Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 46

Incentive at Sea,
Celebrity Sightings
As Covid restrictions have fallen, cruising for incentive
groups is booming in popularity. We spoke with Ron Gulaskey,
AVP of Global Corporate, Incentive & Charter Sales
at Celebrity Cruises on the dynamic.
* Are there any craft/routes that are best for
meeting planners to look at for booking incentives?
RG: Although the perception is most companies chose
to do short 3-to-5-night cruises to reward their employees,
we found most companies prefer 7-night itineraries
because their incentive winners miss the same amount
of work as shorter cruises but get to sail on our newest
ships, which usually cater to 7-night itineraries. The Caribbean,
Alaska, Galapagos and the Mediterranean are by
far the top destinations that planners book with easy nonstop
flights from most major airports. Regional products,
like our above-mentioned Mexican Riviera sailings, are
popular for West Coast companies because of the easy
access in and out of Los Angeles.
* In terms of Incentives at Sea, are there any
exclusive experiences that Celebrity offers?
RG: We have heard from meeting planners that landbased
properties are struggling to get back to prepandemic
service and sales levels-where Celebrity has
not missed a beat. We include all drinks, Wi-Fi, tips, A/V
equipment, and meeting space for our corporate groups.
The fun way to network
Team building,
Palawan Beach, Singapore
We don't have F&B minimums or resort fees. Our hotel operations
team still provide daily housekeeping, turn-down
service, and we can do room drops for a surprise-and-delight.
Plus, with an average of four port stops on a 7-night
cruise, we provide an unbeatable experience to land. With
thousands of customizable, private shore excursions,
attendees have the opportunity to explore authentic tours
within the destinations that they visit. These carefully
curated tours are more than just sightseeing. We perfect
them for your group-from walking food tours to wine tastings,
to team building along a zip-line to wellness, it is an
in-depth experience that we get to provide.
You don't have to worry on our brand about the costs
adding up for bottled water, sodas, alcohol or entertaining
and picking up the bar tab for each other-a massive
budget saver compared to most other cruise brands and
absolutely compared to hotels and resorts who also even
include resort fees and F&B minimums.
* What trends (including at-sea incentives)
so you see emerging in the industry?
RG: While work-from-home has become a trend, I see
more importance in those teams getting together for more
than just a 2-day offsite...especially with travel to/from
certain locations. And I see cruising as a strong trend that
is emerging in the industry. Cruising with corporate peers
Swimming in Las Grietas,
Santa Cruz Island in Galapagos
Cruise Ship
is the ultimate team-building experience. When you go
to these large tier-1 cities that are hosting a multitude of
other conventions and meetings at the same time as you,
you battle restaurant buy-outs, hotel space (Celebrity also
has the best attrition policy compared to land), and even
meeting space. Plus, all those locations are separated...
your attendees scatter at night. With cruising, it is the best
way for the team to bond and network. As I mentioned
with drinks being all-included, pre-dinner happy hours
don't add up on expense reports like they would if you are
on land, and because you're in the same place, no one
feels left out of the group if various departments are going
to different venues.
* Has Covid changed incentives at sea?
RG: While the world continues to open, protocols vary
from region to region. However, it has never been more
inclusive. Starting on September 5th, we no longer required
vaccination as a pre-requisite to cruising, making it
easier than ever for groups to get onboard. We, of course,
continue to keep safety a top priority with rigorous testing
policies that align with local governments and mandates.
Onboard, our staff ensures customers enjoy constantly
clean and polished spaces, whether they're enjoying
resort facilities or resting in their stateroom.
46
OCTOBER 2022 * smartmeetings . com

Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue

October Cover
Table of Contents 1
Table of Contents 2
Online Exclusives
Bright Perspective
Founder/CEO's Letter
Dash of Smart
Dash of Smart
Essential List
Smart Buzz
Smart Recap
New & Renovated
Essential F&B
Smart Moves
Smart Chat
Meetings MBA
Work Smart
Healthy World
Smart Tech
Smart Style
Feature: Airline Outrage
Feature: Incentive Hyperdrive
Feature: Oh the Destinations You Will Go
Destination: Tennessee
Destination: New England
Destination: California's Central Coast
Site Inspection: Louisville, Kentucky
Site Inspection: Birmingham, Alabama
Site Inspection: Reno, Nevada
Smart Space
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - October Cover
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Cover2
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 1
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 2
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 3
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Table of Contents 1
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 5
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Table of Contents 2
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 7
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Online Exclusives
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 9
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Founder/CEO's Letter
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 11
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Dash of Smart
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 13
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Dash of Smart
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 15
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Essential List
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 17
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Smart Buzz
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 19
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Smart Recap
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 21
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - New & Renovated
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 23
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Essential F&B
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 25
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Smart Moves
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 27
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Smart Chat
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 29
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Meetings MBA
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 31
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Work Smart
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 33
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Healthy World
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 35
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Smart Tech
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 37
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Smart Style
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 39
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Feature: Airline Outrage
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 41
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 42
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 43
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Feature: Incentive Hyperdrive
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 45
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 46
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 47
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 48
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 49
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Feature: Oh the Destinations You Will Go
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 51
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 52
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 53
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 54
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 55
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 56
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 57
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Destination: Tennessee
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 59
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 60
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 61
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 62
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Destination: New England
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 64
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 65
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 66
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 67
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Destination: California's Central Coast
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 69
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 70
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - 71
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Site Inspection: Louisville, Kentucky
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Site Inspection: Birmingham, Alabama
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Site Inspection: Reno, Nevada
Smart Meetings October 2022 Digital Issue - Smart Space
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com