Incentive - April 2009 - (Page 34)

TRAVEL The Caribbean’s Idyllic Deals Caribbean destinations continue to offer affordable travel rewards The Caribbean has long been a top choice for incentive travel: close enough to keep costs down and exotic enough to offer an extremely memorable reward. These characteristics are becoming more vital as many companies curtail their programs or try to keep travelers closer to home. While the region’s travel market has seen its share of dark clouds recently, the combination of appealing deals and new incentive-caliber properties is helping to stoke interest in Caribbean destinations like Aruba, St. Martin and Jamaica. 34 | Incentive Aruba Adding Flights By Heidi Waldrop Bay ruba, a snippet of paradise that is only 17 miles long and five miles wide at its broadest point, is known for its convenience and service. Craig Howard, the national sales director for Alexandria, Va.–based Corporate Incentive Travel, says “It is the only country that I have visited where the convention and visitors bureau gets involved with the airport authority and customs to make the experience easy and no hassle.” Eighty-five percent of group business is in the incentive market, says Rob Smith, president and CEO of the Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association (AHATA), which runs the Aruba Convention Bureau for North America in partnership with the Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA). The island also boasts one of the highest repeat visitor rates in the Caribbean (57 percent overall, including time-shares; 43 percent for transient business.) A The Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa (above) and the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & Casino (below) are two properties offering value for incentive groups | April 2009 | incentivemag.com http://www.incentivemag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Incentive - April 2009

Incentive - April 2009
Contents
Editor’s Note: Speak Out!
Headlines
Cover Story: Penn Mutual Stands By Its Incentives
Defending Incentives
Primer: Merchandise 101
Employee Contracts Work
Gift Card Roundtable
Incentive Strategies
Endo Pharmaceuticals
Travel News: Where To Go
Caribbean: Idyllic Deals
Cruises: Value Ahoy!
Potentials: Here and Now
Cameras: Smart and Active
Merchandise IQ Survey
Incentive Merchandise Buyer’s Guide

Incentive - April 2009