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.

Everyone in your office may groan when they hear you talking about team building, but that should not bother you or anyone else. These things seem corny at times, but they really do work. Some of the most successful companies in the United States use these methods, and there is a very good reason for that. They do them because they work. Employees are all individuals, and many times this means there are problems with personality disputes and communication. If you can find a way to have them overcome these things, your productivity is going to improve, sometimes drastically.

When you think of corporate team building activities, the picture of someone falling into a group backwards, hoping they are caught, usually comes to mind. This is probably not used as often as you may think, but it is often portrayed in the movies and on television. This can be a useful corporate team building event though, as it does show you can trust your fellow employees and does a lot to increase the trust among all levels of management and subordinates. Without trust in any type of relationship, you have nothing. A team cannot survive without it.

Other types of corporate team building events are about as diverse as those who hold them. Many of them concentrate on fun activities that allow employees to interact with each other, and learn to rely on each other. Those working within the same company are usually competing with each other for promotions, and that means they often see each other as the enemy in a small way. Though the competition between employees means hard work and dedication from each of them, it can have bad consequences. They have to learn to trust and work together, even when they compete in other ways.

Because there are so many different types of corporate team building ideas out there, you can usually find something that is just right for your company with a little searching.

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.

When professionals attend well-planned meetings or conferences, they often want the contact information of the event planner for possible future use. Meetings that run smoothly, are productive and enjoyable, and include comfortable meeting spaces, good food and fun activities are sure to be remembered. Therefore, when you make sure that each attendee knows that you planned the meeting and that they will return home with your contact information, you are taking an important step in setting yourself up to obtain additional clients and experience future success.

Aside from high-powered professionals that may be in attendance, you should also keep in mind that each staff member at the meeting has the potential to rise in the ranks of the company they are currently with, to broaden their career path and go to work for another company, or to go out on their own. Making sure these folks remember you and have your contact information is an excellent way to increase the likelihood that they will tell their new company about your services, or use you for their own meeting planning needs in the future.

Promotional products that can be used during the meeting or conference, as well as after the attendees return home, such as pens, notepads, folders, rulers, calculators, desk sets or conference bags are affordable, effective marketing tools that will put your name and contact information in the hands of conference and meeting attendees, and will ensure that they have your information when there is a need for your services.

When you go to Colorado, you won’t see Cartman, Kenny, Stan, and Kyle, but you will experience some of the worlds most beautiful scenery, fun activities, and high level accommodations. These advantages make Colorado one of the best places to hold your meetings.

There is lot’s of scrutiny right now on meetings and conferences, which are lately seen as frivolous expenses. To help avoid that stigma, some companies are scaling back meetings already scheduled. Some are avoiding scheduling new ones. Others are canceling altogether. However, with a place like Colorado available to you, no one needs to do this. Here’s why. Read the rest of this entry »