All Inclusive Caribbean Incentive Cruise
Employee incentive trips are necessary to any company needing to recruit and maintain the top talent in their field of business or industry. Customized travel incentives, according to industry surveys, is an admirable incentive option that can be executed to motivate producers. This is especially true if the travel destination is regarded to be thrilling and adventurous. Despite the fact that many companies are thinking about decreasing their travel incentives as a consequence of current economic conditions, taking steps such as these may be ill-advised and ill-timed. Curtailing on incentive travel can hurt employee morale and decrease productivity. At the same time, incentive travel can increase productivity by as much as 20 percent and foster a more solid employee commitment to the company.
One trendy and reasonable incentive travel program available today is an all inclusive Caribbean cruise. Going for an all inclusive incentive cruise can save businesses up to 40 percent compared to land based venues. The reason all inclusive cruises are so affordable is because generally everything is included. Gourmet meals, rooms, meeting rooms, activities, entertainment, and room service are all included in the cost of the cruise. The Caribbean is an fascinating, breathtaking, and fascinating cruise destination. This is why an all inclusive Caribbean cruise for employee incentives is such an exceptional idea.
Maine’s Sebasco Harbor Resort
Situated on Maine's rugged coast and nestled among whispering pines on 550 acres is the Sebasco Harbor Resort. This luxury resort is an ideal destination for incentive travel, executive retreats or teambuilding trips, and provides a setting that is perfect for relaxation and rejuvenation. While taking in breathtaking views of Maine's abundant natural beauty, guests can choose from suites in the main lodge, the adjoining Harbor Village buildings, one of ten guest rooms at the Sabasco Lighthouse overlooking Casco Bay, the Fairwinds Spa suites, or from one of twenty-two private cottages with gorgeous views.
Unforgettable meals, gathered and prepared from local sources are served daily in either The Pilothouse or The Ledges Pub, each of which has its own dress code, though Ledges' is more lax. Additionally, the Pro Shop offers soups, snacks, sandwiches and beverages, including alcohol. Sebasco's amenities include a huge saltwater pool, the Fairwinds Spa, a well-equipped fitness center, boat moorings on Casco Bay, which includes Sebasco's own tour boat, Ruth.
The Sebasco is also an exceptional venue for corporate events and offers meeting rooms and a tasteful conference venue, as well as wireless Internet access at various locations around the resort. With its variety of accommodation options and meeting facilities, the Sebasco Harbor Resort is a great corporate or incentive travel destination that will not disappoint.
Samoset Resort Hotel: Luxury and Relaxation in Rockport, Maine
With so many choices at hand when considering a company retreat or incentive travel destination, it can sometimes be difficult to choose. One option that should not be overlooked is the Samoset Resort Hotel, which is located in Rockport, Maine and it features something for everyone. The resort has dedicated convention services, two ballrooms and a separate event hall, making it an ideal choice for corporate events.
Afterward, when fun beckons, Samoset offers a state-of-the-art health club, featuring strength training and cardiovascular exercise rooms, in addition to an indoor, heated saltwater pool and, during the summer, access to their very own tennis professional. A variety of relaxing massage services is also available. Golfers will also enjoy staying in their time here, where they will find an award-winning 18-hole golf course, as well as available golf lessons.
Samoset offers luxurious accommodations in its main building, as well as timeshare condominiums and the exclusive Flume Cottage, which is a cottage built over the water, offering stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. The suites in the main building all feature 32-inch flat screen TVs, granite vanities, marble-topped mahogany furniture and sumptuous comfort. Whether for breakfast, lunch or dinner, Samoset offers the very best, and the very best variety, too, with the resort's own Splash Pool Bar, or a variety of nearby eateries, including Marcel's, the Breakwater Café and Clubhouse Grille situated in Rockport.
The Land of the Midnight Sun
The Far North is not often among the first destinations that come to mind when travel planners are searching for a luxury resort for an incentive travel program. However, it would be a mistake to discount the Land of the Midnight Sun as an incentive vacation destination. As Alaska's only premier resort property, the Hotel Captain Cook, situated in downtown Anchorage, is a cut above the rest – impressive for its very existence in this harsh, forbidding and beautiful land.
The hotel offers 547 rooms, including 96 suites, with stunning views of either Cook Inlet, the Chaguch Mountains, Mt. McKinley or the Anchorage cityscape. Choose from suites in either the Captain's Deck or Crow's Nest, in addition to junior and executive suites, as well as standard deluxe rooms. All rooms feature a multi-line phone, blackout drapes, satellite TV, ceiling fans, Wi-Fi and hypoallergenic bedding. Suites on the secured floors of the Captain's Deck offer all of the above, plus access to an athletic club, full breakfast, nightly hors d'oeuvres and a juice and soda bar.
Meeting and event planners will also find that the Hotel Captain Cook is an ideal venue for corporate events and special occasions. Boasting a lavish ballroom and banquet hall, as well as a 288-square-foot library overlooking the Inlet, the Hotel Captain Cook is an ideal option as a corporate travel destination, an enticing incentive travel award, or a prelude to an Alaska incentive cruise!
Reward Your Incentive Travel Winners with a Central or Eastern European Vacation
If it has been a long year and your company’s team has worked hard to meet goals regarding sales and productivity, it might be time to consider organizing incentive group travel as a reward for their dedication and commitment. Whether you have an incentive travel program that runs throughout the year, or the company’s owner has decided to surprise your team with a trip to say thank you, your staff is sure to appreciate being appreciated and will thoroughly enjoy the chance to relax and prepare for even greater success during the next quarter.
Many resorts around the world offer eminently affordable group rates and, in addition, offer a respite from the ordinary vacation, allowing your colleagues to recharge and enjoy themselves in unique ways. Take for instance a delightful Central or Eastern Europe incentive travel package. It offers delightful and historic locales such as Budapest, Innsbruck, Krakow, Salzburg, Vienna and Warsaw. Most Eastern European countries have undergone dramatic changes since their shift away from Communist rule – especially in their tourism industries – and they are becoming more and more popular as vacation destinations every year.
Budapest is brimming with things to see and do, and the Le Meridien Budapest built in 2000 is the best place from which to branch out and do them. Located in the heart of this vibrant and bustling city, it is only a short distance from some of the finest shopping and dining the city has to offer, in addition to the historical Castle District, Old Town and the Danube River. Le Meridien offers state of the art meeting facilities if you are considering planning a working vacation and, as the 'City of Spas', Budapest is home to no less than eighty rejuvenating spas and pools.
Seven Luxury Extras You Should Consider During Cruise Negotiations
Planning a cruise meeting or corporate event at sea always involves negotiating with the cruise line to ensure that you are getting the best deal, as well as the best value for your group cruise. You already know that you will likely be saving a significant amount of money by choosing an all inclusive group cruise over a land-based venue, and you can expect your group cruise planning process to be much simpler and more convenient than planning an event on land. Food and drink, accommodations, entertainment, meeting space, decorations and more will all be part of your simple, upfront pricing, but if you hone your skills of negotiation and play your cards right, you can get an even bigger bang for your buck.
Here are seven extras that will add value to your cruise event and that you may want to ask for during negotiations:
1. A private room with Internet access set aside solely for use by attendees of your cruise event
2. A welcome letter signed by the ship Captain and awaiting each attendee in their stateroom
3. An information/hospitality desk on the ship dedicated to serving your participants
4. Pre-arranged seating in the dining room
5. A complimentary group photograph for each member of your group cruise
6. A custom ice sculpture to be displayed at your main cruise event
7. Champagne and fruit awaiting your attendees in their stateroom
Sunriver Resort: A Premier Incentive Travel Destination in the Pacific Northwest
Situated in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, in Oregon's high desert to the east of the Cascade mountain range, Sunriver Resort is a retreat from the ordinary. Sunriver is actually one part of a 3,300-acre private residential and resort community. It offers guest rooms and suites in the main lodge, as well as condos, cabins and multi-bedroom vacation rental homes located on the resort grounds. Each guest room features a stone, gas fireplace, a king bed or two twin beds, and a private deck.
With 300 days of sunshine (receiving a majority of its precipitation in the winter), Sunriver Resort is an idyllic destination for incentive travel, offering award-winning golf on four courses, 26 tennis courts, a glamorous and relaxing spa, two swimming pools, two sprawling and lovely parks, and 35 miles of pedestrian pathways for cyclists or walkers, as well as dining and shopping at the Sunriver Village Mall. For skiing in the winter, Mt. Bachelor, with its award-winning trails, is only twenty minutes from the resort. In addition, your incentive travel winners can go boating on the Deschutes River, which can be accessed the marina at Sunriver Resort, or take in the resort's Nature Center and Observatory. Last but not least, the stable may be hired out for multi-hour trail rides, lessons and winter sleigh rides.
To learn more about this enticing incentive travel option, visit the Sunriver Resort website at www.Sunriver-Resort.com.
Group Cruise Planning: Make Your Sailing Day a Celebration
If you are planning an incentive cruise, a corporate cruise event or meetings at sea, you can begin to set the mood for your all inclusive group cruise before the ship even sets sail. Prior to the day of embarkation, you can get your participants excited with branded cruise-related gifts, distributing schedules for what will take place each day of the cruise and providing information on available shore excursions. This will have your participants anticipating the trip and will build excitement for whichever type of cruise event you are planning.
On the day of sailing, you do not need to wait for everyone to board the ship before the festivities begin. You can begin to show them the royal treatment, or simply add a bit of customization to make your group cruise stand out, with a few simple things that will take very little time or effort on your part.
Here are five easy things you can do to add a little extra panache to your cruise event before boarding the ship:
1. Order custom signage for use at the airport and on transfer vehicles.
2. Make arrangements with the cruise line for a private check-in area for participants of your group cruise.
3. Organize a private bon voyage brunch or mixer prior to boarding.
4. Work with the cruise line to arrange for customized decorations for the pier.
5. Schedule an airplane flyover with a custom message that will be seen as you embark or during sailaway.
You might also consider hosting a private party with streamers and champagne to welcome your participants on board.
For more ways to customize your group cruise, or to take advantage of convenient group cruise planning tools, visit Seasite.com.
Should You Choose a 4-Day, 5-Day or 7-Day Cruise?
When planning meetings at sea or a cruise event, the length of your voyage is always one of the first considerations. It is common for meeting planners to opt for shorter cruises when organizing an all inclusive group cruise, usually as a cost-saving measure or to ensure that attendees will not spend too many days away from the office. However, there are several advantages to opting for a 7-day cruise over a 4- to 5-day excursion and, during your group cruise planning, you will find that 7-day options may be just as affordable as their shorter counterparts. Additionally, longer cruises that do cost more are often well worth the small increase in price.
Here are three reasons you may want to choose a 7-day group cruise:
No additional days out of the office – Seven-night cruises usually run from Sunday to Sunday or Saturday to Saturday, while 5-night options usually run from Monday through Saturday, and 4-night cruises are generally from Monday to Friday. This means that any option will probably lead to spending Monday through Friday out of the office.
Increased ship options – There are only limited options for cruises that are shorter than seven days; however, if you opt for a 7-day cruise, your selection of possible ships expands significantly.
Increased destination and itinerary options – Shorter cruises tend to stay closer to home, but choosing a 7-day group cruise opens up a variety of options, including the South Pacific or the Mediterranean.
Discover even more advantages to choosing a 7-day, all-inclusive group cruise by visiting Seasite.com, where you will also find a number of useful group cruise planning tools.
Additional Factors to Consider When Choosing an All-Inclusive Resort
Opting for all-inclusive cruises and all-inclusive resorts makes travel planning much simpler and more convenient, and it is a great way to save money and know exactly what is included in a single, upfront price. All-inclusive incentive cruises are almost always the most affordable option for incentive travel awards or corporate event accommodations and can provide up to 40% savings over land-based resorts. When planning group cruises, it is easy to compare options and find prices by using the group cruise planning tools at Seasite.com.
For those who are planning land-based, all-inclusive travel packages, it can be a bit more challenging to find just the right option to suit your needs and your budget; however, you can make the process simpler by answering a few questions prior to selecting a destination and resort.
1. Will your participants expect suites or standard guest rooms? There are some all-suite resorts that might be a good option for higher-end participants that will expect upscale accommodations, while other resorts offering comfortable standard guest rooms can help you stay within a smaller budget.
2. Which type of resort will best meet your participants’ needs and expectations? There are all-inclusive resorts that primarily focus on one type of vacation, such golf packages, spa packages, couples packages or providing plenty of water sports and beach access.
3. Do the hotels you are considering offer off-site excursions, tours or activities as part of their all-inclusive package? Whether you are planning an incentive travel package or a corporate event, you will most likely be responsible for including entertainment and activities. If you select a resort that includes excursions, along with their many on-site offerings, this will save you the time it would take to plan separate outings and will allow you to benefit from the cost being included in the upfront price.