THE BRIEF
Take 78 guests on an annual three-night incentive to a sunshine destination that mixes relaxation with exciting activities. Our client wanted to incentivise its key sales team with a trip that drove performance.
Day one
A daytime flight from Gatwick gets you into Barbados late afternoon, so after cold towels were handed out to everyone at the airport, guests went on to the Tamarind Hotel for a welcome rum punch or two. Guests were greeted by a fantastic steelpan player and the usual Bajan hospitality, and with stunning views over the Caribbean Sea, this was a fabulous start to any trip. Throw in some ice cold beers and an array of canapés, and you have got yourself a pretty nice welcome reception. They soon settled into the Tamarind. Set on the West Coast of the island with a bar serving rum based cocktails, two swimming pools, and rooms overlooking the beach, this hotel was the perfect setting for the next 3 days.
A private first night dinner was arranged at Daphne’s, located on property, so guests could wander down the beach where an exclusive drinks reception awaited. Drinks were followed by amazing plates of food, local beer and great wine to wash it all down. A short stroll back to their rooms, or of course the hotel bar for most of the group, finished a great first afternoon and evening.
Day Two
What more do you want than a stroll down the beach, a speedboat shuttle service out to a catamaran waiting in the crystal blue Caribbean Sea and Reggae tunes filling the air as you get on board? Well, that’s exactly what awaited the group for their first full day in Barbados. As they sailed along the West Coast, the group enjoyed a swim and a snorkel. On board, an open bar and a delicious BBQ lunch (which included Bajan fried chicken cooked to order and an array of fresh salads and fruit platters) was all prepared and served by the catamaran team who just bring the boat to life. The late afternoon was spent at leisure, relaxing by the pool.
It was a dine around for the second evening, so the guests were pre-split into three groups and got to sample the delights of one of three famous Barbadian restaurants – Lonestar, Cin Cin and The Cliff Beach Club, all of which serve outstanding cuisine in high-end settings.
Day Three
An island exploration tour out of the ordinary was in store for the group on day three of the trip. They were briefed at the hotel before going out in jeeps in teams of 8 to race around the island completing different tasks – don’t worry, all jeeps were driven by professional drivers! It was a great way to see more of the beautiful island and guests got the chance to interact with some of the hilarious local characters who helped them complete some of the tasks set. With a camera full of photos, a bunch of collectable items and a new-found competitive attitude, guests raced to get to the lunch venue first. And it was certainly worth the race! A locally sourced and prepared BBQ, including the local delicacy ‘flying fish’ was awaiting them at ‘De Outback Shack’ with buckets full of freezing cold Banks beer and background reggae music of course! The two owners, Mary and Mark, welcome guests and serve the drinks and food themselves, bringing a real personal touch to the fantastic outdoor bar.
There is only one way you can top off a great incentive in Barbados, and that’s with a gala dinner on the beach! The tables were dressed in different colours, for a ‘Calypso beach party’ feel. The evening began with a private drinks reception around the pool, followed by the most sumptuous BBQ buffet with an amazing array of fish, meats, cheeses, pastas, salads and much more! Dinner finished with an awards ceremony announcing who had scored the most points during the island exploration challenge and then on came the Calypso band. It’s safe to say it didn’t take more than 5 minutes before the whole group were up dancing on the beach. A great end to a great trip, and memories that will last a lifetime!
Day Four
A day at leisure to soak up the Caribbean sun and a buffet lunch to enjoy before heading to Grantley Adams airport for the return journey to the UK.
