Corporate Travel Destinations

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.

Corporate incentive travel is meant to be fun, memorable and a bit on the luxury side. Above all else, it should truly feel like a reward for the hard work and loyalty of staff members, and should make them feel appreciated and acknowledged. As a corporate travel planner, this is likely already at the top of your list when planning incentive travel packages; however, you are likely also always on the lookout for small, inexpensive ways to improve the experience of incentive travel winners, while still being able to easily stay within your predetermined budget.

One easy way to do this is through the use of incentive travel gifts that are related to the destination. Many gifts of this nature can be purchased affordably and are a nice addition to travel packages that will surely be appreciated by the recipients. Gifts can be as simple as a map of the local area or a guidebook listing attractions and information of interest to visitors, or they can be more extravagant, such as gift cards to upscale area restaurants, tickets to the ballet or opera, or personalized luggage. There are also many fun options that can be location-specific, such as sunglasses and beach towels for beach destinations, or hats and scarves for trips to ski resorts.

Nearly all corporate travel destinations will have numerous museums that have permanent historical exhibits, host art exhibits or provide access to rotating cultural exhibits and events. Many cities even have a particular district that is home to several museums within walking distance of each other, such as Tacoma’s Museum District, San Diego’s Balboa Park, Cape Town’s Green Point District and Houston’s Museum District. With many options in close proximity, your attendees will have increased choices and the ability to select the exhibits that are of the most interest to them. This makes museums an easy, convenient option for adding to a list of local attractions given to attendees; however, you may also want to consider this low-cost entertainment option as part of your scheduled activities.

Museums usually offer rather affordable admission rates, making them a cost-effective option for corporate travel planners. But, savvy planners know that they can save even more by looking into group discounts or looking for free admission days that coincide with the dates of their corporate event. It is quite common for museums to offer at least one free admission day each month, with some entire districts offering free admission to all of the museums on a particular day. If this day happens to fall during your planned event, this is a great opportunity to offer an educational, enticing activity that will appeal to your attendees and help you stay within budget.

Historic walking tours are available in most destinations and can be a fun, educational way to spend an afternoon or personal day during a corporate event. If the weather is nice, this is a great way to spend time outdoors participating in a leisurely activity that can be enjoyed at one’s own pace. Depending on the city and the type of tour you select, historic tours may or not be appropriate for some attendees with disabilities, so be sure to look into this before adding it the itinerary, or if you are simply listing it as an optional self-guided activity, you should include a note about accessibility.

If your corporate travel destination is in a city with a rich history and interesting architecture, guided or self-guided walking tours are particularly enticing; however, even newer cities often have maps available for visitors pointing the way to important monuments, interesting sights or other points of interest.

Guided tours are sometimes more enjoyable, due to the information and stories shared during the experience, and are usually rather affordable, making this an easy option to add to your travel planning. If guided tours are not available in your destination, or if you are looking for ways to save even more, check the website of the area’s visitor’s center or tourism board to see if there are self-guided walking tour maps that you can download, print and distribute to attendees.

How about an exotic location where your attendees will be surrounded by unbelievable scenery while enjoying a restful retreat? A place where they can easily get to city attractions and nightlife, and then retreat back to their spa resort to recharge? Costa Rica offers these and many more opportunities for the corporate traveler. There's something for everyone here: golfing, pristine beaches, rain forests and high-end luxury resorts. Within 15 minutes of San Jose airport your attendees can be relaxing in an incredible mountain spa and basking in the beauty of this tropical paradise, and then can easily head back down to the city refreshed and ready for your corporate event.

Over one million visitors per year have learned the secret of Costa Rica as a world-class travel destination but here you won't find the unremitting crowds and "touristy" feel of some better known destinations. This is the ideal place for a healthful retreat where one can enjoy natural beauty free from daily stress and tension. For those looking for something a little more active, there are also outdoor adventure opportunities like white water rafting in the Orosi River Valley or sightseeing on the Paccare River. Above all, this is an excellent corporate travel destination for planners looking for an enticing location that will allow attendees to unwind between events.

In light of the recent world events, these increased airport security (and beyond) measures are becoming a fact of life with no signs of slowing down anytime soon. However becoming educated and following a simple system can help you avoid foreseeable hassles.

1. Do not bring 'Prohibited Items' to the airport (common sense items like swiss army knives, lighters, etc)
2. Use carry-on luggage for valuables such as cash, a laptop, and jewelry. Also to be placed in carry-on luggage are cameras and undeveloped film (The X-Ray will not damage film under 800 speed).
3. Tape your personal contact info or business card to the bottom area of the laptop and any other valuable you deem necessary.
4. Avoid wearing metal/foil containing clothing, accessories, and items (such as coins money clips, cell phone, keys, medicine, gum wrappers, batteries, lottery tickets, cigarettes, etc). In the case of things like coins and keys, try placing them altogether in a specified bag so it's easier to take them out and put them back in later.
5. Avoid wearing shoes that contain metal and/or have thick soles. The reason for this is because shoes do not have to trip off the alarm in order to have their own specific search procedures applied (so nothing can be hidden in the shoes).
6. At the holidays  make sure you do the wrapping of the gifts upon arrival, or ship them as opposed to bring them to the airport pre-wrapped as these will be checked by security personnel.
7. Arrive an hour to an hour and a half earlier before your scheduled departure since you will be searched no matter if you plane leaves in 5 minutes or 5 hours.

As host to the 2010 Soccer World Cup, South Africa is now in the news quite frequently. Cape Town, in particular, is being talked about as a destination for both business and leisure travel, as well as a host city for one of the World Cup stadiums. This cosmopolitan city is one of the most visited on the African continent and offers the perfect blend of business facilities and cultural and historical attractions. If you are looking for an international destination for your next convention or corporate meeting, Cape Town is an option that provides a well-established Central Business District, the prestigious Cape Town International Convention Center and luxury accommodation options, as well as beautiful beaches, nearby animal reserves and numerous activities and attractions.

The desirable Green Point neighborhood offers a variety of upscale hotels and luxury, private urban apartments that are within walking distance of the Cape Town Central Business District and the Cape Town International Convention Center. Attendees will enjoy cobbled, tree-lined streets, an array of restaurants and pubs, the eclectic boutiques and cafés on Long Street, taking the cable car to the top of Table Mountain, walking along the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and taking the short drive to visit the Cape Winelands.

These attractions, combined with world-class meeting facilities, makes Cape Town, South Africa an excellent choice for your next event.

Hosting meetings in the South has increased in popularity in recent years, particularly with numerous large companies, such as Boeing and several auto manufacturers, increasing their presence in southern states. States like South Carolina are working hard to provide exceptional deals and incentives to encourage meeting and incentive travel planners to consider their states as viable destinations, which increases the appeal of these already affordable options further.

Columbia, South Carolina is one city that is poised for growth as a strong competitor vying for the business of meeting planners across the country. New hotels are springing up throughout the city, which is expected to result in a total of 13,000 guest rooms by the end of 2010. With its central location within the state, a major university and its well-known affordability, Columbia, South Carolina is one destination option that should not be overlooked. Regional and national conferences are taking place in Columbia at a steadily growing rate, as are regional and national meetings hosted by major corporations located in the South, as well as those headquartered elsewhere.

If you choose Columbia, South Carolina as a destination for your meeting or incentive travel planning, those in attendance will have a plethora of attractions and amenities at their fingertips, including the Robert Mills Historic House and Park, South Carolina State Museum, Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Garden, and the Columbia Museum of Art.