Personalised travel rewards in a bubble

Travel. You never know how much you miss something until it’s gone.

After a year of virtual meetings, home-cooked meals and walks to the park, we’re starting to get the itch to explore again (even if it is just next door).

Luckily for us travel-starved Aussies, the trans-Tasman bubble is now open. And it comes as no surprise, organisations are one of the first to rekindle their interest in travel.

To give you a taste of what we’re talking about. More recently, Hotel reservation site Wotif.com has revealed a 1770 per cent jump in travel interest just moments after the travel bubble news landed.

With this in mind, there’s never been a better time for your travel rewards program to reach new heights.

Not just any business trip

The 2020 Incentive Travel Industry Index anticipates a change in the air. When it comes to group travel, there’s a demand for individuality. Employees are seeking bespoke experiences to the tune of destinations, food, activities and gift choices.

It’s time to get creative with a personalised travel rewards program. From Wanaka to the Whitsundays, business travellers are turning into experience seekers. They’re looking for destinations where they can discover (or rediscover) breathtaking natural scenery, culture and local cuisine.

The art of business travel rewards

When it comes to business travel, confidence is on the up. The second half of this year will see travel incentives be a big motivator - the perfect opportunity to relaunch your new and improved travel rewards program.

Here’s a few tips to help craft the perfect rewards itinerary:

1. Provide a handbook. Build excitement with trip highlights and include all the tips to make sure everyone is prepared for travel.
   
   

2. Small groups will be looking at boutique accommodation, like hotels and lodges. Larger groups will be interested in combining incentives with training and relationship building. They’ll lean towards more traditional hotels.

3. Include a group host. In an ideal world everyone would follow a travel plan. Including a dedicated trip host will make sure everything runs as smoothly as possible.

4. Find unique or luxury dining experiences that cultivate great moments with your guests and have that extra ‘wow’ factor.

5. Create memories with an experience unique to your location. Scout the best experience for your guests.

6. Sustainable travelling. If your business and guests value the environment, look at local initiatives that help reduce environmental impact and offset carbon emissions.

7. Give back. Provide your guests a sense of fulfillment and purpose by integrating with the local community and donating to a local charity. You may help sort food donations at the Food Bank or serve food to the vulnerable at the local kitchen.

8. Down time. Everyone will have different ideas of must-see or do activities. Allow time for guests to do as they please. It’s a business trip after all!
   

Flying high with Hachiko travel rewards programs

Locally, we’re already quoting on teams visiting New Zealand in 2021/22 along with offering incentives around Winter programs which will have a strong appeal around tourist locations like Queenstown’s ski fields.

On the other hand, we’re seeing our neighbours wanting to experience our indigenous cultural destinations. Think Uluru and the rugged east Kimberley region. Rural is key, and Air New Zealand is providing direct flights to most cities in Australia along with new direct routes to Tasmania, making remote destinations easier for those ‘experience’ seekers.

Chat to Hachiko today to see how you can send your travel rewards program to new heights.