Corporate Travel Destinations

Incentive travel planners who work with corporate groups are faced with clients who just don’t have a large budget to spend, these days. Smaller businesses are trying to cut out luxuries with the hope that no one will say anything, and larger companies–especially those who accepted bailout money–are trying to regain an image of competence and frugality. Incentive travel is a scary proposition for them both.

Enter the incentive cruise. These are often much more affordable choices for people who love to travel in general, and could be your answer to the problem of affordable incentive travel. Why? Because cruises are relaxing, cruise lines have expanded their ports of call, and a cruise is typically all inclusive.  A cruise can save you as much as 40% compared to a land based hotel venue because almost everything is included. Meals, meeting rooms, A/V, coffee breaks, activities, entertainment and even room service are part of the all-inclusive cruise fare. You spend nothing more for linens, florals, lighting, labor or state/city taxes, which saves your client money and gives you time to devote to your business agenda and attendees.

You may also save yourself some headaches other than financial ones. If you have a small incentive travel group that is from a foreign culture, you might consider a cruise that will appeal to that culture. For instance, let’s pretend Irish music and culture has become all the rage in Eastern Europe. You have been hired to find a cruise for a group of Eastern European business people. Your logical choice will include Ireland, and expand to the other British Isles if there is time just for a bonus.

Cruises can, indeed, be a port in this financial storm the world is in right now. Next time you are trying to find an affordable incentive travel program, take a few minutes and check the cruise lines.  The best place to start is Seasite.com – The Online Cruise Meeting Marketplace

Seasite.com makes it easy to plan an all inclusive incentive cruise.

• One Site – All Cruise Brands
• Puts Cruise Sourcing on Par with Hotel Site Selection
• E-RFP Streamlines the Entire Process
• 24/7 Access to Global Cruise Opportunities for Groups
• Pricing is the Same as Buying Direct
• Impartial and Objective

If you are planning a business incentive travel package, make it easy for yourself and delight your attendees when you go to Seasite.com and start sourcing an incentive cruise package.

No taxpayer wants to see her hard-earned dollars being wasted by companies on the public bailout dime. Misused funds are one way American businesses got into their current predicaments in the first place. However, nixing meetings just because they look like they are in a “fun” place–and companies getting bailed out should not have any “fun”–has created tensions not only in the companies who are canceling their meetings, but with gaming community hotels and convention services, and the meeting planner.

As understandable as the restrictions are, they are largely unwarranted. Gaming communities, Las Vegas included, are hurting for business right now and have become flexible and cost effective for business meeting needs. Other considerations, such as travel within the city, large room blocks, and good meal choices, are also good for companies pinching pennies–much of Vegas is within walking distance, food is less expensive than other cities, and there are excellent choices of hotel rooms. Continue reading »