Cruise Lines and Tour Operators share special offers with Cruise Dreams if companies book upcoming sales meetings at sea or incentive trips to 5-star resorts before 12/30/2012 .
Bonus offers like buy one, get one passenger half-price, room or stateroom upgrades, cocktail parties, and more are available for a limited time for companies planning 2013 incentive cruises, sales meetings at sea or incentive trips to luxury resorts. Like many businesses, cruise lines and resorts want to get business on the books for 2013 before close of business on December 30, 2012 before they launch 2014 itineraries and pricing in January. And according to Cruise Dreams, they’re going all out to get it.
“I don’t remember the last time we’ve been offered such great value and amenities,” said Kim Gibbons, founder and president of Cruise Dreams, an agency known for incentive group travel. “We’re contacting all of our clients who normally begin planning their incentive travel programs and corporate travel programs or meetings in January. It is really to their advantage to move planning process up a month to take advantage of these really amazing savings and additional amenities.”
In fact, one client was so excited to take advantage of the savings that they moved their presentation and decision phases up by 90 days. With the money they are saving and the extra amenities included they could offer the winners in their sales contest an extra added amenity every day – like a tour, a specialty meal, a spa day or other unique perks.
“Every successful business person knows that the art of doing business is knowing what to ask for, who to ask, when to ask, what is and isn’t possible, what a competing vendor is offering and having the nerve to ask for something that’s never been granted before,” continued Gibbons. “What’s most exciting is that we can apply our negotiating skills to put together a great value and package for any budget, and then ask for these extra offers that not every corporate travel agency is aware of or willing to do. We had one client that was thrilled with the price we negotiated because it came in below budget. Then I told him about the additional specials we’d just discovered and he has decided to open up and offer another incentive trip for another division of his company due to the savings!”
While incentive travel is effective for rewarding many kinds of behavior and achievements, companies usually try incentives like travel for the sales force first. There’s a lot of anecdotal evidence as well as recent research that verifies how effective an incentive cruise or incentive trip on land can be in motivating sales staff or customers. A recent study asked if incentives were effective when it comes to rewarding channel partners or dealers for improved performance. 20% of the dealers participating in the contest won for meeting year-over-year sales growth and goals for specific mix of products. When questioned, here are some of the results.
85% of participants agreed that they appreciate the manufacturer who provides the incentive travel trip and saw it as a bonus for a job well done and a thank you for their loyalty. Over half said it was important for creating and strengthening business-to-business partnerships.
Money budgeted for an incentive trip is money well spent but now, with offers that savvy incentive professionals like Cruise Dreams can access, that money is spent even more wisely. According to Cruise Dreams, incentive travel needs to be booked and deposited prior to Dec. 30, 2012 to get the additional savings and added benefits from the incentives offered by cruise lines, 5-star resorts and tour operators.
Travel groups may also find some year-end specials when they plan early.
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As a top producer in our field, Cruise Dreams is a tailored travel company with over 100 years of combined experience specializing in corporate incentive travel by land or at sea as well as individual and group travel. Whether it’s a cruise, full ship charter or a stay at a 5-star all-inclusive luxury properties world-wide, Cruise Dreams provides expert advice and savings. For more information, visit http://www.cruisedreamgroupescapes.com or call 1-877-999-4533.