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04 Oct 10 Cruise Destinations Worth Contemplating

Cruise ships span the globe and tour nearly every major waterway. Some are large, some are small, and many are tied to cultures and their unique traditions. For example, there are ancient Chinese-looking ships of modern design cruising the Yellow River and similarly antique-looking modern ships cruising the mighty Mississippi disguised as traditional steamboats.

Some of the cruise ships are tied specifically to certain destinations, but other destinations are open to almost all kinds of cruise vessels. This creates a situation where a company not interested in a specific theme needs to know what different kinds of group cruises are available.

Here are just a few and what they say about the host company or organization:

  • Hawaii – Hawaii’s lovely islands are a safe bet for a cruise, but they do not show much imagination. Some people appreciate this, while others do not. Be certain to evaluate customer/company image before choosing the islands of Hawaii.
  • Mexico – Parties and drinking are still a big deal for certain crowds, and companies with a youthful and slightly rebellious image might want to consider options south of the border.
  • Alaska – Alaska is gorgeous, but it is cold and not necessarily inviting. Companies need to consider cruise meetings to Alaska carefully because the message that the crumbling icebergs offer might be inappropriate.
  • The Caribbean – The northern sections of the Caribbean offer plenty of very safe and well-known destinations while the West Indies chain offers great and lesser known destinations.
  • Africa and Asia – These simply scream exotic but need to be carefully considered for a few obvious reasons, not the least of which is the travel cost.
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02 Jul 10 What Does Your Choice of Venue Say About You?

Meeting and event planners often have many choices in venues whether they know it or not. While the boss or powers that be might specify a particular venue, it should not be assumed that such specific requests mean that the powers that be are not open to other ideas unless explicitly stated. Knowing what your choice in venue says about you is important; perception is reality after all. Consider the following when thinking about different venue possibilities:

Hotels – Hotels are tried and true venues for meetings and events, but they also show a lack of imagination and a commitment to doing things the traditional way. Traditional businesses tend to behave in very specific ways and are not fond of change.

Cruise ships – Cruise ships show an amazing flair for the dramatic and an appreciation for the finer things in life. Hosting meetings and/or events on a cruise ship shows that you value the other party/parties, and that you are not bound by the confines the old ways of doing business.

Convention centers – Convection centers generally have big and small chambers, but even hosting in a small chamber gives the appearance of a large organization with significant reach.

BBB conference rooms – Many local BBB offices have chambers that can be rented, and they lend a significant amount of credibility at bargain basement prices.

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