TL;DR: It’s time to stop treating your incentive trip like a perk and start using it as a business tool.
Well-designed incentive travel programs can boost sales productivity by 18% and produce an ROI of up to 112%. But for too long, these trips have leaned on the same formula: sun, spa credits, and a group dinner.
They might check the “reward” box, but they often miss the mark on business impact. And as budgets tighten and expectations shift, incentive trips need to work harder for your business.
The good news? You don’t need to spend more. You need to rethink your strategy and planning approach.
An incentive trip brings your top performers together in one place. That’s a huge opportunity.
The question is: what are you doing with it?
Here’s what we will be covering in today’s article:
Let’s break it down and build something better.
Many traditional incentive programs fall into a predictable rhythm:
That structure might feel rewarding at first glance, but in reality, it’s easy to cut when budgets are under review.
Why?
Because a $10K check or solo vacation is often just as appealing to a high-performing employee, and far less effort for the company.
If your trip could be replicated by a credit card and a travel agent, it’s not worth the time away from the business. And your top performers know that too.
When there’s no larger purpose to your incentive trip, your executives see no reason to keep it when money gets tight.
Instead of planning a luxury getaway, think about framing your incentive trip as a strategic, business-driving retreat for top performers. A gathering of the best in your company, with access to executive leadership, peer insights, and purpose-built experiences designed to push the business forward.
This is a chance to give your winners more value, connection, and say in the future of the business they help grow.
If you can structure the experience so it becomes part of your business development strategy, then it’s a must-have for your company.
The presence of senior leadership at your incentive trip is a strategic tool. And when we say presence, we mean thoughtful, consistent presence in conversations and networking, not just a room on property.
Your leaders should be involved from the very beginning and active participants in the full experience.
When executives and stakeholders join your incentive trip with a clear goal to connect, listen, and learn, it changes the tone of everything.
Here are some ways you can involve your leadership:
That kind of connection can’t happen over email. It needs the right setting, and your incentive trip is the perfect time.
This doesn’t mean turning your trip into a four-day workshop. No one wants to sit in a ballroom from 8 to 5.
But it does mean layering in meaningful moments that matter to your company’s growth, like facilitated brainstorms, leadership panels, or cohort conversations led by internal stakeholders.
If you’re already hosting dinners or excursions, use those existing moments more intentionally. Make sure to communicate the importance of these meetings with your executives so they show up and participate accordingly.
Your incentive trip doesn’t have to end when the return flight lands. You can extend the value all year long by structuring post-event connections.
Over time, being part of the “President’s Circle” or the “Chairman’s Club” means your attendees are part of a living, breathing business unit.
The key message here isn’t that you need to overhaul your entire program or double your budget. It’s about rethinking how you use the structure you already have.
Flights, rooms, meals, and excursions are big costs that you have to cover. But once those are covered, a bit of thoughtful planning can turn a simple trip into a strategic advantage.
Use your internal resources to lead sessions, run discussions, and provide feedback. Create experiences your attendees can’t get on their own.
Make the trip worth their time and your budget.
Here are 10 steps you can take to turn your incentive trip into a powerful tool for achieving real business results.
Before you launch into the logistics, start by asking what business outcomes you want to drive. Whether it’s stronger cross-team collaboration, fresh ideas for the business, or deeper executive insights, let those goals guide your planning.
Related: Running a franchise? Here’s how to make incentive travel part of your growth strategy.
Make sure your leadership is involved in shaping the incentive trip from the start. Their presence is a core part of making the event experience feel valuable for attendees and connected to the business.
Related: How to get buy-in from your senior management on your incentive travel.
Structure time for real conversations that go both ways. Incentive trips are a great opportunity to hear directly from top performers.
Structure time for conversations that go both ways: between leadership and attendees, and among peers.
Plan for the relationships to continue after the trip ends. Don’t let connections fade once the trip is over.
Form cohorts that stay in touch throughout the year, ideally with executive sponsorship. This extends the ROI and impact of the trip long after everyone’s home.
Take a second look at what’s already on your agenda and give it a little more purpose. You're already planning meals, activities, and social hours, so use them more intentionally. Add prompts, conversation starters, or facilitators to turn casual time into useful touchpoints.
Related: Here are 6 incentive travel trends to incorporate in your next event.
Position your incentive trip as an achievement. Being invited to this event should mean membership in an elite, business-driving community. Brand it, name it, and give it weight inside your organization.
Related: Not sure where to host your next incentive trip? Here are 14 new all-inclusive resorts to consider.
Focus your efforts on the value only your company can create. Top performers already know how to book a great vacation.
Focus your planning on things they can’t get without your company, whether that’s access to leadership, strategy sessions, or team-building experiences.
Related: Looking to make your incentive trip or President’s Club feel extra special? Check out these 10 room drop ideas.
You don’t need a keynote speaker at your incentive trip. Your top performers are already full of valuable insight. Create space for them and your leaders to share their experiences, teach each other, and grow together.
Related: Putting together a sales incentive trip for your top performers? Here are 6 practical ways to make it a success.
Audit your agenda like you would any business plan. If a session feels like filler or doesn’t serve a real purpose, skip it. If something could be better with a small shift, make the change.
Related: Trying to keep your incentive trip relevant as attendee expectations shift? Here’s how to design experiences that connect with future generations.
Track it, measure it, and report on it. Capture insights from your incentive trip. Report back to the broader company.
When you treat this like part of your business strategy, it earns its place in next year’s budget.
Related: Looking for a team to take all the logistics off your plate? Here’s our list of the top incentive travel companies.
If your incentive trip looks and feels like a vacation, it will be the first thing to go when budgets get tight. But if your corporate event is tied to strategy, talent development, and meaningful business outcomes, it becomes something that can’t be replaced.
No, it doesn’t always mean spending more on your event. It’s about being thoughtful, intentional, and strategic with what you’re already doing. (Here are 10 easy ways to personalize your incentive trip experience.)
That’s what will make your next incentive trip actually worth it, for your company and your attendees.