Making the most out of incentive travel

Incentive travel is gaining strategic value in the workplace as companies strive to build engagement, improve retention, and foster a positive company culture. However, for incentive travel to truly be effective and provide a robust return on investment, such trips must be properly designed and executed.?

Find out which elements should not be overlooked when organizing these corporate reward trips and how Revibe designed the perfect travel incentive itinerary.???

The ultimate travel program??

The 2022 Incentive Travel Index reveals changing preferences and priorities in the global incentive travel market. Notably, their recent research identified relationship-building as the highest valued experience on incentive travel itineraries. Group cultural or sightseeing experiences were the second most appreciated activity, followed in importance by luxury travel experiences and group dining.?

These preferences for corporate travel make sense: organizations, and the people within them, recognize that activities which forge or deepen connections improve team dynamics and well-being. This is why prioritizing activities that explicitly promote relationship-building as well as those that provide teams opportunity to share unique or exciting experiences together are key for successful corporate travel.??

But how can these types of activities be incorporated into a trip itinerary coherently and organically???

Revibe organized a successful incentive travel program for a Swiss tech company that sought a way to motivate, incentivize, and reward their people. To ensure a return on investment, Revibe seamlessly incorporated the four most valued travel incentive activities into the trip program.??

The trip began with a luxurious first-class train journey to Thoune. Upon arrival in this lakeside village, the Swiss company continued their journey via boat: affording them the opportunity to enjoy a deluxe three-course meal together while exploring the lake.?

When it comes to group travel, an element which is all too often overlooked is an easy one to arrange: group dining. Research shows that when people eat together, it increases feelings of social connection and sense of belonging to a community. It has a real effect on group dynamics, and it is thus imperative to include group dining opportunities in any incentive travel program.??

Revibe arranged for half of the meals on the Swiss trip to be taken together – giving the talent community time to discuss trip highlights and strengthen social bonds.?

The company’s people were also encouraged to participate in a team-building activity that would get their hearts pumping: sledding.??

Sledding in pairs or trios requires collaboration to guide and steer the sled, providing a thrilling group experience. Scheduling physical activities which require communication into corporate travel enables employees to build relationships in a memorable way.?

The second day of the trip was spent at the Alpine Skiing World Cup. Revibe arranged for the company to enjoy VIP Access and delicious food (Michelin-starred chefs created the menus).??

This special experience also included a thrilling air show by the Swiss Air Force.

The third and final day of the trip revolved around a group sightseeing excursion to Jungfrau, an Alpine summit 3,454 meters above sea level. This UNESCO World Heritage Site provides its visitors with a phenomenal view of the largest glacier in the Alps as well as the opportunity to visit the Ice Palace.??

Including special events in travel itineraries makes for unforgettable travel experiences. When building incentive travel programs, organizations should consider whether there are any external events which can be enjoyed together.??

It is not impossible to create travel itineraries which smoothly blend relationship-building experiences, sightseeing opportunities, group dining, and moments of luxury. By blending professional and leisure dynamics effectively, companies will improve team functioning and engagement levels. Sharing unique moments together, if combined with recognition and reward, can be a powerful tool in building a strong company culture.???