Travel Reward Programs

Now more than ever, travel programs are becoming increasingly popular employee incentive gifts. To allow for your employees to enjoy an additional personalized experience, incorporating merchandise is the easiest way to make the most out of any travel rewards program. According to Incentive Magazine's 2006 travel survey, nearly 100% of readers who plan travel incentives include merchandise in their programs. While merchandise is used mostly for room gifts or to complement a program, 25% of planners also employ it to promote the incentive. Here are some great gift ideas that can enhance any travel rewards program :

Golf Accessories- The popularity of golf has been rising rapidly among both men and women in the past few years. At almost every high-end resort, one-on-one training and assessment programs are also becoming increasingly available. Gifts like imprinted golf club bags and personalized golf balls make great additions to any trip, and can be enjoyed by nearly everyone.

Electronics- Gifts such as customized iPods and handheld games are ideal particularly when visiting destinations that require long flights. Distributing these items ahead of time will ensure that your employees have something to keep them busy during their trip. More great electronic items include airline power adapters, which will keep your workers' laptops charged, and travel compasses for exotic vacations.

Leather Passport Holders- Particularly in light of revised United States regulations that require passports on return trips from the Caribbean, Mexico, and Canada, many companies are now distributing leather passport holders during the run of their incentive programs. Handing out these holders ahead of time not only reminds employees to strive for the reward, but also lets them know that if they really want to win the incentive, they need to get their travel documents in order.

Travel Bags- "We give our top clients a leather travel toiletries bag with a plastic bag inside that contains three regulation sized plastic bottles," says Jane Margulies, president of TEAM, a New Jersey based company. With new travel restrictions that allow only certain liquids and gels to be carried on airplanes, practical toiletry bags like these make excellent travel accompaniment gifts for every employee.