Matt is an experienced B2B Loyalty & Incentive program designer with over 20 years working with Australian and New Zealand brands. Passionate about partnering with businesses to understand specific business and sales pain points, he takes a consultative approach to develop engaging solutions for customers that deliver measurable results.
While our incentive travel blogs are often about logistics, planning, demographics, and activities, it’s important to remember that so much of the power of these programs comes from the travel destination itself.
That’s why, this month, we’re doing the travel blog a little differently. We’ve asked our expert travel team to break down some of their favourite travel destinations from the last 12 months to give your next program a boost of inspiration!
Interested in getting the most out of your next incentive travel program?
Starting in Australia, one of the hottest travel destinations amongst the team is Hamilton Island, located in the Whitsundays in Queensland. A tropical paradise, Hamilton Island remains car-free primarily. It is covered in bushlands, with the coast fringed by coral reefs.
Aside from the oft-seen bushland critters such as koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, and kookaburras, which many guests will be overwhelmed with excitement to witness, this peaceful destination is host to many incredible scenic walks allowing guests to see nearby islands. With average winter weather of 21 degrees during the day, this is a year-round destination your program participants will be overjoyed to see on the itinerary!
Some of the activities our team has highlighted as their favourites were a Whitehaven beach cruise and a BBQ dinner between the beach and the pool lit by string lights and backed by a water feature, so whatever the occasion, Hamilton Island can deliver precisely what your program is after!
Victoria Falls is located on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe and is one of the world’s largest waterfalls, making the cut as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. With breathtaking views that are almost too spectacular and majestic to describe (which is why we’ve included photos below) and attractions on the Zambian side, including the Boiling Pot and the Devil’s Pool, there’s no shortage of reasons to attend.
When asked about the biggest reasons they loved the destination, the overwhelming consensus was the accommodation—The Royal Livingstone Hotel, described as “explorer luxury” with views overlooking the Zambezi River.
Guests can wake up to the sights of zebras wandering the hotel grounds, raise a glass at sunset to the marvellous waterfall thundering behind it, and spend their days on safari in the Mosi-oa Tunya National Park or spa relaxation sessions under the shade of the monkey trees on the banks of the river.
With reasons to visit both above and below ground, the next stop on our hot travel destination tour is Cappadocia, a semi-arid region in central Turkey. It is known for its distinctive “fairy chimneys,” which are tall, cone-shaped rock formations clustered around Monks Valley, Göreme, and many others.
Another notable reason to visit Cappadocia is the “Bronze-age” homes, which were carved into valley walls by ancient cave dwellers and used as refuges by early Christians. These subterranean dwellings are fascinating to see, and the twists and turns of early architecture allow guests to see how they evolved into the homes of today.
These homes are contrasted by sky-high plateaus and volcanic peaks, going up 1,000 metres in altitude. You can see it all from the peak and truly soak in what makes this destination so special. Our team backed this up, who confirmed that hot air balloon rides were the overriding experience of note (pun intended!).
With a varied climate of hot, dry summers and cold, snowy winters, you can indeed allow for any experience in Cappadocia that your guests could want. So, with the proper planning, you can get whatever experience you want from a travel incentive program in Turkey!
Known as the cosmopolitan capital of Spain’s Catalonia region, Barcelona is also known for its historical art and architecture, which made it the perfect travel destination for a recent conference the team ran this year.
A Mediterranean city with excellent beaches and great weather, Barcelona is considered a central hub for art, gastronomy, and sports, alongside incredible architecture such as the Sagrada Familia, the largest unfinished Catholic church in the world; it is a destination that is guaranteed to find a way to appeal to even the pickiest group.
Even though it’s already been mentioned above, it’s important to flag that Basilica de la Sagrada Familia is our team’s number one pick for the destination’s must-see activity. Originally designed by Antoni Gaudi, the initial ground-breaking event occurred in 1882. The grandiosity of this church is awe-inspiring. It is a true monument to human-made structures, and it is something everyone should see in their life.
While these are only some of the hot destinations that our team outlined, they should inspire your next travel incentive program. However, it’s important to leave it to the experts when it comes to planning, managing, and more.
212F has been designing B2B travel incentive programs for brands across Australia and New Zealand since 1996, and we’ve got the expertise and know-how to deliver a curated incentive program tailored specifically to engage your target audience.
