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What is Incentive Travel? (With 4 Examples + Top Locations)

More and more companies are considering incentive travel for their internal teams to reward employees and even external partners to incentivize sales.

But what is incentive travel? What are some examples of incentive trips? And is an incentive travel program right for your team?

This article breaks down everything you need to know.

What is incentive travel?

Let's start with incentive travel meaning: Incentive travel is the use of an all-expenses-paid trip to reward and motivate employees or channel partners for achieving specific business goals. Incentive trips can be given to individuals to use independently or designed as a group travel experience.

Incentive travel group trips can include a range of activities, from luxury cruises and beach vacations to adventure travel and cultural tours.

Most companies use incentive programs to create a memorable and unique experience that inspires participants to work harder and feel more connected to their company and colleagues. By offering these programs, businesses can boost employee morale, retention, and productivity, while also increasing loyalty and sales.

Incentive travel trips typically include a luxury hotel or resort, exciting itineraries, white-glove service, and networking opportunities that reward and connect top performers.

Who is incentive travel best for?

Incentive travel is best for companies looking to motivate, reward, and inspire employees or partners. It's typically considered a "VIP access" event.

It’s especially effective for businesses that are focused on boosting sales team engagement, improving retention rates, reducing employee turnover and burnout, and increasing productivity. Sales incentives are great ways to encourage your teams to hit their sales targets as well.

These types of attendees are typically given a qualification period to hit their target number and then selected for the trip based on their performance.

Incentive travel programs are also great for companies looking to create a stronger sense of community and teamwork within their organization.

Corporate incentive travel programs don’t just have to be for big businesses with a ton of money. With the right budget, incentive programs can be a perfect opportunity to connect your teams and inspire success.

Incentive travel is also not limited to any particular industry, as any business can benefit from incentivizing its employees to achieve specific goals. Neither is it limited to a department (though most programs focus on sales teams).

Analyzing your business needs will help you decide whether group travel incentive programs are best for your company.

What are the benefits of incentive travel? Why incentive travel works.

There are several benefits to incentive travel. It’s a highly effective way to motivate and reward employees for their hard work and dedication. As companies implement travel incentive programs in their business, they begin to realize the importance of incentive travel.

For businesses that are still on the fence, here are some of the key benefits of incentive travel :

1. Increased employee motivation and engagement

Incentive travel provides employees with a tangible goal to work toward and the promise of a reward to achieve it. It also creates competition and a sense of scarcity among employees, as not everyone gets to partake. This can help increase motivation and engagement levels, leading to improved performance and productivity, including hitting a specific sales target or quota.

2. Improved retention rates

Employees who feel valued and appreciated are more likely to stay with their company. Incentive travel programs are an especially effective way to show that appreciation, which can in turn help improve retention rates.

3. Enhanced team building and communication

Incentive travel trips often involved team-building activities that can help improve communication and collaboration among employees. They also offer a more relaxed environment in which to connect, as well as an opportunity to connect with executive leaders. All of these combine to form a better sense of community, which can help with business performance.

4. Increase company culture and brand reputation

Offering incentive travel programs can help create a positive company culture. This can make the company more attractive to potential employees, customers and partners, leading to increased success and growth.

5. Increased customer loyalty and sales

Incentive travel programs can also be used to reward channel partners or customers, which can help improve loyalty and drive sales.

Overall, there are many benefits to incentive travel trips. They offer a unique opportunity to inspire, engage and motivate attendees, and can be more effective than cash rewards or other gifts. Compare the incentive travel to cash rewards in our latest article.

What are some disadvantages of incentive travel?

Although incentive travel can be incredibly effective for some teams, there are also a few disadvantages to consider.

Incentive travel can be expensive to plan and execute, requiring substantial financial resources. Companies need to allocate budgets for travel expenses, accommodation, meals, activities, and other related costs. This expenditure can strain the company's finances, particularly for smaller businesses or during periods of economic uncertainty.

2. Perceived inequity among employees

Offering incentive travel may create a sense of inequality among employees. Those who don't qualify for the incentive or are unable to attend due to personal circumstances may feel demotivated or undervalued.

3. Distraction from work

Planning and participating in incentive travel programs can temporarily divert employees' attention away from their regular work responsibilities. While the intention is to reward and motivate employees, excessive focus on the trip itself can lead to decreased productivity and potentially impact overall business operations. Companies should carefully balance the benefits of incentive travel against the potential disruption it may cause.

Overall, we've seen the benefits of incentive travel majorly outweigh the drawbacks, but it's important to evaluate the program for your own business.

Examples of Incentive Travel Programs

Here are some ideas for your next trip:

Luxury beach vacations

A trip to a luxurious beach resort in a place like Cabo, Mexico, or Bali can be a great incentive option. This type of incentive travel program offers the chance to relax, enjoy the sun, and participate in activities like snorkeling, sailing, paddle boarding, and beach games.

Adventure travel

For more adventurous teams, an incentive travel program that includes activities like hiking, rock climbing, or white-water rafting can be a great motivator. This type of program offers unique and memorable experiences to build teamwork.

Cultural tours

A cultural tour can be a unique opportunity for teams to immerse themselves in a local culture they may not otherwise be able to. This type of program might include visits to historical sites, museums and local markets, as well as opportunities to sample local cuisine.

Wellness retreats

A wellness retreat can be a great way to help employees relax and reset, both physically and mentally. This type of program would include activities like yoga, meditation, spa treatments and healthy eating workshops.

These are just a couple of examples of the many types of incentive programs available. We encourage you to think beyond the typical go-to destinations to find an incentive program structure that works best for your team.

What are the best locations for incentive programs?

The best location for your incentive travel program depends on your team, the structure of your event, and your budget. We recommend starting with those three pillars and selecting several options to compare before you select a destination.

These programs can happen in any location, whether domestic or exotic locations.

With that said, here are some of our favorite incentive travel destinations from recent years:

Perfect for adventurous souls, Costa Rica offers several activities like zip-lining, hiking and water sports. The country also has a strong focus on sustainability and eco-tourism, making it a great destination for companies with a green focus.

Hawaii offers a multitude of options for those looking to relax, explore, or a little of both. Activities like surfing, hiking, and snorkeling are popular, as well as cultural experiences like hula dancing and lei making. Those looking to unwind also have the option of simply relaxing on the beach.

Tuscany, Italy

Tuscany offers stunning landscapes, historic architecture, and world-renowned cuisine. Activities like wine tasting, cooking classes, and visits to historic sites are popular.

Northern California

Northern California offers a multitude of resorts catering to those looking to escape for wellness retreats. With great weather year-round, this is a great option for companies looking to stay closer to home while still offering an escape.

With its mix of Mediterranean culture, pristine water, and gorgeous landscapes, Mallorca offers groups an amazing escape just off the coast of Spain. As one of our top-performing locations, Mallorca always offers that "wow" factor.

Not sure where to start when looking for the right destination for your team? Check out our guide to selecting the best destination for your incentive trip.

How is an incentive program typically structured?

To create an effective incentive trip program, organizations should start by defining clear goals and objectives. This involves determining the behaviors or outcomes they want to incentivize and the desired results they hope to achieve.

Next, consider factors such as timing, eligibility criteria, and performance metrics. Some companies choose to select the top percent of employees to include in their trip, some select specific departments, and others choose to bring their whole company. Whatever the selection criteria, make sure it's clearly defined and communicated to everyone involved, so they can understand how they can become a part of the group selected to go.

From there, your company can structure your incentive program by selecting destinations and activities that align with your goals, interests, and budget. Decide whether it should be a group trip or an individual reward trip.

Example Incentive Trip Agenda

According to the Incentive Research Foundation, 3 - 5 day trips are ideal for incentive trips. This agenda is created around that recommendation and designed in a group travel format.

As you build your agenda, consider what mix of leisure and business activities you want, or how much free time to provide guests. Develop activities related to group interests instead of just what's available. And considering leveraging local knowledge to find cultural activities throughout.

• Arrivals at destination, hotel check-in and welcome reception
• Group dinner
• Morning casual activities, such as yoga, spa, pool, or other
• Afternoon small groups activities on site, such as sailing, golf, kayaking, or horseback riding
• Evening cocktail reception and dinner
• Full-day excursion or private tour to nearby cultural or natural attraction (e.g. city tour, national park)
• Group lunch at local restaurant
• Evening time to explore destination or attend optional activity (e.g. cooking class, wine tasting)
• Morning volunteer event, such as school supply drive, beach cleanup, etc.
• Afternoon time to explore destination or participate in optional activity (e.g. spa day, painting class, team-building exercises)
• Evening awards dinner and celebration

This itinerary is just an example and can be customized to fit the specific goals and preferences of the group. The key to a successful trip agenda is to provide a balance of team-building activities, cultural experiences, free time for exploration, and leisure activities for relaxation. Learn how to make your sales incentive trip a success here.

Is incentive travel right for my company?

Incentive travel may or may not be right for your company. There are several areas to consider as you decide if you should plan an incentive program.

Consider whether your team would benefit from a luxury trip with some rest and relaxation. Are your teams feeling burnt out or overwhelmed? This may be a good opportunity to reset.

Are your teams not hitting their sales targets? An incentive program might be the nudge they need to perform better -- beyond just getting a cash bonus.

Or, on the flip side, are your teams hitting certain achievements beyond expectations? Maybe it's time to reward those top performers with a little incentive travel trip.

Whatever your team looks like, it's important to understand if your budget and the outcomes are right for your company. Dive further into how to plan a successful incentive trip here.

Can I get help planning my incentive trip?

Yes, absolutely. Destination management companies and event planning companies are your ideal partners to help plan your event.

GoGather is your go-to event planner for your next incentive program. We have developed and planned travel incentives across the world, from Bali to Mexico to Mallorca. We help you design VIP trips to reward your top achievers and inspire success. Let's review your company goals and develop an amazing incentive trip specifically designed for your company. Start planning with us now.

Katie Moser

Related articles.

• Incentive Travel

25 / 09 / 2023

What Is Incentive Travel? (Explained With 7 Examples)

In today's competitive business landscape, organizations are continually seeking innovative ways to motivate their employees and drive success. One such strategy that has gained immense popularity in recent years is incentive travel. Let’s delve into the world of incentive travel, explore what it is, how it compares to cash bonuses, its impact on employee motivation, and its significance for organizational goals. We'll also discuss the different types of incentive travel, the target audience for such programs, their frequency, and whether you should create a plan in-house or collaborate with an agency like MICEHospitality. Additionally, we'll provide you with a useful checklist for creating an effective incentive travel plan and share some inspiring examples of successful incentive travel programs.

What is Incentive Tour?

Incentive tour is a powerful motivational tool used by organizations to reward and recognize their top-performing employees. It involves offering a travel experience as a reward for achieving specific performance goals or targets. Unlike cash bonuses, which often get absorbed into routine expenses, incentive tour offers a memorable and highly motivating experience that employees can cherish for a lifetime.

The concept of incentive tour is rooted in the idea that employees who feel valued and appreciated for their contributions are more likely to be engaged, motivated, and committed to their work. It goes beyond the traditional approach of monetary compensation and taps into the fundamental human desire for experiences, adventure, and personal growth.

Incentive Tour vs. Cash Bonus

The debate between incentive tour and cash bonus is a common one in the realm of employee motivation. While both approaches have their merits, incentive tour stands out for several reasons. First and foremost, it provides a tangible and exciting reward that goes beyond monetary compensation. When employees are offered a chance to embark on an all-expenses-paid trip to a dream destination, it creates a sense of anticipation and excitement that money alone cannot match.

Moreover, incentive tour offers a unique opportunity for team building and bonding among employees. When colleagues travel together, they form stronger connections and develop a deeper sense of camaraderie, which can positively impact workplace dynamics. Cash bonuses, on the other hand, do little to foster such relationships.

In addition to the tangible rewards, incentive tour offers intangible benefits that can have a lasting impact on employees. Travel experiences often lead to personal growth, cultural enrichment, and the creation of cherished memories. These aspects contribute to an employee's overall well-being and happiness, which, in turn, can enhance their job satisfaction and performance.

When employees return from an incentive trip, they often bring back newfound energy and enthusiasm to the workplace. This boosts their morale and leads to increased productivity and a more positive work atmosphere. In contrast, cash bonuses, while appreciated, may not have the same long-term effect on employee motivation and engagement.

Why Incentive Trips Are Important: Impact on Employee Motivation and Organizational Goals

Incentive trips play a pivotal role in boosting employee motivation. They serve as concrete milestones that employees strive to achieve, knowing that their hard work will be rewarded with a remarkable travel experience. This anticipation can fuel increased productivity, engagement, and overall job satisfaction among employees.

From an organizational perspective, incentive travel aligns employee efforts with company goals. By setting specific performance targets tied to the trip, businesses can channel their workforce's energy towards achieving strategic objectives. Whether it's increasing sales, improving customer satisfaction, or enhancing productivity, incentive travel programs can be tailored to support various organizational priorities.

Types of Incentive Travel

Incentive travel programs come in various forms, each catering to different employee preferences and organizational budgets. Here are the most common types:

All-Expense-Paid Trips: These are the most extravagant incentive travel programs, covering everything from flights and accommodation to meals and activities. They offer employees a worry-free experience, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in the destination.

Just Stay Incentives: In this type of program, employees are rewarded with a complimentary stay at a luxurious resort or hotel. While it doesn't include travel expenses, it still provides a relaxing and rejuvenating experience.

Just Travel: Here, the focus is solely on the travel aspect. Employees receive travel vouchers or points that they can use to plan their dream vacations. This option offers flexibility and allows individuals to choose destinations that resonate with their interests.

Adventure-Based Incentives: For employees seeking thrill and adventure, organizations can offer incentive programs that include activities such as zip-lining, hiking, or water sports. These programs appeal to those with a sense of adventure and a love for the outdoors.

For Whom Should You Run an Incentive Travel Program

Incentive travel programs are versatile and can be tailored to suit various industries and roles. They are particularly effective for:

Sales Teams: Rewarding top-performing salespeople with incentive trips can drive revenue growth and motivate others to excel.

Customer Service Teams: Recognizing outstanding customer service representatives can improve customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Managers and Executives: Providing leadership with incentive travel opportunities can strengthen their commitment to the organization's success.

Cross-Functional Teams: Incentive travel programs can also be designed to encourage collaboration and teamwork among employees from different departments, fostering a more cohesive and innovative workplace culture.

How Often Should You Run an Incentive Travel Program

The frequency of incentive travel programs can vary depending on your organization's goals and resources. Some companies offer annual trips to maintain consistent motivation, while others may opt for quarterly or biannual programs for more frequent rewards. The key is to strike a balance that keeps employees engaged without overextending the budget.

Annual programs work well for organizations with stable financial resources and a larger workforce, as they can spread the costs over a longer period. Quarterly or biannual programs, on the other hand, are suitable for smaller companies or those with budget constraints.

When determining the frequency, it's essential to consider the nature of your industry and the typical sales or performance cycles. For example, in industries with seasonal fluctuations, it may be more meaningful to schedule incentive trips during off-peak periods to maintain motivation year-round.

In-House Planning vs. Agency Collaboration

When it comes to planning your incentive travel program, you have two primary options: handling it in-house or partnering with a specialized agency like MICEHospitality. Each approach has its advantages.

In-House Planning

Advantages:

Greater Control: Planning in-house allows for complete control over every aspect of the program, from destination selection to itinerary planning.

Customization: You can tailor the program to align with your company culture, values, and employee preferences.

Cost Control: In-house planning can sometimes be more cost-effective, as you have direct control over expenses.

Considerations:

Resource Intensive: Planning incentive travel programs can be time-consuming and require significant resources, including staff time and expertise.

Logistics: Managing the logistics of travel, accommodation, and activities can be complex, especially for large groups.

Agency Collaboration

Expertise: Specialized agencies like MICEHospitality have industry-specific knowledge, contacts, and experience to ensure a seamless and memorable travel experience.

Streamlined Logistics: Agencies handle all the logistical details, from negotiating with vendors to managing travel arrangements.

Time Savings: Partnering with an agency frees up your internal resources, allowing your team to focus on other critical tasks.

Cost: Agency services come at a fee, so it's essential to weigh the cost against the convenience and expertise they provide.

The choice between in-house planning and agency collaboration ultimately depends on your organization's resources, expertise, and specific goals. Whichever route you choose, meticulous planning and attention to detail are crucial for a successful incentive travel program.

Checklist for Creating an Effective Incentive Travel Plan

Creating a successful incentive travel plan requires meticulous planning and attention to detail. Here's a comprehensive checklist to guide you through the process:

Define Clear Goals: Begin by clearly outlining the performance targets and metrics that employees must meet to qualify for the incentive trip. These goals should align with your organization's broader objectives.

Select the Right Destination: Choose a destination that aligns with the interests and preferences of your employees. Consider factors such as travel time, cultural appeal, and accessibility.

Budget Wisely: Determine a budget that allows for a memorable experience without straining your resources. Consider all costs, including travel, accommodation, meals, activities, and incentives.

Engage Employees: Involve employees in the planning process to ensure their preferences and needs are considered. Conduct surveys or focus groups to gather input on destination choices, travel dates, and activities.

Design an Engaging Itinerary: Craft an itinerary that strikes a balance between work-related activities (e.g., recognition events, meetings) and leisure activities (e.g., sightseeing, team-building exercises). Ensure that the itinerary caters to various interests and preferences.

Consider Logistics: Pay meticulous attention to travel arrangements, including flight bookings, airport transfers, and ground transportation. Additionally, carefully select accommodations that offer comfort and convenience.

Safety and Health Measures: In the post-pandemic world, prioritize the safety and well-being of your employees. Implement health and safety protocols, and stay updated on travel advisories and restrictions.

Communication: Clearly communicate the program's goals, rules, and rewards to all eligible employees. Maintain open lines of communication throughout the planning process and provide regular updates.

Recognition and Awards: Plan recognition events during the trip to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of participants. Consider awards or certificates to commemorate their success.

Feedback Mechanism: After the trip, solicit feedback from participants to evaluate the program's effectiveness. Use this feedback to make improvements for future incentive travel programs.

Evaluate ROI: Assess the return on investment (ROI) of the incentive travel program by measuring its impact on employee performance, engagement, and organizational goals.

By following this comprehensive checklist, you can create an incentive travel program that not only outranks competitors but also elevates your organization's performance and employee satisfaction.

Successful Incentive Tourism Examples

To inspire your incentive travel planning, here are some real-life examples of companies that have executed remarkable incentive travel programs:

Reliance Industries Limited

Program Highlights: Reliance Industries, one of India's largest conglomerates, runs incentive travel programs for its employees to recognize exceptional performance. The company offers all-expense-paid trips to both domestic and international destinations. These trips often include luxury accommodations, cultural experiences, and team-building activities.

Tata Motors

Program Highlights: Tata Motors, a subsidiary of Tata Group, is known for its innovative incentive travel initiatives. The company organizes trips for top-performing employees, which include visits to manufacturing plants, international auto shows, and adventure getaways. These programs align with Tata Motors' commitment to recognizing and nurturing talent.

Program Highlights: Infosys, a global IT services company, conducts incentive travel programs for its employees in India. These programs typically feature a mix of professional development, such as training sessions and conferences, along with leisure activities at picturesque destinations. Infosys emphasizes the holistic development of its workforce through these initiatives.

Program Highlights: IBM India, a subsidiary of IBM Corporation, offers incentive travel opportunities for its employees. These programs often include participation in international conferences, workshops, and recognition events at exotic locations. IBM India's incentive travel initiatives align with its commitment to fostering a culture of innovation and excellence.

Program Highlights: Accenture, a global consulting and technology services company with a significant presence in India, runs incentive travel programs for its Indian employees. These programs may involve global recognition events, conferences, and networking opportunities held in desirable international locations. Accenture's incentive travel initiatives aim to reward high performance and promote career growth.

Microsoft India

Program Highlights: Microsoft India, a subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation, operates a variety of incentive travel programs for its employees. These programs offer opportunities to attend international conferences, recognition events, and leadership development seminars in attractive destinations. Microsoft India emphasizes employee engagement and professional growth through these initiatives.

HCL Technologies

Program Highlights: HCL Technologies, a leading IT services and consulting company based in India, has implemented incentive travel programs as part of its employee recognition strategy. These programs often include global forums, seminars, and recognition events that allow employees to network with international counterparts. HCL Technologies values employee empowerment and growth through these initiatives.

These incentive tourism examples illustrate how both Indian companies and multinational corporations operating in India prioritize incentive tour as a means of recognizing and motivating their employees. By providing employees with opportunities to travel, learn, and bond with colleagues, these companies not only boost performance but also foster a positive work culture that values achievement and personal development.

In conclusion, incentive travel is a potent tool for enhancing employee motivation, aligning organizational goals, and ultimately driving success. Whether you choose to offer all-expense-paid trips or travel vouchers, the key is to create a program that resonates with your employees and inspires them to excel. By following the checklist and drawing inspiration from successful examples, you can craft an incentive travel program that not only outranks competitors but also elevates your organization's performance and employee satisfaction.

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What Is Incentive Travel? Definition & Benefits

It’s no secret that offering an incentive to employees is a key factor in boosting performance, sales, and engagement.

So with that in mind, we answer the question, “What is incentive travel?” with a definition and the top benefits of offering an incentive trip program.

What Is Incentive Travel?

Incentive travel is a specific trip or tour offered to top-performing employees as a way to motivate them to make more sales, gain more customers, and/or improve overall performance. By offering an incentive trip, companies are able to drive their business goals and recognize top performers.

An incentive trip can be taken as a group or an individual vacation for the employee and their families.

Benefits of Offering an Incentive Trip

Offering an incentive trip has plenty of benefits, so we’ve outlined the top reasons why your company should start an incentive trip program today.

1. Company growth and increased sales

To reiterate, people like rewards. Employees respond to incentives and, in return, target sales are more likely to be met and there could be an increase in business growth. By giving employees a goal to strive for, it promotes productivity gains that could potentially be seen across the board.

The increase in sales and productivity driven by the workforce will far outweigh the cost of offering an incentive trip. Additionally, by making employees feel valued, this will also likely increase sales and overall performance.

2. Stronger relationships and increased loyalty

Not only will employees be incentivized to sell more or boost their overall performance, but companies that offer incentive travel are also able to build stronger relationships with their employees.

Everyone wants to be rewarded for their hard work and employees recognize when companies offer those rewards. Offering an incentive trip will not go unnoticed.

Additionally, employees may be more likely to stay with a company that offers these rewards. Company loyalty is extremely important in long-term employee retention and incentive travel can help with that.

3. Extra professional development time

During an incentive trip, many companies opt to use some of the time to promote additional professional development through workshops and seminars.

Certainly, one of the most important parts of an incentive trip is to allow employees to relax and reap the benefits of their hard work, but by setting aside a couple of hours for professional development, employers are given the opportunity to blend leisure and learning.

4. Family time leads to a better support network

Many companies offer incentive trips for employees and their families. By allowing their families to join, companies are also promoting a healthy family support system.

Travel creates long-lasting memories and hard-working employees deserve to take some time out with their families to enjoy these memories together. This will hopefully promote high productivity for years to come.

5. Company bonding

Some companies treat incentive travel as more of a retreat for their employees to get to know each other, network, and team build. Whether you are getting the entire team together or a select few of the top sellers, this is an excellent opportunity to allow for some intercompany bonding.

This could also lead to higher sales or company growth because employees are able to get to know each other better on a much different level than they normally would in the office.

This is especially beneficial for companies spread out across the country or those that mainly work remotely. There’s nothing like an in-person connection and an incentive trip does just that. And it’s a lot of fun for everyone!

At the end of the day, offering incentive trips for employees is a win-win for everyone. Employees are encouraged to grow their productivity while they are also shown that their company values them and rewards them for their hard work. The company benefits from this hard work by hopefully seeing growth in the bottom line.

As a travel agency specializing in incentive travel, contact us and let us help you plan an incentive trip to motivate your employees and bring your company to a whole new level!

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Incentive Tourism

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Incentive tourism or travel has roots in expectancy and motivation theory (Mair 2015 ). Incentive tourism, as one of the major types of the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events) sectors, has long been used by companies or institutions as a noncash reward to their employees and external partners for achieving key business objectives (Society of Incentive Travel Executives 2021 ). Its uniqueness separates itself from other types of the MICE sector. Incentive tourism emphasizes fun, food, and other entertainment activities rather than education and work. The major players are companies and institutions offering incentive programs as a motivational tool for increasing productivity, incentive houses, travel agencies providing such programs to businesses, destination tourism organizations, and industry associations.

The earliest documented incentive travel program was probably in the 1900s, when National Register Company offered a free trip to their top performing employees...

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Li, X., L. Lu, and C. Chi. 2018. Examining incentive travelers: How motivation affects organizational commitment. International Journal of Tourism Research 20: 830–842. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2235 .

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Mair, J. 2015. Incentive travel: A theoretical perspective. Event Management 19: 543–552. https://doi.org/10.3727/152599515X14465748512803 .

Mair, J., X. Jin, and J. Yoo. 2016. Exploring the site selection decisions of incentive travel planners. Event Management 20: 353–364. https://doi.org/10.3727/152599516X14682560744677 .

Ricci, P., and S. Holland. 1992. Incentive travel: Recreation as a motivational medium. Tourism Management 13: 288–296. https://doi.org/10.1016/0261-5177(92)90100-L .

Society of Incentive Travel Executives 2021. About Incentive Travel and SITE https://www.siteglobal.com/page/who-we-are . Assessed 8 Feb.

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Lu, Z. (2022). Incentive Tourism. In: Jafari, J., Xiao, H. (eds) Encyclopedia of Tourism. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-01669-6_107-3

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The complete guide for incentive trips for employees

How to plan an incentive trip: a step-by-step guide, what to consider when planning an incentive trip, setting clear goals for the trip, setting a budget, choosing the destination and dates, need help booking and managing your company’s incentive trips, planning the itinerary and activities, coordinating logistics and travel arrangements, communicating and engaging with participants, measuring the success of the incentive trip, provide memorable experiences with successful incentive travel management.

See how TravelPerk’s can streamline incentive trip planning and manage all your travel needs in one place.

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Incentive Travel

What is incentive travel? How are incentive programs, trips, and events different from conference and meeting planning? In this section we'll look at the definition of incentive travel, including: examples of incentive travel programs, how to become an incentive travel planner, an incentive travel planner job description, career advice, employment information, and the pros and cons of being an incentive travel planner in this sector of the events industry.

A guide to incentive travel programs; definitions, descriptions, and examples.

Careers in Incentive Travel / Destination Management

Why become an incentive travel planner or destination manager? Career advice and employment information.

Being an Incentive Travel Planner

What does an incentive travel planner do? Read a real incentive travel planner job description by Martin Turner, former Director of Travel, International Travel Group, and former Global Head of Events, Credit Suisse .

Pros and Cons of Incentive Travel

Pros and cons of incentive travel by Martin Turner, former Director of Travel, International Travel Group, and former Global Head of Events, Credit Suisse .

Being a Destination Manager

What does a destination manager do? Read a real destination manager job description by Jennifer Miller, Partner and President, ACCESS Destination Services .

Pros and Cons of Destination Management Careers

Pros and cons of destination management careers by Jennifer Miller, Partner and President, ACCESS Destination Services .

MICE: Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions

Although the content of an incentive travel program is very different to other types of meetings—in that the emphasis is on entertainment, activities, and socializing—the event planning process is very similar. Meetings and incentive programs both involve location planning, destination management, co-ordinating travel and accommodation, and creating a program of supporting events.

Meeting planners often find themselves working on a mix of meetings, conferences, and incentive travel programs, and in doing so will often call upon the services of a destination manager at a DMC (Destination Management Company). Destination managers are a type of event planner who offers local knowledge and resources to meeting planners in order to help deliver events in a particular region

What Is Incentive Travel?

Incentive travel is the reward element of an incentive, recognition, or loyalty program, which takes the form of an all-expenses paid trip with a program of scheduled events and activities.

Incentive Programs

Incentive, recognition, and loyalty programs (from here on referred to as just ‘incentive programs’) are used by companies as a motivational tool to achieve certain business objectives, for example to increase sales.

Participants—which might be the company’s employees, distributors / re-sellers, or customers—usually have to qualify by achieving a certain level of performance, pre-defined by the terms of the incentive program, e.g. achieving pre-set sales targets.

Those that meet the relevant criteria are then rewarded by taking part in the incentive travel trip (sometimes referred to as the ‘award’). These are usually group trips with a set itinerary where all those qualifying take part in the same program of events and activities, however individual incentive trips are also used by some companies.

Incentive Trips/Awards

To fulfill the award, the company will use some form of event / meeting planner to co-ordinate the trip and design the itinerary, including all travel arrangements, accommodation, receptions, dinners, activities, excursions, entertainment, and special events.

Often, this will involve the meeting planner hiring a Destination Management Company (DMC), located in the city where the event is being held, to assist them in booking and managing local elements, such as restaurants, venues, transport, staffing, production, décor, entertainment, activities, and excursions.

Incentives are a very effective way to drive sales. An incentive program might be aimed at a company’s employees i.e. the sales team, or its distributors / re-sellers.

For example, a car manufacturer might create an incentive program for its dealers, whereby they have to meet a certain sales target each month. At the end of the term of the program, a year perhaps, those that made the required amount of sales will be rewarded by coming together with management executives, and the other qualifying dealers, to attend the award trip.

This might consist of a three-day trip to Monte Carlo during the Monaco Grand Prix with a cocktail reception on a yacht, a private dinner at the world famous casino, followed by leisure activities and excursions such as sailing, wine tastings, golf, or a private tour of The Prince’s Palace.

Rewards and Recognition

Group travel can also be used as part of an employee reward and recognition program. Whereas incentive programs aim to inspire or influence someone’s efforts, the purpose of rewards and recognition programs are to reinforce certain behaviors.

A qualifying employee may be deemed to be improving customer service, living the corporate values, or meeting productivity goals. A company might create a group travel program ‘award’ as a way to engage with their employees, recognize performance, and reward top achievers.

The format is similar to those held for sales incentives in that, as a reward, the emphasis is on leisure activities, excursions, group dinners, and receptions. It might be a trip to Sir Richard Branson’s private game resort, Ulusaba Lodge in South Africa, with a program that includes safaris, hot air balloon rides, helicopter tours over canyons, and outdoor dinners and receptions with the finest African cuisine.

Employee Motivation

For example, in addition to various dinners and leisure activities, one company’s program included a team building session called ‘Helping Hands’ where employees were given a box of parts and an instruction booklet. Working as a team they had to assemble an object, which later transpired to be a prosthetic hand, which was then given to a land mine victim who had lost their hand.

Customer Loyalty

Another variation of an incentive program is when group travel is used to reward customer loyalty and repeat business. I have actually been on the receiving end on an incentive program organized by the parent company of a group of event industry suppliers.

The parent company owns a caterer, a venue finding company, a staffing agency, and a technical production company—amongst others. They have an incentive program whereby their customers, event companies such as my own, Left Field Productions , have their annual spend with any of the parent company’s businesses converted into points. Once a certain amount of points is accrued, my company qualifies for between one and three places on a group travel ‘award’.

One year this included a three-day trip to Portofino, Italy, where we stayed in the luxurious Hotel Splendido, which sits on a hillside overlooking the Mediterranean and is frequented by celebrities such as Madonna, George Clooney, and Elizabeth Taylor.

The ‘incentive travel program’ is what, up until now, we have been referring to as the ‘award’; it’s the reward element of the entire ‘incentive program’. Among event planners however, the ‘award’ is generally referred to as the ‘incentive travel program’ or just the ‘travel program’. It’s not really regarded as an event, because it’s usually a lot more than that; it’s a program of events and activities over several days or even a week.

Incentive Program

The ‘incentive program’ is the entire scheme that leads up to and includes the ‘award’. The ‘incentive program’ might start up to a year in advance, often it’s unveiled at the end of the current program—perhaps at an awards dinner on the final evening—in order to build excitement.

The incentive program is often unveiled on the final night of the previous year’s incentive travel program.

Teaser Campaign

‘Teasers’ are sent out to participants to build anticipation of the official launch. For example, if the destination is going to be a beach resort, then a flip-flop might be sent to each participant with a cryptic clue attached. Promoting an incentive is all about building excitement, so often the way it is communicated needs to be creating and engaging.

Official Announcement

Official announcement, information packs, and enrolment kits are sent out for participants to ‘sign up’ to the incentive program. These packs will outline the terms and conditions of the program, with information on what is required to qualify, for example defining sales targets.

Qualification period

During this period, which could last up to a year, participants are required to meet the pre-defined criteria that would enable them to qualify for the award, for example hitting sales targets.

Mid-Program Motivation

More teasers and reminders will usually be sent out over the course of the qualifying period to encourage the participants to meet the necessary criteria.

Qualifiers Announced

Qualifiers or ‘winners’ announced. In some cases, physical trophies or other gifts are handed out at this stage, in advance of the actual ‘award’ trip. Shortly after, travel arrangements will be communicated to the qualifiers.

Guests might travel separately from different locations or, alternatively, group travel arrangements will be made where everybody takes the same flight together.

Upon arrival in the destination city, participants might be greeted at the airport by local representatives, before transferring to their hotels. Often the creative elements of the program start here.

For example, when I attended an incentive program in Monaco, we were flown from London to Nice, South of France, and had expected to be driven on to our hotel in Monte Carlo. However, on arrival in Nice, we discovered a series of helicopters had been laid on to transfer us the rest of the way.

Hotel Check-In

Participants are then greeted at the hotel, checked in, and have some time to settle in before the evening’s welcome dinner. Typically a welcome pack and gift is often left in room.

Welcome cocktail reception. An opportunity for everyone to meet and network, perhaps on a private terrace at the hotel, possibly with live entertainment from musicians and performers. Usually the meeting planner will add in a few extra creative touches to make the reception a little more special, such as a wine or tequila tasting.

Open-air dinner in the hotel’s private gardens overlooking the sea, possibly with after-dinner entertainment and/or some speeches from the hosts. Often the first evening’s dinner is held ‘on-site’ at the hotel as people are tired from travelling.

After-Dinner Drinks

Often, on the first night, this is just informal after-dinner drinks in the hotel bar as most people are tied from travelling. However, depending on the group, there might be cigars and cognac laid on, or a private lounge area with cocktails.

Breakfast at the hotel, perhaps followed by an informal meeting or presentation regarding upcoming activities.

Excursion to local attractions, sightseeing, and shopping. These might be cultural activities or the opportunity to take part in authentic ‘real life’ experiences typical of the location—such as exploring the Hutong area of Beijing by bicycle and having tea with locals in their homes.

Group lunch at a restaurant or special venue. Again, this is an opportunity for the meeting planner to get creative perhaps by obtaining access to a venue or location that's typically not accessible to the general public—such as lunch on a movie set or in private rooms at a royal palace.

Afternoon of leisure activities, which depending on the group, might be traditional activities, such as golf or a spa day. Alternatively, it could be more unusual activities like cage diving with sharks or bulldozer adventure playground days. Often, the meeting planner will try to obtain some sort of unique or VIP access, such as getting to kick around footballs with a professional team and star players at their local stadium.

Reception and Dinner

The second day's evening cocktail reception and dinner typically takes place ‘off-site’ at a restaurant or private venue, usually with entertainment. Again this might involve some sort of unusual venue, such as a USO themed event on a real naval base.

Nightclub / Casino

Option to continue on to a local nightclub/casino.

Breakfast at the hotel, perhaps followed by an informal meeting.

Excursion / Activities

More leisure activities, trips, or opportunity to experience local culture. Depending on the group, this could be anything from cave tours, to zero gravity flights at a NASA training facility, to private backstage tours of a Broadway show and an opportunity to meet the cast.

Group lunch at a restaurant or special venue.

Team Building

Team building / experiential activity—sometimes with a connection to the local community or a charity. This might be building a park in the desert for a children's home or the Helping Hand's activity mentioned previously where the group make prosthetic hands to be given to land mine victims who've lost their hand

Dinner/Dance/Awards

Cocktail reception, gala dinner, awards ceremony, and dancing ‘off-site’ at a private venue. Next year's destination/incentive program revealed.

Breakfast at hotel.

Check-out / transfers

Hotel check-out, transfers to airport.

Group lunch at a restaurant or special venue en route to airport

Return flight home

Obviously, this format only outlines the bare bones of a travel program. The challenge for the event planner is in making these programs as creative and engaging as possible—especially when you have to create something new and different every year.

The destination, accommodation, and activities might be amazing in their own right. For example, a three night trip to Hawaii with an itinerary that includes a sunset cocktail cruise, a private dinner on the beach, activities such as surfing, golf, waterfall hikes, hula lessons, and stargazing treks. It might also include excursions to the Diamond Head volcanic crater and Pearl Harbor, before a closing dinner and awards ceremony on the final night.

However, a good planner will make sure they include some extra special moments, private access to people and places, or exclusive experiences that the guests could not create themselves—either through lack of financial resources, local knowledge, contacts, or even imagination.

New Orleans

One leading incentive travel company created a trip to New Orleans for one of its clients, a Fortune 500 company. In addition to the usual 5 star accommodation and the finest local cuisine, the company added some extra touches to make the trip even more special. These included a private parade along Bourbon Street, followed by a dinner on the field of the Superdrome—where they were greeted by a marching band with their names circling on the ribbon board and their photos on the Jumbotron. They even had the chance to toss a few footballs around the pitch.

The following day, to connect with the local community, the group spent the afternoon planting trees and bushes at a newly rebuilt elementary school, which had been devastated by Hurricane Katrina. The playground and the landscaping that the group contributed to were the final touches to the redevelopment that had been seven years in the making.

Whether it’s providing exclusive access to something not readily available to the public, taking part in authentic ‘real life’ experiences typical of the local culture, or giving something back by connecting with the local community, those moments create memories that go far beyond being a business trip or vacation—and is what makes incentive travel work as a motivational tool.

REFERENCES 1. Anatomy of a Successful Incentive Travel Program White Paper, Melissa Van Dyke, Incentive Research Foundation

Why become an inventive travel planner or destination manager? Career advice and employment information.

What is Incentive Travel?

Making the business case for incentive travel.

Reward and Recognition – why use incentive travel?

In its purest sense, Incentive Travel is a performance enhancement tool used to inspire outstanding workplace behaviours against clearly defined goals.

It’s a key part of the reward and recognition programs that organisations offer to motivate, incentivise and inspire outstanding performance amongst their workforces.

Cash bonuses, premium merchandise, memberships and flexible benefits are other types of reward typically offered by organisations:

Cash bonuses are widely deployed in organisations to reward performance. They have the advantage of being easy to implement and everyone understands the value of cash.

That said, they are ephemeral, here today, gone tomorrow. Cash often gets absorbed into a qualifier’s regular expenses so there is little to associate the reward with the organisation that offers it and the reward can be easily forgotten.

Merchandise is often used as a reward instead of cash and this is usually for fiscal reasons. The merchandise used in incentive programs is usually high end or luxury, ie, something a qualifier would not normally purchase on their own behalf.

However, no matter how high-end or premium, the merchandise has a known price so it places a finite value on the reward. It may be validating for the qualifier to have an over-sized TV screen, but the sense of validation may be short lived as there will always be bigger and better TV screens.

Some organisations offer memberships (golf club, gym, yoga etc) and benefits tailored to the specific needs and interests of the qualifer.

These rewards are already more enduring in their value to a qualifer than cash and merchandise, but they still have a finite value and place a specific price on the extraordinary effort that a qualifier made to get them.

Winning a place on an incentive travel program, however, has clear advantages over all the other tried and tested rewards. The principal advantage is that it’s “priceless”, offering an extraordinary travel experience, comprised of experiences not available in a tourist brochure. When planned well, these travel experiences can be deeply impactful, even transformational for the qualifier.

There are other benefits, too. Incentive travel is usually offered to a qualifier PLUS a significant other. Thus the sponsoring organisation is facilitating an outstanding shared experience for two people – both can look forward to the trip together (significant other acts as a performance catalyst) and both can treasure the memories it generates.

There are benefits to the sponsoring company too in that the incentive travel experience facilitates relationship building between qualifiers and officers in an organisation and can be a tangible way to put express, and get buy-in to, company culture.

MICE: Incentive Travel = the “I” in MICE

There is no universally agreed category header to describe the industry and marketplace variously known as The Meetings Industry, MICE, Business Tourism, The C & I sector, Business Events, The Meetings and Events Industry.

Different Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) favour different category headers and, moreover, argue vehemently against the use of others.

MICE, an acronym meaning Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Events is widely used in Asia and Europe but often disliked in North America and Australia where Business Events has gained currency.  The UK prefers The Meetings Industry.

Incentive Travel is the “I” in MICE. While corporate meetings usually seek to inform or educate participants, incentive travel seeks to motivate and inspire them. Incentive travel is described by the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) as

“... a powerful business tool to reward and unlock human potential to achieve corporate objectives.”

Incentive travel, therefore, is about reward and recognition – rewarding team members with an extraordinary travel experience for delivering outstanding results, recognising these high achievers before their peers and publicly validating their achievements.

For incentive programmes, the “appeal” of the destination is crucial as an all expenses VIP trip to this destination is the prize or the reward awaiting the qualifiers (those who exceed the targets set for qualification for the trip). Unless the destination is truly attractive and appealing, it will not trigger the emotional reaction necessary to motivate the employee to qualify for the trip .

The objectives of an incentive travel programme are many and can include:

• increasing sales
• building morale and loyalty
• increasing market share
• encouraging teamwork and better customer service

Incentive travel is used as a motivational tool across many industry sectors but is used particularly by the following ones:

• Financial and Insurance
• Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG)
• Direct Selling Companies (sometimes known as Network Marketing)

The supply chain for incentive travel starts with the organisation that decides to launch an incentive travel program (often called the “end user” or corporate planner) and includes a plethora of suppliers including specialist agencies in both the source market and destination, airlines, transportation companies, hotels, venues, restaurants, visitor attractions, speaker bureaux and AV / Production companies.

Of all the MICE segments, Incentive Travel is accepted as the segment that deploys the most touch points in both a source market and a destination.

Often the supply chain is divided into Buyers (corporate end user, agencies in source market) and Suppliers (airlines, agencies in destination, hotels, venues etc).

Making the Business Case for Incentive Travel

As the leading voice for the incentive travel industry, SITE & SITE Foundation are embarked upon an ongoing advocacy campaign to demonstrate the value of incentive travel as an effective marketing and business tool.

By providing education and certification programs, networking opportunities, industry research, and advocacy for its members and the incentive travel industry at large, SITE and SITE Foundation work to promote the value of incentive travel to businesses; emphasizing the positive impact that incentive travel can have on employee motivation, performance, and job satisfaction.

We need your help to collect the case studies that illustrate that effectiveness.

Why should you get involved?

By harnessing the experiences of incentive travel users, our campaign’s goal is to prove that incentive travel means business results; therefore increasing your incentive business, and its perceived value.

How can you get involved?

Submit a statement and brief case study by filling out the  Campaign Brief Form ; both sections #1 and #2. Submit completed forms via email attachment to  [email protected] .

SITE Crystal Awards

Considered the highest honor in our industry, the SITE Crystal Awards recognize creative, practical and truly memorable incentive travel programs that keep employees engaged, drive business results and improve the bottom line for global corporations.

The awards are aimed at incentive travel professionals all over the world. Winners represent excellence in their profession and offer inspirational examples of how incentive travel experiences benefit qualifiers, their companies and the destinations where they are hosted.

Surely the most compelling examples of the business case for Incentive Travel are SITE’s annual Crystal Award winners? Selected by our global panel of experts, the winners of a Crystal Award embody in their program design and delivery undisputed examples of excellence illustrating, convincingly, why incentive travel is THE most effective reward in a company’s reward and recognition initiative.

Foundation Research

SITE Foundation was established by SITE to raise funds and support research, education and advocacy projects on behalf of the incentive travel industry.

Monies raised by SITE Foundation enable us to make the business case for incentive travel and highlight the transformational potential of travel experiences on individuals, enterprises and communities.

Since 2017 SITE Foundation has invested over $1.25million to drive the business case for incentive travel and support professional development within the industry.

Evidence-based research is crucial when it comes to making the business case for Incentive Travel. That’s why it’s a core tenet of SITE Foundation’s vision and mission. Each year SITE Foundation commissions original research on various aspects of Incentive Travel to equip Incentive Travel professionals all over the world with data to underpin their important work on behalf of national, regional and global corporations.

SITE offers a number of options for individual and group membership

Go to Membership

Register for in-person and virtual events organised by SITE HQ and our Chapters

Go to Events

Check out SITE’s rich portfolio of webinars, online courses and educational resources

Go to Learn Hub

Since its formation in 1987, SITE Foundation has invested over USD$10M in our industry

Learn about the Foundation

Connect with us

Research / 2023 Incentive Travel Index

Incentive Travel Index

2023 incentive travel index.

by Incentive Research Foundation

Las Vegas, October 16, 2023 . The newly released 2023 Incentive Travel Index (ITI) reports that, overall, the incentive travel industry is strong. Growth is projected through 2025 for both number of people participating in incentive trips as well as per-person spend. That said, tangible financial ROI and concerns around cost are indexing higher than previous studies, highlighting a underlying caution that stems from an uncertain geo-political, economic, and environmental backdrop. While industry-wide trends emerged, the study reflects variation by geography as well as by industry sector.

The Incentive Travel Index is joint initiative of the Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) and the Foundation of the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE Foundation) and is undertaken in partnership with Oxford Economics.

“The 2023 Incentive Travel Index drills down to examine the data by industry and geographic location, enabling incentive industry professionals to target the data they need to make decisions to meet their specific goals,” said SITE CEO, Annette Gregg . “The ITI clearly demonstrates that one size does not fit all. Incentive industry professionals need to be nuanced in their approach to client needs and mindful of the fact that there can be significant differences based on industry vertical or geographic location.”

“Incentive travel is expected to be fresh and exciting, with 71% of our respondents indicating an increased demand for new destinations not used before,” said Stephanie Harris , IRF President. “With projected growth and increased demand, incentive professionals will also have to contend with challenges of availability, lift, and access to local resources. The supply chain for incentive travel experiences can be complex, so it’s critical to form strong partnerships with suppliers, including hotels, DMOs, and DMCs.”

For additional key findings from the 2023 Incentive Travel Index study as well as reports from previous years, visit https://www.incentiveindex.com/.

About the Incentive Travel Index

Now in its sixth year, The Incentive Travel Index is a collaboration between IRF and SITE Foundation . With research partner Oxford Economics, the organizations have again created an indispensable annual report on the state of incentive travel, providing data on current and future evolution.

The 2023 online survey, fielded globally from June – July 2023. More than 2,400 incentive travel professionals participated in the survey. Respondents represented five distinct incentive travel professional roles: corporate end user, third party agency, DMC, destination supplier and DMO.

The 2023 Incentive Travel Index has been supported by Accor, Destination Canada, IMEX Group, Hilton, ITA Group, Tourism New Zealand, and Tango.

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2022 Incentive Travel Index

The newly released 2022 Incentive Travel Index (ITI) reports that, overall, the incentive travel industry is strong. Recovery is progressing, program design is evolving and there is increased interest in new destinations. While industry-wide trends emerged, the study reflects variation by geography as well as by sector. The ITI enables incentive industry professionals to target the data…

Artificial Intelligence

AI: Uses and Possibilities for Incentives Professionals 

This report explores how incentives professionals are using AI both in the travel and non-travel incentive arenas, information about the tools and programs they find most valuable relative to incentive programs, and the gains and impacts they’re experiencing as a result.

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What is incentive travel? (4 Incentive travel program examples)

Free holidays for your staff—what’s that all about?

Isn’t incentive travel just frivolous corporate spending, used by giant organisations with more money than sense?

Although corporate incentive travel can be expensive and difficult to deliver, it is still one of the most effective ways to motivate individuals , reward desirable behaviour and boost performance.

In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about incentive travel and how it can help you reach your company goals. ‍

What is incentive travel?

Incentive travel motivates or incentivises a group of people by rewarding top performers with an all-expenses-paid trip. Organisations can decide to offer the travel perk to individual employees , departments, partners, or VIP clients.

You can use travel incentive programs to achieve your core business objectives like boosting quarterly sales figures, improving the quality of interactions between employees and executives, or nurturing relationships with high-spending or loyal customers. This is done by setting clear and attainable objectives that your target group will strive to achieve in order to win a place on the trip.

So what are some examples of incentive travel programs and what they can achieve? ‍

4 Incentive travel program examples

Incentive travel programs can be used to achieve a variety of desired outcomes from improved employee engagement to client spending incentives. Let’s take a closer look at four possible uses of corporate incentive travel programs. ‍

1. Employee motivation

One of the best ways to overcome organisational challenges such as low productivity, employee turnover and poor customer service is by developing travel incentives for staff. Motivating your employees with attractive travel rewards is an effective strategy for boosting employee engagement , altering attitudes, fostering teamwork, building morale and embedding new company values.

An employee motivation travel program is designed to bring your workforce together and inspire group interaction through an itinerary of teamwork exercises and experiential activities. This isn’t a free holiday, rather, it’s a purposeful team-building retreat with clear desired outcomes.

Example: Your technology scale-up has grown rapidly and you now have a large workforce with employees working remotely across the globe. Daily tasks are running smoothly, but your team isn’t motivated and the company culture is stagnant.

So, you reach out to a third-party retreat planner to help you organise a five-day team-building retreat in Honolulu full of unique team-bonding activities and carefully selected team-building games . The itinerary is specifically designed to strengthen interpersonal relationships and improve communication. ‍

2. Rewards and recognition

Incentive travel can be used to exemplify desirable behaviours and reward top achievers. Actions like bringing in big clients, promoting company values and going the extra mile should be encouraged by offering incentive awards.

Because these trips are offered as a reward or recognition for exemplary behaviour, the itinerary focuses more on pleasure and leisure activities rather than workshops and training events. After all, the idea is to motivate other employees to perform better, not deter them.

Example: You run a successful restaurant franchise and you want to generate more positive online reviews. At the beginning of the year, you announced that the top five servers to have their names mentioned in the most five-star reviews would win a trip to Tuscany, Italy .

The trip sounded fantastic, with relaxing vineyard tours, delicious cuisine and a luxury hotel. Excitement for the trip started to build and soon enough, the five-star reviews started rolling in. 

By the end of the year, five top-performing servers were rewarded with an all-expenses-paid trip to the picturesque region of Tuscany, Italy. ‍

3. Sales incentives

Sales incentive trips work in a similar way to rewards and recognition, but in this case, they’re geared towards more quantifiable corporate objectives such as increased sales and revenue.

Before planning the incentive group travel, you must first establish the requirements for attendance. To drive better sales figures, you should set goals slightly higher than what your employees would typically achieve.

These incentive travel programs are designed to be a reward, so the agenda should be made up of pleasurable activities including relaxing dinners, unique experiences, evening entertainment and free time to explore the destination.

Example: You own a company that sells renewable energy contracts door-to-door. You notice that your sales figures have started to drop and you want to do something to inspire your sales team to up their game.

You consider offering a cash bonus, but quickly decide a once-in-a-lifetime experience is more likely to resonate with the whole team and inspire them to make more sales.

You set new speculative yet attainable sales targets and announce a free employee holiday to Mammoth Lakes, CA , for anybody who achieves them.

The employee incentive travel program successfully motivates your team to push for more sales and your revenue starts to improve. ‍

4. Customer loyalty

Incentive tours can equally be used to cement relationships with loyal and high-paying clients. They sweeten the professional relationship and offer an incentive for the customer to continue doing business with you.

These are usually luxury trips, with plenty of time to relax, explore and enjoy unique experiences.

Example: You own a company that provides catering for corporate events. One of your clients, a major event planner, has been enlisting your services for a long time and you want to give them a reason to continue working with you.

You decide to create an incentive travel program. Each time the event planner books your catering company, they earn points that can later be cashed in for an incentive travel award.

This could be a relaxing spa weekend in Helsinki or a sunny beach holiday in Gran Canaria . ‍

What’s the objective of your incentive travel program?

It’s easy to see why incentive travel is often confused for a free holiday. After all, incentive trips are designed to be desirable and reinforce certain behaviours.

They wouldn't work if the itinerary was full of meetings, product demos and feedback sessions.

So when you’re designing your travel incentive program, consider your desired outcomes. Do you want to encourage your top clients to spend more? Do your new hires need help integrating with the rest of the team? 

Once you have the answers to these questions, you can go about planning a trip with an itinerary that supports your goals.

Surf Office has almost 10 years of experience planning fully customised work retreats for major organisations such as Google, Shopify, Hotjar and more. If you're looking to organise a motivational team-building retreat , we’d be delighted to hear more about it!

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A Guide to the Top Incentive Travel Destinations For 2 0 2 2

Incentive travel remains a top motivator, and many reward earners are eager for a new adventure (or just a change of scenery).

For some top performers, an upcoming incentive trip could be their first time traveling since the pandemic began—a trip they’ve been dreaming about for ages. Our experts are excited as ever to craft once-in-a-lifetime experiences to make travel dreams a reality, as well as help travelers navigate evolving safety guidelines.

Related: There are a lot of reasons to be excited about incentive travel in 2022. See our top 5 . 

Your top performers deserve the very best, a destination that will motivate them to keep putting in all that hard work. A destination that is memorable, distinctive, and perhaps not-so-traditional.

Whether it’s tropics or bustling cities, these are the 10 most attractive destinations our buyers are booking right now for incentive travel. Any of the 10 experiences will make your hard-working trip qualifiers feel appreciated and re-energized.

Classic European Sites

Madrid, Spain

Art, cuisine, nightlife, architecture—the capital city of Madrid has it all, along with a rich history to impress.

Highlights:

• Tour the Paseo del Arte museums, including the world-famous Prado, with works by the Impressionists and Pablo Picasso
• Wander the Parque del Retiro , an expansive urban park
• Listen to street musicians at Plaza Mayor , the grand central square

Hotel recommendation:

• Stay at Four Seasons Madrid , a brand-new property in the heart of the city. Walk to key attractions then return to a restful, modern retreat.

Dublin, Ireland

A small capital city with big personality, participants love Dublin for its friendly people, rich cultural heritage and happening nightlife scene.

• Enjoy the lively Temple Bar area with its many pubs and live music
• Tour the Guinness Storehouse brewery for the history of the iconic beverage
• Visit Trinity College , the oldest college in Ireland and alma mater of many literary greats, including Jonathon Swift and Oscar Wilde
• The Westbury , located in the center of town, is a destination itself because of its gorgeous central stairway and private art gallery.

Loch Lomond, West Dunbartonshire, Scotland 

Seek out the “bonnie banks” of Loch Lomond, an inland lake made famous by the Scottish folk song of the same name, and take in the beauty of the surrounding Lowlands and Highlands.

• Explore Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park , which became Scotland’s first national park in 2002
• Journey through Dumbarton Castle in the ancient capital of Scotland
• Spend a day at the Loch Lomond Shores shopping district, which includes outdoor activities, boat trips and an aquarium
• Built in 1700 and renovated in 2020, the castle-like Cameron House is one of the most sought-after hotels in Scotland.

Sunny Tropic Locales

San José del Cabo, Mexico 

San José del Cabo offers a more relaxed atmosphere than its better-known counterpoint Cabo San Lucas. Enjoy shopping, an enchanting plaza and dining experiences, all with plenty of sunshine and miles of beaches.

• Amble through the Art District for unique shopping and live music opportunities
• Scuba-dive the coral reefs of Cabo Pulmo National Park , a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Swim with dolphins at Dolphin Discovery
• Zadun, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve opened in 2021 and boasts ocean views and indoor/outdoor living spaces in each guest room.

Nassau, Bahamas

For a tropical experience with a healthy dose of urban energy, check out Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas. Originally home to pirates and hustlers, the streets are always bustling.

• Witness the pirate history of the Bahamas with the wax recreations at the Pirates of Nassau Museum
• Delve into the past at Fort Charlotte , a British-colonial fort constructed in the late 18th century
• Walk through the natural wonderland of Ardastra Gardens & Wildlife Conservation Centre
• For large group travel, stay at the accommodating Grand Hyatt Baha Mar (it has 1,800 rooms on property!). Be sure to take advantage of its new Baha Bay water park, which opened July 2021.

Palm Beach, Aruba 

One of the most popular islands in the Caribbean, Aruba is known for its white, sandy beaches and all-inclusive resorts. Don’t be afraid to wander off the beaten path here!

• Stroll through the cozy capital, Oranjestad , for shopping and restaurants
• Observe magnificent waves beat against the rocky coast at Conchi “Natural Pool”
• Climb the landmark California Lighthouse for 360° views of the island
• The Ritz-Carlton Aruba includes its own casino and is currently refurbishing all its suites.

Guanacaste, Costa Rica

Costa Rica has incredible biological diversity. Discover all the beauty of its unspoiled beaches, fast-flowing rivers and national parks in Guanacaste.

• Engage in outdoor adventures such as zip-lining and rock climbing
• Take a day trip to iconic Arenal Volcano for horseback riding and hiking
• Investigate local fauna by partaking in activities like bird watching
• The Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo underwent renovations in 2021 for an extra luxurious feel. Guests staying in Peninsula Papagayo can sign up for exclusive small group eco-activities .

U.S.-Based Adventures

Big Sky, Montana

For fresh air and wide-open skies year-round, escape to the natural splendor of the mountains of Montana. Outdoor enthusiasts praise Big Sky for its variety of activities.

• Ski the famous slopes at Big Sky Resort
• Hike Yellowstone National Park , one of the most popular national parks in the U.S.
• Learn fly-fishing at some of the best rivers for the sport in the world
• For a combination of lodge living and modern comfort, book rooms at Montage Big Sky .

Nashville, Tennessee

While best known for its country music, Nashville is a destination spot for its revived downtown, festivals, shows and nightlife.

• Sample the best of downtown Nashville in the Lower Broadway District , an area popular for live music, honky-tonks, restaurants and shops
• Attend concerts at the Ryman Auditorium , the original home of the Grand Ole Opry
• Go behind the scenes of country music at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Hotel recommendations:

• The soon-to-open Embassy Suites by Hilton Nashville Downtown will be adjacent to the Music City Center convention center. The hotel promises a rooftop pool with bar and easy access to downtown attractions.

Hanalei Bay, Princeville, Hawaii

Hanalei Bay, a picturesque setting on Kauai, the Garden Island, offers several pristine beaches for surfing, paddleboarding, swimming or simply relaxing.

• Play golf on courses designed to wrap around the spectacular coastline at Makai Golf Course
• Study nesting seabirds and marine mammals at Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge
• Shop for authentic carved wood souvenirs from local artisans in Hanalei Town
• 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay , formerly the St. Regis Princeville is undergoing a full renovation that will infuse it with authentic details such as native greenery and reclaimed materials. It will be accepting group business beginning in October 2022.

Mandy joined ITA Group in 2005, serving in operations before transitioning to the purchasing team as a Buyer and Supervisor. In her current role as Lead Buyer, Mandy leads the internal presale process for financial and insurance brands, conceptualizing events, building program budgets, negotiating supplier partner contracts, and maintaining client and supplier relationships. She works closely with internal sales and operations teams to bring strategic recommendations to each program. Mandy enjoys traveling, attending concerts, cheering on her beloved Iowa Hawkeyes and Kansas City Chiefs, and spending time with family and friends, especially her two sons.

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26 August 2021

A guide to incentive travel programmes and experiences

Incentive travel is a way for companies to reward their top-performing employees with a vacation or trip, paid for by the company. many corporations use incentive travel to recognise their top employees or to drive sales through non-direct employee channels such as insurance agents, car dealers, or direct sellers., what is incentive travel .

At the most basic level, incentive travel aims to boost employee performance and engagement, while  driving business goals . Incentive travel can be a group trip or an individual vacation for your top employees and their spouses or family. Trips can be a blend of leisure and professional development time.

What are the benefits of incentive travel to employees? 

Travel delivers two major benefits to your achievers:

• Lasting memories and stronger relationships. Incentive travel experiences build a lasting memory that directly correlates to the achievement. Group travel often provides achievers with quality interactions with the host organisation’s leaders and other top achievers, building key relationships. Achievers are more likely to remember a private viewing of the Sistine Chapel, a trip to the Panama Canal, or a beach volleyball game with their CEO more than how they spent their last bonus or merit increase. Research studies  show that these lasting memories encourage continued achievement.
• A better support network. When organisations allow spouses or families to attend the travel programmes, it also helps the achiever build their support network at home. Families understand the achiever’s drive and encourage their hard work when they also experience the benefit.

What are the benefits of incentive travel to organisations? 

• Performance and productivity gains – particularly amongst mid-level performers.  Mid-level performers have the potential to become high performers. According to the Incentive Research Foundation (IRF), the  potential performance gains from your “middle 80%” of employees are likely more significant than your top 10% of performers. When a corporation successfully shifts these mid-level performers towards higher rather than low performance, incremental productivity delivers ROI.
• The magic of gratitude and increased loyalty.  Incentive travel is a reward and recognition programme designed to motivate and show gratitude to performers that rise to the challenge set by the programme. Appreciation often drives connection and engagement. Incentive travel programmes can build loyalty with employees, customers, or any other target incentive audience.

How do organisations create and structure incentive programmes?

Many organisations opt to have tiered incentive programmes, which help to drive achievement at multiple levels. For example, perhaps only the top 1 – 3% earn a travel incentive. In comparison, the top 10% earn other types of incentives, including merchandise and gift cards.

In the past, it was also common for organisations to tier their travel incentive offering. Perhaps a top achiever would go on a long-haul, “once-in-a-lifetime” trip, whereas lower tiers would go on shorter trips closer to home. Another option is to tier a single trip where top earners fly first class, receive suite upgrades, or attend a completely exclusive event during the trip, such as a private picnic on top of a mountain accessible only by helicopter.

More recently, we are seeing organisations opt for individual incentive travel options in which achievers can choose from either a pre-arranged trip or receive a travel voucher and create a customised trip.

How is an incentive programme implemented?

Corporations often use incentive travel companies with expertise in this area who can assist with implementing some or all components of an incentive travel programme, which includes the following steps:

• Set goals.  Outline your goals for your programme, including ROI. For example, a sales team incentive trip might be generating a set number of new leads, or increasing sales amongst a target market or vertical.
• Outline rewards and rules.  The rewards should be compelling enough to be motivating and align with the objective. Clearly stated rules also help to avoid disappointment and surprises when a performer earns (or doesn’t earn) the reward.
• Launch. The best incentive programmes include a launch strategy that clearly outlines objectives, rules, and rewards along with an ongoing communication campaign and tracking system so that performers know where they stand. Communications remind the audience pool about the incentive, and tracking systems allow your audience to know where they are in the running to receive the incentive, so they continue to perform to reach the goals you’ve outlined.
• Deliver rewards. Delivering the reward is the crux of the programme and must be done professionally. Each earner has worked hard to achieve the reward, and they should receive it in a way that demonstrates the proper level of appreciation. Incentive professionals design the overall attendee management experience starting before attendees leave their homes, during the trip and right until they return home. An incentive trip that is poorly executed produces a negative attendee experience and can be demotivating – the opposite effect of the trip’s goal.

The bottom line? Incentive travel programmes are an investment that enhances performance, fosters loyalty, and inspires your achievers – a win/win scenario for corporations and their employees.

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THAT AVIATION'S BLOG

Latest news and information on travel, trends, aircraft and air chartering, when, why and how to organize an incentive travel.

• November 14, 2019

WHAT ARE THE PURPOSES OF AN INCENTIVE TRAVEL

What does an incentive travel mean? What are incentive travel programs and why do companies invest part of their budget in this direction?

“An incentive travel , or incentiv e, is a company management tool that motivates employees , external collaborators (eg agents and representatives) or company clients in order to increase and/or to improve the productivity/sales. “

This definition taken from Wikipedia helps us to describe this important tool used by companies to stimulate their employees/clients towards achievement of goals set in their planning. This is a marketing strategy , a very effective motivational tool , which involves various sectors hotels, restaurants, tourism and transport (in particular that of aviation and of charter flights ) and which represents an important market segment whose trend, after a period of stalemate, is again positive and in continuous and constant growth.

In this article, we will try to explain the importance of this segment of the Tourism , the trends and the best travel destinations most requested in 2020; how to organize an incentive travel and how That Aviation Italia can make an important contribution in the realization of a successful event.

1) Why invest in an incentive trip to reach the company goals?

2) Incentive, Team Building, Convention & Co. What are the market data?

3) How to organize at best your motivational event?

4) What are the 2020 most requested incentive travel destinations?

5) What are the most used means of transport for an incentive?

6) How THAT! can make the difference in the organization of a dedicated charter flight?

Why invest in an incentive trip to reach the company goals?

An increasing number of companies use part of their corporate budget for events such as conventions , team building and incentive travel .

Why use part of your budget , which can also be rather significant, t o organize an “ all-expense-paid trip ” for your employees, external collaborators or for your clients? Simple, because an incentive trip is an investment that improves the productivity of the company.

Of course, it costs, but this sort of travel is a real investment in the most important capital of the company – the human one.

And, as we know, companies are not made only of products and services, but first of all they are made of people who, with their contribution, make the difference.

This is why companies invest in this type of travel as a motivational tool. And it is known that a motivated employee or a client, achieves better results.

But incentive is also able to stimulate other factors that affect profitability and production: it makes the individual members feel part of a team.

Every person involved feels part of a larger project and becomes aware of his role within the overall design, it gives an individual sense of responsibility towards the same company or reinforces it.

The prestige of the Brand becomes a matter of which each one feels responsible for and the improvement of the reputation and of the success of the company/Brand becomes a personal goal. All in a teamwork perspective. Another key factor is the loyalty program . A satisfied client or an employee who feels appreciated has no reason to look for an alternative. They will remain close to the company.

Therefore, to sum it up, what are the advantages of an incentive trip ?

• It increases work motivation of employees, external collaborators, clients;
• It creates the sense of belonging to a working group ;
• It encourages the teamwork ;
• Increases the sense of responsibility at work;
• It establishes the prestige of the Company and the growth of its reputation ;
• It helps to build the loyalty of the clients, employees, external collaborators;
• It improves production, sales and increases profitability results.

Therefore, seen in this light, are we sure that business incentive trips must be included in “costs”?

Continue reading

Incentive, Team Building, Convention & Co. What are the market data?

After a difficult period, due to the economic crisis, which created a stalemate in the sector, in the past two years the market has resumed a growing trend, and now, growth became really significant.

To confirm it there are data declared by the most authoritative national Incentive Travel Agencies .

Italian companies have returned to planning incentive trips and, above all, events with large number of participants .

The aspects related to gratification and the results obtained from the investment in incentive trips , show profound and long-lasting positive effects.

The “secret” lays in creating a trip that can be transformed into unique experiences, with a range of activities that the participants would not be able to live if they had travelled on their own.

The scheduled appointments must be connected to each other and lead the group to create a continuity in the lived experience, which should be able to involve and to amaze, and which would be different from what they could have experienced if they visited the destination on their own.

Today’s public wish to live the place in a profound way, they want to be involved on an emotional and introspective level . Therefore, the choice of the activities proposed during the event becomes crucial for the involvement and achievement of success: the experience must be “unique”.

A recent research conducted by the Incentive Research Foundation ( IRF ), the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence ( SITE ) and the Financial and Insurance Conference Professionals ( FICP ) together with Oxford Economics highlight interesting data detected by Incentive Travel Agencies involved.

Here are some of the most interesting questions:

a) What are the most important advantages that your company records from incentive travel programs?

• 55% – increase in sales and/or in profits following an incentive travel;
• 34% – increase in individual productivity ;
• 32% – greater commitment to teamwork ;
• 27% – improvement of relationship between company management and employees .

b) What is the approximate cost per person (total cost of the program divided by the number of people) for incentive trips scheduled in 2019 your team was responsible for?

• North America – $ 4,206.00 *
• Western Europe – $ 2,483.00
• Other – $ 2,816.00

* Take into account the historical lack of critical alternative infrastructures into the US air travel. The rail network is not widespread and well-structured as in Europe, and travel is mainly by air.

c) Assuming that there are no two equal incentive programs, how is the expenditure budget divided into the incentive program?

• 29% – Hotels
• 22% – Air transfer
• 21% – Food and Beverage
• 15% – Scheduled activities
• 9% – Land transfer
• 7% – Other

d) How have the numbers of an incentive trips participants (staff, guests and other participants) in 2019 changed compared to the last year?

• 35% – From +1% to +10%
• 12% – From +11% to over +20%
• 32% – no change
• 10% – From +1% to -5%
• 14% – From -6% to over – 20%

e) Which are the most important costs you foresee in the next two years (2020/2021) that will affect spending per person in the organization of your incentive trips ?

• 63% – Hotels Cost
• 56% – Cost of transfers airplane
• 54% – Food and Beverage
• 44% – MICE Travel Destinations
• 20% – the program duration ;

The following items are of particular interest:

• 35% – Luxury location
• 11% – Luxury aircraft

f) What actions is your Incentive Travel Agency undertaking in order to be more competitive and offer added value to your travel plans ?

• 73% – Offering exclusive and unique experiences
• 36% – Greater assistance and services at the same cost
• 35% – Higher service offer
• 34% – Discounts proportionate to the number of confirmed incentive programs
• 32% – Flexibility of payments

g) What are the key elements that made your clients contact your Incentive travel agency ?

• 66% – Reputation
• 60% – Creativity and innovation of proposed programs
• 59% – Skills and prompt responses to the requests
• 53% – Reliability and former relationship

How to organize your motivational events at their best?

It is possible to be confused between two very similar terms but with a completely different meaning: Incentives and Incentive Travel .

An incentive is an economic reward, a gift. An incentive trip is not only a reward, but it is an experience and, as such, it is unique and unrepeatable . A trip is an incomparable thing.

There will always be someone who makes a more expensive gift or a higher discount, but two trips are never comparable because they are always unique and therefore far more effective from a gratification point of view.

In fact, according to numerous industry researches, over half of the employees (and also clients!) prefer an incentive trip to any other corporate benefit. But in order to be remembered as a “unique experience”, an excellent organization of the trip is not enough, it must be surprising, memorable and extraordinary.

An Incentive trip can be organized directly by the Company, if it has a specific department in charge. Otherwise it is possible contact a specialized incentive travel agency , which with its professionalism and knowledge, will offer the best solution according to the client’s expectations and available budget. And in Italy, we have the top agencies!

But what kay steps must be made in order to organize a successful event ?

a) The choice of the destination Don’t be afraid to experiment with new destinations. Do not be repetitive in the proposal otherwise the “prize” will become less desirable and will make the magic of discovery fade. You can range in the choice and opt for a national or medium/long-range event. A new and different experience allows us to connect the name of the Brand to the moment lived (for example, a good lunch), to the location and to the event itself. Obviously, the choice also depends on the budget, the duration and the number of participants.

b) Establish the right date Choose a date that does not coincide with a holiday or a holiday period, so as not to embarrass your guests and risk not having the desired feedback. Furthermore, evaluate the period according to the climatic conditions of the chosen destination and define the event in a period in which the absence of your employees/customers does not excessively damage productivity or sales. Choosing the right date is not an easy task and it could take time and patience but, crossing some data, your team and/or Incentive Travel Agency will certainly find the most congenial one.

c) Create personalized offers for your guests Find out about the tastes and habits of your guests in order to find a formula that everyone can enjoy. If, for example, the participants are a mixed team in which some members are sport fans while others do not like physical activities and prefer to visit monuments, make sure to choose a destination that can offer both possibilities. If, instead, your purpose is to encourage your guests to spend more time together, propose common activities in which everyone can feel at ease. Choose from formulas like with a stay in Hotel , Residence , resort or Touring , if you are thinking about several stops to visit. If your guests are football fans, combine your incentive trip to an expected and heartfelt match; if they are passionate about food and wine, propose them a tasting of fine wines. In short, try to create a special experience that remains etched and that links the company’s Brand to a particular moment you are offering them .

d) Organize your incentive trip step by step, setting yourself precise goals What do you want to achieve with your incentive trip ? Do you want to present your latest product through a convention ? Do you want to increase cohesion within your team ? Do you want to reward your clients (or collaborators) for achieving an exceptional result? Always keep in mind the purpose of your event and build the agenda of activities based on the motivations that led you to invest in the organization of your incentive trip . The answers to the goals you set will lead to different solutions to reach the goal and to create an effective return and general satisfaction.

e) Create unique experiences Propose experiences that your guests could not live if they visited the destination on their own. Forget the standard guided tours and opt for a creative solution, perhaps in a vintage car! Offer a gala dinner in a renowned starred restaurant maybe prepared by a renowned chef nor accompanied by entertainment with well-known characters that guests would never expect to see live and so closely. Never forget that an incentive trip has a motivational purpose (to increase productivity): no one feels motivated by a situation that has nothing new and surprising.

What are the most requested 2020 incentive travel destinations?

What are the most important considerations to make when choosing an incentive trip destination? We have just seen that the choice of the destination is very important because it must be attractive to the guest and because it must be able to offer the right alternatives of experiences to be lived , based on heterogeneity of the participants.

Beyond these factors, it is also important to consider other factors, such as:

• The security of the participants It is evident that it is necessary to consider the political stability of the chosen destination. A classic example is Egypt which in the early 2000s was one of the most favourite incentive destinations, and which for a long time was then set aside due to the unstable situation. Now, fortunately, it has returned to be safe and the country again an increasingly growing tourist destination .
• Qualified infrastructures A good offer of high-level infrastructures is indispensable for the organization of a successful event . These locations must be able to satisfy the aesthetics, comfort and pleasantness of the staying – better, if it gives the luxury feeling – as well as the most purely working aspect like the availability of a conference room roomy with efficient technological equipment , etc. Carefully choose the accommodation facility and consider also the presence of a SPA , a wellness centre and a gym , in order to allow your guests to have the opportunity to enjoy moments of total relaxation .
• The distance and the flight hours, necessary to reach the destination
• When planning an incentive program, it is important to take into account the flight hours necessary to reach the chosen destination. If the project is a three-day stay, a long-haul destination that requires many flight hours it certainly is not the most congenial solution. Make an accurate assessment of the aviation and land transfer hours and follow the advices of the sector experts – like That Aviation Italia or other agencies specialized in incentive travel – which will suggest the destinations that best suit the purpose of the trip, taking into account your planning requirements.

On that note, the 2020 most highly requested incentive destinations for That Aviation Italia are short/medium haul flights. Specifically, the most popular are:

• Marrakech ;
• Reykjavík .

What are the most used means of transport for an incentive?

If the choice of a destination and of a location are highly important for the success of your corporate event , but no less important are the care and the choice of means of transport and of logistics . Transports are part of the reservation and of the organization which is prior to the stay and are absolutely fundamental not only from a logistical point of view but also from the emotional one.

Let us never forget that an incentive trip among its purposes has that of creating a strong spirit of belonging, of sharing and group . This mechanism triggers upon departure , from the moment of check-in and of the luggage delivery .

The choice of the means of transport is , therefore, very important because it is from here that you begin to build the success of the event .

It is necessary to be methodical, coherent, to have a “ roadmap ” and, at the same time be ready to face unexpected situations (last minute changes, non-standard requests) with elasticity and capacity of problem solving .

That is why many Incentive Houses rely on THAT! for the flight’s management of those incentive trips they are in charge of!

And this task is not only limited within the choice between scheduled flights, low-cost flights or private plane ( charter ) but it also includes the management of feeder flights , when the participants are located in different geographical areas and the group departs from a specific airport (or different airports, depending on the situation). This is a complex job, which must be continuously updated until the moment of the departure and which can be modified even at moment of the take-off of the return flight/s. This job also includes an issuing of air ticketing (not always necessary in the case of charter flights ).

Considering the fact that one of the purposes of incentive trips is to make the participants feel part of a group , being rewarded and giving them the feeling of “ uniqueness ” of the trip – it is clear that it is difficult to reach this goal with scheduled or low-cost flights .

On these programmed flights , it is impossible to make distinction between a normal passenger and an incentive participant: the group loses cohesion and disperses among the individual passengers. At the same time a charter private is custom “built” for the event and, consequently, it is totally customizable.

In addition, both scheduled and low-cost flights are scheduled on fixed routes: departure from airport A and arrival at airport B.

A flight charter may be scheduled according to the actual logistical requirements of a specific MICE and it may also reach other airports, not only the traditional ones. Smaller airports which are closer to the chosen location and which allow, therefore, to reduce the transfer time by land (more tedious and tiring) from the arrival airport to the established reception facility.

Even the departure time of both departure and return, is established according to the needs of the client , in order to the benefit the meeting agenda and the organization of the event .

But there is more!

A private plane allows you to create a real community of “chosen ones ” and to customize the on-board catering , welcome message , a maximum luggage weight, the airplane’s interior and fuselage branding – all these make the journey and the event unique.

Remember that the way your guests travel will have a fundamental impact on the entire journey.

And it is no longer just a question of com fort : it is a question of sharing , of storytelling and of the sense of belonging .

The company logo that will distinguish the head rest covers, or the wrapping paper of chocolates which will be offered during the catering service , the catering itself – customized and carefully defined together with the beverage proposal (variety and choice of the wine house included) – the company name and the logo on the airplane fuselage and in the check-in area, assure the affirmation of the Brand , its prestige and its notoriety. And for sure, it will make your guests feel part of something absolutely unique and exclusive.

It is from here that the team building process begins, which reflects the nature of the incentive trip!

What THAT! can offer to make the difference in the organization of a dedicated charter?

That Aviation Italia is among the air charter brokers leaders on the Italian market and incentive trips are one of the main elements of its core business.

With its 15 years presence in the market of charter flights and ad hoc charter private planes , it is able to offer a wide choice of aircraft and a wide range of services to make unique and special any type of corporate event .

First of all, THAT! is proposed as an expert consultant in the field of charter commercial aviation and of executive general aviation to guide to the most congenial choice to the features of your incentive .

Our service is not limited within a simple private plane chartering , but it is expanded to an assistance 24/7, which we provide:

• During the flight’s planning phase;
• At the moment of the departure from Italy with one of our assistants on board , who will support the check-in operations as well as luggage delivery and boarding ;
• During the company event , in order to manage in real-time, the eventual work in progress modifications;
• At the moment of the return (on request) with the on the spot presence of one of our airport assistants, who will support the check-in operations as well as the luggage delivery and boarding ;
• The post-event phase, in the eventuality of the post-flight practice management with the airline company .

Years of presence in the market and the reliability recognized to our company are the guaranty of our proficiency and of the reference point on national and international territory.

Besides the standard offerings such as Boeing , Airbus , Bombardier , Fokker , Embraer , Dornier and turboelica ATR airplanes, with time we have widen our offer with complete full business class ( BBJ ) which is very rare in the field of incentives , but which is able to elevate the event to that concept of luxury which, according to the recent data , i s an ever-increasing request in incentive , MICE and DMC sectors .

The airline companies we collaborate with in Italy , Spain , England , Greece and Lithuania are the real partners with whom we have productive mutual exchange in terms of support and privileged accesses to respective markets.

Recently we have implemented our offer with a ticketing service for the feeder flights departing from the requested airport . It is an additional advantage offered to Incentive Travel Agencies that relives them of an onerous task both in terms of time and energy. This way, t he entire flight’s management is grouped and managed both inside the Incentive Travel and directly by THAT! It is a double control made under a unique agreed management which guarantees security and accuracy.

Lastly, THAT! offers the service of the aircraft and the check-in area personalization , which includes all types of objects and messages in addition to the definition of the agreed on-board services both menu and beverages, the customization of the fuselage with a company logo and luggage weight/dimensions allowed, which is different from the standard ones.

That Aviation Italia is more than just an air charter broker: it is your partner in the organization of your private flights for your conventions , team building , MICE , DMC , incentive and company events with a large number of participants.

That Aviation Italia – beyond air chartering

For any further information and flight price quotation , please contact us.

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Moscow metro to be more tourist-friendly

A new floor sign system at the Moscow metro's Pushkinskaya station. Source: Vladimir Pesnya / RIA Novosti

For many years now, Moscow has lagged behind St. Petersburg when it comes to making life easy for tourists, especially where getting around the city is concerned. Whereas the northern capital installed English-language maps, signs and information points throughout its subway system in the late 2000s, the Russian capital’s metro remained a serious challenge for foreign visitors to navigate.

Recent visitors to Moscow may have noticed some signs that change is afoot, however. In many stations of the Moscow subway, signs have appeared on the floor – with large lettering in Russian and English – indicating the direction to follow in order to change lines. Previously, foreign visitors using the Moscow metro had to rely solely upon deciphering the Russian-language signs hanging from the ceilings.

Student volunteers help tourists find their way in Moscow

However, this new solution has a significant drawback. “The floor navigation is visible only to a small stream of people – fewer than three people per meter. During peak hours, this navigation will simply not be noticed,” said Konstantin Trofimenko, Director of the Center for Urban Transportation Studies.

One of the biggest problems for tourists in the Russian capital remains the absence of English translations of the names of subway stations in the station vestibules and on platforms. The Department of Transportation in Moscow has not commented yet as to when this problem will be solved. However, Latin transliterations of station names can already be found in the subway cars themselves.

Finding the right exit

At four of the central stations – Okhotny Ryad, Teatralnaya, Ploshchad Revolyutsii, Lubyanka and Kuznetsky Most – the city authorities have now installed colorful stands at the exits with schematic diagrams of the station’s concourse and surrounding area, which provide information about the main attractions and infrastructural facilities.

The schematic diagrams are the work of British specialists from the City ID and Billings Jackson Design firms, who have already implemented successful projects in New York and London.

According to Alexei Novichkov, expert at the Design Laboratory at the Higher School of Economics, the design of these information booths raises no objections: The color solutions, font, layout and icons are consistent with international standards.

However, the stands do have some shortcomings. “Many questions are raised about the fact that the developers of these maps did not apply orientation to the north, and have provided layouts of the surrounding areas with respect to the exits,” says Novichkov. “A system like that is used for road navigators, but most of the ‘paper’ guides and maps are oriented strictly to north. The subway map is also oriented to north, so people may become confused.”

Muscovites and foreign visitors are generally positive about these navigation elements, with most of them citing the numbered exits from the subway as the most useful feature.

The fact is that many Moscow subway stations have several exits. One of the busiest central stations of the Moscow subway in particular, Kitay-Gorod, has more than a dozen exits. Previously, these exits were differentiated from each other only with signs in Russian referring to the names of streets and places of interest to which they led – making it easy for tourists and those with poor navigation skills to get confused.

Now, when making an appointment to meet a friend, instead of struggling to find the right spot when they tell you: “I'll meet you at the exit to Solyanka Street,” you can just propose to meet under a specific exit number.

“I’ve lived in Moscow for seven years,” says Angelika, a designer from Voronezh, “but I still don’t always know where to go to find the place I need, so the new schematic diagrams will be very useful. Previously, some subway stations had maps, but not with so much detail.”

Teething problems

Foreigners, meanwhile, focus their attention on other elements. “It is good that the new information boards have QR-codes, which can be ‘read’ by smartphones,” says Florentina, a writer from Vienna. But there are also shortcomings. “The English font of the information on posters and in the captions to theaters and museums is too small – you have to come very close to see it well,” she says.

Pleasant encounters on the streets of Moscow

Florentina was also dissatisfied with the fact that such posters are not provided at all subway stations: “When I was trying to find Tsaritsyno Park (a museum and reserve in the south of Moscow) at a subway station with the same name, it turned out to be quite difficult,” she says.

“There are no maps with landmarks for other areas, such as those already in the city center. There were no clear pointers in the English language, and the passers-by I met did not speak in English, so they could not help me,” she adds.

Officials say that the navigation system is gradually being redeveloped and improved. According to Darya Chuvasheva, a press representative for the Department of Transport of Moscow, the introduction of a unified navigation system will take place in stages.

“By the end of 2014, the system will first appear on the first subway stations on the Circle Line. By the end of 2015, we plan to install the system at all major stopping points, subway stations and transport interchange hubs,” says Chuvasheva.

All rights reserved by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

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College sports | arizona cardinals pick hurricanes cornerback jaden davis in final round of nfl draft.

Jaden Davis spent one season with his hometown Hurricanes , and that vaulted him into the professional ranks.

The Arizona Cardinals picked Davis, who is a St. Thomas Aquinas alum, with the 226th pick in the seventh round of the NFL draft on Saturday. Davis is the second Hurricane picked in this year’s draft, following safety Kam Kinchens. 

Davis was a standout for the powerhouse Raiders, earning Super 11 and first-team All-County honors . He was a four-star prospect and the No. 25 cornerback in his class, according to 247Sports.

Davis, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound cornerback, signed with Oklahoma out of high school and spent four seasons with the Sooners before transferring to UM.

In his one year with the Hurricanes, Davis earned a starting role and was a solid contributor. Davis had 32 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack and four pass deflections. Pro Football Focus gave him a 76.8 defensive grade and a 72.1 coverage grade.

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Trains Moscow to Elektrostal: Times, Prices and Tickets

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Moscow to Elektrostal by train

The journey from Moscow to Elektrostal by train is 32.44 mi and takes 2 hr 7 min. There are 71 connections per day, with the first departure at 12:15 AM and the last at 11:46 PM. It is possible to travel from Moscow to Elektrostal by train for as little as or as much as . The best price for this journey is .

Get from Moscow to Elektrostal with Virail

Virail's search tool will provide you with the options you need when you want to go from Moscow to Elektrostal. All you need to do is enter the dates of your planned journey, and let us take care of everything else. Our engine does the hard work, searching through thousands of routes offered by our trusted travel partners to show you options for traveling by train, bus, plane, or carpool. You can filter the results to suit your needs. There are a number of filtering options, including price, one-way or round trip, departure or arrival time, duration of journey, or number of connections. Soon you'll find the best choice for your journey. When you're ready, Virail will transfer you to the provider's website to complete the booking. No matter where you're going, get there with Virail.

How can I find the cheapest train tickets to get from Moscow to Elektrostal?

Prices will vary when you travel from Moscow to Elektrostal. On average, though, you'll pay about for a train ticket. You can find train tickets for prices as low as , but it may require some flexibility with your travel plans. If you're looking for a low price, you may need to prepare to spend more time in transit. You can also often find cheaper train tickets at particular times of day, or on certain days of the week. Of course, ticket prices often change during the year, too; expect to pay more in peak season. For the lowest prices, it's usually best to make your reservation in advance. Be careful, though, as many providers do not offer refunds or exchanges on their cheapest train tickets. Unfortunately, no price was found for your trip from Moscow to Elektrostal. Selecting a new departure or arrival city, without dramatically changing your itinerary could help you find price results. Prices will vary when you travel from Moscow to Elektrostal. On average, though, you'll pay about for a train ticket. If you're looking for a low price, you may need to prepare to spend more time in transit. You can also often find cheaper train tickets at particular times of day, or on certain days of the week. Of course, ticket prices often change during the year, too; expect to pay more in peak season. For the lowest prices, it's usually best to make your reservation in advance. Be careful, though, as many providers do not offer refunds or exchanges on their cheapest train tickets.

How long does it take to get from Moscow to Elektrostal by train?

The journey between Moscow and Elektrostal by train is approximately 32.44 mi. It will take you more or less 2 hr 7 min to complete this journey. This average figure does not take into account any delays that might arise on your route in exceptional circumstances. If you are planning to make a connection or operating on a tight schedule, give yourself plenty of time. The distance between Moscow and Elektrostal is around 32.44 mi. Depending on the exact route and provider you travel with, your journey time can vary. On average, this journey will take approximately 2 hr 7 min. However, the fastest routes between Moscow and Elektrostal take 1 hr 3 min. If a fast journey is a priority for you when traveling, look out for express services that may get you there faster. Some flexibility may be necessary when booking. Often, these services only leave at particular times of day - or even on certain days of the week. You may also find a faster journey by taking an indirect route and connecting in another station along the way.

How many journeys from Moscow to Elektrostal are there every day?

On average, there are 71 daily departures from Moscow to Elektrostal. However, there may be more or less on different days. Providers' timetables can change on certain days of the week or public holidays, and many also vary at particular times of year. Some providers change their schedules during the summer season, for example. At very busy times, there may be up to departures each day. The providers that travel along this route include , and each operates according to their own specific schedules. As a traveler, you may prefer a direct journey, or you may not mind making changes and connections. If you have heavy suitcases, a direct journey could be best; otherwise, you might be able to save money and enjoy more flexibility by making a change along the way. Every day, there are an average of 18 departures from Moscow which travel directly to Elektrostal. There are 53 journeys with one change or more. Unfortunately, no connection was found for your trip from Moscow to Elektrostal. Selecting a new departure or arrival city, without dramatically changing your itinerary could help you find connections.

Book in advance and save

If you're looking for the best deal for your trip from Moscow to Elektrostal, booking train tickets in advance is a great way to save money, but keep in mind that advance tickets are usually not available until 3 months before your travel date.

Stay flexible with your travel time and explore off-peak journeys

Planning your trips around off-peak travel times not only means that you'll be able to avoid the crowds, but can also end up saving you money. Being flexible with your schedule and considering alternative routes or times will significantly impact the amount of money you spend on getting from Moscow to Elektrostal.

Always check special offers

Checking on the latest deals can help save a lot of money, making it worth taking the time to browse and compare prices. So make sure you get the best deal on your ticket and take advantage of special fares for children, youth and seniors as well as discounts for groups.

Unlock the potential of slower trains or connecting trains

If you're planning a trip with some flexible time, why not opt for the scenic route? Taking slower trains or connecting trains that make more stops may save you money on your ticket – definitely worth considering if it fits in your schedule.

Best time to book cheap train tickets from Moscow to Elektrostal

The cheapest Moscow - Elektrostal train tickets can be found for as low as $35.01 if you’re lucky, or $54.00 on average. The most expensive ticket can cost as much as $77.49.

Find the best day to travel to Elektrostal by train

When travelling to Elektrostal by train, if you want to avoid crowds you can check how frequently our customers are travelling in the next 30-days using the graph below. On average, the peak hours to travel are between 6:30am and 9am in the morning, or between 4pm and 7pm in the evening. Please keep this in mind when travelling to your point of departure as you may need some extra time to arrive, particularly in big cities!

Moscow to Elektrostal CO2 Emissions by Train

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On Earth Day, Biden Spotlights Climate Investments to Contrast With Republicans

President Biden announced $7 billion more for solar power projects and pointed to a new a climate work force as he tries to galvanize young voters.

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By Zolan Kanno-Youngs and Brad Plumer

Zolan Kanno-Youngs reported from Triangle, Va., and Brad Plumer from Washington.

President Biden announced $7 billion in grants for solar power projects on Monday and tried to draw a contrast with Republicans who want to roll back his policies on climate change.

In remarks at Prince William Forest in Virginia, Mr. Biden said the money from his signature climate and energy law, the Inflation Reduction Act, would help provide solar power for hundreds of thousands of homes in disadvantaged communities.

“Despite the overwhelming devastation in red and blue states, there’s still those who deny climate is in crisis,” Mr. Biden said at the start of a week in which his top officials will fan out across the country to promote his environmental policy. “Our MAGA Republican friends don’t seem to think it’s a crisis.”

He also said the American Climate Corps, a new work force for people hoping to combat climate change, would create thousands of jobs for the next generation.

Mr. Biden’s Earth Day event comes as he tries to energize younger voters, many of whom are disillusioned with the 2024 candidates and infuriated over the administration’s handling of Israel’s war in Gaza.

On Monday, Mr. Biden tried to strike a middle ground when speaking about the turmoil on college campuses . Asked whether he condemned “the antisemitic protesters,” Mr. Biden said, “I condemn the antisemitic protests.” He added: “I also condemn those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians.”

Mr. Biden leads his Republican opponent, former President Donald J. Trump, among young voters, and many approve of his record on the environment when contrasted with Mr. Trump’s. Mr. Biden’s lead, however, is smaller than it was at this point during the 2020 election cycle, according to a Harvard Youth Poll released last week.

Another poll, from October , found that just 31 percent of voters younger than 30 were “satisfied” with Mr. Biden’s record on climate change.

Danielle Deiseroth, the executive director of Data for Progress, a left-leaning research firm, said Mr. Biden could use his efforts to combat climate change to bolster support among young voters.

“The bigger fear is not necessarily young voters turning out en masse for Trump. It’s them staying home,” Ms. Deiseroth said. “That’s where the climate stuff does come into play, to sort of energize and also to scare young people to coming out to vote.”

Mr. Biden has faced a messaging problem when it comes to the Inflation Reduction Act, his most consequential climate policy to date. The legislation contained hundreds of billions of dollars in tax credits to help companies switch to low-carbon electricity sources like wind, solar and nuclear power. It also included billions in incentives for people to buy electric vehicles and electric heat pumps for their homes.

The law, signed in 2022, is already having ripple effects: Across the country, businesses have announced plans for more than 150 factories that would build electric vehicles, batteries, solar panels and wind turbines. Sales of electric cars and installations of large-scale solar power plants both hit record highs last year.

Yet polls suggest that few Americans seem to know about the law.

One potential problem is that many of the climate law’s outcomes are not yet fully visible. While companies have announced more than $100 billion in new manufacturing investments in states like Arizona, Georgia and Michigan, many of those factories are not yet up and running.

Some environmentalists have sought to publicize the law’s effects. Climate Power, a liberal advocacy group, plans to spend $80 million on election-year advertising to contrast Mr. Biden’s legislative accomplishments with the actions of Mr. Trump, who has mocked climate science and has vowed to roll back programs to promote clean energy.

Other climate activists have sharply criticized Mr. Biden for not doing enough to curtail fossil fuel drilling in the United States. U.S. oil and gas production soared to record highs last year. Many activists have focused anger on Mr. Biden’s approval of Willow , an $8 billion oil drilling project on pristine federal land in Alaska, and on federal approval of a natural gas pipeline from West Virginia to Virginia that has been opposed by environmentalists.

“President Biden has taken historic action on climate change and done more than any president in history to combat the climate crisis, but that bar is unfortunately quite low,” said Stevie O’Hanlon, the communications director for the Sunrise Movement, a group of young climate activists. “If Joe Biden wants to be seen as a climate president by young voters, he needs to decisively take action to end the fossil fuel era.”

In recent months, Mr. Biden has taken a series of steps to try to slow down domestic fossil fuel production. In January, the administration said it would pause the approval of new terminals that export liquefied natural gas in order to study the issue further. This month, the Interior Department said it would ban oil drilling across nearly 13 million acres in Alaska’s North Slope.

Lisa Friedman contributed reporting.

Zolan Kanno-Youngs is a White House correspondent, covering President Biden and his administration. More about Zolan Kanno-Youngs

Brad Plumer is a Times reporter who covers technology and policy efforts to address global warming. More about Brad Plumer

Our Coverage of the 2024 Election

Presidential Race

The number of Trump allies facing election interference charges keeps growing, and prosecutors are sending a warning as Donald Trump and his supporters continue  to spread conspiracy theories: that disrupting elections can bear a heavy legal cost.

Trump has vowed to “cancel” President Biden’s policies for cutting pollution from fossil-fuel-burning power plants, “terminate” efforts to encourage electric vehicles , and “develop the liquid gold that is right under our feet” by promoting oil and gas.

A campaign watchdog group filed a formal complaint to the Federal Election Commission accusing Trump’s presidential campaign  and related political committees of concealing payments of $7.2 million in legal fees in violation of campaign finance law.

Other Key Races

Scott Perry, the House Freedom Caucus stalwart and 2020 election denier, is confronting a general election challenge in a central Pennsylvania  district that has grown more competitive.

With the 2024 primary season entering the homestretch — and the presidential matchup already set — hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians  cast their ballots  in Senate and House contests  as well as for president and local races. Here are the takeaways .

David McCormick  won an unopposed Republican primary for Senate  in Pennsylvania, securing the party’s nomination two years after former Trump torpedoed his first Senate run by backing his primary rival, the celebrity physician Dr. Mehmet Oz.