The Happy Prize Company was founded by Justine Clement over 8 years ago and they’re excited to be re-joining the IPM after so many years of earlier support. Justine was the CEO of Unmissable, one of the forerunners of the prize management agency scene and has always been a fan of our work here at the IPM in supporting brands and agencies through their many lifecycles.  

The Happy Prize Company is a prize creation and management agency that creates and manages both straightforward off-the-shelf, as well as bespoke, unforgettable concepts, for promotional marketing prizes, staff and trade rewards, travel incentives and brand partnerships. They’re also proud to be a re-certified B Corp, too. That means, where relevant, they love creating more meaningful experiences as prizes for brands and agency partners who share their values: think experiences that teach people about wellbeing, ethics, a sense of purpose and reigniting a passion for, and an understanding of, the natural world.  They wholeheartedly believe that their approach positively impacts the campaigns they are asked to work on. In the main, their offering consists of off-the-shelf, or bespoke, ATOL/ABTA bonded overseas travel experiences, UK experiences, vouchers, electronic goods, sports-themed, music-themed, and money-can’t-buy prizes.

Don’t just take our word for any of this. As one of their clients said about them “Justine and her team at The Happy Prize Company completely understand the demands of building award-winning campaigns and deliver every time. They come up with creative ideas which help to bring concepts to life and act as a true member of the team. I would recommend them every time.”

The post IPM ‘Happy’ to Welcome Prize Company back appeared first on IPM Bitesize.

Multi-award-winning creative brand experience agency N2O has won a five-way pitch to be announced as the rostered experiential agency for P&O Cruises in 2024.

The agency will bring to life the brand’s tagline, Holiday Like Never Before, through a series of immersive experiences from this month, focused on brand awareness and lead generation.

Speaking of the appointment, Clare James, Chief Operating Officer at N2O, said: “We’re delighted to be chosen by P&O Cruises to deliver its brand experiences, and we’ve got some really exciting things coming up to broaden the horizons of UK holidaymakers, taking them on a journey to show the experiences that can be found on a P&O Cruises holiday.”

Carnival UK & P&O Cruises President Paul Ludlow said: “Our new marketing strategy, Holiday Like Never Before, aims to drive awareness and consideration with guests who may have thought that cruising wasn’t for them. Our pop-up stands in two of the UK’s busiest retail destinations during the peak holiday booking period will support agents by helping potential guests to understand the exceptional value and varied experiences offered by a P&O Cruises holiday.”

At the end of January, the ‘maiden voyage’ pop-up experience from N2O will see consumers invited into a specially-created sensory lounge, sipping artisanal beverages, as the scent of the various destinations surrounds them – all to give the P&O Cruises onboard experience in an out-of-home setting.

The experience starts on 27^th January at Bluewater, where it runs for two weeks, before heading to Westfield on 19^th February for two weeks.

The post N2O Sets Sail With P&O Cruises Experiential Account Win appeared first on IPM Bitesize.

Award winning travel, prize and fulfilment agency Cloud Nine Incentives is growing its full service
offering with the appointment of Emma Coleman, Director of Events.
Joining from BCD Meetings & Events, Emma will harness her experience across multiple sectors
to drive Cloud Nine’s events division forward; an important strategic pillar for the agency.
Founder and Director Michael Chambers says, “As Cloud Nine Incentives enters its 13th year,
it’s critical we continue to innovate and deliver excellent service. Growing our events team means
we can offer a ‘one stop shop’ to clients.
I am delighted to welcome Emma to the Cloud Nine team. Her wealth of events experience and
passion for exceptional service levels will help steer the agency into its next chapter.”
With an amplified prize and promotions capability, brands will receive seamless, end to end
campaign management, with their customers at the heart of the journey.

Emma Coleman, “I am delighted to join Cloud Nine Incentives, a leader in their field working with
some fantastic brands. Their ethos of curating standout experiences alongside providing
excellent customer service aligns perfectly with my own passion for events. My role, leading the
strategy and development of the events offering, sparks a new chapter for Cloud Nine and I’m
delighted to be involved at the beginning of this exciting journey.”

The post Cloud Nine Incentives Announces New Appointment as it Grows Full Service Travel Offering appeared first on IPM Bitesize.

Cloud Nine Incentives, the experts in travel prizes and promotions were at last weeks IPM Awards ceremony both winning trophies and offering prizes to the industry.

Co-founder and Director Sophie Chambers said ‘After a break of 4 years, it was our pleasure to sponsor the IPM Awards 2023 (and we even picked up a trophy of our own!).  To celebrate our being involved, we would love to offer you the  chance to win a fabulous weekend break in Madrid.

Just head over to www.uponcloudnine.co.uk/competition to enter*. Good luck!

*Terms apply. UK residents 18+ only. Ends 23:59 BST 14/10/23. No purchase necessary. Internet access required. To enter prize draw, participants need to complete the competition post form available on www.uponcloudnine.co.uk/competition. One entry per person. 1 x prize of a trip to Madrid for 2, return flights from a UK airport, 2 nights 4 hotel sharing a twin room. Specific travel terms apply. Promoter: Cloud Nine Incentives Ltd. Visit www.uponcloudnine.co.uk/competition for full terms.

The post Madrid Weekender from IPM Awards Partner Cloud Nine appeared first on IPM Bitesize.

Sales promotion specialist, SPARK, is proud to announce that it has become the UK representative for travel products from Travel + Leisure Co. At unbeatable prices, these products offer access to an extensive range of hotels, resorts, cruises, and tours.

”We’re delighted to be working with the fantastic and experienced team at SPARK to bring our Tailored Travel Services and Solutions to the UK market”, said Jess McCrorie, Director Strategic Partnerships at Travel + Leisure Co.  “With over 75% of UK adults wanting a holiday abroad this year*, we’re excited to be able to offer a unique platform that will help Brands encourage their Customers to see more of the world, for less.”

With over 45 years of experience in the travel industry and listed on the New York Stock Exchange, Travel + Leisure Co. has over 4 million members worldwide, 600,000 hotels, and 4,000 resorts. Their access to the biggest closed user group discounts in the market beats leading online booking platforms.

Recent research* indicates that 64% of UK adults are planning to take a holiday this year, so offering savings on hotels, holidays and other travel perks is a great way to associate a brand with some of the happiest memories and experiences felt by consumers.

“We’re thrilled to be working with Travel + Leisure and helping them access the UK market”, said Dave Pearson, CEO at SPARK. “Travel can be such an inspirational motivator and the solutions that Travel + Leisure have established worldwide is an exciting development for the UK.  Travel is still a brilliant promotional tool, particularly during a cost-of-living crisis where working with Travel + Leisure we can help consumers continue to enjoy worldwide travel experiences for less through brand partnerships and promotions.”

To find out more about SPARKs impactful promotions, please visit wearespark

The post SPARK Takes Travel Promotions to the Next Level with Travel + Leisure Co. Partnership appeared first on IPM Bitesize.

The TLC International Travel Network is the go-to reward network offering consumers their choice of travel rewards around the world, at the tap of a button. TLC are the marketing agency for global travel promotions.

For 30 years, TLC have been connecting people with experiences that match their passions. The uniqueness of their business model is providing this for a fraction of the cost, making it commercially viable for brands to offer free experiences to their consumers as a reward for sales, engagement and retention. Within the International Travel Network the reason TLC can offer these incredible rewards at a fraction of the cost is due to their unique business model as well as their new partnership with Expedia Partner Solutions, the world’s largest online travel aggregator

TLC Marketing is the most experienced consumer rewards agency in the world and are the global pioneers in creating travel promotions. Operating in over 12 countries, they leverage the best in class technology & partnerships that will help brands reach new heights.

TLC have built their own proprietary platform that allows consumers to redeem travel rewards such as free hotel stays, through to stackable travel credits – redeemable worldwide. The investment in this development allows a seamless booking experience for consumers and is coupled with world-class customer service. Partnering with Expedia Partner Solutions allows the inventory to include 700,000 hotels worldwide in over 15 languages.

Why now?

Desperate to go anywhere, escapism, is the driving force behind our urge to travel as the rest of our lives are being delayed. From the pandemic to the cost of living crisis, 38% of people dream of going somewhere they’ve never been before. Travelling has been romanticised even more as many of us feel that we NEED to have some time away. Having spent the last year dreaming of far away places & hidden gems locally, people are inspired to get exploring again where they can, whether at home or abroad – bringing to life the recent trend term of “Revenge Travel.”

The cost of living crisis means we are being forced to sacrifice quality time together, unfortunately it means consumers are having to give up those big ticket purchases such as holidays and travel.

Therefore the time is now for a brand to offer travel as a reward to their consumers.

Who have TLC worked with?

Globally, TLC have worked with some of the biggest brands on travel promotions including Continental Tyres, Tommy Hilfiger and Hello Bank. All brands offering their customers that once in a lifetime reward for a break away.

The post International Travel Network, Powered by TLC Marketing appeared first on IPM Bitesize.

A client recently asked the question, ‘what does the future of travel promotions look like?’.  It is a question I, and many of my colleagues and industry peers, have been asked repeatedly over recent weeks.  Optimism, pessimism, or realism has changed our daily perspective and warped our frequently unqualified and ‘at best’ prophetic responses.  But amidst all the expert analysis, and pure guess work, one fact above all others has become abundantly clear. The power of ‘Wanderlust’ will never be dampened.

The inherent desire to travel has been a bedrock of the promotional industry for many years, but on the 23rd March 2020 the promotional landscape in the UK changed overnight as lockdown came into effect.

Conscious of the potential fears of a society, now with limited movement outside of their own homes, and daily news feeds fuelling a growing fear of travel of any description – it was only natural for brands and business to look for alternative rewards to motivate sales and staff.  Travel was no longer a motivator as the fear of infection out-weighed any indulgent travel need – so many campaigns turned their focus on rewards that could be delivered into the home, and deal with the present. Travel Prizes and Promotions suffered their own lockdown and a change in approach was necessary.

From transforming living rooms into escape rooms, to sending personal celebrity videos messages, bringing a different culture into your home to online Michelin star cooking courses, brands were able to engage and reward their customers in the one place there was a  guarantee they would be able to deliver the prize.  They became part of the lock-down experienced and offered the opportunity for escapism, wrapped up in a big safety blanket.

Wanderlust, though, does not stay dormant for long.  As the weeks passed, this desire to stay indoors, to stay safe, has been taken over by our need for human interaction, and our desire to travel.  It has only taken a matter of weeks, but already Travel Promotions, and the opportunity to fulfil this ‘Wanderlust’, have bounced right back to the top of the promotional ladder.

As the nation slowly sees lockdown restrictions eased, the frustrations and limitations of the past weeks have manifested themselves on our psyche in many different ways – but for most of us the opportunity to soon be able to escape our homes and explore the outside world has become an overwhelming desire and need.

There is no question that Wanderlust is built into our DNA, it is the desire to feed the soul, and the fear of missing out of treasures yet to be discovered.  That said, COVID 19 has undoubtably had a dramatic impact on how the subject of travel promotions will now be addressed. One such consideration is that customers are quite likely to turn to trusted suppliers who have come through the recent challenges with strong credentials, as security (financial and health) is likely to outweigh riskier, and potentially cheaper, alternatives.

As the focus turns to the summer, and end of year campaigns, it is important to be sensitive to the fact that not all travel prizes can, or will, be delivered in 2020.  This however has not dampened the vision of many brand managers who also believe the promise of a once-in-a-lifetime trip sometime in the next 12-18 months, is just as powerful a reward that delivers an immediate fix. It feeds into our desire to have something concrete to hold onto through the difficult times, even if we must wait a little bit longer for it.  As demonstrated in recent campaigns such as The Sun newspaper’s reader promotion ‘Win a luxe adventure holiday for two to Peru’ or Specsavers’ ‘Weekend getaway to Madrid’. A recent article in National Geographic went as far as to highlight the positive impact on mental health the promise of future escape can have https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/2020/05/planning-a-trip-is-good-for-you-especially-during-pandemic/

For those still seeking an alternative short-term promotional solution, that can be guaranteed, domestic travel experiences have seen a huge resurgence. Ensuring that the experience is just as exciting and memorable, but taking away the necessity for air travel, has offered many a great short term, high impact solution. Brands are tapping into the UK’s treasures, with Waterstones offering a break to the Cotswolds and Sainsburys Magazine, a luxury trip to Cornwall. It is also a way for brands and companies to show support for their home economies and follows a shift towards more sustainable solutions.  While the desire to travel and explore will remain, there are ways of going about this in a sensitive manner that will resonate with many brands and customers.

Finally, there is the ‘Bucket List’ equation. More than ever, many of us have a sense of the fragility of life and of our freedoms.  There is no doubt that this will have stirred a desire to experience these ‘bucket list’ wishes as soon as possible, and promotions supporting this dream become a reality can certainly tap into this heightened awareness.

So while we all adapt to the new ‘post COVID promotional world’, it is clear that the power of Wanderlust will play a significant role in shaping our dreams and wishes.

David Heron is Co-head of Agency at The Black Tomato Agency

The post The Promotional Power of Wanderlust appeared first on IPM Bitesize.

Fiona Rayner, Head of Experiential and International at Blackjack Promotions, shares how travel terminals have the opportunity to create captive experiential activity that help engage potential customers.

Are travellers likely to spend more thanks to duty free/tax free?

The two have become blurred, and ‘duty free’ is not the offering it once was. There are still savings to be found in duty free at airports versus the high street, but the message terminal retailers are focusing on is offering shoppers something they can’t get on the high street. Airports are currently leading this, but as it isn’t dependant on a duty free/tax free hook, it could be translated into any terminal; I expect we will see more rail station retailers following suit.

Are travel terminals bucking the doom & gloom of the high street?

It’s certainly true that people still think of airports, travel retail and flying as glamorous – we all still look forward to going on holiday and that association with airports is perennial. I don’t think train travel is quite there yet, although I have noticed some of the major rail providers are trying to reignite ‘Golden Age’ excitement in their marketing campaigns to encourage people to think differently about train travel.

Due to the sheer volume of people airport terminals have to process, they tend to be technologically progressive spaces and technology is being harnessed to refresh the retail experience at these sites. Traveller demographics affect traffic flow throughout the day and retailers are able to use digital screens to change the duty free environment; the store design and ‘wallpaper’ can change at the flick of a switch. This creates an exciting and more relevant experience for shoppers.

Major train stations have ramped up their experiential offerings too, making the most of the captive ‘passing trade’ to create immersive moments and provide product sampling that helps to engage potential customers. We’ve seen an increase in specific place-based associations such as Paddington Bear at Paddington station, and Harry Potter at King’s Cross St Pancras, which tell a story and bring joy in a way high street shops are not traditionally placed to deliver.

Are certain retailers likely to perform better in terms of sales at travel terminals rather than the high street?

The main thing about travel terminals in particular is that they are able to understand their customers a lot more because they understand them as passengers first – and this provides key insight for retailers. If you think about the high street, you know your demographic, but you don’t necessarily know when they will be coming into the store. If it’s raining, they may not bother to pop out to the shops on their lunch break. These variables don’t have the same impact on terminal retailer trade. They are making an intentional journey, so retailers are able to better identify customer demographics, be they a commuter who wants convenience, a holiday maker who wants a travel exclusive, or a business traveller who wants gifts, it’s easier to make bespoke and targeted offerings based on the kinds of travellers you have coming through. Destination targeting can be employed. For example, if you have a train arriving from Edinburgh, you are unlikely to target shoppers with whisky. You know the journey the customer is taking, therefore the retail offering can be bespoke.  In train terminals in particular they are selling ‘impulse purchase’ products and can streamline what they are presenting because they have a heads-up on who is coming through the doors. Retailers providing a ‘one-stop shop’ experience are likely to perform well, as we have seen in the example of a major high street newsagent who have increased sales by diversifying their offering at terminal retail sites.

WHSmith’s travel arm is making profit while its high street sales are slumping – why is this?

In April, a leading high street newsagent diversified their retail portfolio at Gatwick North terminal when they introduced a pharmacy into the store. By offering more services, they are better able to service the time-poor clientele we often find at terminals, and increase spend per-customer. They have clearly taken a good look at their terminal retail demographic and responded by offering the customer what they want and need.

If you would like to find out how Blackjack Promotions can help you, get in touch with Fiona Rayner at Fiona.Rayner@abm.com

The post Are travel terminals increasingly becoming shopping destinations? appeared first on IPM Bitesize.

Alex Agertoft, Sales and Marketing Executive at Black Tomato Agency shares his insight on how brands and agencies can create the best travel incentives. 

The best incentives aren’t just about the destination. They’re about finding the right angles to make that destination a motivator, irrespective of personal interests. They’re about maximising engagement, creating intrigue and excitement and most importantly, they’re about getting the most bang for your buck.

Couple this with the ever-increasing impact of Millennials and now Gen-Z on the workplace, it’s clear that today’s incentive travel attendees are more comfortable than ever to stand out from the crowd, seek out authentic experiences and celebrate what makes them unique. A one-size-fits-all mindset just won’t cut it.

Take Morocco for example; the gateway to Africa, it occupies the ‘Goldilocks’ zone. Close enough to make it onto any Euro-focused shortlist, exotic enough to get your attendees out of their comfort zone, affordable enough to be accessible, and intrepid enough to offer excitement at every turn.

For the human connection

Morocco’s capital of chic and one of the most stimulating cities in the world – Marrakech is a constant source of inspiration to its inhabitants and visitors alike. Over 2 million tourists a year visit the Red City so we work hard to continually reinvent and ensure we offer once-in-a-lifetime experiences that are unachievable from personal travel.

Whether you’re seeking design inspiration or looking to bring a dash of creative flair to your business, we look beyond Marrakech’s medina to connect you with the designers, artisans and entrepreneurs at the heart of the city’s creative community. It’s these local connections and human interaction that provide you with a new perspective and ensure you return home with more than just a tan.

For the digital detox

Visitors come to Morocco as much to relax and get away from it all as for the adventure on offer. Whether you’re rising early for sun salutations and yogic breathing at a surf camp in Taghazout or partying into the night at your own private camp in the Agafay desert—give yourself over to the feeling of freedom brought about by patchy Wi-Fi and no 4G.

You might never have opened yourself up to the idea of wellness, but it’s hard not to feel a shift in perspective when you’re existing beneath the sheer majesty of North Africa’s greatest mountain range.

For the adrenaline junkies

For those burning to go beyond the edge, Morocco is the ultimate adventure playground. Beneath the snow-capped jagged peaks of the High Atlas, you’ll be roaring through the Agafay desert in a selection of high-octane off-road vehicles.

In the nearby mountains, Terres D’Amanar offers you a veritable smorgasbord of adventure activities including mountain biking, zip-lining and horse riding. And if those don’t whet your appetite, then we can put together a crack team of mountain guides, sherpas and cooks to keep you in relative luxury on hikes of varying degrees of difficulty.

Morocco’s coastline offers plenty of adventure too. Blessed with year-round sunshine and amazing waves, the laid-back fishing village of Taghazout has emerged as the country’s surfing mecca. Whether you’re in search of barrelling point breaks or prefer to seek solace in the white water, there’s a wave for all abilities.

For the real local experience

We don’t offer formulaic city tours to tourist traps for ten-a-penny generic postcard photos. We want you to glimpse the heart of Fez’s intricate old town. A truly local experience, just the right amount outside your comfort zone.

Setting foot on the riotous streets of Fez medina can be a disorientating experience for the uninitiated. Fear not. Led by the best-connected guides in the country, you’ll see the city the way only a local can. They’ll have you dodging trolleys that hurtle down steep old town alleyways, take you off the beaten track for a quiet moment amidst the mosques and expertly navigate you through bustling local markets with some bartering tips and tasting sessions thrown in along the way (we drew a firm line at the plate of sheep brain though).

For the bucket list

It’s a human need to explore; to discover new and unseen destinations. But sometimes the reality of getting off the beaten track can be overwhelming, not least because of the levels of organisation required to do something for the first time. The good news is, this isn’t our first camel train.

We encourage you to go beyond the limits of your imagination for experiences that will live long in your memory. Heading into the vast expanse of the Sahara might feel like a leap into the unknown, but creating your own Blink camp in the shadow of the towering dunes of Erg Chebbi will surpass even your wildest desert dreams. What these desert camps lack in the way of marble bathrooms and infinity pools, they more than make up for with the true modern luxuries of silence and space.

For some social responsibility

Increasingly employees are expecting more out of their job than a payslip at the end of each month and consumers prefer to do business with corporations and brands they see as socially responsible. If you want to engage, develop and retain the best talent out there, then the creation of a culture of corporate social responsibility (CSR) to match the core values of your socially-minded workforce is an unmissable opportunity.

In Morocco, you can play a small part in helping the local community. 0.5% of the total price of your trip is donated to support the Centre Fiers et Fort; a centre that supports underprivileged children in the village of Tamesloht. It might not sound like a huge amount but it’s quite a sum when you add it up over the thousands of guests we’ve sent to Morocco over the years.

If you would like to get personally involved then contact Alex Agertoft on alex@blacktomatoagency.com 

The post Incentive travel: the angles appeared first on IPM Bitesize.

Poundland has today launched two new Brexit inspired passport covers just weeks before the 29^th March deadline, available in the classic EU burgundy red or a ‘Brexit Blue’.

The traditional red cover comes with a tag line of ‘Still Proud to Be European.’ On the other side of the fence, the blue passport cover is clearly labelled as Great Britain and Northern Ireland only.

With the politicians in a pickle, Poundland isn’t waiting to give its customers the chance to make a statement with their passport, whatever their position on Brexit.

Poundland expects sales statistics of the two passport covers to be the new referendum that gives an up-to-date snapshot into how the country feels about leaving the European Union.

The new passport covers are in Poundland’s travel range which includes flip flops, sunscreen and other travel essentials and will be available in store from 26^th February nationwide for £1.

Poundland’s Marketing Controller Mark Pym said: “Whether you’re a Europhile or a Europhobe, Poundland’s got you covered.”

The post Poundland lets shoppers choose ‘Leave’ or ‘Remain’ Brexit passports appeared first on IPM Bitesize.