There are incentive trips that inspire, and then there are incentive trips that place your group at the heart of a global event. Few experiences are more exciting.
We hosted a 9-day journey to London, England, and Monterrey, Mexico, built around the chance to watch South Africa play South Korea at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It was a programme filled with football, food, culture and plenty of shared excitement.
The match was the main event, but the moments around it mattered just as much. From walking through a famous players’ tunnel in London to joining thousands of football fans in Mexico, every day gave guests something new to talk about.
Here is how the trip came together, along with a few lessons for incentive travel organisers planning their own major-event programmes.
The Excitement Begin at the Airport
The experience began at OR Tambo International Airport, where our group met before their overnight flight to London.
Once everyone had checked in, the group moved to the airport lounge for pre-departure drinks and snacks. This added a touch of luxury from the very start. Instead of waiting at a busy gate, guests could relax in a comfortable setting, enjoy refreshments and settle into the experience before boarding.
The lounge also gave everyone time to connect. Introductions quickly turned into football predictions, first group photos and excited conversations about the journey ahead. Some guests spoke confidently about the match. Others were simply taking in the fact that they were about to travel across the world for a World Cup experience.
Tip: Lounge access adds comfort, ease and a sense of occasion, helping guests feel looked after before the trip has even properly begun.
Turn a Stopover into an Experience
London was more than a convenient stop between South Africa and Mexico. It became a full part of the trip.
Because the hotel rooms were not ready when the group arrived, the programme moved straight into light sightseeing. The first stop was a guided street-food tour, where the group explored busy markets and smaller food stalls while hearing the stories behind London’s mixed food culture.
The smell of flame-grilled meat, fresh bread and spices drifted through the streets as the group moved from one tasting to the next. It was relaxed, social and easy to enjoy after a long flight. The football theme came into play at Stamford Bridge, home of the Chelsea Football Club. The group was taken behind the scenes into areas usually reserved for players, coaches and the media.
They stepped inside the dressing rooms, where shirts would normally hang before a major match, and visited the press room where managers face questions after the final whistle. The group then followed the same route as the players, walking through the tunnel towards the pitch. The experience continued pitch side, where the group could look back at the stands from the players’ point of view. The Chelsea FC Museum also offered a closer look at the club’s history and trophy collection.
The day ended with dinner at The Grazing Goat. The menu celebrates British produce, with familiar ingredients given a more polished gastropub touch. Guests can expect rich, seasonal flavours, from baked goat’s cheese with truffle dressing to carefully prepared meat, seafood and vegetable dishes.
The group stayed overnight at The Cumberland Hotel near Marble Arch, a four-star property with a bold, music-inspired style. Its central location made it an ideal base for a short London stay, with Hyde Park, Oxford Street and the city’s main attractions all within easy reach. After a long flight and a full day of exploring, guests could return to modern, comfortable rooms and enjoy a well-earned chance to rest.
Tip: Rest is part of the experience, especially when the next day involves a long flight to Mexico.
Plan for How the Group will Feel
Travelling from London to Monterrey involved another long journey. We first flew from London to Mexico City, where we had a connecting stop before continuing on a shorter domestic flight to Monterrey. By the time we arrived in Monterrey shortly after midnight, it had been a full and tiring travel day.
Early hotel access had already been arranged, so the group could collect their bags, meet the local guide and travel directly to the Novotel Monterrey Valle. This modern 4-star hotel is located in the Valle Oriente district and offers comfortable rooms, a restaurant and bar, an outdoor swimming pool and a fitness centre. Its location close to shopping centres, restaurants and entertainment areas also made it a convenient base for the days ahead.
Build Excitement Before the Main Event
The group’s first full afternoon in Monterrey was spent at the FIFA Fan Festival in Parque Fundidora.
The festival was alive with flags, football shirts, music and conversations in different languages. Matches were played on giant screens while fans gathered around food stalls and entertainment areas. Each goal brought cheers from one part of the crowd and groans from another.
It created the perfect lead-in to match day. Guests were able to feel the scale of the World Cup, meet other supporters and take in the festive atmosphere without the pressure of stadium entry times.
That evening, a group dinner at Campomar Restaurant introduced guests to fresh seafood and bold Mexican flavours. Plates of ceviche, tostadas and grilled fish arrived at the table as the group spoke about the teams, the city and the match ahead.
Planning Advice: Before a major event, include an activity that builds anticipation. Fan zones, cultural events or themed dinners help guests feel that they are part of something bigger.
Let Match Day Remain the Hero
Match day was the clear highlight of the trip.
The morning was kept free, allowing guests to sleep in, shop or explore at their own pace. A lunch allowance gave them the freedom to choose what they wanted before meeting for the transfer to the stadium.
By the time the group arrived, the energy had changed. Supporters streamed towards the gates, flags were raised, and songs carried through the crowd.
The national anthem brought pride and emotion to the group. When the match began, every attack brought people to their feet. Every missed chance was followed by groans and nervous laughter. For those few hours, the group shared every emotion together.
For the group, it was more than simply watching a football match. It was the reward they had travelled across the world to experience, shared with people who understood exactly how special the moment was.
Planning Advice: Keep match day clear and simple. Allow generous travel time, explain meeting points carefully, and avoid adding unnecessary activities before or after the event.
Finish with a Change of Pace
After the noise and colour of the stadium, the final full day offered something completely different.
The group travelled outside Monterrey to the Grutas de GarcĂa, where a cable car carried them towards the mountains. Inside the caves, illuminated paths revealed huge limestone formations, tall stalagmites and shadowy chambers shaped over millions of years.
It was cooler, quieter and almost otherworldly. Guests slowed down, looked upwards and took in the scale of the caves before continuing to the town of GarcĂa for free time and lunch.
Some guests used their free time in GarcĂa to explore the town’s traditional bakeries and local shops. Inside the bakeries, shelves were filled with regional favourites such as soft conchas, semitas, nut-filled empanadas and crumbly hojarascas. Others visited the small museums or wandered through the relaxed streets, enjoying a quieter look at local life before returning to Monterrey.
That evening, guests were free to explore Monterrey at their own pace, with a cash allowance to choose where to dine and enjoy a meal that suited their tastes.
Why the London / Monterrey Combo Worked Well?
The success of this incentive trip came from balance.
London offered food, football history, and a lively introduction. Monterrey brought local culture, warm welcomes, and the excitement of the World Cup. The cave visit added nature and adventure, while free time allowed guests to make some of their own choices.
For incentive travel organisations, the main lesson is simple: start with one powerful highlight, then build around it with good planning, local experiences, comfortable pacing and enough personal time.
That is how a travel programme becomes more than a list of activities. It becomes a shared story that guests will continue telling for years.
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