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Travel for your moment in life · Business and events · Business and events travel

Business and events travel

Incentive travel

The reward trip combines a company moment with nature, food and cultural tours.

Incentive travel is a reward. The company sets a target, and people who reach it — whether salespeople, entire teams, resellers or partners — win a trip organized for the group.

It’s the I in the MICE acronym, used in the international events market. It may feel like a vacation, but it has a work purpose: to recognize top performers, bring people closer together and make them want to repeat the result.

What it is, what it’s for and who organizes it

The process starts months in advance with a campaign: the company announces the destination and the rules, and the trip works as motivation during the target period. Unlike other rewards, the trip becomes a keepsake and a topic of conversation among colleagues.

Besides rewarding people, the trip brings them closer. Employees from branches and different cities spend a few days with company leadership outside the workplace. For that reason the itinerary usually includes a company moment, such as an awards dinner or a presentation of results.

Who organizes it is usually an agency specialized in incentive travel or a receptive operator at the destination, hired by the sales, marketing or human resources department. They handle flights, accommodation, transfers, tours and the awards event, and deliver the finished itinerary.

How to plan it: destination, group and itinerary

Destination. The choice depends on the profile of the winners, ease of access and time of year. The place needs to be desirable so the campaign works, and it must have accommodations able to host the whole group together. Destinations a few hours away make better use of the days; more distant ones require longer itineraries.

Group size. Small groups of ten to thirty people fit into inns, smaller restaurants and tours that don’t accommodate many people. Groups of hundreds require large hotels, several buses and activities split into batches. The number defines almost everything, from the type of accommodation to the format of the dinner.

Companions and duration. The company decides whether the prize includes a companion, which changes the atmosphere of the trip and the type of program. Trips within the country usually last a few days, often combined with a weekend.

Itinerary. What sets incentive travel apart from a regular package is exclusivity: tours closed to the group, with tailored programming and some surprises. It must be balanced. An itinerary that alternates group activities with free time is more pleasing than a schedule without breaks.

Itineraries focused on nature, flavors or culture

Nature. Easy trails, boat rides, viewpoints and parks work for groups with different ages and fitness levels. In Foz do Iguaçu, visiting the Iguaçu Falls is the central program of the itinerary. Outdoor tours depend on the weather: it’s wise to have an alternative program for rainy days.

Flavors. Visits to wineries, lunches in regional restaurants and cooking classes turn a meal into an experience. In the Serra Gaúcha, the wineries of Bento Gonçalves host groups for tours and tastings, and Gramado completes the itinerary with its mountain restaurants.

Culture. Historic centers, museums and musical performances give the group a story to tell. In Salvador, the setting is the Pelourinho; in Petrópolis, the Imperial Museum and the Historic Center.

The itinerary can mix all three. One day of nature, a lunch showcasing local cuisine and an awards night in a historic setting form a common plan.

Connections with other types of tourism

Incentive travel borrows what other trips offer. From ecotourism come the trails, waterfalls and parks. From adventure tourism, activities like rafting and zip-lining, chosen with attention to the age and fitness of each participant.

Gastronomic tourism and wine tourism provide typical lunches, markets and visits to producers. Cultural and historical tourism brings historic centers and museums, and sun-and-beach tourism provides days of rest by the sea. Wellness and health appear in itineraries that include spa and massage.

The difference lies in who decides and who pays: in incentive travel, the company chooses the destination and arranges the trip for the group. Those who like the place often return later on their own, with family.

Frequently asked questions

Who pays for incentive travel?

The company running the campaign. The rules state what’s included, such as flights, accommodation, meals and tours. Purchases and personal expenses are the responsibility of the traveler.

What’s the difference between incentive travel and a convention?

A convention is a work meeting, with presentations and sessions, for which the team is summoned. Incentive travel is a reward for those who hit a target, with more touring than sitting in rooms. The two can take place during the same trip.

Who organizes incentive travel?

Usually a specialized agency or a receptive operator at the destination, contracted by the company providing the reward. They handle flights, accommodation, transfers, tours and the awards dinner.

Which destinations in Brazil host incentive travel?

Places with group-ready accommodations and diverse tours, such as Foz do Iguaçu, Gramado and Bento Gonçalves in the Serra Gaúcha, Campos do Jordão and coastal state capitals like Salvador and Florianópolis.

Can incentive travel include a companion?

Yes. The company defines in the campaign rules whether the prize covers one or two people and which companion expenses are included.

Where to go: Incentive travel

Pick a region or a state on the map, or type what you are looking for, to see the cities and who offers it in each.

Tap a state or a region to see the cities. Mapa: @svg-maps/brazil, CC BY 4.0

Mateiros TO
Dunas, cachoeiras e fervedouros do Jalapão para grupos de premiação com perfil de aventura.
Fortaleza CE
Praias, cultura e comida típica para grupos de premiação.
Ouro Preto MG
Arquitetura colonial, igrejas e culinária mineira para grupos de premiação.
Foz do Iguaçu PR
Cataratas por trilha e por barco e compras na fronteira para grupos de premiação.
Florianópolis SC
Praias de perfis diferentes, mirantes e centro histórico para grupos de premiação.