Customer loyalty and company loyalty go hand-in-hand. Meeting incentives and incentive travel have expanded over the years so that those loyalties remain strong. Corporate downsizing and lack of funds have made offering incentives a challenge. However, several companies continue to offer incentives because they recognize the importance of employee and client dedication. Incentives have been known to counter failures such as poor work performance, unengaged employees and high turnover rates. 

Midwest Meetings interviewed Karen Zilinek, Director of the Meetings and Incentive Travel division of Peak Performance Services, Inc and Melissa Van Dyke, President of the Incentive Research Foundation who offered key insights to the incentives industry today.  

Midwest Meetings: What are the biggest benefits of meeting and travel incentives? 

Karen Zilinek: Studies have shown that travel incentives have a lasting effect on employees compared to cash bonuses that are typically used for paying personal bills. Our client feedback suggests that travel incentive opportunities are viewed as further validation of an employee’s effort and to be supported through the design of travel is greatly appreciated. We conduct an evaluation after each program specifically asking about the benefits of a program and emphatically hear back that understanding economic times are really tough right now, they would be fine with a trip being scaled back to keep it affordable for the company rather than have it cancelled altogether. The motivation spoke for itself.The biggest benefit for group travel incentives is the opportunity to bring employees together in a fun, exciting environment, share business experiences with not only peers but also with management. Management presence speaks volumes about the culture of the organization.