We handle the marketing for some incredible destinations. Q4Launch wants you to visit them. Plain and simple!
“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” – Saint Augustine
“Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.” – Seneca
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.” – Mark Twain
What Is Q4Travels?
PURPOSE
To give our employees an opportunity to visit the property, the community and our customer to build a relationship between them, the employee and Q4Launch.
POLICY:
The Q4Travels benefit may be used once per calendar year. Employees are eligible for this benefit following six (6) months of employment, beginning on the first day of the sixth month.
We provide 2 additional paid time off days to be used for a trip to visit a Q4Launch customer of your choosing. This customer must be someone that you are directly working with.
In addition, we will reimburse you up to $1,000 for approved trip expenses. Expenses eligible for reimbursement include airfare (coach) for the employee only, a rental car, lodging, employee meals and one (1) meal for you and the customer you are visiting (ex. we will cover you and your guest and the customer and their guest). We will not reimburse alcoholic beverages or entertainment unless the event is unique to the community or specific to that area (i.e. the National Mustard Museum in Middleton, Wisconsin). Lodging will be charged at the rack rate for a minimum of a two (2) night stay. Reimbursement will be after your return and the outlined procedures are met. Receipts must be submitted for reimbursement.
If the customer requests the travel, and the visit is solely for business purposes, the travel expenses for the visit are billable to the customer and the employee does not have to use their Q4Travels benefit. The customer would need to approve the visit and agree to reimburse the travel expenses. If the customer does not want to pay for the visit, the employee may choose to use the visit as his/her Q4Travels benefit if they wish.
The cost of the accommodations are included in the $1,000 reimbursement limit, regardless if the customer waived the room fees. This is meant to keep expenses fair across all employees (i.e. visiting customers who want to waive the lodging vs. those who do not).
Employees who are on a performance improvement plan are not eligible for Q4 Travels benefits until the completion of their plan.
PROCEDURE:
- Contact your supervisor for approval of your Q4Travels trip. Matt will then reach out to the customer to coordinate the travel request. Once approved, the employee may book the travel and/or accommodations.
- Travel cannot take place during the customer’s peak season, which may vary based on the location, unless approved by the Q4Launch CEO.
- Prior to stay, employee should meet with the Content Creator and/or CSM assigned to the customer to discuss the goal(s) of the trip.
- Schedule a meeting or an outing (lunch, dinner, activity, etc.) w/ customer to build relationship and accomplish the specified goal(s).
- Take pictures during stay 1) to document visit for the Q4Launch Facebook and, 2) of the property, area attractions, businesses, and activities for our marketing purposes.
- Know you are representing Q4Launch while traveling, so behave accordingly:
- Tip your housekeeper and other service staff.
- Tidy your room/accommodations before leaving.
- Be grateful and appreciative of them having you.
- Upon your return,
- Send a thank you note within the week to the customer following the stay.
- Employee will have a follow-up meeting with the Content Creator and/or CSM assigned to the customer to recap on the goal(s) discussed with the customer.
- Employee is required to write a minimum 300-word blog about your experience, what you learned about marketing and traveling and highlighting the property. It must include at least three pictures you took.
Q4Travels Blog Outline
Your blog must include:
Travel Dates
Introduction as to why you went
A brief explanation of Q4 Travels: a benefit that provides for employees to visit one customer per year to meet the owners and see the inn/people/area.
Brief history of working with the specific property
“My visit was to see Betty and Frank at The Inn” I’ve been working with them for _______ and the Inn and the area always captured my interest, etc.
About your trip
Describe your experience meeting Betty and Frank. Thoughts about their property, your room, the food, etc.
Note a few things about what else you did/saw/ate for the rest of your trip there.
Enthusiasm!
Rave about Betty and Frank, their hospitality, and that you would recommend a stay there to anyone!
Include Photos
Minimum: 1 image per 350 words
Examples of Travel Blogs
WHY YOU NEED TO EXPERIENCE THE OLD WAILUKU INN AT ULUPONO
REFLECTIONS ON PILGRIM’S INN: MEET ME ON DEER ISLE, MAINE