There are plenty of different meeting incentives, and many different legitimate business reasons to give those business meeting incentives to nearly anyone from employees to suppliers and even political associates. The ultimate business meeting incentive might not be a pay raise, a bag full of money, or even that nice covered parking spot next to the CFO’s parking spot. Instead, it might be a corporate sponsored cruise. Here’s why:

• Cruises are highly sought after travel arrangements and destinations wrapped up in one. This makes cruises an incredible gift for nearly anyone associated with a business.
• A well planned incentive plan will motivate multiple people and/or parties to perform better, display greater honesty, or more. It all just depends on who the target recipients are, but a single ticket could inspire countless groups or individuals to take a positive action.
• Cruises are very cost effective, and it might be worth evaluating the idea of a cruise meeting in the future. Cruises almost certainly beat hotels and entertainment expenses, especially since most cruises are all-inclusive.
• In many cases a portion or all of a cruise incentive package can be tax deductible. As with any tax related issue be certain to consult with a tax professional for advice and the latest rules governing taxes and deductions.

Because cruises exude luxury, many businesses mistakenly believe that incentive cruises are beyond their budgets. Many may not even consider a cruise event or ship charter as a business incentive due to the “cost” of the cruise. However, incentive cruises are really no different than other forms of business incentives. For example, the cost to secure accommodations for a group at a hotel can range significantly. Some hotels and resorts are much more expensive than others. This same concept applies to cruise events. When businesses opt for meetings at sea, the business can find a price point that will be right for them.

The type of cruise a businesses chooses should be based on the needs of the company as well as the participants. Businesses rewarding a few employees with a business incentive such as a ship charter may desire a more luxurious cruise, while businesses treated hundreds of employees to a cruise event may opt for a more basic cruise package. Not only can a cruise easily fit in the budget of almost any business, but an incentive cruise can be very motivating for employees. Even when businesses have a price point to meet, they should still consider an incentive cruise as a viable option.

Event planners who work with inventive groups are faced nowadays with clients who just don’t have the money to spend. Smaller business are trying to cut out luxuries with the hope that no one will say anything, and larger companies–especially the ones with bailout money–are trying to regain an image of competence and frugality. Incentive travel is a scary proposition for them both.

Enter the cruise. These are often much more affordable choices for people who love to travel in general, and could be your answer to the problem of affordable incentive travel. Why? Because cruises are relaxing, cruise lines have expanded their ports of call, and many of them offer sightseeing excursions in the cruise package.

Another cost-cutting advantage of the cruise is the other inclusions. If you book a pyramid tour in Egypt, for instance, you also have to plan for accommodations, meals, other activities, etc. All of this is included in the cruise. Cruises offer enormous and variable meals spreads, and there is something for everyone there. Read the rest of this entry »