Motivated employees work harder and are retained longer by their organizations. We often talk about corporate travel incentives and how they can motivate, build community, demonstrate values, and improve retention. But the best travel incentive programs offer what team members really want, responding to the latest trends and showing that the recipients are valued.

One trend that never goes away is the opportunity to escape the cold of winter, despite all its charms. And as the snow starts to fall on much of the northern hemisphere, we hear one request from employees we talk to above others: send us somewhere warm. 

With that in mind, we asked around the Huddle office and put together three of our top incentive travel ideas to escape from winter. Like all good incentive travel trips, they should leave your people rejuvenated, reinvigorated, and in no doubt that you value the contributions they have made. 

Kauai, Hawaii

Hawai’i is a world famous for luxurious relaxation for a reason, and it has maintained its position as a top international destination for business incentive travel for decades. While the whole island chain is amazing and well worth visiting, we picked Kauai because of it’s pristine landscape and sublime natural beauty. 

Airfares to the island from the mainland United States are also generally lowest in January, weighing in its favor as a winter destination. While services and rooms on the island can be expensive due to transportation costs and other local factors, exploring the natural wonders it offers is worth every penny. The Grand Hyatt Kauai is one of our favorite places to stay and provides something else every premium incentive destination needs: a comfortable base for more exploration and a swim up bar. 

Galapagos Islands

Whether it is a sales incentive trip, group trip or corporate retreat, knowing your people is extremely important when selecting a destination. If your team are lovers of wildlife and nature, there is no better destination than the Galapagos.

There they can snorkel in the emerald waters with incredible sea life, hike national parks teeming with ancient species and soak in the local culture at the island’s fish-markets. 

The Galapagos are one of the most unique ecosystems on earth, offering sights of flora and fauna that live nowhere else. A must-see for all wildlife lovers from Darwin to today, a first-hand encounter with the unique inhabitants of the island will stay with your travelers forever. The best incentive travel companies will help you ensure your spending also serves to help aid the conservation of this important habitat for the benefit of future generations. 

The region has a variety of accommodations available, as well as expedition tours and luxury cruises around the island. However, capacity is limited so it pays to lock in your escape ahead of time.

New Zealand

While it can be a long trip from the continental U.S, the benefits of going to the Southern hemisphere during the Northern winter can make up for it in spades.

New Zealand is one of the world’s great adventure paradises, able to offer your team members a range of experiences to suit any need and any corporate events travel program. 

While the ski season on the South Island lasts from June to October, the tropical and temperate rainforests are spectacular year-round. The thrill seekers can find bungee jumping, hang-gliding and zip-line tours, while the pleasure seekers enjoy some of the fine wines and cheeses that have made New Zealand an award-winning gastronomic destination. 

We can highly recommend a scenic cruise around Milford Sound, checking out the islands around Auckland or a world-class golf course by the lake in Queenstown. A favorable exchange rate and a unique experience make New Zealand an amazing destination for incentive travel.

All these destinations are sure to help you retain staff, build morale, and deliver amazing return on investment. To find out how you can put together an exciting incentive trip, contact us to chat to one of our Incentive Experts!