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When companies contact a meeting planner to assist them with incentive travel, there are several things that the meeting planner must know to ensure a successful trip. Many times, the company has not even considered some of the most basic elements that the meeting planner needs to plan incentive travel. In order to plan an incentive program that will right for the company, the company and the meeting planner need to know the ultimate goals of the incentive travel as well as the company budget. Companies usually have an idea of their budget, but concrete goals are sometimes lacking. Knowing these goals will be essential to incentive travel planning. Once these crucial details are determined, a meeting planner can begin designing and preparing an incentive travel itinerary.
After goals and budget have been established, a meeting planner will make a recommendation regarding the location of the event. Once the location has been approved and confirmed, a meeting planner will be responsible for negotiating a competitive travel package for the company. When a satisfactory package has been secured, a meeting planner will then begin planning events based on the company's incentive travel goals. A meeting planner will assist the company in facilitating all aspects of the trip.
Incentive travel can be quite successful for companies if it is used and planned responsibly. One of the greatest misconceptions about incentive travel is that it is used to reward “good” work. Fortunately, most competent and conscientious adults do not require incentives to simply do their job and do it well. Incentives, if used properly, can induce more than good work in employees. It can actually foster new behavior, which can help a company rise above and beyond their current levels of productivity. Of course, travel incentives must be something in which employees will be interested, and that is why companies should consider cruise events as travel incentives.
A ship charter can provide a completely different environment that may be conducive to creative thinking. Instead of mulling over old ideas and rehashing failed plans, an incentive cruise may be just what employees need to get a fresh perspective. A fresh perspective can lead to the new behavior that companies need and cherish. Meetings at sea could open a world of possibilities as employees explore exotic destinations and escape the daily grind. Seeing the world with new eyes on an incentive cruise, employees may gain a sense of understanding they did not have beforehand.
When companies desire to plan incentive travel for top-performing employees, they often choose meeting venues such as hotels and resorts. While there are many benefits that hotels and resorts can offer, these meeting venues often come with a hefty price tag. For budget conscious companies, this presents a real dilemma. They have to figure out how to reward employees without burdening their budget. Instead of choosing more traditional meeting venues, consider an incentive cruise. An incentive cruise can be more affordable than a hotel or resort because of their all-inclusive amenities. From accommodations to entertainment, everything is included in a ship charter
All-inclusive amenities offered with a cruise event include things such as ocean view suites with butler services and complimentary beverages. Incentive cruises also offer participants a wide variety of dining venues with gourmet cuisine, complimentary transportation, and in-suite dining is complimentary as well. Entertainment and recreational activities such as fitness classes are also complimentary. Compared to land venues, businesses can save as much as 40 percent with meetings at sea. An incentive cruise can be easy on a business' incentive travel budgeting program. When businesses desire to save money, choosing a cruise event with all-inclusive amenities may be the answer for which they have been searching.
If you have seen one hotel, you have practically seen them all. While hotels can be quite beautiful and offer fine dining experiences, there is nothing all that unique about staying in a hotel. For this reason, employees may not be genuinely motivated by incentive travel if the destination is a hotel in a large city. However, a floating hotel is a different thing altogether. Instead of choosing a land venue for a business meeting, consider holding the meeting on a cruise ship. The cruise ship or floating hotel is an excellent venue for meetings at sea and can offer choice business amenities and services.
A ship charter can offer companies and organizations significant savings and provide employees with a break from the everyday norm. Individuals can choose to stay in a hotel room any time they like; however, staying aboard a cruise ship is not an every occurrence. A group cruise planner can make an incentive cruise easy and affordable for a business. A cruise meeting on a floating hotel may be just the things employees need to experience a burst of creativity and innovation. Inspired by majestic, beautiful, natural surroundings, a cruise event on a floating hotel can be profitable for everyone involved.
Merit raises, employee appreciation gifts and awards, and incentive travel are effective ways to build employee morale and company pride. Aside from these obvious choices, the importance of day-to-day morale boosters cannot be overstated. While it is important to provide memorable, enticing incentives that will encourage employees to reach sales goals and improve their performance, it is also important to make sure they feel appreciated, trusted and respected on a daily basis.
Improving employee morale on a daily basis through showing them respect and making them feel appreciated is much simpler than it may seem. Little things like ensuring that each employee is given equal time and recognition during meetings, making sure they know you are aware of and appreciate the long hours they are spending on a project and not looking over their shoulder every second of the workday go a long way towards showing them that they are trusted and appreciated, resulting in improved morale and productivity.
Another simple way to boost morale and productivity is to provide both small and large incentives. For example, an annual incentive cruise for top salespeople should be supplemented with smaller competitions or incentives, such as gift cards or personalized items they can use at work that can be given out for making weekly or monthly sales goals.
It is no surprise that employees are motivated to work harder, increase sales and productivity, and improve their performance when they know that their efforts will be rewarded. Everyone likes to feel appreciated and to know that their hard work does not go unnoticed, which is why it is so important for all companies to implement some type of employee appreciation or incentive program. Some companies offer merit raises, performance-based bonuses or branded merchandise as prizes, while others choose gift cards or cash awards. While each of these options has its own particular appeal, incentive travel truly is the best, most effective choice that is often much more appealing to employees.
Here are five reasons your company should choose incentive travel to motivate your employees: 1. Incentive travel – whether it is a two-week European adventure or a weekend trip to a nearby ski resort – is far more memorable than other incentive options and will have a longer lasting positive effect. 2. Cash and gift cards are nice, but incentive travel provides your employees with the opportunity to actually have new experiences and enrich their lives. 3. Depending on your industry and pay scale, the incentive travel you offer might actually be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for your employees. 4. Incentive travel, such as incentive cruises, is generally perceived to have a much higher value than the actual cost to your company. 5. Offering incentive travel is much more personal than handing out gift cards or branded merchandise and is a more meaningful expression of your appreciation.
In a previous post, we discussed how simple it can be to plan a romantic river cruise wedding if the opportunity to plan a wedding every came your way. There are plenty of other types of events and travel that are perfect for river cruises, including incentive travel, executive retreats and small corporate events. Aside from these obvious options, river cruises are particularly well-suited for fundraising events, social gatherings and other events that call for a more intimate setting.
If you are planning a fundraiser for a non-profit organization or for a charitable cause that your corporation supports, a dinner river cruise is an excellent option that attendees will enjoy and can prove to be a huge moneymaker. If your target donors are higher-end, you may also consider planning a weekend or multiple day river cruise. The donors will appreciate having the opportunity to support a worthy cause by partaking in something more unique and enticing than a typical gala in a hotel ballroom.
River cruises are also ideal for small corporate events, such as meet and greets, small award ceremonies, celebrations or client appreciation cocktail parties. There are river cruises available just about anywhere there is a river, making this an affordable option that can be organized locally or at an appealing, faraway location, depending on your event budget and the travel availability of your participants.
To make planning group cruises easy and convenient, check out the information and tools available on Seasite.com.
Incentive travel planners may find themselves arranging travel packages for a variety of winners, including some with high salaries and others with more moderate incomes. Because of this, planners must ensure that all of their participants will be able to enjoy their travel awards equally, particularly if staff members at different pay rates will be traveling to the same destination at the same time. Fortunately, there is a very simple, convenient way to accomplish thus that is sure to appeal to all of the participants that receive travel awards: cruises.
Incentive cruises are an excellent option for incentive travel and provide an all-inclusive travel package that will allow each of your winners to fully enjoy their travel incentive, regardless of their personal budget. With included meals and snacks, complimentary room service, first-run movies at no charge, use of fitness facilities at no additional cost, free onboard activities, nightly entertainment and duty-free shopping, travelers at all income levels will find incentive travel cruises an appealing, enjoyable experience.
Opting for incentive cruises also provides additional benefits to the incentive travel planner and the company paying for the travel awards. As a cost-effective option that is simple to organize and sure to encourage employees to perform, cruises are an ideal choice when it comes to planning incentive travel.
You do not have to make every meal a stylishly themed function when planning your next corporate meeting or incentive travel package, but there should always be at least one fun food function, and possibly more. Of course, creating a memorable meal takes more time, effort and money, but it is well worth it to ensure that your attendees will be talking about your event for months or years to come.
Even if you are working with a slim budget, or have many other planning components that require your focus, you can plan a themed function with ease and for less by working with your venue using these three tips:
The simple answer is yes and no. Of course, you already know that you do not have to be certified to enter the field of meeting and incentive travel planning. While some employers might require a certification in order to qualify for positions with that particular firm, there are plenty of uncertified incentive travel and meeting planners doing quite well in the industry. That being said, industry certifications are almost always a good idea, regardless of your field. Meeting planning is no different.
When you become certified, you will receive recognition of your skills and professionalism from your peers and the meeting and incentive travel planning industry, and will also enhance the first impression potential clients receive when you hand them your business card or they visit your website. People love to see letters after any professionals name when they are considering procuring their services. This alone could be reason enough to seek certification. On top of increased recognition and an improved perception of your abilities, industry research carried out by Meeting Professionals International shows that certified planners earn more than their uncertified counterparts.
Industry certifications include:
• Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) offered through the Convention Industry Council • Global Certification for Meeting Management (CMM) offered by Meeting Professionals International • Certified Incentive Travel Executive (CITE) offered by the Society of Incentive & Travel Executives • Certified Special Event Professional (CSEP) offered by the International Special Events Society • Destination Management Certified Professional (DMCP) offered by the Association of Destination Management Executives • Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) offered by the Destination Marketing Association International
