Group Business Introduction

There are almost as many reasons for group business travel as there are fantastic destinations. While many of us travel solo for business all the time, taking a group from your company to a convention or arranging an off-site business meeting can pay tremendous dividends to your firm’s camaraderie, expertise and bottom line. Trust us, we here at Groople.com have arranged enough group business travel to know. Still not sold? Consider these reasons:

• Network. No matter what business you’re in, personal relationships matter. Attending a convention is a prime opportunity to meet face-to-face with potential customers and partners and to begin establishing a rapport that could substantially boost your business. It’s possible to network at a company meeting as well, although it’s more a matter of strengthening relationships between co-workers in a way that’s going to bring your business together.
• Promotion. At an industry conference, your company has the chance to promote itself to the external allies and customers who you need in order to succeed; a corporate meeting offers the opportunity to get internal backing and feedback on company initiatives, which is essential for them to flourish.
• Learn. Nobody knows everything. Get outside the group think that so often afflicts companies by taking everyone to a convention where pre-conceived notions may be challenged and new, better ideas emerge.

Great Group Business Destinations:

Here are some popular cities for conventions around the U.S.

1. Las Vegas
2. Orlando
3. San Francisco
4. New York City
5. Atlanta

If you think navigating the high speed business word is tough, try making it down a stretch of foamy, rocky rapids in these spectacular river destinations:

1. Colorado River, Colorado
2. Wenatchee River, Washington
3. Buffalo River, Arkansas
4. Salmon River, Idaho

Whether it’s skiing, snowshoeing or après ski, these locations combine good snow with a festive nightlife:

1. Stowe, Vermont
2. Lake Tahoe, California
3. Park City, Utah
4. Jackson Hole-Teton, Wyoming
5. Taos, New Mexico
6. Poconos, Pennsylvania

Even those who agree with Mark Twain that golf is a good walk ruined will enjoy a trip to a resort in one of these sunny spots:

1. Pinehurst, North Carolina
2. Scottsdale, Arizona
3. Miami, Florida
4. Lahaina, Hawaii
5. Pebble Beach, California

If rewards are in order for your team after a hard project is complete, a weekend of luxury and relaxation at a resort or spa is just the ticket. Some of the best are found here:

1. Ojai, California
2. Maui, Hawaii
3. Tuscon, Arizona
4. White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
5. South Beach, Florida

Plan Your Group Business Travel:

Whether you’re looking to send a few co-workers or your entire staff to a convention or corporate meeting, Groople.com has the experience and expertise to make it easy. A few suggestions:

• Create a Groopvine page. There, you will be able to communicate with co-workers; keep them informed and solicit feedback on locations and hotels; share information about your chosen location; and discuss what you learned and experienced on your trip.
• Decide what kind of getaway you want to take. Check out Groople’s Where to Go: Great Ideas for Group Business Travel for suggestions.
• Find a hotel or resort. Groople will help you find a hotel within your price range featuring all the amenities you’ll want for your business travel. Groople can find the best group rates for your company.

Tips for Planning your Group Business Trip:

There are certain questions any planner responsible for a group business trip will want to ponder: how appealing is the destination in terms of activities to do outside of work time? Is it easy to get around without a car? How affordable is it? Luckily, your experts at Groople.com can assist you with answers to all of these questions. Other points to consider include:

• Don’t wait. When it comes to group travel of any sort, it’s pretty standard advice to start planning as early as possible in order to ensure you’ll get the best hotel in the best location at the best price. But there’s an even more pressing imperative to get moving on booking your next group business trip. See, the industry is exceedingly competitive, particularly now that the economy is struggling, so moving quickly gives you clout to negotiate even better deals. What businessperson wouldn’t like that?
• Know before you go. If you’re headed to a convention with a group of colleagues, you may only care that you get rooms at the hotel you want at the price you want. But if your needs are more complicated, including having meeting space at certain times and of a particular size, be sure to work with your hotel to ensure that everything is booked and set to go long before you depart.
• Make it more than just a trip. At Groople.com we believe that travel can be fun, even if it’s not done exclusively for pleasure. If you do things to ensure your business group trip has some elements of fun—maybe some nice dinners or rounds of golf or excursions to cultural or historical spots—everyone who goes will be more energized and more committed to your company than ever before.