The convergence of a sagging economy and the terrorist attacks of September 11 have had a profound impact on the incentive travel industry…
The convergence of a sagging economy and the terrorist attacks of September 11 have had a profound impact on the incentive travel industry . Not since the early 1990s, when a global recession and the Gulf War dominated the headlines, has the worldwide industry faced such challenging times. The Society of Incentive & Travel Executives (
Top-notch skills and additional resources are needed to function effectively within the current marketplace, notes SITE President Peggy Whitman, cite, western regional sales director, MI Fulfillment Services, LLC. SITE is proactively providing the incentive industry with the tools and opportunities to help them succeed.
SITE University is a multi-day educational program aimed at providing practical, hands-on education for those involved in the design or delivery of incentive programs. A tiered curriculum fulfills the needs of veteran industry professionals, while also playing an important role as a training ground for new employees entering the incentive workforce. This year’s University is slated for June 9-12 at the Melia Cancun Convention Center Beach & Spa Resort, in Cancun, Mexico.
2002 will see SITE introduce two new features to the well-established University – mentoring sessions and a supplemental education program. Both programs are designed to provide attendees with critical information to help them meet marketplace challenges. The newly inaugurated mentoring program will allow attendees to schedule one-on-one time with industry veterans for consultative sessions based on individualized needs. During the 45-minute private sessions, individuals will be able to tap into the knowledge base of incentive pros and get answers to their most pressing problems. Pre-registration is required. A supplemental fee of $50 will be charged for these private consultations.
Additionally, SITE has created a special post-conference education package to allow for in-depth exploration of critical business areas. On June 12th, two full-day seminars will be presented that offer a thorough grounding in the fundamentals of incentive program development and usage. Harnessing the Power of Incentives introduces the concept of non-cash incentives and provides a comparative analysis of the various reward options and their suitability for given programs. This seminar is geared to those new to the industry or those seeking a broader understanding of the overall incentive industry.
Complementing this seminar is Return on Investment Fundamentals – How to Maximize the Value and Measure the Return on Your Incentive Program, the newest product in SITE’s seminar series. The comprehensive program provides tools and models to drive the strongest possible return from incentive program investments and validate the results to corporate management and shareholders. This program is aimed at corporate users of incentives and incentive marketing companies who support the strategic development and business success of their clients’ programs. The program, which was previewed at SITE’s recent International Conference garnered rave reviews from an incentive house audience: Best I have ever seen Great presentation – direct, incisive, articulate Would recommend to others.
As marketplace challenges increase, SITE must step up its efforts to provide the strongest educational resources possible. Attendees will derive exponential rewards from their investment in these new programs, adds Whitman.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
