Corporate Travel Destinations

Cruise events are all the rage, but not all companies are aware of signs that indicate that they might need to be considering a cruise event. Here are some signs that your company needs to consider cruise events:

• The competition is doing it – The fact is that all companies are viewed in relation to their peers. If one company starts to offer cruise events, they gain ground on the competition in a critical way. If your company is one of only a handful not offering cruise events, then the company may have a serious image problem in the making.
• The company has reached a plateau – Companies that have no competition, or no competition using cruise events, may still reach plateaus. These parabolas can be broken with cruise events that are well selected and executed.
• A recent PR problem still looms – Sometimes forgetting the past with a party or two is all it takes to set new wheels in motion, and there is no better way to start a PR blitz than with meetings and events held at sea.
• The company is breaking into a new market – Sometimes breaking down the walls requires a lot of momentum. Get that momentum started with a noteworthy cruise event.

Corporate travel is always a balance between profitability and exclusivity. Simply put, profitability is the benefit derived from any activity minus the costs and opportunities lost by taking the course of action. This causes many to inherently think of affordable destinations for corporate travel, but this is where exclusivity comes into play. Exclusivity is the concept that the more unique or interesting the destination, the more the trip is generally worth in a less quantifiable manner.

For example, an incentive cruise for employees to Hawaii is probably considered to be a lot more interesting than an incentive travel promotion to Nebraska. While there is nothing inherently wrong with Nebraska, it is simply not considered to be as exclusive and/or interesting as Hawaii. The key is to strike a balance between cost effective travel options and here are a handful of destinations that are surprisingly cost effective while generally being viewed as very exclusive:

Bimini – While small, it is a very affordable locale for hosting small gatherings and meetings. Just do not plan anything during hurricane season.

Oregon – Believe it or not, Oregon is home to a wide range of climates and terrain, which makes from some very interesting and affordable locales.

Sedona – Gorgeous sunsets, excellent hiking, top-notch spas and world-class golfing make this relaxed venue a great spot for meetings and corporate events.

When it comes time to plan a large corporate retreat, savvy meeting planners and/or event planners need to consider at least four different factors.

Distance & Travel – how far will the destination be from all parties? Remember that organizations with far-flung offices will need to find ways to transport the relevant from those offices to the destination in question. This can become an expensive venture rather quickly, but planners can mitigate this by planning ahead.

Scheduling & Jet Lag – Corporate travel is always a combination of work and play. Whether it is a cruise meeting, incentive travel, or a retreat, event planners should always try to strike a balance between work and play. Remember that jet lag may be a factor to contend with, so start off slow with events and meetings if possible.

Allergies & Location – Planning an outdoor event or a team-building getaway in the woods might sound great until Susan in accounting turns out to be allergic to the grass and Bob from sales cannot stop itching for some reason. Remember to consider allergies before planning any corporate event. If guests are being brought into the event, be sure to inquire as to their health needs.

Food & Drink – Many corporations prefer to self-cater, but it does not really matter who does the catering if those who have certain dietary needs are not being met. With vegetarian and vegan lifestyles becoming more popular, and a handful of religions taboos on foods, it pays to spend a good deal of time on food.

If you have ever had a client hire you for teambuilding travel plans, you know what a challenge that can be. The teambuilding session has become the subject of a lot of humor lately, and your client will expect you to find something better. Rather than have the result look like a master scene from a bad comedy, consider one of these solutions.

Paintball

While there are lots of survivalist types of teambuilding opportunities for you to present, have you ever thought about a day at the paintball course? Many businesses have sent their teams to paintball camps to get them active and working. Performing together as a problem-solving team promotes thinking in many different ways–and, it’s just plain fun.

White Water Rafting

This is already a favorite destination for teambuilding exercises, so see what the hubbub is all about if you have not yet done so. A handful of people depending on each other to get to the end of the river in one piece is a teambuilder on many levels. Continue reading »