MICEBOOK - LUXE REPORT 5 - Flipbook - Page 18
Positive Impacts: Designing meaningful
luxury incentives fit for the future
Authenticity has become a bit of a buzzword in the incentive travel
world, as planners and participants seek ever more authentic
experiences. But what makes an experience authentic?
For anyone watching the recent series of Race Across the World, it’s
clear to see that the most impactful moments the contestants
experience on their adventures are those that involve encounters
with local families and communities.
Seeing natural wonders and iconic aractions and staying in
beautiful hotels is always a luxury and a privilege, but nothing
beats spending time with the people that live in the
destinations you are visiting to truly immerse yourself in the
local culture.
Authenticity is not a new trend but there’s now a desire for a more
profound and more real take on it, according to a recent report on
The Art of British Luxury Hospitality by brand agency Notable. It
says: “At the more adventurous end, profound can mean more
“viscerally authentic” experiences, for example, close and extended
encounters with endangered wildlife and remote tribes. At the
soer end, it can mean genuine interactions with people from the
local community you’re visiting or simply supporting local artisans
and producers.”
Exploring human connection
Since this report is focused on corporate luxury events/incentive
travel, suggesting that planners include a homestay with a local
family or visit a remote jungle tribe is not really an option. But
there are plenty of ways they can weave human connections into
incentive programmes in a meaningful way, which can lead to
positive impacts for both the aendees and local community.
Cape Town-based event and destination management company,
Concepts Collection, offers a growing number of experiences that
enable corporate groups to connect with local people and their
stories.
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