Can the annual dinner be claimed from HRD Corp?
No. The team building programme can be, when it is registered training led by an HRD Corp accredited trainer and approved at least 14 days before it starts. The dinner, entertainment, prizes and gifts are paid separately, and our quote shows the two parts on separate lines so your finance team can see exactly what the levy covers.
Three formats that work
Team building always comes before the dinner, never after it. See every timing in our team building itineraries.
One day plus dinner
A 7 hour team building day at a city hotel or resort, then the annual dinner in the ballroom that evening. No rooms needed.
2 days 1 night
Team building on both days with 7 training hours each, and the annual dinner on the night in between.
3 days 2 nights
A welcome dinner on night 1 and the gala on night 2, with 15 training hours across the three days.
What a package includes
Choose the parts you need. We plan them as one trip with one timeline and one point of contact.
The training programme
Team building with debriefs and a team charter, run as registered with HRD Corp. See team building in Malaysia.
Venue and rooms
A shortlist of resorts or city hotels that fit your headcount and travel time, with room sharing plans and a site visit before you sign.
Halal meals
Breakfast, tea breaks, lunch and the dinner menu from halal certified kitchens, with vegetarian and allergy options and a menu tasting for the dinner.
Transport
Chartered buses from your office or several pick-up points, timed around the programme. Chartered transport to a training venue is an HRD Corp claim item.
Dinner production
Theme and decoration, stage, sound and lighting, an emcee, entertainment and a timed show plan, run by our event partners.
Awards and lucky draw
An awards segment that recognises real contributions, and a lucky draw with clear rules. Prizes can be bought directly by your company if your gift policy requires it.
Photos and video
A photographer for the training day and the dinner, and a short highlights video for your internal channels.
On-site team
An event lead, marshals for the activities, first aiders and a rain plan, so your HR team can enjoy the night too.
A sample 2 days 1 night retreat
Team building on both days and the annual dinner on the night in between.
- Day 1, 7.30 amBuses leave your office
Breakfast packs on board. Luggage goes straight to the venue store.
- 8.45 amRegistration, objectives and safety rules
- 9.00 amTeam building, part 1
Ice breakers, then outdoor and indoor team challenges with a debrief after each one.
- 12.45 pmLunch and Zohor prayers
- 1.45 pmTeam building, part 2
Problem solving games, then the collaboration lab on a real work problem.
- 5.30 pmCheck in and rest
Time to freshen up and change for the evening.
- 7.30 pmAnnual dinner
Welcome speech, dinner, awards, performances and the lucky draw, run to a timed show plan. Not part of the training hours.
- Day 2, 9.00 amTrust, communication and the team charter
Trust and communication activities, then team values and working agreements that every member signs.
- 12.45 pmLunch and Zohor prayers
- 1.45 pmLessons, actions and the 30 day plan
Each team presents its top three lessons and the actions it will take back to work.
- 5.30 pmClose and buses home
Each day has 7 training hours, which matches how HRD Corp counts a training day. The dinner is not part of the training hours.
Dinner themes our clients enjoy
A theme gives the night a shape. We can echo it in a creative activity during the day, outside the training hours.
Awards night
Red carpet arrival, a photo wall and an awards segment that celebrates the year's real wins.
Malaysian heritage night
Batik, baju kurung, cheongsam and saree, traditional games and a Muhibbah menu.
Around the world
Each table or department takes a country, with food stations and decoration to match.
Masquerade
Masks, elegant dress and live music for a more formal evening.
Retro night
Music and dress from the 70s, 80s or 90s, with a dance floor and a costume prize.
Neon night
Lighting, glow accessories and a modern stage show.
How the costs split
Your quote lists each part separately, so the claimable training is never mixed with the event.
| Part of the trip | Arranged by | HRD Corp claimable? |
|---|---|---|
| Team building programme (course fee) | Agile Visa | Yes Within HRD Corp's course fee limits |
| Trainee allowance | Paid to your company by HRD Corp | Yes RM 250 per person per training day, or RM 500 at 100 km or more |
| Chartered buses | Our transport partner | Yes As quoted, with the receipt |
| Hotel rooms and meals | The venue, booked by us | No Not a separate claim item |
| Venue and meeting rooms | The venue, booked by us | No Not a separate claim item |
| Dinner production, emcee and entertainment | Our event partners | No Not training |
| Prizes, door gifts and T-shirts | Your company or our partners | No Not training |
HRD Corp limits and rules are explained in full in our guide: is team building HRD Corp claimable?. Sources: HRD Corp Allowable Cost Matrix, ACM FAQ to Employer's Circular 3/2024, grant approval timing and HRD Corp Claimable Courses. Checked 15 October 2026. HRD Corp decides every grant and claim.
Planning timeline
The usual lead time for a retreat with rooms and an annual dinner.
- 12 weeks before. Share your dates, headcount, budget and preferred area. We send a first plan and a venue shortlist.
- 10 weeks before. Site visit and venue booking. Room blocks and the ballroom are held.
- 8 weeks before. Programme, dinner theme and show plan agreed. We send everything your HRD Corp application needs.
- 6 weeks before. Your HR team applies for the HRD Corp grant with fixed dates. It must be approved at least 14 days before the programme starts.
- 4 weeks before. Final numbers, rooming list, dietary needs, menu tasting and the run sheet.
- After the event. Signed attendance forms, the evaluation report and photos, and the HRD Corp claim within 6 months.
October to December is the busiest season, so plan a December dinner 3 to 4 months ahead; 6 to 8 weeks is usually enough from January to June. In 2027, Chinese New Year falls on 6 February and Ramadan is expected from about 8 February to 9 March, so a dinner after Chinese New Year may need to fit around buka puasa, or move to after Hari Raya.
What makes an annual dinner work
Short speeches
One welcome and one thank you. People came to celebrate, not to sit through a town hall.
Awards that mean something
Recognise real contributions with a short story for each award, so the room understands why it matters.
Staff on stage, by choice
A performance by volunteers from each department builds pride. Nobody should be pushed on stage.
A clear end time
Finish on time so staff who are driving home, or travelling early the next day, can enjoy the whole night.
Questions about retreats and annual dinners
Can we claim the annual dinner from HRD Corp?
No. HRD Corp funds training, so the dinner, entertainment, prizes, door gifts and T-shirts are paid separately. The team building programme can be claimed when it meets HRD Corp's rules.
Can the team building and the dinner be on the same day?
Yes. The usual plan is a 7 hour training day followed by the dinner that night. HRD Corp counts at most 7 training hours a day, and the dinner is not part of them.
Should the team building come before or after the dinner?
Before. A training day followed by the dinner gives people a shared story to celebrate, and keeps the training hours inside the working day.
How much does a team building and annual dinner package cost?
It depends on headcount, venue, rooms and the dinner you want, so we quote on request. Each part is on its own line, so you can see what is claimable and choose where to spend.
Do you provide the emcee and entertainment?
Yes, through our event partners, together with the stage, sound, lighting and decoration for your theme.
Which dinner themes are popular?
Awards nights, Malaysian heritage nights, around the world, masquerade, retro and neon nights. We match the theme to your company and the venue.
Can our dinner be alcohol free?
Yes. Many Malaysian companies prefer it, and we plan the menu and the programme around your policy.
Can we hold our annual dinner during Ramadan?
Yes, with planning. The dinner starts after buka puasa, the menu opens with dates and drinks, and the programme leaves time for Maghrib and Isyak prayers. Some companies prefer to move the dinner to after Hari Raya.
Our company has a strict gifts policy. How are prizes handled?
Prizes and door gifts can be bought directly by your company, and we run the lucky draw and awards to your rules.
Where do you hold retreats?
Anywhere in Malaysia. Popular choices are resorts in Port Dickson and Melaka, city hotels in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, and the Pahang highlands for cooler air.
How far ahead should we book?
Around 3 to 4 months for a December dinner, and 6 to 8 weeks for most other months. HRD Corp must approve the grant at least 14 days before the programme starts.
Team building in Malaysia · Team building itineraries · Is team building HRD Corp claimable? · How HRD Corp funding works
Planning this year's retreat and dinner?
Send us your dates, headcount and preferred area. We will come back with a programme, a venue shortlist, a dinner concept and a quote in MYR, with the HRD Corp claimable part shown separately.