While an incentive program can be as simple or as complex as the human and financial resources of a company will allow, ‘simple’ should never be equated with ‘ineffective.’
Many small companies have found the image, all-inclusive price and diverse products offered by Club Med provide a simple, worry-free way of combining motivation, reward and team-building into one easy-to-manage package.
The home-building company outlined in this case is typical of many small- to medium-sized companies whose employees have met the challenge of recessionary times.
The average age of 35 suggests most employees are likely either married with young children or single and perhaps sports-minded.
Guilty
The demands of the job during the past two years have probably left them feeling guilty about the lack of time spent with their spouses or playing their favorite sport.
The fact that the group does not socialize together could also be related to the fact that they have had little opportunity to get to know one another. Camaraderie could add an element of healthy competition.
Recognition
Their income levels suggest they can afford to buy most merchandise, and, therefore, additional motivation is more likely to come from the recognition they receive from family, peers and management, rather than objects privately acquired through a points-driven merchandise catalogue.
A traditional hotel program with strict schedules of imposed group activities or excessive service and formality would not likely suit this diverse group of young active couples.
Taking all of the above into consideration, Club Med would propose a three-part program that would 1) reward the employee for past performance and build loyalty to the company 2) launch the new season’s targets with some imagination and 3) motivate the salesforce for the coming year.
Celebration
We suggest the simplest formula to accomplish the above objectives is for the company to offer the employees and their spouses a one-week Club Med celebration (the program could begin with the delivery of Club Med T-shirts with just the dates of the meeting printed on them, so the destination remains a mystery.)
Our first choice of destination for this group would be Club Med Paradise Island in the Bahamas, as it offers a blend of activity and tranquility, sports and relaxation.
Club Med facilities offer a choice varied enough to match the needs of this dynamic group, with no need to plan any spouse program or special evening entertainment.
Sports
Features include a variety of sports offered (tennis, sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, snorkeling, golf, and so on) as well as excursion potential (deep-sea fishing, sunset cruise, shopping, the casino) and meeting room facilities.
The Club Med Sports Day provides a team-building opportunity in which employees get to know each other as the red team battles the white team through a day of land and water sports.
We suggest the company personalize its program by offering a sunset cruise at the beginning of the week and organizing a special sales award cocktail, followed by the launch of its new sales targets.
What better way to launch 1994 than to host a champagne cocktail on the terrace of an old English chapel overlooking the ocean, followed by a short presentation in a private meeting room inside the chapel.
The reward for the top sales person in 1994 – a one-week stay for two at the newest upmarket Club Med village of Colombus Isle, Bahamas.
By organizing the program with spouses at Club Med, the company is giving back to its sales team something precious – quality time in a relaxed and fun environment in which people recharge their batteries.
High repeat rate
Club Med’s high repeat rate of clientele practically guarantees the appeal and motivation of the top prize for next year’s top performer.
The total cost of the program is estimated at under $150,000.
– 70 air packages from Calgary to Paradise Island at $1,700 each = $119,000
– 70 packages including T-shirts, champagne cocktail, sunset cruise at $120 = $8,400
– 2 packages to Columbus Isle = $3,400
Total: $130,800
Brenda Kyllo is commercial director for Canada of Montreal-based Club Med Sales. Club Med is an international company with 120 holiday resorts worldwide.
