Amway China completes San Fran incentive

Admin   |   06 July, 2015   |   890   |   3980

Napa Valley, aircraft carrier gala and more for 10,000 top achievers

Amway China's annual leadership seminar for top achievers has just completed its 2015 edition. The 10,000-strong group visited San Francisco in six waves, with each spending five days meeting, celebrating and exploring northern California.

Each wave comprised three groups who spent the first day sightseeing, day two in the Napa Valley wine region, day three on optional tours, and the fourth in a business session followed by a huge gala event, departing the following day.

Charming Cao, associate director of special events, Amway China, says: “In Napa Valley we chose the Charles Krug winery to enjoy the leisurely life and the groups can participate all kinds of activities like barrel rolling, glass relay, grape toss, barrel stomp, bottle ring toss and wine cork building before a substantial lunch.

“From there they boarded Red & White Fleet's largest vessel, the Zalophus, which we bought-out for 18 days to visit San Francisco Bay.”

The optional tours included riding San Francisco's famous cable cars; seeing Lombard Street and City Hall; shopping at the Livermore outlets; touring Stanford University and the Intel Museum; steaming along the Roaring Camp Railroads in Santa Cruz; and free time.

The famous gala evening was held aboard retired aircraft carrier the USS Hornet, with a special forum and dance party arranged for the third wave of young achievers all aged under 38.

The group was based at three hotels in Union Square, the Hilton, Westin and Grand Hyatt. “We initiated the contact and negotiated the contracts with them in two years advance to secure the rooms and venues as its a hot convention and travel destination,” says Cao. “They've been very cooperative along the way, and it worked out pretty well as we've been keeping a close relationship with other properties in their brand chains all over the world for decades. “In short—good service, willingness to cope, fine facilities and the city's best location were the most outstanding merits.”

The immigration process began in December 2014. “Around 37 per cent of participants had been to the U.S. within the last four years and they were eligible to use the Dropbox system,” says Cao. “The others needed to interview at five U.S. Consulates in China.

“The challenge for us is to collect visa documents and arrange interviews for so many applicants. What’s more, the new policy makes the U.S. visa valid for 10 years, which brings more strict procedures and a higher risk of rejection.

“In order to make the application process more smooth and efficient, we got in touch with the U.S. Embassy, Beijing AmCham and Brand USA to let the consulates have a knowledge of the Amway group before the interviews.”

An additional four-day 20/20 Celebration Event rewarded the group's highest achievers. “The winners work hard to attend the event through a special programme of 20 months of extraordinary performance,” says Cao. “It’s four days and three nights for the extended trip to Grand Rapids and Chicago. We chartered flights from San Francisco to Grand Rapids where the Amway world headquarters is located—the dream destination for Amway delegates to visit.

Guested stayed at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and were welcomed to headquarters by walking a long red carpet to celebratory applause. They also explored the sculpture park and Van Andel Museum. In Chicago the group took in the Chicago skyline from a chartered boat along the Chicago River and Lake Michigan, and visited Millennium Park and Buckingham fountain.