It’s summer, the sun is shining (occasionally), and incentive travel is back on.
It’s summer, the sun is shining (occasionally), and incentive travel is back on.
Many companies are already itching to get their staff back onto incentive programmes. Several event and incentive agencies, including Lemon Lane, are already taking bookings for future rewards and recognition events.
After a year of travel bans and restrictions, travel is seen as a prestigious prize and reward, even more than before and research from the Incentive Research Foundation’s COVID-19 Adaption and Recovery report, backs this up, with 57% of would-be travellers already looking forward to future travel. Now is a great time to pique their excitement.
Despite a positive outlook, there’s still some anxiety over new COVID-19 strains appearing. There are questions around what this could mean for travel, social distancing and precautionary measures. If you’re planning to take your staff away, there are several elements you’ll need to consider, on top of all the usual compliance and risk assessment factors.
SAFETY FIRST
Firstly, accessibility. There should be an exit plan in place if attendees need to leave suddenly. It goes without saying that proximity to a city with strong transport links such as a hub airport is preferable. Saying this, many incentive programmes themselves will need to take place away from busy urban areas. Exclusive vehicle hire gives you the option of hosting in a more remote location, greater control over cleanliness procedures, and means guests can be moved quickly if needed.
Picking somewhere with low COVID-19 rates is also essential. Even if transmission isn’t a big concern in the destination, you should still plan for testing, distancing and other safety measures. We have strong relationships with DMCs, and can harness their expert local knowledge to help with safe travel, communicating with local authorities, and contingency or crisis planning.
Working together, we can come up with solutions if an indoor event is cancelled or members of the group need to isolate, for example. Organising lots of open air activities, or at least an outdoor back up, can save a lot of hassle if the situation quickly changes (as we know it consistently does!).
SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE
There is more scrutiny around contracts than ever. When booking hotels, venues or activities, any contracts with suppliers will need to be watertight. They must be reviewed by someone with specific event-related contracting knowledge, such as an event planner.
The contract should address known and anticipated risks; safety and cleanliness procedures; health and safety best practices; any government rules in the destination, and include a written safety plan. There should also be a force majeure clause which talks explicitly about disease, epidemic and pandemic, with reference to government regulations and travel bans. Getting this right can avoid the event being shut down and disappointing attendees. It also means that should the worst happen, and the trip is cancelled, you can have peace of mind that all the financial and legal risks have been covered.
Many travellers now expect more from venues and hotels. Think about what a chosen venue can provide onsite to limit contact with too many different places. A hotel offering all-inclusive food and drink, plus activities or entertainment can be a destination in itself, without the need to ferry everyone around to external locations, and potentially increasing risk.
PERFECTLY FORMED
Never underestimate the value of individual rewards or smaller group sizes. Smaller, more frequent rewards can help to incentivise employees reluctant to come back to the office or to reward behaviours that establish new company cultures.
Less people means a bigger budget and better compliance with distancing. This is a chance to rethink any tired itineraries, experimenting, engaging and exciting guests with new experiences. Bars and clubs are still out of the picture in many places, so now is the time to get creative.
Offering choice and personalisation to individuals is another great motivator. One of the biggest changes predicted by The 2020 Incentive Travel Industry Index is an increase in individual choice. Being able to pick activities, meals and gifts means every attendee can create their own unique itinerary.
DESTINATION HOT LIST
But what’s hot destination wise? According to the Incentive Travel Index, recovery from COVID-19 conditions will vary in different destinations. Western Europe is expected to make a slower comeback, with only 52% of planners forecasting a one to two year recovery. North and South America have a far more optimistic prediction with 74% and 71% respectively.
Bearing all pandemic-related factors in mind, there are a few destinations which seem the obvious choice. For any incentives coming up this year, arranging a UK trip might be the safest option. Staying at home doesn’t need to be dull; how about glamping in the highlands or experiencing Ireland’s unmatched hospitality and entertainment?
There is however a good outlook for going further afield. Agencies are working under the assumption that COVID-19 restrictions will be in place for the foreseeable, but are also looking at which destinations have managed the pandemic well and which haven’t. The USA’s rapid vaccine rollout means that it’s likely travel routes between the UK and the States will remain open, while many parts of the Caribbean have avoided high infection rates because of their secluded island location.
Once borders open, and, if you are prepared to travel, Australia and New Zealand will be popular choices. With good weather for al fresco activities, lots of beautiful, and ample, spaces to allow distancing, and an overall effective response to COVID-19, many companies will choose to take guests to these enduringly popular countries.
Dubai, Iceland and some African destinations are also strong contenders. Dubai is a firm favourite for incentives with its luxurious resorts, beaches and incredible activity options, while Iceland’s remote landscapes boast whale-watching and geothermal baths. Africa is great for outdoor activities including incredible safaris. Recently it also has more flight routes and safer cities, with SITE naming Rwanda as a top destination for incentive travel.
With so many shifting variables in the travel world right now, it makes sense to consult someone whose job it is to keep up with new developments and guidance. At Lemon Lane we can make recommendations based on the latest advice and we have feet on the ground in many destinations so we can suggest local activities that are both safe and fun.
Our role is also to provide education on all the safety steps being taken, and how the itinerary will play out taking these into account. This eases concerns not just for you, our client, but also for all your guests.
Travel incentives are a tried and tested way to boost performance, achieve business goals and motivate staff. With the world slowly reopening after months of boredom and uncertainty, nothing will incentivise employees more than making up for lost time on the bucket-list trip of a lifetime.
