One of the most powerful culture moments in a company is the incentive trip. Bringing a group together for a well-deserved reward in a new destination can anchor team unity. Incentive trips tell the story of how much you appreciate a team’s talent. When you want to celebrate a successful team, an incentive trip makes magic moments. And we’ll tell you all the tips on how to make a special incentive trip that inspires your deserving team.
Building camaraderie is more important than ever. A recent report by Upwork states that 57% of teams are working remotely in some capacity. With so many people scattered across a region, uniting and celebrating your people is critical to company culture. When it’s a team that is driving your business, it’s even more important to celebrate them.
Find the Destination and Get Them There
Picking a destination for a special incentive trip is more strategic than meets the eye. Your target spot needs to be:
- Easy to get to: The location needs to be thoughtful in its geography. Direct or short flights or fast highway access is paramount. Not only will it be smooth sailing for your team. But it will also help with your planning.
- Noteworthy: The location must be one worthy of hitting a goal. It should be a destination that has a little something for everyone.
- Piggy-back on local fun: If your trip dates overlap something exciting happening in the city, it can double your fun. It can also double your budget. So be sure to choose a spot that has a fun calendar of events but also has reasonable hotel rates.
Start With an Invite
We’ve all seen Harry Potter. We know that it began with an invitation. If you really want your incentive trip to inspire your team, amp up the anticipation. Receiving the invitation to a new adventure will get the heart beating with excitement! (Especially if there are teasers involved.)
- Destination Info: Theme the invite to embrace the city you’ve selected for them. Including pictures of notable landmarks or iconic imagery will set the mood.
- Include a Registration Link: Get them registered as soon as possible! Including a link that will capture their flight requests, dietary restrictions, and necessary details is paramount to planning an incentive trip.
- Set a Deadline: Be sure to set an RSVP deadline. Time to put your plan into action is necessary to make your incentive experience feel special.
The travel arrangements can feel overwhelming. Partnering with a team that lives and breathes incentive trips can help take the headache out of the plans.
Welcome Gift
Continue that incentive trip special feeling into the moment they arrive. Provide each guest with the following:
- Welcome Gift: Have a turn down gift or welcome gift waiting. Offer guests a small token upon arrival. Bonus points if it is themed for the host city or experience vibe.
- Provide destination insight: Offer guests a registration desk. Or provide local information in the forms of maps or destination guides.
Incentive Trip Schedule
Even though it is arranged by the company, an ideal incentive trip acts as a mini vacation for the goal crusher. Attendees usually bring a guest, and they treat it as their getaway. Curate a schedule that includes some key foundational bricks that lead to a memorable adventure. The magic of a special incentive trip happens at the intersection of structure and organic chemistry! The perfect agenda will include:
- Anchor moments: Peppering in set group experiences will weave a thread of community into the event. Special receptions, a group dinner, or optional days out are simple but effective anchor moments.
- Leisure time: Don’t forget to allow for time at leisure. Let guests choose their own adventure. They want to make their own special memories. So, provide lots of free time.
Destination Specific Food and Beverage
Can you really know a city unless you taste it? Create a special incentive trip by providing a handful of unique food-and-beverage experiences.
- Warm welcome: Having a welcoming reception on the arrival day is a perfect way to start. Provide a local bar or restaurant that is easy for guests to find and has a flavor of the destination. Keep the evening light and be sure to include a bar! What better way to thank your team for a job well done than to toast them in person!
- Group dinner or dining credit: Treating your team to a special dinner in the city is a special way to create a memorable night. Select something set against the skyline or tucked in a special wine bar. Serve upscale menu options and a specialty cocktail. Or simply give the guests a gift card or dining credit to continue the theme of their selections.
- Welcome snacks: Provide guests with a welcome bag containing a few bottles of water, dry snacks, or a treat from the city you’re in!
Special Incentive Trip Activities
Part of discovering new destinations is to experience them. Offer a selection of destination-specific tours and activities that guests can choose from! Select several experiences that will help guests create special memories.
- Familiarization tours: Helping guests get the lay of the land of a new destination is always appreciated! City tours, shuttles to main hubs, or guided introductions to your incentive destination acts as both an experience and an insight.
- Signature tours: Offering a morning or afternoon of unique experiences to a new city can make the ordinary more extraordinary! See a majestic indoor cave or sample whiskey from local distilleries. Give guests a myriad of specially selected options that will create memorable moments.
Working hand-in-hand with a strategic partner can help keep you out of the weeds with some of these choices. Reach out to us today to help you plan a special incentive trip that will connect and celebrate your team!
