Bored with the same ol’, same ol’ incentive destinations and searching for something a little different? Here are three options to consider for future programs … and a little something extra!
Reliable, proven and trusted venues and properties are the backbone of the corporate meetings and events business, especially for large groups traveling in from all directions. As always, working within a reasonable budget is a top priority so when it comes to super luxurious properties – typically out of reach for sales meetings, product launches, conferences, etc. – corporate incentive budgets often put these within reach to truly reward your company’s elite performers.
Let’s take a closer look at some new options on the near and distant horizons …
Booking Now for Mid-2027: Andaz Turks & Caicos at Grace Bay
Scheduled to open June 1, 2027, Hyatt’s first Andaz property in the Caribbean is in its final phases of construction and is now accepting bookings. Located on Providenciales, Andaz Turks & Caicos at Grace Bay promises to be a compelling venue consideration for corporate incentive travel in the region. Set on 5.5 acres of prime beachfront along Grace Bay — repeatedly ranked the Caribbean’s best beach — the boutique resort offers just 59 hotel rooms alongside 73-74 residences, keeping the atmosphere intimate rather than convention-hall generic, which is exactly the kind of exclusivity that makes top performers feel truly pampered.
For programming, the property delivers on both relaxation and connection: three restaurants and bars including the signature Tamarà, a rooftop venue with panoramic bay views, a full-service Runa spa with sauna and cold plunge, tennis and pickleball courts, multiple pools, and direct access to Bight Reef for snorkeling right off the sand. On the logistics side, the resort offers on-site event and catering services, VIP packages and [if you must!] boutique meeting space suited to smallish executive groups rather than mass conferences. It’s a strong pick if the goal is an elevated, fresh and memorable incentive experience.
https://www.hyatt.com/andaz/en-US/plsaz-andaz-turks-and-caicos-at-grace-bay
Coming 2027-2028 [maybe]: Aman Beverly Hills
Aman’s West Coast debut is one of the most anticipated ultra-luxury openings in the U.S., but it’s still under construction but certainly worth flagging for any incentive trip timeline. The property sits within the $10 billion One Beverly Hills development at Wilshire and Santa Monica Boulevards, with some indications of a late-2027 opening while Aman’s own website now hedges their bet and teases 2028.
Whenever, it’s shaping up to be an exceptional incentive-trip venue for a very exclusive, small group. The hotel is designed as only 78 all-suite bungalow-style accommodations spread across roughly 10 acres of botanical gardens — a rare amount of green, private outdoor space for an urban property this close to Rodeo Drive and everything else the storied 90210 zip code has to offer.
Larger suites will include private heated pools and outdoor showers, and the centerpiece is a 100,000-square-foot Aman Club — the brand’s first standalone club — offering indoor/outdoor spa treatment rooms, hydrotherapy, fitness facilities, and curated wellness programming. There will be multiple dining concepts and a screening room to round out the offering. To be safe, consider this a “put it on the radar” option rather than rolling the dice on a too-soon booking.
https://www.aman.com/aman-beverly-hills
Coming 2028: Four Season II
Four Seasons Yachts’ second superyacht, Four Seasons II, debuts in April 2028 and offers a unique and striking alternative to a land-based resort for a top-tier incentive program. At 679 feet with just 79 all-suite-style accommodations [fewer than the 95 suites aboard sister ship Four Seasons I] it limits guests to around 200, allowing for a roughly 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio. This ensures an unusually intimate, high-touch experience. For a full incentive buyout, the ship offers 11 dining and lounge venues, a spa, wellness programming, and a marina with water-sports access, plus the flexibility to reserve an entire deck or connect suites into a private compound for corporate charters.
The standout accommodation for smaller corporate incentive programs is the new Yacht Residential Suites: a dozen 2-4 bedroom luxury apartments at sea with full kitchens, private living rooms, dedicated concierges and, in select suites, private splash pools and outdoor showers. These accommodations are particularly nice if your goal is to cluster senior leadership or top performers together rather than scattering them across separate rooms. Inaugural-season sailings will run the Eastern Mediterranean.
https://www.fourseasonsyachts.com/
Speaking of getaways …
On a personal note, our oldest child, Ashlyn, “gotaway” to Clemson University last Friday for her freshman year of college. And for something a little bit different, I’d like to share a couple of snippets from our experience so far transitioning to this next exciting but sometimes worrisome stage of a parent’s and child’s life.
Recently, Ashlyn and I were at Costco and she bought me a Clemson ballcap so I put it on as we walked to the car. Suddenly I heard, “Go Tigers!” I didn’t think anything of it. A few seconds later, I hear a second “Go Tigers!” and I look at the guy with an obvious expression of confusion.
“Your hat,” he said, pointing to his head.
“Oh, yeah, sorry about that,” I responded.
We ended up chatting in the parking lot for a few minutes. I explained my confused reaction – remember, this is all new to me – and told him I like American football but I’m really a soccer guy. He told us he’d grown up in Clemson, SC and was a big fan of, you guessed it, the Tigers.
Fast-forward a few days and my wife and I are talking with Ashlyn about last-minute priorities before she heads for school.
“You know,” she began, “when you drop me off on Friday, you don’t have to hang around for dinner or anything. I’ll be fine.”
In that moment my mind ping-ponged back and forth for several seconds. Have we done a great job of raising an independent young lady who’s ready to stand on her own two feet? Or did we raise a daughter who can’t wait to escape her parents? I’m still not sure.
“You know,” I told her, “we were already planning to be in Greenville for a getaway next weekend. Maybe we could get together, it’s not that far away.”
“No, I don’t think so,” she responded.
“Well, we were thinking maybe we could go grocery shopping or something.”
“OK …” she paused. “But you’re paying!”
Yes, indeed, the next four years are going to be quite a journey. Prayers are welcomed.
Cheers,
Kenneth Jones
