It all began in 1973, when a small team of dedicated travel executives met at what was then the Americana Hotel in New York City, with a purpose: to create an association dedicated to advancing the incentive travel industry. That association launched as the Society of Incentive Travel Executives, and later become the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence, or SITE, …
Two Very Different Resorts: One Very Big Thing in Common
When it comes to experiencing a wide selection of great destinations and resorts, I’ve been pretty lucky. Recently, I’ve had two stand-out experiences: Cameron House on Loch Lomond in Scotland and The Resort at Paws Up in Montana. In support of the Incentive Research Foundation (IRF), and as a way to showcase the resort to industry leaders, properties sometimes host …
Recognition & Incentives: What You Need to Know for 2023
No doubt about it, 2022 was a tumultuous year for businesses everywhere. Many companies strategically increased investment in recognition and incentive programs to stabilize their workforces, and to re-connect after long months of COVID separation from colleagues and clients. It wasn’t always easy, though, as market forces and a re-starting economy created challenges never encountered before – Awards? Stuck on …
Incentive Travel in 2023
Rapid Recovery Driving Pressures and Expectations Susan Adams—Vice President of Engagement Strategy at Next Level Performance, and Chair Elect of the IRF Board of Trustees—was recently featured in the 2023 State of the Industry for Corporate & Incentive Travel Magazine. Read her assessment below. From a complete standstill to an explosion of demand, the incentive travel industry’s experience of 2022 served …
Budgeting for Sales Incentives
We’re in the thick of budgeting for the coming year, and quite often we’re asked by clients, “how much should I allocate for incentives this year?” That’s always a difficult question to answer, because the sweet spot in spend for your situation is, well, situational. We look at it like this: if you design your incentive right, it not only …
Incentive Research Foundation Names Susan Adams Chair Elect in 2023
[New Brunswick, NJ] (October 25, 2022) – Next Level Performance, an industry leader in group travel, meetings and events, is pleased to announce that Susan Adams has been named Chair Elect of the Incentive Research Foundation’s (IRF) Executive Committee for 2023. Susan is the current Vice President of Engagement Strategies & Corporate Services at Next Level Performance. She is an accomplished industry veteran, …
Reward Preferences: Which Rewards Really Motivate?
To succeed, an incentive program must capture the attention of participants and inspire them to do great things. Rewards are key to earning mindshare and achieving results. I serve on the Research Committee of the Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) and we recently completed the Rewards Preferences: Making a Lasting Impact on Incentive Program Participants study to understand which rewards really …
Incentive Travel: Get Ready for a Comeback
COVID-19 vaccines are in distribution. Hotels and airlines are operating with new health and safety protocols. Destinations are opening their doors with clear guidelines. And if the gorgeous hotels and resorts filling my social media feed are any indication, there’s a great deal of pent up demand to get back on the road, or on the beach. Get ready for a comeback! Incentive travel is ramping up.
5 Things You Should Know About Incentive Budgets Now
In a turbulent year, forecasting for recognition and incentive programs can seem challenging. The Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) has just released the Industry Outlook for 2021: Merchandise & Gift Cards study, capturing the changes of 2020 and forecasting for 2021. The outlook is indeed positive – strong financial performance in 2021 is expected by the majority of corporate program owners.
Postponed or Canceled Travel Program? Here’s What You Can Do Right Now.
Postponed or canceled travel program? You still have to reward your top performers or best customers. Here’s what you can do right now.
Beat the Competition: Top Performing Manufacturer Incentives
New research sheds light on Top Performing Manufacturer Incentives. Here are four things you should know.
Three Channel Sales Incentive Ideas, One Turnkey Solution You Can Deploy Today
Customers and channel partners are more important than ever. When you need a solution fast, we’ve got three channel sales incentive ideas you can deploy today and one turnkey solution to make it happen.