Incentive - August 2008 - (Page 53) TRAVEL The Ladies’ Market in Mong Kok is very colorful and one of the best places to shop for clothes for the whole family; the many street stalls sell a diverse range of bargain items, including clothing, watches, toys and souvenirs everywhere, Hong Kong has to differentiate itself with antique treasure hunting. Art and home furnishings stores dot the hilly streets in the central district of Hong Kong. A great painting or carved chest that will evoke memories from the trip is likely to intrigue travelers enough for them to want to bring one home. Another activity can be a visit to a Hong Kong tailor or jeweler. TYPICAL COSTS Incentive travel to Hong Kong is not inexpensive. Budget depends on the season, length of program, level of hotel and the details of the program, says Rochester, N.Y.–based Lynda Obront, director of sales, North America, for Tour East Inc., a destination management company. An incentive trip including Hong Kong can cost as much as $5,000 per person plus air from the U.S. Consider the May 2008 trip a pharmaceutical company planned for 42 people, including spouses, embarking from LAX and JFK. The five-night itinerary featured three nights in Hong Kong and two in Shanghai. Cost of air travel within Asia was included in the package price. The incentive brought travelers first to Hong Kong where highlights included a visit to Lama Island on the first night, participation in a feng shui demonstration and tea appreciation ceremony the second night, and a farewell dinner dine-around, followed by a laser light show in Hong Kong Harbour, where participants sipped cocktails and took in the spectacular view. Next, it was on to Shanghai. Another example is a three-night Hong Kong program beginning at $2,000 per person plus air. The cost increases if alcohol is included in the package price. Other incentive trips can be arranged for $550 to $650 per person per night plus air. To really personalize the trip, Obront helps companies select pillow gifts for each participant. “You can’t overlook these,” she says. It can be something as simple as a pair of chopsticks and a silk place mat with a company logo on it for $3 per person or a more elaborate choice such as a pewter scrapbook for $75 per person. Each incentivemag.com | August 2008 | Incentive | 53 http://incentivemag.com
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