Mr. Stacy

Technology

Most Popular Destinations by Group Type

By Mike Stacy, Chief Executive Officer, Groople.com

There are many elements that go into planning a group getaway; whether it's a group business trip, a family reunion, a friend's getaway or a destination wedding. For each of these groups the questions of where to stay and what to do will vary.

Corporate groups are more interested in the location of their accommodations in relation to where their event is being held. These groups tend to prefer high-end properties with all-inclusive amenities. Family reunions are characterized by the value they provide for all involved as well as access to the gathering location. Family reunions are about quality time with loved ones, so availability to family friendly attractions are of the utmost importance.

Friend's getaways are becoming ever more popular and are the hardest group segment to define. They can range from girls only trips, guys only trips, local community group trips and so on. Many travelers in this segment look for close proximity to nightlife, recreational activities and even enjoy luxury elements of relaxation. When it comes to catering to destination wedding travelers, expectations are much different. It is all about the experience. In most cases the ceremony, reception and honeymoon all take place in the same location. Guests expect that all activities, services and itineraries be pre-planned by the hosting couple.

What is the anatomy of a great destination for a group trip? The answer is simple, the right city for the right group of people. Equally important is the right accommodation and service for the group. Some of the most popular types of traveling groups are Corporate, Family Reunions, Friends Getaways, and Destination Weddings. The following is an exploration into these groups and some of their top destinations.

To start, corporate groups. All corporate groups want the same thing- location, location, location. Corporate group planners want to place their group within walking distance of their meeting / conference / convention. Corporate groups tend to prefer higher-end properties and all-inclusive accommodations are always on the mind of corporate group travel planners. So is access to onsite meeting space and help with team building events. Also, never underestimate the perceived value of a complimentary shuttle service.

Top Corporate Destinations:

More business travelers go to Chicago than anywhere else in the United States. The city enjoys 5,500 restaurants and has the second largest fleet of taxis in the country.

For Corporate Groups - Chicago has several unique venues for corporate events including, the Navy Pier, which is Chicago's most popular attraction and is said to be a "world class convention, cultural, and recreational center". McCormick Place is also a great idea with its three buildings capable of hosting small meetings to large trade shows.

The Big Idea - "Mission Impossible" Scavenger Hunt from Windy City Fieldhouse.

New York City is the most populous city in the United States and is a global center for business and commerce.

For Corporate Groups - New York has over 250 one-of-a-kind venues for a corporate event including 177 hotels and the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. New York is also home to many world-renowned attractions, including Times Square, Ellis Island, the Empire State Building, and Central Park.

The Big Idea - Unique team building improv comedy exercise at WITS.

Palm Springs is a small city with the all the benefits of a large city. 350 days of sunshine a year.

For Corporate Groups - Palm Springs has 8 convention hotels, several shuttle services, and 2,700 hotel rooms within walking distance of the Palm Springs Convention Center.

The Big Idea - American Outback Adventures offers several unique team building programs including CSI: Palm Springs and Survivor: Palm Springs.

The Family Reunions group type is characterized by its attention to value and insistence on access to a gathering location. The gathering location could be a local park, a small banquet room, even an area of the lobby. Family Reunions want to spend time together, even if it's just playing checkers. Availability of family friendly attractions is also important. Higher-end Family Reunions will expect a concierge or hospitality desk to guide and direct events.

Top Family Reunion Destinations:

Orlando is the 6th largest city in Florida and has the 2nd largest number of hotel rooms in the nation. Warm temperatures year round.

For Family Reunions - Orlando is full of family friendly activities and attractions. Orlando is home to the world famous attractions of Universal Studios and Disney World. It's also home to Port Canaveral, which consists of 3 public parks, sandy beaches, restaurants, and a 1,200 ft fishing pier.

The Big Idea - Kids eat free at several Orlando restaurants, including Giovanni's Italian Restaurant and Lone Star Steak House.

San Antonio is the 2nd largest city in Texas and is the 7th largest city in the nation.

For Family Reunions - San Antonio has several parks including the 343-acre Brackenridge Park and the 232-acre Friedrich Wilderness Park. The city is home to the San Antonio IMAX Theatre Rivercenter, the Alamo, and the Guinness World Records Museum.

The Big Idea - Ultimate Mirror Maze Challenge. A family friendly attraction with its 1,000 mirrors and endless hallways.

Myrtle Beach is part of the Grand Strand, which is a stretch of beaches along the South Carolina coast. Home to 60 miles of beaches.

For Family Reunions - Myrtle Beach State Park offers a fishing pier, beach, picnic area, nature center and hiking trails. The nearby Huntington Beach State Park offers picnic areas, nature programs, and the historic castle, Atalaya. Myrtle Beach also offers the family attractions of the Waccatee Zoo, Medieval Times restaurant, and the Children's Museum of South Carolina.

The Big Idea - Hunt for sand dollars, sharks teeth, starfish, and cockleshells, which are all common to the area.

Friends Getaways is a large but hard to define segment of group travel. It could be a group of girlfriends looking for a few days escape to luxury, a group of friends going to an away game, maybe even a local ski club hitting the slopes. Friends Getaways nearly always want to be within walking distance of top attractions and nightlife. Many people within this group type will want to be directed to elements of luxury like spas and shopping. Another large segment here is those looking to get away to a few days of golf, fishing, or to attend a big event (sports, concert, or festival).

Top Friends Getaways Destinations:

Las Vegas is a singular experience and contains the most hotel rooms in the United States. The Las Vegas Strip is 4 miles long and is home to some of the world's largest hotel, casino, and resorts.

For Friends Getaways - Las Vegas was made famous for its casinos, shows, and nightlife. These days Vegas also offers world-class gourmet food and shopping. Like Fashion Show Las Vegas, the Grand Canal Shoppes, and the Miracle Mile Shops. Las Vegas has 50 golf courses including the Badlands Golf Club and the Bali Hai Golf Course.

The Big Idea - Masquerade Show in the Sky.

Atlanta is the capital city of Georgia and is the most populous city in the state.

For Friends Getaways - Atlanta is home to 6 major sport teams, great shopping at the Mall of Georgia, Perimeter Mall, and Discover Mills, Six Flags over Georgia, several cultural sites, and a well known and active live music scene.

The Big Idea - Underground Atlanta. Six blocks of shopping, dining, history, street performers, street-cart merchants, and nightclubs.

Vail is the largest ski area in North America and has 2 world-class resorts.

For Friends Getaways - Vail offers fine restaurants, retail shops, and year round entertainment. In the summer, visitors can enjoy hiking and over a dozen golf courses. In the winter, visitors can enjoy skiing, snowshoeing, and ice climbing.

The Big Idea - Free shuttles take people anywhere in town they wish to go.

Destination Weddings groups are a particularly fun and interesting group type. Money is not the main concern, the experience is. Couples that opt for a Destination wedding often combine the wedding, reception, and honeymoon all in the same place. Since they combine a wedding and vacation, they're usually held over a long weekend. Destination wedding groups expect planned group activities, pampering services, and beautiful surroundings.

Top Destination Wedding Destinations:

Maui is the second largest Hawaiian island with 120 miles of shoreline.

For Destination Weddings - With pristine beaches, waterfalls, fine dining, and spas, Maui is a perfect spot for a destination wedding. There is an abundance of talented independent wedding planners and every resort has one on staff. Maui also offers tropical reef snorkeling and whale watching activities.

The Big Idea - Secluded beaches, sea cliffs, and kayaking at Moloka'i.

Nassau is the capital city of the Bahamas. It is located on the New Providence Island.

For Destination Weddings - Secluded white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, fine dining, and mild, sunny weather year round. Nassau also offers golfing, snorkeling, spas, and unique weddings, including a Party Boat wedding and an aquatic wedding at Crystal Cove.

The Big Idea - See the view at the top of the 66 hand-carved steps of the Queen's Staircase.

• Lake TahoeLake Tahoe is a 22-mile long lake, sitting on the border of California and Nevada. It is surrounded by the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It's known for the clarity of its water.

For Destination Weddings - Lake Tahoe is a popular spot for destination weddings because it offers gourmet food, cruises, spas, and Grover Hot Springs State Park. Lake Tahoe offers 9 ski resorts and winter activities include, skiing, snowboarding, and sleigh rides. Summer activities at Lake Tahoe include, boating, golfing, parasailing, and jet skiing.

The Big Idea - Hot air balloon ride over the lake.

Mike Stacy is the ceo of Groople.com. He brings 15 years of experience to Groople. He has built and grown some of the top online travel brands. Prior to Groople he was president of Cheaptickets.com, owned by Cendant. Mr. Stacy developed a new organization and improved the technology and customer experience, leading to high conversion rates. He cut costs and launched a new marketing campaign, earning the website "Fastest growing online travel site" in 2004. He holds a bachelor’s degree from St. John’s University and an M.B.A. from Pepperdine. Mr. Stacy can be contacted at 303-483-9006 or mikestacy@groople.com Extended Bio...

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