VIP Treatment In D.C., From "Meetings Maker"
By Denis Jensen
October, 2009
Here’s a dilemma most company executives wouldn’t want to have: BMC Software’s sales force had reached its mid-year targets, but then the economy took a turn for the worse and the company decided to switch the location of its annual incentive trip from Egypt to Washington D.C. Kelley Gillespie, senior operations manager for Capitol Services Inc. (CSI), a destination management company in Virginia, had the task of creating a scaled-down, more budget-conscious jaunt to the nation’s capitol.
CSI’s theme inspiration sprang from D.C.’s reputation as the “Spy Capital of the World.” CSI decided to link the city to the Cold War, developing an exciting theme highlighting the espionage and scandals that have taken place in the United States’ capitol.
To whet attendees’ appetites, CSI gifted them with a welcome package at registration consisting of a pop-up map of Washington D.C., a guide book and a nifty book about the city.
Not surprisingly, the trip was filled with historical tours and trivia. CSI recreated a White House State Dinner on a rooftop overlooking the actual White House, matching décor to photos from actual state dinners. The group also was treated to a private tour of the 1972 Democratic Headquarters at the Watergate Hotel, where the owner of the suite, a history expert, provided a rare tour and gave a detailed account of that infamous night.
One of the most popular Cold War events was a trip aboard the USS Sequoia, the former presidential yacht. “To symbolize this event,” Gillespie says, “we awarded presidential cuff links to the men and presidential scarves to the women.”
Throughout the trip, attendees were given special gifts to commemorate their experience, and many had historical significance. For instance, female guests received Liberty Eagle pins from the Ann Hand Collection, consisting of a golden eagle mounted on a pearl. “These pins have been spotted on the shoulders of numerous first ladies and political notables, including Hillary Clinton and Condoleezza Rice,” Gillespie says. “Needless to say, these gifts were treasured by the women who received them.”
Attendees also visited the International Spy Museum and the National Air and Space Museum, where they enjoyed a dinner which took place on the 50th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik and featured a retro menu and private tours led by the museum’s curator.
In the end, Gillespie says, attendees didn’t seem to mind that the trip’s venue had changed. “The special incentive gifts helped make the trip memorable, because they reflected presidential themes and they tied in to what we were trying to show: that Washington D.C. is the most powerful city in the world.”
Denis Jensen is a freelance writer based in PA.
