrival and departure time.
Group trip budgeting basics
- Price per person, not per house. It's the number people actually compare.
- Collect deposits with a real deadline; open-ended collection is how trips fall apart.
- Split shared costs (housing, food) separately from personal costs (travel, souvenirs).
- Budget 10% above your estimate. Something always comes up.
Printable checklist
Mission trip housing checklist
The questions worth asking before you commit to any group housing, whether you find it through this page or somewhere else.
- Sleeps the full team without doubling up past comfort
- Kitchen large enough to cook for the group, not just reheat
- Reasonable drive to the work site, ideally under 20 minutes
- Wifi reliable enough for check-ins home
- A common space big enough for a nightly debrief
- Clear cancellation policy in case travel plans shift
- Laundry access for trips longer than five days
- A single point of contact for questions during the stay
Since we're talking about money
Understanding money, in plain language
Budgeting for a trip is one thing, but a few of the questions that come up (what's an asset, what's equity, where do I even start) go beyond just this trip. A few basics, explained simply, no products, no pitch. Put together by our partnership team, because access to this kind of knowledge shouldn't depend on already having it.
What's an asset?
- Something that can put money in your pocket over time, rather than only take money out.
- A home you live in and a home you rent out are both "assets" on paper, but they work very differently financially.
- The starting point for any wealth-building conversation: what do you own that can work for you?
Equity, explained
- Equity just means ownership share. If you put $10 into a $100 lemonade stand, you own 10%.
- The same idea scales up to a business, a property, or a company.
- Owning a share means you benefit if it grows in value, and you're exposed if it doesn't.
Public vs. private
- Public means anyone can buy a share on the stock market.
- Private means ownership that isn't publicly traded: a local barbershop, a small business, a single rental home.
- Access, risk, and how you learn about each work very differently.
Where to learn more
- Investopedia and the Corporate Finance Institute for definitions and fundamentals.
- The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg for how these concepts show up in the news.
- Books: Rich Dad Poor Dad, The Richest Man in Babylon, The Millionaire Next Door.
Not just theory
In September 2025, East Chop Capital partnered with the Urban League of Greater Central Florida's Financial Leaders Program to walk through concepts like these directly with their members. This section draws from that same material.
Local to Kissimmee
Two of these homes are just down the road
Getaway Society has two luxury vacation rental homes, The Grove and The Nautilus, at Reunion Resort, minutes from Solid Rock: same city, same community. East Chop Capital's involvement in Central Florida isn't limited to this partnership, either.
Ongoing
Getaway Society extends group rates to organizations, including a discount for members of the Caribbean and Florida Association here in Kissimmee, as well as Divine Nine and other professional organizations representing our local community. If your organization would like to inquire about a group discount or explore a partnership, reach out at info@getawaysociety.com.
What we've done
A member of the East Chop Capital team volunteered throughout the past year with the Central Florida Black MBA Association's Leaders of Tomorrow program, a mentorship program for high school students. On April 25, 2026, the firm also sponsored, and spoke at, the Central Florida Black MBA Association's Economic Empowerment Series: Wealth Summit.
What's next
As East Chop Capital's footprint here grows, the goal is to connect with more Orlando and Kissimmee-area organizations, and to explore partnerships with groups already doing good work in this community.
Need group housing?
If you're looking for a place to stay
Getaway Society
For groups looking for a single large home rather than a hotel block, we point people to Getaway Society: a collection of professionally managed vacation homes with the space and kitchens that group trips need.
Solid Rock Community Church receives no commission on bookings made through Getaway Society. This is offered as a resource for our congregation's trip planning, in keeping with our mission to support families and mission teams.
Get in touch
Planning something for your group?
Ask about group housing, a group rate for your organization, a financial education session, or partnering with East Chop Capital. A real person from the partnership will follow up.