Private Jet Travel:

New Preferred-Pricing Program

Private Jet Services Group, a Hampton, N.H. — based air charter company with first-class and coach-configured aircraft, launched a competitive preferred-pricing program with Sol Meliá Hotels & Resorts last month that also provides door-to-door luggage transfers and ground transportation for all joint bookings. “Once you experience a private charter, it's hard to go back to commercial,” said David Goodman, director of sales, citing a 92 percent repeat-client rate. www.pjsgroup.com

Motivating the Middle:

Maritz Rolls Out Analysis Tool

Travel Insight, a new survey and analysis tool launched by Maritz Travel, is designed to give incentive decision-makers insight into the types of trips that would motivate not only their usual qualifiers, but all of their salespeople, at every level.

Here's how it works: Employees take a Web-based survey in which they are asked to choose the program attributes (trip length, hotel type, destination, etc.) that would make them work harder to achieve the trip, as well as activities they would most like to see on an incentive trip. They also are questioned about demographics and past award experiences. Companies can refer to the data to create the most motivating travel experience — or experiences — for their program participants.

Early results indicate that “there are a significant number of employees who could be motivated to higher performance levels if offered a travel experience that is more personally meaningful,” said Christine Duffy, president and CEO, Maritz Travel, at a press conference at the Motivation Show. Many midrange performers don't bother trying to win an incentive contest because they don't find the trip appealing, yet companies typically only poll the winners — the top 10 percent of their sales force — on where they would like to go for the next trip.

Maritz is just beginning to use the tool with a small number of clients, and is finding that some are creating more than one trip in order to appeal to different groups of employees — a move that could significantly alter the concept of “group” travel incentives. www.maritz.com

Loyalty Counts:

GiftCertificates.com

Few companies truly understand the subtleties of loyalty programs or the metrics to measure them, said Jill Ambrose, vice president, marketing, GiftCertificates.com, in an interview at the show. “Customer service is an overused metric. Even customers who say they're ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ can easily be lost.” The company's most popular product is the SuperCertificate, which can be redeemed for one or a combination of gift certificates from hundreds of retailers, restaurants, and travel providers. GiftCertificates.com offers online or phone redemption — and the certificates never expire. www.giftcertificates.com

For Groups Only:

New Aruba Marketing Entity

The Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association has announced the launch of MEET ARUBA, its new marketing division aimed at increasing meeting and incentive business. “Our goal is to be recognized as the best group-marketing entity in the Caribbean. This can only be accomplished by delivering a wide range of customized services to planners,” said Jorge Pesquera, president and CEO of AHATA. Heading up the new division is Scott Wiggins, who will maintain his responsibilities as senior director of sales and marketing for AHATA, but add the role of executive director of MEET ARUBA. Mayline Menendez, who most recently was with the Ritz-Carlton in Coconut Grove, Fla., will focus on corporate and incentive markets throughout the South. She is based in Miami. www.ahata.com/ahata/do/home.html

Australia:

Celebrating Incentives

No stranger to winning No. 1 placements in well-known travel polls, Australia decided this year to recognize something that it considers award-worthy: top U.S. planners who have used Australia to successfully motivate or reward their employees or clients.

The first winners of the Australian Expose Award are:

• Helene Peacock, account manager, and Cheryl Cagle, vice president account supervisor, Alem International Management, Louisville, Colo., for Best Use of a Unique Venue — Recognized for planning a gala event for Volvo Cars of North America, which featured a “magical climb up the Tarpeian Steps to a dreamlike setting on Bennelong Lawn, complete with Sydney's most exclusive view of the adjacent harbor and Sydney Harbour House.”

• Nikki Nestor, president, World Class Travel, Carlsbad, Calif., for Best Team-building Activity — Recognized for her “Survivor” event in Port Douglas, Queensland, for broadcaster KFMP Stations, San Diego.

• Rich Wise of Wise Incentives, San Diego, for Most Creative Incentive Program — Wise created an action-packed program visiting two contrasting destinations: Sydney and Whitsunday's Hamilton Island in the Great Barrier Reef. www.australia.com

Monaco Update:

A New Resort and More

Business is thriving in the principality of Monaco, with lots of requests for proposals for 2006 and 2007 North American incentive programs and, to a lesser extent, top-echelon corporate meetings, reports Cindy Hoddeson, director, meeting and incentive sales, Monaco Government Tourist Office. “Within the past few years, there has been an enormous improvement to the infrastructure, with hotel expansions, renovations, and rebranding,” she said. The big news: Monaco's first new resort in 75 years, the $260 million Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort, opened October 1. The 334-room luxury property has 10 conference rooms that accommodate up to 80 attendees; a flexible, 2,700-square-foot multipurpose room with a stunning view over Cap-Marin; and a 4,320-square-foot banquet hall. In other hotel news, the reflagged Fairmont Monte Carlo, the biggest hotel on the French Riviera, began renovating all 619 guest rooms this month. And all Monaco hotels will continue to offer U.S. — dollar guaranteed rates until the end of 2007, said Hoddeson. www.visitmonaco.com

Shaking Things Up:

The Bahamas' James Malcolm

As the new executive director of group travel for the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism — a position that has not existed in 10 years — James Malcolm has a mission: to drive business to the Out Islands, what he calls “The Bahamas' best-kept secret,” and to improve the service levels and attitudes of existing suppliers. His office will be the meeting planner contact for all groups coming into the islands, and will work with them at every stage of planning and afterward to make sure that they have the best possible experience. He is also creating an approved supplier program for DMCs, tour operators, and venues. In his spare time, he is working with other destinations, such as Puerto Vallarta, to mirror their program for cleaning up the streets. “The Bahamas is not what you see when you get off a cruise ship,” he said. Indeed, the Out Islands have incredible potential for incentive groups, with Conrad having just signed an agreement to open a 200-room resort in Bimini and Starwood planning to build a Luxury Collection resort, Cotton Bay Estates, in Eleuthera. Both join the Out Island's incentive-quality, 183-room Four Seasons Great Exuma at Emerald Bay.

Ecuador Incentives:

Beyond the Galapagos

At a luncheon during the show, Ecuador's Ministry of Tourism rolled out all the reasons incentive groups should visit their spectacular country — and there are many. On the practical side, airlift to Quito and Guayaquil is a breeze from many U.S. gateways, including Miami and Houston; the U.S. dollar is the official currency; there's spring-like weather year-round; major chains, including Marriott and Swissotel, are represented; and no visas are required. While most incentive organizers think of the Galapagos when they think of Ecuador, the small country is amazingly diverse, with 50 ecosystems and a staggering variety of wildlife. Popular excursions include tours of Quito, recently named a world heritage site by UNESCO; visits to the volcanoes just outside Quito; or day trips to the Amazon or the Andes. www.pureecuador.com

Montego Bay:

Jamaica's New Gold Coast

Hotel improvements and expanded airlift that makes it easier than ever to fly nonstop to Montego Bay are helping to position the area as the “Gold Coast” for meetings and incentives, said Marcia Bullock, regional director, groups and conventions, Jamaica Tourist Board. Wyndham Rose Hall has been renamed Rose Hall Resort & Country Club after a $30 million renovation of all 488 guest rooms, and islandwide, about 5,000 new guest rooms will come online during the next five years. www.visitjamaica.com

Los Angeles:

TLC for Small Meetings

LA INC. The Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau has launched Direct Line Service, a new program for meetings or incentives requiring 10 to 50 rooms per night. In addition to identifying properties that will best suit your group, the new program promises responses to all requests within 24 hours; “See My LA” luggage tags for attendees; See's Candies for the planner; and customized information regarding airport transfers, car rental options, and nearby dining options. Smiljana Pavischevich, who has been named to the new position of manager of small meetings, will oversee the program. www.lacvb.com

Opening This Month:

Puerto Rico Convention Center

The eagerly anticipated Puerto Rico Convention Center officially opens November 17 — at 580,000 square feet, the largest and most technologically advanced convention center in the Caribbean. The new center is part of a huge revitalization of San Juan, which includes a 500-room Starwood headquarters hotel that breaks ground this month. The Puerto Rico Convention Center District will be a multi-use urban center, combining business and entertainment in 113 acres with retail shops, restaurants, and more, set against a backdrop of lagoons and fountains.

“This is the best music box you could ever see,” said Ana María Viscasillas, president and CEO, Puerto Rico Convention Bureau, of the new center's architecture. The sweeping wave-like rooftop of the PRCC faces the gateway to Old San Juan, and other features are rooted in Puerto Rico's heritage, culture, and natural environment. www.meetpuertorico.com

Big News:

Gaming Comes to Singapore

The Singapore government has just approved construction of two casinos as part of mixed-use developments, one in the Marina Bay District and the other on Sentosa Island. These would be the first gaming facilities in the country, and already, said Justin Chew, regional director, Americas for the Singapore Tourism Board, many major gaming companies have expressed interest in putting down stakes there. Chew expects the first license to be granted by the end of this year. Singapore is seeing a huge boost in visitors from the United States — a 10 percent increase this year alone. www.visitsingapore.com

News from the Hotel Front

• OCCIDENTAL GRAND, ARUBA — Re-opening in December after a $25 million investment in the former Allegro Aruba, the new 391-room Occidental Grand will raise the bar for luxury on this popular island. A spectacular entryway with views of Palm Beach will set the mood for arriving visitors; inside are seven restaurants, a casino, and meeting space, including a 9,068-square-foot grand ballroom. The Royal Club level, with amenities such as champagne and strawberries for breakfast and concierge service, promises to be “the best-quality all-inclusive in Aruba — perhaps in the entire Caribbean,” said Werner Hein, general manager.

• LE BLANC SPA RESORT, CANCUN — Joining Moon Palace and its sister Palace Resort properties is the new Le Blanc Spa Resort, an upscale adults-only property in the heart of Cancun. The resort is the former Hotel Sierra Cancun, and has been completely renovated, “from the studs up,” said Ginny Davito, vice president, group and incentive sales. It now features 260 luxury suites with double Jacuzzis, a 29,000-square-foot spa, and more than 10,000 square feet of meeting space, as well as butler service on every floor.

• UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT — Universal Orlando Resort has launched a new brand, Universal Orlando Resort Meetings & Events, aimed at providing a “worry-free environment for meeting planners,” said Vincent LaRuffa, vice president, resort sales and marketing. Planners can choose from three Loews Hotels (Portofino Bay Hotel, undergoing a $5.5 million room renovation; The Hard Rock Hotel; and Royal Pacific Resort, each with its own theme); two theme parks (Universal Studios and Universal's Islands of Adventure); and an entertainment complex (CityWalk); more than 250,000 square feet of meeting space; and numerous event venue options, from open-air arenas to back-lot movie sets to restaurants such as Emeril's Orlando and Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville. Groups staying at any of the three Loews properties can take advantage of complimentary transportation to four area golf courses, plus use of a dedicated golf event director. Also new is the Afternoon Convention Ticket, which delegates can buy for Universal Studios and Universal's Islands of Adventure at the reduced price of $59.75 (plus tax).

• ROSEN SHINGLE CREEK, ORLANDO — Less than a year away from opening, the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando has completed the first phase of construction, celebrating the milestone with a traditional “topping off” ceremony in early October. The resort will feature 1,500 guest rooms; 250,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 95,000-square-foot, column-free ballroom (the largest in the U.S.); and a 13,000-square-foot spa and health club. Already open is the 18-hole championship Shingle Creek Golf Club. Located just 10 minutes from Orlando International Airport and close to SeaWorld and Universal Orlando, Rosen Shingle Creek will be the closest full-service convention resort to the Orange County Convention Center, just one mile away.

• WESTIN RIO MAR, PUERTO RICO — The final phase of a $16 million capital improvement at the Westin Rio Mar Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, is due for completion in December. Among the upgrades: a new island-themed design in the resort's 600 guest rooms and the opening of the world-class Mandara Spa. “Our hotel is in brand-new condition, and it's a proven experience. It's the best of all possible worlds,” said S. Drew Toth, director of marketing and sales. To celebrate the resort's 10th anniversary, 2006 pricing will roll back to 1996 levels (with some restrictions).

Trend Tracking

Corporate Meetings & Incentives Editor Barbara Scofidio participated on a panel titled “Key Trends Driving Growth in the Meeting and Incentive Markets” at the Motivation Show. She is shown here with (from left): Clifton W. Wilcox, compensation specialist, U.S. Postal Service; Rodger Stotz, vice president, managing consultant, Maritz Inc.; and moderator P.J. Boatwright, vice president, special projects, Fortune magazine. Among the trends covered were the growing awareness of people performance management, the importance of internal marketing, and the growth of events as branding opportunities.