Corporate Travel Destinations

Not everyone knows all of the upsides of meetings at sea, and that could cause a poor decision to be made. In fact, it is probably accurate to suggest that many that have already considered meetings at sea may not be aware of some of the benefits or how to leverage them effectively. Business is all about seeing opportunities and learning how to leverage appropriately, and this includes learning how and when to use the hidden benefits of meetings at sea.

The biggest advantage to having meetings at sea is simple: almost everything is included at a great price. This is often overlooked when people compare the price of rooms alone to cabin space aboard a vessel. The fact of the matter is that the cost of entertainment, meals, meeting rooms, and more also needs to be factored into the equation. This can be leveraged at any time.

One of the secret upsides to meeting at sea is that there are choices when it comes to those inclusive options. For example, do you want a different catering or a different menu? Ask! Chances are good that the request can be met. Want to hold a meeting in a private sauna? Ask! How about private access to that fancy club? Again, just ask. If there was one common theme about the surprising upsides of meetings at sea it would simply be that most people do not know that they should ask.

There are many different companies offering cruise meetings and cruise events, which means that consumers actually have a choice. This might not be immediately obvious as many people still consider cruise meetings to be an alternative meeting format. Despite this common misconception, there are a few things that one needs to consider when evaluating different cruise lines: What is their focus? Some cruise lines handle cruise meetings but have a focus on specific aspects or target audiences.

• Where do the cruises go? Not all cruise liners travel to all parts of the world. If certain locations are important then there is going to be a limitation placed on the available cruise lines to meet business needs. Fewer choices tends to drive price up.
• Do they charter? Some cruise lines offer chartering of small, medium, and even full-sized cruise liners for the right amount of money. Chartering cruise liners can actually be surprisingly affordable for businesses with the means, especially compared to the alternatives.
• What are the meeting facilities like? Most cruise liners have meeting facilities, though space is always at a premium aboard a vessel at sea. This means that larger meetings need to be held in dining halls, theaters, and other rooms. Sometimes this can be the perfect invitation for unique meeting formats, so be willing to be flexibile.

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.

Corporate travel rewards can often be difficult to book. Trying to find out what an employee, retail partner, or prized client wants can be an exercise in futility. It’s often hard to get an answer if you ask, and if it’s supposed to be a surprise it’s just a guess anyway on the part of the Big Boss.

One destination that has a high rate of success and approval is the tropical island. Although it is generally a popular destination, the idea of the private island is sometimes forgotten. Anyone who wants to give the gift of relaxation, beautiful scenery, and peace should consider the private island as a destination.

Private does not necessarily mean free of options. It doesn’t mean your client will be marooned until she decides she is no longer stressed and can come home. It means that there are choices. She can stay in bed for the whole trip if she wants, lie on the beach and read, but there is sometimes golf, tennis, equestrian activities, and much more a short distance away. But on a private island it means you don’t even have to be aware of them.

These amazing destinations can also be romantic. If your client knows that the traveler has an anniversary coming up, you can book a honeymoon island. You can find special dinners for couples, and even activities just for the two of them.

So before you throw your hands in the air in despair over a difficult plan, find out if there is space on an island somewhere. You have a good chance of being successful.