Corporate Travel Destinations

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.

Rio de Janeiro is a no-brainer for corporate travel planners looking for a destination that has five star accommodations and corporate meeting facilities, along with all the recreation and nightlife of a world-class metropolitan city. Like it hot? Rio is for you, as the average annual high temperature is 86 (°F) and, in the summer months, the highs are a comfortable 81 (°F), with nice moderating sea breezes on the beaches. There's something for everyone in the tropical metropolis: beaches, amazing nightlife, rock climbing, hang gliding, hiking, swimming – anything you can think of is probably available here.

This is the home of such beaches as Copacabana and Ipanema, and the beaches are lined with world-class tourist hotels that can accommodate most price ranges and preferences. Surfing, snorkeling, body boarding and kite surfing are just a few of the water sports available. And then there's Carnival.

The centuries old Rio de Janeiro Carnival is something that just has to be experienced. It lasts just four days but you won't find a more intense four days of celebration and extravagance on the planet. This cultural festival is the main reason many people travel to Rio and is a fun way for attendees to unwind after a long day of meetings.

For fun, interesting history, a great climate, and amazing things to do, you can't beat Rio de Janeiro as a destination for corporate travel with a twist.

It is not without reason that Cancun is known worldwide as a preferred resort destination. There's something for everyone in this tropical seaside vacation spot. Located on Mexico's eastern shores in the state of Quintana Roo, Cancun is a top pick for corporate travel planners who are looking for a temperate climate, sandy beaches and an active night life. Approximately 4 million visitors come every year to enjoy the area in 24,000 hotel rooms and dine in over 380 restaurants. Corporate travelers from the colder regions to the north especially appreciate the warm winter weather with average highs of 82°F in December. There's no better way to beat the winter blahs than a visit to this tropical retreat.

Urban legend would tell us that the location for Cancun was selected by computers. The fact is that a team of researchers worked to locate and select the city's ideal location. Modern day Cancun is the final result of a 1967 feasibility study conducted by Banco de México. Failing to locate enough private investors, the Mexican Government had to finance the first nine hotels. From those humble beginnings Cancun has grown to become a world-renowned tourist resort. Along with the many resort and vacation facilities, Cancun offers excellent venues for corporate meetings and events.

In an effort to regain lost market share, some major airlines are implementing special discount airfare programs for corporate and incentive travel. Delta, in particular, is back on track with its previously shelved Delta Meeting Network, which offers benefits such as discounts on published fares, special fares for air travel for more than 10 meeting attendees and one free ticket for every 40 purchased.

Other major airlines are offering similar programs, providing corporate meeting planners and incentive travel planners with new, cost-saving options for air transportation. Companies can contract with Delta, or other airlines, for a particular meeting or event, or for multiple meetings, making this program cost-effective, simple and convenient for meeting and event planners and travel managers.

Another recent change to the air travel industry that is of interest to corporate travel planners is the expansion of Wi-Fi availability among major carriers. AirTran now offers Wi-Fi fleetwide, with Southwest working towards a fleetwide expansion and several other major carrriers, including Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Virgin America and US Airways implementing pilot programs or beginning to expand availability to multiple routes.

This is excellent news for travel planners that will now have increased options for pleasing clients who need Internet access to complete work or prepare for meetings during their flights.

If you are one of the lucky corporate travel planners whose client wants an activity planned for her event but doesn’t know what, you may have the answer for her immediately: a spa treatment. While it seems like an expensive indulgence, remember that spas have been considered an expendable item by many people who have recently been hit by financial concerns. This leaves pricing, availability, and choice of package squarely in the buyer’s market. Here’s how to use it to your advantage.

Spas Help Keep Events Low-Key

You don’t have to pay for a huge ballroom, D.J.s, bands, keynote speakers, or food and beverage when you book a spa visit. Gala extravaganzas are frowned upon in light of the recent government guidelines for business meetings, and the public has become keenly aware overspending by companies they respect. Help those companies stay respectable by cutting back on the excess and adding to wellness. Continue reading »