Destination Management

U.S. Group Planners is one of the leading Destination Management Companies (DMC), providing a wide variety of customized ground services to incentive, corporate and meeting groups traveling to the United States.

• Hotel Accommodations: We can provide your group with accommodations ranging from luxury 5 star hotels to mega-resorts.

• Meal Arrangements: We can assist with a variety of offsite programs, whether it is "Breakfast at Tiffany's", a blind wine tasting and gourmet lunch in the caves at a celebrated winery, a California Beach party, a reception at an aquarium or yacht club, a western barbecue in the desert, a sunset dinner cruise on John Wayne's yacht, a Mexican theme party at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, or a White House dinner at the Nixon or Reagan Presidential Library.

• Catering: We can arrange for catered meals to be provided to your group at convenient locations and times during your group tours.

• Sightseeing Tours: Many of the destinations in the USA have multiple attractions which must be seen on any tour. We can create a custom tour for your group to see all of the sights possible within your schedule.

• Recreational Activities: Recreation can be an important part of any tour. We can arrange for many recreational activities for your group tour, including, golf, sailing, sightseeing, and more.

• Team Building Programs: Customized team building programs can be a memorable part of your group tour. We have extensive experience creating and managing team building exercises for groups.

• Evening entertainment: Group Tours often include evening entertainment such as concerts, plays and dancing.

• Special events: Ask us about special events that may be happening on your group tour, such as the America's Cup boat races, baseball games and more.

• Manpower: Our experienced personnel form the foundation of our packages. From our in-house staff members who work with you to design the tour, to our on-site coordinators and tour directors, we can provide trained professionals for your important program. In addition to providing you with multi-lingual guides, tour directors, and hospitality desk reps, we can arrange for transportation coordinators, photographers, videographers, administrative assistants, interpreters, security guards, or whatever special personnel you need.

• Ground Transportation: From stretch limousines to luxury party coaches we work with a select group of transportation companies who consistently provide outstanding service, excellent vehicles, and value. We can assist with charter service, transfers, and shuttles.

• Site Inspections: We can setup advance site inspections to ensure the facilities and program meet with your needs.

• Pre & Post Convention Tours: For groups traveling to conventions in the USA, we provide custom tour services to enhance your Convention travel experience.

• Trade Missions, Study Tours, and Technical Tours: Because of our proximity to the large number of high-tech companies in the Silicon Valley, we have begun to specialize in trade missions, technical tours, and meetings.

• Special Amenities, Gifts, and Merchandise: We can furnish novelty mailing items and in-room gifts such as chocolate logos, personalized fortune cookies, etched bottles of wine or crystal with corporate logos, and promotional merchandise.

In addition, we work with specialized vendors who can provide meeting planning assistance, floral arrangements, registration assistance, audio visual services, event decoration & production, props, speakers, and teleconferencing.

                       
Incentive Travel Programs - Group Tours to Reward Employee Performance

Incentive travel is a reward for excellence - for a job well done. To employees, channel partners and customers, incentive travel programs acknowledge their contributions to the achievement of corporate goals and objectives. Equally important, such programs provide inspiration for achievements not yet realized, an enhanced sense of loyalty to the host company and to other team members and an indispensable tool for keeping valuable team members.

U.S. Group Planners is a leader in the planning and management of unique and memorable corporate incentive programs throughout California and Nevada.

There is no substitute for Face-To-Face meetings. Even with the onset of improved communication technologies, seeing a person's face, shaking their hand and exchanging stories through networking is oftentimes the difference which can add significantly to a company's bottom line. It's a smart investment.
As one of the premier destination management companies we manage the details so you can enjoy the experience and network with your client's attendees.

Some world-class destinations in Northern and Southern California as well as Las Vegas follow.


NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

SAN FRANCISCO - Even if you have been to San Francisco before, this most beautiful "city by the bay" always has something special to witness and experience. If this is your first visit, you will be quickly seduced by the city's charm, uniqueness and beauty. And all along the way, you will absorb the sights and sounds of the many neighborhoods which make San Francisco so vibrant. In addition to motorized cablecar sightseeing tours, a road rally or treasure hunt are popular ways to showcase the city. Mini-Olympics, fun-runs across the Golden Gate Bridge and sailing regattas for those companies stressing teamwork are also in vogue. In the evening, corporate sponsors may want to take over an exclusive Pacific Heights mansion, plan a fun-filled murder mystery at a restored Victorian, dine at a gourmet restaurant or a specialized venue such as a world-class yacht club. Enjoy a dinner cruise onboard an elegant yacht or perhaps setup a colorful Chinese New Year or classic "Streets of San Francisco" theme party.

NAPA VALLEY - Begin the day with an exhilarating early morning hot air balloon ride over a beautiful maze of vineyards. Afterwards, take a private guided tour at a boutique winery followed by a sensory evaluation and traditional wine tasting with the wine maker. A wonderful picnic lunch overlooking the vineyards can be arranged or perhaps the group may prefer a superb meal onboard the elegant Wine Train. There's championship golf, horseback riding, bicycling, and the driving school with races at Infineon Raceway. The spouses may prefer to luxuriate in one of the many hot mineral springs and world-class spas. Tonight, the group may want to enjoy a special candlelight dinner in the cask hall of a classic winery, or perhaps dine at one of the area's gourmet restaurants which feature exceptional California Nouvelle cuisine.

LAKE TAHOE - Known as a world-class 'four season' resort area, the spectacular alpine setting features colorful landscapes and diverse recreational activities. Winter activities include downhill and cross-country skiing and snow mobiling. During the other seasons participants can enjoy river rafting, fishing, championship golf, boating, hiking, horseback riding, and bicycling. Winter or Summer 'Olympics' can be organized to instill camaraderie, competitiveness, and teamwork. In the evening, many planners opt for a sunset dinner cruise onboard a Mississippi-style sternwheeler, an elegant dinner at the Edgewood Resort overlooking the lake and mountain scenery, and top celebrity entertainment at one of the headliner rooms in the area. In addition, the area features historic estates and private homes that overlook the lake which can host private offsite functions.

MONTEREY AND CARMEL - After a round of golf at Pebble Beach, incentive planners may want to include kayaking on Monterey Bay, bicycling along the 17-mile Drive, hiking at Pt.Lobos State Park, or the driving school at Laguna Seca. Tours of the local wineries can be arranged as well as excursions to the Hearst Castle and to beautiful Big Sur. An evening take-over of the Monterey Bay Aquarium is quite popular. Other winning options include an exquisite dinner at the Sardine Factory, a theme party in Old Monterey, a progressive dine-around, and a pub crawl in Carmel-by-the-Sea.


SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA & LAS VEGAS

SANTA BARBARA - This year-round paradise offers serene white sand beaches and majestic mountain vistas in a setting of relaxed elegance. Referred to as the "Riveria of America", the Santa Barbara area has many diverse venues. From world-renown wineries and exquisite gardens to historic adobe mansions and beachside resorts, this central coast community has it all. Add Solvang, a charming Danish community and some of the West's best and most luxurious guest ranches for a total Southern California experience.

LOS ANGELES - Participants can shop with the international jet-set at Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, roller blade at funky Venice Beach, sail from Marina del Rey to Catalina Island, or simply spend the day at Warner Bros. Studios, the Getty Museum, or Disneyland. In addition to an elegant dinner at Spago where the stars dine, many incentive groups opt for an Academy Awards theme party, an evening of magic and illusion at the Magic Castle, an elegant picnic dinner and outdoor concert at the Hollywood Bowl, a California beach party overlooking the majestic Pacific in Malibu, or a White House dinner at the Reagan Library. Evening entertainment can include the House of Blues, the Comedy Store, or a trendy nightclub.

ORANGE COUNTY - Known as the 'California Riviera', the seaside resorts of Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, and Laguna-Niguel are renowned for their sandy beaches, fine shopping and dining, and majestic settings overlooking the Pacific coastline. After breakfast at Tiffany's, the group can cruise Newport Harbor on John Wayne's yacht, enjoy art galleries and boutiques at Laguna Beach, shop at Fashion Island, and then spend the evening dining on great Mexican cuisine at Las Brisas, recreating a state dinner at the White House at the Nixon Library, or enjoying a Spanish theme party at the Mission San Juan Capistrano.

PALM SPRINGS - The 'golf capital of the world' and the 'playground of the stars', Palm Springs is America's most popular desert paradise. Its sophisticated yet informal atmosphere, idyllic weather, and focus on outdoor recreational activities attract dignitaries and the jet-set to this spectacular desert resort. The area is known for its great hot air ballooning, jeeptours or Conestoga wagon rides through the desert, horseback riding through cathedral-like indian canyons, and world-class spas. Shoppers may want to enjoy the boutiques along Canyon Drive or at El Paseo, sun worshipers can relax poolside, and golfers can enjoy dozens of championship courses before an 'Arabian Nights' theme party or dinner at Elvis Presley's hideaway.

SAN DIEGO - San Diego is one of the few cities in the continental United States with the true flavor of a tropical resort. Developed around a Spanish mission, it is now the third largest city on the Pacific Coast. Here the group can visit beautiful La Jolla, enjoy great shopping at Tijuana, tour a winery, take a whale-watching trip, enjoy horse racing at Del Mar, golf at Torrey Pines, or enjoy a 'Top Gun' session at Miramar Naval Air Station. In addition to great sunset dinner cruises and outstanding restaurants overlooking the beautiful harbor, popular offsite venues include private events onboard the USS Midway or at the San Diego Zoo, Wild Animal Park, and Seaworld.

LAS VEGAS - The 'entertainment capital of the world' is not just 'the Strip' anymore. In addition to spectacular mega-resort theme hotels, colorful casinos, and showrooms which feature top headliners and world-class extravaganzas, this ever-changing city offers boundless recreational activities, family fun, limitless culinary choices and excitement around the clock. In addition, there's fine shopping at The Forum, a road rally through the Valley of Fire and along Lake Mead, or a magnificent helicopter flightseeing tour to an Indian Reservation and the Grand Canyon. After a round of championship golf, boating, or river rafting on the Colorado River, the evening's progressive festivities begin with a dinner and drinks atop the Stratosphere Tower followed by a sensational show such as Cirque du Soleil's "O". Guests will then dance the night away at a trendy lounge or nightspot.

U.S. Group Planners is one of the top destination management companies in the Western USA and we look forward to partnering with you on a sensational incentive trip to this world-class region.