When planning a group cruise for a meeting or corporate event, you may be wondering how to customize the event to make it more memorable. Here is a sampling of ideas for customization whether you are booking for a group, half ship or full ship charter.
Pre-cruise promotion: • Customized informational booklet detailing what participants need to know before they board • Descriptions of ports and shore excursions with advance registration forms
Sailing accessories: • Zippered document pouch with logo • Neck pouch with logo to hold the ship’s ID card • Name badges with logo
Day of sailing: • Private “bon voyage” brunch prior to sailing • Customized pier décor such as balloons or banner • Private onboard reception with open bar and live music
Compliments of the ship: • Private workroom with Internet access • Welcome letter in each attendee’s room signed by ship’s Captain • Complimentary group photograph
Program enhancements: • Gift certificates for spa services • Exclusive shore events with private transfers
Half-ship charter: • Negotiate exclusive use of the dining room and show lounge • Daily newsletter printed on program or company letterhead
Full ship charter: • Bridge reception hosted by ship’s Captain • TV channel displaying program agenda or video of the day’s activities • Daily onboard activities scheduled around meetings
For more ideas about how you can customize your cruise event, visit Seasite.com.
If you want to book a meeting at sea, instead of at a hotel, here are some differences between the two venues that you should be aware of.
Arrival time: It is common for meeting and event planners to arrive at a hotel a day or two before a big event, but with a cruise ship you can arrive an hour or two before the meeting participants.
Reserving rooms: Unless you charter a ship for your group cruise, you will need to coordinate with the cruise line in advance to secure the meeting space you need on the day and time you need it. Otherwise, another group may already be using the space.
Saving money: The cruise ship includes things like AV equipment and themed décor, so you do not have to budget for these items separately like you do for a hotel. You can either keep the extra cash or use it to offer incentives or fun activities, such as additional onboard amenities or shore excursions.
Promoting differences: A cruise ship offers different options than a hotel, so you can advertise these when promoting the trip. For example, you can mention that participants choose from a vast menu for all three meals, or that there is a wide range of activities available, or that participants will be able to visit several different destinations without extra packing or travel hassle.
Flying can be a real hassle. Not only can flying be more trouble than it is worth, but it can also be very expensive. When businesses have to factor in the cost of round-trip airfare into their incentive travel budgets, they often find they have few resources available to plan exciting entertainment and dining options for travel participants. Because airfare often requires a large percentage of the travel budget, businesses are often faced with the task of making the remaining funds stretch as much as possible. When planning incentive travel, consider an incentive cruise as a reasonable, affordable, and thrilling option with no flying required.
While participants of an incentive cruise do have to get to port, a number of these ports are located within a five hour drive of many of the major cities. At least 50 percent of the population of the U.S. is within a 5 hour drive of a cruise ship's port. Since a ship charter can cost up to 40 percent less than a land venue, such as a hotel or resort, businesses will not have to worry about making their budgets stretch. Exciting incentive travel can be accomplished without having to pay for expensive airfare or deal with the headache of flying.
Everyone loves a cruise, and a cruise meeting incentive is a great way to inspire excitement and energy, and motivate employees. There are many cruise lines, ships and destinations from which to choose. One easy way to source a group cruise incentive event is Seasite.com. You can create a single RFP, and plan your group cruise entirely online.
The Carnival Fantasy sails in to her new home – Charleston, South Carolina.
Northern Arizona's Hopi Reservation has opened the Moenkopi Legacy Inn & Suites. This new $13-million hotel and conference center is the largest development ever by a single Hopi Village.
The Hopi Villages are among the longest continuously inhabited places in North America. Visit Hopi Villages, meet artists in their home workshops, enjoy unique Hopi food, and meet some of the friendliest people in the world – the Hopi people.
Guided Walking Tours are available in the Villages of Sipaulovi and Walpi where the rich heritage of the Hopi people and village life over the centuries surrounds you. These tours are available year round to all visitors to Hopi. For an in depth tour of the Hopi Villages and the opportunity to visit artists (including world renowned Kachina carvers) in their home workshops, take a tour with an authorized Hopi Guide who will explain the culture and heritage of the Hopi people.
The design of the 100 room hotel offers a glimpse of Hopi culture to visitors, and the center plans to educate visitors about their tribe. The property offers 3,096 sq. ft. of meeting space and three breakout conference rooms.
http://experiencehopi.com/
Seville is one of the jewels of Spain, with architecture, museums, food and shopping that make it a terrific incentive trip destination. In the Spanish region of Andalucia, which also includes the coastal resorts of Costa del Sol and Costa Almeria, Seville itself is set inland, although the coastal areas are within easy reach. It has its own airport, which is a 45 minute drive from the city.
Seville has plenty for your attendees to see and do. The city is famous for its Cathedral, which is the largest in the world. Built on the site of a twelfth century mosque, it is simple, but awe-inspiring and a sight not to be missed. Also make sure you see the Casa de Pilatos, built by the first Marquis de Tarifa in the early sixteenth century. It is one of the finest palaces in Seville and now also houses a courtyard and park, at the end of which are mansions that have been turned into museums. For a real taste of Seville, spend some time in the Barrio Santa Cruz, one of the most picturesque parts of the city, full of narrow lanes and surprising squares; whitewashed houses and excellent tapas bars. Tapas is thought to have been invented in Seville, and it’s certainly the way that most locals choose to eat. The range is incredible and the prices good, so take advantage of the more than one thousand places in the city where tapas is available.
Seville is a busy city with lots of narrow roads, and it is a brave person who attempts to drive – or park – in the main areas. Parking in particular is very limited and often restricted to residents of businesses; so avoid parking fines and unnecessary stress by only hiring a car if you’re planning to drive outside the city. Instead, use the very regular and reliable bus service which costs little and offers multiple journey tickets, or get one of Seville’s white taxis. Tourists often take a horse and carriage to see Seville’s main sites – this is a particularly popular option with couples and families. As with most cities, one of your best options is to walk. There are maps available from the tourist offices and you can explore Seville at your leisure.
Finding the perfect destination and venue for your next business meeting may be as simple as checking out the many options available in Salt Lake City, Utah. While this small city is perhaps best known for its ties to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is headquartered there, it is also known as a center for outdoor adventure and is overflowing with historical and cultural attractions. With smaller town charm, an easy to maneuver downtown area, nearby ski areas, a major airport and numerous major hotels, Salt Lake City, Utah has much to offer to meeting planners and participants.
For an executive retreat or small meeting, planners might want to consider accommodation options like the Haxton Manor, a renovated historic home that is now a bed and breakfast with seven comfortable guest rooms. Guests will also enjoy a living room with a fireplace and comfy overstuffed chairs in the Boar’s Head Pub Room. Nearby meeting facilities can be reserved for planning sessions and meetings, while attendees will enjoy the many attractions in the area.
For larger corporate meetings, planners might opt for one of the major hotel chains with properties in Salt Lake City, such as the Radisson, Marriott or Sheraton. Each of these accommodation options also has meeting facilities, or meeting planners could change things up a bit by reserving a theater that sits over 500 people at the MegaPlex 12 at the Galaxy located downtown.
Ship Charter Specialists Will Handle Sales in U.S. & Latin America; Two Premium Cruise Ships Will Visit Three Ports on World Cup Circuit
MIAMI, FL (March 16, 2010) One Ocean Club has appointed Landry & Kling, Inc. as their exclusive representative in the U.S. and Latin America to market and sell floating hotel packages for the prestigious World Cup 2010 in South Africa. Landry & Kling was chosen because the firm originated the dockside housing phenomenon and has decades of experience utilizing cruise ships as floating hotels.
As the official sales agent for the U.S. and Latin American regions, Landry & Kling will offer a variety of secure and luxurious housing packages on board two premium Holland America Line ocean liners, MS Westerdam and MS Noordam. The two vessels will provide a total of 1,900 sleeping rooms. During the month-long event beginning June 10, 2010, the ships will be dockside at Cape Town, Elizabeth, and Durban for key matches. The 3,800 on-board guests will have the opportunity to attend games in World Cup stadiums in all three locations with transport available to other matches.
Packages will rival similar four- and five-star hotels with added benefits such as top level security, included entertainment on board, and all meals in a choice of restaurants. Shipboard guests have the advantage of only one check-in and transport from venue to venue, as well as the option to experience South Africa with concierge-assisted land excursions.
“The value for attendees staying on board is unmatched, given a cruise ship’s all-inclusive offerings, comfortable surroundings and highest levels of security and service, as well as transport between venue cities and stadiums”, states Joyce Landry, CEO of Landry & Kling. “While individual bookings have been selling rapidly, we are delighted to partner with One Ocean Club to secure blocks of cabins that would be attractive for soccer clubs, sports marketing companies and corporate groups.”
To promote the floating hotel World Cup packages, Landry & Kling has launched www.WorldCupCruise.com. The web site offers information on packages, cruise ship accommodations, match schedules, venues and booking details. Package pricing starts from $645 per person, based on double occupancy. For group planning assistance, contact Landry & Kling at 800-448-9002 or +1-305-661-1880.
About Landry & Kling Landry & Kling Inc., specialists in cruise event services, are credited with being the first distribution channel between the cruise industry and corporate America. Visionaries who led the way in seagoing corporate meetings and incentives, founders Joyce Landry and Josephine Kling ignited the corporate market for cruises by spearheading the meetings-at-sea concept back in 1982. With their exclusive focus on cruise events and meetings-at-sea, they have played a crucial role in advancing the cruise ship as a viable meeting venue and creating a whole new focus for the industry. Landry & Kling leads the field in cruise ship charters for global events and “floating hotels” (e.g. for the Jacksonville Super Bowl and Summit of the Americas in Trinidad) in addition to incentive cruises and all kinds of meetings at sea. Now, 28 years since their startup, they have responded to changing times in the meetings industry by creating Seasite.com, the first online cruise portal designed for meeting/event planners and group travel buyers. Partners Landry & Kling were inducted into the Cruise Lines International Hall of Fame in 2009. To learn more about Landry & Kling, visit http://www.landrykling.com.
Baton Rouge, Louisiana is a meeting destination where the draw is the experience. Offering many venues that can support a meeting of any size, with breathtaking views of Baton Rouge as your backdrop, your group will be enchanted with the variety of great activities that range from sightseeing and the musical sounds of the local nightlife to tours of the famous swamp lands.
Set along the Mississippi River, Baton Rouge is a city of presence, both Louisiana's capital and seat of East Baton Rouge Parish. These days, Baton Rouge is an amalgam of commerce and tradition, its oil refineries and chemical companies juxtaposed against antebellum plantations and a prominent Cajun heritage. The port city's history also includes Governor Huey Long's controversial public tenure and violent death in the Capitol he built. The edifice is still a tourist draw, as are the Old State Capitol, the USS Kidd, and the Old Governor's Mansion. Folks also relish riverfront casinos, bustling nightclubs, Cajun-Creole restaurants, and the vigor of LSU and Southern University. All these influences color the richness that is now Baton Rouge, insinuating themselves into the region's haunt of zydeco, its earthen beauty, and a past that lingers yet today like Spanish moss in southern trees.
Things to do in Baton Rouge:
Belle of Baton Rouge – Docked on the Mississippi River near the convention center, this triple-deck riverboat easily takes care of those who want to indulge in a bit of gaming. Blackjack, roulette, craps, and mini-baccarat comprise the table games, while video poker and slot machines offer more individual entertainments.
Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center – If you want to get out of town and browse Louisiana's natural beauty, this center offers wonderful sightseeing. A mix of forest and swamplands, the 101-acre area shelters a wealth of flora and fauna, and easily accessible nature trails invite folks to check out picturesque vistas themselves and catch a glimpse of alligators, birds, foxes and more.
Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge – You can't miss this well-situated riverboat casino, which is docked on the Mississippi across from the State Capitol. Boasting tens of thousands of square feet of space, Hollywood Casino guarantees that you'll find something to wager on. Among the options you'll encounter are video poker, roulette, blackjack, slot machines and craps.
Magnolia Mound Plantation – Nestled in a grove of gracefully arching trees, Magnolia Mound began as a small, late 18th-century home and was expanded into a plantation home. Its French Creole styling is relatively simple, and the home, elevated on piers, features a generous porch. One of Louisiana's oldest wooden structures, it also features a coved ceiling and French and Caribbean details. Along with the home itself, guides in period costume point out gardens, dependencies, and slave cabins. One of the closest plantations to Baton Rouge.
There are two driving forces behind the push for stay-cations: the current economic crisis and the green movement. As individuals and families are feeling the pressure of financial hardships and increasing numbers of people are committing to lowering the impact their lifestyles have on the environment, the world of vacations and travel is changing. More and more people are opting for cost-effective day excursions or nearby travel destinations that require less transportation and inflict less damage on the environment, while still being filled with fun activities and opportunities to make lasting memories. This new form of vacations is being called stay-cations by some, and companies are beginning to jump on the bandwagon to apply this idea to their incentive travel programs and corporate events.
The benefits for companies that opt for incentive travel destinations and corporate event locations that are nearby include significant cost savings, particularly in regards to transportation costs, and a positive public image that shows a commitment to limiting your company’s carbon footprint. Both of these can be very enticing and are often enough to convince a company to bypass exotic locations and opt for staying close to home. This can certainly help a planner keep things under budget, but it also puts additional pressure on the incentive travel or event planner to come up with an enticing nearby destination and appealing entertainment options that will please participants who may be accustomed to boarding a plane and heading to an exotic locale.
