Corporate Travel Destinations

A meeting planner is very aware of the different tastes and preferences that individuals have. There is always the chance that the group incentive destination will not be approved by all participants. For this reason, it is important that event planning be taken seriously and the same attention to detail given to each group event. The travel destination of choice should be carefully considered by the meeting planner and should take into account, when feasible, the preferences of attendees. If a travel destination was not well-received by the majority of attendees, then it may be wise to choose another locale or venue.

A few of the popular and well-liked incentive travel destinations are Orlando, Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; and San Francisco, California. These locations are popular because of the excellent entertainment, attractions, and local fare available. Because the cities are popular tourist destinations, the vendors in these cities tend to cater to the needs of their guests. Feeling welcome and at-home is an important aspect of travel, and cities that thrive on tourism are typically great host cities. Even the most finicky of group incentive travel participants may enjoy trips to cities that are friendly, easily accessible, and provide a wealth of entertainment, leisure, and dining options.

European river cruising is generally considered a summer affair, largely due to the inclement weather that is common across much of Europe during the winter months. When most travelers are considering a cruise, they are most often looking for sunny, warm weather that allows them to explore ports and lounge in the sun when on board. While this is not an option in much of Europe during the dreary months of winter, Spain is still enjoying sun and welcoming weather, even while some countries are covered in snow or experiencing freezing winter rainstorms.

This makes Spain group river cruises an ideal option for corporate travel planners who like the idea of European river cruising, but need to plan winter travel. It is particularly appealing for those who are planning a corporate cruise for participants that live in areas that have cold winters. The participants will enjoy having the opportunity to escape the cold and spend time in warmer weather, while the travel planner will enjoy the ease and convenience of planning a corporate cruise on one of Spain’s rivers.

River cruising is most appropriate for smaller groups, since river barges are considerably smaller than oceangoing vessels. Group river cruises are particularly appropriate for executive retreats, incentive travel programs and small corporate meetings.

Travel gifts are a great way to enhance your corporate travel participants’ experience and make your event or incentive travel package more memorable. This will, of course, reflect well on you and will help your participants remember you as a great, thoughtful corporate travel planner. Whether your budget is limited or allows you to spend somewhat freely, there are many gift options in a variety of price ranges that are sure to meet your needs.

Here are just a few ideas for affordable travel gifts that can be easily incorporated into your corporate travel planning:

• Personalized carry-on luggage
• Personalized garment bags
• Toiletry bags
• Personal care kits
• Digital cameras
• Sunglasses
• Guidebooks relevant to the destination
• Travel wallets
• Passport and document holders
• Beach towels
• Beach bags
• In-flight entertainment kits with magazines, crossword puzzle books and snacks
• Discount cards for public transportation and area attractions
• Tickets to local attractions

It is a common practice to give pillow gifts to participants of certain types of corporate travel; therefore, it is often expected that some sort of gift will be distributed. If you are a corporate travel planner that regularly includes gifts, you can use the above list for new ideas to switch things up a bit. This is particularly important if you have many repeat travel participants.

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.

Often when one thinks of Europe cities like Paris, London and Frankfurt am Main come to mind. And why not? They are the quintessential destinations for European travel, and the hubs from which other destinations spin off. However, many people are content with those hub cities. Smaller towns and even rural destinations are sometimes not even considered, and the former eastern bloc countries are afterthoughts at best.

Why not consider the “smaller” destinations for your corporate travel destinations? Here are some favorites among world travelers. Continue reading »