Category Archives: Toronto Incentive Travel

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Terrific Toronto Events for Corporate Teams

Toronto Events for Corporate Teams

With many Toronto companies putting their incentive travel programmes on hold, luxury events are now an accessible and affordable alternative for corporate teams. For a fraction of the cost of a foreign sales incentive trip, your team or your clients can experience everything from polo to luxury car events. Even if your company still needs to tighten the purse strings this year, there are still many cost effecive options for corporate team events in Toronto. Keep reading.

PACE Polo for Heart

Just North of Toronto, you can hear the thunder of hooves and take in 2 exhilirating polo matches every day. Whether you book a corporate table or tent and enjoy gourmet cuisine or pay $15 for general admission, take a picnic and enter the picnic contest, it’s the perfect way to kick off the summer. Mark your calendar June 17 – 19, 2011.

Polo Team Building

If you find that your team gets bitten by the polo bug, why not arrange a 1 day Introduction to Polo event or a full 2 -3 day polo team building retreat complete with facilitated exercises. A trained facilitator will help you uncover valuable business insights and lessons from the strategies and tactics you learn on the polo field. A polo playing executive can deliver a keynote about the links between polo and business.

Luxury Car Events

Available for only a few weeks during the summer, you can get behind the wheel of a BMW. Start the day with a short classroom briefing. Then head out to the track for obstacle courses, skid control and a variety of in-car challenges. The fun continues in the afternoon after a gourmet lunch. Believe it or not, it’s more expensive than a one day introduction to polo but it’s worth every penny.

Moderate

Wilderness Survival Team Building

A scalable programme that can be offered at a 5 star resort, wilderness inn, or campsite, Wilderness Survival integrates outdoor team challenges with facilitated business exercises. Orienteering, firestarter challenges, GPS treasure hunts, campfires, horse riding, treetop walking, and canoeing in a lush wilderness setting will ensure that your team relaxes and bonds in the great outdoors. You’ll definitely want to camp out overnight for one night.

Learn to Row

Restaurant Inc.: Cooking Team Building

A trained facilitator will introduce you to a brainstorming tools so that you can come up with a theme and a menu for a restaurant using the ingredients provided. You’ll be given a budget to shop for decorations for a restaurant table and some of your ingredients. Then, you’ll bring it all to life and cook and enjoy your signature dishes.

Christmas by Lamplight

Every year, as the Christmas season approaches, Black Creek Pioneer Village is transformed with all of the trimmings of Christmas in a bygone era. If your budget is limited, you can stroll the village during the day. Alternatively, you can bask in the glow of a Christmas by lamplight complete with a traditional Christmas dinner with all the trimmings for less than $100 a person. It’s become a tradition in our family. I can’t think of a better way to start the Christmas season.

Winter Team Building

The winter version of  Wilderness Survival can include snowshoeing, tabogonning, cross country skiing, dog sledding, and quinzhee building (seen in the video below). Yes you can sleep out in a quinzhee for one night.

Cost Effective

Toronto Easter Seals Regatta

This full day of circus-themed activities is an affordable $15 per person. It includes the Children’s Cruising Fleet,a race for the Toronto Easter Seals Cup and the post-event party with a BBQ at the Royal Canadian Yacht Club’s Snug Island. Mark your calendar for August 28, 2011.

For Chocoholics

Chocolate Factory Visit

Immerse yourself in a world of chocolat and get an upfront, first hand view of the workings of a micro chocolate factory. The chocolate makers don’t work on Monday.

Starting in late July, 2011 chocolate tastings for a minimum group size of 10 will be available for $35 per person. Plans are also underway to offer cooking classes at their new location that opens during the summer of 2011.

Gladstone Chocolate Factory

Toronto Chocolate Festival

Every year Toronto becomes a chocolate coated metropolis as delicious events throughout the city celebrate everything chocolate. With a wide range of events including chocolate relays, luxury chocolate shows, luxury chocolate tours, and the chocolate ball gala, you’re sure to find an event that fits your team’s budget. Mark your calendar. This year’s Toronto Chocolate Festival takes place from October 2 – 23, 2011.

Lowes Toronto Christmas Market

If your budget is really tight and you can’t afford to take your team to Germany this year, just hop on the King streetcar. Even if you have no budget, your team can still have a fabulous time. Admission is free. In December, The Distillery District is transformed into a Christmas fantasyland in Toronto’s version of a traditional Christmas market. Refreshments are available for purchase and team members can finish their Christmas shopping early.

If you have a budget and you want to kick things up a notch, a visit to the Toronto Christmas Market can also be incorporated into a Toronto Urban Safari or a Luxury Amazing Race inspired event. Mark your calendar for December 2 – 18, 2011

For more information about the range of possibilities for Toronto Events for Corporate Teams, contact Executive Oasis International.

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Corporate Incentive Travel: Top 10 Christmas Markets

Top 10 Christmas Markets: A Virtual Video Voyage

by Anne Thornley-Brown, President

Executive Oasis International

If you time your sales incentive trip or foreign corporate retreat for late November or early December, you can give your team an opportunity to capture the magic and still be home long before Christmas. A Christmas market is a truly memorable experience to build into your company’s incentive travel itinerary. Your team will talk about it for years. To ensure that you get the best hotel rates and airfares, begin your planning well in advance.

If you need help in selecting your destination, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll start with a visit to some German Christmas markets followed by more stops around the world in search of the top 10 places to find Christmas markets. It’s the time of year when everyone is tired and winding down for Christmas so, our approach this time will be light on text and heavy on video.

 

What is a Christmas market?

The tradition started in Germany in the 15th century and its spreading place all over the world. In the weeks before Christmas, the markets are transformed into colourful places of light, colour, music, and excitement.

Germany

The Christmas Market tradition continues throughout Germany. This videoclip will show you what German Christmas Markets look like today.

Ludwigsburg Barock – Weihnachtsmarkt/Baroque Christmas Market


France (Historically Germany)

Strasbourg Christmas Market

Opened in 1540, Strasbourg Christmas market is reputed to be one of the world’s oldest and most famous Christmas markets. It’s in the famous Alsace Region that has gone back and forth between France and Germany over the centuries. It sits right on the border of France and Germany and has flavours of both cultures. The Christmas market is a distinctly German tradition that was started when Strasbourg was part of Germany.

 

France

Paris Christmas Market

The lights are incredible:

 

Austria

Vienna Rathaus Christkindlmarkt


 

The Czech Republic

Prague Christmas Market

 

Japan

Yokohama German Christmas Market

Tokyo – Strasbourg Christmas Market

When you’re in Japan, you’ll have a chance to enjoy the seasonal illuminations that are becoming popular in cities all over Japan.

 

Estonia

Tallinn Medieval Christmas Market

 

UK

Lincoln German-Style Christmas Market

 

Canada

Toronto Christmas Market NEW

Brand new for 2010, Toronto Christmas Market is taking place during the first 2 weeks of December at The Distillery District, a historical complex. It features a massive Christmas tree, beer gardens, Santa’s Lane, a feriss wheel, and a variety of festive music including carolers, classical organ concerts, and Bavarian brass bands.

While you’re in Toronto, be sure to spend an at Black Creek Pioneer Village for the mesmerizing Christmas by Lamplight. As carolers stroll through the village, you’ll get a glimpse of a traditional Canadian Christmas of the 19th Century as you visit perfectly preserved and festively decorated homes from that era. You can also sample Christmas goodies and savour the delights of a traditional Christmas turkey dinner complete with all the trimmings.

 

Jamaica

Brawta: Christmas Grand Market – Down Memory Lane

“Brawta” means a special extra give in Jamaican patois. This bonus Christmas market is my Christmas gift to you. I didn’t include this in the top 10 for 2 reasons. This note is more historical than current. Also, many companies don’t have the budget to provide incentive trips for the whole family. Definitely, if an incentive trip is held over Christmas, it has to be a family affair.

Christmas Market or Grand Market, is no longer celebrated throughout the island. However, it has left a cultural imprint on modern Jamaican Christmas celebrations so I thought it would be interesting to include it. A few communities have introduced Grand Market Night celebrations on Christmas Eve in honour of this tradition. If you ever are in a position to offer this or to pay for employees and give them the option to upgrade and bring the entire family, why not try Christmas in Jamaica one year. Special church services take place throughout the island. You’ll enjoy traditional black cake, sorrel (a delectable Chrismas drink), chocolate tea, carols, and, of course reggae. Grand Market, a uniquely Jamaican tradition, dates back to slavery days 2 centuries ago. Some of the traditions live on but others are dying out.

If you’re lucky you may even catch Jonkonnu. As recently as the early 1970s, Jonkonnu bands could be found all over the island and they would have performances and parades after Christmas. Now only a few communities keep this tradition alive with it’s colourful cast of characters.

I’ve heard my parents talk about them and, as other parts of the world are transplating the Christmas Market to their own shores, I do hope that Jamaica will revive this centuries old tradition.

 

Here is where you can find more Christmas Markets:

Other Corporate Christmas Event Planning Blogs:

 

 

Photo Credit: Batislava Christmas Market, -12°C

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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

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Corporate Incentive Travel: Giving Your Team a Sense of the Local Culture

Corporate Incentive Travel: Giving Your Team a Sense of the Local Culture


by Anne Thornley-Brown, President,

Executive Oasis International

Specializing in escorted Incentive Travel and sales incentive trips.We provide one stop shopping and will help you plan and organize your next incentive trip to any of our featured destinations.

Anne is @executiveoasis on twitter.

Stop: Even if you don’t have the budget for international travel this year, here is how you can still give your team an international experience without getting on a plane:

If you do have the budget, keep reading:

I’ve often wondered why companies fly their sales and executive teams halfway across the world just to lie on the beach and get drunk at the bar. Particularly in these challenging economic times, companies can do that at home at a fraction of the cost. A foreign incentive trip or retreats provides an opportunity to give your team a rich, unique and memorable experience. All you have to do is build a few experiences into your itinerary that provide a glimpse of the local history and culture of your incentive travel destinations.This is easier to do than you may think and it doesn’t have to take a lot of time.

Before your trip, you can use social media to provide an orientation to the destination. During your sales incentive trip, visit one of the many cultural centres, heritage villages and museums that are designed to give visitors a glimpse into the history and culture of your chosen destiation. Here are a few ideas:

Jamaica:

Before you go:

Where to go:


  • Visit my favourite place on the planet, The Enchanted Garden in Ocho Rios
  • Tour The Outameni Experience where you can travel back in time and explore the 6 cultures that have shaped modern Jamaica.
  • Visit Brimmer Hall Estate, a historical working plantation that happens to be located in my family’s hometown.
  • Go horse riding and tour the ruins at Seville, one of the first Spanish settlements in Jamaica.

Dubai:

Before you go:

Dubai Department Of Tourism And Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has several helpful social media resources that you can access at:


Where to go:

  • Spend an evening at the Dubai Heritage and Diving Village.
  • Tour the Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House next door.
  • Take a dinner cruise in a traditional Dhow.

Oman:

Before you go:


Where to go:

  • Visit Muscat’s Bait Al Zubair Museum, located in a traditional Omani house.
  • Tour Nizwa’s Fort and browse for treasures in Nizwa’s traditional Souq.

Malaysia:

Before you go:

Where to go:


  • Take a 2 night trip to Kuching in Malaysian Borneo. Spend an afternoon at the Sarawak Cultural Village. You’ll explore the 7 major ethinic groups that have influenced Malysia’s culture and visit traditional homesteads.
  • Take a day or overnight trip to Malacca, a virtual time capsule into Malaysia history with traditional Malay, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, British, and Japanese influences. There is even a full size replica of a historical Sultan’s Palace.

Singapore:

Where to go:

Japan:

Before you go:

Where to go:


  • Explore the Edo-Tokyo Museum with replicas of traditional buildings and interactive exhibits that provide insights into Tokyo’s rich culture and history.
  • Stay at a traditional Ryokan for 1 or 2 nights.
  • Be mesmerzied as you take in a traditional Kabuki performance at the Kubuki-za in Tokyo

Canada:

Before you go:

Where to go:

Even if you have to extend your sales incentive trip by half a day or a full day to make time to build a cultural excursion into your itinerary, it will be time well spent. You’ll broaden their horizons and provide your team with a truly memorable and meaningful experience of a lifetime that they would never be able to have back home.