Two brains are better than one. A great incentive planner uses both the left and the right side of the brain in equal measure to create programs that both inspire and run as planned.

Scientists agree that in most people one side of the brain dominates. The right half of the brain controls the creative, artistic characteristics and the left side controls the practical, reasoning functions. Those who successfully create travel incentive programs, whether for a group or for an individual, must be able to call on unusual competencies from both sides, seemingly simultaneously — to call on their ability to be an artist, a poet, a dreamer at one moment and almost immediately transform themselves into a plotter, a planner, a schemer. One half says, "How do I get people from point A to point B in the most organized, logical and efficient fashion?" The other half says, "How can I make it fun?"

What are the skills needed, the training to be drawn upon, to prepare the two sides of the mind for this "combat"? From the right side come abilities in English, history, foreign language, art and music. To create heart-moving, mind-filling, exceptional group travel incentive programs, the planner must be a Renaissance man (or woman) of sorts, liberally educated "for all seasons" and highly attuned to the way that beauty and joy can fulfill the soul.

From the left come the necessary accounting, math, science, geography and business skills. A great travel incentive program will never take flight unless it’s designed to run within budget and to account for all of the little details like flight time, weather and jet lag. And of course, the key point is to build a group travel incentive program that helps clients reach their business objectives. To do that, the incentive creator must first understand enough about his or his client’s business — its style, product, goals — to create a program that is a sound business proposition. To survive, the incentive creator must be a pragmatic business pro.

Though it’s a tall order, we pride ourselves on our ability to marry the fairytale with the facts, the beauty with the budget, the "wow factor" with the bottom line. Thanks to our "two brain" approach, our travel incentives are truly once-in-a-lifetime, extraordinary trips and a powerful way to recognize and inspire your employees.

Excerpted from CEO Magazine.

Read the full article, "Incentive Planning Takes Two Brains", for more detail.