The Leadership Retreat
A transformative experience of excellenceThe Leadership Retreat is an annual immersive experience that brings University of Utah students and staff together for world-class leadership training facilitated by The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center. Through hands-on workshops and firsthand exposure to luxury hospitality, participants learn how to build a culture of excellence, deliver elevated service, and lead with confidence, empathy, and professionalism.
The Retreat Experience
The retreat offers an immersive, multi-day learning experience facilitated by The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center, designed to help participants develop the skills and mindset needed to lead with excellence. Through expert-led training, hands-on discussions, and real-world examples, attendees gain practical strategies for building strong organizational culture, delivering elevated service, and creating meaningful engagement.
Training topics include:
A Culture of Excellence | Building Success from Within
Explore how world-class service begins with strong internal systems, empowered employees, and intentional leadership. Drawing from The Ritz-Carlton’s award-winning employment brand, this training focuses on the processes that support employee engagement, consistency, and long-term success.
What you’ll learn:
- Understanding and applying The Ritz-Carlton Gold Standards, including the Credo, Motto, Three Steps of Service, Employee Promise, and 12 Service Values
- Building simple, sustainable systems for selecting, onboarding, recognizing, and retaining talent
- Fostering employee engagement as the foundation for exceptional customer experiences
- Empowering team members to make decisions that enhance service, reduce friction, and create consistently positive outcomes
Brand Differentiating Service | Delivering an Elevated Experience
This training focuses on the emotional and psychological aspects of service that drive loyalty and long-term connection. Attendees learn how The Ritz-Carlton creates “guests for life” by delivering personalized, emotionally engaging experiences at every touchpoint.
What you’ll learn:
- Understanding the difference between functional and emotional benefits—and why emotional connection matters
- Exploring The Ritz-Carlton’s key service principles and the psychology behind authentic engagement
- Learning how to optimize every interaction through presence, personalization, and adaptability
- Anticipating unexpressed needs and creating memorable moments through surprise-and-delight techniques
Beyond the Classroom
In addition to formal training, the retreat often includes shared meals, informal gatherings, and group activities outside of the classroom. These experiences create valuable opportunities to network, build relationships, and connect more deeply with fellow students and staff of the University, strengthening the sense of community that defines the Institute.
The Bigger Picture
By equipping students and staff with these leadership and service skills, the Institute aims to extend the impact of the retreat far beyond the training itself. Participants bring these principles back to campus—applying a hospitality mindset rooted in empathy, ownership, and excellence in their daily interactions and work.
Over time, this shared approach helps cultivate a more welcoming, people-centered campus culture, where individuals at every level feel empowered to create meaningful connections, elevate experiences, and positively influence the communities they serve.
Ready to Learn?
For Students: This opportunity is available to new and onboarding student leaders with the J.W. Marriott, Jr. Institute. To learn more about becoming a student leader and eligibility requirements, visit our Leadership page.
For University Staff: University of Utah departments and organizations interested in cultivating a culture of hospitality, service, and connection on campus are encouraged to express interest. If your team would benefit from participating in the retreat, please submit a request through our information form with details about your department and your goals for participation.
Please note that space is limited. While we welcome all inquiries, we may not be able to accommodate every request.