Initially a Viking settlement, Dublin experienced rapid growth during the seventeenth century after the Norman invasion. The city was one of the largest under the British Empire for a period of time, but experienced an era of stagnancy once the kingdom was united with Great Britain by the Acts of Union passed in 1800. A new parliament, instituted in 1922 as part of the partition of Ireland, led to the appointment of this town as the capital of what is now referred to as the Republic of Ireland. Dublin today, ranked thirtieth among global cities, remains as a center of both historical and cultural significance. The region is also a well-known for its advancements in education, industry, administration, and art.
Local Climate
Dublin climate does not reach extreme temperatures as with alternative tourist destinations. The summers are cool, winters are mild, and the sunniest times exist from the months of May to June. October is the wettest portion of the year for this getaway location and February follows as the driest month. Unlike other travel locations, the region experiences fairly consistent amounts of rainfall throughout the year. The average temperature in July is sixty-eight degrees Fahrenheit and winter temperatures remain around forty to sixty degrees. Dublin’s position to the East makes it less susceptible to the strong Atlantic winds during the warmer months; however, these same winds bring on a large amount of snow in the winter.
Famous Dublin Landmarks
This Irish city holds numerous historical landmarks that remain standing after hundreds of years. The Dublin Castle was created as a defensive structure after the Norman invasion in 1169. It contains a courtyard, central square, high defensive walls, circular corner towers, and forms the one of the cities outer perimeters. The River Poddle became a natural defense mechanism as the castle was completed in the early 1200’s. Visitors will find the Spire of Dublin, also referred to as the Monument of Light, by taking a stroll down O’Connell Street. As one of the latest monuments in the area, the creation stands three-hundred ninety eight feet tall on the same site as where Nelson’s Pillar once resided. Trinity College, Ha’penny Bridge, the Mansion House, Upper Gardiner Street, and Poolbeg Towers are additional landmarks found throughout the area.
Area Tourist Activities
Dublin offers plenty of non-historically related activities and offers countless festivals at all times of the year. Festivals include exciting races, traditional music, and various activities to make the travel experience increasingly fun. Area spas offer luxury at its finest with an abundance of supportive scenery where walking around in a robe is considered the norm. Eateries, drinks, shopping, and an assortment of wellness facilities can be found in this stunning travel destination. Those wanting to take the more active route have plenty of fun new things to choose from including:
- Surfing
- Cycling
- Fishing
- Golfing
- Horse Racing or Riding
- Inland Cruises
The interest of every visitor is easy to maintain with the diverse choices offered by this city. Culture, historical sites, fun activities, festivals, and breathtaking scenery make Dublin, Ireland an ideal spot for any individual or group getaway.
Travel Incentives: Generating a Plan to Boost Organizational Achievement
/in Incentive Travel ArticlesObjectives are the first and foremost item of assessment as an organization begins to develop a travel incentive package. Selected goals must be specific, achievable, measurable, appropriately timed, and support the culture of an organization. Difficult to achieve objectives or those of ambitious nature are exciting, but can often lead to disappointment for everyone involved. While the criteria should be challenging, every determined goal must be reachable by applying a valid amount of effort. Objectives that cannot be measured or are not timed right make it highly difficult for anyone to earn the reward. This creates a level of discouragement capable of harming any future trip oriented efforts. For example, putting a program in place for boosting profits at the slowest time of the year is a good idea; however, goals should be set in accordance with average profits in order to avoid requiring participants to try to reach unreasonable sales totals. Timing has to be in sync with the desired goal to receive the most optimal results.
The Basics of Reward Program Design
A trip oriented reward program is frequently open-ended or close-ended; however, a company can set up a package falling between the two. Open programs consist of a planned set of objectives where a precise result has been laid out. They target the largest percentage of average performers, but also make it difficult to budget due to an unknown number or earners. Close-ended programs set an exact number of individuals who can qualify for the award and are easier to budget. The biggest drawback of this choice is the possibility of alienating certain people within a company. A good example is someone making the sales quota, but not being given the opportunity to receive the award. These programs also allow the same individuals to consistently win the offered trip. Resentment among coworkers is common when the same person is awarded the prize. A policy limiting the number of repeat wins is a good idea when a close-ended program will be used. Multi-level approaches with a mix of both basic types allow everyone to have a chance at the opportunity and still supply the recognition repeat earners need to continue performing above par.
Trip awards pay for themselves when a company carefully plans out and budgets the event. Administration costs typically fluctuate between five and fifteen percent depending on the travel incentives intricacy along with the amount of required analysis. Communication, promotion, and given awards additionally contribute to the total package cost. The time period designated for participants to earn the reward must align with the objectives. Diminishing sales might require a short term plan while quarterly improvements during a healthy profit era are ideal for a long term reward program. It is important to remember that federal government regulations view the reward as a form of income. Market value, program type, and merchandise costs could be required to be reported as part of each earners income. These factors must be taken into consideration and remain a priority as a company starts planning their travel package.
Incentive Travel Programs Aid in Alleviating Undesirable Employee Behaviors
/in Employee MotivationMembers of upper management are directly responsible for ensuring employees remain motivated. A low morale work environment makes it more difficult for an organization to achieve goals or to maintain a productive staff since there is no motivation to excel. An executive or supervisor can easily pinpoint this environment. Individuals spend an extensive amount of time in the office gossiping, are slow to complete tasks, and maintain only the minimum productivity necessary to earn their pay. It is the long term disadvantages that truly hurt the company since continued morale decreases affect sales, hiring, retention, performance, objective completion, and consumer satisfaction.
Employees who consistently come in late or do the bare minimum are not making a productive contribution to the company. Low morale is reflected on every sales call or as a staff completes projects for clients. The products or services offered by an organization have reduced quality when this type of environment is present. If even the slightest decrease in enthusiasm has been noticed, it is time to begin making an action plan. Incentive travel programs are one of the easiest and most justifiable methods for alleviating a noticed lack of motivation. They deliver long term performance enhancements and serve as an inspirational tool for continued success.
What Benefits Are Received With a Properly Planned Travel Package?
The tangible advantages of goal achievement and increased financial standing are common to these programs. Companies additionally experience a variety of intangible benefits when a program is carried out appropriately. Participant behaviors change as individuals are motivated to receive the end result. A positive environment and happier employees leads to:
A travel package is ideal because it supplies a desirable reward for meeting a defined set of criteria. The goals must be achievable, support organizational objectives, and understandable by every participant. By encouraging employees to perform wanted behaviors, a business is able point staff members in a direction that promotes organizational success. Attendance, motivational, and productivity improvements help the company remain competitive. The promise of a unique destination encourages individuals to be involved in the organizations future thus resulting in amplified staff engagement.
Incentive travel programs allow upper management and top performers to network or come together at a defined location. This type of gathering creates an environment where managers are able to gain insight regarding why earners put out the additional effort to have the possibility of winning the reward. The information received from supplied networking opportunities helps a company implement better practices to further boost productivity. Travel packages also give each individual participating in the program something worthwhile to work toward. Employees become motivated to have the experience provided by the selected trip and gain the same inspiration as another opportunity arises. The supplied recognition encourages others to put forth the required effort to receive the same experience described by earners as they return from a unique destination. Trip incentives are a rewarding choice any time a business desires to boost morale in the workplace.
Using Travel Incentives for Employee Performance Improvements
/in Employee MotivationReward programs have become a typical corporate approach to encouraging a team, department, or individuals to reach a determined objective. While these tools are used quite frequently, numerous organizations do not fully understand how a desirable reward such as travel incentives affects employee performance. A staff is motivated by both the offered trip and the recognition received for meeting a defined goal. Organizations utilizing this type of program have a better chance of remaining strong against their competition. Incentives help employees continue to be engaged, inspired, and feel valued. In return for the staff investment, a company is better able to retain their most skilled employees and maintain a productive work atmosphere.
What Components Serve as the Successful Foundation?
Trip award selection criteria must be based on desired business objectives in order to create a beneficial program. A package has to be clearly communicated in regards to how it can be earned, desired goals, and each individual’s progress. Events or videos should be considered to increase anticipation of the possible reward and a well-designed package boosts generated excitement. An enticing package will have these elements:
Managers perform all actions necessary to reinforce the company’s dedication to the incentives success. Record keeping allows the organization to track each person’s progress and contribution to company financial or productivity goals.
Planning is the Most Important Step
While the work behind planning a travel package can seem extensive, the supplied results are well worth the effort. A company must first sit down to determine what goals participants will work toward and the time frame of achievement. Time frames can range from a single month to an entire year depending on the objectives. Goals should remain on track with a single area of business or issue rather than be spaced across several departments or company problems. For example, an organization will have a higher rate of success if the objectives are based on increasing sales, morale, or individual performance rather than a mixture of these items. Once the foundation has been laid out, it is time to choose an intriguing destination for promoting the travel incentive employee performance program. This destination will need to be centered on the company background, set goals, and individual desires.
The itinerary will be more rewarding if it includes a charitable or business session event. This inclusion makes the approach justifiable to an organization while supplying a unique experience to awarded individuals or teams. It is common for planners in this scenario to focus on their own personal desires; however, the best approach is to evaluate certain background factors regarding the targeted individuals. The end prize should be centered on the demographic features of award winners and what drives them to work hard toward the goal. Any company deciding to use travel rewards to accomplish productivity, morale, or business specific objectives is capable of creating an effective program when time is taken to properly choose, plan out, and promote the offered incentive. Professional assistance is an option for improving the planning of such an award and ensuring satisfactory results.
Dublin, Ireland: An Incentive Travel Featured Destination
/in Featured DestinationsInitially a Viking settlement, Dublin experienced rapid growth during the seventeenth century after the Norman invasion. The city was one of the largest under the British Empire for a period of time, but experienced an era of stagnancy once the kingdom was united with Great Britain by the Acts of Union passed in 1800. A new parliament, instituted in 1922 as part of the partition of Ireland, led to the appointment of this town as the capital of what is now referred to as the Republic of Ireland. Dublin today, ranked thirtieth among global cities, remains as a center of both historical and cultural significance. The region is also a well-known for its advancements in education, industry, administration, and art.
Local Climate
Dublin climate does not reach extreme temperatures as with alternative tourist destinations. The summers are cool, winters are mild, and the sunniest times exist from the months of May to June. October is the wettest portion of the year for this getaway location and February follows as the driest month. Unlike other travel locations, the region experiences fairly consistent amounts of rainfall throughout the year. The average temperature in July is sixty-eight degrees Fahrenheit and winter temperatures remain around forty to sixty degrees. Dublin’s position to the East makes it less susceptible to the strong Atlantic winds during the warmer months; however, these same winds bring on a large amount of snow in the winter.
Famous Dublin Landmarks
This Irish city holds numerous historical landmarks that remain standing after hundreds of years. The Dublin Castle was created as a defensive structure after the Norman invasion in 1169. It contains a courtyard, central square, high defensive walls, circular corner towers, and forms the one of the cities outer perimeters. The River Poddle became a natural defense mechanism as the castle was completed in the early 1200’s. Visitors will find the Spire of Dublin, also referred to as the Monument of Light, by taking a stroll down O’Connell Street. As one of the latest monuments in the area, the creation stands three-hundred ninety eight feet tall on the same site as where Nelson’s Pillar once resided. Trinity College, Ha’penny Bridge, the Mansion House, Upper Gardiner Street, and Poolbeg Towers are additional landmarks found throughout the area.
Area Tourist Activities
Dublin offers plenty of non-historically related activities and offers countless festivals at all times of the year. Festivals include exciting races, traditional music, and various activities to make the travel experience increasingly fun. Area spas offer luxury at its finest with an abundance of supportive scenery where walking around in a robe is considered the norm. Eateries, drinks, shopping, and an assortment of wellness facilities can be found in this stunning travel destination. Those wanting to take the more active route have plenty of fun new things to choose from including:
The interest of every visitor is easy to maintain with the diverse choices offered by this city. Culture, historical sites, fun activities, festivals, and breathtaking scenery make Dublin, Ireland an ideal spot for any individual or group getaway.
Maui, Hawaii: An Incentive Travel Solutions Featured Destination
/in Featured DestinationsMaui, ranking second in size among Hawaiian islands, delivers a diverse landscape to visitors. The isle was formed by lava flowing between two volcanoes, which caused them to merge into a single land mass with a formed isthmus. The western volcanic land mass has been greatly eroded as time has progressed resulting in the formation of the West Maui Mountains. Haleakala, the younger eastern land mass, sits over ten thousand feet above sea level and is one of the tallest mountains in the world. To the East, volcanic masses contain deep incised valleys, ravines, and shorelines.
Maui, Hawaii has two distinct seasons per year with mild temperatures occurring yearly in lowland areas. Windward lowland locations, found in the Northeast of the island, experience moderate rainfall due to trade wind developed showers. Leeward lowland locations experience higher temperatures during the day, lower temperatures at night, and drier weather patterns. High altitude areas on the leeward side supply mild temperatures with higher humidity than other regions. High mountain sections deliver much less humidity with average rainfall ranging below ten percent and temperatures frequently reaching below freezing.
Island Activities
Individuals making their way to this destination must experience an authentic Hawaiian Luau. Maui offers a wide selection of Luau’s consisting of the famous Kalua pig or a buffet with more generalized foods. These events supply a relaxing atmosphere full of great food, hula dancing, music, and fire dancing activities. Individuals desiring a refined experience with fine dining should consider the Feast at Lele in Lahaina. Taking the time to stop by one of Maui’s botanical gardens is another must. The area additionally supplies an abundance of galleries, designer boutiques, malls, farmers markets, and fine dining experiences.
Watching the sunrise at the summit of Haleakala is another great experience awaiting visitors. This summit was once only accessible by priests or students studying initiation practices in the area. The highly popular tourist destination offers stunning views regardless of the time of day. Maui also contains over eighty sandy beach paradises consisting of gold, red, black, green, and the ever popular shimmering white sand with abundant snorkeling opportunities. Individuals desiring an active trip have the choice of:
Ziplining tours are available for those who love the rush of extensive heights at a varying rate of speed. Visitors also have the choice of seeing a museum to learn about the history or culture of the island. Helicopter tours are a great idea for first time visitors who are unfamiliar with the destination because they supply a complete view of isle. Maui, a location of stunning beauty, is well-known for whale-watching due to the yearly migration of Humpbacks from the Alaskan waters. Whales make the thirty-five thousand mile trip to Maui’s warm waters every autumn. They then travel back in small groups to Alaskan waters toward the end of April after giving birth to their young. Maui, Hawaii has become a top tourist destination due to the abundance of activities the island offers and its one of a kind beauty. It is a must see for any individual who wants a taste of coastline paradise.