06 Jul 10 How to Plan Travel Incentives
Travel incentives can be one of the most difficult things to plan for employees, employers, customers, and even employers. Here are some easy to follow tips for planning travel incentives:
All inclusive travel incentives such as an incentive cruise are easy to budget, but they may not be very personal. Travel incentives are only incentives when they are remembered and thought of fondly. An additional excursion or bonus gift can be the difference between a trip that is remembered and appreciated for years, and one that bores the recipient(s) to tears.
Not everyone gets to go on any excursion, so make some criteria. Do not randomly or purposely assign people to go on trips unless there is a reason. Instead, allow multiple people or parties to compete for the privilege of traveling on the company dime. Those that do not get to go should be thanked for their effort and it might be worth planning a secondary incentive in order for those that tried to earn a trip on the company dime to feel appreciated.
All inclusive travel may or may not be tax deductible, so check with a qualified accountant for further details. In some cases, it might be possible to add business-related events such as meetings to a trip in order for it to qualify for a tax deduction.
Tags: Bonus Gift, Budget, Company Dime, Excursion, Incentive Cruise, People, Personal Travel, Planning Travel, Privilege, Qualified Accountant, Related Events, Tax Deduction, Travel Incentives
17 May 10 Increase Productivity with an Incentive Cruise Event!
In this day and time when the economy is uncertain and resources are scarce, event planning can be difficult. However, it is important for organizations and corporations to offer their employees some incentive to motivate them and encourage them to continue to increase their productivity levels. An incentive cruise is a great way to do just that. An incentive cruise rewards top-notch employees and provides organizations with the opportunity to further increase their productivity and profitability. An incentive cruise is not just about fun-in-the-sun, but it is also about personal and professional growth.
While incentive cruises do provide employees with the chance to visit exotic destinations and enjoy various types of entertainment, cruise meetings are also an important component. Meetings at sea are an excellent way to encourage new ideas and fresh ways of thinking. Outside of the office and away from the pressures of the daily grind, employees may find the space to be more creative and think more clearly. Meetings at sea are low pressure as everything the organization needs will be provided. Meetings at sea may also cost less than traditional land meetings usually held in big cities at expensive locations. When event planning, organizations should seriously consider cruise meetings.
Tags: Corporations, Economy, Event Planning, Exotic Destinations, Fun In The Sun, Incentive Cruise, Incentive Cruises, Increase Productivity, Notch Employees, Opportunity, Productivity Levels, Professional Growth, Profitability, Top Notch
14 May 10 Doing More with Less
One of the obstacles that planners with corporations and organizations face with event planning is being asked to do more with less. That is a common phrase heard among meeting planners, and many times these individuals feel that their hands are tied. They have to be creative within a budget, and sometimes they are unsure of how to plan a memorable meeting while saving the company money. An incentive cruise may be an excellent option when event planning requires a strict budget. Cruise meetings are an ideal way to motivate and reward top-quality employees without breaking the bank.
Meetings at sea provide employees and customers with a break from the norm. Instead of the hustle and bustle of big cities, groups can enjoy the quiet and beauty of the seas. They can experience exotic locations, enjoy the sun and breezes, and refresh their senses. Cruise meetings provide much needed relaxation, which often helps employees think outside the box and come up with fresh, innovative ideas. Cruise meetings are not simply about fun and entertainment. From meeting space to entertainment, everything is inclusive with meetings at sea. A meeting planner will find that meetings at sea will come in below budget and provide the company or organization with all its meeting needs and more.
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12 May 10 Cruise Meetings Encourage Active Participation
Organizations sometimes become stuck in a rut, and they feel that long-practiced traditional methods are as effective today as they were yesterday. However, this is not always the case as traditional methods sometimes stifle creativity and do not allow employees to express fresh, new ideas with their contemporaries. Instead of planning a meeting at the typical hotel venue in a bustling metropolitan city, consider a cruise meeting. Meetings at sea are an excellent venue in which to encourage active participation in meetings. Employers may be surprised to find just how productive meetings can be when employees are encouraged to participate and feel their ideas are valued.
Event planning is often a hassle as employees are not excited about the meeting and logistics of the meeting are often a nightmare. Employers may speak with a meeting planner than can help them find an incentive cruise that will be right for their organization. An incentive cruise may motivate employee performance and enhance the desire of employees to attend organizational meetings. Meetings at sea provide employees with a relaxing and inviting environment in which to share their ideas. Employers that choose a cruise meeting may find their employees are more willing to actively participate in the meetings and the outcome of the meetings more productive.
Tags: Contemporaries, Creativity, Desire, Employee Performance, Event Planning, Hassle, Hotel Venue, Incentive Cruise, Logistics, Meeting Planner, Metropolitan City, Nightmare, Organization, Organizational Meetings, Participation, Productive Meetings, Typical Hotel
21 Apr 10 7 Day Incentive Cruise on the Carnival Conquest
An all-inclusive, 7-day cruise meeting makes a great incentive for a team shaking off the winter blues. The Carnival Conquest leaves Galveston every Sunday traveling one week to the eastern Caribbean, the next week to the western Caribbean.
The eastern cruise leaves Galveston and travels to Key West, Florida; Freeport, Bahamas; Nassau, Bahamas; then returns to Galveston. If you prefer to travel west, the Carnival Conquest moves from Galveston to Montego Bay, Jamaica; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; Cozumel, Mexico; and returns to Galveston. The hardest choice to make is which direction to travel.
One of the “fun ships” in the Carnival line, the Conquest is equipped with a 270 square foot television screen. This allows passengers to enjoy movies, sporting events, and special programming on the Lido deck. The sound system uses special technology that results in concert quality sound.
Families are a big part of the Carnival Conquest and are sure to enjoy the swimming pool, basketball and volleyball courts, and water slide. Teenagers will enjoy the video arcade and 24-hour pizzeria. The cruise ship also has a 3,300 square foot children’s play area.
Try an all-inclusive, 7-day incentive cruise on the Carnival Conquest. It will be the most relaxing vacation your team has ever had.
Tags: Bahamas Nassau, Carnival Conquest, Carnival Line, Concert Quality Sound, Cozumel Mexico, Cruise Carnival, Cruise Galveston, Cruise Ship, Freeport Bahamas, Incentive Cruise, Lido Deck, Montego Bay Jamaica, Nassau Bahamas, Relaxing Vacation, Special Technology, Travel One, Video Arcade, Volleyball Courts, Western Caribbean, Winter Blues
14 Dec 09 Dear Santa, Bring Me A Cruise Meeting?
Dear Santa Boss,
I’ve been good this year. I didn’t really didn’t try to spill Larry’s coffee all over those horrible business meeting presentation packets; that mess was really just an accident even though everybody started to applaud. I really didn’t mean to make Larry cry either. Poor Larry…
Well, let me rephrase this. Santa? I’m not always good. But, it’s present time anyway?
All I want for Christmas this year is for my July business meeting to happen on a nice sunny cruise ship with free food, after hours entertainment, and an air conditioned conference room. Oh, and a hair dryer available in case I spill my coffee on important papers again. Larry would like it if I requested a hair dryer. See? I’m even thinking of others.
Please Santa Boss, sir? The cost of an incentive cruise is often cheaper than car rentals, motel accommodations, and restaurant food plus important time can be saved by having all meeting members corralled on the same cruise ship where they cannot get lost in traffic.
Just because some people use cruise ships for vacations does not mean that my trip on a luxurious cruise ship cannot be used for work. Conference-style meeting rooms are available on cruise ships that will fit everybody involved, and we can always pull the blinds in those conference rooms until the meeting is over if the windows offer a nasty ol’ scenic view. I promise not to look out of the windows!
So, can I please have a cruise ship for Christmas this year? I’m good. It will save the company money.
Tags: Blinds, Boss, Business Meeting, Car Rentals, Coffee, Company Money, Conference Style, Cruise Ships, Cruise Vacations, Free Food, Hair Dryer, Hours Entertainment, Incentive Cruise, Luxurious Cruise Ship, Meeting Rooms, Motel Accommodations, Present Time, Restaurant Food, Rsquo, Scenic View
21 Oct 09 The Blue Grotto on the Island of Capri
Blue Grotto Capri Italy
Summer seems barely over, but it is not too soon to think about next year’s bookings. A trip to Italy is a wonderful incentive, particularly if the lucky employee’s destination is the Island of Capri. Luxury accommodations are available at one of the island’s hotels.
The Grand Hotel Quisisiana Hotel, located in the heart of Capri, is a five star luxury hotel whose staff will pamper a weary executive or host a meeting in the hotel’s theater area. Two other five star luxury hotels grace the island: the Capri Palace Hotel-Spa and the JW Marriott Capri Tiberio Palace & Spa.
The island has many tourist attractions and the most famous has to be the Blue Grotto. The underground sea caves are renowned for their intense blue color and the silver light that floats through the walls. Recent investigations indicate that at least four Roman statues may lie underneath the turquoise blue water.
Those are not the only statues at the Blue Grotto. In 1964, statues of Neptune and Triton were pulled from the sea bottom. The sculpture of the sea gods are now on display in Anacapri. The recent diving survey indicates that four other statues may lie at the bottom of the sea. Additional sculptures are an exciting find for this island paradise and its visitors.
A trip to the Blue Grotto is an experience a hard working employee will never forget. It’s sure to inspire loyalty and demonstrates corporate appreciation of hard work and dedication.
Many cruise ships stop at Naples and Capri, so a group cruise is a great way to see the Mediterranean area. Why not make your next event an incentive cruise?
Tags: Amp Spa, Blue Grotto, Blue Grotto Capri, Blue Grotto Capri Italy, Capri Palace Hotel, Capri Tiberio, Corporate Appreciation, Cruise Ships, Group Cruise, Hotel Spa, Incentive Cruise, Island Of Capri, Island Paradise, Jw Marriott, Luxury Accommodations, Marriott Capri, Roman Statues, Sea Bottom, Sea Caves, Sea Gods, Silver Light, Star Luxury Hotel, Star Luxury Hotels, Survey Indicates That, Tiberio Palace, Underground Sea
09 Oct 09 Combine an Incentive Reward Trip with a Conference
It’s no secret that business meetings are often a combination of business and pleasure. People are working harder than ever to keep companies solvent. Rewarding employees is a bit more complicated; they deserve a nice trip to an exotic location yet it’s important to keep up appearances to the public. Try combining events, the reward trip with a conference. A corporate cruise event can fill both those needs.
Sea travel is a great way to build team spirit while traveling to an exotic location. An incentive cruise makes an ideal place for a business meeting – after all, how far can your people wander off? Food is available almost 24/7 and there are numerous activities to break up the intensity of the conference. It’s also private and while there is much to do, there is great opportunity to focus solely on the matter at hand.
In addition, when you come into your port of destination, that’s when the fun begins. Everyone feels a sense of accomplishment by completing the demands of the conference and they are ready to cut loose and have a bit of fun. The company saves money because the mode of travel has absorbed part of the conference costs, including food and lodging.
Tags: Accomplishment, Bit Of Fun, Business And Pleasure, Business Meeting, Business Meetings, Business People, Corporate Cruise, Incentive Cruise, Incentive Reward, Intensity, Mode Of Travel, Money, Nice Trip, People Working, Rewarding Employees, Sea Travel, Team Spirit, Traveling
05 Oct 09 Meetings at Sea
It’s no secret that business meetings are often a combination of business and pleasure. People are working harder than ever to keep companies solvent. Rewarding employees is a bit more complicated; they deserve a nice trip to an exotic location yet it’s important to keep up appearances to the public. Try combining events, the reward trip with a conference. A corporate cruise can fill both those needs.
Sea travel is a great way to build team spirit while traveling to an exotic location. A cruise makes an ideal place for a business meeting – after all, how far can your people wander off? Food is available almost 24/7 and there are numerous activities to break up the intensity of the conference. It’s also private and while there is much to do, there is great opportunity to focus solely on the matter at hand.
In addition, when you come into your port of destination, that’s when the fun begins. Everyone feels a sense of accomplishment by completing the demands of the conference and they are ready to cut loose and have a bit of fun. The company saves money because the mode of travel has absorbed part of the conference costs, including food and lodging.
Seasite.com, the first online cruise portal dedicated solely to serving the cruise meetings market. And the timing couldn’t be better because cruising slashes 25-40% off the cost of a land-based meeting or incentive trip, helping event planners adapt to today’s shrinking budgets. The single, most comprehensive source for savvy, do-it-yourself planners and novices alike, Seasite delivers all the tools, ideas and resources needed to launch a successful incentive cruise event or meeting-at-sea.
Tags: Accomplishment, Bit Of Fun, Budgets, Business And Pleasure, Business Meeting, Business Meetings, Corporate Cruise, Cruise Portal, Event Planners, Incentive Cruise, Incentive Trip, Intensity, Meeting At Sea, Mode Of Travel, Nice Trip, Rewarding Employees, Sea Travel, Seasite, Slashes, Team Spirit
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