What makes a destination perfect for incentive travel? The
answers are almost as varied as the people who earn the trips.
However, there are some general questions that incentive planners
should consider when making decisions.
Does the destination fit the demographics of the group? Though
incentive winners can come from all walks of life, there are some
common traits, such as profession, income and education, that link
incentive winners.How appealing and exciting is the destination? The destination
has to have some "sizzle" for the audience or there will be no
incentive to work harder.Is the destination relatively easy to reach? Though incentive
winners aren't averse to treks in Nepal or game preserves in
Africa, three flights and a six-hour bus ride may not serve as the
best incentive.What's the climate like? North Americans place a tremendous
emphasis on weather. Generally, take people from cold-weather
climates to warm weather, for example.What kind of activities does the destination offer? Is there
enough to do to please a diverse audience? Ideal incentive
destinations generally provide a mix of activities ranging from
cultural to recreational to shopping to sport.Is the destination capable of handling group business? Some
exotic and remote locales may be wonderful retreats for individual
travelers but are not suitable for groups. There are many right
choices for your next incentive group, but sending the group to the
appropriate destination makes for the perfect match.Bruce Tepper is vice president of Joselyn Tepper Associates.
He can be reached at (602) 443-0098.