Hong Kong in Two Days or Less

When our pharmaceutical client asked us to help them spice up their intense product training program that was taking place in Hong Kong for 5 consecutive days, we knew we had to come up with ideas to help the group recover from its “education fatigue.”  To make matters more exciting, we were only given a few days to pull together a “rest and restoration” program.  We rolled up our sleeves and pulled together a very light but fun-filled itinerary.

Morning 1:

We set off to Kowloon, the “Land of the Nine Dragons.”  Kowloon is a melting pot of bright neon, shops and markets. The group got to discover the Bird Market, fortune-tellers and a huge range of bars and restaurants along the way.  Some even wandered away to the nearby Space Museum, the Museum of History and the world-renowned Hong Kong Cultural Centre.  Along the way, the group traveled through or by such well-known places as Tsim Sha Tsui East promenade, the Peninsula Hotel, Langhamplace, Temple Street, jade market, West Kowloon waterfront promenade, Hankow Road and Mody Road.

Afternoon 1:

After a hurried lunch, the group got to get “personal” with the city—one of the world's most cosmopolitan cities where East truly meets West.  The group saw the Man (Literature) and Mo (Martial Arts temple), notable for its many fine, well-polished brass and pewter incense burners, after which we took the Peak Tram, climbing 373 meters and leaning at a 45° angle to see the most spectacular view of the city!  On return, we stopped by the Stanley Market, a shoppers’ paradise where the group was able to do a spontaneous shopping for a wide variety of souvenirs as silk, garments, sportswear, Chinese artwork and accessories.

Night 1:

Before you knew it, it was nightfall.  We headed to the world-famous Temple Street Night market, a great place for bargain hunting and rubbing shoulders with the locals.  Our “Hon,” the open-top bus took us on a spectacular drive through neon-lit streets where the group was able to witness the towering skyscrapers glittering against night sky.

To end the night on a romantic note, we hopped on a chartered boat for a leisurely sunset cruise on Victoria Harbor with a gourmet international buffet on board for the participant to enjoy.

Morning 2:

After a leisurely breakfast on their own, the group was taken to Lantau Island, which is almost twice the size of Hong Kong Island and is one of the best-loved outlying islands. Along the way, the group got to see the experience the development of Ngong Ping Cable Car.  The attendees then got a chance to explore Tai O, a quaint fishing village where the houses are all built on stilts, and visit the world’s tallest, outdoor, seated bronze Buddha statue sits at the Po Lin Monastery nearby.

Afternoon 2:

Time to head to the harbor again and see the world’s pinkest dolphins in action.  We boarded the group onto a luxury cruiser from Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon to Tung Chung New Development Pier on Lantau Island.  Along the way, while sipping their refreshments, the group got educated about the dolphins and their habitat.  

Travel Home:

After this marathon of a program (the shortest we have ever run), we had to rush the group to their hotel to gather up their belongings and head to the airport for their individual journeys home to far-flung corners of the world.

In need of an “express” incentive program at the tail end of your annual meeting?  Call the professionals at the Maxxus Group.  We know how to get value out of every available minute for your participants. 

Team Building and Incentive Programs

One of the common questions by organizers of incentive programs is whether or not to incorporate any “business” activity during the course of a pure incentive program.  Team building is often the “business” activity that comes to mind.  While there are no right or wrong answers to this question, fun team-building activities can in fact enhance the value of an incentive program—to both the participant as well as the company.  The most successful, memorable team-building events need not feel like a day at the office.  On the contrary: They should blend with and augment the value of the incentive trip.    

Team building and incentive programs have one thing in common: They are both the most important investments a company can make.  They are both intended to build trust among employees, mitigate conflict, encourage communication, and increase collaboration. Effective team building as part of an incentive program mean more engaged employees, which is not only good for company culture but also to improve profitability. 

To get the most value from incorporating team-building activities in an incentive program, there are a few ground rules that should be kept in mind: 

1.     Don’t force the corporate stuff

Team-building activities during the course of an incentive program should least resemble the corporate stuff.  No overt reference to company goals or lessons in leadership.  Don’t lose the sight of the fact that the participants have already paid their dues by working hard to meet specific goals and are now being rewarded with the incentive trip.  Team-building activities should primarily encourage spending time together, sharing an experience or working towards a common goal to allow bonding to happen more organically.  One idea is for participants to share their life/personal goals with each other. It’s a powerful way to learn about people and their dreams, as well as to generate ideas for future team-building activities.

2.     Don’t forget the partners

If the incentive program includes partners, make sure any team-building activity you plan for involves partners too.  It turns out that happiness and performance are closely tied together. The objective is twofold:  To improve employee happiness as a result of an incentive trip and also foster bonding among employees.  Partners play a pivotal role in boosting those two goals if they are included in all activities.  To make it purposeful, choose something unique and slightly outside of people’s comfort zones to encourage all participants to come together in new ways.

3.     Take the positive energy back to the office   

Trying new concepts with your staff as part of an incentive program can generate good vibes among employees—both those who got to go to the incentive trip and those who didn’t.  Any team-building activity planned as part of an incentive program should have somewhat of a lasting effect.  The ultimate goal is to take that positive energy back to the office.  Most team-building exercises falls flat because they are often a one-time activity—done and then forgotten. Incorporating team building in your incentive programs is a way to keep the excitement going long after participants return from the trip. The challenge is creating opportunities for the returning participants to spread the positive energy among all employees by connecting and interacting with one another in more meaningful ways, outside of regular meetings or corporate interactions.

How do you know you’ve got team building correctly blended into your incentive program? If there was laughter, a sense of excitement, accomplishment and togetherness, and maybe a few Instagram moments, you’re definitely on the right track!

The Maxxus Group is a leading international event planning company with unique set of expertise in planning incentive programs or state-of-the-art team-building activities or both.