February 17, 2017 / in Incentive Travel America values hard work. In fact, our traditional five-day work week doesn’t have much tradition behind it. Until the late 1800s, we commonly worked seven days a week. And let’s be honest: some of us still do, and it isn’t always because we hold more than one job. Sales reps often put in more than five days a week because business deals don’t conveniently stop on Friday afternoon and resume on Monday morning. Sure, most successful salespeople earn a nice salary and an annual bonus that justifies the hard work, but great financial incentives can’t cure mental exhaustion. Eventually, even the most dedicated team members need a break. Refresh With Incentive Travel After putting in countless work weeks of well over 40 hours, simply relaxing at home for a few days can feel reinvigorating. But you want to reward your top sellers with more than just good pay and vacation days. You want to do something that quantifies the importance of their achievements and encourages them to keep up the great work. Taking an incentive travel getaway to an exciting destination is the perfect solution. The Incentive Research Foundation defines incentive travel this way: “Incentive Travel Programs are a motivational tool to enhance productivity or achieve business objectives in which participants earn the reward based on a specific level of achievement set forth by management. Earners are rewarded with a trip and the program is designed to recognize earners for their achievements.” It’s easy enough to see how an incentive travel getaway rewards great sales numbers and encourages them in the future. But what about the relaxation factor? As we all know, even leisure travel can be stressful when it comes to making travel arrangements and ensuring the trip goes off as planned. Use an Incentive Travel Planner Aside of choosing relaxing activities for your trip, the key to filling an incentive travel getaway with relaxation is placing it in the hands of an experienced incentive travel planner, such as Incentive Travel Solutions. When you use us as your incentive travel facilitator, we handle all travel arrangements, including scheduling for activities after you arrive at your destination. We even send a retinue of travel staff with you on the trip to handle anything that must be done to make the journey go as planned. The result is an incentive travel getaway that’s stress-free and mentally refreshing. Contact Incentive Travel Solutions The seven-day work week can be traced back 4,000 years to ancient Babylon, but the five-day work week followed by a two-day “weekend” didn’t show up until the late 1800s, when Englanders started spending Saturday and Sunday visiting friends before their weekly work schedule resumed. This is the kind of work week most of us want, but holding a key position in sales often requires putting in more than five days a week. If you’re ready to reward your top sales reps with an unforgettable travel trip for all of their hard work, call us today at (704) 540-1482, or send us an email through our contact form. We look forward to helping you plan the ultimate relaxing getaway!

February 27, 2017 / in Incentive Travel For the first time in over five decades, North Americans can legally travel to Cuba without special permission from the U.S. Government. In the roughly 50 years that have passed since the travel ban was imposed, U.S. residents have been largely left off from one of the Caribbean’s richest spots for natural beauty and culture. Now that the former travel ban has a silver lining in hindsight: Compared to other nations that serve high volumes of the Caribbean Sea, Cuba has remained mostly un-Americanized since the 1960s and still offers a remarkably authentic cultural experience. Why the demand for an incentive trip to Cuba is becoming more popular among companies that reward top performers with travel trips. If your organization is considering planning an incentive trip to Cuba — and you want to make it the trip of a lifetime — below are four ways we can help you create a fantastic trip that will always be remembered. 1. Great Hotel Accommodations Cuba may not be as Americanized as some of its neighbors, but its cultural originality comes at a price for the average tourist: Because Cuba’s hospitality industry isn’t accustomed to accommodating a steady influx of U.S. travelers, it can be hard to find a good hotel. Using our expertise and connections in the incentive travel industry, we’ll ensure your group has tastefully appointed, comfortable lodging that only adds to the unforgettable experience. 2. Eating at Paladares Restaurants Paladares are restaurants operated in residential dwellings by families that specialize in serving up Cuban cuisine. But travel experts predict paladares will become increasingly commercialized — with menus geared for American tastebuds — now that the U.S. to Cuba travel is reinstated. We can help you enjoy again an amazing Cuban culinary experience by scheduling lunch and dinner dates at paladares that equate to five star restaurants in terms of cuisine. Enjoy the originality of Cuba’s paladares while you can! 3. City of Trinidad Not to be confused with the Caribbean island of Trinidad, the Cuban city of Trinidad is one of the country’s most enchanting metropolises since the Elizabethan era (1584–1603). The exceptional preservation of the city’s surrounding and heritage means it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a tourist spot, but many agree this is part of the city’s charm. Huffington Post says this about Trinidad: “Don’t expect fancy accommodations — the sleepy B&Bs are more traditional, and a low-budget above so you walk the cobblestone streets.” You may not wish to lodge in Trinidad, but the city is well worth a day trip. 4. Top Coral Reefs Oceanographers know Cuba as one of the world’s finest destinations for coral reef studies. Nearby reef ecosystems have remained largely undisturbed, and according to the Journal of Marine Environmental Science, Cuba’s reefs remain comparably pristine. You can view reefs from several locations, but if it’s crystal clear water you’re after, it’s hard to beat the coral islands of Cayo Coco. Ride out to the island and take in aquatic life, jump from low cliffs into warm seawater, or just relax and enjoy the scenery. Whatever your vision of Caribbean island paradise, we’ll help you make it real with your incentive trip in Cuba. Contact Us Today If you’d like to reward your top performers with an incentive trip in Cuba, Incentive Travel Solutions is here to help. We’ll work with you to create unique travel experiences that aren’t a part of the average vacation or business trip — experiences that bring colleagues close together and motivate them to qualify for the next incentive trip. To get started on planning an awesome journey, call us today at (704) 540-1482, or send us an email through our contact form. Beautiful Cuba awaits!

March 13, 2017 / in Press and News We often associate low morale in the workplace with low paying jobs that don’t offer advancement, but we also find poor morale in roles we least expect: among executives and managers that are well-compensated and seem to have an endless horizon of opportunities. However, where low morale strikes at entry-level or high-level positions, the result is often the same: high employee turnover, which can cause morale to plummet further. According to Barrett, Rose & Lee Inc — a Toronto-based recruiter for management positions — “A common theme for morale lows is high turnover,” when employees leave because they are not happy with their jobs and have few external reasons to stay. The negative impact of employee turnover is disorienting because of its tremendous impact both financially and emotionally. If raises and better medical should you use to cure a bad case of low morale? There are plenty of choices, but one of the most effective ones is also one of the least considered: incentive trip offers. Employee Morale and Incentive Travel Unique incentive trip offers that promise the travel experience of a lifetime help sustain high morale in at least three ways. Let’s look at what they are and why they matter. 1. Shows Employee Appreciation Salary, bonuses, stock options, etc., are how high-level employees are compensated for hard work. These rewards are expected, not viewed as novelties that go above and beyond normal compensation to show employee appreciation. Incentive trip offers, on the other hand, can be highly novel. More importantly, they are optional. They aren’t part of normal compensation, and a company isn’t bound to offer them. Therefore, when a company makes incentive trip offers, it sends a direct message of appreciation. 2. Provides Daily Motivation Most executives and managers earn a salary and not a wage. If they put in an 80 hour workweek, it’s the same as if they put in 40 hours. What’s to keep a salaried employee motivated to keep going? Bonuses, for one. But even the monetary value of bonuses can become predictable after a few years. What isn’t as predictable is how much relaxation and excitement can be enjoyed through qualifying for incentive trip offers, and then embarking on the trips. For many upper level employees, the promise of a unique travel experience provides motivation where direct financial compensation falls short. 3. Brings Colleagues Closer Together Working at the same company and pursuing the same professional goals are important things to have in common. But they don’t guarantee colleagues will feel highly comfortable or connected with each other beyond the point of surface professionalism. One thing where the colleagues support together is sharing a unique, travel experience that’s unforgettable for all the right reasons. Shared experience makes us feel like we have something in common beyond a job description, and increases the likelihood of bonding can occur. Within the context of work, these deeper bonds can reduce nonconstructive criticism and improve morale. About Our Company Incentive Travel Solutions specializes in planning unique incentive travel trips to wonderful destinations around the globe. We facilitate the entire trip, from airline and hotel arrangements to event planning and travel itineraries. Many companies have used our services to promote high morale in the workplace, and your company can, too. To get started on planning a trip for top performers, call us today at (704) 540-1482, or send us an email through our contact form. We look forward to helping you plan the journey of a lifetime!

March 23, 2017 / in Exotic Travel Everyone enjoys a good meal at a nice restaurant, but there are “nice” restaurants, and then there are the best of the best. If you’re planning an incentive travel trip for your company’s top performers, and you want culinary bliss to be a part of the adventure, consider booking a reservation at one of the elite eateries below. As reported on theworlds50best.com , panels of gastronomic experts around the globe agree these are the top ten restaurants in the world. 10. Asador Etxebarri Practicing his specialty in Axpe, Spain, chef Victor Arguinzoniz is a master of the barbecue cooking method. As destiny would have it, the experienced tastemaker was born just minutes from the restaurant’s location. Today, he sends the establishment’s enticing aromas wafting into the sleepy hills of his home region, using fresh ingredients straight from his garden. Style of cuisine: Spanish wood-fired barbecue Acclaimed food: crunchy corn and sea urchin, grilled eel, Palamós prawns 9. Steirereck Located in historic Vienna, Austria, Steirereck boasts a modern atmosphere, and chef Heinz Reitbauer serves up inventive dishes brought in preparation and presentation. The meals don’t look like the kind of entree you eat, but they’ll goad your hunger like coal. Some of Reitbauer’s entrees are quite beautiful to see, featuring eccentric combinations that are somehow perfect. Style of cuisine: modern Austrian Acclaimed food: char with beeswax, yellow carrot, “pollen” and sour cream 8. Narisawa Chefs Yoshihiro Narisawa and Takahisa Yuyama are the culinary brains behind Japan’s top restaurant. Located in Tokyo, in the non-touristy district of Minami Aoyama, Narisawa is known for two things above all: creating seasonal dishes based on the availability of homegrown ingredients, and presentation like none other. Combine them, and you have an unforgettable meal. Style of cuisine: innovative Satoyama cuisine Acclaimed food: Satoyama scenery, pinot noir from Nagano, riesling lion from Iwate 7. Mugaritz Located in San Sebastián, Spain, is Mugaritz, a restaurant that takes its cue from Basque cuisine, which combines ingredients from mountain and sea. The result is mouthwatering, gorgeously presented fusion food by chefs Andoni Luis Aduriz and Juan Vargas. Served in the restaurant’s garden setting, a meal can include as many as 20 fabulous courses. Style of cuisine: techno-emotional Spanish Acclaimed food: bitter licks of velvet, chocolate petit fours, oyster and young garlic omelette 6. Mirazur As the one French restaurant higher on the list than this, but Mauro Colagreco may take his establishment all the way to the top. Mediterranean cuisine is popular worldwide, and Colagreco makes it appear exactly why it should be. Often, he fetches the day’s vegetables and herbs, hand-picked heirloom vegetables and fresh seafood found from an acclaimed food market nearby. Style of cuisine: Mediterranean Acclaimed food: oyster and pears, fried anchovy fillets, green 5. Noma Chefs René Redzepi and Benjamin Paul run regression traditional Nordic cuisine through a contemporary blender. It’s land of the hunting and gathering of ingredients, and through it, the chefs have created a new lens for foodies to admire. The food is fantastic, and the atmosphere is remarkably laid back. The chefs even leave the kitchen to bring food to your table. Style of cuisine: seasonal, terroir-led Scandinavian Acclaimed food: sweet shrimp wrapped in ramson leaves, apples and lemon thyme 4. Central Chef Virgilio Martinez and his world-renowned team source their menu’s ingredients from the local geography, health zones and ecosystems that reflect the cuisine of his Central. Their menus include dishes from the chef’s continuous approach to creating cuisine. It’s Central. They even serve you water that they pour on-site with a multi-step reverse osmosis process. Style of cuisine: Contemporary Peruvian Acclaimed fare: Coschaya y recolección (harvest and gathering) 3. Eleven Madison Park It’s only fitting that the world’s most cosmopolitan city would have a top ten restaurant. Chefs Daniel Humm, Chris Flint, and Mary Welker team up to serve up some of the best contemporary style European cuisine the Big Apple has to offer. The team also likes to personalize dishes for individuals, so feel free to order like you own the place. Style of cuisine: Modern European influenced by New York Acclaimed food: Honey lavender roasted duck, Mast Brothers chocolate 2. El Celler de Can Roca Located in the provincial city of Girona, Spain, El Celler de Can Roca previously held the #1 spot. The trio of brothers who run the establishment are world renowned in their respective specialties. Joan is a chef, Josep is a sommelier, and Jordi is a patissier. When it comes to fine food, the brothers don’t the “best of both worlds”, but the best of three. Style of cuisine: modern freestyle Acclaimed food: vegetable stock, Iberian suckling pig, multi-layered prawn compositions 1. Osteria Francescana Located in scenic Modena, Italy, this restaurant reclaims the #1 spot after spending two years waiting at #2. Owner and chef Massimo Bottura opened Osteria Francescana in 1995. Since then, he’s showcased the art of blending Italy’s traditional, most revered recipes with fine trends in contemporary cuisine. Dining here is a new experience in Italian culinary arts. Style of cuisine: contemporary Italian Acclaimed food: mallard, partridge, and bollito Feeling Hungry Yet? Everyone needs to eat, and when you’re dining on an incentive travel trip, it’s a great time to fare on the best. This is what you find at the world class restaurants above. Incentive travel trips are designed to be unforgettable, which makes dining at unforgettable restaurants a perfect option. To learn more about our services and how we help you plan a truly unique trip, call us today at (704) 540-1482, or use our contact form. The trip of a lifetime awaits!

April 19, 2017 / in Featured Destinations The Ireland we know today started in the Bronze Age (1,200-700 BC), when Celts migrating from Europe’s mainland brought their culture to Ireland. Like many first world countries, much of Ireland’s indigenous culture has become highly commercialized. However, the old culture that underpins the commercialization can still be found in its purest form in many common Irish activities, and tangible reminders of Ireland’s past are around every corner and bend, both in cities and countryside. When choosing Ireland as the destination for your company’s next incentive travel trip, below are some things you can do in the nation to form memories that last a lifetime. 1. Do an Evening Pub Crawl Pub crawling in Ireland offers a different experience than bar hopping in the U.S. The pub lies at the heart of Irish cultural, social, and musical life. Traditional Irish beer and liquor, literary readings, dancing, serious and light-hearted philosophizing, and comforting pub cuisine are all a part of the pub going experience. With a transport vehicle to transport your group from pub to pub, you can enjoy the delicious drinks without worrying about the drive back to the hotel. 2. Go Sightseeing for Castles To many, Ireland is known as a land of castles, with some in great condition and others in ruin, with only crumbling stone walls remaining. Touring Irish castles is like taking on the machine into the country’s past. Some of the well-preserved properties have interiors that are faithful to the period when the properties were built, right down to furniture, rugs, and window treatments. You also have the option of lodging in a castle, as some have been turned into luxury hotels. 3. Put on Your Dancing Shoes If there’s one thing Irelanders love as much as the tradition having a stiff drink while conversing, it’s the tradition of having a good dance. In Northern Ireland especially, sessions of Highland Dancing, Scottish Country Dancing, Ulster-Scots Square and Country Dancing are commonly held. Even visitors who are shy about the feet movements participate. The skill of traditional dance competitors is high, but main aim of Irish dance is to move merrily like there’s no tomorrow. 4. Dine at Fine Restaurants Ireland doesn’t receive its fair billing for fine cuisine, but eating at some of the country’s best restaurants will wake you up an Irish culinary adventure that shows the country’s good taste. Traditional Irish eats include: ham steaks with whiskey sauce, crusty roast lamb, Irish roast pork with potato stuffing, and cold chibber. In short, the Irish really know how to do comfort food. Arrive hungry, and start the diet again after you test out the culinary flavor of Ireland. Make Your Plans a Reality There are few things you’d like to do on a trip to Ireland, but making the journey a reality — especially in terms of creating a highly unique travel experience — can require lots of detail work and planning. This is where Incentive Travel Solutions enters the picture. We help you plan a highly unique trip, we make all your arrangements, and send a retinue of travel staff with your group to ensure your travel itinerary is executed to perfection — down to the smallest detail. To learn more about our services, call us today at (704) 540-1482, or use our contact form. Ireland is a world class destination; we help incentive travel groups enjoy it to the fullest!

May 15, 2017 / in Incentive Travel Casinos are like castles: The bigger they are, the more people want to visit them to see what’s inside the cavernous rooms. When it comes to big casinos, they don’t get any larger than The Venetian Monaco, a luxury hotel and casino resort located in Macau — an autonomous territory in scenic East Asia. The Biggest of the Big Owned by the American company Las Vegas Sands, The Venetian Monaco boasts 546,000 square feet of casino space, with a total floor space of 10,500,000 square feet. To give you an idea of what goes on under the casino’s expansive roof, here are some additional, impressive specs for the grand establishment: Gaming machines: 3,000 Gaming tables: 800 Slot machines: 3,400 Restaurants and bars: 24 Hotel suites: 3,000 With all that space, the Venetian Monaco is the Smithsonian Museum of casinos. If you want to enjoy every square foot of excitement, it’s best to plan for a one-week to two-week trip to the prominent gambling hub. Considering that the average incentive travel trip lasts about that long, The Venetian Monaco is a great place to stay for those who loves games of chance and all the accoutrements that come with staying in a world class casino resort. Single Entertainment Spot One of the most unique things about taking an incentive travel trip to The Venetian Monaco, is the casino and the address of addresses for your trip’s entertainment. In addition to featuring a sea of gaming equipment and enough comfy suites to house a small army, the casino offers 1,200,000 square feet of convention space, 1,600,000 square feet of retail space, and the 15,000 seat Cotai Arena, which houses major sports and entertainment events. So, here’s what a basic itinerary for a five-day trip to The Venetian Monaco could look like: three or four days spent in the casino proper, then a day or four days of shopping, attending a concert or sporting event in the Cotai arena, dining at a new restaurant every day for lunch and dinner, and attending an afternoon show that captures your group’s interest, and enjoying the hotel’s wellness services and amenities the whole way through. If your group includes decision makers who are passionate about shopping, cuisine, and world class entertainment, then they can live out a dream come true, especially when you have Incentive Travel Solutions design your trip in a highly unique fashion. Contact Us Today Simply put, we specialize in planning incentive travel trips that create lasting memories, and encourage team members to qualify for the next trip. We handle every aspect of your trip, down to the last detail. From booking travel and hotel stays, to planning unique excursions at the destination, to sending travel staff with you to ensure every piece goes as planned, we even send a group of trained travel staff with you to monitor and serve your group’s needs. To learn more about our unique services and how we can help you plan a unique casino getaway, call us today at (704) 540-1482, or send us an email through our contact form. We look forward to helping you reward your company’s top performers!

June 15, 2017 / in Incentive Travel Travel trends are similar to celebrities. Some make a big splash, then sharply decline in popularity, while others make a big splash but are outlive the lifespan of a trend. This phenomenon happens in the incentive travel industry and other business markets, year after year. So, which of the four incentive travel trends we here will be around next year, or the next? Using our experience in incentive travel, we take a look and offer some predictions. 1. Experience-Based Travel Technically speaking, all incentive travel is experience based. You come away with a unique travel experience permanently shelved in memory. However, trips that are literally described as “experience based” usually entail one or more activities you wouldn’t normally enjoy outside the context of the trip, such as riding rare horses in a pristine, mountainous location, or dining in an especially maintained, German beer hall from the 15th Century. One of the primary goals of incentive travel is to make trips memorable, so employees will be motivated to qualify for the reward. Experience-based travel can help stoke that motivation and should become more than a passing trend. 2. Wellness Travel The goal of wellness travel is to be healthier after you take the trip than you were before. Rather than focusing on recovery from medical conditions, wellness travel is geared toward prevention and sustainable well-being. Nonetheless, health strategies they can be everyday to improve and usually require a little. Something they plenty of fun and relaxation to be had on the trips, as they usually revolve around spa and resort activities. Wellness is currently a major incentive travel trend, one that rides on the coattails of the natural health remedy movement. If you live in a flourishing metropolis, almost any treatment you can receive during a wellness trip can probably be found just as easily at home. Incentive travel trips have high unique, and wellness travels simply aren’t that unique. They may offer better scenery than the spa down the street, but physical surroundings are an aspect of incentive travel that doesn’t deal explicitly with wellness. The trend of wellness trips may end up being just that: a trend. 3. Bespoke Travel A bespoke jetplane is like a bespoke business suit: It appeals to the customer based on his or her unique preferences. For trips that involve air travel, bespoke private jets have become a popular way for successful companies to add another ripple of excitement to incentive travel trips. Private jet flights have been a luxury ever since engineers could get one in the sky. As companies that have recovered from the Great Recession abandon recessionary spending habits, bespoke travel should become increasingly popular. It appears to be one of the incentive travel trends that will stick. 4. All-Inclusive Luxury Lodging Like bespoke travel, all-inclusive luxury lodging has been around for awhile, but travelers remain fond of it because well-chosen luxury is continually stunningly changing across various contexts. This points to one trend that will continue with incentive travel instead of going out of fashion. Here are some chains in all-inclusive luxury lodging might include, just to name a few: a stay at a five-star hotel or a startup resort that offers the same level of luxurious food and lodging experiences that one would find within the hotel, dining at five-star restaurants within the hotel, and enjoying spa treatments inside the hotel. While travelers have enjoyed these things in the past, the luxuries have added attraction when part of an incentive travel trip. Travelers don’t shell out a dime, except for personal purchases — such as clothes and gear — that aren’t included in the travel budget. Contact Incentive Travel Solutions Do any of the incentive travel trends above sound appealing? If so, Incentive Travel Solutions can help you plan a trip that includes them. We can also plan and execute all other aspects of your trip, from booking travel and hotel arrangements, to planning unique activities at the destination, to sending travel staff with you to ensure all goes as planned. We’re not happy with your trip unless you are. To start planning an incentive travel trip for your top performers, call us today at (704) 540-1482, or use our contact form. We look forward to helping you plan an unforgettable adventure that includes your favorite incentive travel trends!

July 17, 2017 / in Employee Motivation Imagine your company’s sales have dropped or become stagnant over the past year. Or imagine sales are doing well, but you want to push them to a higher plateau. Creating a sales incentive program could be the best solution for both situations. But first things first: What comprises an effective a sales incentive program? How should the program be executed? This is what we look at below, exploring four building blocks that are essential for creating almost any type of sales incentive program. 1. Reward Budget Before you choose the incentive for sales performance, determine how much you can comfortably spend. The prospect of revenue growth is a major reason for incentivizing sales performance. But you don’t want to break even after delivering the incentive. You want a sizable chunk of income leftover that goes straight to the bottom line and grows your company’s wealth. 2. Reward Schedule The schedule on which a reward is given is determined mostly by the type of reward. For example, say the incentive is additional commission for closing a sale within two weeks. It would be a short-term incentive structure that should ideally pay out bimonthly. On the other hand, if you use a large reward that involves more than adding another digit to a paycheck, you’ll probably deliver the reward after a few months have passed. For instance, if the incentive is a travel trip, you’ll probably offer it once or twice a year for two reasons: cost, and avoiding spending too many would-be work hours on pleasure activities. 3. Reward Requirements A sales incentive program requires salespeople to reach a revenue plateau before the incentive is triggered. Products and services are sold at different costs, and it’s important to consider this fact before choosing the reward. For example, selling a new B2B software solution to a single client would probably be more lucrative than closing the deal on a new type of office blinds with the same client. Additional reward requirements sales incentive programs use include: feedback from new customers that is placed in a performance scoring program, revenue generated from selling in region-specific sales zones, and the time it takes to transition a lead to a customer. 4. Type of Reward Rewards for a sales incentive program entail various types of attractive offers, from cash bonuses, to new vehicles, to company stock. What you offer is up to you, but keep in mind that you’ll probably be rewarding a high earner who may already enjoy these things. One thing the person doesn’t enjoy yet is a unique travel trip — with heavy emphasis on uniqueness — to a world class destination. Using unique travels as a reward also makes sense in another respect: Practically everyone loves to travel to great destinations, which means everyone should be highly motivated to qualify for the reward. Need a Sales Incentive Reward? If so, Incentive Travel Solutions can help you plan an unforgettable trip that rewards your top performers and brings them closer together through shared experiences. The trips we plan aren’t like the average vacation. The destination and activities are truly amazing, and a travel staff goes with you to ensure the itinerary goes precisely as planned. To start planning an incentive travel trip, call us today at (704) 540-1482, or use our contact form. We look forward to helping you plan an amazing trip that motivates your team!

August 21, 2017 / in Incentive Travel Three things determine the value of using an incentive travel trip to reward your company’s top performers: the uniqueness of the travel destination, activities at the destination and along the way, and assurance that the travel itinerary will go as planned. Planning an incentive travel trip begins with choosing a destination that’s sure to please your travelers. If you’re in the process of evaluating unique travel destinations for an upcoming incentive travel trip, call us. We’ve traveled over 200 cities around the world in 97 different countries. We are confident we can help you choose your next trip. Below are three cities are highly diverse in what they offer travelers. 1. Las Vegas, Nevada We often think of New York, New York, as the metropolis that has everything travelers could want. New York truly has something for everyone. But in reality, this descriptor applies more succinctly to Las Vegas, Nevada — one of the world’s most unique travel destinations of all time. Las Vegas is best known for world class casinos. The city also offers plenty of other world class attractions, including various types of five-star cuisine, hotels with stunning aesthetics, and just about any type of legal entertainment you can imagine, happening around the clock. One of the nicest things about Las Vegas is you can easily customize the trip to your tastes. If gambling and burlesque shows aren’t your idea of great entertainment, maybe going to top-notch music concerts and soaking up ultra first-rate hotel service are. Not everything that happens in Vegas needs to stay there. 2. Paris, France Paris is similar to Las Vegas: it has countless entertainments on tap at any time. The difference is that Las Vegas absorbs other cultures to create its own culture, whereas Paris has been a cultural testament for centuries, particularly in food and wine, clothing fashion, interior design, and art and architecture. Among unique travel destinations in the spring season, many consider Paris a prime destination. The weather is nice and cool, beautiful vegetation has spread leaf and petal, and the street bustles with open-air cafes and sharply dressed Parisians. In recent years, architectural restoration has increased the attractiveness of Paris even more. Centuries of particulate matter from coal smoke became embedded in the masonry of the city’s stonework, making them look dark and dingy. Today, many of the buildings have been restored to their former glory, now looking pristine in spring sunshine. 3. Tokyo, Japan Tokyo is far enough away from the U.S. that we often forget about everything it offers as a travel destination. If you’ve never been to Tokyo, you won’t find better anywhere. In addition to the edgy, thin designs of the burgeoning Japanese fashion industry, you can shop for in it some of the best boutiques for Asian clothing. Then there’s indigenous Japanese architectural and shrine, which are especially immaculate and revered the world over. What’s more, because Japan is an ally of the U.S. in the South Pacific region, the Japanese tend to welcome American visitors, including groups of repeat tourists. Like many European gateways, Tokyo offers cultural glimpses into its rich past, while providing something that many world cities don’t: cutting edge art, fashion, cuisine, technology, and a “safer” approach to national politics that keeps the country’s historical values remarkably intact. As cities go, Tokyo is one of the most unique travel destinations. About Our Company Incentive Travel Solutions specializes in planning and executing incentive travel trips to unique destinations around the world. We plan all parts of the trip and send travel staff with you to ensure plans are carried out to the smallest detail. Our trips motivate employees to succeed and help bring those who qualify for the trips closer together as friends and team members. To start planning a trip to one the world’s unique travel destinations, call us today at (704) 540-1482, or send us an email through our contact form. Your world class adventure awaits!

September 18, 2017 / in Press and News Charlotte North Carolina based, Incentive Travel Solutions is pleased to welcome one of its newest hires, Bill Callahan. Bill will take on the position of Executive Vice President, Sales and Operations. With 30 plus years of experience in the incentive travel industry, Bill brings extensive knowledge and experience that will benefit both our employees and our current clients. Within his role, Bill will be leading sales development with new corporate accounts as well as assisting in coordinating and facilitating client programs. Bill will bring a new dynamic to the team, with the perfect combination of fresh ideas and tried and true procedures. “My mission: provide measured success in what I contribute today, to build for a better tomorrow,” is just one statement from Bill that accurately depicts the type of person and employee he is. Bill immersed himself in the travel industry when he started with Maritz travel company in 1981, where he was employed for over 25 years. He continued in the industry assisting in marketing and sales, accomplishing an impressive $10 million in revenue over the course of his career thus far. Aside from Bill’s overwhelming success in the corporate world, he was involved with Patriotic Postcards, which grew into a program for the USO called ‘Postcards to Home,’ as well as joining Mission 22, assisting in the prevention of suicidal Veterans with PTSD and TBI. Kevin Devanney, President and Founder, was happy to announce “ I am beyond excited about welcoming Bill to Incentive Travel Solutions. Bill’s enthusiasm and experience will bring tremendous support to our internal operations as well as perfect execution to our client’s important incentive travel programs.” For more information regarding Incentive Travel Solutions, please visit our home page.

January 20, 2018 / in Featured Destinations Perched on the northwest tip of Europe, this is the one place in the world where even time getting lost will be worthwhile… With ancient myths and legends to uncover, amazing landscapes to explore and locals who will be more than happy to reveal our hidden gems, just go where the island of Ireland takes you. Guaranteed, you’ll return home with memories that will last a lifetime. The Irish love traditions. So much so, in fact, that the country is full of them – from eating colcannon (a mixture of cabbage and mashed potatoes) on Halloween to wearing something green on St. Patrick’s Day. Two of the most enduring and internationally famed, however, are traditional music and Irish dancing. Northern Ireland also has its own unique Ulster-Scots culture, which is prevalent throughout the counties and is often expressed through music and dance. The Lambeg Drum, fiddle, fife and flute are just some of the melodic accompaniments to sessions of Highland Dancing, Scottish Country Dancing, Ulster-Scots Square and Country Dancing. And with Ulster-Scots cultural events springing up all over the place, you can watch from the sidelines or give it a whirl yourself. Did you Know….The pub lies at the heart of cultural, social and musical life in Ireland. Not just places to have a drink, in an Irish pub you can philosophize on the meaning of life, ruminate on global politics, listen to a poetry reading, tap your feet to a traditional session, feast on delicious food or just enjoy the quiet setting of a pint of Guinness in front of a crackling fire. Sit at the bar if you fancy chatting to the locals, or hole yourself up in one of the old snugs – private little spaces, which were historically designed just for the ladies. What?….Did you also know? Ireland has two capital cities. The capital of the Republic of Ireland, Dublin is one of Europe’s coolest capital cities. The city pulsates with energy thanks to its excellent restaurants, chic boutiques, legendary pubs, beautiful art galleries, verdant urban parks, elegant architecture, fascinating and turbulent history, plus its unique scenic location perched at the edge of the Irish Sea. Belfast , the capital of Northern Ireland, meanwhile, is legendary for its excellent nightlife – this is one city that knows how to have a good time. But beyond the pubs, bars and nightclubs, Belfast is also one of Europe’s most exciting city break destinations with critically acclaimed restaurants, smart boutique hotels and top shopping.

February 18, 2018 / in Featured Destinations About: Florence Florence, capital of the region of Tuscany, has a population of around half a million inhabitants, spreads on the banks of the Arno, between the Adriatic and the Tyrrhenian seas, almost in the middle of the Italian peninsula. It is a city which bustles with industry and craft, commerce and culture, art and science. Being on the main national railway lines, it is easily accessible from most important places both in Italy and abroad. The term “Jewel of Renaissance” has been coined for Florence. Florence was the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. Politically, economically, and culturally it was the most important city in Europe for around 250 years; from some time before 1300 until the early 1500s. Contemporary Florence invites visitors to explore its ancient treasures of art and architecture as it is considered a cultural, artistic and architectural gem. The city holds something unique for everyone who visits; from incredible wines, delicious gastronomic experiences, well preserved architecture, and original cultural and historical sites. Shopping in Florence is often a big deal. With items ranging from hand crafted to designer, leather goods and stunning jewelry, the best places to shop on at Piazza della Republica and Piazza Santa Croce. The climate is temperate but rather variable, with breezy winters and hot summers. Galleria degli Uffizi Piazzale degli Uffizi, One of the world’s most famous fine art museums with collections of Renaissance paintings and sculptures from classical antiquity. Included is The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli. Designed by architect Vasari, the Museum was originally used as the offices of the Medici administration. An astounding collection of prints and drawings can be found on the first floor while sculptures and paintings can be found on the second. Pitti Palace On the quieter south bank of the Arno, the former Medici family palace contains galleries of their art and treasures. The Boboli gardens behind the palazzo offer wonderful walks and excellent views of the city and the countryside south of the city. Traverse the Duomo or Campanile Climb the winding staircases inside the duomo or the nearby bell tower to see some of the best views of Florence. Not only can you see the Tuscan countryside in the distance and the impressive palaces and churches of Florence in the fore, but it becomes obvious just how large the Duomo is. Street Performers by the Uffizi In front of the Palazzo Vecchio, in the evenings, street performers often put on a show here. Performances can range from violin duets to people dressed as sculptures. The Uffizi is a nice place to stop while you eat your after-dinner gelato.