The winners of the 2009 Crystal Awards have been announced, recognizing innovation, creativity, and return on investment of incentive travel programs and motivational experiences. Site (formerly called the Society of Incentive and Travel Executives) announced the winning programs—seven winners in five categories—at its International Conference in Aruba, which wrapped up November 2. Events held between June 1, 2008, and May 31, 2009, were eligible. Here are the 2009 winners: 



Most Effective Use of a Motivational Experience for an Internal Business Solution:
Winner: World Marketing Group and Singapore Airlines

Event: “Global University”—Suppliers worked together to create a “university-level” destination-training curriculum for a group of meetings and incentives buyers who traveled together for a 10-day trip to Singapore, Bali, and Moscow.
Client: MICE Planners

 


Most Effective Use of a Motivational Experience for an External Business Solution
Winner: Master Events and Designer Incentives 

Event: “India, Land of a Billion Smiles”—A once-in-a-lifetime trip to India was the reward for 
managers of a supermarket chain who excelled in selling Coca-Cola products. The trip blended a VIP experience with opportunities to experience the local culture.
Client: Coca-Cola Enterprises
Belgium 


Exceptional Motivational Travel Program

Winner: Creative Travel India and Duo Turismo São Paulo

Event: “Garato VIP Club India”—Said to be the first incentive travel program to reward Brazilians with a trip to India, this winning event included everything from a trip down the Ganges River to a game of polo played while riding elephants.
Client: Chocolates Garato
 


Exceptional Motivational Travel Program

Winner: Harith Productions

Event: “Country of Contrasts”—Despite a major economic crisis in Iceland last fall, pharmaceutical sales leaders were rewarded with a trip to see the beauty of Reykjavik and the surrounding country. The trip featured snorkeling, a glacier tour, and a traditional Icelandic dinner in a small fishing village, among other special events.
Client: King Pharmaceuticals 



Outstanding Motivational Event

Winner: Terra Nova

Event: “Reckitt Benckiser Horizonte”—It took months of preparation, 16 guides, and eight translators to orchestrate a hike for 160 participants, the centerpiece of an incentive trip to South Africa.
Client: Reckitt Benckiser
 


Outstanding Sustainable Motivational Experience

Winner: Carlson Marketing Worldwide

Event: “SunRise 2008”—Sustainability was considered for every aspect of this reward trip to Hawaii for top achievers, from the mobile communications that replaced paper to the local foods, to the donations made to local organizations when the program wrapped up.
Client: Sun Microsystems 


Outstanding Sustainable Motivational Experience

Winner: Dragonfly Africa

Event: “Africa Leaders Conference”—Philanthropic and volunteer work at an orphanage and school in Livingstone, Zambia, benefited the children who live there and brought a sense of fulfillment to the incentive participants.
Client: Securian Financial Planners

To read full case studies of each of the winning programs, visit Site’s Web site.