I design itineraries for vacations, group trips and incentive travel -- so you can enjoy the experience, not manage it.

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incentive travel planning for companies that want to do it right

incentive travel

Full-service incentive programs for small to mid-size businesses. Destination research, room blocks, team activities, on-site coordination. Based in Washington, DC.

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what is incentive travel?

A reward trip for employees, sales teams, or partners who hit performance goals. Instead of a cash bonus or a plaque on the wall, top performers earn an all-expenses-paid trip they'll never forget.

No conference room. No breakout sessions. No mandatory team-building. It's a genuine celebration — "you crushed it, and we noticed."

And it works. The Incentive Research Foundation consistently shows incentive travel outperforms cash bonuses for motivation, engagement, and retention. People forget a bonus by the next paycheck. They never forget a week in Cabo with the team.

why companies use incentive travel

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The ROI is real.

It's a retention tool.

It builds culture, not just performance.

Motivation starts before the trip.

The moment you announce the destination, behavior changes. The reward is tangible and exciting in a way a paycheck number isn't. You'll see the shift before anyone boards a plane.

Top performers travel together, share dinners, form connections that carry back into the office. That Monday morning looks different. A Visa gift card can't do that.

Bonuses get deposited and forgotten. Gift cards end up in a drawer. Your best people are still leaving — or quietly disengaging — because they don't feel *seen*. Incentive travel changes that.

Replacing a good employee costs 50-200% of their salary. An incentive trip costs a fraction of that. Six months later, the people who qualified are still there — telling new hires about it.

The Incentive Research Foundation reports an average 3:1 return. For sales teams, the lift can be even higher.

People confuse these. Here's the differences

Both have their place. But if your goal is to motivate, recognize, and retain — incentive travel is the tool.


purpose
who goes
vibe
agenda
message

Reward top performers
Employees who earned it
Celebration
Relaxation, excursions, dinners
"You're valued."

Team alignment or strategy
The whole team or department
Work + bonding
Meetings, workshops, activities
"Let's get on the same page."

incentive travel

corporate retreats

incentive travel vs. corporate retreats

Based in Washington, DC, serving companies across DC, Virginia, Maryland and nationwide.

Never done this before? That's exactly who I love working with.


who this is for

You need to justify the spend. I'll give you a clear proposal with transparent pricing, expected ROI, and a program your board can get behind. You approve the vision — I handle everything else.


CEO or founder

You have to make this happen — and you already have a full plate. I take the entire execution off your desk. Regular updates, zero vendor management on your end.



HR or operations

You want numbers before anything moves forward. Detailed cost breakdowns, no hidden fees, and the research on why incentive travel outperforms cash bonuses.




CFO or finance lead

You don't need to be a Fortune 500 company. I specialize in first-time programs and companies scaling up from informal rewards.





Small and mid-size companies

Big enough for group rates. Small enough for personal attention.






Groups of 10 to 75

Program recap and help planning next year's incentive — because once your team experiences this, they'll want to know what's next.

post-trip wrap-up

06

I can travel with your group or provide remote support — welcome gifts, restaurant check-ins, excursion timing, anything that comes up.

on-site coordination

05

Vendor contracts, room blocks, reservations, communications. You get updates without managing details.

booking & coordination

04

Hotel, room block, activities, dining, transportation, complete cost breakdown. Transparent — no hidden fees.

detailed proposal

03

2-3 options with hotel recommendations, sample activities and estimated pricing.

destination research

02

Your goals, team, budget, timeline. How many qualifiers? What does your team enjoy? Is there a destination in mind?

discovery

01

First conversation to post-trip recap — I handle everything

how I plan incentive travel programs

common questions about incentive travel

A typical program runs between $2,000 and $5,000 per person for a domestic trip, and $3,500 to $7,000+ for international. This usually includes accommodations, some meals, group activities, and ground transportation. Airfare can be included or handled separately depending on your budget. I'll give you a detailed cost breakdown before you commit to anything.

Ideally 9 to 12 months before the trip date. This gives us the best selection of hotels and rates, especially for popular destinations during peak season. I've planned trips on shorter timelines, but more lead time means better options and better pricing.

I typically work with groups of 10 or more. Below that, the group benefits (negotiated rates, private events, dedicated coordination) are harder to unlock. For smaller teams, I can suggest alternative reward experiences.

Absolutely — and many companies encourage it. Including a guest makes the reward feel even more personal. I build the program to accommodate plus-ones with shared rooms, couples activities, and flexible scheduling.

It depends on your group, your budget, and the time of year. Popular choices include Mexico (Cabo, Cancun, Riviera Maya), the Caribbean (Turks and Caicos, Anguilla, Aruba), Hawaii, Costa Rica, Portugal, and Italy. I recommend destinations based on your specific program — not just what's trendy.

I can help you design the qualification criteria and create communications to announce the program and keep momentum going. The actual tracking of employee performance stays on your side — I focus on making the trip itself flawless.

That's exactly who I love working with. First-time programs are some of the most rewarding to plan because the impact on your team is immediate and visible. I'll guide you through the entire process and help you avoid common mistakes.

Three things: expertise, access, and time. I know which hotels handle groups well (and which ones don't), I negotiate rates and perks you won't get on a consumer booking site, and I manage the hundreds of details that come with coordinating travel for dozens of people. You focus on running your business — I focus on making the trip exceptional.

start the conversation

imagine this — imagine this

Monday after the trip. Your sales lead walks in tanned and grinning. Your quietest engineer is showing photos to the new hire -- "you have to qualify next year." Two people who barely spoke before are collaborating on a project. Your VP of sales sends a note: "Best thing we've ever done."

That's what incentive travel does. Not just for the week -- for the months and years to follow.

The first conversation is free. Tell me about your team, your goals and your timeline.

FOLLOW ALONG for travel inspiration — @KILOHANAEVENTS — FOLLOW ALONG for travel inspiration — @KILOHANAEVENTS — FOLLOW ALONG for travel inspiration