London Adventure: Planning a Stellar Incentive Reward Trip
Last week, the team at Lifestyle London Town put together a dazzling incentive reward trip for the top salespeople from an aviation team at an international travel company.
The lucky team spent one day and one night getting to know the United Kingdom’s capital city, complete with skyscraper tours, fascinating bars, and a cruise along the Thames. In the DMC world, the key to a successful event is in how one tailors the experience to the customer, and in this case, the customers were seeking a high-end trip with London as the backdrop.
The Hotel
For this incentive reward trip, the aviation team got to stay at the Shangri-La Hotel, right in the heart of London. Located inside the Shard, London’s tallest skyscraper, the Shangri-La Hotel is an exercise in luxury and class. The Lifestyle London Town guests got to experience some of the best views in the city: their rooms, which looked out over the stunning London skyline, came with their own binoculars to take a closer look at the space below. When you can glimpse the London Eye, London Bridge, the Tower bridge, and more from your hotel room, you’re bound to be thrilled. Our guests were delighted with the view. With several high-class bars, a sky pool, and incredible service, the hotel blew away our guests with its attention to detail. “It’s just unbelievable,” said more than one person with something akin to awe and wonderment in their tone.
The Activity
Of course, it wouldn’t be an incentive reward trip without a stunning activity to match the location. Here, our guests got to zoom across the river Thames on RHIBs (Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boats). This activity works on two levels: it functions as both a tour of iconic buildings and monuments visible from the Thames and a heart-pounding, adrenaline-fueled adventure. As we took off, the sun glistened off the water, bathing us in a heart-warming glow; the skies did attempt to darken, but only for a minute. Then they brightened up once again. With a funny tour guide to outline the significance of each building, our guests enjoyed their brief history and culture lesson. Then, once the tour was over, the real fun began. Guided by an expert, our team shredded up the Thames, roaring past landmarks as we snaked our way through the water. As this group was used to flying at high speed, this was the ideal activity for them.
The Food
With a group of self-proclaimed foodies, this part of the trip was actually one of the more difficult ones to pin down. But after a look at the team’s high-class expectations, we created an itinerary that would satisfy every requirement for the recipients of this incentive reward trip. First up was the Aqua Bar. Conveniently located inside the Shard, this rooftop bar was just a few floors from the guests’ hotel rooms—and it happens to be one of the coolest bars in the city. The trip to the thirty-second floor included a jaunt in the recently-renamed “whistling lift,” which our guests thoroughly enjoyed. As a rule, the lights inside the Aqua Bar are all dimmed, the better to appreciate the stunning panoramic views of the twinkling city lights below. Our guests had a blast sipping cocktails and admiring the city, glittering below them.
After they had finished their drinks, the group was ready to move on, and so we headed over to COYA. This Peruvian restaurant is known for its innovative dishes. Born in London in 2012, there are now multiple locations in countries across the world. After winning the 2014 London Restaurant of the Year from the London Lifestyle Awards, COYA cemented its position as one of the luxury dining experiences in the city. This activity was what the team enjoyed most: the act of sitting, chatting, drinking and delighting as each new, tasty and savory dish was put before them was an experience in itself. Any other time, they might have been content to sit for a few moments after the meal was over, chatting, but tonight, the night was still young and they had one more treat in store.
Settled in the Rumpus Room at the Mondrian Hotel, our group wound down the evening at the Mondrian Hotel with cocktails, conversation, and laughter. This classy, comfortable space boasted some striking views of the city at night as well as tons of seating. Our guests got to spend some more quality time admiring the views, drinking beautifully-crafted beverages, and bonding with their companions. It was the perfect way to end an amazing day in one of the most interesting cities in the world, and our guests had a truly fabulous time time. As far as incentive reward trips go, this one knocked it “out the park.”
The Takeaway
Since this group specialized in one aspect of international travel, Lifestyle London Town was glad to provide them with the kind of classy incentive reward trip that they deserved. Delighted and relaxed, the team returned to their homes having had a true once-in-a-lifetime experience. They have all had an adventure, and more importantly, they’ve had exactly the kind of adventure they wanted: the kind with jaunts on the river Thames and exotic drinks in rooftop bars while London sparkled around them.
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