Whoever decided their employees should play games at work? Back in the 90s I had college suite mates who never saw second semester because they spent the bulk of their first semester playing video games. They never got much done because they never seemed to focus on work.

We love the thought of incentives driving productivity and rewards tied to growth. There's a pile of data out there that justifies the spend for a catalog or points for travel. We spent countless resources after the recession finding data points that proved programs worked and improved their effectiveness. And finally, a breather letting us focus on business as usual. Right?

If you’ve planned an incentive trip, you know it can be a challenge, albeit a fun one! Since incentives are viewed as coveted rewards, expectations are high. Think bucket list, not simply another beach excursion. We’ve compiled a few tips to help you deliver a more impactful incentive getaway that embraces local as much as luxury.

Two years ago, influencer marketing was all the rage. Companies large and small were looking to find digital stars who would help them shine a light on their product or service. Generally it worked and for very logical reasons. The best influencers were authentic, told a compelling story, provided valuable information, and garnered credibility through impressive numbers and celebrity status.

At Augeo we like to say, "design around your goals and let nothing muddy those waters". It's true in any program we design, whether it's for employee engagement, a meeting, conference or event, and especially with a sales incentive program.

How often have your marketing folks toiled and sweated to create brand marketing about a new product or service, spent months training the organization on delivery, and working with sales to crystallize your key attributes – only to have your dealers or partners "amplify on your behalf" with an abomination of your message?