 Orlando
Mouse Land has come of age with luxury hotels, fine restaurants and first-rate entertainment. Concierge services reach new heights here, with experiences that range beyond your wildest expectations.
Getting There
Fifty airlines fly into Orlando International Airport (Delta has a hub here) and direct flights are available to most major cities.
Stay
The Peabody Orlando has enough club rooms for all of your VIPs (58 suites in all, plus 891 regular guest rooms). These private-access suites include complimentary breakfast, and evening hors d’ouevres. Staying in these exclusive rooms alone will make guests feel special, but if you want to up the ante, take them to tea (held every weekend afternoon in the hotel lobby). White-gloved service, sandwiches, scones and a parade of ducks accompany this grand experience. Full tea is $15.95 per person. The hotel also features a swanky athletic club and plenty of meeting space, including the 27,000-square-foot International Ballroom.
Avid golfers get the red carpet treatment at the 584-room Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes. The hotel’s golf program includes a Caddie Concierge who accompanies your group and assists players by providing course tips, locating lost golf balls, assessing yardage, repairing ball marks, raking bunkers, cleaning your clubs, teaching course strategy and providing food and beverages (including champagne).
For a luxe experience out of doors, the Ritz offers its Orvis two-day fly fishing school, with seminars and field instruction on how to read the water, play, land and safely release fish. Packages start at $470 and include top-of-the line equipment. The resort also offers 47,000 square feet of flexible meeting space.
Eat
Maison & Jardin, a sumptuous Mediterranean bistro just 10 minutes outside of Orlando, features sweeping garden views and lush interior décor that includes grand art, chandeliers, Oriental rugs and Austrian crystal. Start with Chef Spirig’s Beluga caviar with sour cream and onion and move on to Florida snapper, encased in puff pastry and topped with generous chunks of crab doused in mousseline sauce. This upscale restaurant can accommodate intimate wine-cellar groups of 10 to 40 people or dining room assemblages of up to 325. Entrees start at $25.
If you think Downtown Disney is just too Mickey Mouse you haven’t tried Wolfgang Puck’s Grand Café at Lake Buena Vista. The famous chef has outdone himself here, building on the inspired culinary techniques he pioneered at Spago and Chinois. The main dining room can be rented out for VIP receptions for up to 200 featuring butlered hors d’ouevres including tempura gulf shrimp with curly aioli and a goat cheese mousse in a parmesan crisp. Entrees from the mid $20s.
Play
Bring incentive winners nose-to-nose with dolphins at Discovery Cove, an exclusive tropical hideaway only open to 1,000 guests per day. This park allows attendees to swim with bottlenose dolphins, snorkel through coral reefs and grottos, and interact with hundreds of tropical birds. Reservations should be made six months in advance; prices begin at $289. For an extra treat, rent private cabanas for the whole gang.
Tabu, one of Orlando’s swankiest clubs, features ultra-posh seating, a top shelf VIP room for bottle service, and the largest dance floor in the city. This is the place to take people who want to get a glimpse of local celebs.
 Miami
Luxurious lodging, customized meeting environments, chi-chi nightclubs and on-call personal assistants are just a few of the ingredients that make Miami one of the most upscale destinations in the Sunshine State.
Getting There
Miami International Airport is serviced by 60 airlines with direct connections to destinations around the world.
Stay
Asian flavors meet Florida fitness at the 327-room Mandarin Oriental Miami, an exclusive city resort situated on Brickell Key with stunning views of Biscayne Bay and the Miami skyline. This Conde Nast “Miami’s Best” winner features Conde Nast Traveler Spa Lifestyle rooms equipped with allergy-friendly air purification systems, Technogym wellness balls and yoga mats. The hotel’s 15,000 square feet of meeting space is enhanced by a Meeting Sense program with customized environments to take your guests on sensory journeys. For example, to increase energy in the morning, displays can be lit in brilliant orange (a color said to have energizing properties) for breakfast; while dining in the afternoon, the light displays can be lit in sea green for a calming effect.
A call to a personal assistant at The Tides South Beach summons a trained butler who attends to every detail of your VIPs’ visits, including unpacking their luggage, providing picnic baskets stocked with provisions, running a bubble bath and even grooming their pets (fees vary). The hotel’s Terra Nova Rooftop Patio is the ideal space for intimate outdoor events, ranging from 50-person receptions to small-group celebrations. This is the ideal spot for a small incentive; the hotel has 45 large guest rooms and suites (the smallest one is 550 square feet) and meeting space for up to 200.
Eat
Plenty of Miami-area restaurants serve Italian but nobody does it better than Café Abracci. This Coral Gables establishment is upscale yet affordable with a lively clublike atmosphere and signature menu items like snails with polenta, penne alla grappa and whole-wheat spaghetti. Entrees from $12 to $20.
The Blue Door is one of South Beach’s most stylish upscale brasseries with a hand-etched mirrored bar and luxuriant living room-style furniture. The Blue Door’s terrace is the ideal place for your alfresco gatherings of up to 50. The restaurant’s signature dish is caramelized miso tuna with oven confit, topped off with mango and blueberries. Entrees are $40 and up.
Play
If attendees gravitate to the water in Miami, you’ll knock their socks off with a trip aboard a private yacht. Many options are available. One hot idea: A trip aboard Aquasino, a 228-yacht offering three decks of casino games, such as craps, blackjack, roulette, baccarat and poker. Guests can drink, dine, gamble and gawk at the breathtaking Miami skyline. Prices start at $40. Group rates are available for parties of 10 or more.
 Naples
This Southwest Florida crown jewel city features scores of beachy spas and trendy eateries. Relaxation is key here. Take attendees to the nearest resort spa for some serious pampering.
Getting There
Naples Municipal Airport has limited connections; most groups fly into neighboring Southwest Florida International Airport (about a half-hour drive) which services eight million passengers with direct flights to many major cities.
Stay
The 4,500 square-foot SpaTerre at LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort (189 guest rooms) provides ritzy signature treatments and Japanese relaxation tubs. Treatment rooms include “Love,” designed to re-connect couples with massages and “Beauty,” which hosts signature facials to revitalize all skin types. The spa’s poolside rooms feature sliding glass doors that can be opened during spa treatments, allowing breezy views while your muscles are soothed. LaPlaya’s 8,000 square feet of indoor meeting facilities and spectacular waterfront views also make for relaxing meetings.
Attendees can chill out at Naples’ luxurious Edgewater Beach Hotel. It’s the perfect place to escape to a world of casual elegance; nearly all of the resort’s 142 rooms offer breathtaking ocean views. Plan an executive meeting for up to 60 at The Beach Cottage, a guesthouse by the sea which offers stunning views and brilliant sunsets.
Eat
The food at Marie-Michelle’s Restaurant On The Bay comes with a French flair including heart-healthy offerings like Pates aux Champignons Sauvages, Chef Marie Michelle’s signature sautéed wild mushroom dish simmered in a delicate white wine sauce with shallots bullion and served over linguini. The restaurant can accommodate groups of up to 100 in a private room; group dinners start at $49 per person
Play
Take art aficionados on a daylong tour of the arts. From the outstanding permanent collections and traveling exhibits at the Naples Museum of Art (where customized private tours are available), the von Liebig Art Center and the Marco Island Art League, to the eclectic array of galleries located in the Fifth Avenue South and Third Street South shopping districts, to the Big Cypress Gallery deep in the Everglades, attendees will find themselves surrounded by beautiful works of art. Many artists are in residence at studio galleries (and are willing to give private talks and tours), while other galleries serve to inspire or provide art for home and special gifts. There are also hundreds of art and cultural events happening in the area every month. For a complete schedule of arts-related events, visit the United Arts Council’s Web page, www.florida-arts.org.
 Fort Lauderdale
The best way to see Fort Lauderdale is to organize a jaunt aboard a luxury yacht. Attendees can sip champagne as they sail past Millionaire’s Row, an area with some of the most beautiful homes in the country.
Getting There
Thirty-one airlines serve Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport with direct flights to more than 80 U.S. cities.
Stay
The 384-room Hyatt Regency Pier 66 is a top-drawer hotel with all the amenities and an on-site marina and aquatic center. The Aquatic Center at Pier 66 features the finest fleet of charter yachts in the region, able to handle from one to 600 guests with unprecedented service. After a lively day at sea, incentive winners will be ready for a rubdown at the Hyatt’s Spa 66, a lush spa oasis featuring spectacular waterfalls and brilliant tropical plants. The property features 25,000 square feet of event space for groups of up to 400.
The Bahia Mar Resort & Yachting Center boasts numerous amenities including a 250-ship mega luxury yacht marina and four miles of state-of-the-art dockage. The Bahia Mar features 22,000 square feet of meeting space, including the Waterfront Gardens and Marina Terrace, offering stunning views of the Intercoastal Waterway and yacht basin.
Other luxury resorts that have recently opened in Fort Lauderdale include the St. Regis Resort, the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort and the W Fort Lauderdale. For more information on these exclusive properties, visit www.sunny.org/Luxe
Eat
Fish, an upscale eatery, is the latest Jack Jackson (of Burt and Jackson’s Steakhouse fame) venture, located on Fort Lauderdale’s stylish 17th Street Causeway. The eclectic menu features colossal lump crab meat starters and signature entrees including apricot glazed black grouper and cedar plank wild salmon. A private indoor room accommodates 30 guests, while a private party of 60 can be accommodated on the patio. Entrees start at $25.
The Four Rivers is a unique Thai eatery that features Pla Tom Som (shallow poached halibut), Sadao Nam (sautéed black sea bass), and Ped Nam Pla Whan (pan roasted duck breast). The restaurant’s décor blends well with its exotic food including a stone wall with Thai carvings, rose petals floating in a water-filled room divider and lotus blossoms set in recessed vases. A private room is available for 40. Entrees start at $21.
Play
The Museum of Fort Lauderdale, home to blockbuster exhibitions including Princess Diana and King Tut, welcomes the Norman Rockwell exhibition from November 2009 to February 2010. Private tours are available for groups of 10 or more.
Sunshine State Souvenirs
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Pre-Trip
This luggage strap is just the thing to announce an incentive travel plan. It’s 84" long and adjusts to fit most suitcases and will make spotting them on a baggage carousel easier. Available with standard buckle or combination-lock closure. Available from asi/64635 |
DAY 1
Small jute bag is filled with Aloe Up sun products, lip balm and a spa/exercise towel, and makes an ideal room gift. Bag measures 5" x 5" x 2" and comes in green or khaki. Available from asi/34362 |
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DAY 2
After a nice dinner, leave this Adirondack champagne/wine carrier in attendees’ rooms. It’s made of foam-insulated microfiber with top-grain leather trim. Comes with captain’s cork. And, why not go the extra mile and include a bottle of wine inside. Available from asi/66920 |
POST-TRIP
Follow-up gifts bring the trip full circle. Consider this insulated Melrose picnic basket packed with regional favorites. It has a waterproof interior, aluminum frame, polyester canvas and drawstring top. Comes with acrylic tumblers, fabric napkins, melamine plates and stainless-steel flatware. Available from asi/78065 |
Denis Jensen is a freelance writer based in Pennsylvania.
Three Ways to
Get a Callback |
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Why don’t
prospects call you back? They
may simply be just too busy,
says Bill Stinnett, author of
Think Like Your Customer. Here,
Stinnett gives three tips to
get through to busy executives
via promotional products:
Tip #1 – Key
in to their egos.
“
CEOs in particular make enough
money so they already own just
about anything you could offer
them,” Stinnett says. “Nevertheless,
they want to look good outside
the office, so consider giving
them something unique they
can take home with them.” Stinnett’s
suggestions include holiday
gifts that can be shared with
loved ones at home and high-perceived-value
consumables like gourmet foods.
Tip #2 – Make
it refillable.
The “refill” technique
is another of Stinnett’s
callback-gaining suggestions.
This approach uses products
that require additional modules
or regular refills, like time
planners, desk calendars and
gumball machines. “The
key is to get the customer
to call you back for the refill,” Stinnett
says. “When that happens,
be sure to deliver it in person.”
Tip #3 – Find
out what they need.
Stinnett also advises learning
what clients are trying to
accomplish – and then
sending them an item that will
help them reach their goals.
Perhaps it’s a business
book or a set of cool-looking
folders to help them stay organized. “If
you can come up with something
useful, you’ll get a
callback,” he says. For
maintenance managers plagued
with breakdowns, this could
take the form of portable tool
kits, whereas high-level CEOs
obsessed with keeping track
of far-flung operations might
appreciate databank organizers
with language capabilities.
If the above techniques don’t
improve callbacks, you may
be facing an unknown barrier.
To ferret it out Stinnett suggests
questioning others in your
client’s company. “Your
customer may have an unanswered
grievance that demands an in-person
apology, accompanied by an
appropriate promotional gift,” he
says. |
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