Briggs Takes Incentives Serious, and That's No "Bull"
September 05, 2008
By Andrea Doyle
In the world of bull fighting, becoming a matadore is no easy feat. True matadors must learn this art in the royal school of bull fighting and must then be given a license. Fourteen employees from Briggs, a leading destination management company (DMC) based in New York City, gathered in a ring with a real matador where they were given a bull-fighting lesson as part of their office incentive trip to Mexico City. The evening ended with a dinner of Mexican cuisine including fried worms.
"We created a unique destination experience as we do for our clients that also included climbing the pyramids and tequila tastings," explains Anthony (Tony) Napoli, president of Briggs. "Outstanding performance from employees, staff, and vendors is always to be rewarded and valued. Besides the proverbial 'pat on the back’ or sincere thank you, throughout the year Briggs will truly express appreciation for a job well done."
The reward programs Briggs has in place includes:
• Vendor recognition: Each year, a June Briggs Award for Excellence is given to various vendors as a way of saying thank you and to show appreciation for their efforts. The awards are named in honor of June Briggs who got her start in the hospitality industry back when wives ran social programs for their husband's professional societies. More than 35 years later, she's been hailed as a DMC visionary. Hotels, restaurants, service providers, and hospitality partners are recognized every January during a ceremony held in Sardi’s restaurant in Times Square.
Besides an annual incentive trip, the company gives recognition all year for service, performance, and delivery. Rewards include cash, gift cards, days off, office luncheons, Broadway theater tickets, and outings. This motivation is targeted to all employees, those in administration, sales and operations included.
"We understand the benefits of incentive programs to motivate our employees as a way to increase productivity and say thank you. We look at our incentive trips and unique tours that we give for our vendors and staff members as a way to enjoy the city and inform them of the endless possibilities. We are also seeing a higher retention rate. It also strengthens the bonds of teamwork and team spirit. It helps our employees realize that all positions are valuable to the success of our events for our clients," Napoli explains.
Another recognition program Briggs has in place is called, "Incentive Begins at Home." Colleagues from leading New York hotels including the Waldorf-Astoria, Marriott Marquis, Ritz Carlton, and Hilton are invited to an evening that begins with a toast at Essex Restaurant followed by a relaxing, yet captivating stroll across the Williamsburg Bridge to the "Dance of the Giglio." Giglio in Italian means lily, but in Williamsburg it means a 65-foot high 8,000 pound aluminum tower that more than 100 men lift to pay homage to the patron saint, San Paolino. Between the lifts, the "capo" or the leader welcomes the Briggs group to the celebration. The last stop was a personalized dinner at Bamonte's, a Neapolitan restaurant popularized in the 1900s. In addition to this unique outing, Briggs also gives a "Pot of Gold" with Irish condiments for St Patrick's Day, a tray of special St Joseph pastries sent on March 19; and an Easter egg basket filled with chocolates and an egg dying kit.
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