Some trips you plan, and some trips stay with you long after you’re home. This month I travelled on an incentive to Alaska, and it was, without exaggeration, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Here’s how it came together, and why Alaska belongs on every incentive shortlist.
London to Seattle with Virgin Atlantic
We flew direct from London to Seattle with Virgin Atlantic, which makes the start of the journey easy for UK groups: one flight, no connections, and you land on the West Coast ready to go.
A few days in Seattle
Before joining the ship we spent a few days in Seattle, split between two lovely hotels: the Alexis Royal Sonesta and the Kimpton Hotel Monaco. Both are in the heart of downtown, which made it easy to explore on foot.
We wandered down to Pike Place Market, with its fish stalls, flower sellers and views over the water, and paid a visit to the original Starbucks store, which is a rite of passage for any first-time visitor. Then it was time to meet the whole group for the opening cocktail reception: the moment an incentive really starts, when everyone is together and the excitement builds for what’s ahead.
Seven days on Norwegian Bliss
The next day we boarded Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Bliss for a seven-day sailing around Alaska. A cruise is a brilliant format for an incentive: you unpack once, every meal and evening is taken care of, and each morning brings somewhere new.
Our ports of call were:
- Juneau, Alaska’s state capital, which can only be reached by sea or air.
- Skagway, the historic gateway to the Klondike Gold Rush.
- Ketchikan, famous for its salmon and its totem poles.
Whales, bears and glaciers
Ashore, we headed out on a whale-watching boat trip and a bear tour, two experiences that had the whole group talking for the rest of the week. Back on board, we sailed through the glaciers, watching the stunning scenery and wildlife from the deck. It’s the kind of trip where you put your phone down and just look.
Why Alaska works for incentives
- Easy from the UK. A direct flight to Seattle, then a short transfer to the cruise terminal.
- City and wilderness in one trip. A few days of Seattle energy, then a week of glaciers, whales, bears and small Alaskan towns.
- Logistics that look after themselves. On a ship, accommodation, dining and entertainment are all in one place, which leaves more time for the moments that matter.
- Genuinely once in a lifetime. For a reward trip, that’s exactly the feeling you want your top performers to come home with.
Thinking about an incentive trip your team will never forget? We plan and deliver incentive travel from start to finish, with ATOL protected flights through Travel Counsellors. Get in touch and tell us what you have in mind.