Can Leisure Advisors Crack the Incentive Travel Market?
Photo Credit: Even relatively small agencies can organize incentive travel to luxury destinations. Pictured is Hotel Des Indes, a Luxury Collection Hotel, The Hague, the Netherlands. Hotel Des Indes
Skift Take
For leisure travel advisors, especially those already accustomed to providing concierge-style services, expanding into incentive travel could be a realistic goal. With help from outsourcing services, even small agencies can handle the complexities involved.
With incentive travel largely the domain of incentive houses and travel management companies, what chance does a small leisure travel agency have to compete for business? More than might be thought.
Incentive travel may actually be a logical fit for leisure agencies, particularly those focusing on luxury travel. Experts say that the nature of incentives are in sync with important trends driving high-end leisure travel: demand for customized, exclusive experiences and the shift away from commissions to fee-based revenue.
Outsourcing to the Rescue
While incentive travel, which is concerned with motivational business objectives rather than vacation needs, is more complex than leisure travel, streamlined technology, packages, and outsourcing services are making it more feasible for smaller agencies to handle.
“There’s no reason at all why a leisure travel agent, even a one-person shop, can’t do incentives — you just have to appreciate the different purpose,” said consulta
