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15 Corporate Incentive Travel Program Tips for 2024

You found our list of the best corporate incentive travel program tips !

Corporate incentive travel programs are initiatives that offer all-expenses paid trips and experiences in exchange for extraordinary performance. For example, a trip to Thailand or Mexico. These programs aim to motivate employees and raise morale, loyalty, and productivity.

Travel incentive programs are one example of employee incentives and employee engagement ideas , and can be a popular employment benefit .

This article includes:

  • incentive travel examples
  • incentive trips for employees
  • group travel incentive programs
  • corporate incentives besides travel

Here is the list!

Incentive travel examples

When it comes to destinations and trip experiences, possibilities are endless. Here are a few examples of incentive travel programs to give you inspiration:

  • A stay in the British countryside complete with castle tours
  • A food tour through Italy or France, or through your home city
  • Museum crawl through New York City
  • Hotel and tickets to a Broadway or West End show
  • A Seine River expedition through Germany
  • Weeklong country-hopping tour
  • Hiking excursion in the mountains
  • Wildlife interaction at a sanctuary
  • Wine country visits
  • Behind the scenes tour of a nearby brewery
  • Weekend stay at a local bed and breakfast
  • Tropical beach escape
  • Historical tour of a prominent city
  • Hot air balloon rides
  • Passes and accommodation to a cultural festival
  • Company cruises
  • Glamping or camping
  • Team building retreats

The items on this list provide a solid baseline for program structures, but there are many possibilities for irresistible trips that will drive employees to perform at their best.

Corporate incentive travel program tips

From soliciting suggestions from staff to leveraging social media, here are the steps for creating an effective corporate incentive travel program.

1. Ask your staff for ideas

A travel program is only an incentive if your staff wants to take the trips you choose. Instead of outright guessing, or stealthily scanning your staff’s Instagram vacation posts, ask your staff for destination and activity ideas.

First, gather plausible options for countries, cities, accommodations, excursions, and activities. Then, distribute a survey, and use the feedback to inform your selections. Consider including a write-in option on your questionnaire so employees can point you towards any useful travel resources or discount programs.

2. Determine the goal of your program

The point of an incentive program is to achieve a particular result or encourage a certain behavior. Thus, when designing your incentive trips for employees, it is important to outline the goal.

Corporate incentive travel program objectives may include:

  • Specific sales targets
  • Increased client satisfaction scores
  • Decrease in paperwork errors
  • Shorter customer wait times
  • Quicker production turnaround time

The goal of the program may include multiple aims, and targets may vary by position or department.

Trips are a significant investment, and organizations expect a worthwhile return on such a weighty investment. By outlining clear goals when introducing the program, you justify the expenditure and link the reward to a clear result.

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3. Provide clear guidelines to staff

Higher management are not the only parties that benefit from having accurate expectations for the program. When announcing the initiative, provide clear guidelines to the staff so employees understand how to earn the rewards. For best results, communicate the necessary targets, performance period timeline, methods of measurement, and ultimate prizes.

You may also want to mention:

  • The level of date flexibility for trips. Can attendees choose from multiple months or weekends, or will there only be one date for the trip? If the latter, then disclose the date upfront.
  • Whether or not family members and guests can join the trips.
  • Included amenities vs add-on options.
  • Accommodations the company can make for staff with special circumstances.

Misunderstanding requirements could lead to staff missing out on the opportunity, causing disappointment. Employees want to feel that managers are upfront and honest, and clear communication fosters trust.

4. Consult a travel expert

Corporate travel programs require a great deal of planning and logistics management. Coordinating such a program alone can feel overwhelming, but travel and events companies that specialize in running incentive programs can simplify the process.

Here are some recommended travel incentive companies:

  • American Express Meetings & Events
  • Creative Group Inc.
  • First Incentive Travel
  • Peak Performance Meetings & Incentives
  • Bishop McCann
  • Bi Worldwide
  • Fox World Travel
  • Maritz Global Events
  • George P. Johnson Experience Marketing
  • World Travel Inc

Even if you decide not to hire a third-party vendor to manage incentive trips, consider consulting a travel agent or other professional who has experience planning and executing group trips. If nothing else, then read HR blogs for advice. You do not need to reinvent the wheel; you can rely on the guidance of professionals who have seen success with incentives to shape your program.

5. Research multiple vendors

While destination management companies often advertise packages that remove the hassle from corporate travel planning, these all-inclusive offerings are not always the best options for your needs. Working with multiple event providers may be a more cost-effective solution that results in better experiences for your employees.

Consider branching out and enlisting different companies for transportation, accommodations, catering, and experiences such as museum tours or adventure sports outings. At minimum, research and compare multiple destination management companies to ensure you find the best deal and optimal level of service.

6. Negotiate exclusives

Most travel incentive companies work with organizations to create tailored, customized plans. When designing trips, securing exclusive amenities and activities can make the experience even more attractive. For instance, booking an illustrious restaurant for a private party with a special menu, or receiving an after-hours, behind-the-scenes tour of a historical site with an expert. Planning experiences that attendees cannot replicate during personal visits makes the experience feel more unique, which compels employees to work harder to secure their spots on the trip.

7. Use organizational resources

While a travel incentive trip differs from a business trip, branches in other geographical regions can be a great help to your planning process. Offices in other states or countries might be able to make an introduction to a contact such as a travel coordinator, local guide, restaurateur, or hospitality professional that can help you coordinate your trip. You might even take advantage of special corporate discounts or offerings thanks to your relationship with the sister site.

Even if your organization does not have locations worldwide, you may employ a teammate who has previously worked, traveled, or lived in your destination and can offer recommendations. Tapping into your company’s internal resources improves the journey.

8. Stick to a budget

Travel programs are rarely low-cost perks. Expenses like transportation, accommodation, meals, and entertainment add up quickly, even if your group remains local. While increases in worker output and performance often justify the price of the program, it is still important to stick to a budget to ensure a balanced return on investment.

Researching beforehand helps avoid overspending. Before you commit to a destination or travel package, ensure you understand the total cost, including any additional expenditures such as insurance, service fees, non-included meals, transportation between venues, and tips for service staff.

Remember that if employees show interest in pricey experiences that the company cannot cover, then you can compensate by scheduling free time and allowing attendees to purchase optional activities.

Here is a list of ways to spend your budget at year-end .

9. Be liberal with options

Your group is a diverse bunch with a wide range of interests. One employee’s dream trip might not be another’s. To guarantee that all travelers enjoy the experience, arrange an array of activities that suit many tastes. For example, plan a bar crawl one evening and an open mic the next. Or, give attendees the choice between wine tasting, rock climbing, or touring a museum.

When planning activities, keep in mind:

  • Physical ability
  • Level of socialization
  • Dietary needs
  • Non-alcoholic options for non-drinkers
  • Price, if members pay out of pocket
  • Cultural sensitivity and inclusivity

Keep these considerations in mind not only when planning activities, but also when booking trip details. For instance, steer clear of destinations with recent human rights violations or recent racial tensions in favor of diverse and inclusive locations where all guests feel welcome.

10. Focus on the experience more than the destination

While the ability to travel to a foreign country or a lively city is a major draw, the location is not as important as your team’s overall happiness. Instead of fixating on the destination, focus on the experience. You do not need to pick a flashy locale to garner interest in the program. Attendees can have fun in a neighboring town or an off-the-beaten-path destination if you plan meaningful and engaging activities.

When choosing a venue for your trip, explore unconventional options and open yourself to interesting possibilities. Aim to connect your staff meaningfully with the local culture and with each other. Keep an eye out for experiences unique to your host city, and aim to be travelers rather than simply tourists. In essence, unlock the full potential of each city, neighborhood, or business instead of relying on the allure of the destination to do the heavy lifting.

11. Offer resources and assistance

Assuming that every trip member is an experienced traveler is a mistake. Travel programs generate interest among a wide range of attendees, from globetrotters to folks who have yet to step foot in an airport. Because there may be a discrepancy in the travel knowledge within your group, offering resources and assistance is helpful. Even if your package includes transportation, members may need to book plane tickets individually, in which case you should designate a helper to answer questions and resolve issues.

Consider also providing:

  • Passport and visa application assistance
  • Packing tips
  • Applicable CDC advisories and vaccine information
  • A guide to cultural norms in your destination country
  • Travel medical and insurance resources
  • Currency exchange services
  • Safety recommendations and emergency contact information

You can equip the group with helpful literature, hold informational sessions, and create online forums where attendees can ask and answer questions, too.

12. Use trips as an opportunity to expand employees’ worldviews

While the trip acts first as an incentive and reward, the vacation can serve as an educational tool, too. By incorporating cultural experiences, you expand teammates’ worldviews, teach empathy, and develop soft skills that enhance employees’ abilities to interact with clients and colleagues.

To capitalize on the effects of the trip, select a destination that pushes staff out of their comfort zone and introduces new viewpoints and experiences. To achieve this end, the destination does not have to be a foreign country. Every country is culturally diverse, and workers benefit from visiting a new region, or even connecting with a distinct subculture close to home. The trip can be an opportunity not only for employees to relax and have fun, but also to grow.

13. Maximize team bonding

Being in an unfamiliar place together can bring a group closer together. Shared experiences are the root of team building, and group trips establish common ground and memories that form a foundation for continuing relationships. Group travel incentive programs can not only save companies time and money, but also supercharge group development. One of the best approaches to travel programs is to maximize team bonding potential by planning group excursions and team building activities and scheduling time for group reflection.

By dedicating Slack channels, social media groups, team chats, pre and post trip sessions, and shared online photo albums to the trip group, you can further fuel interactions between members.

Here is a list of team building ideas to try.

14. Leverage employee testimonials and social media

Organizations devote significant resources to travel programs. One way to optimize return on investment is to leverage employee testimonials and social media as a way to market company culture and motivate colleagues to strive for future travel incentives.

A few suggestions:

  • Distribute a survey at the end of the trip. Make the survey completion a scheduled activity, or incentivize feedback by holding a prize drawing in tandem.
  • Ask employees to submit photos and captions to the marketing team for the company social media page
  • Coordinate a social media takeover campaign where trip attendees schedule content for company social media channels
  • Encourage attendees to tag posts on personal accounts with the company handle and a specific hashtag.
  • Dedicate blog posts to the experience
  • Compile a highlights reel of the trip by editing together video clips
  • Allow participants to speak about the trip on a company podcast
  • Invite attendees to speak at information sessions for future trips

Most folks appreciate having a platform to share their stories and experiences. This user-generated content has many uses both internally and externally, such as in recruitment materials, marketing projects, and employee engagement campaigns .

15. Offer alternatives to travel

Although travel is an enticing incentive, it is not a universal motivator for all employees. Familial obligations, health complications, fear of flying, or a distaste for travel are examples of conditions that might prevent staff from reaping the rewards of the program. To better suit the needs of your entire organization, offer alternatives to trips, such as material bonuses or more localized experiences. Examples might include a chartered day at a nearby winery, tickets to the hometown sports team game, or extra paid time off. Read the next section for more suggestions on non-travel incentive rewards.

Other corporate incentives besides travel

Travel is not viable to every employee’s circumstances. For a more universally appealing incentive program, consider offering alternatives to travel. The following list offers a few suggestions.

Bonuses are the most common employee incentive. Monetary rewards give employees more autonomy over their winnings, since staff has the discretion to use the extra cash as they see fit. Not to mention, a financial award sends the message that the organization shares extra profits with staff, thus compelling employees to generate more revenue for the company.

When introducing financial incentives, it is important to explain a clear bonus structure so that the staff has a solid understanding of expectations and performance metrics.

2. Extra paid time off

Instead of scheduling a trip for employees, you could offer extra paid time off so that employees can travel when, where, and with whom they prefer. Through this method, your staff may opt for a staycation instead, choosing to use the extra time to catch up on errands, develop side hustles, spend time with family members, or relax at home. This approach signals that the company values employees’ personal time and appreciates work life balance. Plus, offering extra time awards employees more freedom to customize their prize.

3. Concerts

Concerts are close-to-home adventures. Music and nightlife enthusiasts love the chance to attend live performances. Access to sold-out or exclusive events, good seats or entry into VIP areas, and other perks like complimentary food or merchandise sweeten the deal. Partnering with a corporate-facing event company or local concert venue can help you net discounts and special offers for your employees.

4. Sporting events

Tickets or company box seats at a sporting event are an enticing prize for sports fans, salespeople, and anyone who relishes the energy of a live game. Best of all, since seasons consist of many games, you can divide the performance period into multiple benchmarks, and employ ticket giveaways as an ongoing motivator. Also, sports inspire attitudes of camaraderie and teamwork which you can channel into your workplace.

5. Technology

New gadgets and upgrades hit the technology market daily. Keeping all gadgets updated can be a challenge, so technology rewards are tempting incentives.

A few suggestions for technology incentives:

  • smartphones
  • video game systems
  • action cameras
  • smartwatches and fitness trackers
  • wireless earbuds
  • 3-D printers

Consider offering technology upgrades for personal use, work use, or a mix of both. For example, promise to buy high-tech printers for the winning department.

6. Parking spots

Parking can be a surprisingly effective employee motivator, especially if you work in a city with scarce or expensive parking options. Even if the office building houses a company garage, employees may eye a desirable spot. Winning a prized parking spot or a complimentary pass checks one box off of the proverbial to-do list and makes the morning commute less hectic. If parking is not part of your employee benefits package, then consider offering the amenity as a prize.

7. Fitness classes

Fitness is important, but not always inexpensive. While many companies offer wellness credits, gym memberships, or exercise classes as perks, bonus fitness services can make attractive prizes.

Here are some ideas for fitness incentives:

  • Home gym equipment
  • Subscription to online Yoga classes or Peloton
  • Personal trainers
  • Workout wardrobes
  • Fitness trackers and smart devices
  • Unusual exercise classes like parkour or circus aerobics

Even if your company provides regular exercise options, an upgraded fitness experience can serve as extra motivation.

8. Charity donations

Monetary gain is not a universal motivator, and at times philanthropy can drive efforts more effectively than cash rewards. One alternative to material prizes is to donate an agreed amount to a charity of the awardee’s choice.

Pro tip: Allow employees to suggest charities that fall within prescribed guidelines instead of picking from a limited list to ensure that workers can raise money for a cause they are passionate about.

9. Task management services

While you may not be able to give your employees extra hours in the day, gifting task services is the next best option. Hiring professional errand-runners frees up time in your employees schedules for relaxation, self-care, and self-improvement.

Suggestions for task services:

  • Grocery deliveries
  • Laundry and dry cleaning services
  • Cooks or professional meal preppers
  • Cleaners or organizing consultants
  • Childcare services

Consider gifting credit towards multiple-service providers like TaskRabbit and Thumbtack so awardees can choose the most useful options.

10. Meals with executives

Lunch or dinner with a member of the C-suite serves the dual function of providing a complimentary meal along with quality time with higher management. For best results, offer one-on-one meetings or small group experiences so that every awardee has ample opportunity to interact with the executive. Similar bonding opportunities include golf games, tennis matches, hikes, creative classes, winery or brewery trips, or video game showdowns.

11. Massages and self-care

Some workers might not treat themselves to massages, spa-days, and other self-love splurges, but will indulge if gifted an activity. Pampering experiences inspire employees to achieve a goal while emphasizing the importance of self-care.

Here are some examples of self-care incentives:

  • Manicures and pedicures
  • Salon appointments
  • Meditation session
  • Career consulting or meeting with a life coach

These prizes send the message that companies care about employee wellbeing as well as performance.

12. Extraordinary events

Though some folks use the term incentive events interchangeably with incentive trips, at-home events can offer the excitement of travel minus the forms, transportation costs, or downtime at the airport. Extraordinary events give employees opportunities to socialize, participate in new experiences, and make memories with colleagues.

Some examples of event incentives include:

  • Improv or standup comedy shows and workshops
  • Cooking classes with renowned chefs
  • Laser tag tournaments
  • Winery or brewery tours
  • Cocktail party at the CEO’s house
  • Amusement park trips
  • Early access to a new venue
  • Special sales or product trials

Limiting the number of spots at these events and awarding entry only to high-achieving employees makes the occasion feel more special and motivates staff to strive towards a goal.

Final Thoughts

Travel is one of the most common bullet points on bucket lists, which means that trips serve as a powerful motivator. By affording employees opportunities to travel, you expand their world views and supercharge their relationships with teammates, all while rewarding extraordinary efforts and results and assigning great value to your workers’ contributions.

Next, check out this list of employee wellness program ideas and this list of incentives to return to the office .

FAQ: Corporate incentive travel programs

Here are answers to the most common questions about corporate incentive travel programs.

What are corporate incentive travel programs?

Corporate incentive travel programs are motivational campaigns that reward top-performing employees with trips or special experiences. The aim of these programs is to increase staff loyalty, morale, and productivity. Incentive programs typically target specific goals such as fulfilling sales quotas, meeting product development deadlines, or raising customer satisfaction scores.

What are some good corporate incentive travel program tips?

Some good corporate incentive travel program tips include:

  • Ask your staff for ideas
  • Determine the goal of your program
  • Provide clear guidelines to staff
  • Consult a travel expert
  • Research multiple vendors
  • Negotiate exclusives
  • Use organizational resources
  • Stick to a budget
  • Be liberal with options
  • Focus on the experience more than the destination
  • Offer resources and assistance
  • Use trips as an opportunity to expand employees’ worldviews
  • Maximize team bonding
  • Leverage employee testimonials and social media
  • Offer alternatives to travel

Though travel programs require extensive planning and organization, following the proper steps can ensure that your program pays off by raising employee output and morale.

What are good companies to use for corporate incentive travel programs?

There are many providers who offer and arrange trips and engaging events for corporate incentive programs.

Here are some recommended companies to use for corporate incentive travel programs:

When selecting a partner organization, research multiple providers and choose an option that fits your company’s budget, company culture, and particular needs.

Do corporate incentive travel programs work?

Travel programs can be powerful motivators. Employer-sponsored trips are an attractive reward, especially when the experiences include exclusives such as exclusive tours, private accommodations, and company parties. Travel programs are an especially compelling incentive for sales teams, though the perk can motivate a vast variety of positions and departments.

Though travel is a hefty investment for organizations, the corresponding rise in productivity is significant. Plus, funding trips signals that employers value their workers efforts and personal growth.

What makes incentive travel programs effective?

Clear goals and benchmarks, measurable metrics, smart internal marketing, meaningful experiences, and attractive awards are all factors that make incentive travel programs effective. The best determinant of the operation’s success is the level of foresight, consideration, and communication that goes into the planning and execution of the program.

Besides travel, what can employers offer in incentive programs?

Some non-travel incentive program rewards include:

  • Extra paid time off
  • Sporting events
  • Parking spots
  • Fitness classes
  • Charity donations
  • Home services
  • Meal with an executive
  • Massages and self-care
  • Extraordinary events

Not every team member is able to travel, yet providing alternate rewards allows dedicated employees to reap the rewards of their efforts.

What is the difference between a corporate incentive program and an employee benefits program?

Organizations offer employee benefits across the board to all workers, although benefits packages might vary depending on position and band level, and individual candidates may be able to negotiate a more attractive package. While benefits programs are ongoing, built-in rewards, incentive programs are auxiliary, often limited-time offers. Corporate incentive programs exist to motivate employees to hit specific targets within a particular time frame.

Author avatar

Author: Angela Robinson

Marketing Coordinator at teambuilding.com. Team building content expert. Angela has a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and worked as a community manager with Yelp to plan events for businesses.

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  • Travel Tips

How To Plan An Incentive Trip

Published: December 4, 2023

Modified: December 28, 2023

by Mabel Edmonds

  • Plan Your Trip
  • Sustainability

how-to-plan-an-incentive-trip

Introduction

Planning an incentive trip can be an exciting and rewarding experience. Whether you are a business owner looking to motivate your employees or a team leader organizing a reward program, incentive trips are a powerful tool to boost morale, increase productivity, and foster team spirit.

An incentive trip is a curated travel experience offered to individuals or teams as a reward for achieving specific goals or targets. It serves as a tangible recognition of hard work and dedication, providing participants with a well-deserved break from their regular routine.

Not only do incentive trips offer a chance to explore new destinations and cultures, but they also provide an opportunity for team members to bond and strengthen their relationships. They allow colleagues to connect on a personal level, outside the confines of the workplace, fostering camaraderie and a sense of unity.

In this article, we will guide you through the process of planning an incentive trip. From setting goals and objectives to choosing the right destination, and from budgeting and cost analysis to creating an exciting itinerary, we will cover all the essential steps to ensure a successful and memorable trip.

So, whether you are planning a trip for a small team or a large group, get ready to embark on an exhilarating journey of planning and organizing an incentive trip that will leave a lasting impact on your team members.

Benefits of Incentive Trips

Incentive trips offer a wide range of benefits for both individuals and organizations. Recognizing and rewarding employees’ achievements through travel experiences can have a profound impact on motivation, engagement, and overall performance. Here are some key benefits of incentive trips:

  • Motivation: Incentive trips serve as a powerful motivator for employees to work harder and achieve their goals. The promise of an exciting travel experience provides a tangible reward that can drive individuals to push themselves to new heights.
  • Increased Productivity: When employees have a clear incentive and goal to strive for, they are more likely to be productive and focused. Incentive trips create a sense of urgency and purpose, leading to improved performance and results.
  • Team Building: Incentive trips provide an ideal opportunity for team members to bond and build stronger relationships. Away from the office environment, employees can connect on a personal level, fostering a sense of camaraderie and teamwork that can translate into improved collaboration and communication back at work.
  • Reward and Recognition: Offering an incentive trip is a tangible way to recognize and reward employees for their hard work and achievements. It sends a clear message that their efforts are valued and appreciated, boosting morale and job satisfaction.
  • Employee Retention: In today’s competitive job market, retaining top talent is crucial for the success of any organization. Incentive trips can serve as a retention tool, providing an added incentive for employees to stay with the company and continue delivering exceptional results.
  • Networking and Learning Opportunities: Incentive trips often include networking events and educational activities, allowing employees to expand their professional network and acquire new skills. These experiences not only benefit individuals in their current roles but also contribute to their long-term career development.

Overall, incentive trips have a positive impact on employee satisfaction, engagement, and loyalty, leading to a more motivated and productive workforce. By investing in these experiences, organizations can reap the long-term benefits of a highly engaged and high-performing team.

Setting Goals and Objectives

Before embarking on the planning process for an incentive trip, it is essential to define clear goals and objectives. Setting specific and measurable targets will help guide the decision-making process and ensure that the trip aligns with the desired outcomes. Here are some steps to consider when setting goals and objectives for your incentive trip:

  • Identify the Purpose: Determine why you want to organize an incentive trip. Is it to reward top performers, promote teamwork, or motivate employees to achieve specific targets? Understanding the purpose will help you shape the trip to meet your desired outcomes.
  • Define Performance Metrics: Establish measurable metrics that will determine who qualifies for the incentive trip. Whether it’s sales targets, project completion rates, or customer satisfaction scores, having clear performance indicators will ensure fairness and transparency.
  • Set Achievable Targets: Ensure that the goals you set are realistic and attainable. Setting overly ambitious targets may demotivate employees if they feel they are unattainable. Strike a balance by challenging your team without setting them up for failure.
  • Create a Deadline: Set a timeframe for achieving the targets. Having a deadline creates a sense of urgency and focus, motivating employees to work towards the incentive trip goal within a specified time frame.
  • Align with Organizational Values and Objectives: Ensure that the goals and objectives of the incentive trip align with the broader goals and values of the organization. This will help reinforce the company’s mission and purpose while creating a cohesive and meaningful experience for the participants.
  • Create a Rewards Structure: Determine how participants will be rewarded based on their performance. Will there be different tiers of rewards based on achievement levels? Designing a clear and fair rewards structure will provide transparency and motivate participants to strive for higher performance.

By setting clear goals and objectives for your incentive trip, you provide a purposeful direction for the planning process. It ensures that every aspect of the trip is aligned with the desired outcomes and maximizes the return on investment. Remember to communicate the goals and objectives to your team, emphasizing the importance of their contributions in achieving them.

Choosing the Right Destination

One of the most critical decisions when planning an incentive trip is selecting the right destination. The destination sets the tone and forms the backdrop for the entire experience, so it’s important to choose a location that aligns with your goals and resonates with your participants. Here are some factors to consider when choosing the right destination for your incentive trip:

  • Demographics and Interests: Take into account the demographics and interests of your participants. Consider their preferences, such as beach destinations, adventure activities, cultural experiences, or urban exploration. A well-suited destination will enhance engagement and excitement.
  • Accessibility: Ensure that the chosen destination is easily accessible for your participants. Consider the availability of direct flights, transportation options within the destination, and visa requirements if applicable. Easy accessibility reduces travel stress and maximizes the time spent enjoying the trip.
  • Season and Weather: Consider the season and weather conditions of the destination during the planned travel dates. Ensure that the climate aligns with the desired activities and experiences. Avoid destinations prone to extreme weather conditions or off-season periods with limited attractions and services.
  • Budget: Take into account the budget allocated for the incentive trip. Some destinations may be more costly than others, considering accommodation, transportation, activities, and dining options. Strive for a balance between the desired destination and the available budget.
  • Unique Experiences: Look for destinations that offer unique and memorable experiences that participants may not encounter in their daily lives. Whether it’s exploring natural wonders, indulging in local cuisine, participating in cultural activities, or engaging in adventure sports, these experiences will differentiate your incentive trip and create lasting memories.
  • Infrastructure and Safety: Ensure that the chosen destination has sufficient infrastructure to accommodate your group and provide a safe and comfortable experience. Consider factors such as the availability of suitable accommodation, reliable transportation, and a stable political and social environment.

Research destinations that meet the criteria above and consult with a travel agency or destination management company for their expertise. They can provide insights based on their local knowledge and experience in organizing incentive trips. Additionally, gather feedback from your participants to gauge their preferences and considerations.

By carefully choosing the right destination for your incentive trip, you create an environment that enhances the overall experience and increases participant engagement and satisfaction.

Budgeting and Cost Analysis

When planning an incentive trip, it is essential to establish a realistic budget and conduct a thorough cost analysis to ensure that the trip remains within financial constraints. Proper budgeting and cost analysis will allow you to allocate resources efficiently and maximize the value of the trip. Here are some steps to consider when it comes to budgeting and cost analysis for your incentive trip:

  • Define the Budget: Determine the overall budget available for the incentive trip. Consider factors such as transportation, accommodation, meals, activities, and any additional expenses such as event space rental and equipment.
  • Break Down Expenses: Divide the budget into specific expense categories to understand how the funds will be allocated. This breakdown will help prioritize and make informed decisions throughout the planning process.
  • Research Costs: Conduct thorough research on the costs associated with the chosen destination and activities. Collect quotes from various suppliers, including hotels, transportation providers, and tour operators. This will give you an accurate estimate of the expenses involved in each aspect of the trip.
  • Consider Seasonal Variations: Keep in mind that costs can vary depending on the time of year and demand fluctuations in the travel industry. Consider planning the trip during the destination’s shoulder season when prices are generally lower, while still ensuring favorable weather conditions and availability of activities.
  • Factor in Hidden Costs: Be mindful of additional expenses that may arise during the trip, such as gratuities, taxes, and service fees. These costs can add up and significantly impact the overall budget. Account for these hidden costs to avoid any surprises.
  • Explore Sponsorship Opportunities: Look for potential sponsorship opportunities from relevant suppliers or local businesses. They may be interested in promoting their products or services to your group and can provide discounts or additional amenities, helping to reduce overall costs.
  • Consider ROI: Evaluate the return on investment (ROI) of the incentive trip. Analyze how the trip’s goals and objectives align with the costs involved. Assess the potential impact on employee performance, motivation, and overall organizational success.

Regularly monitor and update your budget throughout the planning process to ensure that you stay on track. Prioritize the essential aspects of the trip to allocate funds effectively and make necessary adjustments as needed. Remember to aim for a balance between delivering a memorable experience and managing costs efficiently.

By carefully budgeting and conducting a thorough cost analysis, you can ensure that your incentive trip remains financially viable while delivering a rewarding experience for your participants.

Selecting Dates and Duration

Choosing the right dates and determining the optimal duration for your incentive trip is crucial to ensure maximum participation and a successful experience for all involved. Factors such as seasonality, availability, and the preferences of your participants should be taken into account. Here are some important considerations when selecting dates and duration for your incentive trip:

  • Consider Peak Seasons and Holidays: Be aware of peak travel seasons and major holidays in both your home country and the destination you are considering. These periods often come with higher prices, increased crowds, and limited availability. Avoiding these peak times can help you secure better rates and ensure a more enjoyable experience for your participants.
  • Consult with Key Stakeholders: Engage with key stakeholders such as department managers, team leaders, and participants themselves to identify any scheduling conflicts or preferences. By involving everyone in the decision-making process, you can ensure higher attendance and better engagement throughout the trip.
  • Consider Workload and Work Constraints: Evaluate the workload and commitments of your team members when selecting dates. Avoid times of intense project deadlines or major company events that may hinder participants’ availability or impact their performance upon their return.
  • Check Travel Restrictions and Visa Requirements: Research any potential travel restrictions and visa requirements for your chosen destination. Some countries may have specific entry or quarantine rules that could affect the ease of travel. Ensuring that participants can meet these requirements will help prevent any disruptions to the trip.
  • Assess the Ideal Duration: Consider the ideal duration of the trip based on the destination and the activities you have planned. A trip that is too short may feel rushed and limit participants’ ability to fully enjoy the experience. On the other hand, a trip that is too long may become tedious and impact productivity upon their return.
  • Allow for Buffer Time: Incorporate buffer time into your itinerary to account for unexpected delays or emergencies. This will provide flexibility and ensure that participants have enough time to relax and enjoy the trip without feeling rushed or stressed.

Once you have considered these factors, narrow down your options and arrive at a consensus with key stakeholders. Communicate the selected dates and duration well in advance to allow participants to plan their schedules accordingly. It is also a good idea to provide some flexibility in case individual participants need to adjust their travel arrangements due to personal circumstances.

By carefully selecting dates and duration for your incentive trip, you can maximize attendance, ensure optimal participation, and create a memorable experience for your team.

Creating an Exciting Itinerary

An exciting itinerary is the heart and soul of any incentive trip. It sets the tone for the entire experience, creating anticipation and excitement among participants. A well-crafted itinerary ensures a balanced mix of activities, cultural experiences, and relaxation time. Here are some tips for creating an exciting itinerary for your incentive trip:

  • Consider the Destination: Tailor your itinerary to highlight the unique attractions and experiences of the destination. Incorporate activities that allow participants to immerse themselves in the local culture, explore famous landmarks, or engage in adventure sports that the destination is known for.
  • Vary the Activities: Include a diverse range of activities to cater to the different interests and preferences of your participants. Offer a mix of adventurous outings, team-building exercises, leisurely excursions, and opportunities for relaxation. This will ensure that there is something for everyone to enjoy.
  • Balance Structured Time and Free Time: Strike a balance between structured activities and free time for participants to explore and unwind at their own pace. While organized activities are essential for creating a cohesive itinerary, allowing participants some flexibility promotes a sense of autonomy and personal enjoyment.
  • Incorporate Surprise Elements: Surprise participants with unexpected elements throughout the trip. It could be a special dinner at a unique venue, a private performance, or a spontaneous activity. These surprises create memorable moments that participants will cherish.
  • Mix Social and Networking Events: Plan social and networking events to encourage participants to interact and build relationships. This could include welcome receptions, group meals, or team-building activities that promote collaboration and communication.
  • Integrate Wellness and Relaxation: Offer opportunities for participants to relax, rejuvenate, and focus on their well-being. Incorporate spa sessions, yoga classes, or guided meditation into the itinerary to provide moments of tranquility and self-care.
  • Provide Free Flow Time: Allow participants to explore the destination independently during their free time. Provide them with recommendations for local attractions, shopping areas, or cultural sites they can visit at their leisure.

When creating the itinerary, consider the preferences and interests of your participants. Gather feedback or conduct surveys to understand their desires and ensure that the chosen activities resonate with them. Flexibility is key, so be prepared to make adjustments based on participant feedback and unforeseen circumstances.

An exciting itinerary will keep participants engaged and create a sense of anticipation throughout the trip. It should strike a balance between planned activities and personal exploration, offering a blend of adventure, relaxation, and cultural immersion.

Accommodation and Transportation Arrangements

Accommodation and transportation are key elements in ensuring a comfortable and seamless experience for your incentive trip participants. Making the right arrangements for accommodation and transportation will contribute to the overall success and satisfaction of the trip. Here are some considerations when it comes to accommodation and transportation:

  • Accommodation: Choose accommodation options that align with the preferences and needs of your participants. Consider factors such as location, amenities, and room configurations. Depending on the size of your group, you may opt for hotels, resorts, or vacation rentals. Ensure that the chosen accommodation provides convenient access to the planned activities and is comfortable and safe for the participants.
  • Transportation: Plan transportation logistics to ensure smooth transitions between destinations and activities. Depending on the size of your group and the destination, you may need to arrange for private buses, vans, or other forms of transportation. Consider factors such as airport transfers, daily transportation to activities, and any special transportation requirements for participants with mobility needs.
  • Group Rates and Discounts: When making accommodation and transportation bookings, inquire about group rates and discounts. Many hotels, airlines, and transportation companies offer special rates for group bookings. Take advantage of these opportunities to maximize your budget and provide cost-effective travel options for your participants.
  • Proximity to Activities: Choose accommodation that is conveniently located close to the planned activities. This will minimize travel time and allow participants to maximize their time enjoying the itinerary. Consider proximity to restaurants, attractions, and points of interest to provide convenience and easy access for participants.
  • Comfort and Amenities: Ensure that the chosen accommodation provides the necessary comfort and amenities for your participants. This may include features such as comfortable bedding, Wi-Fi access, fitness facilities, and complimentary breakfast. The level of amenities should align with the expectations of your participants.
  • Accessibility: Consider the accessibility needs of your participants when selecting accommodation and transportation. Ensure that the chosen venues have facilities for individuals with disabilities and that transportation options are inclusive and accommodating for all participants.

It is essential to thoroughly research accommodation and transportation options, comparing prices, reading reviews, and seeking recommendations. Work with reputable travel agencies or destination management companies that have experience in organizing group travel and can provide guidance and support in arranging these logistics.

By carefully considering accommodation and transportation arrangements, you can create a comfortable and convenient experience for your participants, ensuring they can fully focus on enjoying the trip and the activities you have planned.

Communication and Logistics

Effective communication and strong logistical planning are essential components of a successful incentive trip. Ensuring clear and timely communication with participants, as well as managing the logistical aspects of the trip, will contribute to a smooth and enjoyable experience. Here are some important considerations when it comes to communication and logistics:

  • Participant Communication: Establish a comprehensive communication plan to keep participants informed and engaged throughout the planning process. Utilize various communication channels, such as email, a dedicated trip website, or even a mobile app, to share important updates, itineraries, and any necessary travel details. Regularly communicate reminders and deadlines to ensure participants are well-prepared and informed.
  • Emergency Contact Information: Collect emergency contact information from all participants prior to the trip. Share this information with the organizing team and ensure all necessary precautions are taken to address any potential emergencies or unforeseen circumstances that may arise during the trip.
  • On-Site Coordination: Designate responsible individuals or a dedicated team to manage on-site coordination. Ensure they are equipped with the necessary information, provide them with clear guidelines, and empower them to address any issues or concerns that may arise during the trip.
  • Vendor Management: Establish strong relationships with vendors such as hotels, transportation providers, and activity organizers. Ensure consistent communication to confirm bookings, verify details, and address any changes or special requirements. Regularly check in with vendors to ensure smooth operations and address any potential issues proactively.
  • Logistics and Timing: Plan and manage the logistical aspects of the trip, including transportation timings, activity schedules, and meal arrangements. Pay attention to details such as travel time between locations, ensuring sufficient time for participants to relax and refresh between activities, and considering any dietary restrictions or preferences of the group.
  • Contingency Plans: Develop contingency plans to address unexpected situations or changes in the itinerary. Anticipate potential challenges and have backup options in place to ensure minimal disruption to the trip experience. Stay proactive and adaptable to any unforeseen circumstances that may arise.
  • Communication with Stakeholders: Keep all relevant stakeholders informed about the progress of the trip planning and logistics. This includes department heads, team leaders, and other key individuals involved. Regularly update them on changes, updates, and any necessary actions they need to take for their team members.

Utilize technology such as mobile apps, instant messaging platforms, or group communication tools to facilitate real-time communication and provide participants with a platform to connect and engage with each other.

By ensuring effective communication and strong logistical planning, you can create an organized and seamless incentive trip that runs smoothly from start to finish, delighting participants and leaving a lasting positive impression.

Team-building Activities and Entertainment

Team-building activities and entertainment play a crucial role in fostering camaraderie, enhancing collaboration, and creating lasting memories during an incentive trip. These activities provide opportunities for participants to connect, bond, and build stronger relationships. Here are some tips for planning team-building activities and entertainment:

  • Assess Group Dynamics: Consider the dynamics and characteristics of your group when selecting team-building activities. Take into account factors such as team size, age range, and individual preferences. The activities should be suitable for everyone and encourage teamwork and collaboration.
  • Outdoor Adventures: Engage participants in outdoor activities that promote teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving. This could include activities like treasure hunts, obstacle courses, or group challenges. Outdoor adventures not only encourage collaboration but also provide an opportunity for participants to step out of their comfort zone and build confidence.
  • Creative Workshops: Organize creative workshops where participants can learn new skills and engage in artistic pursuits. This could include cooking classes, painting workshops, or music and dance sessions. These activities encourage creativity, self-expression, and collaboration in a fun and relaxed environment.
  • Interactive Games: Incorporate interactive games and competitions that encourage healthy competition and teamwork. This could involve trivia contests, scavenger hunts, or friendly sports matches. The element of friendly competition can bring participants together, foster team spirit, and create a memorable bonding experience.
  • Social Responsibility Activities: Include activities that align with corporate social responsibility initiatives. Consider organizing volunteering opportunities or community service projects that allow participants to give back to the local community. Engaging in such activities not only promotes teamwork but also instills a sense of purpose and fulfillment.
  • Evening Entertainment: Plan exciting evening entertainment options that cater to diverse tastes and interests. This could include live performances, themed parties, or cultural shows. Provide a variety of entertainment choices to ensure there is something for everyone, creating an inclusive and enjoyable experience for all participants.
  • Downtime and Relaxation: Allow ample time for participants to relax and rejuvenate during the trip. Balance the schedule with periods of unstructured time where participants can enjoy leisure activities, explore the destination independently, or simply unwind by the pool or beach. Providing downtime helps prevent participant burnout and allows for individual relaxation and reflection.

Keep in mind that team-building activities and entertainment should align with the goals and objectives of the trip. Make sure they contribute to the overall experience and allow participants to develop valuable skills, strengthen relationships, and return with a sense of accomplishment.

Consult with event planners, team-building professionals, or local experts to brainstorm creative ideas and ensure the activities and entertainment options are well-suited to your group dynamics and the destination. By incorporating engaging team-building activities and entertainment, you will create a memorable and impactful incentive trip experience for your participants.

Managing and Tracking Attendance

Managing and tracking attendance is a crucial aspect of ensuring a successful incentive trip. It is important to have an organized system in place to keep track of participant registrations, confirmations, and any changes that may occur. Here are some tips for effectively managing and tracking attendance for your incentive trip:

  • Registration and Confirmation Process: Implement a clear and streamlined registration process for participants to sign up for the incentive trip. Use online registration forms or dedicated event management platforms to collect necessary information such as contact details, dietary preferences, and any specific requirements. Send confirmation emails upon registration to eliminate any ambiguity and provide participants with a sense of security.
  • Attendance Tracking System: Utilize an attendance tracking system to keep a record of participants’ attendance throughout the trip. This can be done digitally through mobile apps or by using physical sign-in sheets. Ensure that attendance tracking is done consistently and accurately to account for all participants and monitor their engagement.
  • Communication Channels: Establish clear communication channels for participants to report any changes or adjustments to their attendance. This could include a designated email address, a dedicated phone line, or a contact person who can assist with any attendance-related queries. Regularly remind participants to communicate any adjustments promptly to ensure accurate planning.
  • Waitlist and Replacement Process: Develop a waitlist system to manage any potential spots that become available due to cancellations or changes. Establish a fair and transparent process for selecting participants from the waitlist to ensure equal opportunities for all. Clearly communicate the replacement process to participants to avoid confusion and to properly manage capacity constraints.
  • Participant Engagement: Regularly engage with participants leading up to the trip to maintain excitement and anticipation. Send pre-trip reminders, provide updates on itinerary changes, and encourage participants to reach out with any questions or concerns they may have. Keeping participants engaged ensures active participation and minimizes no-shows.
  • Deadline Management: Set clear deadlines for participants to confirm their attendance and make any necessary payments. Clearly communicate these deadlines and send timely reminders to ensure participants adhere to them. This will help in effectively planning all aspects of the trip, from accommodation to transportation to activities.
  • Tracking Special Requirements: Ensure that you track and manage any special requirements or accommodations requested by participants. This could include dietary restrictions, mobility needs, or specific preferences. Keep a dedicated record for each participant and work closely with vendors and service providers to meet these requirements.

Consider utilizing event management software or tools that track attendance and facilitate communication to streamline the process and enhance efficiency. Regularly review attendance records and make necessary adjustments to ensure accurate planning and minimize any last-minute surprises.

By implementing an organized system for managing and tracking attendance, you can ensure a smooth and well-coordinated incentive trip, allowing you to anticipate participant needs and deliver a flawless experience for all participants.

Evaluating the Success of the Incentive Trip

Evaluating the success of an incentive trip is essential to measure its impact and gather feedback for future improvements. By assessing the trip’s effectiveness in meeting the goals and objectives set at the beginning, you can gain valuable insights and identify areas of success as well as areas for improvement. Here are some key considerations when evaluating the success of your incentive trip:

  • Collect Participant Feedback: Use surveys, feedback forms, or post-trip interviews to gather feedback from participants. Ask specific questions related to their overall experience, the activities, accommodations, and any other aspects of the trip. This feedback will help gauge participant satisfaction and identify areas that were particularly well-received or may require improvement.
  • Measure Achievement of Goals: Assess the extent to which the goals and objectives of the trip were achieved. Compare the participants’ performance before and after the trip to evaluate the impact on motivation, engagement, and teamwork. Analyze relevant data or key performance indicators to measure the tangible outcomes resulting from the incentive trip.
  • Review Attendance and Engagement: Evaluate attendance rates and participant engagement throughout the trip. Analyze attendance records, participation in activities, and involvement in team-building exercises. Assess the level of energy and enthusiasm displayed by participants to gauge the overall level of engagement and interest in the program.
  • Assess Return on Investment (ROI): Calculate the financial return on investment (ROI) by comparing the costs incurred with the measurable outcomes achieved. Assess the benefits derived from the trip such as increased productivity, improved employee satisfaction, or greater customer loyalty. This evaluation will help determine the long-term impact and value of investing in incentive trips.
  • Evaluate Logistics and Planning: Assess the efficiency of the logistical aspects of the trip, including accommodation, transportation, and activity planning. Identify any challenges or areas for improvement in terms of timing, coordination, or vendor management. This evaluation will assist in streamlining future trip planning and execution.
  • Consider External Feedback: Seek input from stakeholders beyond the participants, such as team leaders, managers, or other key personnel involved in the program. Gather their observations, insights, and recommendations based on their perspective and role in the organization. This external feedback can provide a broader perspective on the overall success and impact of the incentive trip.
  • Review Budget Efficiency: Evaluate the financial efficiency of the trip by analyzing the actual expenses compared to the projected budget. Identify any cost-saving opportunities and areas where adjustments can be made to optimize future incentive trip budgets.

Once the evaluation process is complete, analyze the data and feedback collected to identify strengths and weaknesses of the incentive trip. Use this valuable information to make informed decisions for future incentive trips, focusing on areas that were successful and finding solutions to address any areas that may need improvement.

Continuously evolving and refining your incentive trip program based on feedback and evaluation will help ensure the success and long-term effectiveness of these motivational experiences.

Planning and organizing an incentive trip requires careful consideration, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of the goals and objectives you want to achieve. From setting clear goals and choosing the right destination to managing logistics and evaluating the success of the trip, every step plays a vital role in creating a memorable and impactful experience for your participants.

An incentive trip serves as a powerful tool to motivate employees, foster teamwork, and recognize their hard work and dedication. It provides an opportunity for participants to explore new destinations, engage in exciting activities, and build stronger relationships outside of the traditional workplace setting.

By carefully selecting the right activities, entertainment options, and team-building exercises, you create an environment that encourages collaboration, sparks creativity, and strengthens bonds among team members. The right accommodation and transportation arrangements ensure comfort and convenience throughout the trip, leaving participants free to fully immerse themselves in the experience.

Evaluating the success of the incentive trip allows you to measure the impact on participant engagement, performance, and overall satisfaction. It provides valuable insights for future improvements and adjustments to further enhance the effectiveness of your incentive program.

Remember, communication is key throughout the planning process, keeping participants informed and engaged from start to finish. Clear and timely communication helps set expectations, build excitement, and ensure participants have all the necessary information for a smooth and enjoyable trip.

In conclusion, planning an incentive trip requires careful consideration of goals, meticulous planning, and attention to detail. By creating a well-rounded itinerary, fostering teamwork, effectively managing logistics and attendance, and evaluating the trip’s success, you can create a memorable and rewarding experience that motivates and engages your participants. An incentive trip is not just a vacation; it is an investment in your team’s success and growth.

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A Guide to the Top Incentive Travel Destinations For 2 0 2 2

man watching sunset on tropical coastline

Incentive travel remains a top motivator, and many reward earners are eager for a new adventure (or just a change of scenery).

For some top performers, an upcoming incentive trip could be their first time traveling since the pandemic began—a trip they’ve been dreaming about for ages. Our experts are excited as ever to craft once-in-a-lifetime experiences to make travel dreams a reality, as well as help travelers navigate evolving safety guidelines.

Related: There are a lot of reasons to be excited about incentive travel in 2022. See our top 5 . 

Your top performers deserve the very best, a destination that will motivate them to keep putting in all that hard work. A destination that is memorable, distinctive, and perhaps not-so-traditional.

Whether it’s tropics or bustling cities, these are the 10 most attractive destinations our buyers are booking right now for incentive travel. Any of the 10 experiences will make your hard-working trip qualifiers feel appreciated and re-energized.

Classic European Sites

parque del retiro in madrid spain

Madrid, Spain

Art, cuisine, nightlife, architecture—the capital city of Madrid has it all, along with a rich history to impress.

Highlights:

  • Tour the Paseo del Arte museums, including the world-famous Prado, with works by the Impressionists and Pablo Picasso
  • Wander the Parque del Retiro , an expansive urban park
  • Listen to street musicians at Plaza Mayor , the grand central square

Hotel recommendation:

  • Stay at Four Seasons Madrid , a brand-new property in the heart of the city. Walk to key attractions then return to a restful, modern retreat.

small street in dublin ireland

Dublin, Ireland

A small capital city with big personality, participants love Dublin for its friendly people, rich cultural heritage and happening nightlife scene.

  • Enjoy the lively Temple Bar area with its many pubs and live music
  • Tour the Guinness Storehouse brewery for the history of the iconic beverage
  • Visit Trinity College , the oldest college in Ireland and alma mater of many literary greats, including Jonathon Swift and Oscar Wilde
  • The Westbury , located in the center of town, is a destination itself because of its gorgeous central stairway and private art gallery.

view of loche lomond

Loch Lomond, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland 

Seek out the “bonnie banks” of Loch Lomond, an inland lake made famous by the Scottish folk song of the same name, and take in the beauty of the surrounding Lowlands and Highlands.

  • Explore Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park , which became Scotland’s first national park in 2002
  • Journey through Dumbarton Castle in the ancient capital of Scotland
  • Spend a day at the Loch Lomond Shores shopping district, which includes outdoor activities, boat trips and an aquarium
  • Built in 1700 and renovated in 2020, the castle-like Cameron House is one of the most sought-after hotels in Scotland.

Sunny Tropic Locales

view of san jose del Cabo

San José del Cabo, Mexico 

San José del Cabo offers a more relaxed atmosphere than its better-known counterpoint Cabo San Lucas. Enjoy shopping, an enchanting plaza and dining experiences, all with plenty of sunshine and miles of beaches.

  • Amble through the Art District for unique shopping and live music opportunities
  • Scuba-dive the coral reefs of Cabo Pulmo National Park , a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Swim with dolphins at Dolphin Discovery
  • Zadun, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve opened in 2021 and boasts ocean views and indoor/outdoor living spaces in each guest room.

boats along coastline of nassau bahamas

Nassau, Bahamas

For a tropical experience with a healthy dose of urban energy, check out Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas. Originally home to pirates and hustlers, the streets are always bustling.

  • Witness the pirate history of the Bahamas with the wax recreations at the Pirates of Nassau Museum
  • Delve into the past at Fort Charlotte , a British-colonial fort constructed in the late 18th century
  • Walk through the natural wonderland of Ardastra Gardens & Wildlife Conservation Centre
  • For large group travel, stay at the accommodating Grand Hyatt Baha Mar (it has 1,800 rooms on property!). Be sure to take advantage of its new Baha Bay water park, which opened July 2021.

palm beach aruba

Palm Beach, Aruba 

One of the most popular islands in the Caribbean, Aruba is known for its white, sandy beaches and all-inclusive resorts. Don’t be afraid to wander off the beaten path here!

  • Stroll through the cozy capital, Oranjestad , for shopping and restaurants
  • Observe magnificent waves beat against the rocky coast at Conchi “Natural Pool”
  • Climb the landmark California Lighthouse for 360° views of the island
  • The Ritz-Carlton Aruba includes its own casino and is currently refurbishing all its suites.

waterfall in Costa Rica

Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Costa Rica has incredible biological diversity. Discover all the beauty of its unspoiled beaches, fast-flowing rivers and national parks in Guanacaste.

  • Engage in outdoor adventures such as zip-lining and rock climbing
  • Take a day trip to iconic Arenal Volcano for horseback riding and hiking
  • Investigate local fauna by partaking in activities like bird watching
  • The Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo underwent renovations in 2021 for an extra luxurious feel. Guests staying in Peninsula Papagayo can sign up for exclusive small group eco-activities .

U.S.-Based Adventures

skier in big sky montana

Big Sky, Montana

For fresh air and wide-open skies year-round, escape to the natural splendor of the mountains of Montana. Outdoor enthusiasts praise Big Sky for its variety of activities.

  • Ski the famous slopes at Big Sky Resort
  • Hike Yellowstone National Park , one of the most popular national parks in the U.S.
  • Learn fly-fishing at some of the best rivers for the sport in the world
  • For a combination of lodge living and modern comfort, book rooms at Montage Big Sky .

sky view of nashville tennessee

Nashville, Tennessee

While best known for its country music, Nashville is a destination spot for its revived downtown, festivals, shows and nightlife.

  • Sample the best of downtown Nashville in the Lower Broadway District , an area popular for live music, honky-tonks, restaurants and shops
  • Attend concerts at the Ryman Auditorium , the original home of the Grand Ole Opry
  • Go behind the scenes of country music at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Hotel recommendations:

  • The soon-to-open Embassy Suites by Hilton Nashville Downtown will be adjacent to the Music City Center convention center. The hotel promises a rooftop pool with bar and easy access to downtown attractions.

beach in Hanalei Bay

Hanalei Bay, Princeville, Hawaii

Hanalei Bay, a picturesque setting on Kauai, the Garden Island, offers several pristine beaches for surfing, paddleboarding, swimming or simply relaxing.

  • Play golf on courses designed to wrap around the spectacular coastline at Makai Golf Course
  • Study nesting seabirds and marine mammals at Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
  • Shop for authentic carved wood souvenirs from local artisans in Hanalei Town
  • 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay , formerly the St. Regis Princeville is undergoing a full renovation that will infuse it with authentic details such as native greenery and reclaimed materials. It will be accepting group business beginning in October 2022.

Mandy Espey

Mandy joined ITA Group in 2005, serving in operations before transitioning to the purchasing team as a Buyer and Supervisor. In her current role as Lead Buyer, Mandy leads the internal presale process for financial and insurance brands, conceptualizing events, building program budgets, negotiating supplier partner contracts, and maintaining client and supplier relationships. She works closely with internal sales and operations teams to bring strategic recommendations to each program. Mandy enjoys traveling, attending concerts, cheering on her beloved Iowa Hawkeyes and Kansas City Chiefs, and spending time with family and friends, especially her two sons.

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Incentive Travel

Guide, help, costs, ideas, and tips for incentive trips, planning an incentive trip.

So you’re thinking about hiring an incentive travel agency? Good for you and better for your audience! Incentive travel is a tried-and-true tactic for nearly half of all businesses in the United States. Whether you want to boost sales, retain your top-performers, or simply build a more cohesive corporate environment, incentive travel will be the catalyst that moves your goals to the finish line.

With US businesses spending over $22.5 billion on incentive travel annually, you can rest assured that an investment in a top-class incentive trip is going to pay off. However, like everything in life, there is a right way to plan and execute incentive trips, and a lot of wrong ways.

Spent on incentive trips from US companies per year

Of US businesses have an incentive travel program

courtesy of The Incentive Research Foundation

Who am I motivating?

There is no one-size-fits-all incentive trip. Understanding your target audience is the first step in designing an effective set of program rules and selecting a destination that will keep your participants excited.

It’s time to put your personal preferences aside and take the time to examine who you’re motivating. Start with the demographics (the data) and psychographics (the feelings) of your audience to focus your thoughts keenly.

It’s easy enough to collect data on gender, age, and income to form a demographic profile, but it’s only one half of the full picture. Psychographics are the often overlooked attributes of an audience that play into deciding how to properly incentivize and delight your group. On average, are your participants more intrinsically or extrinsically motivated? Do they have the capability to improve their performance? What’s their current level of motivation without the possibility of winning a trip?

Once you have a better understanding of not just who your audience is, but how they think, you’re ready to start organizing them into what the marketing world calls “personas.”

“Probably no aspect of program design has a greater impact on outcomes than understanding the audience.”

Rodger Stotz

Incentive Research Foundation

Who is your target audience?

Demographics

Gender Age Income Job Role Location

Psychographics

Motivations Capabilities Attitudes Interests Aspirations

Crafting Personas

Personas are fictional profiles of a standard member of your target audience created using the most common demographics and psychographics from the group. Using these personas helps those managing and executing the incentive trip get a feel for who they’re trying to reach.

From the below three personas, we can see the differences in what it takes to motivate them, how they’ll each take advantage of a trip, and the impact it would have in their everyday performance. Most importantly, we have a better grasp of what destination would serve as a prize worthy of their aspirational goals.

Abel is a sales rep for a tech start-up.

Income: $120,000

Abel wants some free time but also loves any type of high adrenaline activity. Don’t waste your budget on $300 centerpieces and unidentifiable hors d’oeuvres. Abel’s good with a buffet. But throw in a great band at the after-party, and he couldn’t be happier.

Destination preference: Los Cabos

Gifting preference: Maui Jim Sunglasses

Karen sells beauty products, and lots of them!

Income: $60,000

Make sure there’s a dance floor, because she and her team are going to live it up at the award’s ceremony. A spectacular venue and gorgeous décor will make them all feel special and appreciated.

Destination preference: Paris

Gifting preference: Local artisan shopping experience

Paul is an Inside Sales Rep at a telecom call center.

Income: $45,000

He’s looking forward to a fancy hotel and looking like a rock star to his +1 at the awards ceremony. Throw in a welcome gift and a day-pass for the local hop-on hop-off tour bus, and you will have Paul’s loyalty (for at least another year).

Destination preference: San Francisco

Gifting preference: Room credit for a nice dinner at the hotel

Destinations

Selecting an incentive travel destination.

As you’ve seen from understanding your audience, selecting a motivational destination can be a delicate mix of both science and art. This is where the expertise of an experienced incentive travel professional can be extremely valuable.

Professional incentive travel managers and meeting planners are well-versed in matching audiences with the right destinations, as well as flight options, “incentive-quality” hotels, and activities that are crafted specifically for the trip.

They’ve traveled all around the globe, seen plenty of resorts from the inside-out, vetted amazing experiences, and built strong local partnerships. They know the hot-list of new openings and the properties with not-so-hot service.

according to Incentive Travel Index from The Incentive Research Foundation , Society for Incentive Travel Excellence , and Financial & Insurance Conference Professionals

Hot Spots for Incentive Trips

Keeping up with the top incentive travel destinations is a part-time job in it itself. Knowing the trends, risks, and value of each destination is just another strong reason why hiring a professional incentive travel planner is worth the line in the budget.

Here is a list of the top 20 incentive travel destinations for 2022, 2023, and beyond to draw inspiration and provide fresh ideas.

incentive trip themes

Umbria & Puglia

Undiscovered Italy

incentive trip themes

Castles & Green Countryside

incentive trip themes

Good Value for your Euro

incentive trip themes

Second-Tier Europe

incentive trip themes

Northern Lights & Geothermal Baths

incentive trip themes

Muy Mucho 5-Star Resorts

incentive trip themes

Rebuilt, Renovated, Reopening

incentive trip themes

West Indies

Secluded Island Luxury

incentive trip themes

3 Resort Options in 1

incentive trip themes

Sub-Sahara Safaris

incentive trip themes

New Zealand

Fantastic Scenery

incentive trip themes

Machu Picchu & Peruvian Culture

incentive trip themes

Journey the Malacca Strait

incentive trip themes

Bucket-list Bungalows

incentive trip themes

Deep South, USA

Lowcountry Hospitality

incentive trip themes

Say Aloha to Hawaiian Renovations

incentive trip themes

Whistler & Banff

Great Outdoors of Canada

incentive trip themes

Festival Spots

Local Extravaganzas

incentive trip themes

Wild West Glamping

5-Star Tents

incentive trip themes

Euro River Cruise

Explore Villages

Avoiding Common Mistakes

NOT a CEO Getaway

Many CEOs are avid golfers, so the 4-handicapper thinks the most motivational destination would be Pebble Beach or last year’s British Open . However, golf is on the decline with Millennials and Gen-X. It can be difficult to steer the ship away from the boss’s favorite course, but always keep the true purpose of the trip in front of everyone’s mind.

NOT an Executive Committee Retreat

The Sales VPs love the 5-star brands of Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton , but the rank-and-file folks live on 3-star budgets and feel uncomfortable with $40 breakfast buffets, $30 cheeseburgers, and $20 drinks. Sometimes there’s no need to use up the budget on high-end accommodations or dining options, especially when it comes to the comfort of attendees.

NOT the Meeting Planner Favorite

If you’re the corporate planner tasked with choosing destinations, avoid projecting your personal preferences too – whether it’s beach or mountain, historical or metropolitan, Mexico or Europe, etc. Always hold your audience’s preferences above your own (as difficult as it may be.)

golfer negative

Typical Agenda

Incentive trip itinerary at-a-glance.

Staying on schedule can be one of the most difficult parts of managing an incentive trip.  Providing itineraries that foster relationship-building, celebrate accomplishments, and offer some freedom and flexibility of choice will keep your group happy and organized.

historic tour 640

Arrivals Welcome Reception Dinner

Group Activity Dine-arounds

Choice of Activity Award Dinner

Day at Leisure Dinner at Leisure

Choice of Activity Farewell Reception Farewell Dinner

Building a Budget

How much should we spend on our incentive trip.

Recent research from both SITE ( Society of Incentive Travel Excellence ) and the IRF ( Incentive Research Foundation ) pinpoint the average incentive travel budget per person at $5,193.

However, the number of nights and locations will drastically impact the budget. For example, $2,000 per person might be enough for a domestic 3-night trip to Miami, San Diego, or Las Vegas for retail managers or call center reps. But, a budget of $6,000+ per person would be necessary for a Hyatt resort in Hawaii or a 6-night trip to Italy to motivate a six-figure sales audience.

The average cost of an incentive trip per person

Budget Drivers

Number of trip qualifiers (and guests) Destination 3, 4, or 5-star Hotel Duration – # of Nights Airfares Ground Transportation

Events, Receptions, and Gala Dinners Decor & Entertainment Other Meals or Meal Allowances Number of Activities Gifts & Giveaways Promotional Communications

Zero Net Cost

Some may be intimidated by reaching out to incentive travel companies fearing cost or long commitment contracts. Rest assured that incentive travel companies work diligently to keep your business year-over-year by adding fresh ideas, impeccable service, and stringent negotiating to meet your bottom line.

In fact, when most clients ask if hiring an incentive travel company is more expensive, they discover that the ~15% agency fee is offset by savings generated by an incentive agency’s expertise in finding better rates on lodging and events, local partnerships with the best discounts on activities and dining, and avoiding hidden costs and fees ahead of time.

More often that not, clients realize there’s zero net cost overall by hiring an incentive agency due to these advantages, and that doesn’t include your valuable time as the owner of the program internally. Freeing yourself from having to plan an entire incentive trip alongside your day-to-day responsibilities can prove to be invaluable for both you and your team.

Calculate your Budget

The budget drivers are helpful in realizing what factors will need to be considered before making your cost projections, and ultimately, what your incentive trip will include and what will be left out.

But how much does each budget driver affect your bottom line?

Luckily for you, we have a handy incentive trip budget calculator that gives you a decent starting point. Play around with different “what-if” scenarios, like increasing your number of winners or choosing a domestic over international.

Unique Events

Creating unforgettable events.

Extraordinary, memorable events are what separates a top-notch incentive trip from a mere corporate-funded vacation. For new trips, experienced planners can be a huge help in crafting superior, and budget-friendly, events.

A typical schedule will open with a welcome reception on-property to facilitate new relationships and keep the schedule light after a day of travels. Creative planners will highlight the best venues, whether it’s poolside, on the beach, or on a patio or lawn with jaw-dropping views. Don’t be afraid to ask resorts if you can utilize space outside of the ballroom.

Mid-trip evenings are often filled with “dine-arounds” to take winners off property to experience popular restaurants. Or, incentive planners will tap unique local venues for a creative group dinner experience, like a Napa wine cave dinner or renting a celebrity’s private estate. You can dive even deeper into local authenticity by finding dining club parties where locals prepare a meal for guests in their own homes.

The final night is traditionally a gala dinner filled with recognition of top achievers, step-and-repeat photos, a refined menu, and upscale décor and entertainment. Creative planners will recommend the best spot, whether it’s on the beach, dressing up a ballroom, or a unique venue nearby. 

wine cave dinner

Activity Options for Incentive Trips

Unique, local, and authentic experiences are becoming the biggest trend of successful incentive trips. In years past, activities usually included golfing, spa days, and a catamaran sail. Today, it seems every destination has a zip line tour, a snorkel sail, and an ATV excursion!

Incentive travelers crave new experiences, especially the up-and-coming Millennials. Many travel planners are adding new twists to the traditional tours to stray from the beaten path and keep participants excited.

CMPs ( Certified Meeting Planners ) will collaborate with destination partners to offer activities that are unique to the location – such as cenote cave swims in Riviera Maya, Napali coast boats in Kauai, or Lord of the Rings tours in New Zealand.

african safari

Gifts that "WOW"

Incentive travel gifting is an art.

Room gifts, or “pillow gifts,” are a fun way to surprise and delight newer winners. They are simple to administer because everyone gets the same item, and they are often less expensive at $25 to $50.

Individualization   was the first trend in gifting by engraving or monogramming the standard pillow gift, such as a monogrammed bathrobe, an embossed leather item, engraved wine glasses, or a Waterford crystal bowl.

Choice   became the next trend in personalization. Maui Jim pioneered gifting experiences by bringing 12 styles of their high-end, polarized sunglasses and letting attendees pick their favorite pair of shades. Recent entrances to the gifting category include other sunglasses brands, Bose headphones and Bluetooth speakers, watches, shoes, sandals, handbags, and more.

One word of caution : executing a gifting experience in a foreign country or small island is not as easy as shopping your local megamall. Adequate inventory, shipping challenges, and high import duties can create headaches quickly.

Localization   is the most recent trend where gifts are sourced locally with artisans, which can be unique and cost-effective in foreign countries. One of our all-time, most popular gifts were custom-fitted, Italian-leather gloves in Florence.

incentive trip themes

Communications

Don't let your trip be the best-kept secret.

Far too often, the incentive promotion strategy is an afterthought. Like any successful marketing effort, an effective incentive program needs a comprehensive campaign strategy, creative theme, and rhythmic messaging to create top-of-mind awareness.

In today’s world, people are bombarded with media. Emails stuff inboxes at the rate of 200+ per day. Users glance for a nanosecond, with their index finger on the delete-key, rapidly clicking like a teenage video gamer.

It’s vital that your promotional strategy does not depend solely on a few emails. Your message must break through the clutter.

Create a Trip Website

A trip website offers dual benefits – good promotion during the qualifying period and an efficient registration form after winners are announced. A pretty web design can be easy because travel is visually engaging. A microsite serves as a central portal for the schedule, hotel info, activities, rules, and a contact page.

During registration, the online form automates data capture of the winner’s information including guest name, flight departure airport, passport numbers and expiry dates, activity selections, food allergies, and dozens of other preferences. While a microsite provides pull communications, motivational push communications must be sent too.

A clever, attractive theme can go a long way. Use the natural attraction of the travel destination for visual interest. Here’s a quick list of communication recommendations:

Teasers .   Before officially announcing the program, distribute a teaser — something that hints of events to come. It might be a small promotional item or a visually-appealing mailer to pique interest. We recommend one giveaway at kickoff and another at program mid-point to serve as an effective reminder.

Kickoff Announcement.   Custom design a promotional flyer to generate excitement and share high-level details. Promote the trip and direct everyone to the incentive website for full details.

Sales Kickoff.   If you have an SKO (sales kickoff), put together a video or PowerPoint slides. One client rolled in iced buckets of Jamaican Red Stripe beer to announce a Caribbean trip.

Graphical Email.   Create an HTML email template for year-long use.  

Postcards.   Direct mail postcards are making a dramatic comeback. Email marketing is over-saturated with declining open rates and click-through. Mail an inexpensive postcard each quarter. Mail it to their home, and you catch the attention of the family too!

Posters.   18×24 sized posters are super billboards in large offices.

Leaderboards.   Track achievements, promote competition, and give recognition with regularly-updated, online leaderboards. 

Winners’ Kits. Make your qualifiers feel like VIP’s before the trip begins with a themed winner’s kit that has some destination-specific gifts and information on what’s to come. 

incentive trip themes

High-Touch Logistics

On-site management is key.

While we focus on on-site logistics and hospitality services, it would be a big mistake to overlook the many, many more hours of pre-trip meeting planning. A globe-trotting incentive planner gives valuable advice, manages the hundreds of pre-trip planning details, and guarantees your program goes off without a hitch.

An on-site, travel manager serves as a single point-of-contact, ensuring the highest level of service. The experienced manager will coordinate transportation to the hotel, host the hospitality desk, and supervise support staff and suppliers. Additional “TDs” (Travel Directors) will ensure your winners are treated like VIPs and oversee all functions and activities.

CAUTION!  Be careful when sending internal corporate employees to manage the trip as a perk. Not only will they lack the expertise, but more importantly, if their travel was presented as a perk, they will not want to stay up until midnight waiting for delayed flights, advance breakfast preparation at 6 a.m., or sweat with vendors on event décor setup.

Just how much needs to be managed on-site?

Attendee Flight Arrivals Transportation and Pickups Hotel Room Check-Ins Hosting the Hospitality Desk Food & Beverage Management Arranging Room Drops and Pillow Gifts

Directing Support Staff Security and Emergency Planning Setting Up and Checking Audiovisual Enforcing the Schedule and Itinerary VIP Services for Winners and C-Suite and so much more…

Risk Management

The ultimate responsibility of any meeting planner or incentive travel director is safeguarding the health and safety of their travelers. Incentive travel companies are certified experts in preparing for all possibilities because they’ve seen everything that can impede on your incentive travel plans.

Work with a professional agency to create contingency plans for everything: What if a participant gets sick or hurt onsite? What if transportation breaks down en route to an activity? What about if a weather catastrophe forces a cancellation?

There are seemingly endless questions to ask yourself when preparing ahead of time to   manage your incentive travel program’s risk . Hiring an incentive pro will take the guesswork out of the equation and insure you and your group focus on having an amazing experience rather than worrying about what could go wrong at any moment.

Hire an Incentive Pro

How to hire an incentive travel agency.

If your incentive travel group is larger than 40 people (usually 20 qualifiers and 20 guests), we highly recommend that you hire an incentive travel company to take the reigns and work with you on creating an unforgettable trip.

Take Your Learning to the Next Level

incentive trip themes

This site is an informational resource for companies starting an incentive trip or looking to improve their trip with new ideas, travel trends, or tips from the experts. If you have any questions or want to discuss program needs, feel free to reach out!

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972-661-6000

[email protected]

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What is incentive travel? (4 Incentive travel program examples)

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Free holidays for your staff—what’s that all about?

Isn’t incentive travel just frivolous corporate spending, used by giant organisations with more money than sense?

Although corporate incentive travel can be expensive and difficult to deliver, it is still one of the most effective ways to motivate individuals , reward desirable behaviour and boost performance.

In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about incentive travel and how it can help you reach your company goals. ‍

What is incentive travel?

Incentive travel motivates or incentivises a group of people by rewarding top performers with an all-expenses-paid trip. Organisations can decide to offer the travel perk to individual employees , departments, partners, or VIP clients.

You can use travel incentive programs to achieve your core business objectives like boosting quarterly sales figures, improving the quality of interactions between employees and executives, or nurturing relationships with high-spending or loyal customers. This is done by setting clear and attainable objectives that your target group will strive to achieve in order to win a place on the trip.

So what are some examples of incentive travel programs and what they can achieve? ‍

4 Incentive travel program examples

Incentive travel programs can be used to achieve a variety of desired outcomes from improved employee engagement to client spending incentives. Let’s take a closer look at four possible uses of corporate incentive travel programs. ‍

1. Employee motivation

One of the best ways to overcome organisational challenges such as low productivity, employee turnover and poor customer service is by developing travel incentives for staff. Motivating your employees with attractive travel rewards is an effective strategy for boosting employee engagement , altering attitudes, fostering teamwork, building morale and embedding new company values.

An employee motivation travel program is designed to bring your workforce together and inspire group interaction through an itinerary of teamwork exercises and experiential activities. This isn’t a free holiday, rather, it’s a purposeful team-building retreat with clear desired outcomes.

Example: Your technology scale-up has grown rapidly and you now have a large workforce with employees working remotely across the globe. Daily tasks are running smoothly, but your team isn’t motivated and the company culture is stagnant.

So, you reach out to a third-party retreat planner to help you organise a five-day team-building retreat in Honolulu full of unique team-bonding activities and carefully selected team-building games . The itinerary is specifically designed to strengthen interpersonal relationships and improve communication. ‍

2. Rewards and recognition

Incentive travel can be used to exemplify desirable behaviours and reward top achievers. Actions like bringing in big clients, promoting company values and going the extra mile should be encouraged by offering incentive awards.

Because these trips are offered as a reward or recognition for exemplary behaviour, the itinerary focuses more on pleasure and leisure activities rather than workshops and training events. After all, the idea is to motivate other employees to perform better, not deter them.

Example: You run a successful restaurant franchise and you want to generate more positive online reviews. At the beginning of the year, you announced that the top five servers to have their names mentioned in the most five-star reviews would win a trip to Tuscany, Italy .

The trip sounded fantastic, with relaxing vineyard tours, delicious cuisine and a luxury hotel. Excitement for the trip started to build and soon enough, the five-star reviews started rolling in. 

By the end of the year, five top-performing servers were rewarded with an all-expenses-paid trip to the picturesque region of Tuscany, Italy. ‍

3. Sales incentives

Sales incentive trips work in a similar way to rewards and recognition, but in this case, they’re geared towards more quantifiable corporate objectives such as increased sales and revenue.

Before planning the incentive group travel, you must first establish the requirements for attendance. To drive better sales figures, you should set goals slightly higher than what your employees would typically achieve.

These incentive travel programs are designed to be a reward, so the agenda should be made up of pleasurable activities including relaxing dinners, unique experiences, evening entertainment and free time to explore the destination.

Example: You own a company that sells renewable energy contracts door-to-door. You notice that your sales figures have started to drop and you want to do something to inspire your sales team to up their game.

You consider offering a cash bonus, but quickly decide a once-in-a-lifetime experience is more likely to resonate with the whole team and inspire them to make more sales.

You set new speculative yet attainable sales targets and announce a free employee holiday to Mammoth Lakes, CA , for anybody who achieves them.

The employee incentive travel program successfully motivates your team to push for more sales and your revenue starts to improve. ‍

4. Customer loyalty

Incentive tours can equally be used to cement relationships with loyal and high-paying clients. They sweeten the professional relationship and offer an incentive for the customer to continue doing business with you.

These are usually luxury trips, with plenty of time to relax, explore and enjoy unique experiences.

Example: You own a company that provides catering for corporate events. One of your clients, a major event planner, has been enlisting your services for a long time and you want to give them a reason to continue working with you.

You decide to create an incentive travel program. Each time the event planner books your catering company, they earn points that can later be cashed in for an incentive travel award.

This could be a relaxing spa weekend in Helsinki or a sunny beach holiday in Gran Canaria . ‍

What’s the objective of your incentive travel program?

It’s easy to see why incentive travel is often confused for a free holiday. After all, incentive trips are designed to be desirable and reinforce certain behaviours.

They wouldn't work if the itinerary was full of meetings, product demos and feedback sessions.

So when you’re designing your travel incentive program, consider your desired outcomes. Do you want to encourage your top clients to spend more? Do your new hires need help integrating with the rest of the team? 

Once you have the answers to these questions, you can go about planning a trip with an itinerary that supports your goals.

Surf Office has almost 10 years of experience planning fully customised work retreats for major organisations such as Google, Shopify, Hotjar and more. If you're looking to organise a motivational team-building retreat , we’d be delighted to hear more about it!

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What is Incentive Travel? Planning, ROI, & More

by J.Shay Team | May 4, 2020 | Incentive Travel

Incentive travel

A Comprehensive Guide to Incentive Travel Programs

Get this:  93% of top-performing companies’ executives believe that non-cash incentives grant their business a competitive advantage.

You read that right!

Almost every business leader of any company in the top 20% of their vertical has said they depend on  non-cash  incentives to out-win their competitors. And by far the most effective non-cash incentive is a travel incentive program. Why? Because incentive travel programs increase production from your staff, lower attrition rate, keep your top performers humming and attract top talent from your competitors.

If your business is not in the top 20%, you should be thinking of how you can launch and sustain an effective incentive travel program. And if you are already a top-performing business, you should be asking yourself how you can  improve.

Table of Contents

What is Incentive Travel?

Incentive travel, also known as an incentive trip, or incentive trip program, is  one of the most popular non-cash awards  that’s used by organizations to motivate sales staff, partners, and even customers to greatly increase sales, keep their best reps from leaving, and motivate the remaining sales staff to pick it up.

Every company names their incentive travel program differently, but common names you have likely heard are:

  • President’s Club
  • Winner’s Circle
  • Achiever’s Club

These incentive travel programs are based on annual goals. For most organizations, it means achieving production that is significantly higher than what’s expected (or average). For sales, it could mean that your representatives must achieve 115% or 120% of their annual quota before qualifying for the trip.

Incentive travel involves a getaway trip lasting more than 3 days where (almost) everything is funded by the company. The trip is often hailed as the ultimate reward experience for your top performers within any department, although Sales is the most common department leveraging any incentive travel.

Now you may be thinking, “Sending X number of top performers on a 3-day all-expenses paid trip must cost a fortune!” But think of this: by requiring employees to significantly surpass their quota to qualify, your bottom line experiences a MAJOR boost. Incentive travel allows for a huge return on your investment !

What Kind of ROI Can You Expect from a Travel Incentive Program?

A professionally planned and executed incentive trip has an almost 20% increase in productivity  in the short term (<6-month mark) , creating an ROI of 112%!!

In the long term, the IRF has proven that productivity increases by  44-48% in the long term (> 6-month mark), f urther pointing to incentive travel as the most lucrative form of rewards.

Every year C-levels huddle together to talk about how they can improve sales by 3, 5, or possibly even 10%. If you aren’t already leveraging incentive travel, it can be one of the most straightforward ways to hit your annual goals, and then some.

What’s Included in Incentive Travel?

Incentive Trip Cabo 2

Most incentive trips are fully funded by the company – end to end. This includes:

  • Lavish destination
  • Luxury hotel
  • Included allowance
  • Nightly dine-around options
  • Air travel & transportation
  • Awards ceremony
  • Central theme
  • On-site staffing
  • Entertainment

Incentive travel programs are an enormous amount of work to plan and execute, many times beginning over a year in advance of the trip… but the awards are enormous.

Why Host an Incentive Travel Program?

The  Incentive Research Fund (IRF) , through extensive study, has found that  non-cash rewards significantly increase production , lower attrition rates, and build a company’s culture.

When looking specifically at non-cash incentive methods, incentive travel stands out as the most lucrative option.

Tangible non-cash rewards, on the other hand, can linger in in a reward earner’s memory for years. Experiential travel rewards, for example, create lasting memories and positive associations with the organization that provided the reward (Jeffrey, 2017).

Lower Attrition Rate

If you haven’t seen our  master class video on the value of internal events , attrition rates are lowered by over 30% with a professionally planned travel program.

The average cost to replace an employee is 150% of their first year’s salary and is one of the most expensive costs for any organization: losing tenured top performers. A 30+% decrease in attrition is huge!

Build a Company Culture

Don’t let your company be known for the cubicles, the clock-in, clock-out 9-5 hustle, and year-end plastic trophies. There are plenty of others that already have that reputation locked up, and it’s not a label that employees are proud of. Implementing an annual incentive trip is one of the top events you can leverage to build a company culture!

An incentive travel program gives your employees an annual goal to strive for, creating teamwork and dedication from January through December. Additionally, it creates memories that extend beyond the 4 walls of your business, affecting your employees on a personal level.

Types of Incentive Travel Programs

Presidents Club case study

While incentive travel programs are usually targeted towards sales teams, companies can offer the incentive to top individuals in other departments to create healthy motivation throughout the organization.

Sales Programs

Over 50% of companies that use non-cash incentives use a sales incentive travel program to boost revenue. Organizations will usually announce their destination and resort at the tail-end of their  sales kickoff , and set forth the requirements. This caps off  a rally event  with a powerful and motivational sales goal that a sales team will strive for over the next 12 months.

Channel Programs

Channel incentive travel programs are experiences provided by a manufacturer to a retailer for meeting their predefined goals. While a sales staff is an in-house source of income, a business often depends on a large source revenue from channel sources.

Channel partners often have multiple products or services in their portfolio,  even from competitors;  offering non-cash-based incentives are an amazing way to ‘move the needle’ in your favor.

Why Incentive Travel Works

incentive trip cabo

A professionally executed program alters human behavior. As we all know, motivation is a powerful thing. It can completely change our perspective on why something is important and how bad we want it.

The benefits of an incentive travel program are numerous, and affect behavior through several angles:

Recognition & Trophy Value

As a sales guy, making the club is the ultimate goal. Everyone’s quotas and associated ‘earnings packages’ usually vary, so hitting the qualifying mark for President’s Club is universal for all sales staff (ex. 115% of quota).

This creates a competitive nature that reps, as well as management, actively discuss. It doesn’t matter what level you are as a sales rep, on the lead generation team, inside sales, field sales, or management. Because of this, almost every salesperson trying to hit the qualifying mark for their incentive trip thinks of the actual status first, and the money comes after.

Sentimental/Memories

Cash evaporates quickly, but trips create memories as well as bonds. Those memories and bonds get tied to your business creating loyalty, motivation, and appreciation.

This is a large reason why top earners tend to stick around longer at companies that provide incentive programs.

Incentive Travel Program Mistakes to Avoid

Not all incentive travel programs get rave reviews from your attendees. If you’ve been a part of even just a couple, you are aware that top-performers can be hard to please. There are high expectations and if you want to meet and exceed them, it’s important you avoid making some common mistakes.

Here are the 3 of the biggest mistakes we see organizations make with their incentive travel programs:

  • Incorporating Too Many Work Functions

In our experience, the most negative feedback from trip attendees is the number of work programs that are inserted into a trip. Companies need to remember that while you absolutely should incorporate key company get-togethers, they should not involve actual work, and be  extremely  limited.

  • Ignoring Group Dynamics

10 of your sales team members hit it out of the park and qualified for your annual incentive trip. Awesome! What’s not awesome, or very helpful, is assuming all 10 people will want to go on a golfing trip to the Dominican Republic or an Alaskan cruise.

Before you put a deposit down and start booking rooms, it’s a good idea to take the temperature of your attendees before making any concrete plans. Simply send out a survey providing a few choices to understand the needs and preferences of your group.

  • Not Choosing the Right Destination

When adding those potential destinations to your survey form, be sure you brainstorm to come up with good ones. What makes a BAD destination? A couple of things:

  • A) It’s one that’s not easy to travel to for most participants (multiple stops and long travel days required), or…
  • B) The destination isn’t exotic or unique. The entire goal of an incentive travel program is to  motivate  your staff to perform better than they ever have. You can’t send your top performers to San Diego or even London and expect it to have the same revenue-boosting effects as if you had chosen Iceland or Argentina!

Having said that, domestic incentive trips still produce a positive ROI because the overall expense of your company is lower.

Speaking of great incentive travel destinations…

Top Incentive Travel Destinations

It can feel overwhelming trying to decide which destinations are worthy enough for your top earners. What should you do, throw darts at a map?

From our experience, here are the top incentive travel destinations that appeal to a majority of people:

West Ireland

Rugged coastline, friendly locals and rustic pubs, Ireland has a charm all its own. While Dublin is a top tourist destination, cities on the Western coast such as Galway and Clare offer a more authentic feel.

Lisbon is breathtaking, there is no denying. Incentive travel programs we’ve planned that sent their teams to Portugal were wildly successful. From touring rugged mountains to stunning palaces and quaint wineries, Portugal has something for everyone.

How can you send your team to another planet but not have them leave this one? Send them to Iceland. The landscape is other-worldly. Blue lagoons, Northern lights, geothermal baths, an incentive trip to Iceland is a trip your team won’t soon forget!

West Indies

From Antigua to St. Kitts & Nevis, the West Indies are glorious. We’ve never met one person that didn’t say yes to a trip to an absolute tropical paradise, replete with 5-star luxury accommodations!

Final Thoughts on Incentive Travel Programs

If your company is not already in the top 20% of your business vertical, incentive travel should be one of the first items your sales leadership discusses for their annual goal-setting meetings.

A professionally planned trip produces 112% ROI on average, and an increase in almost 20% of productivity.

Don’t be the company that has the mindset of, ‘We can’t afford to have a President’s Club this year’.  Based on study findings , your business should be asking,  ‘How can we afford not to have an incentive travel program this year?’

If you are looking for assistance with in creating the perfect incentive travel program, we’d love to wildly impress your executives and sales team!  Click here to get a call scheduled  with our expert incentive travel team to discuss further.

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Sales Incentive Trip: How to Make Yours Successful in 2023

You’ve chosen to take your team on an incentive trip this year. The beaches are already calling.

But where do you begin?

A successful sales incentive trip, or President's Club, is important to your bottom line and your employee engagement. But creating a successful trip is more than just selecting a cool spot and wishing for the best.

At its best, an incentive trip will motivate, reward and excite your employees, all within budget. At its worst, you could be facing an expensive flop of a trip.

Let's make sure your sales incentive program isn't a waste of time and money.

Here are our main tips to make it a success.

  • Set clear goals (and budget)
  • Example incentive trip agenda
  • Select your destination and consider logistics
  • Send out clear communications
  • Create Special Moments with Branding, Gifting, Entertainment and More 
  • Make Onsite Amazing: Participant Engagement and Motivation 

What is a Sales Incentive Trip?

A sales incentive trip is an all-expenses paid trip given to top sales performers. These trips are often called President's Clubs. Incentive travel programs give you the opportunity to pamper these sales employees while also motivating them to achieve their sales targets next year.

In fact, the Incentive Research Foundation found , " In 2022, the percentage that found group incentive travel to be ‘extremely’ or ‘very motivating’ increased to 91%, with only 1% stating they did not find incentive travel to be ‘motivating at all’."

These incentive trips also give your team the ability to mingle with other top performers as well as executive teams, which in turn will help teams bond and motivate each other for the year ahead.

sales incentive trip location on the beach with two chairs facing the ocean

Corporate incentive travel programs can include an array of your top-performing sales team, including account executives, SDRs, sales operations managers, and even marketing managers, as you see fit. We recommend analyzing your team on multiple levels to identify the right mix of top sales performers.

The key to successful sales incentive trips is a mix of the right destination, the right activities, and the right people. This article will cover how to make that happen.

1. Set Clear Goals (and Budget) Before You Start Looking at Location

What do you want to achieve with this incentive trip? Connect your employees to executives? Motivate them to perform even better next year? Reinforce company culture? Simply lift company morale?

Whatever your objectives are, make sure you clearly outline them and share them with your planning and executive teams.

These will be your guiding lights throughout the planning process, and will help you measure your program’s success once it’s complete.

Tying Incentive Program Goals to Budget

We often encourage our clients to think of the big picture when planning sales incentive trips. It’s more than just planning a trip on budget.

Sometimes the most important goals are the least tangible: creating inspiration, wowing attendees, or reinforcing your brand purpose.

Understand how these goals weave into your hardline numbers goals, then make sure to revisit them throughout the planning process.

Budget will be an important part of this planning process as well. Make sure you know what your top-line budget is, as well as how much you want to spend per person.

Take into account things like travel costs, activity costs, gifting, and more.

2. Design Your Program: Agendas, Activities, and More

The design of your incentive program is vitally important. Here are some key questions to ask as you craft your agenda.

  • Is this a week-long excursion or a couple nights of fun? IRF found that "Half (50%) indicated that a trip between 4-6 days would be ‘ideal’."
  • Do you want your executive team to attend?
  • Does your team need multiple scheduled activities or more free time?
  • Do you want team-building activities throughout?

Think through all the different aspects of your program, from duration to activity needs. How you can weave in elements like gifting or special events to create meaningful experiences?

Create a draft agenda for your event that you can share with executives.

Example Incentive Program Agenda

Here’s an example of an incentive travel program agenda:

  • AM/Day - Arrivals with special concierge welcome, gifts in rooms
  • PM - casual welcome dinner
  • AM - casual breakfast, optional yoga or morning workout at the beach
  • Day - selection of group activities, such as snorkeling, spa, jet skiing, or hiking
  • PM - taste of the local culture dinner with local entertainment
  • AM - group networking breakfast
  • Day - free day at resort, option to participate in give back volunteering activity
  • Small activities throughout the day, such as painting sessions, spa, yoga, etc.
  • PM - small dinner selections throughout the resort
  • AM - casual breakfast, free time
  • Day - selection of group activities
  • PM - celebration dinner with award ceremony
  • Final morning to enjoy free time

The Incentive Research Foundation found that "ample time to relax" is important to guests, " with 89% saying it was ‘extremely’ or ‘somewhat important.’" Downtime is essential for successful incentive programs.

3. Select Your Destination and Consider Travel Logistics

Now that you have an idea of what you want your sales incentive trip to look like, it’s time to start sourcing venues.

There are many considerations to make when selecting your venue, so we recommend checking out these recommendations on how to find the best location for your incentive trip.

Logistics Questions to Ask

  • Do you need to fly in people from around the world?
  • Or are most of your employees located in a central spot? If everyone is located in North America, it may not make sense to fly them all across the world (unless that’s enticing, of course).
  • How far is the location from the airport?
  • Will you need to coordinate buses?
  • Will your attendees want to visit the city near where you’re staying or do you want everything to stay within the resort you select?
  • What unique experiences will your attendees want to partake in?

These questions and more are covered in our guide to selecting the right destination .

sales incentive trip destination among Mediterranean hills and spanish-style buildings

Activities, Transportation, Shipping, and More

Beyond selecting your destination, you’ll need to figure out how to schedule activities, what transportation you need, where to order gifts, how to get supplies to your destination, and more.

With an eye on your budget, you’ll want to make sure you are getting the best bang for your buck while still providing local experiences for your team.

man jumping into the water from a water slide during a sales incentive trip

Incentive travel is meant to be exciting and rewarding for your team, so make sure they'll actually like what you choose to do.

Once you have these logistics in place, it’s time to start layering in communications, excitement, and more.

4. Create Excitement and Send Out Clear Communications

Communicating your program to your team is key to ensuring engagement and excitement for your sales incentive trip. There are several areas you can level up your communications, including social media graphics, registration communications, and pre-event gifting.

Custom Graphics

Many companies will create custom graphics for their incentive programs that employees can share on networks like LinkedIn to promote their selection for the trip. We love a custom "President's Club" logo for these graphics too. ( This kind of sharing is a major reason why incentive trips fare better than cash rewards .)

Registration Communications

Registration should include all the logistic info that your attendees need to know. This includes how to book their flights (or what company will be coordinating for them), how to reserve their +1’s spot, what to wear, what to expect, and where they should go for emergency info.

These can all be housed in one registration site that they can reference. Also consider sending a PDF option for them to download in case they don't have WiFi while they're traveling.

The Fun Stuff

There are many other ways you can create excitement and make your team feel special before the trip. Other touchpoints we like to include prior to the sales incentive trip are:

  • Gift box inviting them to register . This can include items they can bring on the trip, like a nice beach towel or sun hat.
  • Printed or virtual trip brochure. Build excitement for the trip and relay important information with a custom trip brochure.
  • “Hype” emails. Ongoing outreach that gets your team excited for the event.

examples of gift boxes for a sales incentive trip, including a branded box, branded towel, branded wine mugs, cocktail making kit, and bunny

5. Create Special Moments with Branding, Gifting, Entertainment and More

Your goal for your incentive trip is to drive home brand loyalty throughout the trip. Otherwise, it’s just another vacation for your team. Here are some suggestions for branding, gifting, and more.

Incentive Program Branding

There are several ways we like to reinforce branding during incentive programs. The key here is to make the brand feel like it’s part of the experience without being too obvious about it.

  • Custom incentive trip logo. Create a logo that’s used throughout your event and is exclusive to this trip. Any gifts that attendees take home will feel exclusive and they’ll want to sport the new swag.
  • Pillows, coasters, and more. Sprinkle your brand throughout the event with custom pillows and decor that is subtle but still consistent.
  • Fun surprises. We’ve had everything from the company name written in sand to logos projected on the walls at nighttime events. Think of unique ways to bring your brand into different scenarios throughout the event.

examples of local gifts for sales incentive trip, including olive oil and herbs from Mallorca

Incentive Gifting

Gifting is another area where you can reinforce your brand. We often like to mix luxury gifts with some branded opportunities. This could include local gifts wrapped in your branded gift bags or non-branded gifts coupled with branded postcards. If you’re looking for ideas, we’re happy to brainstorm with you.

Entertainment Branding

Think about how you can weave your brand into areas like entertainment as well. Does the sailboat you take out have a flag with your company logo? Will the evening entertainment sport a hat with your logo? What are some creative ways you can tie in your brand to areas beyond the decor?

We like to mix in local entertainment with branding to give an authentic travel experience while still reinforcing the brand.

6. Make Onsite Amazing: Participant Engagement and Motivation

Everything pre-event has fallen into place. Your attendees have successfully arrived at your destination and you’re excited to get the week kicked off.

The next part is key to ensure your goals are met: engaging and motivating your attendees.

If you’ve put all the right pieces into place, such as an engaging agenda and effective branding, then your attendees should be excited to participate.

Making sure all the activities run smoothly is key to making sure people actually participate and don’t just skip off to tan the whole weekend. 

But it’s also important that you, as the host, are able to give attention to your attendees and not spend the whole time trying to put out fires. This is where an incentive travel agency can really make sure the onsite portion runs smoothly so you can focus on your attendees.

Next Steps: Creating the Trip of a Lifetime

Your sales incentive trip is an opportunity to inspire and motivate your sales team for another great year.

Careful planning and facilitation will ensure you hit those goals.

This includes choosing the right destination for your group, planning a careful agenda, and making sure everything runs smoothly onsite.

There’s a lot to balance when planning a successful incentive trip. Having the right partners can help you create a successful incentive program without pulling your hair out in the process.

GoGather offers fully-managed or a la carte incentive travel programs for your incentive travel experiences, and can help you manage everything from site selection to gift sourcing. Learn more about our incentive travel offerings and reach out to us to brainstorm your next trip.

Plan Your Next Incentive Trip with GoGather

Frequently Asked Questions: Incentive Trips

What are incentive trips for employees.

Incentive trips are reward-based travel programs that companies can plan for employees. Incentive trips seek to reward and motivate employees in a group setting, with travel to exciting and new places.

Why are incentive trips important?

Incentive trips motivate, reward and inspire sales teams to perform. They also allow top-performing employees to connect and motivate each other in ways they might not be able to in a traditional office setting.

What is an example of incentivized travel?

An example of incentivized travel is: a biotechnology company had an excellent year and decides to plan a trip to Cabo to reward its sales teams. The company (and their events agency) plan everything from the 5-star hotel to flights to daily activities like sailing and horseback riding. Attendees are rewarded with fun evening events, upscale gifts, and time to relax with their plus-one.

How do you plan an incentive trip?

  • Begin with your goals and budget
  • Source locations based on your goals and budget
  • Select activities that your attendees will enjoy
  • Communicate travel arrangements and agendas clearly
  • Allow for leisure time and relaxing activities, like spa days
  • Create special moments with gifting and awards
  • Leverage an events agency, like GoGather, to help you manage all the moving pieces

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Katie Moser

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MTI Events

Planning a Corporate Incentive Trip? Remember These Do’s and Don’ts

  • October 5, 2018
  • Event Planning

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Incentive travel is a powerful tool that organizations can use to increase productivity within a team or department, strengthen relationships between employees and management, and retain top talent. Every successful incentive travel program, however, starts with careful planning.

The Do’s and Don’ts When Planning a Corporate Incentive Trip

Businesses organizing a corporate incentive travel program for their employees should be aware of these do’s and don’ts:

Do Choose the Best Dates

Employees have bad or “off” days from time to time. Additionally, their full attention may be on a task or a project that has an approaching deadline. Although sending your awesome employees on an incentive trip will be a great mood booster, it won’t benefit the business if the staff were to leave with pending, important tasks for completion. They’d likely be distracted, knowing they have unfinished business for the company whose funding their vacation.

Companies should decide on a date that perfectly aligns with the mood and workload of employees and the organizational goals of the business. The ideal time to schedule a trip involves a combination of the following:

  • Minimal requests for sick and vacation leave
  • Slow business periods at the office

Do Opt for “Never Been Done Before” Travel Experiences

Great companies that provide incentive travel programs to their employees do their best to add some uniqueness to the incentive . Instead of simply borrowing or copy-pasting ideas from other companies, come up with unique activities that make the whole travel experience memorable for your staff.

Do Create a Corporate Incentive Travel Checklist

Compiling a list of tasks to do during the trip is crucial, as it keeps things organized and helps you calculate expenses faster and more accurately. Whether you write your travel checklist on a notebook or use a pre-built online template is up to you.

Don’t Organize a Trip Without a Backup Plan

Even though you came up with an awesome travel plan, there’s always a chance that something will go wrong. Consider making backup plans in the event of a crisis. If the airline cancels your group’s flight, for instance, create a plan on what to do and where to go when such an unfortunate incident happens. Planning an incentive trip without crisis management situations and backup plans will set you up for failure.

Don’t Forget the Trip is for the Attendees

The attendees of your trip are the winners here. They earned this awesome reward, so you should make them feel like winners and let them enjoy their prize from beginning to the end. Avoid making decisions that favor the management more than the workers.

Don’t Do All the Planning or Organizing by Yourself

Turn to an experienced company who can take care of your trip’s logistics. One company you can consider as your trusted incentive travel planning partner is MTI Events. Our planning approach is both flexible and proactive. Just provide us with the details of what you want your staff to get out of the incentive trip, and we’ll take care of creating unique experiences customized to your company values and your employees’ interests.

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Creative Group

5 Unique Incentive Trip Ideas

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Sales Incentive Trip Ideas

Nearly 40% of u.s. businesses now use incentive travel to reward and recognize their top performing employees, salespeople, and channel partners, according to the incentive research foundation..

With more businesses offering incentive trips as a reward, and consumers experiencing more on their own (and sharing their experiences on social media) you might be asking yourself, “how do I make this incentive trip unique enough to be memorable and motivating for years to come?” Here are some unique incentive trips we’ve planned and how we make them that way.

  • Make it have an inspiring theme
  • Make it a learning experience
  • Make it a game
  • Make it exclusive
  • Make it a journey

Learn More About Incentive Travel

Incentive trips should have an inspiring theme

A little bit of creative thinking can go a long way. When you tie all of the elements of an incentive trip back to a main theme or purpose, the experience becomes more memorable. A nice dinner in a sculpture gallery was infinitely enhanced when attendees were invited to celebrate the essence of human movement. Strolling through the garden, attendees were immersed in acrobatic Cirque performances; and inside the gallery, paintings were mimicked by living replicas among the lavishly set dining room. Additionally, guests enjoyed an interactive cooking display with a celebrity chef, as he showcased creatively designed canapés. Learn more about this inspiring theme here: The Art of the Human Spirit

The Art of the Human Spirit

Incentive trips should be learning experiences

An incentive trip becomes transformational when participants are offered an educational opportunity. To foster an emotional attachment to the client brand and its coffee products, this Origin Experience  trip featured education unique to the Costa Rican coffee origin location, its farms, mills, people and culture. Throughout the five-day event, participants visited five farms, a co-op and a mill where the hulling, polishing, cleaning, sorting and grading of the coffee bean takes place. While participants were able to experience coffee harvesting techniques, they also experienced so much more than that. In the words of an attendee, “This experience has been life changing for me personally and at work. I am even prouder to be a partner and feel very blessed to be part of such an amazing company.”

the First Ten Feet

Incentive trips should include a game

There’s no better way to get incentive travel participants engaged than to immerse them into a game. At a Las Vegas event, we scripted and designed an experience that navigated winners through a dramatic and theatrically choreographed “Bond-like” production. Complete with villains and heroes, the interactive cash game included six separate performances and various on-the-spot awards, all while delivering our client’s executive messages. The Grand Finale topped off the celebration with lavish prizes, blasts of confetti, and an entrancing light show. Read more about the incentive event here:  One Night. Three Hours.

One Night. Three Hours.

Incentive trips should be exclusive

Not just any trip to Rome, the highlight of this incentive trip was the access granted to the group to many areas not normally open to the public. The guests enjoyed a private tour of the Vatican museums, including a tour of the Sistine Chapel where permission for photography was granted. Special approval was also received for dinner to be held in a beautiful, intimate “behind the curtain” room within the Vatican museums, where the group sipped wine and listened to the Vatican choir, led by the famous choir director, Monsignor Colino. The evening was capped off with an exclusive performance by an opera-caliber tenor and soprano that moved the audience to tears. More on this trip to remember here:  The Italian Job

The Italian Job

Incentive trips should be a journey

This group experienced an authentic desert adventure outside of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico during their trip. Participants caravanned through the desert in enclosed off-road vehicles and enjoyed themed pop-up stops along the way. First a thirst-quenching smoothie stand and then a history stop; where a naturalist guide spoke about the local flora and fauna and how/why people settled in Cabo. The final stop was the crown jewel of the day. The caravan ended at a beautiful beach that seemed to appear out-of-nowhere. A surprise brunch was waiting in a lovely white tent at the edge of the water. The group enjoyed champagne and an elegant brunch before taking a coach bus back into town. Read more about this group’s adventures here:  Keeping It Real For a Millennial Audience

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Incentive Travel Program For Employees

Have you ever considered taking your employees on a trip, and you haven’t found the best place to take them to? It might help for you to take a little while to analyze what your employees need and how you can go about it. We have just the right solutions for you. We are here to inspire you on new ideas for a great incentive trip or vacation with your employees.

Knowing More About Incentive Trips

First of all, we believe it will be great for you to take an incentive trip rather than just a vacation with your employees. What is incentive travel or trip? It is a trip that is created to motivate and encourage the employees of a company or its client. A good incentive trip or activity seeks to create a unified employee relationship for the group or reward a job well done. This sort of trip is a great way to increase and promote the productivity of both customers and workers; additionally, it helps increase the achievement of a goal or sales target. This article is to help you brainstorm ideas to enable you to have the best trip incentives or the best incentive travel packages for your employees or customers.

Purpose Of An Incentive Trip

Before you can specifically choose what incentive travel or trip you should choose for your company, it is essential that you know that corporate incentive trips must be uniquely creative and exciting. In that light, it is usually best to focus on sports and group activities; it is the perfect choice if you’re looking to promote good teamwork and competitive spirit within the company. These sporting activities don’t have to be about the physical alone it can revolve around cultural activities.

It is also vital to note that company incentive trips can be divided into two types; for groups and for individuals. Individual incentive trips aim to reward an employee for specific achievements, while the incentives to groups seek to enhance the closeness between the department members or a company.

Deciding On The Best Company Trips

While trying to decide on the best option for your trip, you should put into consideration several things. Firstly the incentive travel packages to take along with you, the location for the incentive vacations, how to make sure that the trip incentives actually achieve their aim of unifying and promoting the company. If all of these questions or points I’ve been answered, then you are set to go on the best company trip with your employees.

Below are some creative incentive trip ideas.

  • A golf getaway
  • Ski and snowshoe trip
  • A yoga incentive trip
  • Event incentive trip
  • Golf Getaway – it is true that planning a vacation can be more stressful than work at times, that is why we have worked to narrow down your search for an incentive trip idea to a golf getaway. Golf vacations are the perfect plan for a trip with no stress; you’ll be sure that everyone is going to get something in the end. Plus, a golf getaway helps you readily prepare for an incentive travel package. You’ll be able to easily acquire great amenities for luxury and save enough when you plan your trip.
  • Ski and Snowshoe Trip – this is a great winter exercise if you’re looking for a way to stay in shape when the snowfalls. Snowshoeing or skiing lets you extend your hiking and running season; all ages and ability levels can enjoy the sport together, which makes it a great social activity. Plus, the upside is it only requires a few basic techniques, and it is a beginner-friendly outdoor activity for your company trip.
  • Yoga Incentive Trip – this is very best for the individual incentive travels where the person is rewarded for his achievement in the company. By offering a yoga incentive trip to a person or a group, you can creatively unite and bond your whole company together through this indoor activity after a nice ski trip or a pleasant golf getaway. Yoga activities or incentive trips help you save money and also help you improve your company’s loyalty and unity at the same time.
  • Event Incentive Trip – this is probably the most effective form of a trip to woo your clients and their employees. You can easily create or book an annual event for your company members to attend together and share with them memorably the exciting events. Events incentive trip ideas range from film festivals to music festivals, comic book or film conventions, and a location-specific celebration (for example, a carnival in Asia or Brazil). Other ideas of an event or location-specific incentive trip are a visit to Giza’s great pyramids, the Colossus of Rhodes, Machu Picchu in Peru, a visit to the Great Wall of China or anywhere that attracts your attention employees or customers to feel they are really appreciated.

Hiring An Event Planner Or Trip Planner

Even after knowing all you need to know for a trip incentive, you might be finding it hard to plan and achieve your goal correctly. In cases like this, it is best to employ the help of an event planner like Smartworks to help you create the best and most memorable incentive trips for  employees. We can help you prepare the right incentive travel packages for your incentive vacations and also help choose the perfect incentive travel location for you and your company. It is never a bad thing to actually employ the help of a trip planning expert. So while you’re considering the type of events to go to, you should also properly consider how or who to handle the whole trip.

In the end, it is essential to note that the aim of the trip is what matters are not where the journey leads you to. The aim of the company’s unification, promotion of company products, rewarding an achievement or task, invocation just for relaxing the whole nerves in a company should be the fundamental motivation behind your choice of incentive for the trip. So, beat a trip to Barcelona in Spain for food tasting, oh and events travel to Brazil for conventions or carnivals, what matters is that you achieve the purpose of the trip.

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Top 20 Incentive Travel Destinations for 2024

The 20 best incentive travel destinations for 2024.

If your sales incentive trip or president’s club trip seeks fresh ideas, it may be time to consider new incentive travel locations. Our globetrotting experts put their heads together and selected their 20 favorite ideas for incentive trips, offering something popular for 2024 and beyond.   

This mix of beaches, mountains, cities, and countries was chosen based on their incentive-quality hotels, authentic activities, cuisine, and bucket-list appeal.   

The results are in, the latest reports from The Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) and Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) conclude international travel is booming; hotel availability remains tight in popular resort locations; and trip winners crave more downtime and less programming. Start daydreaming about your next incentive destination today!

1. Florence – Vineyards, Vespas, and Da Vinci

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Belmond Villa San Michele, courtesy of the hotel

Most well-traveled individuals find themselves in Rome, but Florence is the true gem, offering as little or as much adventure and relaxation as needed. Named the Jewel of the Renaissance for good reason, Florence is an open-air museum that wows at every turn and is an enchanting destination for your next incentive program. The city bustles with craft, culture, cuisine, architecture, and some of the most iconic art in the world. Participants can immerse themselves in the area’s cultural heritage by exploring iconic sites, sampling delicious cuisine and unparalleled wine, and leather shopping fit for queens and kings.  

Pairing Florence with the rolling hills of nearby Tuscany allows you the opportunity to offer the best of both worlds, just 40 minutes apart. Guests can explore Tuscany on Vespas, e-bikes, or classic cars; enjoy the breathtaking ancient cities of the region; jump in a 4×4 and explore the countryside; or indulge in some Chianti, which makes these hills famous.  

Plenty of incentive quality properties offer 5-star service to your top performers. The Four Seasons Hotel Firenze is in the northern stretch with gardens galore and the Michelin-starred Il Palagio restaurant. On the South end of Santa Maria Novella stands The St. Regis Florence , which has welcomed travelers since the 18th century. Also not to be missed, and once a Franciscan Monastery with a terrace said to have been sculpted by Michaelangelo himself, is the Belmond Villa San Michele. Carved into the Florence hilltop, the villa is a work of art, inside and out.  

2. Ireland – Castles & Green Countryside

Adare Manor

Adare Manor, courtesy of the hotel

The West of Ireland is framed by a rugged coastline and peppered with peninsulas, ports, pubs, and people (how about that alliteration?). The countryside is home to some of Ireland’s finest evening entertainment and folk sessions, and it plays a little more authentic than the more tourist-friendly Dublin.

Shannon Airport offers a convenient way in, and you’ll be greeted with spectacular countryside hotels, such as  Adare Manor , voted the #1 resort in Europe by the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards. Other castle hotels to impress the most well-traveled groups include  Ashford Castle  and  Dromoland Castle , or if holding court in a castle isn’t really your style, we recommend  Powerscourt,  or  the Carton House, a Fairmont-managed Hotel  located in the countryside just outside of Dublin or the gorgeous Europe Hotel and Resort down in Killarney overlooking the shores of lake Lough Léin for a picturesque and unforgettable experience for your group.

Travel trivia: What is the difference between a castle and a manor? A castle is a fort for fighting, and a manor is for country living!

3. Portugal – Good Value for Your Euro

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon, Portugal

Recent incentive trips to Portugal focused on Lisbon, Cascais, and Sintra; attendees considered it one of their all-time favorites! Take your group on a historical tour to Penha Palace in the Sintra Mountains and Quinta de Regaleira, or bike the Cascais (pronounced Kash-Ki-sssh) coastline, which offers a string of charming wineries. There are countless ways to “wow” participants with everything in reach. We recommend a minimum of four nights to make the most of your time in this dream destination.

The Penha Longa Resort (a Ritz-Carlton) is built on the site of a former monastery and offers a wonderful mix of culture and 5-star elegance , or consider the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon as a home base close to the Lisbon city center. You can see a full program guide for Portugal in  our blog post  outlining this bucket list trip, complete with event ideas and activities. 

4. Switzerland – Small Footprint, Endless Opportunities

The Reuss River in Lucerne

The Reuss River in Lucerne, Switzerland

A popular destination on everyone’s bucket list! Switzerland is a diversified country with so much to offer in a small footprint: from its majestic mountains and incredible villages of Zermatt, Gstaad, and Bürgenstock, to the scenic lake regions in Geneva, Lausanne, Montreux, or Lugano, or the bustling cities of Zurich and Bern – there’s truly a destination fit for any type of incentive. No matter which region you choose, they each offer visitors a variety of hotel options, including the ultra-luxury Bürgenstock Resort ,  Fairmont Le Montreux Palace , or Grand Hotel Zermatterhof .

Your group will have no shortage of activities and experiences from a visit to the  Olympic Museum  in Lausanne to the wine region recognized by UNESCO as the  Vineyard Terraces  in Lavaux, or a visit to the Freddie Mercury statue on the shores of Montreux, or the  Luzern Chapel Bridge . There are countless options for your incentive travel programs – but one thing is for sure: everyone will be surprised and delighted at every turn of their Swiss adventure. Still not convinced to give Switzerland a try? Our incentive experts have shared their Swiss learnings in our blogs: from the  array of destinations to choose from  to the  adventurer’s paradise of Zermatt .  

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5. Prague – Preserved Old-World Culture

Old Town Prague

Old Town Prague

Nicknamed the city of a hundred spires, Prague tops the list as one of the most unique cities in the world. The capital city of the Czech Republic offers your attendees one of the best-preserved countries on the planet. During World War II, Prague wasn’t as affected by bombings as many other European cities, as planes didn’t have the range to reach Prague. What’s left today are the gothic and medieval influences that make Prague a once-in-a-lifetime experience.    

On the older side of the famous Charles Bridge is the  Mandarin Oriental , a luxury hotel steeped in history. Today, it’s a modern retreat built on a 14th-century monastery, offering sweeping city views, spacious rooms, and a luxury spa. On the “younger” side of the Charles Bridge,   Four Seasons Hotel Prague  interweaves centuries of remarkable history with elegant accommodations, fine dining, and more in the middle of Old Town Square – not to mention the view of Prague Castle. Opening in 2024, Fairmont Golden Prague Hotel  is sure to make its mark. The magic of Prague can be experienced on foot, by vintage car, boat, helicopter, or bike. The city’s culture is vibrant, emphasized by music and the arts – offering something for everyone. Minutes away from the city center, groups can experience a private evening fit for royalty at the  Lobkowicz Palace . Prince Lobkowicz provides a personalized welcome experience, including a tour of the family’s private art collection.   

6. Dubrovnik – Second-Tier, But Not for Long

Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik

Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik, courtesy of the hotel

Second-tier destinations offer great value and greater ‘podium power’ the moment it’s announced as next year’s destination! Usually ‘off the beaten path’ and someplace even well-traveled salespeople haven’t explored yet where there is delight and surprise at every turn. Dubrovnik, Croatia sits atop that list with its historic walls offering a glimpse of an immaculately preserved Renaissance city.   

Hotel Excelsior  is one of our favorites, just a short walk into the old city and surrounding neighborhoods. Take a day trip to Ston an hour south and experience their preserved town walls, salt works, and mussels! The Peljasac Peninsula is unique and allows locals to harvest the best in the world. Simply WOW, if you like the shellfish—paired with an indigenous grape variety of white wine, of course!   

For those looking to e xperience the perfect blend of history and modernity , the Hilton Imperial Dubrovnik seamlessly fuses period charm with contemporary elegance. This captivating historic structure dat es back to 1897 and is located on the outskirts of Dubrovnik’s Old Town, offering breathtaking vi ews of the iconic red roofs and the mesmerizing Adriatic Sea. The hotel is also within walking distance of key attractions such as Pile Gate, Lovrijenac Fort, and Šulić Beach.  

Croatia and the surrounding Balkans offer an interesting mix of coastal activities with the Adriatic Sea and immaculate lakes scattered far and wide. It won’t be difficult to capture the attention of the well-traveled in the group with these hidden gems.   

7. Anguilla – Secluded Island Luxury

incentive trip themes

Belmond Hotel Cap Juluca, courtesy of the hotel

The current hot spot in the West Indies is undeniably the secluded island of Anguilla. Compared to many other Caribbean islands that host the masses, incentive groups will find something a little more authentic in Anguilla. What they won’t find are large cruise ship crowds, casinos, or high-rise hotels. Those are replaced by a surplus of clear, coral-filled waters, unpaved roads, and beachfront villa accommodations. The 5-star resorts offer varied experiences from Caribbean authenticity to modern luxury and have earned every star including  Four Seasons Resort Anguilla ,  Belmond Cap Juluca ,  Malliouhana Resort , and  Aurora Resort & Golf Club .   

Relaxation is the name of the game in Anguilla where your guests can experience many of the top-rated beaches in the world. Water activities are a must, and if you are looking to offer WOW, water transfer your guests to the private oasis of Sandy Island for an exclusive beach day they won’t soon forget.   

Other West Indies options include the gorgeous  Carlisle Bay  in Antigua; with its all ocean-front rooms and 5-star experience, this has always been a strong contender amongst incentive travel destinations. Many St. Kitts & Nevis properties have all undergone recent renovations, and several recent programs to  Four Seasons Nevis  can attest to their commitment to the highest standard of quality.   Park Hyatt St. Kitts  is another excellent luxury option full of Caribbean charm.   

8. BVI and USVI – Renovations and Relaxation

Westin Beach Resort & Spa at Frenchman's Reef (BVI & USVI)

Westin Beach Resort & Spa, courtesy of the hotel

The U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) offer unique benefits for incentive travel—no passport, no currency exchange, and no additional mobile network roaming charges make it easier on attendees. With great airlift direct from many U.S. airports, St. Thomas is the way in and offers a few great hotel options. The newly renovated Westin Beach Resort & Spa   at Frenchman’s Reef  (an incredible $420M rebuild from the former Marriott on that property) offers stunning turquoise views of the Caribbean Sea, the quintessential Caribbean town of Charlotte Amalie, from atop a 30-story cliff. During your visit, make sure to explore their Morningstar Buoy Haus Beach Resort , a hotel-within-a-hotel that offers around 90 rooms to create a boutique atmosphere and a beachside ambiance.

USVI adventures are best explored on the water—sailing, snorkeling (the best outside of Hawaii), kayaking, and dinner cruises to neighboring St. John offers a great way to explore the nearby islands.  

If you’re looking to elevate your Virgin Island experience , look no further than Rosewood’s Little Dix Bay , Virgin Gorda, in the British Virgin Islands (BVI). Sitting on a secluded half-mile crescent beach, with a world-class spa, Sense, set high up on a bluff with panoramic views, you’ll experience personal renewal at the highest level. BVI is made up of over 50 islands, islets, and cays, but make sure to get out on the water to experience snorkeling off the coast and into The Baths – gigantic boulders seemingly out of nowhere forming mini coves, hidden pools, and caves set this BVI beach apart from ALL others! Extra, extraordinary!  

9. Fiji – Where Business Meets Luxury, Culture, and Adventure

incentive trip themes

InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa, courtesy of the hotel

Fiji offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, luxurious accommodations, and diverse activities that make it an ideal destination for a business incentive or president’s club trip. It provides an opportunity for attendees to relax, connect, and create lasting memories in a stunning and hospitable environment. Denarau Island, connected to Nadi, is a major tourist hub and home to various resorts suitable for all budgets, but a standout option is the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa , situated on the picturesque Natadola Bay. This five-star resort offers 271 luxurious rooms, including Club Level rooms with private plunge pools and butler service, making it an excellent choice for discerning travelers.

The resort boasts an array of amenities, including four restaurants offering diverse dining experiences and two pools, including an adult-friendly Infinity Pool. The on-site Spa InterContinental offers rejuvenating spa treatments, and golf enthusiasts can enjoy the Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course, set against stunning ocean vistas.

As for activities, Fiji offers a range of experiences, from exploring the town of Nadi and its rich cultural history to adventure activities like zip-lining and hiking to waterfalls. Two must-try activities include  the Sigatoka River Safari , an eco-cultural tour that takes you deep into Fiji’s heartland, allowing you to interact with local villagers and experience their culture. Another unique adventure is  Cloud 9 , a floating bar located in the middle of the ocean, offering wood-fired pizza, music, and snorkeling opportunities in the beautiful Ro Ro Reef. Beyond the natural beauty and activities, it’s the warm and welcoming people of Fiji that leave a lasting impression on visitors, making a return to this tropical paradise highly anticipated.

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10. Costa Rica – Pura Vida Luxury

incentive trip themes

Four Seasons Resort, courtesy of the hotel

When you hear Costa Rica, you may think of the beautiful city of San Jose, but when incentive travel is the goal, the real reward is 130 miles northwest in the province of Guanacaste. Among the best properties in this area, you will find the  Four Seasons Resort  and the  Andaz Costa Rica  on the stunning Papagayo Peninsula. These two resorts offer all that is quintessentially Costa Rica, including amazing food, beautiful scenery, and monkeys on your balcony if you are lucky! From the peninsula, guests have access to the beach, water activities, zipline and jungle tours, white water tubing, National Parks full of local animals, and food and cocktail experiences that rival those in the cosmopolitan capital of San Jose.   

Thirty minutes south of Papagayo Peninsula is Playa Conchal. This area is home to the All-Inclusive  Westin Reserva Conchal  and the newer  W Costa Rica . Both have upscale beaches, great event spaces, and all you need to host an incredible incentive trip. Even further south is the beautiful  JW Marriott , with an authentic casita feel, this property is full of charm and personality, and they offer a meal plan so you can create your own All-Inclusive experience if that’s what you are looking to provide.   

11. Los Cabos – Muchos 5-Star Resorts

incentive trip themes

Las Ventanas al Paraiso, A Rosewood Resort, courtesy of the hotel

Los Cabos must have more 5-star resorts than anywhere else in the world. For many years, the accolades went to Auberge’s Esperanza ,  One & Only Palmilla ,   Rosewood’s Las Ventanas , and  Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal . Recent openings include an  Auberge Chileno Bay Resort ,  Montage Los Cabos ,  The Cape, A Thompson Hotel ,  Le Blanc Los Cabos , and  Viceroy Los Cabos . Plus, Grand Velas Los Cabos added a 5-star, 5-diamond all-inclusive hotel into the mix. And, the most recent 5-star openings (including several awards for top new hotels) are  Zadún, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve , and  the Four Seasons at Costa Palma , 45 minutes up the East Cape. With multiple new openings, we foresee competitive, downward pressure on rates ahead.

12. Punta Mita – The New Kid on The Block

Susurros del Corazón Resort

Susurros del Corazón, an Auberge Resorts Collection, courtesy of the hotel

Watch out Los Cabos; Punta Mita is fighting for its spot as Mexico’s latest in luxury and exclusivity. Nestled about 40 miles northwest of Puerto Vallarta, this secluded area of the peninsula is booming with the addition of many 5-star hotels like the newly opened  Susurros del Corazón , an Auberge Resorts Collection, and Conrad Punta De Mita . Longtime favorites   Four Seasons Punta Mita  and  St. Regis Punta Mita  are still attracting the it-crowd, and don’t count out the  Secrets & Dreams Bahia Mita Surf & Spa Resorts for all-inclusive groups. Not only does Punta Mita have accommodations to fit the needs of your next group, but the unique name of Punta Mita gives the destination an exotic feel as it’s less recognized among leisure travelers. To offer groups unique activities outside of the resort, consider a trip to the local village Sayulita for a taste of the local culture, artisan markets, surfing lessons, and some of the best tacos ever tasted!

13. Cusco – Machu Picchu and Beyond

Machu Picchu

The incomparable views of Machu Picchu

Found at the top of most people’s bucket list destinations, Machu Picchu within the destination of Peru is sure to wow even your most well-traveled achievers. Though this wonder of the world offers an amazing experience for groups, it’s worth noting that you will need to be prepared to embrace some of the logistical challenges of maneuvering this country. Upon arriving in Cusco, your group has the option of transferring to a lower altitude in the Sacred Valley for an easier adjustment before heading up to Machu Picchu either by the  Vistadome  train or the luxury  Hiram Bingham Belmond  train. Though there are a few properties up on Machu Picchu, a day trip will be plenty of time for most travelers to see and fully experience the historic area before returning back down that evening to the Sacred Valley host hotel.

Within the Sacred Valley, the standout accommodation option is the  Tambo Del Inka Hotel which offers quick access to many of the best cultural and historic activities in the destination. Consider a split between a few nights in Sacred Valley focusing on history and culture, before heading back up to Cusco for a couple of nights to enjoy the livelier Peruvian city life.  Cusco has a special charm with key sites such as The Plaza de Armas and Cusco Cathedral, both UNESCO Heritage sites, and the lively San Pedro Market which allows travelers to be immersed in the local scene with an opportunity to experience authentic Peruvian cuisine firsthand. The Belmond Hotel Monasterio ,  Belmond Palacio Nazarenas , and  Palacio del Inka , a Luxury Collection Hotel, are all excellent hotel accommodations for this area of the country.

14. Dubai – Bigger, Better, and Always Evolving  

incentive trip themes

Dubai Skyline from Cloud 22

The whole essence of Dubai is to make the impossible come to life. It’s no wonder that this destination is Cvent’s #1 sourced destination in the regions of the Middle East and all of Africa. With man-made islands in the shape of palm trees to an indoor ski resort that’s steps away from the desert sun to old city Dubai and its rich culture, and even the architectural feats and futuristic innovation of downtown, it’s no doubt this destination is a bucket list for many.  

When it comes to hotels, the question really isn’t where to stay but how do you choose? The sheer quantity of high-end luxury hotels is impressive. From homegrown brands such as Jumeirah (13 amazing hotels in Dubai alone) to the internationally recognized 5-Star brands like St. Regis , Four Seasons , Fairmont , and multi-representation from the brands within the big players Hyatt, Hilton, and Marriott, each property seems even more grand than the last.   

To top it off, the overall level of service within the destination is sure to exceed your expectations. Luxury is simply the way of doing business here, meaning there is truly something extraordinary for groups of all shapes, sizes, and budget parameters. For groups looking to do offsite activities you can’t miss the opportunity to take a day trip out to the neighboring Emirate city of Abu Dhabi, known for the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, or load them up on off-road vehicles for a day of activities and campsite dinner in the desert complete with sand boarding, camel riding, and henna tattoos!  

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15. African Safari – Big Five Bucket List

incentive trip themes

Wilderness Linkwasha, courtesy of Exclusive Touch Africa

Looking for a true “trip of a lifetime”?    African Safaris have long been on most “bucket lists” for good reason. Offering such a diverse variety of experiences within its 54 countries, there are clearly many ways to experience Africa.   

The most familiar and reliable is the region of South Africa, building a split program between Cape Town and the nearby safari camps in Kruger National Park, one of the largest game reserves in Africa. We also recommend consideration of Zimbabwe which offers smaller, more intimate ultra-luxury camps such as Linkwasha paired with Victoria Falls, one of nature’s seven natural wonders of the world. When it comes to luxury accommodations, Victoria Falls has you covered with some fantastic options. Picture yourself at the elegant Victoria Falls Hotel , perched right by the falls, or the splendid Royal Livingstone on the Zambian side of the river.  

Kenya and East Africa have gained quite a reputation for their top-notch lodgings and unforgettable camp experiences. And if you’re looking for a truly up-close and personal adventure, Uganda and Rwanda are the go-to destinations for immersive gorilla safaris. So, whether you’re mixing business with pleasure or simply seeking some well-deserved R&R, these destinations have got you covered!  

16. Big Island – Say Aloha to Hawaiian Renovations

Mauna Lani

Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection, courtesy of the hotel

With significant updates to some of the finest resorts in Hawaii, the Big Island has fresh reasons to entice groups.  Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection  focuses on a luxurious, authentic Hawaiian experience with the spotlight on culture, cuisine, and experiences unique to the Big Island. With a $100 million investment by Auberge Resorts, Mauna Lani feels like a grand opening and consistently ranks in iconic lists by Travel + Leisure .  The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort  rises above a half-mile of golden crescent sand that always lands  Hapuna Beach  on “best beach” lists.  Rosewood’s Kona Village  added another 5-star jewel after a grand renovation to an iconic resort. The 2023 opening is right up the beach (or lava field) from the perennial-winning  Four Seasons Hualalai . If you are thinking, “Our group already went to Hawaii,” Brightspot recommends visiting a  different Hawaiian island every 3 years  for varied experiences at top-ranked islands.

17. Santa Barbara – The American Riviera

incentive trip themes

Hotel Californian, courtesy of the hotel

Santa Barbara, often dubbed the American Riviera, is a charming gem nestled on the California coastline. It effortlessly blends sophistication with a laid-back vibe and has many exciting activities to keep guests entertained. Explore winery tours, downtown wine-tasting rooms, historic sites, a vibrant Theatre district, charming boutique shops, art galleries, diverse dining options, lively polo matches, and luxurious hotels.  

The newly renovated catamaran tours at Stearns Wharf and the Harbor district are ideal for delightful cocktail cruises with breathtaking panoramas. Downtown Santa Barbara offers various hotel options including The Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort , which boasts spacious rooms and a versatile meeting venue. The Kimpton Canary Hotel , centrally located, offers 97 uniquely decorated guestrooms and exceptional farm-to-table dining. For a distinctive experience, Hotel Californian is within walking distance of the wharf and attracts Hollywood’s elite, international visitors, and locals alike. Designed by the renowned celebrity designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard, this iconoclastic enclave combines history, imagination, and the essence of California charm.  

For upscale properties outside downtown, consider The Ritz-Carlton  Bacara , set on 78 acres overlooking the Pacific, offering tranquil beaches, infinity-edge pools, and a vast spa. El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel Santa Barbara , celebrates the city’s early architecture with a blend of California Craftsman and Spanish Colonial styles, and it’s a haven for culinary enthusiasts. Rosewood Miramar Beach Resort offers a 5-star oceanfront experience in Montecito, renowned for its landscape and architecture, providing attentive yet unpretentious service to meet every guest’s needs.   

18. Charleston – Lowcountry luxury

incentive trip themes

Downtown Charleston, South Carolina

A trip through South Carolina’s Lowcountry is often a head-tilting choice for the uninitiated, but if you’ve been once, you likely feel the longing to return. There is a reason that Charleston continues to be “ named the best city in the U.S., by Travel + Leisure readers, for the 11th year in a row .” This city, as well as the region in general, epitomizes “Southern charm” in every way. The cuisine, the hospitality, and the accommodations are all a step above the norm when it comes to domestic incentive travel destinations. We recommend the centrally located  Hotel Bennett  for your stay in Charleston or  The Charleston Place  for its traditional 5-star excellence. Alternatively, consider an incentive trip an hour south to the inspiring  Montage Palmetto Bluff .  If the incentive group loves golf, consider a drive across the big bridge from Charleston to The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island . For those planning a few years out,  Auberge Resorts Collection  will be opening  The Dunlin , a family-friendly resort located in the waterfront community of Kiawah River that blends peacefully within its surroundings to provide an unforgettable escape.   

19. Qu é bec City –   European Charm Without Jetlag

incentive trip themes

Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, courtesy of the hotel

Best known as the most authentic European-style destination west of the Atlantic Ocean, Quebec City offers all the same quintessential charm without the jetlag. With the highly acclaimed Fairmont Hotel Chateau Frontenac as its anchor, this 400-year-old walled city offers extraordinary experiences all around. From its gastronomy to museums and venues, think unique and memorable. For venue starters, check out the 19 th -century Parliament Building , which is home to the National Assembly and magnificent gardens. Perfect for your gala reception and awards dinner with local entertainment in the hallowed halls.  

Our favorite time of year: Quebec Winter Carnival is one of the world’s largest and a perfect time (February/March) to show your winners why thousands flock to Quebec City to enjoy a host of activities including sledding, ice wall climbing, Nordic Spa, ice sculptures, night parades, ice canoe races (wait, what?), musical performances and Bonhomme’s famous Ice Palace. Put Quebec on your list and surprise your winners with an authentic European-like experience just north of the border! For an extraordinary group experience just outside the city introduce your guests to a Sugar Shack !  

Tip: Extend off-the-beaten path eastward 93 miles to the famous Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu . An exquisite journey back in time to a place where elite travel surely started. Built in 1899 on the St. Lawrence River—that was the only way to arrive, so the hotel front is facing the water. A unique, serene, and beautiful setting on manicured grounds (and a stellar golf course and spa) makes it a can’t-miss!  

20. Cruising – Sample Multiple Destinations

Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas

Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas, courtesy of the cruise line

A cruise is a fantastic way for your club trip winners to visit multiple countries while staying under one roof and only unpacking once. Plus, their WiFi, dining, and port excursions provide budget-friendly values. In today’s marketplace, ships, itineraries, and onboard experiences are competing aggressively for group trips, so you can find a ship that’s right for any group. The mega-ships, like  Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas , include a multitude of onboard activities, “freestyle” dining options, entertainment, and numerous onshore activities and excursions. Their Mediterranean itinerary is a very attractive offering for North American clients. A Med cruise will entice guests with a full itinerary, ultimately checking off “must-see” places on their bucket list such as Barcelona, Provence, Monaco, Florence, Rome, and the Amalfi Coast.   

River Cruising, with brands such as  Avalon Waterways  or  AmaWaterways , offers stops at lesser-known wonders and the potential of full buyouts at a smaller group size of 50-60 cabins.  

We’re here for you!

It is our pleasure to help the incentive travel industry and your incentive trip however we can. We’re happy to provide insight into making our content and your program the best it can be! As always, feel free to send in your opinions or questions to  [email protected] .   

Helping pick out new incentive travel destinations is just one piece of many when designing a motivational incentive travel program. Consider reading our step-by-step guide on  starting an incentive trip  or the nine tips from our incentive travel experts to help  improve your current trip .  You can also estimate your trip’s budget on our  incentive travel pricing calculator  to play around with some “what-if” scenarios. For other considerations, see our   incentive travel overview .   

Thank you to all our incentive travel gurus for their input and guidance with this list:  Becky Barnett , Brie Richards , Genny Castleberry , Julie Blank , Kim Fox , Michael Butler , Mike May , Rachel Butts , and Stan Hershenow .  

So, are you ready to work with us?

Because we’re ready to work with you.

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CORPORATE MEETINGS & EVENTS AT SEA

  • Mar 28, 2020

Top 5 Iconic Destinations for Company Incentive Travel Ideas

One of the greatest souvenirs you can find on a vacation is a view that will take your breath away. A number of destinations offer the opportunity to walk, hike or take a ride up to some of the most iconic views in the world. From the South America to Australia, we've rounded up some of the best destination for your viewing pleasure.

Top 5 Ideas for Corporate Incentive Travel:

St. George's, Grenada

Kusadasi, Turkey

Santorini, Greece

Whitsunday Islands, Australia

Galápagos Islands

1. St. George's, Grenada

St. George's, Grenada

A lively blend of French and English cultures, St. George's enthralls visitors with its historic charm, spice-filled air and tropical rainforest surrounding. St. George’s has steep hills to climb, spectacular views to photograph and a rum distillery to tour. The destination is a great fit for rewarding your top employees or partners. A walk through the bustling city provides a close-up of its colorful buildings and sparkling, sailboat-speckled sea. But for a peaceful retreat and even better views, take a 10-minute drive to Fort Frederick. St George’s has one of the prettiest harbor settings in the Caribbean. From the fort, visitors can enjoy a wide, unobstructed shot of the city, island and sea.

Learn more about cruises to St. George's, Grenada .

2. Kusadasi, Turkey

Ephesus Turkey

Kusadası is a beach resort town on Turkey’s western Aegean coast. A jumping-off point for visiting the classical ruins at nearby Ephesus (or Efes). There are a handful of must-try activities when visiting Kusadasi on an incentive trip. Among them are sipping Turkish coffee at a seaside cafe and a trip to Ephesus, one of the most notable ancient sites in the world. Ephesus in 2015 was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. We'd like to add visiting Pigeon Island (Güvercin Ada), just off Kusadasi harbor, a 350-meter-long causeway leads out to the charming island, where the remnants of a 13th-century Byzantine fortress (which later became a pirates' lair) sit on the cliff.

Learn more about cruises to Kusadasi .

3. Santorini, Greece

Santorini, Greece

Crescent-shaped Santorini (or Thíra) is actually a group of islands consisting of Thíra, Thirassiá, Asproníssi, Palea and Nea Kaméni in the southernmost part of Cyclades. Even those who've never traveld to Santorini would recognize its whitewashed villages with cobalt-blue accents, tucked into the cliffside. The port city is a feast for the eyes, and offers some of the most beautiful views of the Mediterranean Sea, to boot. This would make for a memorable corporate incentive trip for your top sales performers. While you can easily soak up the scenery from the village, one of our favourite vantage points is from Santorini's cable cars, which transport passengers to and from the Old Port and the island's capital, Fira. Learn more about cruises to Santorini .

4. Whitsunday Islands, Australia

Take an adventure down under over to the Whitsunday Islands, 74 island wonders located in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef , on the tropical coast of Queensland, Australia. The cluster of islands is sought after for its unspoiled beaches, calm water painted in every shade of blue and close proximity to the Great Barrier Reef. Airlie Beach , its most popular cruise port, also offers easy access to one of the islands' best view points; Hill Inlet, where travelers flock to gaze at views of Whitehaven Beach, one of Australia's most iconic beaches. Hop on a catamaran to the inlet, or splurge on a seaplane ride, which takes you over the Great Barrier Reef and drops you off near the inlet, at Whitehaven Beach. Looking for unique incentive travel ideas this is sure to hit the spot! Learn more about cruises to the Whitsunday Islands .

5. Galápagos Islands

There's no better way to cover ground on your trip to the Galápagos Islands than to sail on a multi-day live-aboard cruise ship. Galápagos National Park regulates the number and type of tourist boats that are allowed to operate in the area to avoid overcrowding, to lessen the environmental impact, and to minimize stress on the amazing animals of the Galápagos. Charles Darwin observed several different species of finches which led him to later propose in 1859 his theory of evolution by natural selection, now known as Darwinism. This theory of evolution suggests that species that are best adapted to an environment are most likely to survive and reproduce. The Galapagos Islands are an ideal setting to test such a theory, since there is no other place on earth like it. It is a pristine paradise with the most diverse eco-system. “A little world within itself,” said Darwin describing the Galapagos. The Galapagos are made up of 13 major islands, 5 of which are inhabited. It was declared a national park in 1959. Learn more about luxurious small ship cruises to the Galapagos Islands:

Las Bachas Cruises Cormorant Point Cruises North Seymore Cruises Isla Baltra Cruises Puerto Egas Cruises

Elizabeth Bay Cruises Puerto Ayora Cruises Incentive travel is an important aspect in any organization that relies on its employees and partners as critical to the success of the company. Rewarding top performing employees and partners has been proven to yield increase corporate ROI. In addition, illustrates the commitment a company has to its employees and partners. Let us help you design a rewarding incentive travel package that fits your organization's strategy and goals.

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Unbridled

Site Visit Checklist for Incentive Trips

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If you’re planning an incentive trip for your employees this year, you’ve already got No. 1 checked off your list—reward your employees to show you appreciate their hard work and care about their well-being. But there’s a lot to plan before the trip can get underway, including travel logistics, location, and revving up the team with the details.

As you get ready to incentivize your team with an engaging, bonding adventure, here’s five items to mark off your incentive trip checklist, so that you can ensure your trip is a success—for the company and your employees.

Choose Your Dates With Care

No one wants to go on vacation in the middle of an important deadline, so it’s always a good idea to choose dates that make sense for the overall company and individual employees. Other seasonally relevant considerations include:

  • Cold and flu season : What are the chances your team will all end up sick before or after the trip? This could be a factor you’ll want to take into consideration during planning.
  • Temperature : With trends showing domestic travel is still highly desirable, heading south in January may not be ideal if your team is excited about warmer climates. If the colder months are a more ideal time of year, the beach may not be the answer. Of course, there’s always Hawaii.
  • Destination events : When researching your destination , glancing at the area’s event and festival schedule may help you decide the best dates for employee engagement.

Create Experiences Before the Experience

Boost employee engagement before the trip even takes place. You can start by making the location of the trip a big reveal. Or make it a guessing game, with a prize for the winner.

Creating a theme for the incentive trip can also help employees get excited about it, and it’s something you can use for branding and swag bag items. Of course, relating the theme to the destination will make it all the more memorable.

Destination: Somewhere Unique

The Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) Decision Drivers 2022 report found that incentive trip participants are interested in immersive experiences, local culture, adventure, and more downtime for relaxing activities—all trends to take into account when you’re picking a destination. Unique locations are hot at the moment, so try and choose somewhere new that your team hasn’t already visited year after year.

Market to Your Employees

Planning an incentive trip provides the perfect opportunity to engage your employees, which makes marketing the trip especially important. One way to boost engagement around the trip is to show pictures from previous trips, which will undoubtedly give a visual to the bonding experienced between coworkers as they adventure to a new place. Leading up to the event, marketing tactics can include weekly emails, as well as interesting facts about the location you’ll be visiting, sites to visit, fun activities, or notable restaurants.

Brand That Swag

Whether you’re sending a water bottle, sunglasses, blanket for the airplane, or some other custom gift, incentive trip swag bags can be branded with your company name and logo, as well as trip themes.

Going to the beach? A dry bag for phones or clothing might be just what your employees need.

Journeying to cooler temps? Customized beanies will help keep them warm and identifiable.

Set Your Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Make sure you have the right KPIs in place from the onset, so that you can measure the success of your incentive trip program. But make sure the chosen indicators extend beyond just a numbers game of sales performance. Employee engagement and program turnout are both good indicators of success. Of course, if your incentive program is low in numbers, it might be time to change tactics. Point systems and reward systems focused around the incentive trip can indicate levels of engagement, especially if they’re targeted at company-specific goals. Employee retention, productivity, and achieved goals are all relevant KPIs.

Ready to start planning your incentive trip? Download Unbridled’s Incentive Trip Checklist , so you can stay on top of the planning—from start until the adventure comes to an end.

Take your incentive trip to the next level.

Previous post unbridled named a top meetings & incentive travel company in 2023, next post best practices on stage presence and keynote delivery, recommended for you.

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Corporate Event Ideas for Your Welcome Reception

Mitchell Stoner

Elevating Event Panels. A Comprehensive Guide to Success

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The Top 5 Elements of a Successful Event Set Design

1-800-290-0311.

  • Corporate Events
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  • Feature Look Book Download Take a look at these award winning incentive trips in 2022.
  • Internal Events and Why They Are Essential to Corporate Culture
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  3. Look Book: Inspiration for Incentive Trips in 2022

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  4. 19 Incredible Incentive Trip Packages

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  5. How can incentive travel drive engagement within your company? Read

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  6. The Dos and Don'ts of Planning an Incentive Trip

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COMMENTS

  1. How to plan an incentive trip: a step-by-step guide

    Setting clear goals for the trip. The first step in planning incentive travel trips is defining what outcomes your organization wants to achieve by delivering such a memorable experience. As much as incentive trips are designed to reward top performers, you'll also want to keep your company goals in mind. When rewarding employees with travel ...

  2. 15 Corporate Incentive Travel Program Tips for 2024

    1. Ask your staff for ideas. A travel program is only an incentive if your staff wants to take the trips you choose. Instead of outright guessing, or stealthily scanning your staff's Instagram vacation posts, ask your staff for destination and activity ideas. First, gather plausible options for countries, cities, accommodations, excursions ...

  3. How a Theme Adds Value to Your Incentive Travel Program

    Here's how a theme will add even more value to your travel incentive program. 1. Differentiate Each Year. Many of your team members earn a trip every year. Make the experience unique by branding each trip with a new theme. This theme could be aligned with the destination (for example, we recently themed a trip to Italy "Salute to Italia ...

  4. How To Plan An Incentive Trip

    An incentive trip is a curated travel experience offered to individuals or teams as a reward for achieving specific goals or targets. It serves as a tangible recognition of hard work and dedication, providing participants with a well-deserved break from their regular routine. ... or local experts to brainstorm creative ideas and ensure the ...

  5. A Guide to 2022's Top Incentive Travel Destinations

    Incentive travel remains a top motivator, and many reward earners are eager for a new adventure (or just a change of scenery). For some top performers, an upcoming incentive trip could be their first time traveling since the pandemic began—a trip they've been dreaming about for ages. Our experts are excited as ever to craft once-in-a ...

  6. 15 top incentive trip destinations for unforgettable memories

    15 of the best incentive trip locations. 1. Santorini, Greece. Santorini is a unique Greek island renowned for its whitewashed buildings, iconic blue-domed churches, and unforgettable sunsets -- plus, Santorini is the only inhabited caldera in the world. The island's rich history, fascinating architecture, and breathtaking views make ...

  7. Top Incentive Trip Design Best Practices

    The Winner's Circle. 2. Marketing your Incentive Trip. A major perk of offering an incentive trip program (beyond rewarding your employees for a job well done) is the payoff the company gets leading up to the trip. According to Transformative Travel, companies that execute a well-planned incentive program saw a 64% increase in employee ...

  8. How To Organise Incentive Travel? 8 Ideas For a Corporate Incentive

    First things first; remember that incentive travel is supposed to bring as many benefits to your company as it is to your employees. Think about what you want your trip to accomplish, and what business goals you can use it to work towards and achieve. This can work in a classic and straightforward way: you want your revenue to reach a certain ...

  9. What is Incentive Travel? (With 4 Examples + Top Locations)

    Examples of Incentive Travel Programs. Here are some ideas for your next trip: Luxury beach vacations. A trip to a luxurious beach resort in a place like Cabo, Mexico, or Bali can be a great incentive option. This type of incentive travel program offers the chance to relax, enjoy the sun, and participate in activities like snorkeling, sailing ...

  10. Incentive Travel

    Good for you and better for your audience! Incentive travel is a tried-and-true tactic for nearly half of all businesses in the United States. Whether you want to boost sales, retain your top-performers, or simply build a more cohesive corporate environment, incentive travel will be the catalyst that moves your goals to the finish line. With US ...

  11. 4 Creative Incentive Trip Ideas Your Employees will Love

    Wellness Incentive Trip Ideas. Golf getaway. Ski and snowshoe trip. Sunshine and surfing. Yoga retreat. Hiking in Arkansas. Whitewater rafting and kayaking. Read: Top 3 Benefits of a Wellness Retreat for Your Employees.

  12. What is incentive travel? (4 Incentive travel program examples)

    Incentive travel programs can be used to achieve a variety of desired outcomes from improved employee engagement to client spending incentives. Let's take a closer look at four possible uses of corporate incentive travel programs. 1. Employee motivation. One of the best ways to overcome organisational challenges such as low productivity ...

  13. Location, Location, Location: Incentive Travel Ideas

    From generating incentive travel ideas with companies to organizing excursions and events to welcoming the travelers back, it's a rewarding challenge to help craft the perfect experience. But crafting the perfect experience isn't something that always comes easy. As we work with different organizations and get a feel for their individual ...

  14. What Is Incentive Travel? Planning, ROI, & More

    Incentive travel involves a getaway trip lasting more than 3 days where (almost) everything is funded by the company. The trip is often hailed as the ultimate reward experience for your top performers within any department, although Sales is the most common department leveraging any incentive travel. Now you may be thinking, "Sending X number ...

  15. Sales Incentive Trip: How to Make Yours Successful in 2023

    4. Create Excitement and Send Out Clear Communications. Communicating your program to your team is key to ensuring engagement and excitement for your sales incentive trip. There are several areas you can level up your communications, including social media graphics, registration communications, and pre-event gifting.

  16. Planning a Corporate Incentive Trip? Remember These Do's and Don'ts

    October 5, 2018. MTI Events. Event Planning. Incentive travel is a powerful tool that organizations can use to increase productivity within a team or department, strengthen relationships between employees and management, and retain top talent. Every successful incentive travel program, however, starts with careful planning.

  17. 5 Unique Incentive Trip Ideas

    Incentive trips should be a journey. This group experienced an authentic desert adventure outside of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico during their trip. Participants caravanned through the desert in enclosed off-road vehicles and enjoyed themed pop-up stops along the way. First a thirst-quenching smoothie stand and then a history stop; where a naturalist ...

  18. Incentive Travel & Vacation Programs For Companies

    Below are some creative incentive trip ideas. A golf getaway. Ski and snowshoe trip. A yoga incentive trip. Event incentive trip. Golf Getaway - it is true that planning a vacation can be more stressful than work at times, that is why we have worked to narrow down your search for an incentive trip idea to a golf getaway.

  19. Top 20 Incentive Travel Destinations for 2024

    The 20 Best Incentive Travel Destinations for 2024. If your sales incentive trip or president's club trip seeks fresh ideas, it may be time to consider new incentive travel locations. Our globetrotting experts put their heads together and selected their 20 favorite ideas for incentive trips, offering something popular for 2024 and beyond.

  20. Top 5 Iconic Destinations for Company Incentive Travel Ideas

    Looking for unique incentive travel ideas this is sure to hit the spot! Learn more about cruises to the Whitsunday Islands. 5. Galápagos Islands. There's no better way to cover ground on your trip to the Galápagos Islands than to sail on a multi-day live-aboard cruise ship. Galápagos National Park regulates the number and type of tourist ...

  21. Corporate Incentive Travel

    Unforgettable incentive trips to boost employee motivation and inspiration. BDI Events is a skilled incentive travel planner who curates unforgettable team-building incentive trips for corporate excursions. We help companies leverage the benefits of incentive travel to boost employee engagement and productivity as well as your company's ROI.

  22. 8 Incentive Trends for 2023

    Workforce changes, new priorities and rising costs are among forces driving incentive travel trends in 2023 and beyond. Following are eight current trends that are influencing programs, gleaned from the latest findings from the Incentive Research Foundation; Northstar/Cvent, and the Incentive Travel Index. 1. Incentive travel is booming.

  23. Site Visit Checklist for Incentive Trips

    Destination: Somewhere Unique. The Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) Decision Drivers 2022 report found that incentive trip participants are interested in immersive experiences, local culture, adventure, and more downtime for relaxing activities—all trends to take into account when you're picking a destination. Unique locations are hot at the moment, so try and choose somewhere new that ...

  24. Proposed Universal Studios theme park in Frisco set for votes on ...

    On a peak day with 20,000 visitors, the theme park visitor traffic would be 1,144 trips in the site's peak inbound hour at about 9 a.m., and 921 trips in the site's peak outbound hour at about ...