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Employee engagement isn’t just a corporate checkbox—it’s the heartbeat of a thriving, passionate, and high-performing team. Let’s be real: keeping employees engaged isn’t about throwing in a few perks or hosting an occasional team lunch. It’s about sparking enthusiasm, fostering deep connections, and creating experiences that leave a lasting impact.

At The Insiders Incentives, we don’t just talk about engagement—we bring it to life. And where better to do that than Portugal? With its soul-stirring landscapes, rich culture, and legendary hospitality, Portugal is more than a destination—it’s a catalyst for transformation. Studies by Gallup show that highly engaged teams see a 23% boost in profitability, yet only 21% of employees worldwide feel engaged at work. That’s a staggering gap, but also an incredible opportunity to turn things around.

The Secret to creating unforgettable employee engagement in Portugal

Forget boring team-building clichés. True engagement happens when experiences resonate with people on a personal and emotional level. Here’s how we help companies unlock the magic of Portugal to create truly memorable moments:

1. Purpose-Driven experiences in iconic locations Employees want more than a paycheck—they want purpose. We design immersive engagement programs in Portugal’s most inspiring locations, from the golden shores of the Algarve to the charming alleyways of Lisbon and the lush vineyards of the Douro Valley. When people connect with their company’s mission in breathtaking surroundings, the energy is electric.
2. Celebrating success with unforgettable Portuguese moments A generic ‘thank you’ won’t cut it. True appreciation is about creating experiences that feel personal and extraordinary. Imagine rewarding your team with a sunset sailing tour in Cascais, a hands-on cooking class in a traditional quinta, or a private Fado performance in a hidden Lisbon gem. These aren’t just incentives—they’re stories waiting to be told.
3. Strengthening team bonds through authentic culture Engagement thrives in a culture of connection, and Portugal offers the perfect setting to bring teams together. Whether it’s crafting pastéis de nata with local chefs, exploring the dramatic cliffs of the Costa Vicentina, or toasting success with a vinho verde in hand, we design experiences that go beyond networking and create real, lasting relationships.

Why Portugal?

Portugal isn’t just a beautiful place—it’s a feeling. It’s where history, adventure, and human connection merge effortlessly. Companies that neglect engagement risk lower productivity, higher turnover, and a disengaged workforce. But those that invest in meaningful, experience-driven engagement—especially in a setting as dynamic as Portugal—don’t just improve employee happiness. They build unstoppable teams.

At The Insiders Incentives, we specialize in turning corporate engagement into something extraordinary. Let’s break the mold and create experiences that employees will rave about long after they return home.

Ready to engage, inspire, and succeed? Let’s create an unforgettable Portugal experience for your team.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Find ways to increase engagement during online meetings and events

2020 and 2021 feel like the years of online meetings and conference calls.

The Global Pandemic meant that in 2020 we rapidly found ourselves spending hours and hours on a platform many of us hadn’t even heard of before. Suddenly “Shall we have a Zoom on this” and “You’re on mute!” became the year’s unhappy catchphrases.

Although, happily, restrictions are lifting online events and meetings are here to stay to some degree. They offer some practical benefits especially for geographically spread teams but having had so little in-person contact and having spent so long on video calls a genuine sense of “zoom fatigue” has set in.

After one and a half year of Zoom doom, how can we make sure that these online meetings and conference calls capture participants attention and are worthwhile and enjoyable?

10 tips for more engaging online meetings

The Algarve Insiders have condensed their years of experience in organising events into a handy list of tips for making sure your online calls are engaging and valuable.

1. Mix up the format – Experiment with different formats to keep online meetings varied e.g. Q&A, virtual whiteboard sessions, breakouts discussions with smaller groups, play games, take a poll or have a pop quiz.
2. Focus on Human Connection – rather than getting straight onto the agenda of the meeting leave space for checking in with colleagues and look for opportunities for human interaction.
3. Emotional Needs – consider what experience participants will have on their emotional state. What do participants want on an emotional level?
4. Time off Camera – for longer calls especially, giving time off-camera can be helpful. After initial introductions and hellos invite everyone to turn off cameras for a section of the meeting.
5. Innovative activities that engage the senses – Video calls are all about looking and listening. Plan something different for the team to do during the call that engages taste, smell and touch too. Cookery or mixology classes work really well for this.
6. Move into another space – encourage everyone to take their laptop or phone and take the call somewhere other than their desk. Perhaps they have a nice patio or would enjoy sitting on the sofa for a change?
7. Guest speakers – inviting an expert to come and speak to your team is a great way to add variety and generate more engagement. They may be someone in your industry or something completely unrelated.
8. Interaction – Look for opportunities to include interaction. Most video conferencing platforms include chat functionality, whiteboards and screen sharing. Use these to increase opportunities for participants to interact in different ways.
9. Adapt offline activities – Just because the call is online doesn’t restrict you to all activities being digital too. Games like scavenger hunts or rock, paper, scissors adapt easily for onscreen use.
10. Movement – We are all spending way too much time sat at our desks, look for ways to get participants moving during the meeting. Encourage everyone to dial in using a mobile device and have a walking meeting or incorporate some stretch breaks.

We hope you find these tips helpful, if you would like to discuss your ideas for an online or hybrid event we’d be happy to help. Contact Us 

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Incentive Travel is the ultimate reward in terms of motivation

Are only a third of your employees engaged with their work?

A recent Gallup poll that evaluated employee engagement in the US, found that even though employee engagement is higher than ever, still only about a third (34%) meet their criteria of “those who are involved in, enthusiastic about and committed to their work and workplace.” That leaves a huge 68% of employees who are not engaged.

Most employees in the ‘not engaged category’ may appear generally happy but they only do the minimum required and will leave quickly for a slightly better offer.

Employee engagement leads to better business performance

Perhaps you take the view that losing employees that aren’t engaged with your business is ok – maybe you feel employee turnover is good for business? Not according to a recent survey by Achievers Workforce Institute who’s 2021 Engagement and Retention Report found that “ Highly engaged employers experience a 25 to 59% decrease in turnover and 41% lower absentee rates.”

Both the Gallup Poll and the Achievers Workforce Institute’s report stress the importance of recognition to improve employee engagement. Workers need to feel that their hard work is noticed and appreciated. They need to know that they are seen as a person not a number and that their contribution really matters.

Cold hard cash isn’t the answer

Paying cash bonuses is the most common form of reward and recognition but the problem with cold hard cash is just that – it’s cold and hard! Paying bonuses doesn’t elicit the same emotional response and it doesn’t demonstrate that an employer knows anything about the employee.

An expanding body of academic research dating back to the 70s shows that travel and non-cash rewards deliver a better ROI than cash bonuses. This is because cash rewards are often used for mundane things like paying electricity bills or paying down debt, whereas travel and experiences are associated with fun and luxury. Employees find non-cash rewards more motivational because they connect on an emotional level.

No wonder travel remains one of the most popular and fast-growing tools that businesses are using to recognise employee contributions. It can become an even more powerful gesture if the trip has been personalised to suit a specific individual.

Recognition needs to be “felt”

At its simplest level engagement is all about emotion and rewards must meet an emotional need to be effective. This is why incentive travel is such an valuable tool for employee engagement.

Incentive travel provides unforgettable experiences that employees will treasure and unlike cash bonuses there’s no stigma attached to discussing it. Talking about and remembering their travel experiences means that the benefits are longer lasting than a cash bonus that is swiftly forgotten.

According to the Incentive Federation “travel represents the ultimate reward in terms of motivation”.

Incentive Travel done well includes personalisation

Incentive travel is most effective when employees not only feel rewarded but also feel that their employer has thought about the choices surrounding the trip to make sure they are appropriate to the individual.

Working with a good incentive travel provider who will look at the trip from an experience and individual level as well as at the business needs is key.

Everything should be carefully and thoughtfully planned out to include personal touches, take account of individual preferances and interests.

Successful businesses that understand the importance of employee engagement use incentive travel because they recognise that employees find it more rewarding. Now the challenge is for businesses to take this a step further and really embrace personalisation by focusing on the experiences their incentive travel programs deliver.

If you would like to speak to Algarve Insiders about how we could develop a personalised inventive travel program for you.  Contact Us[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]