Travel Agents

A common destination many of our Elite Incentive Travel clients send their employees to is Dominican Republic. When it comes to incentive trips, however, folks often wonder what there is to do in the various destinations. So, in this incentive destination spotlight we thought we would share five fun things you can do if you are lucky enough to earn a trip to Dominican Republic.

Cascade or Canyon the Damajagua and Ciguapa Falls – You’ll start the day innocently enough with a hike to the top of the falls and then you will rappel down them. Some people even take these tours as opportunities to just jump the long drop into the water. Bring comfy shoes for the hike and expect them to get soaked when you get to the falls.

Whale watch – If you have ever wanted to watch thousands of humpback whales get together, mate and/or give birth, Dominican Republic is a great place to watch this because every year hundred of thousands of whales can be seen off the Península de Samaná providing tourists with stunning sights you won’t soon forget.

White water raft – The Río Yaque del Norte is the Caribbean’s only river you can safely go white water rafting on. Prepare for some intense rapids to raft over, but it will be quickly before you know it and you will be rewarded with some nice flat water glide across as you enjoy the mountainous views.

Visit the first American Cathedral in Santo Domingo – Santo Domingo is home to The Cathedral of Santa María la Menor which is the oldest Cathedral of the Americas.

Sunbathe at Playa Rincón – This beach is often touted as the best of the Caribbean because it is largely undeveloped and offers barely any shade. You’ll barely find any vendors and don’t even bother looking for facilities. What keeps this beach so pristine is its difficulty in accessing it. In fact, there is just one rocky road leading there from Las Galeras.

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Have you ever been to Dominican Republic? If so, what was your favorite thing to do there?

The big key to earning an incentive trip is that you have to sell enough goods/services to earn it. How to go about making more sales has always been a hot topic. So much so that it’s a common discussion amongst marketers and sales geniuses on podcasts, blogs and even YouTube videos. The top tip they all seem to come to for increasing sales? Simply listening to your customer’s problem and providing the solution. That’s it. Not gimmicky, no sleaze- just listening and providing.

Read our post on what makes a great sales pitch.

Where do you find the people that have the problem that you have the solution to? Go to the online forums where these people are complaining about the problem. See if it’s trending on Facebook and Twitter. Give your ideal customer profile to your favorite data provider and ask for only those leads. If your boss allows it ask friends and family on social media who needs what you’re providing and then listen for responses. Go to competitor websites and see who is commenting on their blog and reach out to those people with a better offer.

Should you give up on a sales lead? Read this to find out.

Okay, you’ve done all that and are still struggling to sell. Why aren’t your ideal clients buying what you’re selling? Maybe they think it won’t work for them. Perhaps they believe that you are more hyped about the product or service than you should be. Or this could be a financial issue. Again, this comes back to listening. You need to listen to why you haven’t converted the prospect to a customer so that you can provide a solution that closes the deal.

Bottom line, listen to what people want and then, if you can provide the solution make the pitch. If they still don’t buy listen again to find out why. Listening and providing options will land you more sales guaranteed.

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One common destination that companies choose for incentive trips for their employees is Jamaica. What is it about this island country that has so many people flocking to it annually? Let’s dive into what makes Jamaica such a popular choice!

– It’s a hop, skip and a jump from the United States. Located just 90 miles south of Cuba, most people can get to Jamaica with just a day of flying time. Even a flight all the way from Seattle, Washington to Jamaica is just under seven hours if you can fly direct.

– There are so many sites to see there. You could swim in the Blue Hole or walk the Seven Mile Beach, hike to the Dunn’s River Falls or kayak in the Glistening Waters. There are also countless dance clubs to get your groove on, eateries to indulge your culinary senses, water sports that will keep your adrenaline pumping and spas to relax and unwind.

– Three Words: Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville. There are Jimmy Buffett Margritaville locations all over Jamaica and the most popular is found in Montego Bay. Located on Montego Bay’s famous “Hip Strip,” it is thee place for fun and entertainment and- you guessed it- margaritas!

– The country has some of the best all-inclusive resorts in the world. Employers love all-inclusive resorts because they are budget-friendly. Employees love all-inclusive resorts because of how much they get while vacationing! Along with lodging your employees will enjoy all of their meals, drinks and several water sports. With everything they need on-site the guess work is removed leaving extra time to just unwind and recharge their batteries before they have to head back to the office.

If you are an employee who stumbled onto this page because you want to convince your boss that he should create and incentive program at your company check out this post!

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After you earn your trip and your bookings are complete the real planning begins. It’s time to decide what you will pack for your vacation. Here are some ideas to help you figure out just what to put in your suitcase and what to leave at home:

– Consider where you are going and when you will be there: You wouldn’t pack a winter coat and boots for a sunny place like Cancun would you? No! You’re likely packing swimsuits, tropical shirts, hats and sunglasses. Still, keep in mind that although most outfits for tropical paradises such as this will be warm weather appropriate you will likely want at least one nice ensemble should you and your travel companions decide to go to a nice restaurant for dinner one night.

– Think about the length of your trip: Most people have a bad habit of over packing. Avoid this by tallying up the exact number of days and nights you will be away and only packing one outfit per day. You might even be able to get away with one outfit for every other day and mixing and matching the pieces on alternate days to create more than one look. Sure, you will have to wear things more than once, but has that really ever hurt anyone? No! Of course, bring clean underwear and socks for every day of travel!

– Leave books at home: If you can think of nothing better than reading a good book on the beach that’s fine, but books can make the weight of your suitcase soar quickly. Swap out those heavy items and avoid overweight luggage fees by bringing something like a Kindle or a Tablet instead with loads of digital books instead.

– Ditch the booze: Just because you can pack something doesn’t mean you should. A breakable bottle in your luggage is just asking for trouble. The last thing you want is your luggage reeking of tequila before you even make it to the bars of your destination. While we’re at it, leave other breakables at home as well.

– Bring toiletries and medications: You might not have access to the things you need at your destination. Bring your prescriptions in their original bottles to avoid customs issues if traveling internationally and be sure to put any toiletries in your checked baggage to avoid TSA issues. Speaking of toiletries, make sure you place them in a plastic bag before packing them in your luggage. This way if anything should burst or leak in transit you won’t ruin your entire suitcase of clothes.

What are your favorite packing tips? Leave a comment and tell us about it!

#EliteIncentiveTravel #EliteTravelGroup #EliteDestinationWeddings #EliteAdventureTravel #incentivetravel

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