Incentive - October 2009 - (Page 69)

TRAVEL Caribbean Steals PAGE 71 Florida Coast to Coast PAGE 74 New flights, new and renovated properties, and motivated suppliers make the Caribbean hard to resist From the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, plenty of travel experiences and options await in the Sunshine State Dittman Adds Individual Incentives Full-service incentive firm creates an extensive individual travel program in wake of economic, perception challenges By Donna Airoldi down economy, coupled with a public and media climate against corporate perks, has motivated Dittman Incentive Marketing to launch Great Escapes, an individual incentive travel product that gives clients the ability to continue to motivate and reward top performers using travel without some of the current risks associated with group programs. “The incentive travel industry has experienced a radical shift over the last year of economic downturn,” says Susan Adams, Great Escapes solutions director for the New Brunswick, NJbased incentive and performance improvement company. “Group travel and its unique opportunities for rewarding and recognizing valued members of the corporate community were suddenly vilified, putting at risk one of the greatest tools for performance and motivation. “We examined the specific needs of our clients in this changing environment and found that there was an urgent need to engage employees to excel in a hostile economic environment, where there is an even greater need for motivation and recognition. We also found an equally critical concern about making a commitment for a large group travel program, sometimes as much as 18 months in advance, with significant attrition and cancellation penalties.” Dittman claims that what makes Great Escapes different from other individual travel products is its combination of choice, high-level personal service, no upfront fees or commitment, and low degree of risk involved. Great Escapes catalog shows white-glove service to individual incentive winners How Great Escapes Works Clients can choose from a diverse selection of travel experiences organized into 10 levels with up to 13 different options in each tier, ranging in value from the Level 1 $500 Mini-Break to the Level 10 $10,000 Journey of a Lifetime. Some rewards are drive-to-destination trips, while others are weeklong cruises and European adventures. Depending on goals, budget, and other criteria, a company on the horizon The Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona is slated to open in one of Spain’s most exciting cities by the end of the year. It is located on the Paseo de Gracia, at the heart of the city’s entertainment, dining, nightlife, and commercial districts, and just a few doors down from La Discordia—the block on the Paseo de Gracia with three of the most famous examples of Modernisme architecture, including Antoni Gaudi’s masterwork, Casa Batllo. The 98-room hotel will feature a 10,700square-foot spa; five dining and nightlife venues, including a 7,000square-foot garden; and a rooftop terrace and pool. The divisible meeting space can hold 40 banquet-style. More details on the property are at www.mandarinoriental.com/barcelona. incentivemag.com | October 2009 | Incentive | http://www.mandarinoriental.com/barcelona http://www.incentivemag.com

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

Incentive - October 2009
Contents
Editor’s Note: Motivation with a Catwalk Flair
Headlines
Cover Story: Study Reveals Travel ROI in Numbers
The First Annual Motivation Masters Awards Finalists
Holiday Parties with Heart
Research: Travel IQ
All-American Pillow Gift Guide
Strategies: Skip the Carrots
Primer: Win Over Leaders in Order to Win Over Employees
Travel News: Where to Go and How to Get There
The Caribbean: So Close, but a World Away
Florida Coast to Coast
Reno-Lake Tahoe: The Other Great Lake
Reno-Lake Tahoe: The Other Great Lake
Power & Hand Tools See Steady Activity
Netbooks Fire Up Computer Redemption

Incentive - October 2009