Handle danger in company incentive journey vacation spot choice 

The most rewarding incentive journey experiences instill a way of surprise, whereas maintaining attendees protected.  

Destination selection is a major aspect of crafting a memorable journey. In my expertise sourcing websites for 1000’s of incentive journey applications, I’ve come to know the complete vary of concerns that affect selections about incentive journey locations. It’s my ardour to assist leaders to find the suitable match.  

While incentive journeys to Hawaii stay perennially common, world organizations prepared to contemplate a full vary of choices can handle danger and host budget-friendly applications. Unfortunately, misperceptions restrict many potential locations too early within the planning course of.  

Expert companions make navigating issues about political unrest, excessive climate occasions and different danger components simpler. Event administration firms convey on-the-ground data of vacation spot professionals and cons to the choice course of. Plus, up-to-date menace evaluation and monitoring capabilities.  

Risk mitigation in incentive journey vacation spot choice  

When my workforce sources potential company incentive journey locations, we prioritize the next components:  

• Group measurement 
• Program price range 
• Where attendees are touring from 
• Time of yr 
• Property facilities 
• Travel traits 

We current rigorously curated choices, narrowed with the assistance of our patrons’ in depth journey market data. Sometimes, suggestions embrace surprising or rising locations. 

One frequent query we hear from leaders contemplating a brand new vacation spot: Is it protected? 

This query is well-intentioned. However, feeling protected is subjective. Some common locations is perhaps perceived as protected, however there may be at all times one thing to contemplate. Densely touristed areas appeal to pickpockets, for example. Other world locations as soon as thought of unsafe have developed into prime picks. Headlines about unrest and different happenings within the U.S. are additionally shaping journey perceptions of the nation. 

All environments maintain some inherent dangers. And, given the tempo of world occasions, these are consistently shifting.  

It’s extra useful to method the choice course of understanding:  

• Possible danger components (environmental and human-made)  
• Recommended danger administration methods  
• Safety and safety sources obtainable 

Your group ought to have sufficient sources obtainable to mitigate any of the chance components recognized, prioritizing security and safety of attendees all through the journey.

Related: Peek into our occasions planners’ danger administration playbook.  

Educating decision-makers about incentive journey locations  

Often, misperceptions about incentive journey vacation spot security and safety are based mostly on secondhand info or media portrayals. Educating decision-makers helps inform the method.   

For instance, take into consideration Cartagena, Colombia. Fans of the Nineteen Eighties movie “Romancing the Stone” may maintain lingering fears about kidnappings and violence. However, this vibrant metropolis’s historic heart is a UNESCO World Heritage Site surrounded by miles of historic partitions.  

Activities abound there, which creates a number of choices that enchantment to totally different generations and varieties of vacationers. Start with salsa dance classes or a nature trek to fulfill uncommon monkeys. Charter a yacht and discover the Islas Del Rosario, an archipelago of 27 coral islands. 

Relaxing seashore holidays are additionally common. Mexico can host glorious, inexpensive choices. But earners rank this location decrease than locations just like the Caribbean in Incentive Research Foundation’s attendee perception reports. However, if a visit is going on round hurricane season, the Caribbean may not be your best option. We’ve seen islands decimated by superstorms, leading to journeys re-booking elsewhere as a resort rebuilds.  

Mexico may current an ideal different. When a model pushes again at a suggestion, we attempt to perceive why. Concerns about security and, typically, lack of familiarity with geography, is perhaps at play.  

Perhaps a CEO’s neighbor’s grandma had a nasty expertise in Mexico. We come to study that incident was years in the past, many miles from the posh resort we may suggest in Cabo San Lucas. 

Or, as temperatures and political tensions rise in some common locations, pivot to keep away from the warmth. Set your occasion technique round a extra “neutral” mountainous vacation spot, like Switzerland or Canada. Including spa time inside an Alpine journey appeals to high-energy earners.  

Related: Discover Jodi’s incentive journey locations picks for intergenerational teams. 

Proactive incentive journey vacation spot security and safety  

Ideally, incentive journey locations are chosen and booked no less than two years upfront to safe one of the best choices and pricing. Many conditions can unfold inside that point span so inventive problem-solving expertise are a should.  

Protecting your folks and price range requires staying proactive. It’s essential to have assist in negotiating favorable contract provisions. Work with occasion security and safety companions to evaluate and monitor environmental and human-made threats. Strong companions may also organize further on-site occasion safety as a part of a complete danger administration technique.  

Find inspiration for locations that enjoyment of our incentive journey guidebook.