Captive audience. Everybody is forced to work/socialize 24 hours/day for as long as the retreat lasts. Sure, cooking for a group might be less expensive, but I

Captive audience. Everybody is forced to work/socialize 24 hours/day for as long as the retreat lasts. Sure, cooking for a group might be less expensive, but I have serious doubts that's a primary reason for using a rental home vs hotel/conference space. And as an aside, as somebody with dietary restrictions, being forced into dining with people who don't share my diet is very off-putting. Add in my co-workers who are vegetarian, vegan, or completely boring (bland, beige American food is all they'll eat) and it's a nightmare. No thanks.