Let's face it: at the moment it's a bit of a challenge to get attendees to hop on a plane and head overseas. In a study conducted by SM in March, 51.5 percent of 237 planners said they were now considering fewer countries for overseas meetings 12 months ago. And since many incentive programs rely on the appeal of international destinations to motivate and reward employees, planners are left to find alternate locales to replace destinations in Europe and Asia. To help you out, we've found a few destinations that don't require an eight-hour flight or a crash course in a new language, but still offer groups the feel of a far-off cultural experience. CVBs, DMCs, and planners gave us suggestions on where to go and what to do, so take a look and dream up your own -- after all, you'll save enough on the flight to add all the bells and whistles.
Want Britain? Try Bermuda
Why: Bermuda is loyal to the crown, and has been under British rule since the late 1600s. And while you probably won't mistake the island for the motherland, groups can still sip afternoon tea, drive on the left side of the road, and play a game of croquet with the locals.
Events: The annual World Rugby Classic, which takes place this year on October 11-18, brings the world's top players to Bermuda for the international competition. Visiting rugby personalities are available to speak to private groups, and catering and tents can be arranged for up to 500 people.
Group Dining: Suzanne Chicoine, a spokeswoman for the Bermuda Department of Tourism, suggests taking groups to Henry VIII Restaurant and Pub: "The pub is the perfect setting of old English charm for a themed medieval night."
Group-worthy: Other suggestions from the Bermuda Department of Tourism include walking the cobble- stone streets of St. George's, the second English town to be established in the New World. Here you can check out St. Peter's Church, one of the oldest Anglican churches in the Western Hemisphere, with 300-year-old headstones and a 500-year-old cedar tree.
What's more, you can have your group participate in the fierce East End-meets-West End cricket match that takes place every year in August. Vendors offering fish cakes and fish and chips swarm the event, combining traditional Bermudian fare with English cuisine.
Another hot spot is afternoon tea at Mrs. T's Victorian Tea Room. Guests travel by horse- drawn carriage to an old-world tea room where they can enjoy pots of English tea, scones, clotted cream, and Bermuda Johnny Bread.
Added bonus: With beaches this gorgeous you'll hardly miss the London fog.
Want France? Try Montreal or Quebec City
Why: The two largest cities in the Canadian province of Quebec, Montreal and Quebec City, were settled by the French in the 1600s. Montreal is the largest French-speaking city in North America, and Quebec City was the center of New France during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Group dining: In Montreal: Chez l'Epicier, which means "house of the grocer," offers authentic French cuisine and is available for groups. In Quebec City: Café Buade is the oldest restaurant in the city and features a traditional French menu for groups of up to 125.
Group-worthy: Stephen Pitone, a partner at Maestro Plus DMC in Montreal, suggests that groups consider staying at one of the new boutique hotels in Old Montreal -- the European-style quarter of the city -- which offer guests amenities typical to those at an intimate French hotel: "Just by choosing a certain property, guests can put a real European flair into their experience," he says.
Some other suggestions offered by the cities' Tourism and Convention Bureaus are a French-themed function at the Pointe a Calliere, a museum of history and archeology located on the first ruins of Montreal, for groups of up to 250; The Bateau Mouche, a French-style riverboat that's similar to the riverboats that sail along the Seine in Paris, offers groups a dinner cruise on the St Lawrence River. Or, for the culinarily inclined, take a class offered by renowned chef Jean Soulard of the Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City.
Added bonus: Experience everything French and still get the benefit of a strong U.S. dollar exchange rate.
Want Holland? Try Aruba
Why: The Dutch took possession of Aruba in 1636 and the island is now a separate entity in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The official language is Dutch (although English is widely spoken) and many Dutch influences can be seen in the architecture, the food, and customs.
Group Dining: Papiamento and Le Dome are two restaurants that offer an authentic Dutch menu and are available for groups.
Group-worthy: Check out Daniel Leo Plaza in downtown Oranjestad (Aruba's capital) to get a real feel for the Dutch-influenced architecture. Wichita Villacres, president of Eco DMS in Aruba, says one of her favorite events is a festival called "Arubadam" (as in Amsterdam). "Groups can recreate a historic Holland town in the plaza with food, music, and entertainment, evoking a sense of the island's Dutch heritage," says Villacres. Dancers in Dutch costumes and wooden shoes perform to traditional music. A cheese shop showcases Dutch cheeses and pea soup in iron kettles and coconut ice cream (both traditional favorites) are served. A wooden shoemaker or diamond cutter can even come to entertain the group with his craft.
Added bonus: Minimal jet lag: Aruba is in Eastern Standard Time.
Want Spain? Try Miami
Why: The Spanish built a mission in Miami in 1567 and to this day, half of the area's population is Hispanic. The city has maintained a strong Latin flavor with its food, music, language, politics, and spirit.
Group dining: Bongos Cuban Cafe is Gloria Estefan's Latin-inspired restaurant for groups of up to 700.
Group-worthy: Fe Domenech, an events consultant for Pembroke Park, FL-based ME Productions, has planned Spanish- and Latin-themed events for lots of groups. "One client wanted to recreate the experience of being in Spain in its heyday, so we spent ten months planning the event and trying to find a working Spanish ship to accommodate the group," says Domenech. The historical ship that the group used was built back in the late 1800s. On board, the staff dressed in traditional costumes and served Spanish foods like tapas, as well as wines from Spain. Afterwards the group transferred to a property called Vizcaya, which is constructed to look like an old European palace. Spanish music and dancing kept the party going into the wee hours of the morning.
Added bonus: A taste of both Spain and Latin America, all in one sunny locale.
Want Asia? Try San Francisco'sChinatown
Why: With 100,000 inhabitants occupying just 24 street blocks, SF's Chinatown is the largest Chinese community on the West Coast.
Events: The famed Chinese New Year festival takes place for two weeks every February. The neighborhood gets decked out with food, firecrackers, and costumes, ringing in the New Year with a spectacular parade featuring a 160-foot-long dragon.
Group Dining: The Harbor Village is a family-style Chinese and dim sum restaurant with private rooms available for groups from 10 to 300.
Group-worthy: We asked Kathryn Horton, director of convention services at the SFCVB, for some suggestions for incentive groups. Here's what she came up with: An Asian cooking class followed by a dim sum lunch; a historical or culinary walking tour of the neighborhood with experienced guide Linda Lee, who gets groups into the back areas of the town; a factory tour at Lotus Fortune Cookie Factory, complete with personalized fortune cookies for attendees; or an Asian-themed party in the Asian Museum of Art, which recently opened in March.
Added bonus: No need for a crash course in Chinese, as visitors can get by with English.