An incentive house is a company that provides incentive programs to businesses. The programs serve to reward employees who meet or exceed performance requirements. The "incentive" often takes the form of travel for the employee and spouse. It can range from a weekend getaway to an elaborately packaged vacation. Whole-ship charters are increasingly common in the incentive market, as their all-inclusive nature offers accommodations, dining, entertainment and breakout rooms.
A number of tourism trade associations promote the work of incentive houses and similar businesses. Among the most well-known are the Society of Incentive & Travel Executives (SITE) and the Incentive Marketing Association (IMA).
The IMA points out that Incentive Travel initiatives are a proven asset. They help organizations achieve business performance objectives. How well those initiatives perform will have a direct impact on those business objectives.
The association's stated goal is to increase awareness of how reward and recognition travel, in its many forms, is an effective strategy for achieving better business performance. Its focus is to educate and promote the benefits of incentive travel to the business community at large. At the same time, it aims to also provide value to its own members by promoting their services, products and brands. Membership in the IMA is limited to qualifying companies who meet the following criteria:
- Support the purpose of the Incentive Travel Council
- Provide experiential rewards, which include travel and/or experiential incentive "products and services"
- Commit to maintaining the professional standards of the Incentive Travel Council
- Agree to abide by the Incentive Travel Council Bylaws and such other rules and regulations that the Incentive Travel Council may adopt
Are recommended for membership by a current member of the Incentive Travel Council.
Some Top-Rated US Incentive Houses
From time to time, incentive publications and websites generate lists of top-performing incentive houses. Here's a list of some of the companies most frequently found on "best of" lists.
ALTOUR International Inc.
American Express Meetings & Events
- BCD Meetings & Events
- Bishop-McCann
- BI WORLDWIDE
- ConferenceDirect
- CWT Meetings & Events
- Enterprise Events Group Inc.
- Fox World Travel
- ITA Group Inc.
- Maritz Global Events.
- McVeigh Associates, Ltd.
- Meeting Alliance
- Meeting Expectations
Meetings & Incentives Worldwide Inc.
Incentive Companies
If you'd like to look up incentive companies near you, here's a list of companies operating throughout the country.
Ambassadors Performance Group
Newport Beach, CA
(949) 717-3300
JNR Incorporated
Newport Gateway Tower II
19900 MacArthur Blvd. Suite 700
San Rafael, CA Irvine, CA
(800) 343-4546
Incentive Solutions
Atlanta, GA
(866) 567-7432
Meeting Expectations Inc.
Atlanta, GA
(404) 240-0999
Paramount Incentives
Atlanta, GA
(404) 260-4614
USMotivation
Atlanta, GA
(770) 290-4700
Award Concepts
St. Charles, IL
(800) 659-7801
BCD Meetings& Incentives
Chicago, IL
(312) 705-2200
George P. Johnson
Auburn Hills, MI
(508) 513-3340
Excellence In Motivation
Dayton, OH
(937) 222-2900
Gray Consulting International Meetings & Incentives
Philadelphia, PA
(215) 413-2034
United Incentives
Philadelphia, PA
(215) 625-2700
Spear One
Irving, TX
(972) 661-6000
O.C. Tanner
Salt Lake City, UT
(800) 453-7490
Creative Group Inc.
Appleton, WI
(920) 739-8850
Meetings & Incentives
Caledonia, WI
(292) 835-3553
Helpful Resources
Here's a list of some key incentive travel associations. They're a great place to begin your inquiries into the incentive travel arena.
Incentive Research Foundation
703-651-8189
Incentive Marketing Association (IMA)
952-928-4649
Incentive Manufacturers & Representatives Alliance (IMRA)
952-928-4661
Incentive Travel Council
952-928-4649