Corporate Travel Destinations

Generic events always feel impersonal. When events are not tailored to the attendees interests, the event can become quite boring and tedious for those in attendance. For this reason, it is important to add a personal touch to corporate meetings. This will keep attendees interested, and the meeting planner can ensure the event is profitable for the corporation. Even when the meeting planner schedules a cruise event, it will be important to add a personal touch to the cruise. Identifying the interests of those in the group and ensuring the meetings at sea incorporate these interests will be key.

How exactly does a corporation personalize an incentive cruise? One way in which an incentive cruise can be personalized is by scheduling excursions in which the group is interested. This will help attendees know that the corporation cares about their hobbies and outside interests. Another way that meetings at sea can also be personalized is to make certain venues are compatible with attendee expectations. Personalized name tags and topics that will be of the most interest to the attendees should be scheduled by the meeting planner. When a meeting planner takes a few extra steps, an incentive cruise can be personalized to exceed attendee expectations.

A meeting planner knows how difficult it can be to arrange events that do not conflict with attendee's schedules. Even when planning a group cruise, attendees schedules have to be taken into consideration. Scheduling conflicts can make planning any meeting complicated, but when the meeting takes attendees out of the office these complications are magnified. Along with planning the cruise event in general, issues like scheduling conflicts can be quite overwhelming to the meeting planner. By following a few simple tips, meeting planners can more easily plan incentive cruises or meetings at sea with far less stress.

The first thing that needs to be taken into consideration is the destination. Once the incentive cruise destination is determined, the meeting planner can then make arrangements regarding the length of the cruise. When the cruise length is determined, the meeting planner can help attendees ensure their schedules are clear for the upcoming cruise event. When attendees know that they can leave the office without any worries or hassles, they will feel more relaxed at scheduled cruise meetings. When employees can devote their full time and attention to cruise meeting topics, meetings at sea can be more productive for the company and enjoyable for attendees.

Resorts such as the M Resort, Spa and Casino in Las Vegas are offering more meeting planner packages that can help you maximize your meeting dollars.

If you book by December 31, 2009 and actualize your meeting by May 31, 2010, you can take advantage of the M's iMpressive meeting planner packages that include:

• Complimentary meeting space
• 1 complimentary room for every 40 rooms booked
• 1 complimentary suite upgrade with every 40 rooms booked (Sunday – Thursday)
• 3 complimentary VIP amenities valued at $85 each
• Various discounts including business center and spa
• and more

Contact the M Resort, Spa and Casino at 1.866.551.1540

The Fantasy Springs Resorts and Casino in the Palm Springs area of California, offers "Meeting Planner" packages, including complimentary meeting rooms, one VIP amenity for every 20 rooms booked, no resort fees, no occupancy tax, and much more.

With 100,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor meeting and banquet space, 250 luxury rooms and suites, five restaurants, golf course, live music and casino, Fantasy Springs is a great place to host a meeting and stay on budget. 

Learn more at www.FantasySpringsResort.com/meetings

You’ve heard the term “finding a needle in the haystack.” You’ve probably experienced its meaning firsthand several times over, especially if you are a corporate meeting planner who has had to look for activities and diversions outside the meeting. However, sometimes it’s not enough to find a needle–it needs to be a certain kind of needle, a golden one that will make sure your client never forgets you (in a good way). Think about activities like this when you are trying to find the perfect diversion for your travelers.

Historic Tours

There are almost always tours of a city sponsored by a historical society or foundation. These are often by bus. Some tours are not guided, such as the various tours of San Francisco–you just get on the streetcar and follow the signs, getting off when you wish to view the area in more detail. Continue reading »

Every now and then we get a chance to do something special in life. If you are a corporate meeting planner, you may get the opportunity in the form of booking a meeting in a foreign country. If your client is leaning towards Europe, your job is not complete until you have researched Portugal.

Lisbon, Portugal

One of the biggest concerns to travelers is a friendly atmosphere. Portugal is positioning itself to be important in that regard by offering great properties, resorts, service, and even private guides when appropriate. Running a close second is concern about food. Portugal and neighboring Spain are world-renowned for cuisine and a wide range of foods.

On top of all that, Portugal is home to world-class scenery, complete with old-world architectural flair. You can tour the cities as much as you like and never run out of things to see. You can also get out into the countryside, where you will see the lush wineries of Portugal. Everything from port to white wine is made there, and day trips with tastings are always popular activities for travelers.

As with other foreign destinations, make sure your travelers are aware of entry and exit requirements, have the proper identification and passports, and are informed about currency exchange and other details. Then turn them loose to enjoy the riches Portugal has to offer.

There is a lot of fraud going on these days in the world of contractor and freelancer business. Every day someone else gets cheated, sometimes for a lot of money.  Is it any wonder that businesses are nervous about hiring contractors to plan and book their incentive travel?

Perhaps an insurance instrument is the way to go for many incentive travel planners today. Especially if you are just starting out, it will be difficult to get people to trust you. Here are ways that insurance instruments can help you.

Bid Bonds

A bid bond is simply a document that holds you, the contractor, to an obligation to perform the work if you are the successful bidder. This is a popular instrument in the construction world, but it might also help the planner secure the confidence of a business owner who is a little nervous about hiring someone for big ticket travel. Continue reading »

If you have recently been assigned the task of arranging a meeting in Europe and want to try something other than the usual places, try Croatia. From sailing on the Dalmatian Coast to concerts in the old cities, Croatia is everything you could possibly want in a unique corporate destination.

Every day Croatia thinks of new ways to bring tourism to its country, and this means for you that you can find new incentives to travel there. Hotel rates are reasonable and there are many direct flights from many European destinations. In many of the cities traditions are rich and tourism is popular for those who appreciate the arts, history, and architecture.

As a corporate destination, any organization will be pleased with Croatia’s meeting venues and accommodations. Zagreb’s Concert and Congress Hall Vatroslav Lisinski, recently renovated, contains two meeting halls and is flexible enough to accommodate many different kinds of events and meetings. It also has over 20,000 square feet of exhibit space, complete with snack bars and high tech amenities. Continue reading »

By the time your clients’ meeting participants sit themselves down on a plane, they have already been screened, asked questions and gotten suspicious looks by airport personnel (as all travelers do). They may have been rushed through a process designed to make them feel more secure, and maybe even had their belongings sifted through and shoved back into their bags willy nilly. At the gate they may have experienced more hold-ups, the flight might have been late, or may have experienced other delays and stresses. This is not your doing and not your problem, but you may be able to mitigate the effects.

Although participants will likely not associate those experiences with you, the meeting planner, they will remember you if you have provided a little comfort for them. To make the travel experience better for your clients’ members, consider making up travel packs to be delivered before the flight. Depending on the length of flight, include items that target a traveler’s basic needs–relaxation, rest, staying occupied, and a little energy. Here is a list of things to pick and choose from: 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 »