Category Archives: Incentive Travel During a Recession

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Malaysia Incentive Travel: August in Asia

 

 

Incentive Travel: Asian August – Cooling off in Malaysia

During the summer, temperatures soar in South East Asia. Savvy CEOs in the region have discovered a number of cool and picturesques destinations in Asia to beat the heat and offer memorable sales incentive trips, executive retreats, and team building. Malaysia offers a number of places where your team will be cool and comfortable even in August.

Pahang

First let’s start with a virtual tour of Pahang where you’ll find the communities of where you’ll find Cameron Highlands, Berjaya Hills, Fraser’s Hills, and Genting Highlands.

 

 

Cameron Highlands: Temperature: 15°C – 32°C

I’ll never forget the first time I went to Cameron Highlands. On the way, we stopped at a beautiful waterfall. There was an area with stalls, arts, crafts, blow pipes and a variety of souvenirs. The people working at the stalls were pulling up on motorbikes and some were talking on cell phones.

When we continued our journey, I asked the guide about aboriginal peoples. I said “When I was in Kuching, there were aboriginal settlements nearby. Are there any aboriginal people in this area?
He replied “You just spent time with some Orang Asli. They were the people selling at the stalls”. I guess the blowpipes were a big hint. Never let motorbikes and cell phones throw you off.

On the way to Cameron Highlands, your group has the option of stopping at Kuala Woh Recreational Park for a short scavenger hunt that includes orienteering and a visit to by suspension bridge to the museum to answer trivia, a dip in the natural hot springs and light snacks.

 

 

Cameron Highlands was a real treat. We stopped for lunch at a boutique hotel. An impromptu site inspection and tour revealed spacious rooms and ample meeting room facilities. The Smokehouse Hotel, that has been providing hospitality since 1932, is a possible lunch (or dinner) venue for your group upon arrival in Cameron Highlands:

 

 

We headed off to visit a handicraft centre, gardens and nurseries. We toured at tea plantation and relaxed while we enjoyed tea, scones and an incredible view. I noted that to round an itinerary for your corporate group, in Cameron Highlands, golf, nature hikes, a visit to an Orang Asli (aboriginal) village, and jungle trekking are available.

Before heading back to Kuala Lumpur, we stopped and picked strawberries. It was my last day in Malaysia and I have a very late night flight. As soon as we were airborne, it was a treat to enjoy the fresh strawberries I had picked with whipped cream that had been provided to me at no charge by one of the restaurants in the airport’s departure area. It’s one of those moments in time that you wish you could freeze.

 

 

Berjaya Hills:

Formerly known as Bukit Tinggi (meaning “French Hill”), Berjaya Hills has a French themed resort, beautiful gardens, golf, paintball, horse riding, and a variety of options for team meetings and relaxation.

 

 

Great views – Narration in Arabic

 

There is even a Japanese garden complete with teahouse. Yes, you can experience a traditional Japanese tea ceremony in the heart of Berjaya Hills.

Japanese Garden Walkthrough

 

 

Nearby, even in the summer, the weather will be comfortable enough to treat your team to a full jungle survival team building experience with overnight camping. The location is popular with local companies so it is imperative that you book your trip at least 4 – 6 months in advance if you want to include this unforgetable experience into your itinerary.

Fraser’s Hill:

 

1,524 metres about sea level, you’ll find Fraser’s Hill, a rainforest hamlet named after Louse James Fraser from Scotland who established a trading staion in the area and went missing in 1919, is a picturesque destination where the temperatures are cool enoug for for retreats, even in the summer.

 

 

It’s ideal for companies that are interested in providing an eco-tourism experience. It is one of Malaysia’s prime locations for bird wartching. Groups can also enjoy golf, horse riding, the Jeriau Waterfall.

 

 

 

Genting Highlands: Temperature 22°C – 32°C

 

 

Enjoy the unforgetable view as cable cars will carry you above the clouds to Genting Highlands, a playground complete with hotels, meeting facilities, a theme park and casino. Horse riding can be arranged nearby.

 

 

Sabah

Kinabalu Park

In Malaysian Borneo, Mount Kinabalu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Asia’s tallest peak, will give your team an opportunity to explore rocky mountain and the rainforest trails below the mountain. With one of the most diverse collections of fauna in the world, Kinabulu Park covers 4 climatic zones.

 

 

Even if your team is a mix of serious mountain cimbers and team members who would prefer to cool off under a waterfall, soak in the curative properties of an open air sulphuric bath, and explore tropical gardens, there will be no shortage of things to do and experiences to amaze.

Golf, and early morning horse riding are also located within easy distance.

Those who dare, can even walk The Torque, the highest via ferrata in the world.

 

 

Let Executive Oasis International Take You to Malaysia


In Malaysia, we can add facilitated business team building and recreational activities ranging from orienteering, jungle treks, and ziplining to mountain climbing and abseiling to your itinerary. No matter what area of Malaysia you select for your summer adventure, one thing is certain. There is so much to see and such a variety of habitats and adventures to explore, your first trip to Malaysia will not be your last.

 

 

For more information the adventures that you can enjoy in Malaysia during the summer and throughout the year, please visit our website:

Photo Credit: NTlam – Cameron Highlands (Top)

Photo Credit: JoChoo – Fraser’s Hill

Photo Credit: xiquinhosilva – Genting Highlands

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Luxury Car Events to Reward Corporate Teams

Luxury Cars: A World of Possibilities for Sales Incentives & Corporate Events

by Anne Thornley-Brown, M.B.A., President

Executive Oasis International

 

 

In 2008 & 2009, many companies put their incentive travel programmes on hold due to “optics” or a decline in corporate performance. Some companies are not ready to re-instate their foreign incentive travel programmes. Instead, they are on the lookout for memorable and unique experiences closer to home to reward their team and build customer loyalty.

Inspired by the day I spent with BMW Canada at their Toronto Advanced Driver Training Programme and my recent visit to Montreal during the Formula 1 (F1) Montreal Grand Prix in June, I decided to showcase luxury driving experiences around the world. Luxury driving incentives offer great possibilities as an alternative to foreign incentive travel.

Remember, if you do want to offer any of these incentives for your team, it’s important to make your plans early as all of these experiences sell out quickly.

This blog entry is light on text and heavy on incredible, fast action videos. Pick a location close to you:

Sit back, relax, and explore.

 

 

Canada

Toronto

BMW Advanced Driver Training

This experience was great fun and a sure-fire strategy for improving the driving skills of your sales teams and the other members of your team who are on the road.

 

 

It’s a combination of classroom instruction and exercises in a BMW training vehicle on their closed track.

When? July

  • Full Day: 20 People
  • Half Day: Two Groups of 16

This is the video of the oversteering exercise that I shot during the day I spent with BMW Canada. I learned a lot . The instructors were very supportive but I must admit that I was too much of a “fraidy cat” to make may car spinout when it was my turn to try it. Oh well, next time.

 

 

Honda Indy

 

 

NASCAR Canadian Tire Series

  • When? July

Mosport International Raceway

When? All Year

 

 

Montreal

BMW Winter Driving School

When? Late January – Early February


  • Full Day: 16 People


F1 Montreal Grand Prix

When? June

 

 

USA

Winter Driving School

 

 

South Carolina

 

 

United Arab Emirates

Dubai

BMW Advanced Driver Training

Abu Dhabi

Formula 1 – F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

When? November 12 – 14, 2010

 

 

Ferrari World

When? Year Round (Opening November, 2010)

 

 


Bahrain

BMW Driving School

 

 

Formula 1 (F1) – Bahrain Grand Prix

When? March

 

 


Japan

Suzuka

Formula 1 (F1) – Japanese Grand Prix

When? October 8 – 10, 2010

 

 

Singapore

Formula 1 (F1) – Singtel Singapore Grand Prix

When? October 8 – 10, 2010

BMW Advanced Driver Training

 

 

Malaysia

Bukit Tinggi Downhill

Every October, adrenaline junkies get to experience the thrill of racing like stunt drivers down one of Malaysia’s tallest hills. Take a peek at what happens.


Sepang International Circuit

BMW Advanced Driver Training

 

 

 

Kuala Lumpur

Formula 1 (F1) – Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix

When? April

 

 

Other Destinations

BMW Advanced Driver Training

Also Available in Japan, Sweden, Singapore, Malaysia, South Carolina

 

 

 

When You’re Ready to Go

Whether you decide to stay home in 2010 and 2011 or you’re ready to venture further afield, we’ll take you there. Executive Oasis International would be pleased to arrange:

  • a day excursion to a local adventure with time for your business meeting
  • a full package bundling a luxury driving experience with transfers, hotel, transportation to and from the track, meeting facilities, business facilitation, tours, excursions, gala awards dinner

Contact Executive Oasis International for more information about any of these luxury driving exeriences for corporate events and incentives:

 

Luxury Corporate Events

Incentive Travel: It’s time to Re-engineer the Sales Incentive Trip

Incentive Travel: Building a Better Sales Incentive Trip

I have made no secret about the fact that I feel the traditional way of approaching incentive travel is flawed. I have previously expressed my concerns:

Recent Fallout in the Incentive Travel Industry

The economic crisis and its aftermath are the perfect opportunity for companies to re-think and re-engineer their incentive travel initiatives. With a bit of creativity and by adding another day to your itinerary, it is possible to make sales incentive trips more meaningful.

Some of the companies that were severely criticized by the media for excessive spending on incentive travel would have fared better if their itinerary had been more balanced. By all means stay at a beautiful resort and building in some R & R. Your team has worked hard and they have earned it. Rather than making incentive travel all about pampering and self-indulgence, use your incentive trip to also:

 

  • give back to the community
  • develop your team
  • learn more about the places from where you obtain your supplies and the people to whom you sell your products

The Shape of the New Sales Incentive Trip

Some companies have already discovered there is a better way to build a foreign or local corporate incentive programme. So, what do re-engineered sales incentive trips look like?

Here are some experiences that you can build into your incentive trips to expose your team to the local culture and history of your incentive travel destination:

Give Back to the Community

Give your team an opportunity to become involved in a charity event or projects to give back to the community. Some of these examples would be the perfect focus of a team building activity in preparation for your trip. You could involve your entire team, not just the top performers who will be making the trip.

  • Raising funds to purchase computers, books and other school supplies and delivering them to a local school
  • Raising funds and purchasing shoes to be distributed at schools in low income areas
  • Sewing school uniforms and delivering them to local families
  • A cooking event to provide food for homeless people or low income families
  • Toy assembly
  • Painting and repairs of schools, homes, and community facilities
  • Construction projects
  • Funding and building a park
  • Raising funds for a one day dental or eye clinic
  • Book drives for a local library
  • Planting or harvesting crops
  • Digging a well

  • Sharing a meal and some activities with a local family and their neighbours
  • Raising funds for emergency shelter kits and delivering them
  • Involving your company in shoebox assembly and having your top performers help distribute them during their incentive trip

If employees are allowed to bring their entire family with them on your sales incentive trip, here is some inspiration from what a visitor to Jamaica did with her family during a Spring break vacation:

Pick up New Strategies & Ideas to Help you Improve Your Business

Then, consider adding the following elements to your incentive trips.

  1. Business Team Building Simulations (you may as well take advantage of the fact that you have the team together
  2. Scouting trips to uncover best practices in other companies from your industry and with respect to product lines and services
  3. Visits and tours of the offices and factories of your foreign suppliers, subsidiaries and branches
  4. Factory and service tours
  5. Reconnaissance missions to local shopping centres to spot emerging technology and produce innovations so that your company can stay “ahead of the curve”

A race style event can help you add the fun factor to your incentive travel itinerary and incorporate elements 3 – 6.

About Reconnaissance Missions: I was exposed to the following products and services during trips to Asia LONG before they were introduced in North America

  • USB Drives (Malaysia)
  • Jumbotron Billboards on City Streets (Malaysia & Singapore)
  • Internet Cafes (Singapore)
  • Vending Machines on Street Corners for Just about Any Product (Japan)
  • Games on Cell Phones (Japan)
  • Nail, Manicure, and Pedicure Salons (Malaysia)
  • Reflexology Studios (Malaysia)
  • Upscale Massage Parlours in Shopping Malls (Singapore)

How to Fit it All in

Here is are some possible itineraries for pulling it all together:

Option 1: Incentive Travel with Business Field Trip & Community Project (3 Nights)

  • Day 1: AM Early Arrival, Group Check-in, Luggage Transfer to Room, City Tour (Before it’s too Hot), Lunch, Free Time, Afternoon Tea, Orientation, Free Time, Late Dinner
  • Day 2: AM Free Time
  • Day 2: PM Visit to Cultural or Historical Site, Free Time, Themed Cultural Dinner & Entertainment
  • Day 3: Charity Event or Involvement in Community Project
  • Day 4: AM Choice of Free Time or Optional Recreational Activities
  • Day 4: PM Field Trip (Factory/Service Centre Tour or Visit to Local Company in Industry), Gala, Late Night Departure

Option 2: Incentive Travel with Team Building (4 Nights)

  • Day 1: AM Early Arrival, Group Check-in, Luggage Transfer to Room, City Tour (Before it’s too Hot), Lunch, Free Time, Afternoon Tea, Orientation, Free Time, Late Dinner
  • Day 2: AM Free Time
  • Day 2: PM Visit to Cultural or Historical Site, Free Time, Themed Cultural Dinner & Entertainment
  • Day 3: Business Team Building Simulation
  • Day 4: Business Team Building Simulation
  • Day 5: AM Choice of Free Time or Optional Recreational Activities
  • Day 5: PM Shopping, Late Departure

Quick Tip: Companies can fit an extra 2 days of activities into incentive trips and build in enough time for relexation without exploding their budgets. How? Merely arramge to arrive early in the morning on the first day and leave late on the last day.

For Your Next Sales Incentive Trip

Rather than shelving your incentive travel programme, why not “think outside the box” and re-engineer it. If your budget is down, have your sales incentive trip closer to home or substitute with a corporate event. If you’re having a good year, grab some of the bargains that are still available at many hotels and resorts due to the economy.

By locking in your plans for 2010 – 2012, you can take advantage of the generous attrition clauses that many hotels are now offering.

Finally and most important of all, leave the resort, discover what is unique about the history and culture of each destination and provide your team with an opportunity to give back to the community.

Examples of Team Building that Combines Giving back to the Community with Picking up new Business Strategies

Real Business Cases:

Your team will benefit from this change that is long overdue. Your company could gain positive media coverage rather than risking criticism through a more traditional approach to incentive travel. You’ll also give your team the opportunity to finally enjoy the benefits that travel has to offer.

Anne Thornley-Brown is the President of Toronto based Executive Oasis International, a business consulting firm that helps organizations succeed even in the midst of turbulence. They offer incentive travel in a number of featured destinations including Canada, Jamaica, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Oman, Egypt, Singapore, Japan, and Malaysia

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Real Business Case For Incentive Travel

Real Business Case For Incentive Travel

Texas Roadhouse CEO Continues to Champion Bottom Line Value & R.O.I. of Team Building Retreats & Incentive Travel


by Anne Thornley-Brown, President, Executive Oasis International

In April 2009, when the AIG effect was in full force ( http://bit.ly/aigeffect2 ), Texas Roadhouse CEO G.J. Hart stood up to a CNBC reporter’s scathing criticism and ridicule of his decision to proceed with the company’s annual retreat in the midst of a recession:

Please note, all videos have short commercials before the interviews:

Video: http://bit.ly/incentivetravel8

Here, G.J. Hart discussed his decision, defended the bottom line value of incentives & retreats and stressed the importance of building opportunities for giving back to the community into the itinerary:

Article: http://bit.ly/teambuildingroi6

Podcast: http://bit.ly/incentivetravelroi5

He discussed the company’s business strategy here:

Video: http://classic.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=748206824&play=1

G.J Hart’s stand earned him a lot of press coverage and, eventually, media respect and positive coverage. An ad campaign giving the same extent of exposure and coverage would have cost a small fortune.

A year later, the company is enjoying even stronger corporate performance:

“Amid the frenzy that enveloped the meetings industry early last year…..Texas Roadhouse CEO G.J. Hart unwittingly became one of the lone voices to articulate the business value of meetings, events and incentives.”

http://bit.ly/incentivetravelroi3

At the time of writing, Texas Roadhouse is holding the company’s annual Managing Partner Conference for 1,100 managers and their guests in New York City. Giving back to the community is always an important part of the company’s retreats and incentive trips:

http://bit.ly/incentivetravelroi7

His efforts seem to be paying off. Here is a video interview with G.J. Hart this week about the explosive growth of the company and its strong stock market performance.

Tough economic times are not slowing down the expansion of restaurant chain Texas Roadhouse

http://classic.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=1467575226&play=1

CNBC seems to have warmed up to G.J. Hart. The company’s business strategies are clearly paying off and they are exploring the possibility of international expansion.

The Texas Roadhouse experience highlights the fact that the right business strategy supported by strategic team building and incentives to reward top performance can pay-off with a stronger bottom line.


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