When it comes to rewards and incentives, it pays to put your money where your mouth is…
Eating and drinking are necessary for life – but they are also indulgent pastimes. What could be nicer than enjoying a delicious meal in an expensive restaurant, washed down by fine wines? It’s an experience, a celebration of luxury and not something you have to do to survive. In the same vein, you wouldn’t give a present of sliced bread and cheese, but offering someone a hamper filled with delicious goodies including cheeses from around the world and bread hand-made by artisans, elevates the gift to a whole new level.
When it comes to corporate incentives and rewards, food and drink are popular because they appeal to everybody, they can be shared among colleagues and, if you choose correctly, they have a high treat value. Expensive chocolates or vintage Champagne for example, are unlikely to be purchased by the recipient as a matter of course, so they are also aspirational.
Out and about
At this time of year with summer just around the corner, picnic hampers are ideal for corporate rewards and incentives for individuals. Or, you could think big and hold an outdoor event to which you invite all of your staff and perhaps clients. Go it alone with hampers that include crockery, glassware and cutlery, or opt for an event organised for you at a country house hotel. If the great outdoors holds no appeal whatsoever, consider venues offering afternoon tea or wine tasting experiences, a riverboat cruise with dinner (indoors) or even a trip around a brewery, arranged to suit your company.
“While household budgets get ever tighter, people have had to rein in their personal leisure expenditure,” explains Tracy Finn, head of Harrods Corporate Service. “The tailor-made incentive is perceived as an unexpected luxury to relish and enjoy, and lets recipients associate their work with something fun and relaxing, a respite from the stresses and pressures of their working lives.”
A personal touch
People like receiving presents and, being recognised for their achievements at work, has the added bonus of making them feel truly appreciated by their employer. As Rachel Marshall-Roberts from Grantham-based Hay Hampers says: “Successful, growing companies do need to motivate and inspire their staff and continue to build new relationships with customers.”
As rewards, edible gifts, such as chocolates, Champagne, wines and whisky, are popular and have profited from the growing interest in quality food, adds Marshall-Roberts. “They are readily consumed, shared and discussed for the enjoyment they give. They are not excessively priced or extravagant and can add a bit of luxury to a corporate event or business meeting,” she says.
Food and drink are also becoming creative, taking centre stage in a number of activity offerings. Virgin Experience Days, for example, offers a selection of foodie gifts and days out. Chris Smith, marketing director at Acorne PLC, the name behind the brand, says its afternoon tea package is a bestseller.
“It’s not every day you go to a luxury hotel or prestigious venue and indulge in afternoon tea but it’s a lovely tradition and I think that’s why it is so appealing. All our food and drink experiences are indulgent treats,” explains Smith.
He adds: “Our corporate partners are always looking for different ways to motivate their employees, and with the busy pace of life these days, leisure experiences provide an ideal opportunity to take time out of a busy schedule and relax in the company of friends or family members.”
And isn’t that what it’s all about, after all? When you’ve worked hard, receiving a reward that allows you to indulge as well as relax, tastes ever so good.
Staff lunch
The Tasting Room at Harrods in London caters for parties of up to 16 people and offers a menu of traditional fare including fillet of Scottish beef and baby vegetables.
Sommeliers help you match wines to each course, chosen from a range of more than 3,000 held in the Harrods wine shop.
“The Tasting Room lets recipients experience something out of the ordinary, a one-off, tailor-made, bespoke incentive,” says Tracy Finn, head of Harrods Corporate Service. The Knightsbridge venue also offers full conference facilities.
Harrods Tasting Room
