Help Members Make Memories All Over the World Not Just at Your Club
Travel creates unique, emotional experiences and memories that last a lifetime. Here are ten reasons why we all love to travel:
1. Travel to discover new cultures
2. Travel to learn
3. Travel to escape
4. Travel to relax
5. Travel to explore
6. Travel to eat
7. Travel to be transformed
8. Travel for adventure
9. Travel for experiences
10. Travel for humility
Why Is Travel So Motivating and Such a Great Reward Program Incentive?
Travel is a better motivator than straight cash or merchandise because it is more meaningful and memorable per the ten reasons listed above. Members receiving travel reward points in exchange for dining at the club, or attending events at their country club for example, turns usage into savings on travel. Savings on travel can translate into traveling more often, traveling more often creates more memories and experiences. If your club can facilitate members traveling more and spending less on travel it is an extremely positive relationship you are fostering with your club membership. Increased usage at your club is inevitable from the travel reward incentive program. The process builds loyalty as members associate one positive experience (using their country club) with another (traveling at a discount).
The Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) has surveyed reward program travel participants back in 2013 and again this past year with comparable results… almost all participants said they were motivated by their travel reward program.
We have shown ten reasons why travel is such a compelling goal. However, there are two aspects of travel that are the most rewarding for individuals and they are the Value of Experiences and the Chance to Relax & Recharge.
The Value of Experiences
Going back to the SITE survey, 70% of the survey participants said what makes travel so motivating is the chance to experience something outside of their normal, everyday routine. Also interesting, most participants preferred unique over guided/pampered experiences. It all comes down to memories, as positive experiences make lifelong memories that are location specific and hard to reproduce. Cash bonuses are gone as soon as you spend them, but you will never be able to forget a memorable moment from a travel experience.
The Chance to Relax and Recharge
A major motivator of travel is it allows us to restore our energy through relaxation. It allows us to escape our daily routine and removes us from the stressful environments of work, home life, family responsibilities and more. It allows us to refocus, find harmony, and brings balance into our life. Escaping life’s daily demands, dramas, and deadlines is what leisure travel is all about.
Travel is one of the best motivators among all the incentive and reward options clubs have available because it creates distinctive experiences, vibrant memories, and a restored state of mind for the club membership. From a club management perspective, a travel reward program comes with all the right benefits; it strengthens the value proposition for the club member and instills loyalty.
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About the Author: Eric Ruehlmann is a versatile business executive with over 25 years of service in the club management industry. Eric's knowledge and experience is broad having held advisory positions and worked on projects in a variety of fields such as; consumer research, loyalty & rewards, travel & leisure, and lifestyle products & services. Eric is currently focused on sharing his knowledge about travel clubs, and loyalty & reward programs with club managers and club board members. Eric Ruehlmann is the founder of Build A Better Club and a managing partner of Privat-VIP- Travel & Rewards.
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