March 2, 2013 / in Featured Destinations Coast of the Sun, a translation for Costa del Sol, provides insight on the setting provided by this southern area of Spain. As part of Andalusia, it is one of the many coastal locations residing along the Mediterranean. The region was originally a compilation of small settlements with fishing as a primary activity; however, Costa del Sol, Spain has grown into a renowned worldly tourist destination. The location now caters to more than two million travelers each year and has made its mark as a golf haven. Those making reservations between the months of June and October should plan well in advance as this timeframe is the busiest visiting time for Costa del Sol. It is important to know that a number of the businesses at this tourist destination shut down after October to take their own hiatus after the busy season. Costa del Sol Sands & Shorelines An abundance of beach settings are available to cater to the exact needs of each traveler. Individuals wanting the most picturesque coastal front should consider El Bajondillo. It is an iconic set of beachfront near the city of Malaga consisting of soft sand, bars, restaurants, and a few amenities not provided by alternative resort locations. These tourist businesses found along the beach promenade make it easy to access needed items while enjoying a day on the sand or in the water. La Carihuela is another beachfront location where early arrival is a must. Visitors who are lucky enough to get a spot on the sand have the opportunity to watch the village come to life, do a little shopping, and hang out at a café. Widely known as one of the cleanest coastal fronts, it offers several comfy sunshade beds for a day of relaxation and great Mediterranean seafood. La Fontanilla is a black sanded beach with a pedestrian promenade in a smaller setting that tends to be fairly packed during the busy time of the year. It supplies a one of a kind view of the ocean and houses a variety of tantalizing restaurants. Area Activities Golf is another drawing point of Costa del Sol since numerous resorts supply memorable accommodations, instant beach access, and excellent tee times. The top ranked courses in the region include Parador de Malaga Golf, Golf Hotel Guadalmina, and Lost Monteros. A few of the courses at this destination have been ranked among the best on the continent of Europe. A stay at one of the resorts makes them easily accessible since booking is hard to accomplish without the assistance of a resort. Park De La Paloma is a great spot to have a picnic or spend the day in nature. The park, lying just off the beaten path of the coastline, covers more than two-hundred thousand square meters. Museums, wildlife areas, water activities, artistic performances, and historic neighborhoods are all part of the island experience. Costa del Sol is a year-round destination where travelers are able to bask in the sun, play a round of golf, and try new, exciting activities. Whatever the interest, this travel destination provides the right atmosphere for a perfect getaway.

March 4, 2013 / in Featured Destinations Companies often incentivize their employees, rewarding their top earners, sales representatives, and executives with corporate incentive travel, meaning the employee receives an all-expenses paid trip to a premier destination. It is rare for a company to send their top employees to an undesirable location, or else what would be the purpose of corporate incentive travel? Luckily, company decision makers are wise enough to plan an annual travel destination to a place a person could only dream of seeing in a lifetime. One of those “once in a lifetime” travel opportunities can be found in “the land down under,” Auckland, New Zealand. Auckland, New Zealand is part of what has been coined as “the land down under” (consisting of two landmasses—New Zealand and Australia) due to its location in the southeastern hemisphere. However, depending on where you live, it might be considered a great distance to travel. However, Auckland, New Zealand offers so many unique and desirable features and locales travelers will absolutely fall in love with the mesmerizing city. Located on the North Island of New Zealand, Auckland is the largest by land mass and most populated city in the country. The indigenous peoples of New Zealand, the Maori, in their native tongue call Auckland “T?maki Makaurau,” meaning “a maiden with one hundred lovers.” The Mairo were the first settlers to arrive in New Zealand by boat, and later other migrants from other Pacific Islands came to settle and helped make up the variously ethnic Polynesian people. Today, Auckland, New Zealand is considered one of the top cities in the world to live, as ranked by the Mercer Quality of Living Survey and the Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) “world’s most livable cities.” If you enjoy spending your free time outside exploring terrain and bountiful outdoor locations, a city more plentiful than Auckland might not exist. Some of the incredible and stunning locations and features of Auckland include its incredible rainforest in the Waitakere Ranges (one of the only places where a rainforest exists outside of the tropics); The Hillary Trail, which connects several regional parks to backpacker campgrounds; and several domains and regional parks spread throughout the city. In addition, as one might expect from a beautiful New Zealand city, Auckland’s beaches are some of the most beautiful found in the world. Their west coast beaches have become famous for surfing, boating, pristine and crystal-clear ocean water, and their uncanny black sand. If your corporate incentive travel this year happens to be a ticket to Auckland, New Zealand, put in all the extra work hours you need to guarantee yourself one of the most beautiful cities you could ever hope to find on the other side of the globe! With its stunning features and outdoor recreational activities, incredible and vast culture and ethnic tribal population, as well as wonderful architectural aesthetics, Auckland is not only a city you will love, it may become the city you would love someday to call home.

March 7, 2013 / in Featured Destinations Though monetary compensation for workers who hit specific goals and achievements throughout the business calendar year is always welcomed by employees, sales representatives, and executives, travel incentive programs have gained considerable popularity among company decision makers, and the top-level executives and workers who receive these incredible rewards. The opportunity to sojourn in an area of the world one would not normally visit, especially when it includes an all-expenses paid travel, offers the lucky recipient the memories of a lifetime. If you relish moments of awesome adventures visiting incredible landmarks, then brave the opportunity to visit the Australian Outback and explore breathtaking Ayers Rock, Australia. Ayers Rock is an immense sandstone rock formation located in the southern area of Australia’s Northern Territory, not too far from the nearest town, Alice Springs. Ayers Rock, known as Uluru by the Anangu—the Aboriginal people of the area and who deem the rock as sacred—is the world’s largest monolith and is Australia’s most famous landmark. Fortunately, those who visit the incredible landmark do not have to travel back and forth from the nearest city, as resorts nearby the rock formation provide accommodations, such as an awestruck “backyard” view of the wondrous and vast monolith. A “once in a lifetime” chance to see Ayers Rock is only part of what will come to be considered an unbelievable travel incentive program opportunity offered by your company, this destination puts you right in the heart of the Australian Outback. Aside from seeing the greatest monolith in the world, visitors can enjoy numerous water springs, waterholes, rock caves flush with ancient paintings from generations of Aborigines, rock formations, many Aboriginal sacred sites, and several lifetimes’ worth of spectacular scenery. It would be remiss if there were no mention of the adventurous safari excursions one can embark on while visiting the Outback. As you may already know, Australia is home to wildlife most people are only lucky enough to see in a zoo, rather than roaming free in their natural habitat. Ayers Rock, Australia is truly an outdoor adventurer’s dream come true. Incentive travel programs are growing in popularity, and this flourishing trend should not come as a surprise because companies are offering hard working employees an expense paid adventure to a part of the world one would not normally travel, or could not afford. Simply stated, Ayers Rock, Australia is a destination unlike any other found on the globe, and this great Australian landmark, as well as the encompassing land of the Outback, will give the fortunate visitor memories that will never be forgotten, and an entire evening’s worth of conversation pieces sure to capture the attention of friends.

March 16, 2013 / in Incentive Travel Articles Almost everyone has seen those MasterCard commercials that list the price tag on costs during a certain outing, but the result or culmination of the outing is said to be “priceless.” Those commercials are a perfect analogy for monetary bonuses versus the opportunity for corporate group travel. A solid monetary bonus at the end of the year for a job well done is satisfying and rewarding, but to receive an all-expense paid travel destination for a long needed vacation is beyond monetary value. Rest, relaxation, refreshment, recuperation, adventure, fun, excitement—to experience all of these wonderful adjectives by achieving an earned travel vacation is priceless. Many businesses understand the need for their employees to experience a life adventure sure to create lasting memories, which is why many companies are opting to provide corporate group travel for their successful workers, sales representatives, and executives. Those unaware of the vast riches of history and culture found in the city of Berlin, Germany often conjure thoughts of the city as the epicenter during World War II when hearing its name. However, if you ask anyone who has been to Berlin, it would be safe to assume that people who have been there would tell you it is a marvelous city that should be visited at least once in a lifetime (but once you go, you will want to arrange multiple visits to go back). We can begin with the architecture, where visitors will find the most impressive and breathtaking constructions and buildings in all of Europe, one of which includes the famous Brandenburg Gate. Due to its rich history and culture, Berlin has some of the most interesting and educational museums, full of enthralling information and artifacts that date back centuries, and help explain the city’s influences and formation. Directly related to Berlin’s spectacular history is the reason why visitors will find several historical sites and monuments—including remaining remnants of the Berlin Wall—all of which are devoted to the memory of the city’s presence, influence, and resilience during periods of accomplishment, triumph, and achievement, as well as during setbacks and missteps. An individual who is fascinated by abounding history and vast cultural phenomena would fall in love with Berlin, Germany. Those who appreciate a city with so much history, storied events, and, of course entertainment and adventure should be happy to find, through corporate group travel, their company or enterprise offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit such a city. Be thankful your place of business provides such a unique and fortunate opportunity, and, if given the chance, work hard for the pleasure of a dream trip to one of Europe’s most famous and magnificent cities.

March 28, 2013 / in Employee Motivation An incentive travel company is a proprietor of unique, one-of-a-kind travel destinations for employees who have earned such a bestowment, based on the opinion of the company head who makes those decisions. It serves as a method to inspire employees to become top performers, and if they succeed in doing so, they are rewarded with an awesome vacation destination to a place in the world considered beautiful, unique, and exclusive. A professional incentive travel company, such as our own business, will offer intriguing destinations that provide any type of atmosphere a person could want. The company should also provide an on-site travel staff that will be there every step of the way as you prepare your travel destination. The travel staff should provide courteous and informative service to ensure every detail of your travel set up is completed correctly, and with ease. The professionalism of our staff, and the perfection and ease of use concerning our website promises expansive hotel contracts to make sure you find the right hotel at the right price, as well as clear and precise airline contract negotiations to guarantee an easy flight with as few connections as possible, and agreeable departure and arrival times. Our website has been designed by experts, and we can promise that our online web registration is simple and flawless. An excellent incentive travel company should understand the meticulousness and detail-oriented process of arranging this type of vacation. The insight the company has to this process ensures that every step is taken, and nothing is missed. We know how disruptive and time-consuming one little detail left undone can be to vacation travel. Because everyone at our company is versed in the process, you do not have to worry about this ever being a problem for you, or for your employees who you are bestowing such a lovely gift. Finally, a successful travel company succeeds in obtaining repeat business. We want every single one of our clients to use our services annually, and when they do, we know we have provided them with an incredible vacation and travel solution. An incentive travel company should pride themselves in their repeat business because that is the main sign that they are successful in their trade.

April 5, 2013 / in Employee Motivation The economy is a roller coaster, people are working more hours on average, and often workers’ pay is not commensurate with skill level and the amount of hours worked each week. The majority of employees struggle to stay motivated when working under these circumstances. Fortunately, there are corporate incentive travel companies that offer a solution to the problem of the increase in disgruntled employees. Read below to discover the benefits of using corporate incentive travel companies to keep employees motivated. Employee Recognition Studies have proven that more employees enjoy being recognized for the hard work they put in for their employer. This is not simply about the actual compensation, it is about massaging the human ego, and having an employee recognized by their managers and superiors for a job well done. It makes a worker feel as if they are an integral part of the organization, and those who are above him or her realize the worker’s importance to the growth and stability of the overall organization. Employee Compensation Here comes the reward. Of course, employees would be more than satisfied with a nice monetary bonus at the end of a quarter or year. However, studies show that employees are starting to favor more unique perks, such as vacations to hot spot destinations around the world that are provided by corporate incentive travel companies. Vacation destinations to exclusive places offer an employee what often feels like a “once in a lifetime” opportunity. These vacations are to places workers would not usually consider, and when businesses offer these unique perks, it provides an incredible feeling of importance and excitement—to see a part of the world considered extraordinary to which an employee would not normally travel. Improved Employee Motivation A business that uses corporate incentive travel companies in order to compensate employees for performing excellent work is setting the bar for their workforce. If a business’s workers achieve certain goals or quotas by a certain time, they will receive an incredible bonus. The chance to receive an all expenses paid vacation to an exclusive area of the world such as Bali, Prague, or Fiji, is a valuable motivation tool for employees. It has been proven that employees are willing to work harder and put in more hours for an opportunity to receive such impressive compensation. The above mentioned are three important reasons to begin using corporate incentive travel companies due to their benefits. By implementing these tools, business owners will quickly see a boost in employee morale and productivity when performing their duties.

April 10, 2013 / in Incentive Travel Articles Most people all over the world have probably heard or read about the beauty, the vast culture, the unbelievable architecture, as well as the delicious and elaborate cuisines – among so many other incredible features – that Barcelona , Spain beholds. As you read this, you might be thinking to yourself about how many times you have heard wonderful comments made regarding the country of Spain, or how many times you have said to yourself that one day, you will definitely travel to the beautiful country. If you are fortunate enough to work for a company offering corporate & incentive travel benefits usually given to a company’s top performing employees, sales representatives and executives, then that dream vacation to Spain you have always thought about, but never followed through with has become a closer reality. Through corporate & incentive travel programs, hardworking employees who work for businesses that reward dedication, innovation, and success will experience what it is like to travel to such a beautiful and wondrous city as Barcelona, Spain. Barcelona is rich in culture, with the city’s arts and entertainment as impressive as any city in the world. Barcelona offers countless venues for music, theater and dance, as the city is home to the most notable and recognized opera houses, theatres, and concert halls. Athletics is also an important part to the city’s culture, as Barcelona boasts one of the top Futbol (also known as soccer, to those stubborn Americans) teams in the world. The city was home to the 1992 summer Olympics and is currently bidding to be the site for the 2022 Winter Olympics. If sailing, fishing, boating, aquatic sports, or simply the thought of relaxing on beautiful beaches sound intriguing, there may not be a better city anywhere on the map which to partake in these splendid activities than Barcelona, Spain. The city is home to one of the largest ports in the world. Barcelona Beach was ranked as the number one beach destination on the globe by both Discovery Channel and National Geographic. In all, there are seven beaches total, all of which are breathtaking. To list all of the reasons why Barcelona, Spain is an absolute must to visit, one would have to write quite a voluminous book. Fortunately, companies are beginning to reward their employees through corporate & incentive travel programs, so they may have the opportunity to experience and enjoy a city with so much lavish culture and rich history. It would be a shame for anyone to miss exploring everything Barcelona has to offer. Fortunately, through corporate & incentive travel arrangements, this unique and extraordinary chance for an unbelievable odyssey is now closer to becoming a reality.

April 15, 2013 / in Featured Destinations Corporate incentive travel programs have become so popular with employees who work in situations where their company offers such rewards for those who have earned it through hard work and diligence that many of them prefer a paid travel vacation to a monetary bonus. These incentives allow people to embark on a wonderful vacation destination they normally would not take the time or effort to book, nor could afford. Employees work to make money, however, sometimes a price cannot be placed on the importance of rest, relaxation, different scenery, and the sheer enjoyment of an adventurous and fun-filled getaway. Upper tier executives and corporate decision makers recognize this need for psychological refreshment, which is why many businesses are implementing corporate incentive travel programs for their best and hardworking employees, sales representatives, and executives. Madrid and Barcelona often receive top billing as it pertains to the best city destinations in Spain, and each are wonderful and breathtaking in their own regard. However, those who have traveled to Benidorm, Spain will tell you the up-and-coming—once small village now turned city—is not only one of the most overlooked and underrated cities in Spain, but in all of Europe. Benidorm is a coastal town on the eastern coast of Spain. What was not too long ago a small fishing town soon became recognized as a perfect place for a port and vacation destination. Today, Benidorm is home to luxurious hotels and vacation spots due to its beautiful beach locations and its proximity to the Mediterranean Sea. Benidorm, Spain is rich in history and culture, and one of the best examples of its beauty and coronation into modernity is the diversity of its architecture. You will see striking skyscrapers, as well as centuries old housing, buildings, and cathedrals, making a leisurely stroll through some areas of Benidorm a strain on the battery of your camera or smart phone, as you will no doubt be taking countless pictures of such mesmerizing architecture and scenery. The citizens of Benidorm have embraced the tourism, as is apparent with the enthralling nightlife, the deliciously authentic cuisines found at local eateries, and the plentiful sightseeing opportunities. When your company’s corporate incentive travel programs offer Benidorm, Spain as its featured destination, do not be discouraged that it is not one of the more notable cities of Spain. Rather, embrace the notion that you are going to a part of the country that is as beautiful and full of culture as any city in Spain, without feeling like one of the countless number of tourists that sometimes overpopulate the more popular Spanish locales. You will love Benidorm.

April 22, 2013 / in Press and News Keeping employees motivated is essential to the success of a business, at any level. More often than not, and especially in larger companies, managers and executives often fail to realize when an employee becomes discontent. When an employee becomes discontent, his or her work habits suffer, and the job he or she is tasked to perform becomes slack, and eventually hurts the company before anything can be done to fix the situation. Consequently, this employee is usually let go for perceived laziness or insubordination. However, in truth, who is to blame? Many who read this are probably more likely to empathize with the disgruntled employee, who probably worked hard for a considerable period, bet felt lost in the shuffle, and decided, since no one recognized the hard work he or she put in, that the long hours just simply was no longer worth the effort. Others may read this and think to themselves that the frustrated employee is paid to perform a duty, and that duty was not completed consistently, therefore he or she should be released for not holding up their end of the bargain. After all, since when did we become a society that needs to be recognized for every good deed, and that performing our job is a duty that requires constant goading to perform? Whatever side of the fence you fall on, the fact is that today’s workforce needs motivation. The following should provide an excellent idea on how to best motivate employees. Offering workers corporate incentive travel programs is a wonderful way to motivate employees. It is true that the workforce has been putting in more hours, and pay has not increased in accordance with the longer hours worked. Providing bonuses is certainly an option, but why not offer employees who work crazy hours to get their job completed in exemplary manner a vacation destination to a beautiful and fun city? This way, employees get to refresh themselves by either relaxing or taking part in fun and adventurous extracurricular activities, or perhaps both. Motivating employees through corporate incentive travel programs will accomplish two important aspects to a worker’s routine—they will work harder toward achieving goals in order to attain the incentive travel program, and it provides an escape from the stress a daily grind at the office creates. Travel expertise combined with extensive knowledge of resorts and hotels allows Incentive Travel Solutions to offer a variety of destination proposals to choose from. Contact us today to see how we can work within your budget to create an exciting and rewarding experience for your employees.

April 25, 2013 / in Press and News Extended work hours, lack of annual bonuses or raises, reduced or rescinded employee benefits—these are some of the many issues workers are facing with an unstable economy and an overhaul in government regulations, forcing businesses to cut back. When you reduce or take away any of these benefits from an employee, that employee will eventually become disgruntled. When workers become disgruntled, they become unmotivated, and consequently, their work habits and productivity begin to wane. As a business owner, you cannot afford unproductive employees because it will end up hurting your revenue and bottom line. How does a business owner keep employees motivated? One solution would be to offer your workers an incentive travel program, which is provided by an incentive travel company, such as ours. Incentive travel programs serve several purposes. For one, it is viewed as a reward for hard work and success. Most employees enjoy being rewarded for a job well done because it signals that their superiors are recognizing their hard work. They feel important and valuable to the company. Second, it is a vacation—all expense paid—and an escape from the hardships of a perpetual workweek, and the doldrums that sometimes come with it. One cannot overstate how important a vacation can be to workers. It is an adventure to an exclusive and always beautiful part of the world that guarantees not only fun, but also refreshment and relaxation. When workers come back from a wonderful vacation, they often feel rejuvenated, and ready to get back to work with a new outlook. It breaks up the previously mentioned perpetual workweek, which makes it easier to put in considerable time to get your job completed when you come back. In addition, it is a valuable commodity for which to strive. If an employee knows how hard he or she needs to work, or what he or she needs to accomplish in order to achieve an incentive travel program, said employee will likely do whatever it takes to make sure the work is completed on time, and in sufficient manner. If you are a company owner looking for resources to keep employees motivated, consult incentive travel companies, such as our own proprietorship, to learn more about how incentive travel programs work.

April 30, 2013 / in Employee Motivation As a business owner who might be pondering whether to provide top performing employees with an incentive travel program, you are not merely giving your best employees a unique benefit, you are indirectly improving your business, your output, and your bottom line. If your employees know they receive an incredible benefit, such as an all-expenses paid to an incredible and breathtaking destination if they reach certain goals and quotas, you are ensuring your business is receiving unbelievable output during your business cycle. Therefore, if your business provides a service for a fee, you are guaranteeing a boost in company sales. For business owners, this scenario is an absolute win-win proposition. You workers are the most important resource to your company. Because of this truth, you want this resource happy, working hard, motivated, and pleased with the company, colleagues, and their surroundings. Incentive travel programs succeed in making sure all of those aspects come to fruition, and stay that way indefinitely. You are rewarding your work force for a job well done, as you should. The other part of the equation is you will boost company sales, because your work force will want to do what is necessary to acquire such a bestowment. Hard work directly boosts company profit. Taking into consideration what can be gained by using our services, an incentive travel program should sound like a wise investment. On our end, we take the necessary steps to make sure you always feel that our services are a wise investment for the life of our contractual agreement. On your end, you provide your best employees with a great reward for consistently performing outstanding work, and subsequently, you indirectly boost company sales. Our professionals are ready to assist you in any way necessary. We will make sure the entire process is easy, fun, and rewarding. Act now and contact us, and we will explain, in detail, our services, and you can start rewarding your top performers, and watch as your company gets a welcome boost in your bottom line.

May 1, 2013 / in Featured Destinations One of the most important elements incentive travel companies should consider is ensuring all types of worldly cultures to which an individual can travel are provided by the proprietor to the client. Some people enjoy beaches, while others prefer mountains. Some people crave modern metropolises, while others like a quaint, classical locale. Whatever a person’s preference, or the preference of a business chief executive who is offering this type of bonus to his successful employees, incentive travel companies must institute an comprehensive travelogue. Fortunately, our clients have this luxury by simply procuring our industry trade. We offer any type of travel experience for which an individual or company is looking. For those who enjoy classical style architecture, almost medieval in some aspects, surrounded by rolling hills and incredible landscapes, then Edinburgh, Scotland would be a travel experience you would never forget. Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, and it is where the Scottish government and parliament reside. The buildings and construction in Edinburgh are magnificent, blending what sometimes looks like an ancient period with inception of newer, modern developments. Many areas in Scotland can make you feel like you have been sent back in time, standing in unblemished countryside as you await the appearance of a historic folk hero to blaze past you on horseback; all the while in the background somewhere a broad chested man in a kilt is playing the bagpipes. Edinburgh is no exception. Though Edinburgh, Scotland boasts an unbelievable old school charm, there is much within the city that proves it is coming along with the times. Edinburgh is also famous for its wonderful festivals—some of the best in the world—along with its support of music, theater, and film, as will become obvious while touring the city. Because of its rich history and affinity for the arts, Edinburgh has several museums, libraries, and galleries for those who wish to indulge in the enduring culture and local art scene. Edinburgh, Scotland is a trip that should not be missed if given the opportunity to travel to the city. Because of its landscape and classical charm, the look of the city, as well as the country, is not replicated anywhere in the world. Incentive travel companies would do well to include this beautiful location as one of the travel destinations of choice. Fortunately, if a place such as the one described here tickles your fancy, then you need to look no further than our company for booking your travel to Edinburgh.