Days are getting busier for Kohli, joint managing director of Creative Travel India, one of the country’s leading travel firms, as he readies for his post as SITE president in 2016. As the first Asian to be elected into this role, Kohli is determined to grow the association’s Asian representation. He talks to Mimi Hudoyo

Congratulations on being elected into presidency for 2016. What will keep you busy in this new role?

I want to grow membership and Asia is one of our core targets for membership growth. Right now our Asian membership is about six per cent of the total. That needs to increase significantly and I would like to triple the numbers in three years’ time.

Seeing how the SITE presidency lasts only a year, is your target too ambitious?

It is not a tall order. Look at the world map and the number of members we have in each country and the extent of the incentive business. We have (members from) only six Asian countries (out of a total of 80 countries worldwide).

In Thailand we have three members; in Singapore we have four or five. But I can list 20 people in Thailand who are capable of becoming SITE members, likewise in Singapore. In Indonesia and Malaysia I know enough people who can become our members.

(Our Asian membership) is very small, partly because SITE has not come to Asia for a long time. So it isn’t because (these people) refuse to join SITE, it is just that nobody has approached them.

My election is a reflection of SITE’s growing interest in Asia.

We need a strategy and corresponding actions by the SITE headquaters to push that strategy. This isn’t the responsiblity and job of SITE president Rajeev Kohli, but a concerted effort by the entire board and its members.

What are your plans to get those numbers?

Well, SITE Global Conference (in New Delhi from October 23 to 25, 2015) will reach out the the region.

We will also be approaching associations in Asia to engage their members and show them what SITE can do. It will not be an easy task but we have to start somewhere.

Let’s talk about the SITE Global Conference. It is a big win for India’s incentive industry. 

Well, yes. The conference rotates between the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. It is Asia’s turn and we won the bid. It shows the recognition SITE have for India.

There are three factors motivating people to attend the conference in India. First of all the desire by participants to bring clients and groups to India, and second the desire to get business out of India because it is one of the world’s largest growing outbound market.

There are 15 million outbound Indian travellers today. By 2020 the number is estimated to be 50 million. That is why many NTOs and CVBs have offices in India.

The third factor is that for many people a trip to India is on their bucket list and (the conference) is an opportunity for them to (tick India off the list).

(The benefit India gets is that) SITE Global Conference will help to expose India to the world and show incentive professionals (how things are done differently around here).

For example, Europeans and Americans are sometimes used to a certain way of working and they are interested to see a different work culture and find out how a successful economy like ours operates.

India is the world’s third largest economy, growing at six to seven per cent annually. I’m sure people are curious about how India is making it work especially since we are chaotic and confusing, we are not one country, we are a continent, we do not speak a single language and we do not have just one religion.

There is nothing common among Indians yet we are successful, we are controlling the world’s IT sector, and many global companies have Indians as CEO.

What can the rest of Asia do to make the most out of this conference?

The conference should be regarded as an Asian event that happens to take place in India. We want participation from Asia. We are bringing the event closer (to the region) and we are bringing in quality people to interact with us.

Asia is not yet a big incentive destination for the West, and this is the time (to change that).

India was not given the SITE Global Conference on a silver platter. It resulted from many years of networking and participation in other SITE conferences by me and my Indian colleagues. I have been attending the SITE Global Conference for the past 10 years. I have been involved in the SITE board over the last four years.

SITE Global Conference in New Delhi came as a result of Indian trade members (who made a) conscious effort to (raise the profile of India). SITE saw India’s value and here we are today.

So there is no reason why Japan, South Korea and Thailand, for instance, cannot (host future SITE Global Conferences).

Can we expect changes in the association with you at its helm?

I believe an association’s function is to always deliver to its members the opportunity to improve and increase their businesses. It also needs to communicate with its members.

In SITE’s case, we need to communicate to the world the value of the incentive industry. SITE does a very good job as an association (and we should) stand on the rooftop and shout about it.

I’m all for one-on-one communications with my members, and that’s one of the many things I intend to do.

I am aware that SITE is a multicultural association and I need to be sensitive to the ways people work in different countries. I expect to work different in India and with SITE.

Take for example the way board meetings are held in the West and in India. In the Western world, you raise your hand (to speak) and everyone is calm. In India, we are shouting, screaming, joking and going completely off topic. And somehow that works.

International associations keen to organise events in China must not only do their homework, they must play by its rules and find a suitable local PCO partner. Caroline Boey finds out more

Holding a meeting in China is the target of US association meeting buyer Kimberly LaBounty, president and founder of Apex Management and Special Events.

Apex is an AMC based in the US and its clients include legal, medical and publishing professionals, and LaBounty, who was attending IT&CM China for the first time in April, is eyeing a spring 2017 date.

“I am very likely to recommend taking our publishing association conference to China in spring 2017 as publishing is a growing and changing market in China and there is tremendous potential.

“We realise not many educational conferences have been held in Asia, so it would be an opportunity for us to be among the first. We would like to hold a conference in Shanghai or Beijing to share best practices.

“We already hold conferences in the US and Europe, and expanding to Asia will allow the association to be perceived as a truly global organisation,” she said.

Several associations managed by Apex have members all over the world, and they are looking to expand into China and other Asian countries and are eager to learn from Asia on how best to provide the services needed.

However LaBounty says China’s proposed law – The Non-Mainland Non-Governmental Organizations Management Law of the People’s Republic of China – not allowing foreign associations to hold meetings in China could pose a problem.

American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) believes the draft legislation will make it extremely difficult for US trade associations and professional societies to be active in China, adding that major restrictions would be placed on the ability of its association professionals to meet, share knowledge, conduct business, and share best practices with Chinese associations, severly curtailing association programmes in China.

ASAE president and CEO John Graham, expressing his concern in a letter to the Law Committee of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, said the legislation would significantly impact US and China economic and commercial relations.

Jeffery Huang, deputy secretary-general and associate researcher of the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies based in Beijing says being able to contribute to local cultural, economic and social development is important for anyone organising an event in China.

“Managing cost, securing a high-level keynote speaker and attracting enough participants can be some of the challenges,” he added.

Liu Ping, CEO of China Star, a leading PCO in China, observed that association meetings seem to be slowing down (based on ICCA’s 2013-2015 figures). “I’m concerned that China does not have a ‘unified competent authority (to champion the industry)’,” she added.

“I’m not sure how long it will take China to have a national CVB but cities such as Shanghai, Hangzhou and Chengdu have gone ahead to set up departments under their tourism administrations to promote events,” she noted.

Pulling off a successful event in China requires a deep mindset change and international buyers must be aware of the challenges they may face working with local partners and government entities.

In a presentation to local and international association meetings buyers and sellers, Liu Yi, deputy director, China Star, gave a no-holds barred overview of some of the obstacles that stand in the way of China’s international association meetings landscape.

Liu Yi said it is important for international PCOs to co-operate with a local partner who understands and knows the ins-and-outs of China’s requirements and conditions, can cut through government red tape, be able to appoint reliable suppliers, etc.

In China it can take at least 18 months, some times years, for an association meeting to materialise and the reporting system and approval if foreign delegates are attending is complicated, he noted, adding that government influence can positively impact an event.

On the other hand, if the government requests a site inspection, the venue operator may be required to stop an event in-between so that an empty venue can be showcased and it resumes when the site inspection is completed, he noted.

Applying for visas is another area associations need to be mindful of and Liu Yi recommends using a local professional PCO. There is a strict limit on the issuing of business visa invitations, but it is improving, he added.

“Associations think they can be their own PCOs, but in China, a professional and reliable PCO can also help cut waste and take care of areas such as catering and distributing hundreds of box lunches on-site.”

Jennifer Salsbury, the former senior director, international, at Beijing’s China National Convention Center, said China’s processes are unique and truly different.

In communicating with the government, “formulaic” and “government speak” is necessary. “It’s a different ‘language’ and this is the challenge,” Salsbury noted.

Now running IMC-Convention Solutions covering Beijing, Hong Kong and Australia, Salsbury said China’s understanding of international competition is not on the same level compared to other countries in the region.

“China has no CVB or subvention programme to attract meetings, and raising professional standards and getting government recognition is what China must strive for,” she said.

Liu Ping added: “Many cities in China have built impressive venues but have no professional staff to run or market them. There is a big gap.”

There’s nothing better than unique travel ideas to motivate top achievers to strive for greater targets. Here are 33 of our picks from around the world

Uncovering the secrets of Bhuta

Delve into the secrets of this beautiful Himalayan kingdom. For this tour, there will be an exclusive arrangement made with Eddie Jose. Jose is a conservationist who has devoted much of his life working with the local monks on Thangka reservation and conservation, to gain a deeper understanding of their work and to study the treasures in monasteries and dzongs not usually seen by foreigners. One of the highlights will be meeting the typical local family who will whip up an authentic Bhutanese lunch.

Capacity: Maximum 16 pax
Email: enquiries@countryholidays.com.sg
Website: countryholidays.com.sg

Sky high dining

Hop on the cable car, have a four-course dinner on board and enjoy the sunset over Lake Lucerne in Switzerland.

During the first 45 minutes of the cable car ride up Mount Rigi, the first two courses of dinner will be served. A stop can be made at the village for pictures and a toilet break before the cable car makes its descent. On the way down, main course and dessert will be served. The total travel time will take one hour and 50 minutes.

The service is available between May and September.

Capacity: 40 pax (in two cabins)
Website: rigi.ch

Learn the art of receiving guests

Receiving guests is an art in France. There are a few rules to learn to become a perfect host.

The De Vogue family – owner of Vaux le Vicomte’s Castle, a private chateau 45-minute drive from Paris – still pursue the
tradition. Not only will your top achievers enjoy a dinner in the 17^th-century chateaux, they can take an hour-long crash course on the art of table setting, seating arrangement, serving a sit-down-dinner, as well as observing a dress code.

Capacity: 20 pax
Website: vaux-le-vicomte.com

Call of the wild

Eagle hunting, one of the most dramatic and primal relationships between man and beast is alive and well in the remote mountains of western Mongolia.

Indulge your guests in a private itinerary created for falconers, adventurers and cultural enthusiasts. Your delegates will find home in the most luxurious gers overlooking the Mongolian steppes in Ulaanbaatar, spend a day hunting with the Kazakh eagle hunters before travelling to the Eagle Festival as part of the contingent.

Capacity: Minimum four pax
Email: info@urbanenomads.com
Website: urbanenomads.com

Heigh ho heigh ho, off to Wieliczka we go

Suitable for more exclusive groups that want to combine leisure, accommodation and meetings/dinners, Wieliczka Salt Mine is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located 10km outside Krakow, Poland. It dates back to the 13^th century and is known for the statues, cathedrals and halls carved out of rock salt by miners over the years.
Groups can take up the mine’s Visit the Mine by Night tour and explore this vast underground labyrinth only by the light of their mining lamps, or put their hand to the plough and perform the everyday work of ancient miners in the Underground Escapade – Adventure Trip excursion. Delegates can also put up at The Eastern Mountains’ Stable Chamber, a converted former stable some 135m below ground, where the microclimate of the saline excavations is reputed to be good for health. The mine’s range of underground chambers are ideal both for intimate and large events, with up to 600 guests at the most.

Capacity: Group tours: minimum 10 pax, maximum 20 pax; The Eastern Mountains’ Stable Chamber: minimum 10 pax, maximum 28 pax
Email: imprezy@kopalnia.pl
Website: wieliczka-saltmine.com

An African safari adventure

Ngorongoro Crater Lodge boasts architecture as impressive as its surroundings.

While the structural style evokes traditional Maasai mud-and-stick manyatta (homesteads), the interior accommodation and finishes are pure luxury. There is also private butler service, and all suites have a view of the crater along with a luxurious domed dining area and a fireplace.

This place is ideal for groups looking for a thrilling escapade from the city and urban life. Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area in the southeast of the Serengeti allows delegates who are keen to explore the challenging paths close to the rim with safari walks, or join the game drives to witness hippo and lions roaming in the wild.

Capacity: Maximum 60 pax
Email: inception@tradewindstravel.com.my
Website: twtravel.com.my

Down in the dungeons

Leave the modern, working world behind and let your top achievers embark on a gripping journey through 1,000 years of London’s murky past – guided by a cast of London’s infamous rogues and villains.

The London Dungeon mashes up theatre, special effects and intriguing storytelling with humour and plenty of edge-of-the-seat surprises.

Meet Sweeney Todd and his evil sidekick Mrs Lovett, escape the Plague ridden streets of 1665, and visit Jack The Ripper’s favourite haunt, the Ten Bells Pub in Whitechapel, before facing your fears on the drop ride!

The London Dungeon includes a Victorian Gin cocktail on arrival, access to a costume wardrobe, an after-hours, adult-only tour of the dungeon and pies in Mrs Lovett’s pie shop.
The venue can also be booked out for an evening event.

Capacity: Maximum 65 pax
Website: merlineventslondon.com

Raise a glass

Depart in the morning to visit one of the local vineyards up in Bali’s north. While there, learn about the local winery, type of grapes and their harvesting time from a local expert. Then taste the local wine, and have them with Indonesian snacks prepared by The Ritz-Carlton, Bali’s chef.

Back at the resort, refresh and get ready for a wine pairing dinner at the resort’s Indonesian restaurant Bejana. Pair an Indonesian Rijsttafel dinner with local wine while learning about the tipple from Sansan Pratama, winner of the Indonesia Best Sommelier 2015 title.

Capacity: Maximum 20 pax
Website: ritzcarlton.com/Bali

On the trail of a chudail

Suryagarh Jaisalmer is a 77-room property which sits on the threshold looking south towards the ancient city of Jaisalmer in Rajasthan, which offers an unsurpassable antiquity, and looking north to the undulating landscape of the Thar Desert with its raw natural beauty. The property has a conference hall that can accommodate 90 pax and offers facilities like drop down screens and state-of-the-art audio video equipment.

Besides their scenic sand dunes, Jaisalmer is also home to a number of tourist attractions like the Jaisalmer Fort, Amar Sagar Lake and Bada Bagh. The latter houses the Royal cenotaphs of the premier family of Jaisalmer.

Incentive groups can also engage in activities like a treasure hunt in the city, go on a Camel Safari or take on its one of a kind Midnight Haunted Trail. The locals believe that some sites are inhabited by spirits called chudails and this trails takes one to all these sites at midnight.

Capacity: Maximum 150 pax
Email: reservation@suryagarh.com
Website: suryagarh.com

Hop on that train

Travel on a one-of-its-kind narrow-gauge steam locomotive from a bygone era and get a rare look into China’s industrial revolution and the Jiayang Coal Mine.

Founded in 1938 in Bajiaogou, the Jiayang Coal Mine was the first Sino-British joint venture in Sichuan. The railway, built in the 1950s, is still the only way in and out of the valley. Recognised as an industrial heritage site, the railway is a national icon.

The steam locomotive, which pulls seven mini passenger carriages with 18 seats each and runs between Bajiaogou and Shixi in Qianwei County, Leshan, in Sichuan, can be chartered for private events.

There are four sightseeing stops along the route featuring picturesque views, Jurassic-era forests, peaks, rivers and Bajiaogou’s Soviet- and British-style village houses.

Visitors can climb up a hill to watch the small train give a spectacular “steam show”, dine at a farmer’s inn, visit the Jiayang Mining Museum, dress up as coalminers and explore a coal pit.

Capacity: 126 pax
Email: 1797341447@qq.com or 1404527714@qq.com
Website: lsqwly.com

Chasing time in Beijing

Launched in October 2013 and reintroduced this year, this is an Amazing-Race-meets-Beijing history lesson and participants race in vintage motorcycle sidecars to piece together the story of China’s capital since the days of Dadu in Kublai Khan’s Yuan Dynasty.

Participants “travel” through four eras of Beijing history from the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties to the Republican/Mao era. From the hidden corners of the Forbidden City to old Gothic churches and bomb shelters, time chasers have three hours to complete as many challenges as they can. It ends at a restaurant for a slap-up celebratory meal and award ceremony.

Capacity: 40 pax
Email: info@bespoke-beijing.com
Website: bespoketravelcompany.com

Explore the way of the mountains

Shrines on Dewa Sanzen, the three sacred mountains of Yamagata in Japan, have long been visited by pilgrims who undergo tests of physical and mental endurance. The experience is now popular with tourists and a three-day programme is offered for participants to meditate under a waterfall, jog through the serene mountains, detoxify in an incense room, and cleanse the body with a traditional meal of shojin ryori (vegetarian temple cuisine). Participants are also offered the opportunity to harvest their own vegetables and fruits for their meal, an arrangement unique to the shrine experience in Dewa Sanzen.

For incentive groups that lack time for a complete Dewa Sanzen experience, they can check into one of the many history-rich ryokans at the foot of the mountains and partake in prayers and meditation every morning, led by ryokan owners, and enjoy shojin ryori.

Capacity: Unavailable at press time
Email: kanko@city.tsuruoka.yamagata.jp / rkonno@solarisspace.com

Make your own luxury timepiece

Guided by a Swiss master watchmaker in a modern atelier with a view over a typical Jura valley, this unique Swiss experience is a one-day private watch making course (09.00 to 17.00).
Guests at the Beau Rivage Hotel will discover the intricate subtleties of how a mechanical watch moves. They will then choose their components to personalise their timepiece, before assembling it themselves and taking it home. This private tour includes a night’s accommodation, watchmaking workshop with the option of dining at a nearby Michelin-star restaurant, and a five-course dinner in the on-site Restaurant O’terroirs that has an amazing view of Lake Neuchatel. To get there, helicopter transfers can be arranged.

Capacity: Maximum 12 pax
Email: info@beau-rivage-hotel.ch / marketing@beau-rivage-hotel.ch
Website: beau-rivage-hotel.ch

A royal welcome

Terrapuri Resort in Penarik, Terengganu is made up of 22 villas, whose architecture resembles old Malay palaces that were in existence more than a century ago. Delegates will be treated like royalty, enjoying royal delicacies of olden days and being entertained with a traditional dance drama known as Mak Yong. Mak Yong, declared by UNESCO as a “Masterpiece Of The Oral And Intangible Heritage Of Humanity”, is almost extinct in Malaysia.

A corporate responsibility programme that involves releasing newly hatched river terrapins into the Penarik river can also be arranged on request. These terrapins are an endangered species and your group can play their part in the continued survival of this species.

Capacity: 40 pax for resort buyout
Email: sales@terrapuri.com
Website: terrapuri.com

Be inspired by one of Britain’s national treasures

Receive a warm welcome into Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, England, home of the 12^th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.

This 18^th-century Baroque architecture and UNESCO World Heritage Site houses some of the finest antique collections in Europe. Visitors can take a tour of the State Rooms and admire the portraits, tapestries and exquisite furniture while learning about the 300-year-old palace. Blenheim Palace also boasts of more than 80 hectares of landscaped parkland, which comprises an array of formal gardens like the Rose Garden, Water Terraces and Secret Garden. Take a stroll up to the Grand Cascades or around the lake to admire some of the finest views in England.

Capacity: No maximum limit
Email: sale@blenheimhospitality.com
Website: blenheimpalace.com

Thrills that don’t need mad skills

Contrary to popular belief, heli-skiing isn’t just for extreme sports enthusiasts. Harris Mountains Heli-Ski’s menu suits a wide range of snowboarding and skiing abilities, providing helicopters and guides for your day out on New Zealand’s snowy peaks.

Incentive winners will be treated to multiple adrenaline rushes as they race down slopes of untouched snow and be lifted back to the peak by helicopter. Incredible views and a gourmet picnic await them at lunchtime, and then it’s back to the mountaintop for even more excitement.

Capacity: 16 to 25 pax per helicopter
Email: hmh@heliski.co.nz
Website: heliski.co.nz

Glamping next to Angkor-era ruins

Banteay Chhmar tented camp offers small groups the opportunity of staying overnight in the jungle right next to a 12^th century Khmer temple in Cambodia, near the border with Thailand.

While the glamping experience has plenty of luxury elements it is a community-based tourism project. Local villagers are employed and help run the initiative, from looking after guests to cooking food and more, providing an ideal corporate social responsibility element for groups.

Capacity: Maximum six pax
Email: sales.cambodia@khiri.com
Website: khiri.com/cambodia

Soaring over The Land of the Thunder Dragon

Fly over central Bhutan’s Phobjikha Valley in a hot-air balloon and watch in awe as the 360-degree view reveals the snow-clad Himalayan peaks. The valley below is dotted with villages, farmhouses and temples, while the 17^th-century Gangtey Goenpa monastery nestles a 5,000m spur at the north end of the valley. The area is home to snow leopards and black-necked cranes – both of which are rarely sighted – and a host of other wildlife.

Capacity: Unavailable at press time
Website: easternsafaris.com

Picnic on the back of an elephant

Explore Chiang Mai in style with 137 Pillar House’s signature picnic basket, filled to the brim with tasty treats for your incentive winners to nibble on as they journey through a jungle atop an elephant. They can toast their adventures with flutes of champagne while they sightsee from within a howdah, or visit the elephant hospital to watch a veterinarian take care of sick and injured elephants.

After having lunch at a restaurant in Lampang, they can ride a horse-drawn carriage – a famous symbol of the town – around the market, before heading to Ban Sao Nak, a huge ancestral mansion built in 1895 with 116 teak pillars.

Capacity: Maximum five pax
Email: info@137pillarshouse.com
Website: snhcollection.com/137pillarshouse

Aerial views of Cambodian temples

Serving as an ideal pre- or post-event incentive for high-end groups staying at the luxurious Soneva Khiri, flights from the resort on Koh Kood in the Gulf of Thailand to Siem Reap, Cambodia afford delegates a unique aerial view of the area which is famous for its temples, including the Bayon, Ta Prohm and Angkor Wat. An expert guided tour of the complex is thrown in. Additional elements can be tailored too.

Capacity: Eight pax
Email: kiri@soneva.com
Website: soneva.com

Tanzania migration safari 

Reward your winners with one of the greatest wildlife shows on earth: the great migration of wildebeests, zebras and gazelles crossing the great African plains and mighty rivers. Fly your top achievers to the Sanctuary Migration Camp, a luxury tented mobile camp erected close to the Grumeti River to witness the amazing spectacle unfold over two days. For the adventurous, they can opt to enjoy top-down game viewing through a spectacular hot air balloon ride.

Capacity: Maximum 16 pax
Email: enquiries@countryholidays.com.sg
Website: countryholidays.com.sg

Be one with the underwater world

Situated in North Ari Atoll in the Maldives, Kandolhu Island is a diver’s paradise, surrounded by cerulean waters and a pristine coral reef. Offering more than the typical water activities, the resort amps up the adventure factor by whisking your top achievers away to a nearby deserted island for a Robinson Crusoe experience, where they can explore the uninhabited white, sandy beach or go snorkelling in the colourful house reef.

For those who can’t get enough of the sea, Kandolhu Island also boasts experiences such as big-game fishing, sunset cruises and fluorescent night snorkelling, where divers can watch corals and underwater creatures glow pink and orange in the dark.

Capacity: Maximum 80 pax
Email: info@kandolhu.com
Website: kandolhu.com

Conserve Malaysia’s natural environment

The Andaman, a Luxury Collection Resort located in an idyllic setting on Malaysia’s Langkawi Island, is nestled between a 10 million-year-old rainforest in the tranquil Datai Bay and an 8,000-year-old fringing coral reef.

The five-star resort is ideal for delegates looking to make a real and tangible difference to the environment through conservation efforts such as coral transplanting under the expert guidance of the resort’s marine and coral curator. While in Langkawi, discover the natural beauty of the island by taking part in various nature activities such as mangrove river cruising with an experienced nature guide who will also point out the ancient rock formations that form part of Langkawi Geopark.

Capacity: 140 pax
Email: theandaman@luxurycollection.com
Website: theandaman.com

Stay in a casa in the Caribbean

Situated in one of the Caribbean’s oldest cities, Santo Domingo, Casas del XVI hotel comprises two beautifully restored 16^th-century houses, decorated to reflect the area’s historical and cultural significance. Both contain a central courtyard, where your top achievers can dine under the stars as a butler tends to their every need.

Take full advantage of the hotel’s proximity to the Colonial City and lead them on a culinary tour of the city, or visit one of the largest organic cocoa producers of the Caribbean and learn how they produce, roast and hand grind chocolate.

Capacity: Eight rooms
Phone: 809 688-4061
Website: casasdelxvi.com

Private viewing of the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London

For over 600 years, the Crown Jewels have been held for safekeeping at the legendary Tower of London. They are priceless for their symbolic value as well as the magnificence of their precious materials. Millions of visitors every year come to marvel at these treasures, which include the Cullinan I, the largest top-quality diamond ever discovered.

Motivate your team to succeed with the reward of sipping sparkling wine and enjoying canapes after all the tourists have headed home for the day at a private viewing of the Crown Jewels. On arrival, the guardians of the Tower will escort you to the Jewel House regaling stories of the Tower’s history along the way. Once inside, enjoy the hospitality while hearing about the unique working collection that is still regularly used by the Queen in important national ceremonies, such as the State Opening of Parliament.

Capacity: Maximum 150 people
Email: events@hrp.org.uk
Website: hrp.org.uk/hireavenue

Skip the city for the depths of Java

For a retreat deep among lofty mountains and ancient temples, look no further than a stay in Java’s Villa Borobudur. Each of the traditional joglo-style villas’ teak arches and carved roofs were handmade by expert carpenters. While some villas feature outdoor showers and others infinity pools, all of them offer stunning views.
Your incentive winners can go on an excursion to Mount Merapi on a jeep safari, hike to rice fields and waterfalls, or go rafting on Progo River. For the less adventurous, they can learn batik printing and pottery lessons at a nearby village.

Capacity: 10 rooms in six villas
Email: info@villaborobudur.com
Website: villaborobudur.com

Retreat to a luxurious abode near a tiger reserve

The Samode Safari Lodge at Bandhavgarh in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh is a unique luxury retreat located adjacent to the 450km². Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, known to have the highest density of tigers in the world.

There are 12 private villas at Samode Safari Lodge. The lodge is designed around a series of individual chalets that each come with an elegant living space, a bedroom with a modern en-suite bath and dressing area, a unique open-air bath court, and a private veranda with striking views of nature.

Incentive groups can enjoy gourmet dining at the main restaurant, barbecues around a campfire, and long lazy poolside meals, and head out for a wilderness experience. Activities include wildlife excursions led by expert naturalists, as well as cycling and sightseeing tours to ancient temples and nearby villages. When the day is over, retreat to a fully-equipped spa to renew the body.

Capacity: 24 pax
Email: reservations@samode.com
Website: samode.com

Live the sultan lifestyle

As the name of this hotel suggests, your top winners will get the royal treatment at the La Sultana Marrakech. Besides offering a traditional hammam and balneotherapy baths, the hotel also features stunning architecture and decor. Plan a cooking class for your group and have them learn the tricks to whipping up mouthwatering traditional cuisine, such as chicken tagine with preserved lemon, from a Moroccan cook.

The hotel’s location in the heart of the old city means guests are mere steps away from royal palaces, museums and souks.

Capacity: 28 rooms in five riads
Email: reservation@lasultanahotels.com
Website: lasultanahotels.com/marrakech

Delve into Hong Kong’s traditions

Hosted by local artisans who are masters of art forms such as bamboo and flower displays, shadow puppetry, qipao-button crafting and lion dancing, the classes at The Peninsula Hong Kong offers guests an insight into the country’s disappearing crafts.
After choosing their preferred artisan, participants are split into groups and they get to support the city’s traditional crafts by contributing to their sustainability through education and awareness building. More than simply a learning experience, these programmes immerse participants in the local culture.

There are half-day and full-day programmes to choose from, allowing more flexibility and options depending on participants’ itinerary and areas of interest. It is ideal for small incentive groups.

Capacity: Four to eight pax
Email: academyphk@peninsula.com
Website: peninsula.com/hongkong

Luxuriate in a desert oasis

Set in a sprawling desert and occupying over 10 hectares of land, Samsara Dechu is an architectural marvel with its colossal swimming pool, expansive green areas and exquisite accommodation options.

Located 115km from Jodhpur, India, the property offers 32 luxurious villas with private gardens and a campsite with 25 luxury tents. Amid the wilderness, surrounded by dunes of the Thar, the luxury tents offer vibrant block-printed interiors complimented by locally-crafted furniture and rugs that accentuate the rich heritage of Rajasthan.

Perfect for corporate groups, the resort also houses a conference room that can accommodate 84 pax in a round table setting. Some of the activities that incentive groups can experience include birdwatching tours, camel safaris, bush dinners and picnic lunches.

Capacity: Maximum 110 pax
Email: reservations@samsaradechu.com
Website: samsaradechu.com

Simply an exquisite stay

With its stately marble staircase and intricately painted ceilings, mesmerising does not even begin to describe Ca’Sagredo Hotel in Venice. Pamper your top achievers to a lavish sojourn in this historic gem by the Grand Canal, where they will not fail to appreciate the stunning works of art within the hotel as well as its luxurious furnishings.

Capacity: 42 rooms and suites
Email: info@casagredohotel.com
Website: casagredohotel.com

Lip smacking good stuff

Las Vegas is more than just a paradise for people looking to challenge Lady Luck at games tables, and Lip Smacking Foodie Tours proves exactly that. Through carefully curated guided food tours that stop at some of the best restaurants on the Strip and off-the-beaten path, participants gain a belly full of great eats as well as interesting information about the city’s art and architecture and stories about the featured restaurants and their chefs. Lip Smacking Foodie Tours offers two regular, scheduled tours – Afternoon Culinary Adventures and Savors Of The Strip – and is able to tailor a programme just for private groups.

Capacity: Up to 60 pax
Phone: (888) 681-4388
Website: VegasFoodieTour.com

Take a bird’s-eye view of the Grand Canyon

It’s hard not to feel the draw of the Grand Canyon calling out to you when you are in Las Vegas. An aerial view of the rock formation, the forests, raging rapids, wildlife and the Colorado River can be arranged by helicopter and/or plane. This may be a once in a lifetime opportunity for your winners to truly enjoy the scenery and take memorable photographs as they fly over the Grand Canyon.

Capacity: Maximum seven pax (by helicopter), 19 pax (by airplane)
Email: res@papillion.com
Website: papillon.com