Corporate Travel Destinations

The first step in planning a group cruise is to determine either the time of year that the cruise needs to take place, or the preferred destination. This is because some destinations are available – and a viable option – throughout the year, while others are not. Therefore, if you want a group cruise to Alaska, but were hoping for a winter departure, you may want to rethink either the timing or the location.

Here are the most popular cruise destinations and the months that group cruises to these destinations should be planned:

• Alaska – April through September
• Bahamas – January through December
• Baltic/Scandinavia – January through December
• Bermuda – April through October
• Caribbean – January through December
• Costa Rica – January through May
• Dubai – January through December
• Hawaii – January through December
• Mediterranean/Greek Isles/Riviera – January through December
• Mexican Riviera – January through December
• Pacific Northwest – March through June or September through November
• Rivers of Europe – March through December
• Rivers of North America – January through December
• South Africa – September through April
• South America – November through March
• Tahiti – January through December

If you would like to learn more about the best time to cruise to different destinations or to take advantage of group cruise planning tools that make cruise sourcing and planning simple and convenient, visit Seasite.com, where you will find helpful information, ideas for planning cruise events and group cruise planning tips and tools.

When planning incentive travel packages, travel planners are always looking for great travel deals, tools that make planning easier and more convenient, and ways to save money without cutting quality. On top of all of the normal planning duties that corporate travel planners face, they must not only ensure that incentive travel packages are well-organized and the trip will go off without a hitch, but also that the trip will have the appeal needed to serve its function as a motivator for employees. In order to achieve this, the incentive travel package must have certain qualities.

One important thing to keep in mind is that the trip must be affordable for winners. Just because your company is footing the bill for transportation, accommodation and some additional expenses, that does not mean the trip will automatically be affordable to the winners. This is why it is important to pick a location that is enticing and exciting, but not so high-end that some winners may not be able to enjoy the destination.

One way to ensure that all winners, regardless of their level in the company, can enjoy incentive travel is to opt for a group cruise event. All-inclusive group cruises provide a fun, luxury vacation, while also ensuring that all of your participants will be able to fully participate in the incentive travel awarded to them. Because all-inclusive group cruises cover accommodations, meals, drinks, onboard entertainment and activities and many extras, your winners can choose to spend on additional activities, tours and souvenirs, or can simply enjoy everything that is included in the price of the cruise.

The island of Aruba is part of the Dutch Antilles located in the Caribbean just north of Venezuela. Every year, tourists are drawn to its sun-soaked shores to enjoy relaxing beachside vacations filled with water sports, long walks on sandy beaches, sipping cocktails under a beach umbrella and SCUBA diving in the crystal clear waters of the nearby coral reef off of De Palm Island. A cruise terminal and international airport are located on the island, allowing corporate travel planners and event planners to include this Caribbean paradise as part of a group cruise, or as a single corporate travel destination. The Reina Beatrix Airport (AUA) is just 2.5 miles from Oranjestad, which is also the home to the main cruise port, which is located just a short five-minute walk from the city center.

The main cities on the island are San Nicolas and Oranjestad, each of which offers a variety of meeting and event venues, with two of the most popular resort hotels on the island being the Aruba Gold Coast and the Occidental Grand Aruba. Popular attractions and activities available on the island include water sports, horseback riding, biking, bird watching at the Bubali Bird Sanctuary, the weekly Bonbini Festival at the Aruba Historical Museum and an 18-hole championship golf course.

Whether you are planning a group cruise, incentive travel package or corporate event, you simply cannot go wrong with Aruba.

Airport hotels almost always get a bad rap and, other than the convenience and close proximity to the airport, most travelers see little positive about staying in them. This is even truer when it comes to actually holding a conference, convention or corporate meeting in one. Ask most planners and they are sure to say that they and their clients would rather use a downtown property, and don’t even get them started about the noise from the planes flying overhead. However, it turns out that many airport hotels really do not deserve this reputation and recent full-scale renovations have many competing quite successfully with their downtown counterparts.

An excellent example of this is the Hilton Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport Mall of America, located just three miles from the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport. This 300-room hotel has 22,000 square feet of space for events, including a 7,500-square-foot ballroom and nine meeting rooms. As an added bonus, the hotel is adjacent to a wildlife refuge, which offers excellent views from many of the rooms and meeting spaces and – perhaps most importantly – makes the entire area a no-fly zone. The wildlife refuge also has a 125-seat auditorium and 8,000 square feet of event space located in its visitor center, increasing the possibilities for planners that opt for this destination.

Searching for a great meeting destination in Atlantic City?  The Tropicana Casino and Resort offers luxury ocean view guest rooms and suites, round the clock casino gaming, gourmet dining, live entertainment and shopping.  Of course Brighton and the famous Boardwalk are other attractions that will please your guests, as well.  A world class experience awaits your meeting attendees, when you plan an exceptional meeting, event, conference or convention at the Tropicana.

The Tropicana offers more than 122,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting and event space, accommodating more than 675 meetings and conventions each year.  With an 18,000 sq. ft. ballroom and 20,000 sq. ft. Grand Exhibition Center, state-of-the-art video conferencing and audio visual equipment, and high speed internet access, the Tropicana can handle all of your meeting and event needs.

Charlotte Harbor in southwest Florida has not previously been a top pick for corporate events. While it boasts exceptional natural beauty and ecological diversity, it is only recently becoming known as a hotspot for conventions, exhibitions and meetings. Prior to January 2009, there was a dearth of viable venues for events; however, the opening of the Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center has changed that completely. The conference center is situated on the water in a historic area of downtown Punta Gorda and offers 45,230 square feet of customizable space.

Since its opening, the Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center has hosted local events, exhibitions and sporting events and is getting rave reviews from planners. Aside from this ideal convention space, Charlotte Harbor also offers five National Wildlife Refuges, pristine beaches and excellent kayaking opportunities. Charlotte Harbor has long been known for its commitment to caring for the environment and wildlife in the area, and this commitment continues as they grow into a top destination for corporate travel. As part of this commitment, there are numerous opportunities to see and experience nature at its finest, including several tours through swamps, birding trails and animal rehabilitation centers that welcome visitors.

Visitors are also sure to enjoy the cobblestone streets and architecture from the 1920s that grace much of downtown Punta Gorda in close proximity to the conference center.

Bulgaria is growing in popularity as a destination for business and leisure travel; however, it is still in its teenage years of this growth. This provides the perfect opportunity for corporate travel planners to take advantage of exceptional meeting planning packages and travel deals, while allowing attendees to enjoy a distinctive European culture without the crowds of more established tourist areas.

Bulgaria is one of the few places in Europe where travelers can still experience life as it was in old-world villages 150 years ago, while still being just a short drive away from major cities, seaside resorts and all of the modern conveniences to which we have grown accustomed. Coastal resort towns along the Black Sea are ideal for corporate travel, with new resorts springing up on a regular basis. There are several options with rooms and meeting spaces for large groups, as well as many that can accommodate smaller groups of attendees.  In addition, the Black Sea is an excellent destination for an incentive cruise.

Aside from the glorious beaches on the Black Sea coast, there are also mountain ski resorts offering skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and other snow sports, as well as luxury spas, including the two most popular mountain resorts: Bansko and Borovets. Bulgaria is also perfectly positioned for excursions to nearby countries, including Turkey, Romania, Serbia, Macedonia and Greece, making this affordable destination a great choice for international corporate travel.

Switzerland is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, particularly for those interested in skiing and other mountain sports. Well-known for its exceptional ski resorts, luxury mountain spas, breathtaking natural beauty and well-established tourism infrastructure, it is easy to see why so many travelers return to Switzerland year after year. This thoroughly developed infrastructure based around tourism, coupled with the important business centers of Zurich and Geneva, make Switzerland an easy choice for corporate travel and meeting planners looking for a European destination.

Switzerland offers quaint, traditional villages; major metropolitan areas with exceptional dining, shopping and entertainment; world-renowned watch-making, chocolate and cheese industries; and magnificent scenery that your participants will find appealing and memorable. English is spoken throughout the country, which provides an even higher level of convenience for your travel participants.

Berne, the capital city of Switzerland, is particularly enticing as a destination and is located just 152 kilometers from Geneva and 122 kilometers from Zurich. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Berne is filled with sites of historical and cultural importance, including the Clock Tower, Prison Tower, Parliament House and Munster Cathedral. This medieval city is also well-known for Emmental cheese and Toblerone chocolates, and for being a central location for the work life of Albert Einstein. With numerous options for small, medium and large groups, Berne is an excellent choice for your next corporate travel destination.

Spain is a popular choice for both leisure and business travel, largely due to the warm climate, sun-soaked beaches, rich history, vibrant culture and world-class meeting facilities. It is also extremely popular with those in search of a golf vacation in Europe, making it an ideal destination for corporate travel planners planning incentive travel, corporate events or meetings for a group of participants that happens to have a good number of golf enthusiasts. Many of the upscale golf resorts located in Spain also offer amenities and attractions that will appeal to non-golfers, including exceptional dining, entertainment, shopping, sites of historical or cultural importance, and luxury spa facilities.

Within Spain, planners will find several golf vacation hotspots and well-known courses. Some examples include Madrid, which is home to the Real Club de la Puerta de Hierro, the Real Sociedad Hipica Espanola and the Club de Campo Villa; Alicante, which is home to Alenda Golf, Alicante Golf and Golf & Spa Bonalba; and Valencia, where visitors can enjoy a round of golf at Campo de Golf El Saler. There is also a variety of options available in Barcelona, Malaga and Mallorca, allowing for plenty of choices when selecting a destination that will meet your event needs and be of interest to your participating golfers.

Travel gifts are a great way to enhance your corporate travel participants’ experience and make your event or incentive travel package more memorable. This will, of course, reflect well on you and will help your participants remember you as a great, thoughtful corporate travel planner. Whether your budget is limited or allows you to spend somewhat freely, there are many gift options in a variety of price ranges that are sure to meet your needs.

Here are just a few ideas for affordable travel gifts that can be easily incorporated into your corporate travel planning:

• Personalized carry-on luggage
• Personalized garment bags
• Toiletry bags
• Personal care kits
• Digital cameras
• Sunglasses
• Guidebooks relevant to the destination
• Travel wallets
• Passport and document holders
• Beach towels
• Beach bags
• In-flight entertainment kits with magazines, crossword puzzle books and snacks
• Discount cards for public transportation and area attractions
• Tickets to local attractions

It is a common practice to give pillow gifts to participants of certain types of corporate travel; therefore, it is often expected that some sort of gift will be distributed. If you are a corporate travel planner that regularly includes gifts, you can use the above list for new ideas to switch things up a bit. This is particularly important if you have many repeat travel participants.