Bruce Rosard

New IRF Attendee Preference Study Reports Most Motivating Destinations and Program Design Elements  According to a recent IRF survey of North American employees, the appeal of group incentive travel remains strong. A group incentive travel experience to an appealing destination was rated ‘very’ or ‘extremely motivating’ by 91% of respondents for the third year in a row. 2024 Attendee Preferences for Incentive Travel explores trends in attendee preferences, factors in destination selection, and how incentive travel program design can impact employee motivation. “The motivational impact of incentive award travel remains high, and attendees find appeal in a broad array of destinations, program attributes, and trip features,” said Stephanie Harris, IRF President. “The insights provided by attendees will ensure incentive planners can feel confident in designing programs that capture the interest and enthusiasm of their attendees while balancing their budgetary and business realities.” 2024 Attendee Preferences for Incentive Travel looks at destinations and program design to determine the elements that provide maximum inspiration to earn the award. Key insights include: -Motivational appeal of group travel continues to be extremely high, especially among Gen Z and Millennials, and signals the continued relevance of incentive travel programs.  -2024’s top North American destinations preferred by qualified employees include past favorites such as Hawaii, Las Vegas, and Florida.  -Preferred international locations include countries in Western Europe andCentral America.  -Incentive travel attendees want free time to relax, opportunities for unique experiences, and luxury accommodations and experiences. -Previously visited destinations that qualified employees recommend returning to for incentive award travel include Hawaii, The Caribbean, Central America, and Western Europe.  -Attendees are excited about cruising, with 75% indicating a cruise experience is desirable regardless of the destination. -Cvent booking data illustrates Mexico and The Caribbean are still trending high for incentive destinations with nine out of the top ten booking destinations being in those regions. #IncentiveTravel #MeetingsAndEvents #EmployeeRewards #Travel #iCentiviz

2

Looking for a way to connect to others in your organization, in your physical community or in your global industry? Here are ideas to practice from your desk or while you take a 10 min walk in the park? Ann Shoket, CEO TheLi.st , offers these thoughts, “Networking can feel hard, vulnerable, and a drain. But our research shows that it’s not after-work drinks, or glad-handing networking events, or even splashy corporate retreats that build community. It’s tiny, daily ‘micro habits’ that create the support you need at work. There are people out there rooting for your success—stay in touch with them.” #networking #friendships #lifeskills

9

Ah, yes, for travel/leisure/”bleisure” part of the journey-itinerary-vacation is getting from Point A to Point B to Point C, and beyond. A good Skift article spotlighting an interview with Noam Toister, CEO of Travelier discussing the less talked about – yet very large $157B and critical -- travel sector of ground and sea transportation of buses, ferries, trains, and private cars. And the opportunities to elevate these via digital means, including but not limited to integrating further into the OTA’s. As I work in the leisure and experiential travel segment, this statement particularly stood out for me: "[via this sector’s large digitization gaps/opportunities] Destinations will benefit not only from increased tourism but also from a more distributed visitor load that moves traffic away from overcrowded cities and into more remote, lesser-known areas.” #travel #leisure #transportation #digital #transformation #ono #PragShah

17

Want to create a seamless stay for your Airbnb guests? It starts with the vacation rental checkin process! Be sure to include these pieces of information in your checkin email for your short-term rental. It will reduce questions, ensure the guest has what they need, and show that you are committed to providing them with a conflict-free stay! Which piece are you missing in your checkin instructions? #airbnbinvesting #airbnbinvestor #airbnbguests #guestfirst #hospitalitycoach #airbnbcoach #airbnbhostlife #strinvestor #vacationrentalmanagement #guestcommunication

2

I get questions all the time about who Mount's competitors are. It's no secret that we're trying to do something new—be the distribution channel of experiences for the STR space. This is challenging when most discoverable experiences online are in major city markets, leaving 2nd and 3rd markets underrepresented. Today, I'm excited to team up with Annie Munro Sloan to squash all competitor rumors. Together, as the Queens of Upselling, we’ll discuss stay add-ons, elevating your guest experience, and how our platforms work together to offer every upsell you could want. Now, you can offer early check-in, late check-out, and the best experiences your market has to offer. Join us in redefining guest experiences and unlocking the full potential of the STR space! Mount #ShortTermRentals #GuestExperience #Upselling #Airbnb

59

10 Comments

By Request: Customers First Vault, Originally Aired, Oct 10th, 2023...Episode 123 Join Tacey and her Special Guest, Author, Speaker, Co-Founder & CEO of GreenPal, Bryan Clayton. Today’s topic is “Are You Prioritizing the Customer?” Bryan discusses how to get the right team in place & aligned with your goals while driving everyone toward making the customer the top priority. Every design your team makes, from hiring to termination, affects the customer.   Timestamp: 01:32: Bryan’s Story Timestamp: 10:51: Aligning Your Team to Your Business Goals Timestamp: 16:19: Customer at the Core Timestamp: 22:15: Finding the Right People   Bryan’s Contact Information: Website: https://lnkd.in/e7rZ935F LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/eugAbcdS Instagram: https://lnkd.in/e7jhskGk   Tacey’s Contact Information: https://lnkd.in/g7gdBmm6 Thank you for tuning in, and I look forward to having more valuable conversations together in the future. Remember: Customer-Centric Cultures Create Magical Customer Experiences. Now Go Spread the Magic! Let's Create Magic Together! www.taceyatkinson.com #CustomersFirst #CustomerExperience @TaceyAtkinson #CreatetheMagic #CustomerCentric #Culture #TeamEngagement #Attrition #CustomerLoyalty

4

Just a little 'Offload" on Linkedin today... Can any of my hotel connections and travel advisor friends let me know how they feel about the below hotel policy? Or please explain how this is okay in the 2024 travel advisory ecosystem? I'm going to have a little Offload about this on the next podcast as there is SO. MUCH. TO. UNPACK. and would love to know your thoughts. "XXX Is reflected as a no-show reservation. No-show reservations are non commissionable. No commission will be paid. XXX only pays commission on actualized room revenues at commissionable rates. Fees assessed by the hotel for cancellation after the specified cancellation time or no-shows are not commissionable. Please review the hotel's cancellation policy when booking a reservation." I have so many thoughts! The main one being that "XXX only pays commission on actualized room revenues at commissionable rates." would indicate they should pay commission because they actualised the revenue on the room, even though the guest was unable to stay? 🧡 AC #offloaded #offloadedpodcast #noshownocommission #b2b

12

21 Comments

🧳✈️ I'm a huge fan of AI for many things, but haven't tried using it while planning any travel. After reading this article exploring the pitfalls of AI in travel by Opheli Garcia Lawler at Thrillist I don't think I will anytime soon. Despite its promise, AI often misdirects travelers to closed or non-existent spots. It's a reminder that human expertise is still crucial for a seamless travel experience! https://lnkd.in/ep9T8sRU #TravelTips #AI #TravelTech

4

2 Comments

Just a few more days to join the second version of the Trip Planning Market Map!! The Trip Planning market, defined very broadly, is large and unwieldy. It is my goal through these Market Maps to help us all understand the size, shape, and focus areas of this market. So please fill out the survey below and share it with other founders. Trip Planning includes all stages: Dream & Discovery, Research & Planning, Booking, in-trip, and sharing/post-trip. A few early results are below in the comments. https://lnkd.in/gubwkghd

22

4 Comments

There are lots of things I can plan. Here are three of my favorites to plan, coordinate, and book for clients: 🏖️𝐻𝑜𝓃𝑒𝓎𝓂𝑜𝑜𝓃𝓈 🍾𝒜𝓃𝓃𝒾𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓈𝒶𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓈 🏝️𝐹𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓃𝒹𝒸𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈 But of course, these are just MY personal favorites — when it comes to planning, it's all about you, your travel preferences, and what you want and need out of your trip. Get in touch to chat about your travel plans and how I can help you plan a tailored trip. 👇🏼 https://lnkd.in/eGx-Rgit #travel #vacation #planning #travelagents

1

Is it weird that when you go to submit a speaker proposal for a conference, you're asked if you're a member of their organization? It feels like they won't let you speak unless you pay to be part of their membership. In my eyes, this turns away great speakers who don't want or need to pay to play. There's a lot of talk about what needs to change in industry conferences, and I believe this is a core issue. We shouldn't source speakers based on how much money they pay an organization or how well-connected they are to the panel choosing the speakers. We need to widen our reach, find undiscovered talent, and give them a stage. I'd love to see Journey More on stage, sharing how they work with properties as influencers to drive direct bookings. Who do you want to see?

91

37 Comments

For the last 18 years we've been gathering industry data through our "Industry Snapshot" with tour operators. Drumroll please..... The new edition is released as of today! Free to download, you'll get a raftload of information about how trends are shifting and things they are a-changing..... https://lnkd.in/gaV4ZAGn #adventuretraveldata #adventuretravel #adventuretourism #travelstatistics

177

14 Comments

✈️🧒While my kids aren’t at the age yet where they can fly alone, I know that the kids of many of my connections on here are, which is why I wanted to share this really insightful article from Alexander Nazaryan at The New York Times. I’ll definitely be keeping these tips in my back pocket when my girls get to the right age! https://lnkd.in/eAacZq3z #KidsFlying #ParentTips

3

There is a clear dissonance between marketing representation and guest experience in luxury hospitality. Outdated (or more likely, overused) influencer marketing, the decline of authentic travel media and a lack of differentiation for brand positioning are all issues for travelers flooded with options. These insights underline the value of travel professionals who can navigate these complexities. Expertly trained, knowledgeable travel advisors will become more valuable as they can: 🎯 Navigate Marketing Overhype: Advisors can discern and filter through viral, hyper-marketed experiences ensuring that clients end up with genuine moments that match their expectations. 💡 Offer Personalized Recommendations: Advisors use their knowledge to tailor suggestions that align with the preferences and specific tastes of the client. 🚨 Counteract Biases: As pay-to-play continues to grow, advisors with firsthand knowledge of hotels and destinations will offer unbiased, reliable insight. 🤝 Foster Authentic Experiences: Advisors help clients avoid the dreaded 'sea of sameness' in luxury travel -- by offering unique experiences far from the mainstream options dominated by superficial marketing. As travelers continue to prioritize authentic luxury experiences over commodification, travel advisors will continue to meet their expectations. I'm excited for Nicer's future, ensuring every traveler can connect with a professional advisor and realize their travel dreams.

31

1 Comment

So, here it is, Episode 2 of the High-Yield Tourism Podcast: "Applying High-Yield Tourism in Dynamic Asian Markets". Gary Bowerman and Dr. Jens Thraenhart discuss High-Yield Tourism within Asia Pacific’s dynamic post-pandemic re-growth context. The journey takes us from Thailand and Singapore to China, Japan and South Korea and Mongolia and Saudi Arabia. Travellers across the region are living out their lifestyle passions when they travel. Destinations and tourism brands are seeking to respond - often with political leaders playing a central role. But visitor numbers are rising fast once again bringing new challenges. Plus, does backpacking in Asia - which is the spiritual home of this genre of travel - fit the high-yield model? Listen here on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eJbB5pHN

6

Do you want to design and facilitate a truly transformative experience for travelers, guests, and hosts by intentionally building deep and lasting relationships with your guests that deliver exceptional, holistic value and impact? The Transformational Travel Council has the opportunity to curate a Tourism Roundtable leading this seminal study into the emerging Transformation Economy led by the Stone Mantel Collaboratives. 2024/25 marks year 3 of 7 in this seminal study and we will continue to work in mentorship and collaboration with industry icons like Joe Pine and others to generate research, tools, and frameworks to attract more guests, build more personal relationships with those we serve, uncover their aspirations related to their travels and help them achieve them, whether they are small t or BIG T transformations. The annual four-summit 'hybrid' journey kicks off in September and we are finalizing our Roundtable over the next few weeks. Other companies involved in the Collaboratives are the Sierra Club, The Walt Disney Company, Create Joy Travel, Edward Jones, and BVK to name a few. If this is something that ignites your curiosity watch the webinar recording and please reach out to me today. If you'd like to take a public course or inquire about private training please visit https://lnkd.in/g7knYuy to learn more. #experienceeconomy #experiencedevelopment #transformationeconomy #nextgeneration #valuecreation #transformationaltravel #research #innovation #tourism

2

1 Comment