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HOT Destination for 2019 – ICELAND

Iceland Is Prepping for Its Hottest Tourist Season Yet

Iceland is so hot right now!!  Well….  maybe not literally. The chilly European destination, which is not actually covered in ice, is anticipating its biggest tourist season ever.

This Nordic nation has not always been a hotspot for tourists; however, it wasn’t until an eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in 2010 that the world started paying more attention.  Another reason for Iceland’s sudden rise in popularity is  because of the hit series, “Game of Thrones,” which filmed its many northern scenes there.  So combine TV news footage of volcanoes and battles on Game of Throne’s battles waged in Iceland’s stunning scenery, and it was only a matter of time before visitors started flocking.

So is Iceland on your Travel Bucket List for 2019??  It should be!!

Here’s 5 things you can do while visiting Iceland.

Whale Watching Tour – There are many tours available that allow you to see whales as well as puffins. You can engage with Naturalists and experience rare sightings that will leave you in awe. It is best to whale watch in the summer months, preferably April through September. Minke whales are the most common in Iceland.

Blue Lagoon Spa – This mineral-rich attraction is minutes from the Keflavik International airport. There are many spa options available due to the geothermic forces and many natural elements. The lagoon is man-made and renewed every two days with fresh water. You can easily access the site via car or bus.

West Fjords – Located in a popular peninsula, the Fjords are breathtaking. You need to plan well and leave time to really explore all this area has to offer. They have great attractions. You can visit a myriad of special sites, such as the Icelandic Sea Monster Museum or the famous Látrabjarg cliff. There is much to experience in this mountainous remote area. You will have options that will keep you interested while on your expedition.

Skogafoss – The perfect place for you to get a shot with a double rainbow, Skogafoss is the most scenic fall in Iceland. With a drop of over 60 meters, the view is spectacular. There is also a legend of gold that lies within the falls. Take your chance and search if you dare…

Silfra – Silfra is an amazing diving spot located in Thingvellir National Park. It is the crevice between the tectonic plates in North America and Eurasian continents. It is the only place in the world where you can dive between two tectonic plates that shift roughly 2 cm every year. The shifting of the earth creates new caverns and tunnels. There is plenty of wildlife to see on your dive/snorkel. The three main dive sites are; Silfra Hall, Silfra Cathedral, and Silfra Lagoon. The maximum depth is about 207 feet. The water is the purest in the world, and you can feel free to take a sip while diving.

Iceland is not about just the Northern Lights, there is so much to discover.  So are you ready to travel like a Viking???

 

 

 

 

 

TRAVEL IN COLOR – NOT BLACK AND WHITE

ABOUT TRASFORMATIVA TRAVEL

Trasformativa is a US based travel company with offices located in Durham, NC and Clarksville, VA.  We are  focused exclusively on transformational travel. Our experienced and qualified travel agents offer many different types of transformational travel opportunities. We work with individuals and groups of many sizes to help them find a true difference. Most of the people who contact us are luxury travelers and leaders of groups who are traveling together. This includes, yoga or fitness instructors, health and wellness professionals, human resource directors, sales managers, CEO’s, church group leaders, corporate trainers, personal chefs, wedding planners, brides, corporate travel professionals, and also individuals looking to plan an exciting and out-of-the-way trip for a group of their friends.

Our transformational opportunities include Exotic Group Travel, Jamaica Travel, Caribbean Travel, Europe Travel, Retreat Group Travel, Culinary & Vineyard Group Travel, Wellness Travel Retreats, Incentive Travel Reward Programs, Destination Training Events, Corporate Wellness Retreats, Team Building Retreats, Fitness Retreats, Yoga & Meditation Retreats, Juice & Cleanse Retreats, Spirituality Retreats, and Autism Travel,

To learn more, visit our website or call us at (919) 616-3780.

 

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Why Employee Engagement and Company Culture is Vital to the Success of Your Business

Why Employee Engagement and Company Culture is Vital to the Success of Your Business

According to a Gartner Survey, the next competitive frontier for businesses is The Employee Experience, and the signs indicate very strongly that The Employee Experience will become the next priority for organizations and is being called, “2018 The Year of The Employee Experience”.

In order to obtain and retain top talent, The Employee Experience must be present throughout the employee’s entire employment so that there is a connection to the organization. It needs to be present with every employee interaction, from their first contact as a potential employee to their last interaction after the end of their employment.

What is important for a company to realize, is that Employee Engagement and Company Culture are NOT about New and Improved HR or Perks & Parties; it’s about an employee’s commitment to their company and to their job. Too many companies only pay attention to the results from annual employee engagement surveys or incentive program feedback however, they don’t proactively design and manage The Employee Experience to produce better engagement within their business.

Offering a superior Employee Experience can give employers a competitive advantage in attracting top talent and then engaging them in ways that encourage employees to stay with their organization.

By focusing on the Employee Experience to increase not only employee satisfaction, productivity, and retention, but also brand equity, competitive advantage, and sustainable growth.

The TTT Program (Transformational Team Training) is built to bring awareness to these foundational principles. We facilitate a creative and interactive environment for a company to learn the concepts needed to create a strong, cohesive Company Culture that ensures a successful Employee Experience. We help company leaders and their employees become reinvigorated in the Company Vision, Values & Mission.

Let’s take a look at some of the ways in which this happens…

Overcoming Employee Resistance to Change

The President of an organization had a vision; it was a great and powerful new direction that would bring about a big change in the company’s way of doing business. It would change their customers and the products and services they created for the market. The outcome would require changes in how employees interacted with each other. Unfortunately, employees did not readily accept the President’s new vision for the organization.

We assist helping businesses and managers overcome employee resistance and identify what actions are necessary to increase employee support. We work with management and employees together, to explore ideas for how all levels can be engaged in creating a future vision for the organization. By taking employee recommendations into consideration, a new plan can be delivered, one where employees can feel motivated and engaged in the execution knowing they will be able to see how their contribution impacts the plan.

Overcoming Leadership Challenges

A company is experiencing a multitude of people problems that seemed to be affecting their ability to grow their business. Project teams had insufficient resources for critical initiatives, work teams were continually in “reaction mode”, line managers were stretched too thin and there was limited cross training due to workloads.

We utilize a Situation Analysis with the management teams to explore the current state of the company’s executive processes and determine the core issues. Through this, we are able to identify the levels of leadership efficacy within the organization.

Handling Company Cultural Issues

Two large chains that operated in direct competition of each other merge and result in a huge upheaval for employees.

When dealing with the different cultures of merging companies, we work with the management of both organizations to create a strategic change plan for the new company.

There are opportunities to hold mixed group sessions with employees from both organizations to listen to their needs and suggestions. From this, we are able to identify any concerns with the merger, as well as strategize what they can do to help create a future for the company that supports all needs and desired outcomes.

 

No matter what industry you are in, or how big or small your business, the success of your organization depends on the performance and cohesiveness of its employees.

Teamwork is a basic concept most of us learn early in life, yet in business, this idea becomes much more nuanced than the simple practice of cooperation. Engaging employees and creating a great Employee Experience is an art form that tope companies are now working delicately to perfect it at every level.

Transformational Team Training is a collaborative program between Trasformativa Travel and The Innate Coach. For more information on the Transformational Team Training Program please email us at Alison@Trasformativa.com or traci@theinnatecoach.com, or you can visit our website at https://trasformativa.com/transformative-team-trainings/

TRAVEL IN COLOR – NOT BLACK AND WHITE

ABOUT TRASFORMATIVA TRAVEL

Trasformativa is a US based travel company with offices located in Durham, NC and Clarksville, VA.  We are  focused exclusively on transformational travel. Our experienced and qualified travel agents offer many different types of transformational travel opportunities. We work with individuals and groups of many sizes to help them find a true difference. Most of the people who contact us are luxury travelers and leaders of groups who are traveling together. This includes, yoga or fitness instructors, health and wellness professionals, human resource directors, sales managers, CEO’s, church group leaders, corporate trainers, personal chefs, wedding planners, brides, corporate travel professionals, and also individuals looking to plan an exciting and out-of-the-way trip for a group of their friends.

Our transformational opportunities include Exotic Group Travel, Jamaica Travel, Caribbean Travel, Europe Travel, Retreat Group Travel, Culinary & Vineyard Group Travel, Wellness Travel Retreats, Incentive Travel Reward Programs, Destination Training Events, Corporate Wellness Retreats, Team Building Retreats, Fitness Retreats, Yoga & Meditation Retreats, Juice & Cleanse Retreats, Spirituality Retreats, and Autism Travel,

To learn more, visit our website or call us at (919) 616-3780.

 

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JAMAICA – Once You Go – You Know

I Left My Heart In Jamaica!!

So…. On my recent return trip to Jamaica, as we were in the process of landing in Montego Bay, I was soooo excited to be back; but it wasn’t the same excitement that I always feel when I return to Jamaica. It was a feeling like I was returning home. Jamaica has definitely become my second home, and I love traveling there several times a year. According to the locals and my friends in Jamaica, I am now considered Jamerican.

I first traveled to Jamaica back in 1989 for my honeymoon, and returned again the following year for my anniversary and loved it. Since then, I have been traveling there multiple times every year and it never gets old. If I can somehow figure out how to live there, I’d die a happy woman.

So what makes Jamaica so special? It’s not just one thing, but the entire Jamaican Culture. The mixture of beautiful beaches, and vibrant Jamaican culture makes it my number one destination to travel to and send my clients. Anyone who knows me, knows that if you ask me about Jamaica, it’s like asking me about my grandchildren; you just can’t shut me up once I get started.  What are the Top Ten Reasons to Visit Jamaica??

Everyone should visit Jamaica because the beaches alone will take your breath away. When my husband and I traveled to Jamaica for our annual anniversary trip last February, (his first visit there) we stayed in Montego Bay and he loved it. However, we took a day trip to Negril (known for it’s beautiful Seven Mile Beach of amazing blue water and white sand). He was hooked and announced “we are coming back here next year!!”. No argument from me.

Jamaica is know as the island of All Right, everyone should take a trip here at least once in their life because there’s something for everyone in the beautiful tropical climate. Each region is different, from Montego Bay to Ochos Rios to Negril. There are water sports and hiking for the fitness enthusiast, and there are beaches and charming places to stroll and shop for the more relaxed. There’s unique music, food, and dance. You can easily have a romantic getaway, or a sporting adventure, a family holiday or even a corporate event.

No matter how many times I travel to Jamaica, I find something new to love about this amazing destination, and always look forward to my return.

Would you like to hear more about Jamaica and why it is the most amazing vacation destination? Give me a call, shoot me an email, I’ll tell you everything you want to know. Likely, you’ll want to book your next vacation to Jamaica.

Jamaica…… Once You Go, You Know!!

TRAVEL IN COLOR – NOT BLACK AND WHITE

ABOUT TRASFORMATIVA TRAVEL

Trasformativa is a US based travel company with offices located in Durham, NC and Clarksville, VA.  We are  focused exclusively on transformational travel. Our experienced and qualified travel agents offer many different types of transformational travel opportunities. We work with individuals and groups of many sizes to help them find a true difference. Most of the people who contact us are luxury travelers and leaders of groups who are traveling together. This includes, yoga or fitness instructors, health and wellness professionals, human resource directors, sales managers, CEO’s, church group leaders, corporate trainers, personal chefs, wedding planners, brides, corporate travel professionals, and also individuals looking to plan an exciting and out-of-the-way trip for a group of their friends.

Our transformational opportunities include Exotic Group Travel, Jamaica Travel, Caribbean Travel, Europe Travel, Retreat Group Travel, Culinary & Vineyard Group Travel, Wellness Travel Retreats, Incentive Travel Reward Programs, Destination Training Events, Corporate Wellness Retreats, Team Building Retreats, Fitness Retreats, Yoga & Meditation Retreats, Juice & Cleanse Retreats, Spirituality Retreats, and Autism Travel,

To learn more, visit our website or call us at (919) 616-3780.

 

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Employee Incentive Statistics That Will Blow Your Mind!!

Employee Incentive Statistics That Will Blow Your Mind!!

Recognition and Employee Incentives rank very high on an employee’s list of needs; if they feel valued, talented employees will go to the ends of the earth to help their company succeed.  Incentive Statistics Don’t Lie!

Strategically planned Recognition or Incentive Programs help companies recognize and reward their people for their contributions towards advancing business objectives – both as a team and as individuals.

With this trend of rewarding employees with non-monetary rewards, the number for 2017 will surely climb. These statistics from 2016 was a year of many numbers, changes, innovations, and upsets. Every year has their fair share, but employee incentive plans had some rather successful innovation in 2016 and will continue to move higher in the coming years.

Build a positive company culture: Companies that executed a formal, well planned-out employee engagement program reported a 64% greater increase in the level of employee engagement than those without one.

Engagement Tools: 35% of Best-in-Class businesses plan to implement new employee engagement tools in the coming year, compared to only 27.1% of All Others.

Meeting Expectations: In 2016, almost eighty percent (78.7%) of incentive programs met the proper expectations.

Exceeding Expectations: Also in 2015, 12.8% of incentive programs successfully exceeded expectations.

People Don’t Always Want The Benjamins: As it turns out, cash is not always the incentive reward of choice among employees. The IMA (Incentive Marketing Association) did a study which found 65% of employees preferred non-cash incentives.

Incentive Travel: Incentive travel is used by 46% of United States’ businesses. While this travel is usually a consequence of some consumer rewards program, the same kind of incentives can be applied in the workplace. The incentives of the traveling agencies in question can be put toward employee vacations in order to diminish the cost of providing incentives through direct monetary award via company funds.

Incentive Engagement On The Increase: According to a recent Gallup poll, employees actively engaged with employers via incentive programs of some variety are up .5% since 2015 to 32%.

The Cost of Turnover: Every year, according to the most recent figures, roughly $11 billion is lost due to employee turnover. Incentives are a great means of curbing this loss.

Incentives Give Millennial Employees Reason to Stay: Millennials are at an age where they’re finding what career will define them going forward. As a result, most view their current occupation as transitory. In fact, 44% of millennials actively seek to pursue additional career opportunities over the next two years. Incentive programs can help reduce that statistic.

Most Popular Incentive Programs Among Employees: Over 65% of surveyed participants strongly agree that travel incentives/rewards are remembered longer than cash payments. Employees like their incentive programs, and having a system in place is a proven way to ensure increased retention in 2017/2018.

Now is the time of year where businesses are making plans for 2018; shouldn’t an incentive program be a part of that plan??

 

ABOUT TRASFORMATIVA TRAVEL

Trasformativa is a US based travel company with offices located in Durham, NC and Clarksville, VA.  We are  focused exclusively on transformational travel. Our experienced and qualified travel agents offer many different types of transformational travel opportunities. We work with individuals and groups of many sizes to help them find a true difference. Most of the people who contact us are luxury travelers and leaders of groups who are traveling together. This includes, yoga or fitness instructors, health and wellness professionals, human resource directors, sales managers, CEO’s, church group leaders, corporate trainers, personal chefs, wedding planners, brides, corporate travel professionals, and also individuals looking to plan an exciting and out-of-the-way trip for a group of their friends.

Our transformational opportunities include Exotic Group Travel, Jamaica Travel, Caribbean Travel, Europe Travel, Retreat Group Travel, Culinary & Vineyard Group Travel, Wellness Travel Retreats, Incentive Travel Reward Programs, Destination Training Events, Corporate Wellness Retreats, Team Building Retreats, Fitness Retreats, Yoga & Meditation Retreats, Juice & Cleanse Retreats, Spirituality Retreats, and Autism Travel,

To learn more, visit our website or call us at (919) 616-3780.

 

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My Italian Transformation

My Italian Transformation

 

I got my start in the travel industry almost ten years ago after a Life Changing trip to Italy. My husband and I traveled to Italy for our daughter’s graduation from culinary school (she had been attending Alma in Colorno for the previous six months), and was now on her way back to take her finals and graduation. Proud Parent Moment!!

We stayed in Colorno in a lovely B&B on the outskirts of town. A short walk into town along cobblestone streets and lovely architecture. Upon entering the town square it was something out of a movie with quaint restaurants and coffee shops, and old Italian men sitting at tables playing dominoes. Set back from the town center towers my daughter’s school, ALMA – La Scuola Internazionale di Cucina Italiana. Once know as Ducal Palace of Colorno owned by several esteemed Italy families, after the unification of Italy it was property of the state and acquired by ALMA. It is a magnificent structure with beautiful gardens and grounds.

Over the next three days my husband and I explored Colorno as a local and wandered the cobblestone streets early because each day all the businesses close from 12-4 so that residents can take their time eating lunch, which we very happily participated in sipping wine and eating wonderful local meats, cheeses and breads. On our final day in Colorno we took a private guided tour of Parma visiting a farm where we watched a local family make Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, visiting a curing house for Prosciutto di Parma ham, dined outside for lunch on a vineyard where we again drank and ate the wonderful fare that Parma has to offer.   Last stop was a vineyard to taste some of the most amazing balsamic vinegar I have ever tasted.  It was at this stop that I was very quickly befriended by the owner of the vineyard, and almost 10 years later, we still regularly email and talk on Skype.

Next stop, and our base for the next 7 days, another lovely B&B on a hilltop in the port city of Livorno overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. A little slice of heaven. By day we traveled the sites of Livorno, Florence and Pisa, by night we dined at a local family owned and run restaurant, that by the 2nd night, the owner would have our favorite table reserved and promptly serve us local wine and some of the most amazing food we had ever tasted (we were ruined). Meals in Italy are not scarfed down, but eaten slowly and savored, usually taking several hours to complete. While in Livorno, we also had our first experience seeing the local wild boars, Cinghiale, which DOES NOT look like a common farm hog, but literally some huge beast that you would only imagine in a horror movie. This was quite interesting. This town was quite quant, tucked away on a hilltop, away from the bustling seaport below.

We traveled by train to Florence and Pisa and walked from the train stations to the main sites so as to explore the cities. Florence is a bustling city filled with art, architecture, museums and SHOPPING.  We definitely needed another day to really explore all it has to offer. Pisa was another quaint city where we of course had to see the leaning tower and the other surrounding magnificent buildings. This was definitely a tourist area; however, we decided to explore the surrounding city where we finally found ourselves a lovely outside café where we dined on wonderful pizza and other Italian fare.

Our final stop was a day in the bustling city of Milan; again, another city we really needed an extra day to explore. We walked the streets and checked out the local scene and shops while eating cones of creamy gelato.

While traveling from city to city by train the scenery was nothing short of AMAZING. Beautiful fields of sunflowers as far as the eye could see and lovely vineyards spread across the countryside. Through the coastal cities there were crashing blue waves against the rock cliffs, as well as lovely beaches where locals splashed in the water.

We were so sad to live Italy, and definitely left a part of our heart there. So excited for my return to Italy in July to explore the Roman Countryside. This time……. I just might not come back.

Give me a shout if you want to join us!!

 

ABOUT TRASFORMATIVA TRAVEL

Trasformativa is a US based travel company with offices located in Durham, NC and Clarksville, VA.  We are  focused exclusively on transformational travel. Our experienced and qualified travel agents offer many different types of transformational travel opportunities. We work with individuals and groups of many sizes to help them find a true difference. Most of the people who contact us are luxury travelers and leaders of groups who are traveling together. This includes, yoga or fitness instructors, health and wellness professionals, human resource directors, sales managers, CEO’s, church group leaders, corporate trainers, personal chefs, wedding planners, brides, corporate travel professionals, and also individuals looking to plan an exciting and out-of-the-way trip for a group of their friends.

Our transformational opportunities include Exotic Group Travel, Jamaica Travel, Caribbean Travel, Europe Travel, Retreat Group Travel, Culinary & Vineyard Group Travel, Wellness Travel Retreats, Incentive Travel Reward Programs, Destination Training Events, Corporate Wellness Retreats, Team Building Retreats, Fitness Retreats, Yoga & Meditation Retreats, Juice & Cleanse Retreats, Spirituality Retreats, and Autism Travel,

To learn more, visit our website or call us at (919) 616-3780.

 

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Why Group Travel Is The Smart Way To Travel

Why Group Travel Is The Smart Way To Travel

While you may have never thought of getting a group of family and/or friends together to visit a destination you have all been dreaming about. Well, you might want to give it some thought, because group travel can be an extremely rewarding (and smart!) option for all types of travelers to set out and experience the world. Still not convinced about why a group travel experience might not be right for you? Continue reading…..
So you’re probably thinking, what are the benefits to traveling as a group, rather than solo or with one other person? Here are the five top benefits of group travel.

Save money – Practicality of group rates. Whether it’s airfare, lodging, food or adventures, groups will always get better rates than individuals. This is a no brainer if you want to experience everything a destination has to offer, and do it without breaking the bank.

Everything is taken care of and planned for you – All you do is show up. This is a big one! All of the particulars are taken care of for you. Planning a trip can be difficult, especially if you’re venturing to a place where you don’t speak the language. Traveling with a group and a Tour Director or local means all of the details are taken care of for you.

Do things you couldn’t do on your own – You’ll get to see and do things you might not have been able to do on your own. Whether it’s skipping the line at a museum or getting exclusive access to an area that is generally off limits, and experience hidden gems that you wouldn’t have known about, or had access to, on your own.

Create lifelong friendships – Travel gives people experiences and memories that are felt deep in the soul. You have the opportunity to meet likeminded people who will become your travel buddies, wine drinking buddies, adventure buddies, and the experiences you have together will create relationships that last a lifetime.

Safety in numbers – There is safety in numbers. You will need to think about safety no matter where you travel. No one wants to think anything will go wrong on a vacation, but that’s not the reality and being prepared is your best defense in tough situations. Traveling with a group means you have a “pack”. Think of a wolf pack. They travel together and protect one another. Traveling with a group means built in safety and protection. You can think of the Tour Director as the alpha wolf in the pack, always there to lead the group and make sure everyone stays safe and happy.

So….. Do I have you convinced? Do you have a destination you have always wanted to see? Well then let’s plan a customized Group Travel Experience for you and your group and create lasting lifetime memories.

 

ABOUT TRASFORMATIVA TRAVEL

Trasformativa is a US based travel company with offices located in Durham, NC and Clarksville, VA.  We are  focused exclusively on transformational travel. Our experienced and qualified travel agents offer many different types of transformational travel opportunities. We work with individuals and groups of many sizes to help them find a true difference. Most of the people who contact us are luxury travelers and leaders of groups who are traveling together. This includes, yoga or fitness instructors, health and wellness professionals, human resource directors, sales managers, CEO’s, church group leaders, corporate trainers, personal chefs, wedding planners, brides, corporate travel professionals, and also individuals looking to plan an exciting and out-of-the-way trip for a group of their friends.

Our transformational opportunities include Exotic Group Travel, Jamaica Travel, Caribbean Travel, Europe Travel, Retreat Group Travel, Culinary & Vineyard Group Travel, Wellness Travel Retreats, Incentive Travel Reward Programs, Destination Training Events, Corporate Wellness Retreats, Team Building Retreats, Fitness Retreats, Yoga & Meditation Retreats, Juice & Cleanse Retreats, Spirituality Retreats, and Autism Travel,

To learn more, visit our website or call us at (919) 616-3780.

 

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