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All-Inclusive Resorts
An all-inclusive resort provides you a place to stay, a place to eat, and a place to have fun all for one flat rate. It sounds like a great vacation, but what does it mean to plan an event at an all-inclusive resort?
Planners need to ask the question-What does “all-inclusive” mean? It could mean room rates, breakfast, lunch and dinner and some activities. It could also mean meeting space, coffee breaks, and a reception. Mary Pat Kaufmann of Brownell Motivation believes that an all-inclusive property should include-food, beverages, overnight accommodations and usually room service, taxes, tips, meeting space and resort-based activities.
Pros:
Location - they are usually near oceans or hidden away
Cost - budgeting is easy and you can stretch your dollars, it is also easier for attendees to not worry about paying for things
Time - the properties usually offer something for everyone and can handle large groups
Relaxation - everything is close so attendees have time to network or just relax
Cons:
Relaxation - attendees may not want to leave the activities to work or over-consumption of food and drink
Inability to change benefits or programs - planners may want to down-size or change activities and it is usually not possible
Value - will you get your money’s worth? Will you actually have time to participate in all of the activities?
All-inclusive resorts can be good for any type of groups, but they are best when the majority of people are staying at the property. These properties also work well for budget-conscious planners, this way price per person is known in advance. If you need to offer a variety of accommodation choices and off-site venues, then an all-inclusive will not benefit you. These properties do not often work well with small groups as they are usually very large.
Buy out or Not?
Some planners don’t recommend buying out the property as long as you book everything in advance. They caution that is the resort isn’t fully booked; they may shut down some of the offerings. However, if you do book out the resort it is a great team-building experience and you can put up company logos all over the place.
Source: Smart Meetings, March 2010
