Executive Group Travel Blog

All-Inclusive Right For You?:

There are some great benefits to booking an all-inclusive trip but also some drawbacks.  One major hurdle for companies deciding on an all-inclusive resort is the quality of food.  We recommend finding an all-inclusive option that has multiple restaurants on property and a range of different cuisines.  Do research the food quality in places such as Tripadvisor and also ask the hotel to provide recent incentive group contacts so you can reach out to them directly.  The quality and selection of food can make or break your trip and with incentive travel this is the biggest hurdle when finding the right all-inclusive option for your company.  A la carte hotels are a great solution but dinner per plate charges can quickly blow a budget for nightly company dinner events. 

US Destinations:

As the incentive travel industry continues to grow, Southeast Asia and Europe are gaining popularity.  But before you venture across the world there are great options here in the US to host your next President's Club. 

The US has so much to offer from amazing beaches, to cities that never sleep, to challenging golf courses and even great live music destinations. 

Which method is more effective to motivate and reward employees?

Each year companies debate over providing an annual incentive trip or cash rewards.   If you ask employees over 70% will choose the cash rewards if presented an option (when trip is of almost equal value) but follow up surveys revealed satisfaction is actually greater when providing incentive travel.

What It Means:

Hotel Buyouts are growing in popularity especially in the U.S.  A buyout means you have complete control of the entire hotel and no guests outside your group can access hotel amenities.   This allows for a private party feel and extensive company branding during your entire trip.   You can also do a partial buyout which can be one wing of a hotel or a certain building on the property. 

Budgeting:

When planning an incentive program the first step is setting a budget for the trip. 

Many companies who are new to incentive travel struggle with what is the right amount to invest in their incentive program each year or each quarter.  Currently the average incentive travel trip for US companies costs $4,000 per employee attending.  The lowest possible budget to run a successful incentive trip is $2,000 per employee and some of the most luxurious trips can cost up to $8,000 per employee.  Most programs run between 3-5 nights and almost all require a majority of the attendees to fly to the trip destination.