MOTIVATIONAL BUSINESS KEYNOTE SPEAKER

While planning your company’s next conference or brainstorming ideas for travel incentives, think about booking an all-inclusive group cruise and taking advantage of the many advantages and ease of planning inherent to this choice.

As a travel incentive, cruise meetings are exceptional motivators. As well as, your company’s top producers will feel rewarded for their hard work and go back to work ready to work that much harder and keep up production. Ports-of-call for cruise meetingsrange from the South Seas to the Caribbean, to the waterways of Europe to the Greek isles. Every cruise provides exceptional varieties of entertainment, cultures, landscape and climate. All you have to do is choose which location best serves your company’s needs, and you are guaranteed to deliver your top employees with a fabulous experience.

Popular incentive cruises include:

* Hawaii or Tahiti. Participants will be attracted to the breathtaking tropical landscapes and outdoor activities. * Alaska. For those who enjoy the great outdoors and lots of wildlife, this would be an ideal cruise event. * The Mediterranean. Cruising through the azure seas of the Mediterranean as the white, blue-domed buildings of Santorini pass sedately by will have any participants feeling relaxed and rewarded. * The Baltic Waterways. For a fascinating cruise that is sure to introduce different sights and experiences, sailing the Baltic is the perfect choice.

However cruises are not simply about being on vacation and having fun. They can also be splendid places to hold meetings at sea and other company meetings, while saving money. Rather than booking a hotel for large events, book a 3- or 4-night cruise. Cruise packages already include meals, entertainment, activities, meeting rooms and AV equipment, so group cruise planning is a convenient one-purchase deal that can be up to 40% cheaper than other venues and is certainly easier to coordinate.

Also, make sure to book a cruise that offers state-of-the-art meeting facilities. These cruise ships offer everything a conference planner and an attendee may possibly want. AV equipment is included, and the large meeting rooms have built-in technology to serve all of the conference’s technology needs. Plus, the cruise liners have spacious lounges, gourmet meals, lively entertainment and fun activities. Top everything off with the cruise line’s outstanding service, and people will be talking about the meeting long after it is over.

Here are a number of reasons why you ought to plan your company’s next incentive meeting as a meeting at sea:

* Meeting rooms and AV equipment are typically included in the cruise program price.

* Ships are self-contained, which means less distraction, more networking opportunities and higher percentages of attendance and participation.

* Some newer and larger ships have been designed with meetings in mind. These ships have up-to-the-minute technology, flexible meeting rooms and break out spaces.

* State-of-the-art conference centers provide the meeting style your company needs, including theatre-style, classroom-style and boardroom-style. Conference spaces also have flexible walls so you can make the meeting area the exact space and layout you need.

* You do not have to worry about organizing rooms to have the required technology. Cruise ships designed for meetings at sea have wireless capability and equipment such as projectors, sound systems and video systems already in place.

* If you are looking for a bit of showmanship for presentations or award ceremonies, cruise meeting rooms can have hydraulic lifts, rotating stages and quality lighting equipment all set in multi-tiered show lounges.

There are many worthwhile advantages to using group cruise as employee incentives and the ultimate meeting and conference spaces, so keep these in mind as you plan.

One option that should be considered for corporate events is an all-inclusive cruise. Companies who choose an all-inclusive incentive cruise can save up to 40% when compared to a land-based hotel venue, particularly when they take into consideration that almost everything is included in the cost, including venue, meeting facilities and equipment.

Many companies have been hit by the recession and are looking for ways to cut costs. In some cases, businesses have even considered doing away with incentive travel programs and opting for meetings and corporate events that are close to home in an effort to save money. Unfortunately, companies that are cutting incentive travel programs often do not recognize that this morale boosting tool is actually much more cost-effective than salary increases and bonuses, and is sure to leave a lasting impression on participants that will foster increased productivity and employee satisfaction. Rather than cut these programs, businesses should take a look at incentive travel options that offer significant cost savings.

At the same time, companies that are focused on staying close to home for meetings and corporate events may be overlooking another option that is far more enticing and offers a cost-effective option that will allow them to save money and stay within their budget without giving off the impression that their company needs to cut costs, which can lead to the perception that the company is not doing well.

Over half (56%) of corporate meeting planners and event planners agree that the most important factor when selecting a venue is the cost. This single factor has become even more important in recent years as companies face budgetary challenges brought on by the ongoing economic crisis. When cost is the number one factor in venue selection, it creates a situation where choice venues and destinations are often bypassed in order to opt for less expensive options.

This sometimes works out well and the corporate meeting or event is a huge success, regardless of location; however, this is not always the case. When planners must place cost above all other factors, it is much more likely that a less-than-ideal location may be chosen and the venue selected may not offer the same amenities, facilities and prestige as more desirable options.

When cost is a factor, a much better option is choosing to hold the event or meeting on a cruise ship. Cruise ships are the perfect choice for companies that need to save money but do not want to lose quality or mar their reputation. Opting for all-inclusive cruise events can result in cost savings of up to 40% over land-based events, with the quoted price including meeting facilities, accommodations, most food and drink, meeting equipment and other necessities.

Cruise ship events also continue to hold a high status, even when costing far less than other options, making them an ideal option for companies concerned about the cost of the venue for their next meeting or event.

One option that should be considered for incentive travel packages is an all-inclusive cruise. Companies who choose an all-inclusive cruise event can save up to 40% when compared to a land-based hotel venue, especially when they take into account that almost everything is included in the cost, including venue, meeting facilities and equipment.