Corporate Travel Destinations

In a recent blog article posted by Cvent entitled, Caribbean Incentive Travel: Summer Travel Benefits, the top 10 reasons why the Caribbean is a great destination for summer incentive travel are outlined.  While all those are valid reasons, I thought it would be interesting to raise the idea a notch by providing the top 10 benefits to CRUISING the Caribbean for Summer Incentive Travel.

So, here goes:

1.     Lower Cruise Fares – Many cruise lines offer summer deals and specials.
2.    Ability to Visit Different Islands – Why stay put in one resort when you have the whole Caribbean to explore?
3.    No Need to Unpack Several Times – Do it once and you’re free to enjoy the rest of your trip as you island hop.
4.    Activities to Suit All Ages – Whether its the adrenaline rush of the exciting Zip Line ride, surfing the day away on a Surf Simulator or brushing up on your golf skills, there’s something for level of desired activity for any age (also included in the fare!!).  Kid’s Clubs allow for some parental downtime and a variety of spa services are also available on board (spa services are separate).
5.    Meeting Facilities and Event Venues are FREE to Reserve – While resort hotels may discount them during the summer months, on a cruise ship they’re always FREE!
6.    Variety of Dining Options – With multiple restaurants to choose from included in the fare (and some additional exclusive options available for a nominal charge), you’ll never be bored at meal time.
7.    Beat the Summer Heat- What better way to get away from the city heat than to sit back and enjoy the tropical breezes and breath-taking beauty of the Caribbean.
8.    Air Travel More Affordable and Convenient to US Ports – Many airlines have frequent and reasonable flights to cities such as Miami and Fort Lauderdale where cruise ships board, rather than paying a premium to fly directly to an island and having limited flight options.
9.    Expansive Selection of Entertainment Choices – Enjoy a Broadway-class show, dance the night away in one of the many lounges and clubs or partake in deck-side festivities, there’s always something exciting to do on board and once again, included in the fare!!!!

And the last and probably most AMAZING…

10.    Fabulous Sunsets from the Middle of the Ocean-  Truly a sight to behold as you stand on deck and marvel at nature’s wonder while the skies are painted in hues of pinks and oranges.  It’s a view that simply can’t compare to land-locked sunsets.

The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) has released data from a 2010 survey showing the top destinations for summer travel in the United States. Topping the list for eight years running, Orlando, Florida and Las Vegas, Nevada continue to be the most popular summer travel destinations, which will surely come as no surprise to travel planners. These hot summer destinations offer sun, warm weather and a wide variety of attractions that appeal to couples, business travelers and families, making them a good choice for both corporate and leisure travel. Due to their popularity, choosing one of these cities as a conference venue or incentive travel destination is sure to increase interest in the event or award.

In addition to Orlando and Las Vegas, other cities in the top ten include San Francisco, Miami, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, Honolulu, Seattle and Washington, DC. ASTA also provided data showing the most popular summer travel destinations for 2010 at the state level, which included:

1. Florida
2. Nevada
3. California
4. New York
5. Hawaii

These destinations prove to be among the top summer travel spots year after year, which is important information for corporate travel planners. Knowing the trends regarding the most popular destinations provides valuable insight into which locations will likely be most enticing when selecting destination cities for corporate events, business meetings or incentive travel programs.