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Incentive Travel with Bolder Experiences and Better Results

Your incentive travel program matters. It helps your company hit its sales target. It convinces top performers to stay. And all that hinges on one thing: an incentive trip that inspires action. (No pressure, right?!)

We’re experts at making incentive travel do more (hey, we’ve had more than 60 years to master our craft!). We design and deliver bold, unforgettable experiences that motivate salespeople, drive growth, and build the kind of employee loyalty that is rare these days.

We’re here for whatever you need before, during and after the trip. Our incentive travel services include:

Program Design & Campaign Communications

Design an event that wows. Then build excitement, so winners are counting down the days to your trip.

Sourcing & Contracting

You know your winners, and we know the best places. We’ll find you the right hotel and negotiate on your behalf.

Registration & Ticketing

Make registration, hotel booking and airline ticketing easy and painless for your winners.

On–Site Support

Add on-site resources to make sure you’re prepared for everything: from little disruptions to major emergencies.

Our Approach to Designing Incentive Travel

We get that incentive travel programs look different from company to company. That’s why we structure our incentive travel approach to serve your team best. Your goals become our goals and your vision our vision. And, we don’t guess at what works — we use behavioral and data science to guide our recommendations.

We can also help refresh your incentive travel program, since even the best trip can lose its impact for repeat winners who have “seen it all.”

Through this perfect mix of personal engagement and scientific insights, we create standout incentive trips that motivate your top performers (and make you look good in the process!).

Our Incentive Travel Program Services

Your incentive travel program is important, and how you plan for it might change year–to–year. We understand that different trips might mean different needs — and we can adjust to meet them.

From delivering a comprehensive incentive travel program to managing trip communications, we’ve done it all. Our motto? Whatever you need we can handle! That’s why we structure our services to serve you best.

Learn how to use incentive travel to transform your sales efforts!

Download the free eBook.

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We have an exciting roster of live events including our flagship Corporate and Agency Forums. We have our brand new international forum, our annual C&IT awards evening, and much more. All our events have been planned and put together by our events team that builds each event with you in mind. Whether you're looking for new insight and inspiration or looking for new networking or supplier opportunities, we're sure you will be able to join us at one of our events.

Upcoming events

FESTIVAL OF FORUMS

Bristol and Bath

The C&IT Festival of Forums is back!

Returning for its third year, this time taking place in Bristol and Bath between the 29 - 31 July 2024.

The event will be an action packed three days, consisting of content, meetings and experiences showing our attendees the very best the two cities have to offer.

INCENTIVES RETREAT

C&IT Incentive Retreat combines forward-thinking content sessions and one-to-one meetings with innovative event agencies, luxury venues and emerging destinations. This forum is designed exclusively for the luxury incentive market.

CORPORATE FORUM

C&IT Corporate Forum is an intimate business event designed to facilitate new business connections by uniquely matching corporate event managers with expert suppliers in a series of one to one meetings alongside quality content.

As the industry is returning from digital events, quality one on one networking opportunities and making valuable connections is more important than ever. Meet with our suppliers to prepare for your live events, while gaining new business. Our Corporate Forum shapes an experience offering valuable networking and builds meaningful relationships - all tailored to your business needs.

AGENCY FORUM

The C&IT Agency Forum, is one of C&IT’s flagship events. With over 200 industry professionals gathering together to find business solutions and the necessary tools and advice to push boundaries on their own events.

Recent events

INTERNATIONAL FORUM

Come with us to Amsterdam to learn more about the latest industry trends, find new venues, suppliers and vendors, network with industry peers, and enjoy the culture and excitement that A msterdam has to offer.

SUSTAINABILITY FORUM

Conference & Incentive Travel's groundbreaking Sustainability Forum comes at a moment where eco-consciousness is more important than ever. Businesses are looking at how they can hit CSR and sustainability goals both for themselves and their clients.

Join us for a day of keynotes, panel discussions and case studies exploring emerging sustainability trends, how you can build it into your events and how to leverage it to woo clients and help shape the future of events.

NORTHERN FORUM

As the industry returns to live events, the C&IT Northern Forum is back and partnering with Conference Sheffield, as an opportunity to make the recognisable C&IT format more accessible to the wider MICE industry, but also a chance to showcase and highlight iconic Northern locations.

The C&IT Northern Forum is free-to-attend for delegates, taking place on the 28th & 29th March 2022 in Sheffield, UK, and treated to an overnight stay at the Mercure Sheffield St Paul's Hotel & Spa

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Incentive travel that redefines extraordinary

An incentive travel program is about more than just a cool vacation or hot-spot destination.

For stakeholders, it’s about inspiring peak performance. For attendees, it’s about the reward and recognition they strived for. It’s about creating personalized, authentic experiences all over the world and strengthening relationships with colleagues while immersed in local communities.

Get ideas that redefine extraordinary

An incentive trip like they’ve never experienced .

We personalize each part of the attendee journey. Like taking trip earners to a surprise lunch on the Great Wall of China. Or making sure ginger ale and crackers are waiting on the plane for the attendee with a fear of flying.

Our event design approach considers:

Stakeholder care – Investing in the right places to meet goals
Attendee wonder – Making them feel known, appreciated and inspired
Novel experiences – Motivating performance with “never done anything like it” moments

Global destination expertise

Impress even the most well-traveled attendees with an undiscovered locale.

Our tenured buyers have traveled the globe (most recently Fiji and Cairo!) and have first-hand knowledge to source U.S.-based and international destinations. We’ll help select the perfect place and negotiate a transparent and fair contract.

Immersive brand experiences

Turning already incredible surroundings into larger-than-life experiences is what we do.

From arranging jaw-dropping technical events (like a 300+ synchronized drone show) to delivering meaningful special touches throughout the trip.

Motivating communications

Inform and inspire your attendees leading up to the trip and long after they return home.

Our award-winning communications team crafts campaign strategy that includes theming and brand development, digital and print elements, and pre-trip creative promotions that excite attendees.

Thoughtful gifting

Make your event their trip.

We collect attendee preferences upfront to curate gifts they’ll appreciate. This includes supporting local artisans to align with your brand values and creating hands-on gifting experiences.

Dependable event management

Our event managers work behind the scenes to deliver events that feel effortless. Full-time travel directors care for all the on-site needs so you can feel confident about the experience you are giving your attendees.

Concierge air travel

Have peace of mind we’ll help get your top performers booked and landed.

In-house group air experts monitor flights 24/7. And we’re the first in the industry with a proprietary online tool for participants to have a consumer-like experience booking their own travel.

Unwavering safety and security

Attendee well-being is top of mind.

We contract with vetted global security partners to continuously monitor risks pre-trip and at the property. Our certified on-site team creates emergency plans and are trained to support crisis management situations.

Expert event analytics

Like you, we want to know which trip details should be repeated or refined for the next year.

Our analytics team knows events first-hand and can make sure your pre- and post-event surveys deliver insights that lead to smarter decisions.

ITA Group incentive travel event awarded best incentive program

We're proud to be recognized as a BizBash Event Experience Award (EEA) winner for our Google Cloud program in Koh Samui, Thailand. This culturally immersive event brought attendees together to thoughtfully celebrate the energy and vibrancy of the local culture through décor, food and art!

Our behind-the-scenes incentive travel magic

Since the day we opened our doors, we’ve led the industry in incentive travel—creating small, thoughtful touches and big, unforgettable experiences to make attendees feel special.

See how these leading brands created exceptional experiences

Cultural immersion inspires a world-class incentive travel experience.

How Conga connected its top performers to organizational culture amidst the vibrancy of Marrakesh, Morocco.

Creative problem solving and solid partnership elevates incentive travel programs

Our global incentive travel partnerships are built on trust, innovative solutions, financial transparency and amazing experiences for participants.

Quick and easy pivot from incentive travel to alternate rewards

How offering world-class awards experiences helped a company achieve their incentive travel recognition goals.

Health risk mitigation ensured incentive travel success

How one super regional insurance carrier operated an incentive travel program that successfully delivered on expectations while ensuring peace of mind during a global health crisis.

Incentive travel that takes independent retail stores from good to great

How this aftermarket parts distributor drove sales growth and organizational culture with an incentive travel program.

I’m amazed by and appreciate the knowledge ITA Group brings to the table. We wanted an engagement plan to maximize relationship building with our most important customers, while letting them enjoy their hard-earned trip. From a relationship building, customer engagement, impacting our best customers standpoint, this was the best trip in our history! Client, VP of Marketing

Our experts

Monica fasse.

Industry & Partner Relations Manager

Director, Travel Direction

Event Design Leader

Jodi Swailes

Lead Buyer, Event Purchasing

Use data to personalize the attendee journey

People expect personalized experiences—and incentive travel is no different. Asking the right pre-trip questions will give you the data you need to deliver curated, meaningful experiences that reward attendees’ hard work.

Incentive Travel

What is incentive travel? How are incentive programs, trips, and events different from conference and meeting planning? In this section we'll look at the definition of incentive travel, including: examples of incentive travel programs, how to become an incentive travel planner, an incentive travel planner job description, career advice, employment information, and the pros and cons of being an incentive travel planner in this sector of the events industry.

A guide to incentive travel programs; definitions, descriptions, and examples.

Careers in Incentive Travel / Destination Management

Why become an incentive travel planner or destination manager? Career advice and employment information.

Being an Incentive Travel Planner

What does an incentive travel planner do? Read a real incentive travel planner job description by Martin Turner, former Director of Travel, International Travel Group, and former Global Head of Events, Credit Suisse .

Pros and Cons of Incentive Travel

Pros and cons of incentive travel by Martin Turner, former Director of Travel, International Travel Group, and former Global Head of Events, Credit Suisse .

Being a Destination Manager

What does a destination manager do? Read a real destination manager job description by Jennifer Miller, Partner and President, ACCESS Destination Services .

Pros and Cons of Destination Management Careers

Pros and cons of destination management careers by Jennifer Miller, Partner and President, ACCESS Destination Services .

MICE: Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions

Although the content of an incentive travel program is very different to other types of meetings—in that the emphasis is on entertainment, activities, and socializing—the event planning process is very similar. Meetings and incentive programs both involve location planning, destination management, co-ordinating travel and accommodation, and creating a program of supporting events.

Meeting planners often find themselves working on a mix of meetings, conferences, and incentive travel programs, and in doing so will often call upon the services of a destination manager at a DMC (Destination Management Company). Destination managers are a type of event planner who offers local knowledge and resources to meeting planners in order to help deliver events in a particular region

What Is Incentive Travel?

Incentive travel is the reward element of an incentive, recognition, or loyalty program, which takes the form of an all-expenses paid trip with a program of scheduled events and activities.

Incentive Programs

Incentive, recognition, and loyalty programs (from here on referred to as just ‘incentive programs’) are used by companies as a motivational tool to achieve certain business objectives, for example to increase sales.

Participants—which might be the company’s employees, distributors / re-sellers, or customers—usually have to qualify by achieving a certain level of performance, pre-defined by the terms of the incentive program, e.g. achieving pre-set sales targets.

Those that meet the relevant criteria are then rewarded by taking part in the incentive travel trip (sometimes referred to as the ‘award’). These are usually group trips with a set itinerary where all those qualifying take part in the same program of events and activities, however individual incentive trips are also used by some companies.

Incentive Trips/Awards

To fulfill the award, the company will use some form of event / meeting planner to co-ordinate the trip and design the itinerary, including all travel arrangements, accommodation, receptions, dinners, activities, excursions, entertainment, and special events.

Often, this will involve the meeting planner hiring a Destination Management Company (DMC), located in the city where the event is being held, to assist them in booking and managing local elements, such as restaurants, venues, transport, staffing, production, décor, entertainment, activities, and excursions.

Incentives are a very effective way to drive sales. An incentive program might be aimed at a company’s employees i.e. the sales team, or its distributors / re-sellers.

For example, a car manufacturer might create an incentive program for its dealers, whereby they have to meet a certain sales target each month. At the end of the term of the program, a year perhaps, those that made the required amount of sales will be rewarded by coming together with management executives, and the other qualifying dealers, to attend the award trip.

This might consist of a three-day trip to Monte Carlo during the Monaco Grand Prix with a cocktail reception on a yacht, a private dinner at the world famous casino, followed by leisure activities and excursions such as sailing, wine tastings, golf, or a private tour of The Prince’s Palace.

Rewards and Recognition

Group travel can also be used as part of an employee reward and recognition program. Whereas incentive programs aim to inspire or influence someone’s efforts, the purpose of rewards and recognition programs are to reinforce certain behaviors.

A qualifying employee may be deemed to be improving customer service, living the corporate values, or meeting productivity goals. A company might create a group travel program ‘award’ as a way to engage with their employees, recognize performance, and reward top achievers.

The format is similar to those held for sales incentives in that, as a reward, the emphasis is on leisure activities, excursions, group dinners, and receptions. It might be a trip to Sir Richard Branson’s private game resort, Ulusaba Lodge in South Africa, with a program that includes safaris, hot air balloon rides, helicopter tours over canyons, and outdoor dinners and receptions with the finest African cuisine.

Employee Motivation

For example, in addition to various dinners and leisure activities, one company’s program included a team building session called ‘Helping Hands’ where employees were given a box of parts and an instruction booklet. Working as a team they had to assemble an object, which later transpired to be a prosthetic hand, which was then given to a land mine victim who had lost their hand.

Customer Loyalty

Another variation of an incentive program is when group travel is used to reward customer loyalty and repeat business. I have actually been on the receiving end on an incentive program organized by the parent company of a group of event industry suppliers.

The parent company owns a caterer, a venue finding company, a staffing agency, and a technical production company—amongst others. They have an incentive program whereby their customers, event companies such as my own, Left Field Productions , have their annual spend with any of the parent company’s businesses converted into points. Once a certain amount of points is accrued, my company qualifies for between one and three places on a group travel ‘award’.

One year this included a three-day trip to Portofino, Italy, where we stayed in the luxurious Hotel Splendido, which sits on a hillside overlooking the Mediterranean and is frequented by celebrities such as Madonna, George Clooney, and Elizabeth Taylor.

The ‘incentive travel program’ is what, up until now, we have been referring to as the ‘award’; it’s the reward element of the entire ‘incentive program’. Among event planners however, the ‘award’ is generally referred to as the ‘incentive travel program’ or just the ‘travel program’. It’s not really regarded as an event, because it’s usually a lot more than that; it’s a program of events and activities over several days or even a week.

Incentive Program

The ‘incentive program’ is the entire scheme that leads up to and includes the ‘award’. The ‘incentive program’ might start up to a year in advance, often it’s unveiled at the end of the current program—perhaps at an awards dinner on the final evening—in order to build excitement.

The incentive program is often unveiled on the final night of the previous year’s incentive travel program.

Teaser Campaign

‘Teasers’ are sent out to participants to build anticipation of the official launch. For example, if the destination is going to be a beach resort, then a flip-flop might be sent to each participant with a cryptic clue attached. Promoting an incentive is all about building excitement, so often the way it is communicated needs to be creating and engaging.

Official Announcement

Official announcement, information packs, and enrolment kits are sent out for participants to ‘sign up’ to the incentive program. These packs will outline the terms and conditions of the program, with information on what is required to qualify, for example defining sales targets.

Qualification period

During this period, which could last up to a year, participants are required to meet the pre-defined criteria that would enable them to qualify for the award, for example hitting sales targets.

Mid-Program Motivation

More teasers and reminders will usually be sent out over the course of the qualifying period to encourage the participants to meet the necessary criteria.

Qualifiers Announced

Qualifiers or ‘winners’ announced. In some cases, physical trophies or other gifts are handed out at this stage, in advance of the actual ‘award’ trip. Shortly after, travel arrangements will be communicated to the qualifiers.

Guests might travel separately from different locations or, alternatively, group travel arrangements will be made where everybody takes the same flight together.

Upon arrival in the destination city, participants might be greeted at the airport by local representatives, before transferring to their hotels. Often the creative elements of the program start here.

For example, when I attended an incentive program in Monaco, we were flown from London to Nice, South of France, and had expected to be driven on to our hotel in Monte Carlo. However, on arrival in Nice, we discovered a series of helicopters had been laid on to transfer us the rest of the way.

Hotel Check-In

Participants are then greeted at the hotel, checked in, and have some time to settle in before the evening’s welcome dinner. Typically a welcome pack and gift is often left in room.

Welcome cocktail reception. An opportunity for everyone to meet and network, perhaps on a private terrace at the hotel, possibly with live entertainment from musicians and performers. Usually the meeting planner will add in a few extra creative touches to make the reception a little more special, such as a wine or tequila tasting.

Open-air dinner in the hotel’s private gardens overlooking the sea, possibly with after-dinner entertainment and/or some speeches from the hosts. Often the first evening’s dinner is held ‘on-site’ at the hotel as people are tired from travelling.

After-Dinner Drinks

Often, on the first night, this is just informal after-dinner drinks in the hotel bar as most people are tied from travelling. However, depending on the group, there might be cigars and cognac laid on, or a private lounge area with cocktails.

Breakfast at the hotel, perhaps followed by an informal meeting or presentation regarding upcoming activities.

Excursion to local attractions, sightseeing, and shopping. These might be cultural activities or the opportunity to take part in authentic ‘real life’ experiences typical of the location—such as exploring the Hutong area of Beijing by bicycle and having tea with locals in their homes.

Group lunch at a restaurant or special venue. Again, this is an opportunity for the meeting planner to get creative perhaps by obtaining access to a venue or location that's typically not accessible to the general public—such as lunch on a movie set or in private rooms at a royal palace.

Afternoon of leisure activities, which depending on the group, might be traditional activities, such as golf or a spa day. Alternatively, it could be more unusual activities like cage diving with sharks or bulldozer adventure playground days. Often, the meeting planner will try to obtain some sort of unique or VIP access, such as getting to kick around footballs with a professional team and star players at their local stadium.

Reception and Dinner

The second day's evening cocktail reception and dinner typically takes place ‘off-site’ at a restaurant or private venue, usually with entertainment. Again this might involve some sort of unusual venue, such as a USO themed event on a real naval base.

Nightclub / Casino

Option to continue on to a local nightclub/casino.

Breakfast at the hotel, perhaps followed by an informal meeting.

Excursion / Activities

More leisure activities, trips, or opportunity to experience local culture. Depending on the group, this could be anything from cave tours, to zero gravity flights at a NASA training facility, to private backstage tours of a Broadway show and an opportunity to meet the cast.

Group lunch at a restaurant or special venue.

Team Building

Team building / experiential activity—sometimes with a connection to the local community or a charity. This might be building a park in the desert for a children's home or the Helping Hand's activity mentioned previously where the group make prosthetic hands to be given to land mine victims who've lost their hand

Dinner/Dance/Awards

Cocktail reception, gala dinner, awards ceremony, and dancing ‘off-site’ at a private venue. Next year's destination/incentive program revealed.

Breakfast at hotel.

Check-out / transfers

Hotel check-out, transfers to airport.

Group lunch at a restaurant or special venue en route to airport

Return flight home

Obviously, this format only outlines the bare bones of a travel program. The challenge for the event planner is in making these programs as creative and engaging as possible—especially when you have to create something new and different every year.

The destination, accommodation, and activities might be amazing in their own right. For example, a three night trip to Hawaii with an itinerary that includes a sunset cocktail cruise, a private dinner on the beach, activities such as surfing, golf, waterfall hikes, hula lessons, and stargazing treks. It might also include excursions to the Diamond Head volcanic crater and Pearl Harbor, before a closing dinner and awards ceremony on the final night.

However, a good planner will make sure they include some extra special moments, private access to people and places, or exclusive experiences that the guests could not create themselves—either through lack of financial resources, local knowledge, contacts, or even imagination.

New Orleans

One leading incentive travel company created a trip to New Orleans for one of its clients, a Fortune 500 company. In addition to the usual 5 star accommodation and the finest local cuisine, the company added some extra touches to make the trip even more special. These included a private parade along Bourbon Street, followed by a dinner on the field of the Superdrome—where they were greeted by a marching band with their names circling on the ribbon board and their photos on the Jumbotron. They even had the chance to toss a few footballs around the pitch.

The following day, to connect with the local community, the group spent the afternoon planting trees and bushes at a newly rebuilt elementary school, which had been devastated by Hurricane Katrina. The playground and the landscaping that the group contributed to were the final touches to the redevelopment that had been seven years in the making.

Whether it’s providing exclusive access to something not readily available to the public, taking part in authentic ‘real life’ experiences typical of the local culture, or giving something back by connecting with the local community, those moments create memories that go far beyond being a business trip or vacation—and is what makes incentive travel work as a motivational tool.

REFERENCES 1. Anatomy of a Successful Incentive Travel Program White Paper, Melissa Van Dyke, Incentive Research Foundation

Why become an inventive travel planner or destination manager? Career advice and employment information.

Incentive Travel

Guide, help, costs, ideas, and tips for incentive trips, planning an incentive trip.

So you’re thinking about hiring an incentive travel agency? Good for you and better for your audience! Incentive travel is a tried-and-true tactic for nearly half of all businesses in the United States. Whether you want to boost sales, retain your top-performers, or simply build a more cohesive corporate environment, incentive travel will be the catalyst that moves your goals to the finish line.

With US businesses spending over $22.5 billion on incentive travel annually, you can rest assured that an investment in a top-class incentive trip is going to pay off. However, like everything in life, there is a right way to plan and execute incentive trips, and a lot of wrong ways.

Spent on incentive trips from US companies per year

Of US businesses have an incentive travel program

courtesy of The Incentive Research Foundation

Who am I motivating?

There is no one-size-fits-all incentive trip. Understanding your target audience is the first step in designing an effective set of program rules and selecting a destination that will keep your participants excited.

It’s time to put your personal preferences aside and take the time to examine who you’re motivating. Start with the demographics (the data) and psychographics (the feelings) of your audience to focus your thoughts keenly.

It’s easy enough to collect data on gender, age, and income to form a demographic profile, but it’s only one half of the full picture. Psychographics are the often overlooked attributes of an audience that play into deciding how to properly incentivize and delight your group. On average, are your participants more intrinsically or extrinsically motivated? Do they have the capability to improve their performance? What’s their current level of motivation without the possibility of winning a trip?

Once you have a better understanding of not just who your audience is, but how they think, you’re ready to start organizing them into what the marketing world calls “personas.”

“Probably no aspect of program design has a greater impact on outcomes than understanding the audience.”

Rodger Stotz

Incentive Research Foundation

Who is your target audience?

Demographics

Gender Age Income Job Role Location

Psychographics

Motivations Capabilities Attitudes Interests Aspirations

Crafting Personas

Personas are fictional profiles of a standard member of your target audience created using the most common demographics and psychographics from the group. Using these personas helps those managing and executing the incentive trip get a feel for who they’re trying to reach.

From the below three personas, we can see the differences in what it takes to motivate them, how they’ll each take advantage of a trip, and the impact it would have in their everyday performance. Most importantly, we have a better grasp of what destination would serve as a prize worthy of their aspirational goals.

Abel is a sales rep for a tech start-up.

Income: $120,000

Abel wants some free time but also loves any type of high adrenaline activity. Don’t waste your budget on $300 centerpieces and unidentifiable hors d’oeuvres. Abel’s good with a buffet. But throw in a great band at the after-party, and he couldn’t be happier.

Destination preference: Los Cabos

Gifting preference: Maui Jim Sunglasses

Karen sells beauty products, and lots of them!

Income: $60,000

Make sure there’s a dance floor, because she and her team are going to live it up at the award’s ceremony. A spectacular venue and gorgeous décor will make them all feel special and appreciated.

Destination preference: Paris

Gifting preference: Local artisan shopping experience

Paul is an Inside Sales Rep at a telecom call center.

Income: $45,000

He’s looking forward to a fancy hotel and looking like a rock star to his +1 at the awards ceremony. Throw in a welcome gift and a day-pass for the local hop-on hop-off tour bus, and you will have Paul’s loyalty (for at least another year).

Destination preference: San Francisco

Gifting preference: Room credit for a nice dinner at the hotel

Destinations

Selecting an incentive travel destination.

As you’ve seen from understanding your audience, selecting a motivational destination can be a delicate mix of both science and art. This is where the expertise of an experienced incentive travel professional can be extremely valuable.

Professional incentive travel managers and meeting planners are well-versed in matching audiences with the right destinations, as well as flight options, “incentive-quality” hotels, and activities that are crafted specifically for the trip.

They’ve traveled all around the globe, seen plenty of resorts from the inside-out, vetted amazing experiences, and built strong local partnerships. They know the hot-list of new openings and the properties with not-so-hot service.

according to Incentive Travel Index from The Incentive Research Foundation , Society for Incentive Travel Excellence , and Financial & Insurance Conference Professionals

Hot Spots for Incentive Trips

Keeping up with the top incentive travel destinations is a part-time job in it itself. Knowing the trends, risks, and value of each destination is just another strong reason why hiring a professional incentive travel planner is worth the line in the budget.

Here is a list of the top 20 incentive travel destinations for 2022, 2023, and beyond to draw inspiration and provide fresh ideas.

Umbria & Puglia

Undiscovered Italy

Castles & Green Countryside

Good Value for your Euro

Second-Tier Europe

Northern Lights & Geothermal Baths

Muy Mucho 5-Star Resorts

Rebuilt, Renovated, Reopening

West Indies

Secluded Island Luxury

3 Resort Options in 1

Sub-Sahara Safaris

New Zealand

Fantastic Scenery

Machu Picchu & Peruvian Culture

Journey the Malacca Strait

Bucket-list Bungalows

Deep South, USA

Lowcountry Hospitality

Say Aloha to Hawaiian Renovations

Whistler & Banff

Great Outdoors of Canada

Festival Spots

Local Extravaganzas

Wild West Glamping

5-Star Tents

Euro River Cruise

Explore Villages

Avoiding Common Mistakes

NOT a CEO Getaway

Many CEOs are avid golfers, so the 4-handicapper thinks the most motivational destination would be Pebble Beach or last year’s British Open . However, golf is on the decline with Millennials and Gen-X. It can be difficult to steer the ship away from the boss’s favorite course, but always keep the true purpose of the trip in front of everyone’s mind.

NOT an Executive Committee Retreat

The Sales VPs love the 5-star brands of Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton , but the rank-and-file folks live on 3-star budgets and feel uncomfortable with $40 breakfast buffets, $30 cheeseburgers, and $20 drinks. Sometimes there’s no need to use up the budget on high-end accommodations or dining options, especially when it comes to the comfort of attendees.

NOT the Meeting Planner Favorite

If you’re the corporate planner tasked with choosing destinations, avoid projecting your personal preferences too – whether it’s beach or mountain, historical or metropolitan, Mexico or Europe, etc. Always hold your audience’s preferences above your own (as difficult as it may be.)

Typical Agenda

Incentive trip itinerary at-a-glance.

Staying on schedule can be one of the most difficult parts of managing an incentive trip. Providing itineraries that foster relationship-building, celebrate accomplishments, and offer some freedom and flexibility of choice will keep your group happy and organized.

Arrivals Welcome Reception Dinner

Group Activity Dine-arounds

Choice of Activity Award Dinner

Day at Leisure Dinner at Leisure

Choice of Activity Farewell Reception Farewell Dinner

Building a Budget

How much should we spend on our incentive trip.

Recent research from both SITE ( Society of Incentive Travel Excellence ) and the IRF ( Incentive Research Foundation ) pinpoint the average incentive travel budget per person at $5,193.

However, the number of nights and locations will drastically impact the budget. For example, $2,000 per person might be enough for a domestic 3-night trip to Miami, San Diego, or Las Vegas for retail managers or call center reps. But, a budget of $6,000+ per person would be necessary for a Hyatt resort in Hawaii or a 6-night trip to Italy to motivate a six-figure sales audience.

The average cost of an incentive trip per person

Budget Drivers

Number of trip qualifiers (and guests) Destination 3, 4, or 5-star Hotel Duration – # of Nights Airfares Ground Transportation

Events, Receptions, and Gala Dinners Decor & Entertainment Other Meals or Meal Allowances Number of Activities Gifts & Giveaways Promotional Communications

Zero Net Cost

Some may be intimidated by reaching out to incentive travel companies fearing cost or long commitment contracts. Rest assured that incentive travel companies work diligently to keep your business year-over-year by adding fresh ideas, impeccable service, and stringent negotiating to meet your bottom line.

In fact, when most clients ask if hiring an incentive travel company is more expensive, they discover that the ~15% agency fee is offset by savings generated by an incentive agency’s expertise in finding better rates on lodging and events, local partnerships with the best discounts on activities and dining, and avoiding hidden costs and fees ahead of time.

More often that not, clients realize there’s zero net cost overall by hiring an incentive agency due to these advantages, and that doesn’t include your valuable time as the owner of the program internally. Freeing yourself from having to plan an entire incentive trip alongside your day-to-day responsibilities can prove to be invaluable for both you and your team.

Calculate your Budget

The budget drivers are helpful in realizing what factors will need to be considered before making your cost projections, and ultimately, what your incentive trip will include and what will be left out.

But how much does each budget driver affect your bottom line?

Luckily for you, we have a handy incentive trip budget calculator that gives you a decent starting point. Play around with different “what-if” scenarios, like increasing your number of winners or choosing a domestic over international.

Unique Events

Creating unforgettable events.

Extraordinary, memorable events are what separates a top-notch incentive trip from a mere corporate-funded vacation. For new trips, experienced planners can be a huge help in crafting superior, and budget-friendly, events.

A typical schedule will open with a welcome reception on-property to facilitate new relationships and keep the schedule light after a day of travels. Creative planners will highlight the best venues, whether it’s poolside, on the beach, or on a patio or lawn with jaw-dropping views. Don’t be afraid to ask resorts if you can utilize space outside of the ballroom.

Mid-trip evenings are often filled with “dine-arounds” to take winners off property to experience popular restaurants. Or, incentive planners will tap unique local venues for a creative group dinner experience, like a Napa wine cave dinner or renting a celebrity’s private estate. You can dive even deeper into local authenticity by finding dining club parties where locals prepare a meal for guests in their own homes.

The final night is traditionally a gala dinner filled with recognition of top achievers, step-and-repeat photos, a refined menu, and upscale décor and entertainment. Creative planners will recommend the best spot, whether it’s on the beach, dressing up a ballroom, or a unique venue nearby.

Activity Options for Incentive Trips

Unique, local, and authentic experiences are becoming the biggest trend of successful incentive trips. In years past, activities usually included golfing, spa days, and a catamaran sail. Today, it seems every destination has a zip line tour, a snorkel sail, and an ATV excursion!

Incentive travelers crave new experiences, especially the up-and-coming Millennials. Many travel planners are adding new twists to the traditional tours to stray from the beaten path and keep participants excited.

CMPs ( Certified Meeting Planners ) will collaborate with destination partners to offer activities that are unique to the location – such as cenote cave swims in Riviera Maya, Napali coast boats in Kauai, or Lord of the Rings tours in New Zealand.

Gifts that "WOW"

Incentive travel gifting is an art.

Room gifts, or “pillow gifts,” are a fun way to surprise and delight newer winners. They are simple to administer because everyone gets the same item, and they are often less expensive at $25 to $50.

Individualization was the first trend in gifting by engraving or monogramming the standard pillow gift, such as a monogrammed bathrobe, an embossed leather item, engraved wine glasses, or a Waterford crystal bowl.

Choice became the next trend in personalization. Maui Jim pioneered gifting experiences by bringing 12 styles of their high-end, polarized sunglasses and letting attendees pick their favorite pair of shades. Recent entrances to the gifting category include other sunglasses brands, Bose headphones and Bluetooth speakers, watches, shoes, sandals, handbags, and more.

One word of caution : executing a gifting experience in a foreign country or small island is not as easy as shopping your local megamall. Adequate inventory, shipping challenges, and high import duties can create headaches quickly.

Localization is the most recent trend where gifts are sourced locally with artisans, which can be unique and cost-effective in foreign countries. One of our all-time, most popular gifts were custom-fitted, Italian-leather gloves in Florence.

Communications

Don't let your trip be the best-kept secret.

Far too often, the incentive promotion strategy is an afterthought. Like any successful marketing effort, an effective incentive program needs a comprehensive campaign strategy, creative theme, and rhythmic messaging to create top-of-mind awareness.

In today’s world, people are bombarded with media. Emails stuff inboxes at the rate of 200+ per day. Users glance for a nanosecond, with their index finger on the delete-key, rapidly clicking like a teenage video gamer.

It’s vital that your promotional strategy does not depend solely on a few emails. Your message must break through the clutter.

Create a Trip Website

A trip website offers dual benefits – good promotion during the qualifying period and an efficient registration form after winners are announced. A pretty web design can be easy because travel is visually engaging. A microsite serves as a central portal for the schedule, hotel info, activities, rules, and a contact page.

During registration, the online form automates data capture of the winner’s information including guest name, flight departure airport, passport numbers and expiry dates, activity selections, food allergies, and dozens of other preferences. While a microsite provides pull communications, motivational push communications must be sent too.

A clever, attractive theme can go a long way. Use the natural attraction of the travel destination for visual interest. Here’s a quick list of communication recommendations:

Teasers . Before officially announcing the program, distribute a teaser — something that hints of events to come. It might be a small promotional item or a visually-appealing mailer to pique interest. We recommend one giveaway at kickoff and another at program mid-point to serve as an effective reminder.

Kickoff Announcement. Custom design a promotional flyer to generate excitement and share high-level details. Promote the trip and direct everyone to the incentive website for full details.

Sales Kickoff. If you have an SKO (sales kickoff), put together a video or PowerPoint slides. One client rolled in iced buckets of Jamaican Red Stripe beer to announce a Caribbean trip.

Graphical Email. Create an HTML email template for year-long use.

Postcards. Direct mail postcards are making a dramatic comeback. Email marketing is over-saturated with declining open rates and click-through. Mail an inexpensive postcard each quarter. Mail it to their home, and you catch the attention of the family too!

Posters. 18×24 sized posters are super billboards in large offices.

Leaderboards. Track achievements, promote competition, and give recognition with regularly-updated, online leaderboards.

Winners’ Kits. Make your qualifiers feel like VIP’s before the trip begins with a themed winner’s kit that has some destination-specific gifts and information on what’s to come.

High-Touch Logistics

On-site management is key.

While we focus on on-site logistics and hospitality services, it would be a big mistake to overlook the many, many more hours of pre-trip meeting planning. A globe-trotting incentive planner gives valuable advice, manages the hundreds of pre-trip planning details, and guarantees your program goes off without a hitch.

An on-site, travel manager serves as a single point-of-contact, ensuring the highest level of service. The experienced manager will coordinate transportation to the hotel, host the hospitality desk, and supervise support staff and suppliers. Additional “TDs” (Travel Directors) will ensure your winners are treated like VIPs and oversee all functions and activities.

CAUTION! Be careful when sending internal corporate employees to manage the trip as a perk. Not only will they lack the expertise, but more importantly, if their travel was presented as a perk, they will not want to stay up until midnight waiting for delayed flights, advance breakfast preparation at 6 a.m., or sweat with vendors on event décor setup.

Just how much needs to be managed on-site?

Attendee Flight Arrivals Transportation and Pickups Hotel Room Check-Ins Hosting the Hospitality Desk Food & Beverage Management Arranging Room Drops and Pillow Gifts

Directing Support Staff Security and Emergency Planning Setting Up and Checking Audiovisual Enforcing the Schedule and Itinerary VIP Services for Winners and C-Suite and so much more…

Risk Management

The ultimate responsibility of any meeting planner or incentive travel director is safeguarding the health and safety of their travelers. Incentive travel companies are certified experts in preparing for all possibilities because they’ve seen everything that can impede on your incentive travel plans.

Work with a professional agency to create contingency plans for everything: What if a participant gets sick or hurt onsite? What if transportation breaks down en route to an activity? What about if a weather catastrophe forces a cancellation?

There are seemingly endless questions to ask yourself when preparing ahead of time to manage your incentive travel program’s risk . Hiring an incentive pro will take the guesswork out of the equation and insure you and your group focus on having an amazing experience rather than worrying about what could go wrong at any moment.

Hire an Incentive Pro

How to hire an incentive travel agency.

If your incentive travel group is larger than 40 people (usually 20 qualifiers and 20 guests), we highly recommend that you hire an incentive travel company to take the reigns and work with you on creating an unforgettable trip.

Take Your Learning to the Next Level

This site is an informational resource for companies starting an incentive trip or looking to improve their trip with new ideas, travel trends, or tips from the experts. If you have any questions or want to discuss program needs, feel free to reach out!

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Advancing the Science of Incentives and Motivation

Through research.

Browse through our extensive library of research on non-cash rewards, incentive travel, motivational meetings and recognition.

Access the IRF’s recent, relevant and impactful research

AI: Uses and Possibilities for Incentives Professionals

The IRF conducted a series of focus groups with suppliers, third parties and program owners who shared their insights, practical use cases, and hesitation around AI technology.

IRF 2024 Trends Report

As we enter 2024, incentive professionals are called to transform incentive programs with new rewards and experiences in a challenging economic environment.

Press Release

IRF Announces Accelerate Class of 2024

Ten up-and-coming incentives professionals have been selected to participate in the IRF’s year-long program.

Industry Outlook for 2024: Merchandise, Gift Cards and Event Gifting

Merchandise, Gift Cards and Event Gifting outlook remains generally positive, but the effects of the ongoing economic and labor markets are starting to chip away at the optimism of third parties.

Incentive Research Foundation Elects 2024 Officers

IRF Board of Trustees leads the foundation in meeting its mission of conducting research and providing education highlighting the power of incentive and motivational programs.

Generational Expectations of Incentives

This study looks at which rewards resonate with employees by career phase and income group, then discusses ways programs can change to maximize effectiveness.

Incentive Travel Index

2023 Incentive Travel Index

The newly released 2023 Incentive Travel Index reports that, overall, the incentive travel industry is strong. Growth is projected through 2025 for both number participants in incentive trips as well as per-person spend.

Countdown to the 2024 Invitational

Over 500 invited attendees will attend the Invitational, May 28-31, 2024, in Baha Mar Resort, Nassau, The Bahamas.

IRF Webinar: Revisiting How to Maximize the Value of Your Incentive Destination

In September, the IRF in conjunction with Destination Canada, gathered industry professionals at the iconic Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. The group participated in roundtable discussions and shared their insights on how to position and develop programming around a destination for impact, and how resources like Destination Management Organizations, Hoteliers, DMCs and others can be used to maximum effect. The findings and insights collected during this event were presented in the white paper  Maximizing the Value of Your Incentive Destination

Recent Research

Artificial intelligence.

AI: Uses and Possibilities for Incentives Professionals

The AI Revolution: A Technical Review of AI Capabilities for Corporate Events, Rewards & Incentives

Merchandise, Gift Cards, Event Gifting

IRF Webinar: Revisiting How to Maximize the Value of Your Incentive Destination

IRF Webinar: 2024 Industry Outlook for Europe: Merchandise, Gift Cards and Event Gifting

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For information on available research partnerships, please contact [email protected] .

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TAKE YOUR NEXT TRIP WITH INCENTIVE TRAVEL

Conference management.

Incentive Travel began as Incentives & Conference Management LLC, a company dedicated to managing corporate conferences and training events. With a history in the meetings and event planning arena, we've had the pleasure of assisting companies with planning short jet-away weekends to Cabo or large conferences in wine country. If you have a message to share with the in-person attendance, we can create the perfect environment for mass appeal.

"Thanks again for a great trip!!! Bill, thanks also for going the extra mile for Shari and I. I know with 460 people arriving it was a crazy time at the ship, but you went far above the call of duty and made our trip a success!!!!"

Tom & Shari W.

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The essential event for networking, growing, and maximizing your Caribbean MICE business

Over two days of focused meetings, Caribbean Meeting and Incentive Travel Exchange (CMITE) connects pre-qualified, fully hosted North American meeting planners & incentive buyers with leading Caribbean & Mexico-based suppliers to cultivate meaningful industry relationships.

Join us to participate in the only one-to-one MICE event in the Caribbean that takes place in private, deluxe rooms, while indulging in the culture and exquisite scenery of breathtaking Anguilla .

The CMITE Experience

Your Participation Includes:

Buyer benefits.

100% total event satisfaction!

Supplier Benefits

94% of suppliers wish to return next year!

Lose the Crowd at Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club

Experience CMITE

Regional cuisine, local entertainment, multiple receptions, make new friends, explore anguilla, events are great for business., let’s make them good for the world..

Quest Zero is the Questex initiative to bring you community connection, discovery and learning without the green house gasses. We’re committed to reach net zero by 2050 – if not before!

Learn more about the Quest Zero initiative and specific actions already being taken to reduce emissions at events like this one.

Let’s reach net zero together!

Download tips on you can have a more sustainable event experience.

ETC Incentives & Conferences is a privately owned travel company that specializes in all areas of group travel. ETC Incentives & Conferences provides a full range of travel and travel related services to a wide range of clients. From corporate incentive travel to international conference and meeting planning, to taking small leisure travel groups to exotic destinations around the world. ETC Incentives & Conferences does it all... but always with a personal touch. It’s a small world we live in and it is waiting to be explored. Not just by the rich and famous, but by average people who would benefit greatly by experiencing the joys of learning about other countries and their cultures and seeing first-hand the diverse wonders of the world we live in.

ETC Incentives & Conferences guarantees that you will receive exceptional service for your next corporate incentive trip, conference or leisure group trip to some special, exciting destination should you decide to use us. Please give us a call when you are thinking about your next travel program. We are looking forward to talking with you!

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Shared experiences, creating the impression to count on.

What kind of event, experience or impression do you want to create? With conferences or incentive travel, we at Hunt & Palmer believe in understanding your needs before applying our expertise.

We will support you every step of the way, providing helpful advice on destinations, the best aircraft for your needs, budgets and those extras that will make the difference – all designed around you, your plans and ideas.

A group event or conference is a valuable shared experience and our teams have the in-depth experience to support you or your event planners.

So talk to us today about how we can make it count.

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Redefining Extraordinary

Budgeting for life, certifications, continuous connections, aiming for the ‘it’ factor, cyber safety, relax & recharge.

It’s not a secret that amazing, personalized incentive travel programs lead to brand loyalty.

One of the keys to event management is for meeting planners to think long-term in creating solutions to stay within budget. Planners can tap into that same forethought when budgeting and planning in their personal lives, including for their own retirement.

Certifications are diversifying and establishing multidisciplinary event planning practices that offer everything from tradeshow planning to corporate-specific event planning to virtual and hybrid events.

In today’s corporate meeting and event landscape, the use of mobile apps — such as event registration, customized agendas and real-time notifications — is enhancing the way attendees experience events.

Attendees don’t just want to be taken to a luxury beach spot and left alone. They want to experience local customs, local foods and feel welcome.

Whatever type of meeting you have and wherever it’s held, understanding your legal obligations — whether under U.S. law or the laws of the local jurisdiction — should be among your first steps in the planning process.

In an age where technology controls many facets of a business, attention to cybersecurity is becoming paramount as meeting planners recognize how technological breaches can rob corporations and meeting attendees of vital intangible assets.

As the industry and the nation continue to recover from the COVID pandemic and record-breaking inflation while grappling with worldwide turmoil, wellness is crucial.

If you are a planner who likes to think big, Texas has a lot of room for the way you work and play.

What to do, where to stay, what to experience — Greater Miami is a city on the move.

Mexico is an ideal destination for meeting planners and attendees alike,” says Stacy Roberts, senior vice president of operations, for Global DMC Partners.

Vulnerability creates a beautiful meeting ground for authentic human connection. Unfortunately, several factors in today’s world inhibit many people from feeling safe enough to be vulnerable and authentic.

As event organizers, it is our job to make sure that we’re cultivating a place in a space where people feel valued.

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Future Travel Experience Global

28-30 October 2024 | Location: Long Beach Convention Center, California

The definitive event for innovators, technologists, designers, collaborators and gamechangers

Widely regarded as "the CES for aviation" , FTE Global has soared to new heights and now calls Los Angeles home, a city preparing to stage the 2028 Olympics. Join us for a groundbreaking event co-located once more with APEX/IFSA Global EXPO , forming the largest gathering of air transport executives from around the world in North America in 2024.

This year, we're proud to present a record-breaking worldwide attendance, creating the networking opportunity of the year. Our partnership with APEX/IFSA ensures you get the best of the airport and inflight realms under one roof. It's a synergy that promises unparalleled insights and opportunities. Connect with air transport leaders from across the globe, learn, collaborate, and be inspired to elevate your organization's passenger experience, business performance, innovation, and sustainability strategies.

Our event theme that will permeate every aspect of the show will be "Transforming Air Transport" and attendees will have access to a large-scale end-to-end exhibition, multiple conference tracks featuring inspirational speakers from inside and outside of the air transport industry, unique social and networking events, co-creation workshops, government agency briefings, Think Tank unveilings, our largest ever startup showcase, and powerful networking tools so that engagement opportunities between participants are unrivaled.

Read our 2023 show report Book your booth

“The great thing about FTE Global for our team is the ability to understand what others are doing and get great new ideas. It really helps get that creative engine firing.”

Scott Kirby, CEO, United Airlines

Key areas of focus for 2024 include:

Exhibitors and speakers will share ideas and solutions that can help airlines, airports and their partners deliver improvements in the following areas:

Digital Transformation & Automation

Future Mobility

Identity, Biometrics & Security

Future Airport – Technology, Planning & Design

Inflight - Service, Technology & Product

Sustainability

Touchless Travel & Queue Management

Reimagined End-to-End Guest Experiences

Commercial, Retail & Ancillary Innovation

Startup Innovation

Digital Twins & the Metaverse

AI, IoT & Robotics

Workforce Development

Operational Efficiency

Baggage Transformation

Exciting Features For 2024 Include:

Essential Timings*

*Our programme is still under development and therefore the below timings are subject to slight alteration. Final event timings will be shared as part of pre-event communications.

The co-located FTE Global and APEX/IFSA EXPO in 2023 shows generated record media attendance and coverage around the world.

Watch this 30 minute special created in Long Beach from BBC Talking Business on “What does the future of air travel look like?”

Why attend FTE Global?

Why exhibit at FTE Global?

Don’t just take our word for it – read what FTE Global attendees have said about the show…

Pati Flannery, Strategic Partnerships, North America, Ariadne Maps

“My experience at FTE Global 2022 has been fabulous. It has been an excellent networking experience. We have connected with all levels of airports. People are very open to new and innovative ideas, so we are thrilled to be here. The number and quality of visitors to our booth has exceeded my expectations. I have sat in on many of the conference sessions – I thought the range of topics and content discussed was very well thought out, and the quality of the speakers was excellent.” Pati Flannery, Strategic Partnerships, North America, Ariadne Maps

Finbarr Ring, Sales Director, Airware Solutions

“It has been wonderful here at FTE Global 2022. We are a start-up with a very new technology and have found the response overwhelming, because the quality of attendees is exactly what we are looking for. We have made great contacts. This is probably the most unique way of us meeting a lot of people in a short period of time. The ability to meet people at a high level here, who are able to make purchasing decisions, is unrivalled. It is a great way of spending some of our marketing budget and getting a great return. We will definitely be back next year.” Finbarr Ring, Sales Director, Airware Solutions

“It has been excellent. It is my first time attending FTE Global. We are really pleased with the conference sessions, the networking, and the exhibition floor. It was very good because I had airlines, vendors and consultancy groups visiting the booth, so I am very pleased. I made a lot of good contacts. The conference sessions I attended were very interesting. I definitely will come back to FTE Global – it has been very good for us.” Diego Ferrer, Senior Advisor, Falco Systems

Amit Sukhija, Founder & CEO, ZestIOT Technologies Pvt. Ltd

“FTE Global 2022 has been a very good experience. The quality of the attendees and conversations taking place are at a different level altogether. There is no sense of competition – the common theme in all of the conversations is how to collaborate, collectively share experiences, and transform the passenger experience. I see a lot of people being open and helping each other. This is a great networking opportunity in terms of making new connections and having meaningful conversations.” Amit Sukhija, Founder & CEO, ZestIOT Technologies Pvt. Ltd

Mark Stokes, Business Unit Manager, Brock Solutions

“The experience at FTE Global has been great. We have had quite a bit of traffic through our booth, which is good. The conference sessions have been quite lively, with lots of discussions. We like those discussions – weare not just listening, we are participating, which has been great. There has been more time for networking this year, which has been good. The number of visitors to our booth this year is a little bit higher than it was in past years. We have been attending FTE Global since the beginning, so we will be back again.” Mark Stokes, Business Unit Manager, Brock Solutions

Ron Glickman, VP North America, Snowfall

“I am a first-time attendee at FTE Global. Having the opportunity to walk the floor, meet all of the other exhibitors, and discuss how we can collaborate in the future has been really something that I enjoyed thoroughly. There has been a steady stream of visitors to our booth. The set-up is really good, being able to have everybody go through the exhibition in order to get to the conference rooms means there has been a very good flow and consistency to the exhibition. The overall networking opportunities are plentiful. There are lots of coffee breaks and opportunities for us to engage with other attendees. I have had phenomenal conversations after some of the breakout sessions. I will definitely attend FTE events in the future.” Ron Glickman, VP North America, Snowfall

“This is my first time attending FTE Global. There are all sorts of technologies – we have the airlines, we have companies that are providing solutions for the airports, so this really is a great opportunity for us to learn about what is going on in the industry. We have had excellent discussions with people coming to our booth. We have had way more visitors than we were expecting. The networking at FTE Global has been excellent. I think this event is fantastic for the industry as a whole. I clearly see the value in attending – you learn in two days what would take you six months otherwise, because there is so much knowledge in this room right now.” Vishram Dalvi, Principal, Tech Business Development, Just Walk Out Technology By Amazon

“This is my second year at FTE Global and the experience has been spectacular. The decision-makers have visited the booth to have conversations and it has just been a really good show. We have been busy for the entire two days. I think the important thing here is that the decision-makers attending the event are very high quality. One of the important things about the event is the networking opportunities – we have had good sessions during the evenings and also the coffee breaks, so the booth traffic has been fantastic. I have had the chance to attend a couple of the conference sessions – they are very well-positioned for what we are doing today, but even more importantly they are exploring what the future is bringing. We will definitely be back next year – the quality of attendees and prospects that we have is fantastic.” Jim Nation, Senior Account Manager, NEC

Jessie Hillenbrand, Senior Director, Federal Marketing, IDEMIA

“It has been an incredible experience here at FTE Global. Last year was my first time attending and it keeps getting better every year. The amount of contacts we have made, the networking opportunities, and the chance to interact with the industry is a valuable experience – the right people are all here at FTE Global. The conference content is incredible, as it was last year. The social events at FTE Global are wonderful. The quality of visitors to our booth has absolutely met my expectations. 1,000%, we will absolutely be looking to return in 2023 – hopefully bigger and better.” Jessie Hillenbrand, Senior Director, Federal Marketing, IDEMIA

Mike Sanderson, Director, ICM Airport Technics, Amadeus IT Group

“I always enjoy coming to FTE Global. The number of visitors to our booth has been good. All of the key airlines, including American, Delta, Frontier and United plus others, have all come by, which is good. You do meet a lot of C-level executives at FTE Global and those are the people who need to get the products agreed within the organisation. One of the good things about this show is there is always a lot of interest from attendees on the technology – they actually all want to understand how it all works and how it all fits together, so it is a good event to show off technology.” Mike Sanderson, Director, ICM Airport Technics, Amadeus IT Group

Cathy Rich, Head of Airport Operations, Americas, Collins Aerospace

“My overall experience here at FTE Global has been fantastic. I think this is really the premier event for the year. It has been the most exciting, the most well-attended, and it has been all levels of management. I have sat in on several of the conference sessions, which have been wonderful, especially the panel discussions. I would love to come back to this event in the future – next year and every year.” Cathy Rich, Head of Airport Operations, Americas, Collins Aerospace

“Overall, the experience being here at the show was very good. We are very satisfied with the results. The number and quality of people visiting our stand was good – they were the right people in terms of their responsibility roles and their airports. The networking opportunities and social events, especially during the coffee and lunch breaks, gave a lot of opportunity to get in touch with other exhibitors, visitors and participants in the conference. It has been the first time for us attending FTE Global and we are looking forward to attending again next year.” Christian Tischler, CFO, Sittig Technologies

“ We have been at FTE for at least the past three or four years. I like events like this because you can catch up with people and chat to airports and airlines. For instance, I managed to talk to some interesting entities such as Frankfurt Airport, Delta Air Lines and Atlanta Airport, so this was very important to me.” Peter van der Lende, Business Development, The Americas & Europe, ICM

Robert Sikam, Portfolio Director, bagchain

“ We have had a fantastic show this year. It has been tremendous, especially in getting new customers interested in our solutions.” Robert Sikam, Portfolio Director, bagchain

Marc Rauch, Managing Director, Xovis USA

“ The show has been great for us. We met with a lot of existing customers, but also a lot of new customers. We have made some really exciting contacts and we are really happy with how the show is going. I think FTE is one of the few shows that really brings a lot of airports from the US but also globally in one place.” Marc Rauch, Managing Director, Xovis USA

“ The participants who are here at the show are here to learn and that is what makes the show special. There is a lot of engagement. The meeting booking system was great and it worked really well for us and everybody showed up to the meetings.” Kasper Hounsgaard, Managing Partner, Copenhagen Optimization

Daniel Vandevenne, Account Manager, Brock Solutions

“ There have been so many people visiting our booth. It has been fantastic in the exhibition. This is one of the best shows, if not the best, that we attend. We are meeting all the right people from airports and airlines. It’s an awesome place to connect.” Daniel Vandevenne, Account Manager, Brock Solutions

“ This is the show for the aviation market. Most of the key solution providers are here. The networking opportunities are fantastic – we’ve definitely been meeting the right people here.” E. DJ Lee, PhD, Director Global RFID Channel, Avery Dennison

“ We have had many people visiting our stand. There has been big interest in our (aircraft) seats and what we can do for the passenger experience. We have certainly met the right people at our stand. It is our first time here, and the show has exceeded our expectations.” Andrea Giordano, R&D Manager, Optimares

Greg Jones, Managing Director, Worldwide Hospitality & Travel, Microsoft

“ From an expo side of things, we’ve made some great connections, including new connections. It’s been a really good opportunity for us to see how things in the industry are going, how it is developing.” Greg Jones, Managing Director, Worldwide Hospitality & Travel, Microsoft

“ The networking has been very good. There is a good quality of people here. It is my first time attending FTE Global and 80% of visitors to our stand have been interesting to us.” Manuel Aragones, CEO, Travel Compositor

“ FTE Global has been great. We’ve had lots of people coming by the stand. We’re really interested in meeting airports, and the event has been very good for that. The show has met our expectations and we would come again.” Michael Moore, Director, Client Services, Aislelabs

Borry Vrieling, Founder and Managing Director, eezeetags

“ The show is amazing. We’ve been very busy, with lots of interest in our RFID solution. We’ve been meeting the people we were hoping to meet. There are very big opportunities here at the show and it’s nice to network with potential customers within the industry.” Borry Vrieling, Founder and Managing Director, eezeetags

Brad Iverson, Vice President – Sales, Embross

“ It has been busy – once again a great show. The event grows every year. FTE Global is a staple for us.” Brad Iverson, Vice President – Sales, Embross

Thomas B. Duffy, Managing Director, Gate Solutions, ADB Safegate

“ I’m getting to meet people I don’t normally meet at other trade shows. The quality of meetings we’ve had has been fantastic. The conference sessions I’ve been in have also been excellent.” Thomas B. Duffy, Managing Director, Gate Solutions, ADB Safegate

Robin Springer, Product Manager, Global Product Management, Information Management Services, Collins Aerospace

“ We have certainly met the right people here. The quality of contacts we have met has been brilliant…it has been perfect for us really. ” Robin Springer, Product Manager, Global Product Management, Information Management Services, Collins Aerospace

Paul Nihill, Senior Account Manager Advanced Recognition Systems, NEC

“ It’s the first time I’ve participated and the event has been excellent. There has been non-stop customer interaction and we have identified some very good leads. The event is even more interactive than I expected, and the networking and social aspects have been great.” Paul Nihill, Senior Account Manager Advanced Recognition Systems, NEC

“ We have got 8 to 10 solid leads. The people stopping by our stand are the right kind of people. I’ve been doing trade shows for 25 years and I can see that there’s a good mix of vendors here. The leads are for good potential customers. ” Keith Holt, Principal Solution Engineer, Salesforce

“ It has been a great event. There has been good traffic in the exhibition, and we have made several good contacts. The networking opportunities are excellent.” Jeana Schneck, Key Account Manager Commercial Displays HE B2B Division, LG Electronics USA

“The great thing for our team at FTE Global has been to try to understand what other people are doing and get great new ideas. I think United is doing more to innovate in more areas than any other airline in the world,but there’s still plenty of good ideas and innovation that’s happening outside and the opportunity to come to a place like FTE Global and learn what others are doing really helps get that creative engine firing and get more ideas. Our team wants to come back and share all the areas in which we are leading that sometimes people don’t know about – giving them the opportunity to come and show the pride that they have in that leadership role will be exciting.” Scott Kirby, Chief Executive Officer, United Airlines

“I always love coming to FTE Global – I have been coming for many years. It has always been the highlight of the year. It is really great to be in one place where everyone is thinking about how we can do things differently, think outside of the box, and work with all the different partners who are trying to help us to innovate. We are so excited and honoured to host FTE Global next year. We will throw a good party and provide Los Angeles-specific experiences, as well as making participants’ journey there pleasant and safe. We can’t wait till you’re all there.” Justin Erbacci, CEO, Neom Airports

“My experience at FTE Global was great. I have talked to a lot of smart people and had a great time. The social events and networkingopportunities have been fantastic. I have had the opportunity to sit in on the conference sessions. The topics were really good – they are unique, but they are relevant to all travellers, especially digital identity which is on the cutting-edge of technology. The exhibition has a really good range of companies – you can come and see all travel has. Based on my experience this year, I will be back for sure, so I am looking forward to it.” Yemi Oshinnaiye, CIO, Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

Charles Duncan, President, Norse Atlantic Airways

“My experience this year at FTE Global has been fantastic. It is my third consecutive time attending the event. The networking opportunities and social events have been terrific. The conference sessions have been fantastic as well. There are always interesting companies here in the exhibition hall – this year was certainly another success in that sense for me. I will absolutely be back at FTE Global again.” Charles Duncan, President, Norse Atlantic Airways

“As always, the networking opportunities have been fantastic. It has been really great to network with a lot of like-minded people. One of the things I love about FTE events is that we get people of a senior level from airlines, airports and vendors, so it has been great. It has been a really interesting exhibition – it is great to see a mix of well-established companies as well as start-ups, and also good to see a number of new launches. The conference sessions have been really interesting. I have been attending FTE Global for a number of years and am looking forward to going to LA next year.” Chris Annetts, Chief Strategy Officer, Heathrow Airport

Brian Cobb, Chief Innovation Officer, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport

“I have been attending FTE Global for over a decade and it is just incredibly refreshing to be not only in a learning environment, but a relaxed environment where we are able to engage in very healthy, forward-looking conversations and really try to push the boundaries. FTE Global is not the usual mundane conference, so I am super-proud of what you are doing. I have been absolutely overwhelmed by the number and quality of visitors to our booth. Of course, I will be back at FTE Global. It just never ceases to amaze me how much bigger and better the event becomes, and really that is the beauty of bringing airports, airlines and vendors together, along with regulators, so in an environment like that you can really never go wrong.” Brian Cobb, Chief Innovation Officer, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport

John Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, Connect Airlines

“My experience at FTE Global has been fantastic. It is a great showcase of all the latest technology. It is very exciting – I am sort of overwhelmed by how much technology there is here, you can’t consume it all. Congratulations on such a fabulous show.” John Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, Connect Airlines

Mike Youngs, VP of Information Technology, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

“This is my first time attending FTE Global and I have really enjoyed it. What I really like is it’s a great mix of not only our vendor partners, but also airlines and a good representation of international airports as well. It’s good to share information and network. I’ve really enjoyed the opportunity to get away and be strategic for a couple of days.” Mike Youngs, VP of Information Technology, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport

“It is my first time attending FTE Global. I’ve really enjoyed the opportunity to tell the DFW digital twin story for the first time out in a public setting. It’s great to see what other airports are doing around this space – it’s going to take a village to transform this industry. It is this type of environment at FTE Global that allows us to exchange what worked, what didn’t work, and the new innovation and ideas that are coming together. We’re all going to leave this event better equipped for what we need to do for the mission.” Shaun Klann, Head of Strategic Growth, Willow

“LAX is obviously a great airport, so it is great to have the co-located FTE Global and APEX EXPO in Los Angeles this year. We are actually thinking about doing something special together with LAX and FTE for the show, so you can be surprised and looking forward to this.” Dr. Bjoern Becker, Head of Program Future Intercont Experience, Lufthansa

“ I have attended a number of FTE events over recent years, some as a delegate and others as a speaker. FTE Global in particular, always attracts a diverse mix of experts and professionals from across the world of aviation. What stands out against other conferences is the inclusion of hospitality, technologists and futurists who help delegates learn from other sectors, which enables a broader knowledge and understanding of what else we can do to promote the aviation sector. Networking opportunities and social events are always of the highest standard and allows old and new friends to come together in a relaxed and fun way.” David Wilson, Managing Partner, daa International

Naashom Marx, Senior Manager Innovation, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International

“ I felt that at Future Travel Experience the past week the conference has been excellent to not only be able to have though-provoking aviation discussions, but also to collaborate and connect to other airports and leaders in aviation.” Naashom Marx, Senior Manager Innovation, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International

Rick Belliotti, Deputy Chief Officer - IT (CTO), Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)

“ The networking opportunities are always fantastic at FTE Global. There has been a high level of interaction and engagement between delegates.” Rick Belliotti, Deputy Chief Officer - IT (CTO), Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)

“ FTE Global is a wonderful event. I have met representatives from many different modes of travel, and heard what people need to think about in the next decades. In terms of networking, the right players are here to have conversations with.” Zachary Matthews, Senior Regional Manager, Business Development and Operations, US and Canada, Uber

Michael Morford, Airport Concessions Manager, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

“ I have particularly liked that the event helps from a strategic standpoint. FTE Global really allows for a holistic strategic mind-set. The conference sessions have been very relevant in terms of customer experience.” Michael Morford, Airport Concessions Manager, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

“ It’s great that we’re hearing about disruption. Blurring the lines between industries is very important, and this event does that very effectively.” Rachel Walker, DDirector/MD Innovation & Solutions for Customer Contact Centers, United Airlines

Aymeric Dussart, Vice President, Technology and innovation, ADM Aéroports de Montréal

“ I have been very happy with the conference sessions, which have been projecting us into the future. It’s my first time here at FTE Global and it has exceeded my expectations. I have met lots of different contacts – the event is very good for networking.” Aymeric Dussart, Vice President, Technology and innovation, ADM Aéroports de Montréal

Joshua Krall, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder, Boom Supersonic

“ The panel sessions have been excellent, with good interaction with the audience. It’s a very forward-thinking event and people here are not afraid to talk about the future.” Joshua Krall, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder, Boom Supersonic

Christoph Rufenacht, VP Airport Development and Asset Optimization, Vancouver Airport Authority

“ I’d heard a lot about FTE Global from industry colleagues and it has certainly met my expectations. The conference sessions have been very interesting, and it has been my pleasure to take part.” Christoph Rufenacht, VP Airport Development and Asset Optimization, Vancouver Airport Authority

“ FTE Global was definitely a great opportunity for us to network and to learn from all the players that are changing the airline industry and the travel industry. During three days we were exposed to lots of insights and we were exposed to a broader way of approaching our business.” Alessandro Fusaro, MBA | Product Management & omni-channel Customer Experience, SkyTeam

“ The event has been very insightful. I’ve been to a lot of conferences, and the knowledge gained at FTE Global is unique and innovative. It’s very good that the event is all about collaboration. I will take some nice concepts home with me.” Maria Rosario C. Jocson, Assistant Vice President, Centre for Customer Management, Marketing Department, Philippine Airlines

Guðmundur Daði Rúnarsson, Chief Commercial & Airport Development Officer, Keflavik (KEF) International Airport

“ As always, I come away inspired, with lot of ideas and new perspectives to try to push my organisation even further.” Guðmundur Daði Rúnarsson, Chief Commercial & Airport Development Officer, Keflavik (KEF) International Airport

Lilian Narumi, Passenger Services Manager, Singapore Airlines

“ I really enjoyed the event and seeing lots of interesting airlines and technologies. Highlights for me were the NASA and TSA talks and the collaboration work between the partners. There are differences we have, but it is very interesting to make it all come together.” Lilian Narumi, Passenger Services Manager, Singapore Airlines

Martin Bowman, Aviation Technology Director, Deloitte

“ I’ve been asked by a number of people how FTE compares to other events on the aviation circuit. My response is that it’s very much a case of quality over quantity, with a more focused selection of relevant speakers and discussion topics, rather than the broad brush approach used by others. It’s this focus on quality speakers, innovation and informative topics that makes FTE the success that it is.” Martin Bowman, Aviation Technology Director, Deloitte

“ The sharing amongst partners airlines and operators is what makes this show unique. Everybody gives a lot of insights on the issues and challenges of the industry and it is good to hear that there are similarities in the issues we are all facing.” Alphonsus Chan, Manager, Corporate IT & Technology, Changi Airport

Bobby Schroeter, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Spirit Airlines

“ The show has been tremendous so far. I managed to see some incredible presentations from a lot of great people from inside the industry. We were able to meet with a lot of vendors with whom we have talked to before, but it is great to meet them here in person, which makes it a lot more efficient for us to make decisions on how we drive the guest experience for passengers. For me, this event is really forward looking – it’s not just about what people have accomplished, but about what they were trying to accomplish. So, I think that’s very valuable, as we are trying to move the industry forward.” Bobby Schroeter, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Spirit Airlines

“ Compared to some of the other industry events which are a lot broader, FTE really focuses on innovation, so that makes it different. It is always about new ideas and new technologies that could be applied in real life problems, so that’s what makes it unique.” Suhail Kadri, Senior Vice President Technology & Innovation, Hamad International Airport

View all testimonials

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Future Travel Experience Global 2024 is a global forum that brings together airlines, airports, government agencies, vendors, start-ups, terminal designers, architects, ground handlers, destination partners and various other travel industry stakeholders to learn, collaborate and be inspired on their next moves to transform their organisations’ passenger experience, business performance & sustainability strategies.

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Bay Area Travel Show

March 15-16, 2025, santa clara convention center, america’s favorite travel show is back in the bay area.

Get ready to pack your bags and make the first stop on your next vacation the Bay Area Travel & Adventure Show! Discover thousands of the newest vacation options from the top destinations from around the globe and meet the experts who are on-hand to help you personalize and book your trip.

Learn the latest travel tips, trends and advice on 4 theaters located right on the show floor, and get the chance to meet your favorite travel celebrities including Phil Keoghan and Peter Greenberg. Plus, you’ll have access to over ten-of-thousands of dollars in travel savings, trip giveaways and exclusive show-only deals, all included with your ticket. Click below to learn more and we’ll see you at the Bay Area Travel & Adventure Show!

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Over 350 of the top destinations, tour companies, cruise lines and travel providers from around the world are all waiting to meet YOU!

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Learn from the experts with top travel tips and advice in over 60 travel seminars, plus meet Phil Keoghan and Peter Greenberg!

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With exclusive show-only travel deals and specials, you can book your dream vacation on your budget.

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You’ve seen them on TV, you’ve read their books and you follow them on Instagram, now learn the most up-to-date information directly from the experts themselves. And who knows, maybe you’ll even meet them in person in the meet & greet area, free with your ticket!

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to submit an obituary

To place an obituary, please include the information from the obituary checklist below in an email to [email protected] . There is no option to place them through our website. Feel free to contact our obituary desk at 651-228-5263 with any questions.

General Information:

Your full name,
Address (City, State, Zip Code),
Phone number,
And an alternate phone number (if any)

Obituary Specification:

Name of Deceased,
Obituary Text,
A photo in a JPEG or PDF file is preferable, TIF and other files are accepted, we will contact you if there are any issues with the photo.
Ad Run dates
There is a discount for running more than one day, but this must be scheduled on the first run date to apply.
If a photo is used, it must be used for both days for the discount to apply, contact us for more information.

Verification of Death:

In order to publish obituaries a name and phone number of funeral home/cremation society is required. We must contact the funeral home/cremation society handling the arrangements during their business hours to verify the death. If the body of the deceased has been donated to the University of Minnesota Anatomy Bequest Program, or a similar program, their phone number is required for verification.

Please allow enough time to contact them especially during their limited weekend hours.

A death certificate is also acceptable for this purpose but only one of these two options are necessary.

Guestbook and Outside Websites:

We are not allowed to reference other media sources with a guestbook or an obituary placed elsewhere when placing an obituary in print and online. We may place a website for a funeral home or a family email for contact instead; contact us with any questions regarding this matter.

Obituary Process:

Once your submission is completed, we will fax or email a proof for review prior to publication in the newspaper. This proof includes price and days the notice is scheduled to appear.

Please review the proof carefully. We must be notified of errors or changes before the notice appears in the Pioneer Press based on each day’s deadlines.

After publication, we will not be responsible for errors that may occur after final proofing.

Payment Procedure:

Pre-payment is required for all obituary notices prior to publication by the deadline specified below in our deadline schedule. Please call 651-228-5263 with your payment information after you have received the proof and approved its contents.

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The minimum charge is $162 for the first 10 lines.
Every line after the first 10 is $12.20.
If the ad is under 10 lines it will be charged the minimum rate of $162.
On a second run date, the lines are $8.20 per line, starting w/ the first line.
For example: if first run date was 20 lines the cost would be $164.
Each photo published is $125 per day.
For example: 2 photos in the paper on 2 days would be 4 photo charges at $500.

Please follow deadline times to ensure your obituary is published on the day requested.

MEMORIAM (NON-OBITUARY) REQUEST

Unlike an obituary, Memoriam submissions are remembrances of a loved one who has passed. The rates for a memoriam differ from obituaries.

HOURS: Monday – Friday 8:00AM – 5:00PM (CLOSED WEEKENDS and HOLIDAYS)

Please submit your memoriam ad to [email protected] or call 651-228-5280.

Opinion | Other voices: Schools’ public notice plan…

Opinion | Other voices: Schools’ public notice plan would reduce access and harm transparency

An ill-advised amendment effort to reduce school public notices is a direct assault on the transparency of Minnesota’s public schools. This move not only undermines the spirit of Minnesota’s open government but also threatens to obscure crucial information from the public eye.

If passed, the omnibus education bill ( SF3567 ) in the Minnesota Senate would grant all school districts the authority to remove their public notices from widely circulated newspapers, heavily visited websites and the Minnesota Newspaper Association’s public notice website. This means the majority of school districts’ websites, which are often underutilized, poorly structured and difficult to navigate, would become the primary source of school districts’ public notices.

The Minnesota School Boards Association is leading this proposal to reduce the transparency of local school boards in Minnesota. Yes, this bill would save school boards some public-notice spending, but it would significantly decrease access for school district residents.

Shame on the Minnesota School Boards Association.

If this bill is enacted, Minnesota newspapers will lose some revenue, but the bigger losers would be residents and taxpayers. While newspapers will continue to cover local school board meetings and school athletics and activities, the public notices will be published on school websites with little web traffic and remain solely within the control of school officials and board members.

Who will be watching those school board officials? After significantly increasing school funding last year, does the Legislature really trust all school boards to fiscally and effectively control spending? More importantly, can taxpayers trust their school boards to manage their budgets effectively without transparent public notices?

Those public notices include the school board meeting minutes and financial statements. Taxpayers would lose quick, easy and familiar access to those public notices.

One wonders what exactly is the Minnesota School Boards Association trying to hide?

The School Boards Association claims that some newspapers have closed or reduced their reach in recent years and that publishing public notices on their own websites will save money. However, school websites and social media often have minimal traffic compared to local newspapers.

The Minnesota Newspaper Association supports a House-passed bill that allows for a temporary exception to school districts where local newspapers have closed, such as Scott County, where several newspapers cease operations this week. Newspapers believe that is a reasonable approach to temporary news desert situations.

In addition, the public notices published in Minnesota newspapers are also published on the Public Notice Minnesota website ( mna.org/mnpublicnotice ) free of charge by your local newspaper and the Minnesota Newspaper Association.

The Minnesota Newspaper Association is fighting this proposal in the Minnesota Legislature. SF3567 goes too far and “is contrary to the spirit of transparency that underpins democracy and Minnesota’s open-government history.” In addition, the newspaper association believes this proposal “has not been thoroughly vetted or discussed by the Legislature.”

This newspaper, the FCC Editorial Advisory Board and Forum Communications Co. management urge local superintendents, their local school boards and the Legislature’s conference committee to reject the idea of reducing public access to public notices by Minnesota school boards.

— This editorial is the view of the FCC Editorial Advisory Board and Forum Communications management.

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The School Boards Association claims that some newspapers have closed or reduced their reach in recent years and that publishing public notices on their own websites will save money.