Overview and Program : Annual Incentive Invitational

Overview and Program

JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa

Hard Rock Hotel Cancun, MX

As a sponsor or buyer guest of The Annual Incentive Invitational, you are continuing the goals of furthering the independent research of The Incentive Research Foundation so critical to the continued growth of our industry. And the invaluable peer-to-peer networking during the course of the program.

Now more than ever, the research produced by The IRF supporting the Why’s, How’s and What’s of tangible non-cash incentives will benefit us all. The preeminent incentive industry fundraising event that pays for this research is the Annual Incentive Invitational where select buyers and sellers of incentive travel mix to learn about trends, products and experience destinations.

The IRF’s 19th Annual was an outstanding success held in May 2012 in San Antonio at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa with an attendance of over 400 top industry professionals. Outstanding co-hosts included Grand Hyatt San Antonio, The RK Group, the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa, The Westin La Cantera Resort, the San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau, Capers DMC, Circa Texas, Destination: San Antonio, and AlliedPRA San Antonio.

To celebrate the 20^th Anniversary of the Annual Incentive Invitational, the IRF is taking the event to Cancun, Mexico. This exciting destination will be the host to over 400 top incentive professionals at the Hard Rock Hotel Cancun, located in the heart of the hotel zone. The resort boasts 601 exceptionally designed guestrooms, each featuring a scene like no other thanks to sunrise or sunset views off your private balcony. They have amped up your stay with 24-hour room service and wireless internet alongside fine dining and top shelf drinks. It’s all included and all for an experience you won’t soon forget.

Outstanding co-hosts in Cancun include Secrets The Vine, CasaMagna Marriott Resort Cancun, Le Blanc Spa Resort, Amstar DMC, CEO Mexico, Mexico Tourism Board, Riviera Cancun Golf Club, Iberostar Playa Paraiso, and other organizations in the Cancun incentive community.

Outstanding benefits:

The Event: 19 years of delivering a proven and valuable business networking event attracting the top decision makers in the incentive and motivation industry. Year after year The Annual Incentive Invitational has provided to the sponsor organizations tangible new leads and business developed from the connections made through the senior decision makers who attend.

Location: Cancun is the perfect destination to reward top performers, motivate and educate employees, network and share ideas. Along the shores of the glistening Caribbean Sea, a paradise awaits your next meeting. Cancun. The splendor of untouched nature. The storied history and enduring culture of Mayan civilization. Superb resorts and world-class amenities. Modern conveniences and friendly hospitality. Extreme sports and extraordinary golf. This is Cancun, where your most memorable meeting will take place.

Attendees: The Invitational will provide direct access for sponsors to over 170 of the most influential senior level Corporate and Incentive industry buyers/decision makers in the world with a better than one to one ratio. And for buyers, the opportunity to meet with the leading industry travel suppliers and enjoy a truly extraordinary destination.

Program: Three nights (four for higher level sponsors and all buyer guests) at the spectacular new Hard Rock Hotel Cancun in the heart of Cancun. To live like a Rock Star means never being far away from the action. Daily networking breakfasts, lunches, receptions and dinners, three cutting-edge research roundtables and educational sessions presented by The IRF, and much more.

Destination Lifestyle Activity Options: There are exceptional non-golfer lifestyle activities highlighting the uniqueness of Cancun and surrounding areas. Some options will include exploring historical locations and a dedicated CSR program to benefit the local community! Or the opportunity to experience one or two days of outstanding championship courses in the Cancun area.

Auctions: Participate in the most exciting and extensive live and silent auction held for Incentive professionals. Incredible worldwide trips, products and services will be offered exclusively only to this audience.

We look forward to hearing from you and having you join The IRF in Cancun!

Program Overview

Tuesday, May 7th
(for IRF Trustees, Gold Level & Above Sponsors, and All Buyer Guests)
All Day	Scattered arrivals – Cancun
All Day	Airport Transfers from Cancun International Airport to the Hard Rock Hotel Cancun – Sponsored by Amstar DMC
10:00 am – 8:00 pm	Annual Incentive Invitational Hospitality Desk & Check-in – Rock Ballroom 3 & 4
10:00 am – 6:30 pm	Auction – Preview and Bidding – Rock Foyer
All Day	CSR Program – Rock Ballroom 3 & 4 – Produced by Impact 4 Good and Amstar DMC
	Guests at Leisure to Enjoy the Hard Rock Hotel Cancun
6:30 pm	Depart Hard Rock for Le Blanc Spa Resort
7:00 – 10:00 pm	The Incentive Research Foundation Trustees, Buyer Guests and Gold Level & above Sponsors Reception & Dinner – Sponsored by Le Blanc Spa Resort – Blanc Luna Pool Area
9:30 pm – 12:00 am	IRF VIP Lounge – Sponsored by Hard Rock Hotel Cancun & PSAV – Breeze Terrace, Hard Rock Hotel Cancun
Wednesday, May 8th
All Day	Main Arrival Day – Cancun
All Day	Airport Transfers from Cancun International Airport to the Hard Rock Hotel Cancun Sponsored by Amstar DMC
8:00 am – 10:00 am	Breakfast at Leisure – Sponsored by the Hard Rock Hotel Cancun – Zen Restaurant
8:00 am – 8:00 pm	Annual Incentive Invitational Hospitality Desk & Check-in – Rock Ballroom 3 & 4
8:00 am – 6:30 pm	Auction – Preview and Bidding – Rock Foyer
9:00 am – 5:30 pm	IRF Education Day – Rock Ballroom 1 & 2
11:30am – 1:00 pm	Lunch Break at Leisure in Hard Rock Hotel – Zen Restaurant
All Day	CSR Program – Rock Ballroom 3 & 4 – Produced by Impact 4 Good and Amstar DMC
	Guests at Leisure to Enjoy the Hard Rock Hotel Cancun
6:50 pm	Escorted Beachfront Walking Transfer or Shuttle from Hard Rock to Secrets The Vine
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm	Welcome Reception & Dinner – Sponsored by Secrets The Vine
9:30 pm – 12:00 am	IRF VIP Lounge – Sponsored by Hard Rock Hotel Cancun & PSAV – Breeze Terrace, Hard Rock Hotel Cancun
Thursday, May 9th
5:30 am – 6:30 pm	Annual Incentive Invitational Hospitality Desk – Rock Ballroom 3 & 4 (12 Noon Moved to Rock Foyer)
6:00 am – 6:30 pm	Auction – Preview and Bidding – Rock Foyer
5:30 am – 6:30 am	Breakfast (golfers and early risers) – Sponsored by the Hard Rock Hotel Cancun – Zen Restaurant
6:30 am	Golfer Transfers – Sponsored by CEO Mexico
7:00 am – 9:30 am	Breakfast for All Other Guests – Sponsored by the Hard Rock Hotel Cancun – Marketplace & Piseto Restaurant
7:30 am	Start First Tournament Round Mixed Pairings – Sponsored by Riviera Cancun Golf Club; Box Lunch Sponsored by Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach (lunch served on the golf course)
8:00 am – 4:30 pm	Non-Golfer & Guest Lifestyle Activities/Departures – Sponsored by CEO Mexico 8:00 am – Mangrove Snorkeling Adventure 8:30 am – Xcaret 9:15am – Mexican Cooking Class 10:00am – XPLOR 10:15 am – Swim with Dolphins
9:00 am – 12:00 pm	CSR Program – Produced by Impact 4 Good and Amstar DMC
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm	IRF Education – Poolside Chat with the Experts – Ipanema Restaurant Terrace
6:15 pm	Depart Hard Rock for CasaMagna Marriott Resort Cancun
6:30 pm – 10:30 pm	Reception/Around the World Live Auction & Dinner – Sponsored by CasaMagna Marriott Resort Cancun; Supporting Sponsors J&S A/V and Signature Events
9:30 pm – 12:00 am	IRF VIP Lounge – Sponsored by Hard Rock Hotel Cancun & PSAV – Breeze Terrace, Hard Rock Hotel Cancun
Friday, May 10th
5:30 am – 6:00 pm	Annual Incentive Invitational Hospitality Desk – Rock Foyer
5:30 am – 6:30 pm	Auction – Preview and Bidding – Rock Foyer
5:15 am – 6:00 am	Breakfast (golfers and early risers) – Sponsored by the Hard Rock Hotel Cancun – Zen Restaurant
6:30 am	Golfer Transfers – Sponsored by CEO Mexico
7:00 am – 9:30 am	Breakfast for All Other Guests – Sponsored by the Hard Rock Hotel Cancun – Marketplace & Piseto Restaurant
7:30 am	Golf Tournament Second Round Team Pairings – Sponsored by Iberostar Playa Paraiso; Box Lunch Sponsored by NIZUC Resort & Spa (lunch served on the golf course)
8:00 am – 5:00 pm	Non-Golfer & Guest Lifestyle Activities/Departures – Sponsored by CEO Mexico 7:30 am – Chichen Itza 8:00 am – Mangrove Snorkeling Adventure 9:15am – Mexican Cooking Class 9:15 am – Sea Passion Catamaran Tour
	Afternoon at Leisure for Guests On Own
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm	IRF Education - Poolside Chat with the Experts
6:30 pm – 8:15 pm	Reception/Silent Auction (Final Bidding) – Sponsored by the Hard Rock Hotel Cancun – Rock Foyer
8:15 pm – 11:00 pm	Farewell Dinner – Sponsored by the Hard Rock Hotel Cancun – Rock Ballroom 1-4 Special Entertainment and Show by the World Classic Rockers Supporting Sponsor – J&S A/V
Saturday, May 11th
4:30 am – 2:00 pm	Annual Incentive Invitational Hospitality Desk – Rock Foyer
6:00 am – 10:00 am	Breakfast at Leisure – Sponsored by the Hard Rock Hotel Cancun – Marketplace & Piseto Restaurant
All Day	Return Transfers to Cancun International Airport – Sponsored by Amstar DMC

Note: Pre and Post Extensions Offered at Special Rate at the Hard Rock Hotel Cancun for Participants. Transportation to or from other resorts than the Hard Rock Hotel Cancun will be made by guests’ own arrangements.

For more information contact: Lisa Cherry • The Opus Group • 720-708-6464 or lisa.cherry@theopusgrp.com