Corporate Travel Destinations

According to the American Society of Travel Agents, the top corporate travel destinations include states such as Florida, Nevada, and California. Cities such as Orlando, Las Vegas, and San Francisco are popular destination sites, and trips to cities such as these can ideal for corporate incentive travel. However, when incentive planning for employees that perform over and above par, corporations may want to consider offering an incentive cruise for these top-notch employees. A cruise event is a break from the norm of land-based venues, and the lure of exotic destinations may be more motivating for many employees.

Top incentive cruise destinations for meetings at sea include the Bahamas, Aruba, the Virgin Islands, and Barbados. These Caribbean destinations are perfect getaways, and can help employees relax and unwind. Because the Caribbean is within close proximity of the U.S., 3-4 days cruises can be easily arranged. Corporate meetings held at sea can be very productive as employees are given the opportunity and venue to think creatively without the limitations of office walls. This time away from the office may be when some a corporations employees are the most innovative and imaginative. Other popular cruise destinations include Vancouver and Whistler, Australia, and Croatia.

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.

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.

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.

 Nearly endless sunshine, perfect year-round weather and 70 miles of beaches are only a few of the reasons San Diego, California should be on your list of destination options for corporate meetings and incentive travel. This Southern California town is just north of the Mexican border and perfectly blends its historic Mexican and Spanish influences with upscale living and numerous popular tourist attractions.

Visitors can opt for a day at SeaWorld or the world-famous San Diego Zoo, an afternoon of visiting museums and taking in the breathtaking architecture in Balboa Park, dining on authentic Mexican cuisine in Old Town or experiencing the lively nightlife of the Gaslamp Quarter. Of course, a day at the beach is always in order, and travelers can choose between the pristine, white sands of Coronado, or the laidback atmosphere at Ocean Beach.

Aside from these popular attractions that will ensure your attendees have a fabulous time when not in meetings or trainings, San Diego also offers a topnotch convention center and numerous downtown and area hotels with meeting facilities. Both the airport and train station are within close proximity to downtown, allowing for convenient transportation options, and the San Diego Convention Center is within walking distance to downtown, the Gaslamp Quarter and some of San Diego’s finest hotels.

When an international destination is required but there just is not enough time to plan for something truly exotic, Mexico is often one the favorites of planners near and far. Although the recent flu scare is over, however, property owners are still offering discounts wherever possible to entice travelers to this beautiful land. Above the current savings potential, here are some other reason to try Mexico for a corporate destination.

Convenience

Flights to Mexico are mostly non-stop, many, and short due to the close proximity of the country. For example, flights from New York City to Mexico City are around four and a half hours, and there are four international airports to choose from. Continue reading »

Here is a test for meeting planners: You have a client who wants it all. The meeting has to be centrally located for people coming from many areas of the United States, must be inexpensive and not in a gaming town for image purposes. Not only that, the facilities have to be high tech and offer good food as well. This is not an ordinary client, and you want to overdeliver.

Well, you can. You can also offer lower-cost transportation, an image overhaul for the meeting (adding a small image boost to the company), and beautiful accommodations for guests. You can do all this by convincing your client to hold the meeting in the American Midwest.

More than a bunch of grey, industrial cities, the Midwest offers better pricing on many aspects of your meeting than the more popular destinations in coastal cities, tropical areas, and game communities. Because it will appear that your client is offering a boon to a part of the country that is usually suffering some economic woe or another, it will improve the company image. Continue reading »

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 »