For the past several years I have been a Corporate Travel Agent in Fairfax County in Northern Virginia. A large part of my expertise as a Corporate Travel Agent has been to plan Corporate Meetings and Events. I have booked small meetings in Boston for 8 people to large events for hundreds of people. I have taken care of all of their flights, the hotel rooms, the meeting room space which included all of their clients AV needs. Ordered the meals, be it a simple Continental breakfast a box lunch or a glittering dinner celebration. I have placed these meetings in simple hometown motels to 5 star resorts all over the United States and around the world.
Now I book these same events on board cruise ships. Six VIPs and their wives on board a yacht or next years Christmas Party on a one night cruise out of New York Harbor. Each one of these events the planners wanted to have two things absolute. That all of their meeting space and needs are met and that these events are unforgettable. The first part is fairly standard but the second part is where people expect the most.
How to deliver the WOW of a meeting or special event. Now can you imagine placing your company meeting on a cruise ship? Why not? They essentially are 3-5 star floating resorts but with a few extra perks like cruising to different ports during the same time period versus staying in the same place during the whole meeting or event.
Imagine everyone of your attendees looking out of a hotel room for 5 days in Tempe or 5 days on a cruise ship – WOW.
Remember the cost of your meetings at a convention center you have to pay exorbitant costs for all of your AV needs but on a cruise they are all included – WOW.
Your annual awards dinner at a hotel and you can afford chicken or chicken but on a cruise ship each person can pick anything they want and as much as they want (even chicken) and there is no additional cost to you – WOW.
Hire entertainers – well there is 1/2 of your budget but on a cruise ship the entertainment never ends and each person can enjoy what they prefer and you save 1/2 of your budget – WOW.
Meeting space, cocktail parties, annual meetings, conventions, business expo’s, incentives, Holiday Parties … all on a cruise ship – WOW.
That is what I do – arrange 1 to 7 day meetings and events at sea ( you can go longer if you want also)! When was the last time you heard your employees, managers, top sales people or board members say WOW about another meeting? Inspire your sales people. Pamper your top performers. Say Thank you for sticking with us through good times and bad with a Meeting at Sea.
And can you say tax deduction? WOW!
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