From living the life of a Crazy Rich Asian to taking it slow with a stroll and lunch on the Great Wall, here are some of the most alluring experiences to inspire top performers
01) Lie under the Negev night sky
After a year of hard work, it is time for top performers to smell the roses – or stare into starry skies in Israel’s Negev Desert.
Glamp it out in an oversized, luxurious tent filled with soft cushions and blankets, while Bedouin entertainment and an exotic gourmet feast served in authentic tradition complete the experience.
Stargazing also gets kicked up a notch with it happening at the Ramon Crater with an accompanying experienced astronomer. The Ramon Crater is the first designated international dark sky park in the Middle East because of its clear skies and undisturbed night environment. Peer into a powerful telescope to see the Milky Way as the astronomer explains the marvels of the universe, and relates how stars and constellations tie into biblical events.
• Good for groups of any size
• amiel.com
• mngt@amiel.israel.net
02) Go glamping in the Cardamom Mountains
Get into the wild and go glamping in the heart of Cambodia’s tropical jungle. Cambodia Tented Camp in the remote Cardamom Mountains can arrange a variety of adventure-based activities for incentive winners, including scavenger hunts through South-east Asia’s largest intact rainforest, overnight camping treks led by rangers who protect the area, wildlife-spotting hikes, barbecues and water-based activities.
The eco-resort’s nine luxurious safari-style tents are the perfect place to recuperate at the end of each adventure, with king-sized beds, hot water showers and western-style bathrooms.
• cardamomtentedcamp.com
• sales@cardamomtentedcamp.com
03) Make something sweet
Mondo Nougat is a family-owned business located in Swan Valley, Perth, Australia. In April 2019, the company officially launched a Nougat Masterclass that will be offered to groups until April 2020. Thereafter the company will gauge its viability and popularity for the future.
Classes can be conducted at the Swan Valley factory, or it can be done off-site in a hotel. Everything is provided, and prices will vary depending on chosen flavours and ingredients.
• Good for groups of 10 to 30 people
• info@mondonougat.com.au
• mondonougat.com.au
04) Step this way into an anime studio
Japan’s anime scene draws many visitors, but gaining access to one of the nation’s anime studios is difficult. High-end travel company Luxurique has teamed up with a studio and the renowned Kyoto University of Art and Design to offer a number of tailor-made anime experiences, including visiting a studio and working with artists to produce short animated sequences.
Planners can work with Luxurique on a programme that includes lectures and anime workshops at the university to explore the painstaking work that goes into each hand-drawn anime “cell” that forms the final work.
• Good for up to 10 for hands-on arrangement; up to 100 for presentations
• luxurique.com
• hello@luxurique.com
05) Live the life of a Crazy Rich Asian
Enjoyed the Crazy Rich Asians movie or book series? Protravel International turns fiction to reality for top achievers with its Crazy Rich Americans Love Singapore experience, priced at an eye-watering US$30,000 per person and features scenes from the movie.
Highlights include a Singapore Airlines first-class suite experience, a private chauffeured car, a private viewing of creations by local fashion designers, and a Mahjong lesson by a master. There is also the option of having a silk gown or suit fitted at one of Singapore’s best-known dressmakers – just in time for the award gala.
• Enquire with Protravel for capacity
• vacation.com/itineraries/singapore-crazy-rich-asians-tour
06) Meet the kings of the jungle
Top achievers can live out The Jungle Book adventure on the boundless plains and rugged outcrops of East Africa’s legendary Masai Mara, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater which is a photographer’s dream of picture-perfect light, coloured by the unrivalled hues of African sunrises and sunsets.
Treat participants to game drives where they will meet Simba and his friends, nature walks, night drives and a day in the Ngorongoro Crater, looking for big tuskers and the endangered rhinoceros.
• Good for groups of any size
• andbeyond.com
• contactus@andbeyond.com
07) Relive Kazakhstan’s space quest
The modern world’s space quest is always a spectacular story to tell, and bespoke tour specialist Scott Dunn is able to bring to life Kazakhstan’s space rocket launch through a luxury programme that includes a once-in-a-lifetime chance to witness an actual rocket launch, a visit to Baikonur Spaceport Museum and a look at where spacemen Yuri Gagarin and Sergei Korolev once lived.
Besides the space rocket trail, the programme also offers gems such as a short stay in the ex-Soviet city of Almaty, and optional extensions to legendary Silk Road cities of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva in Uzbekistan.
• Good for groups of any size
• scottdunn.com/signature-departures
• (65) 3165 4050
08) Discover Japan’s hidden gems
Explore some of the hundreds of islands that dot the Seto Inland Sea, between Japan’s main island of Honshu and Shikoku, aboard a spacious catamaran. Cruise company Foucault has yachts that can be reserved for longer periods to explore a part of Japan that is unspoiled and still largely undiscovered by foreign tourists.
Guests can go ashore on the islands – some of which are famous for the Setouchi Triennale art exhibition, held from spring through autumn every three years, including in 2019. They can also hike or cycle across the islands, swim, fish and kayak.
• Good for 16 people
• foucault.co.jp/en/
• info@foucault.co.jp
09) Have a sensational Seasation
Did you know that five of the 104 islands in Malaysia’s Langkawi archipelago are only visible at low tide? Discover these secluded islands and the wider Langkawi
UNESCO Global Geopark onboard the Seasation, a 16.8m-long twin-deck catamaran.
Have your top achievers do more than sail the sea – kayaking around an isolated island, taking a jungle walk and participating in a frisbee tournament can all be part of the memorable experience.
Bring nimble mixologists onboard to ensure a free flow of cocktails and mocktails, as well as local chefs who will turn out a barbeque feast on the deck.
• Good for 65 guests
• sasha@tropicalcharters.com.my
10) Journey to New Zealand’s scenic south
Incentive winners will get to take in two of New Zealand’s most stunning fiords in Fiordland on South Island – Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound – set amid a breathtaking landscape of majestic mountains, native forests and beautiful waterfalls. They will first climb onboard a spacious and stable catamaran, where a hot buffet lunch can be served in their own private lounge or on the outdoor deck. There is also a licensed bar onboard.
• Good for up to 63 people
• cecil.potatau@southerndiscoveries.co.nz
• www.southerndiscoveries.co.nz
11) Explore a wacky wine factory
Described as a Willy Wonka wine factory, d’Arenberg Cube in McLaren Vale, South Australia offers an intriguing experience that plays with the human senses on multiple levels. From an unfolding front door to video projections, contemporary artworks and a ‘virtual fermenter’ that simulates the experience of being immersed in a tank of grapes, guests can expect the unexpected.
Top achievers can be rewarded with a Day of Decadence which starts in an Alternate Realities Museum and ends with an unconventional degustation. Other packages may include scenic flights, helicopter tours, a tailor-made ‘Dinner with the Winemaker’ experience or a yoga class among the vines.
• Good for six for Day of Decadence
• darenberg.com.au
• wine@darenberg.com.au
12) See Sydney on a superyacht
Experience the iconic Sydney Harbour in luxurious style onboard the new Superyacht Auspro, where guests relax in Italian designed interiors while enjoying views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House in an extra-smooth-sailing journey, thanks to its Seakeeper gyro stabilsers. The yacht boasts expansive entertainment areas, a stylish saloon in gloss mahogany and teak curved timbers, and a full service bar. There are four bedrooms available, including a Master Stateroom that includes a Queen bed, private lounge, two ensuites and a spa bath.
The experience can be followed by dinner at Australia’s famous Quay restaurant, where every seat has views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and/or the Sydney Opera House.
• Good for 45 people during the day; eight overnight
• sydneyharbourexclusive.com/charter-boat-hire/auspro
• info@sydneyharbourexclusive.com
13) Blend your own bottle of wine
Take your group to a vineyard located on the undulating hills of Algarve, Portugal where grape varieties unique to the country – such as Touriga Nacional – flourish. A local winemarker will give a tour of the winery, imparting tips on how to analyse different wine varieties. Top achievers will get an opportunity to blend and bottle their own signature wine under guidance. This unique experience offers a behind-the-scenes peek into the cellar, as well as typically off-limit areas.
• Good for 12 people per session
• condradhotels.com
• guestrelations_algarve@conradhotels.com
14) Take in both nature and city sights
A luxurious stay at The Peninsula Hong Kong can never be wrong for top achievers. While they are there, sign them up for a chance to appreciate both Hong Kong’s lush nature and modern city skyline through the Yacht and Hike programme designed by the hotel’s events team. There are hiking routes of varying durations, from relaxing two-hour trails to more challenging six-hour exercises. Whatever the choice, conclude the activity with a yacht cruise where participants are paid for their hard work with elegant refreshments as they take in spectacular views of Victoria Harbour.
• Good for six to 15 people
• peninsula.com/en/hong-kong/special-offers/events/the-peninsula-yacht
• eventphk@peninsula.com
15) Coast around Auckland on a motorbike
Incentive winners can lean back comfortably into their Harley Davidson Motorbike as they ride pillion around Auckland. From the buzzing downtown area to the sparkling Waitemata Harbour, winners will be able to smell the fresh air, feel the wind in their face, and see the sights of the city up close and personal.
Tours last at least two hours, and the company will provide all other gear such as helmets, jackets and gloves. Riders should wear long trousers and covered shoes for protection.
• Good for up to 20 people
•motorbikesnz.co.nz/tours/chauffeured-passenger-tours
16) Kick it with Buakaw
Buakaw Por, a welterweight Muay Thai kickboxer and one of Thailand’s most celebrated boxers, runs Banchamek Gym in Chiang Mai where private experiences of traditional Thai boxing can be had.
Affectionately known as Buakaw Village, the facility is set among green fields backed by majestic mountains and lush forests – providing a restful getaway from the city. The complex includes a rubber farm, a longan farm, rice fields, a restaurant and 10 villas.
Boxing classes can be customised and packaged with accommodation and meals. With advance notice, Buakaw himself would conduct lessons.
• Good for up to 25 people
• banchamekgym.com
• buakawmail@gmail.com
17) Get suited up in Thai grandeur
If you are celebrating your top performers in Thailand, dress them up extravagantly – as deserving of victorious individuals.
Thai traditional outfits are beautiful and regal, and are best tailored in the Kingdom. Nachart Studio, located in the Old Siam Complex in Bangkok’s old town, can do just that and counts high ranked officials and high society personalities among its clientele.
Each outfit may take a month to five to tailor, depending on its complexity, so plan this in advance. Alternatively, ready sets for gentlemen can be purchased off the shelves by the final quarter of this year. No more than 15 outfits are made each month.
• th-th.facebook.com/nachartstudio
• nachartstudio@gmail.com
18) Live out a tale of onsen and washoku
Walk Japan, pioneers of off-the-beaten track walking tours in Japan, has recently launched two Onsen Gastronomy tours that focus on Gifu and Nagano, and Oita and Kumamoto. These tours can be customised for incentive groups.
The Onsen Gastronomy tours are led by expert tour leaders. Besides taking in beautiful rural landscapes on foot, top achievers can immerse themselves in the traditional Japanese way of bathing at onsens, recharge at charming local inns, and feast on exceptional washoku (traditional Japanese cuisine).
The experiences can be customised across various aspects, including duration, extent of walks and accommodation choice.
• Good for up to 30 people
• walkjapan.com
19) A cut above the rest
Wada Shoten, a fourth-generation owned knife shop in Sakai City – part of Osaka Prefecture – has been in business for 150 years. The aged artisans in the shop are able to teach incentive winners how to sharpen their own blades, and knock the handle onto the sharpened knife after.
Knife blades can also be personalised with names, where each participant will eventually be able to take home their own work of art. Activity will cost 14,000 yen (US$129) per person with an interpreter, or 6,500 yen without.
• Good for up to 15 people
• sakaiwada.com
• tk-wada@sakaiwada.com
20) Spend a week in the Galápagos
Built for those truly deserving, this seven-night adventure in the Galápagos Islands onboard the all-suite Celebrity Flora features feasts crafted by a Michelin-star chef who uses locally sourced produce, shore excursions led by certified naturalists (such as snorkelling with sea lions, sea turtles and marine iguanas), and some of most spectacular accommodation options available on luxury yachts. As a bonus, this seven-night Galapagos Inner/Outer Vacation was only launched in June this year, giving your C-suite winners real bragging rights.
• Good for 100 people
• general@celebritycruises-hk.com
21) Celebrate on a vintage rice barge
Banyan Tree’s vintage-styled rice barge provides a ready canvas on which to design an exclusive and luxurious dinner party for top achievers. The Apsara Dinner Cruise drifts down the Chao Phraya on a two-hour journey, allowing guests to take in the city’s iconic sites such as the Temple of Dawn and the Royal Palace at a leisurely pace. Menus and entertainment can be customised.
• Good for up to 76 people
• banyantree.com
• Hostesses-Bangkok@Banyantree.com
22) Where the land and sea meet
Combine a luxury cruise of UNESCO World Heritage Site Halong Bay with an exclusive bird’s-eye view of the bay’s beauty.
Bhaya Cruises was recently the only operator given access to Trinh Nu Cave, and te company has stylishly renovated the cave and beach to cater to tailor-made corporate groups. Once the cruise is over, cap off the Vietnamese experience and climb board Northern Vietnam Helicopter Company’s helicopter, for an exclusive flight over Halong Bay for unforgettable views and lasting memories.
• Good for up to 346 guests on Bhaya Cruises’ The Au Co; up to three guests per helicopter, with staggered take-offs for larger groups
• vnhn.com.vn/en; bhayacruises.com/
• sales.vnhn@vnh.com.vn; sales@bhayacruises.com
23) Restore one’s equilibrium
Complete relaxation awaits incentive winners as they sail Mauritius’ turquoise waters onboard a private catamaran. Dolphin watching is first on the agenda, and if lucky, winners will be able to catch these beautiful mammals as they frolic in Tamarin Bay. The boat will then make its way to a patch reef that is home to colourful fishes and small crustaceans along the country’s western coast, where guests will be able to snorkel in the cool waters while a barbecue lunch is being prepared. More swimming, or lounging, can be had in the Indian Ocean after lunch, before the catamaran glides back to the pier in the late afternoon. Prices start from US$90 per pax, and includes beers, soft drinks, and lunch.
• Good for up to 15 people per catamaran
• kreola.mu
• info@kreola.mu
24) Dine well tonight
Singaporean company The Inside Access offers a luxurious dining experience with its signature Chef On Board series, featuring a sundowner cruise with hors d’oeuvres prepared by a culinary team or an executive chef from a notable restaurants. Restaurant partners include big names like Sushi Jin, Bistro Du Vin, Salted and Hung, and Pollen. Guests will also enjoy free flowing beverages and cocktails by the resident bartender, who can deliver a customised drink based on any ingredient presented.
• Good for 20 people
• theinsideaccess.asia
• arron@theinsideaccess.asia
25) Make a toast
The 300-year-old Naniwa Masamune sake brewery in Hannan City hails from the Edo era, and is one of the oldest in Osaka Prefecture.
From October to March, incentive winners will be able to see how sake is made, from the fermentation right through to the bottling. Visitors who pop by other months of the year will not get to see the brewery in production, but will still get a peek behind the scenes. Brewery tours include a walkabout the 10th-generation owner’s childhood home, which is a registered cultural asset of the city.
The tour ends – of course – with a tasting, where different types of sake can be sampled. Kanpei!
• Good for up to 50 people
• naniwamasamune.com
• nanimasa@ybb.ne.jp
26) Take an intimate look at the world’s largest water show
The House of Dancing Water show at the City of Dreams Macau has been viewed by many, but few have been allowed under its layers to see the secrets behind the massive production. Grant your top achievers this precious peek behind the scenes, where they will in 60 minutes discover machines that make the show come to live, explore the unique backstage, and marvel at elaborate costumes and props.
• Good for eight to 20 people
• showenquiry@cod-macau.com
27) More wine, anyone?
Discover a lesser-known side to Vietnam with Vietnam Wine Tours, which offers curated tours through Ninh Thuan, Dalat and the Mekong Delta taking visitors to off-the-beaten-track destinations to explore the country’s burgeoning – and widely unknown – wine industry. Tours can be curated for incentive winners and be combined with stops at grassroots businesses, including family-run textile shops, restaurants, medicine farms and herbal gardens.
• Good for groups of any size
• info@vietnamwinetours.com
28) Get on the Pampanga and Zambales circuit
Deliver an all-rounded reward trip in two Philippine provinces – Pampanga, the country’s culinary capital, and nearby Zambales, a paradise for tropical adventures.
At Pampanga, work in a trip to the crater of Mount Pinatubo on foot or by ATV; culinary stops for rare foods like fried frogs legs and crickets; retail therapy with export-quality furniture; and visits to vintage churches.
Over at Zambales, make time for beach bumming, interactions with the indigenous Aeta communities in the mountains; and teambuilding in the jungle.
• Good for groups of any size
• corporateintl.net
• mice@corporateintl.net
29) Dive into a rare marine adventure
This is an incentive trip that bestows upon participants abundant bragging rights, as the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is only open for three months every year – March till June – and access is a pricey affair.
The rare trip is made onboard a luxury ship, and participants will get to dive in the Sulu Sea, at the centre of the Coral Triangle between Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines – said to be one of the best dive sites in the world. It is home to nearly 600 species of fish, up to 400 species of coral, 11 shark species, 12 dolphin and whales species, green sea turtles and more.
• Good for 100 people
• kirschnertravelmanila.com
• info@kirschnertravel.com
30) Ply a lesser-known part of Halong Bay
Heritage Line’s new 10-suite vessel Ylang offers a 3D2N Senses of Lan Ha package that takes travellers on a trip around the region of Lan Ha Bay, a quiet extension of the famed Halong Bay. Incentive winners will begin their cruise from a pier on Cat Hai island near Hai Phong, and go on land excursions from cycling to leisure hiking on the island of Cat Ba, as well as visits to a remote Lan Ha Bay fishing village. All excursions include a free half-day onboard for participants to swim, kayak, practise yoga, or relax in a spa.
• Good for up to 20 people
• heritage-line.com/
• contact@heritage-line.com
31) Take in vistas atop the Great Wall
Get a rare opportunity to experience two of The Great Wall of China’s prized sections, Badaling and Mutianyu, in one day.
The six-hour journey, arranged by The Peninsula Beijing for guests, begins with a luxury transfer to the Badaling section. There, they are met by a guide who will share stories and historical facts throughout the climb. The reward is a breathtaking vista at the peak. At Mutianyu, a sumptuous brunch in a private pavilion awaits.
• Good for up to 20 people
• guestservicespbj@peninsula.com
32) Eye on the tiger
To raise awareness of the dwindling population of wild tigers, Belmond is partnering Save Wild Tigers to offer a six-night itinerary onboard its Eastern and Oriental Express, taking guests from Bangkok to Singapore through historic tiger territories in Malaysia and Thailand. The package also includes stays at the Siam Bangkok and Raffles Singapore, as well as a guided visit to the River Kwai and a tour of Kuala Kangsar.
• Enquire with Belmond for capacity
• belmond.com/trains/asia/eastern-and-oriental-express/
33) Go off-road in Mauritius
For the adventurous, this two-hour-long quad biking activity with Pont Naturel Quad will hit the spot. Admire a diverse landscape while riding on a 450cc quad through sugarcane fields, vegetable plantations, and small rivers. The tour culminates with a stop at Pont Naturel, a volcanic rock formation with a natural bridge. Helmets are provided and a quick course on handling the quad is conducted before the fun begins.
• Good for 20 to 50 people on double quads
• www.noudeal.com/product/double-quad-ride/
• pnquad@gmail.com
34) Back to basics in Penampang
When the city buzz gets too much, sneak your top achievers away to Penampang Village in Sabah, Malaysia where a half-day cultural experience awaits.
Penampang Village is the hub of the Kadazandusun community, a mere 15-minute drive from capital city Kota Kinabalu.
Guests will visit the local market to pick up food products and handicraft, and get to sample delicacies such as sago worms and rice wine. The group then proceeds to Madam Nurhanidah’s Kitchen for a hands-on experience cooking Borneo dishes such as hivana (pickled fish salad), lihing (chicken with local rice wine), and rice cooked with yam and wrapped in a leaf.
• Good for 20 people
• borneotrails.com.my
• bernadette@borneotrails.com
35) Arrive in style
Give your top achievers a sexy entrance into Kuala Lumpur, with rides on deep growling Harley Davidson motorcycles that will also take in a scenic city tour.
Begin the ride from Batu Caves, the oldest Hindu temple in Selangor with 272 steps, and end at Petronas Twin Towers, the capital city’s icon. Along the way, appreciate Malaysian landmarks such as the King’s Palace, National Monument, Perdana Botanical Gardens and old railway station.
• Good for 40 people
• mice-kul@destination-asia.com
36) Get your groove on at MARQUEE
Break away from the gala dinner tradition and celebrate your winners with
an extravagant carnival-esque party at the new MARQUEE night club in Marina Bay Sands.
The three-storey megaclub – Singapore’s largest – spans more than 2,300m2 across three floors, with dramatically high ceilings of 30m. The venue promises to wow guests with its larger-than-life indoor fittings: a full-sized, eight-armed Ferris Wheel; a three-storey-high slide and a 20m-tall, 8k resolution LED screen – the largest in the world.
• Enquire with the venue for capacity
• marqueesingapore.com
• marquee.reservations@marinabaysands.com
