Is an All-Inclusive Package Right for Your Company’s Next Trip?

When planning a company trip, it may be tempting to go with all-inclusive package deals. These packages can include airfare to the location, lodgings, food, drinks and entertainment. For the planner with a lot to keep track of, being able to organize all of these things with the purchase of one package is a promising option. However, before you book, you should think about the needs of this particular trip. All-inclusive packages are not cheap so when you are planning how best to allocate your budget, be sure you are spending money in the right place. While all-inclusive packages are great, those going on the trip won’t have a good time if money is spent with little results.

The best way to determine if an all-inclusive package is right for your company’s trip is to look at all the details of the package. Some resorts will offer scuba diving trips and water skiing lessons. If those on the trip actually take advantage of these offers, the all-inclusive package with the hefty price tag of, for example, $900 a night will be worth the purchase. If employees will not be utilizing all or most of the services the all-inclusive package offers, you may be wasting money that could have been better spent on a more suitable trip.

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Popular Events to Host on a Cruise Ship

If you are new to group cruise planning, or are simply looking for some new ideas, you may be wondering what sorts of group cruise events a cruise ship can host. The answer: almost any type of incentive program, business event or meeting. To be more specific, here are some of the most popular choices for meeting planners.

Incentive Cruises – an excellent tool to promote employee motivation and increase productivity.

Business Meetings – cruise meetings promote higher attendance and participation percentages.

Conventions and Trade Shows – cruise ships can hold up to 5,000 people and create a memorable experience.

Executive Retreats – group cruises offer destinations to many exotic locations along with excellent service and accommodations.

Consumer Incentives – companies can offer customers a chance to get a free cruise if they buy a product.

Fund Raisers – people will be motivated to purchase cruise tickets when part of the proceeds goes to a worthy cause.

Full-Ship Charters – the ultimate experience when planning a meeting at sea, conference or other event. Your organization will have uninterrupted use of the ship with myriad opportunities for customization, so you get the exact event you want.

Dockside Charters – cruise ships can be used as “floating hotels” if you are hosting a large convention in a port city. This is a unique, appealing accommodations option and will also likely result in increased publicity for the event.

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Planning an Incentive Travel Program with a Limited Budget

If your company wants to start an incentive travel program, but doesn’t have a large budget for it, you should still consider putting a program in place. Studies have shown that incentive travel programs increase employee productivity and motivation. Therefore, it is worthwhile to start an incentive program no matter the allotted budget.

If you do not have a lot of money to work with, the key thing to remember is to work within your resources to offer the best incentive travel program the company can afford. That means you should not spend the whole budget on a plane ticket and one night’s stay in Paris, because the employee who earns the incentive likely will not have an enjoyable, memorable trip.

Instead, offer an incentive to go to a bed & breakfast in a charming rural area. With the money you save on the location, you can then use the rest of the budget to offer as many amenities as you can to the top employee. By working within your budget to produce an all-inclusive experience, even if it is not in a foreign country or on a cruise ship, the employees who participate in the program will still get the same feeling that you have rewarded them for their hard work, and the company will see the same increase in production and motivation.

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Popular All-Inclusive Getaways

Booking an all-inclusive trip as part of an incentive program for employees or for an executive retreat makes a planner’s life a whole lot easier. All-inclusive means just about everything is included in one payment. With one transaction you will get reservations and opportunities for lodging, meals, entertainment and more. All-inclusive trips are available for all groups including adults only, luxury or family vacations. With the myriad locations and activities available, you will be able to find the perfect trip to fit your company’s needs.

To start you off, here are some popular all-inclusive resorts and locations.

• The Barcelo Riviera Maya Complex in the Riviera Maya is a great value location for families and activities.
• Another great value for families is the Villa Del Palmar Beach Resort & Spa in Los Cabos.
• To add some luxury into a family-friendly vacation, check out Beach Palace in Cancun.
• The Excellence Playa Mujures in Cancun or Sandals Montego Bay in Montego Bay are perfect luxury getaways for adults.

Remember that “value” doesn’t mean a bad location or sub-par service. While “value” venues are certainly cheaper than a luxury resort, places like the Barcelo Riviera Maya Complex are still in beautiful locations, offer excellent service and have theme-decorated rooms with all the usual hotel amenities.

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Popular Destinations for Incentive Cruises

Group cruises make great incentives to promote employee motivation and reward top team members. To maximize the effect of your incentive cruise, here are the top destinations that will have employees working hard to earn spots onboard.

South Pacific: Hawaii or Tahiti

Everybody loves spending time in paradise, so these tropical cruise destinations are great incentives. Hawaii and Tahiti provide an escape from everyday life and offer stunning scenery and fun outdoor activities.

Hawaiian cruises feature leisurely island-hopping excursions focusing on the beauty of the landscape and local culture.

Tahiti also has a gorgeous tropical landscape for employees to enjoy. The French-influenced capital offers excellent sidewalk cafés.

Caribbean

Cruise programs offer diversity and adventure along with delicious cuisine and engaging on-shore events that can accommodate any size group. The Caribbean boasts 7,000 breathtaking islands, and each place has unique geography and cultural influences, making every excursion a new experience.

Mediterranean

Cruises offer shore excursions to some of the most beautiful and historical places in the world. Employees can walk through the ancient ruins of Athens, explore beautiful blue-domed Santorini or attend a classical concert under the stars in Ephesus.

With the breathtaking scenery and engaging activities available at these cruise destinations, employees will have a great time and come back feel refreshed and rewarded.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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