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.

While we usually think of incentive programs benefiting the top producers–and the incentive itself does–the real effect is on the average employee, according to Fay Beauchine. In May 2009’s Incentive Magazine, she made the point in Incentive House Roundtable that it’s the middle producers who move up.

“We all know top performers are usually top performers,” she said to interviewer Leo Jakobson. She claimed that it’s the middle that improve by trying to hit the target. Even though they will miss it, they will still improve, even if only a few percent, and that will increase the total sales by “huge numbers in some cases.”

This underscores the importance of the incentive travel programs currently in place in corporations today. You as the meeting planner need to understand that you are a key player in your client’s bottom line, and you have to produce sales in an indirect way. This can be more difficult than the motivation speaker who simply gives them all a good talking to.

Remember that when you plan incentive travel, you need to plan with the person in mind. Tailor it to fit a participant’s ideal needs and wants and she will talk about it for a long time–and she will say it to some of the middle producers in the company.

Many travelers have been avoiding countries like Mexico for fear of crime. However, common sense precautions can go a long way towards a safe and exciting business incentive trip. Here are some ways you can help your clients avoid being victims.

Environmental Awareness

First, dispel myths. Second, explain the realities. For instance, if most of the crime in a certain places happens in the inner city subway system, provide a guide to other means of travel. If the crimes are primarily pick-pocketing, make a checklist of safety measures for your travelers–pick-pocketing is not a violent crime, and travelers who are properly prepared will be able to enjoy their trip without losses to petty thievery.

There are, of course, global havens for robbers. One of those places is the ATM. No matter where you are, avoid using these machines unless they are located in safe hotel lobbies, inside secure banks, and sometimes in stores (although that’s a little dicey). Read the rest of this entry »