Q1: What was the purpose of your trip to Napa Valley?
Every year our division of McKesson Corporation offered an incentive trip for our sales, client management and operations teams in a highly desirable location. The winners, along with their spouse, are invited to join our president and other executive officers on the trip.
After taking trips to traditional warm weather resorts for several years, the executive team decided to try something new and different. We considered several options and decided Napa Valley would provide a unique experience for the winners who qualified for the trip.
Q2: Tell us a little about your trip and experience.
We entertained proposals from several companies and selected Grapes on the Vine Events to plan our event. McKesson has an in-house meeting planning and event team that usually puts our trips together for us, but they were not quite as knowledgeable about Napa as Grapes on the Vine Events. It would, however, be very important that Grapes on the Vine work very closely with the McKesson Event planners who would handle a lot of the communications, travel, contracts, etc. The two teams worked really well together.
Everyone attending was met at the airport and transported to Napa where we stayed in a boutique hotel Grapes on the Vine Events found for us. We visited wineries, both large and small; had some creative exercises to help us better understand how to taste and appreciate wine; participated in dine around dinners at some of Napa’s best restaurants, and held our awards banquet at a winery with a beautiful setting of vineyards in the background and where the winery executive chef prepared an outstanding dinner pared with their wines.
Each attendee was allowed to select an activity on their “free” day. Activities included: Hot air balloon rides, biking, hiking, spa treatments, lunch and touring on the Napa wine train, more winery visits, golf, etc. This allowed each person to do something they wanted to do on their own, and still have time to explore the area.
Q3: What was your or your group’s favorite activity during the trip?
I think visiting the wineries and learning more about wine was a hit, but the group was excited about the wide variety of options for them to participate in while there. The Hot Air Balloon ride was very popular, and those that went on the ride really raved about it—for many it was a once in a lifetime experience. It was beautiful flying over the vineyards as the sun was rising.
Q4: What does Napa Valley provide that other locations may not offer to guests?
Well, the obvious answer is delicious wine. The countryside is beautiful, and the colors in the vineyards and surrounding mountains at various times of the day are something to behold. Also, as I mentioned earlier, the variety of activities that are available appeal to everyone whether you are into wine or not.
I also would be remiss if I didn’t mention the large number of outstanding restaurants. If you are a “foodie”, Napa is a great place to visit.
Q5: How does working with a destination management company like Grapes on the Vine Events help your company throughout the planning and execution processes?
They brought the intimate knowledge of the area such as finding the right lodging, wineries to visit, restaurants, etc. They have so many contacts for transportation, recreational entertainment, chefs, wine knowledge for wine education materials and sessions, that complimented the skill set of our in-house event team.
We held weekly conference calls and received numerous status reports from Grapes on the Vine Events that kept us abreast of everything and where we were in the budget. They also were able to provide additional suggestions and acquired items such as gifts for the attendees and welcome baskets in the rooms.
Q6: Would you select the California wine country as your destination again?
Several of the attendees commented that it was the best trip we ever had. However, McKesson has restructured the way we award incentive trips and all divisions now attend one very large trip. It has changed the type of trips we can offer, but if we ever go back to division trips, we would certainly consider the California Wine country again.
