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Incentives are a great way to increase staff motivation and to improve relationships with clients and suppliers alike. The more unique the trip, the more effort people are prepared to put in to secure their place, or the more likely they are to remember it, and the host, years later. For the event organizer it is becoming ever more important to customise each trip in great detail, tailoring every event to the aims of the client and delivering it all perfectly.
One of ATP’s senior project managers explains that this is exactly why she will suggest making a personal inspection trip to the chosen destination well in advance of the event. Nine times out of ten she is accompanied by the client, as they understand the exact requirements of their company and for whom the incentive is intended. The client adds “For example, good tour guides can make or break a trip; so we pay a lot of attention to this. When we go to China, we don’t just look for somebody who knows the dates and temples off by heart, but a guide who can show life as it is locally, and who, for instance, can organize a trip to visit his mother-in-law.” The Event Manager continues “The itinerary of the trip is essential. Take an incentive to China: you don’t provide a programme that is bursting at the seams, straight after landing at the airport. Firstly, you give the people some time to recuperate and then you work towards a climax. On the penultimate day our clients should be thinking that it simply can’t get any better then we really surprise them with something that will amaze and delight. Above all, the trip should not just be extraordinary, but more importantly, it must connect with the clients objectives.” For example this client has chosen to reward the top field sales people together with their partners. “In field sales, our people often work five evenings a week and receive huge support from their partners at home. This busy work pattern can take its toll on the family, but if the sales person can say to her partner that if she reaches the highest targets, they both win a fantastic trip to China. For us, this is a way of recognising the partner’s contribution.”
A good incentive delivers an unforgettable experience. A Dutch firm that had already taken their employees all over the world chose a kind of survival trip through the jungles of Suriname. One of the highlights of this trip was a game of football against the local inhabitants followed by a post match drink. The major benefit of sending a Dutch company to Suriname is seeing a totally different world, yet the client can still use their own language. Overall it was a very intensive, shared experience that not only lifted the team spirit tremendously but also provided memories that last a lifetime.
Planning a successful incentive is based on a minimum of ten solid pillars:
1. Be clear about your aims and what you want to see as the end result
2. Understand your staff; consider what your target audience is attracted to
3. Discuss your requirements in detail with your ATP Event Manager
4. Be honest about your budget – overspend can occur when limits are not clearly defined
5. Inspect the destination with your own eyes; you must experience the destination yourself
6. Tease to please; start early with (pre)announcements
7. Check & re-check; ensure names, facts and times are accurate
8. Invitations!; be very clear about what is going to happen
9. The silent power; a good event manager is invisible
10. Learn from experience; look critically at the programme and encourage feedback from everyone involved.
For further information please contact Jo Wardle on 0870 990 6023
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