Corporate Travel Destinations

Embarking on barge cruises on the rivers of Europe has become a popular option for both business and leisure travel; however, companies with smaller budgets or time constraints that will not allow them to send their employees or clients overseas can still partake in river cruising. River cruises are perfect for incentive travel for employees or customers, executive retreats, smaller corporate events and fundraisers. With many river cruise options available in the U.S., river cruising is a viable, affordable option for companies large and small.

American river cruises include ships on some of the better known rivers in the U.S., such as the Mississippi River, Missouri River and Columbia River, as well as the Great Lakes and rivers that run through Alaska, the South, the Heartland and other regions. River cruise ships offer the luxury and comfort of seafaring vessels, although they are much smaller than their oceangoing counterparts.

Because of their smaller size and more intimate environment, river cruises are particularly well-suited for team building vacations, executive retreats and incentive travel packages. River cruises can take place on a barge, steamboat or small ship and provide a different travel experience than other business and leisure travel options. By their nature, river cruises allow participants to see small towns and natural beauty that are often missed when taking more conventional vacations.

To plan a U.S. river cruise, visit Seasite.com to find helpful group cruise planning tools.

When planning incentive travel packages, travel planners are always looking for great travel deals, tools that make planning easier and more convenient, and ways to save money without cutting quality. On top of all of the normal planning duties that corporate travel planners face, they must not only ensure that incentive travel packages are well-organized and the trip will go off without a hitch, but also that the trip will have the appeal needed to serve its function as a motivator for employees. In order to achieve this, the incentive travel package must have certain qualities.

One important thing to keep in mind is that the trip must be affordable for winners. Just because your company is footing the bill for transportation, accommodation and some additional expenses, that does not mean the trip will automatically be affordable to the winners. This is why it is important to pick a location that is enticing and exciting, but not so high-end that some winners may not be able to enjoy the destination.

One way to ensure that all winners, regardless of their level in the company, can enjoy incentive travel is to opt for a group cruise event. All-inclusive group cruises provide a fun, luxury vacation, while also ensuring that all of your participants will be able to fully participate in the incentive travel awarded to them. Because all-inclusive group cruises cover accommodations, meals, drinks, onboard entertainment and activities and many extras, your winners can choose to spend on additional activities, tours and souvenirs, or can simply enjoy everything that is included in the price of the cruise.

Corporate incentive travel is meant to be fun, memorable and a bit on the luxury side. Above all else, it should truly feel like a reward for the hard work and loyalty of staff members, and should make them feel appreciated and acknowledged. As a corporate travel planner, this is likely already at the top of your list when planning incentive travel packages; however, you are likely also always on the lookout for small, inexpensive ways to improve the experience of incentive travel winners, while still being able to easily stay within your predetermined budget.

One easy way to do this is through the use of incentive travel gifts that are related to the destination. Many gifts of this nature can be purchased affordably and are a nice addition to travel packages that will surely be appreciated by the recipients. Gifts can be as simple as a map of the local area or a guidebook listing attractions and information of interest to visitors, or they can be more extravagant, such as gift cards to upscale area restaurants, tickets to the ballet or opera, or personalized luggage. There are also many fun options that can be location-specific, such as sunglasses and beach towels for beach destinations, or hats and scarves for trips to ski resorts.

When selecting your next corporate travel destination, there will be many unique, beautiful locations tempting you with their distinct offerings. Whether you are planning incentive travel packages or seeking out a location for a corporate meeting, Guatemala should be high on your list of possibilities. To be convinced that this is the right option for your company, all you need to do is simply imagine the luxury and comfort of arriving in the beautiful, bountiful country of Guatemala after a journey on a well-appointed cruise ship equipped with everything your company needs for both work and play during travel.

Guatemala is accessible by both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and has well-established commercial ports to accommodate the arrival of your guests. On the Atlantic Coast, ships are accommodated in the Santo Tomas de Castilla Port, which is located in Amatique Bay, while ships arriving on the Pacific Coast are welcomed at the Puerto Quetzal.

Once ashore, there is no end to the possibilities for exciting shore excursions, unique shopping experiences, world-class golf and visiting some of the many important historical sites that have survived to tell the tale of Guatemala’s rich history. World-famous coffee plantations, lush rainforests, Mayan monuments, smoking volcanoes, cultural festivals, markets filled with handmade crafts and breathtaking natural beauty are all waiting to be explored by visitors to this culturally-rich, unique country.

The cruise meeting planner at Seasite.com offers incentive planners a one-stop resource for sourcing incentive cruise events, no matter what destination your group desires.