The contract has been signed, flights and hotels booked, and DMC is ready to host an incentive trip to Israel for 100 participants in November 2023. .
“This is one of our most engaged groups and programs. They are committed to immersing themselves in Israeli culture, and since the owner is Jewish, he appreciates the opportunity to take his employees on trips to Israel every five to seven years., Senior Vice President, Business Development, Canada, Creative Group.
“Over time, we’ve learned that situations are sometimes unpredictable, so we’ve always been proactive. We always have a Plan B. In this case, that meant reaching an agreement with the destination for next year that would allow us Able to move the project to Portugal.
Disaster strikes
It was Canada’s Thanksgiving Day on Oct. 7 when Dicaire received the call about the attack.
As of the time the news broke, the company was unable to use force majeure to terminate the contract. “It’s not technically impossible or illegal to get to your destination,” Ducaire said. “However, as airlines began canceling flights, things became increasingly difficult. While rerouting participants remains an option, it raises the question: Is this really the experience we want to provide them? ?
It took planners seven days before they could legally invoke force majeure. “We’re waiting for confirmation from DMC that they can’t run the program,” Dicaire said. “We don’t want to start it prematurely only to be told we can’t get the money back.
“We knew it was coming, but we didn’t need to act on day one.”
Another concern is the well-being of local partners in Israel. “You want to treat your suppliers well, especially since they are still recovering from the pandemic and rebuilding their businesses. We know that canceling projects will impact their livelihoods,” she said.
The client is not asking for a 100% refund and assurance that their supplier will be compensated for the work they have completed and for any work that needs to be cancelled.
During that week, Creative Group communicated with attendees so they could cancel any existing arrangements, such as babysitting. “We ask everyone to remain calm as we deal with this situation and assure them that they will receive more information within a week. In the meantime, we begin to look for alternatives.
Next stop: sun and sand
Since there were no vacancies in Portugal and the weather was cold, they chose the Corazón Cabo Resort & Spa in Los Cabos. “This is the first time the company has launched a sun and beach program,” Dicaire said. “It was important that the hotel be close to town as it is a very active group. We wanted to combine a scavenger hunt with a few evenings spent outside the hotel.
The creative panel team stepped in to rework every aspect of the show, from the broadcast to the agenda. “Not only do we have to cancel the work that was originally planned, but we also have to get refunds or credits based on the airline’s policy,” she said. “We have to completely reset the group’s registration because we can’t assume that everyone who signed up for the original trip is still there. It’s possible to attend, and there may be new participants who can’t go in November but can join in February. Essentially, we rebuilt the entire site.
Meanwhile, the purchasing team is finalizing contracts with hotels. “We completed the task within three months,” she said. “The field trip took place within two weeks of the announcement that the trip would not be in Israel, and the plan was designed on the fly with our senior case manager during that visit.”
The program was so successful that Atlantic Packing decided to build a fun and sunny location into their incentive rotation. “In this program, there’s more rest and organic connection. One day of hanging out by the pool instead of going about their daily activities gives this group of people a new experience,” Dicaire said. “It’s a good balance.”
Creative Group-Atlantic Packaging Project Nominated for 2025 SITE Crystal Awards;The winners will be announced at the annual meeting in March.
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