MIM Europe Magazine, the meetings and incentives magazine for European corporate planners, in exclusive partnership with EUMA, the European Association of Management Assistants, supported by ECM, European Cities Marketing and Site.
europe magazine #124
SPECIAL FEATURE Experiencing incentives
Prague Europe’s dream
Interview
Published 4 times a year: March, May, September, November Edition September 2013
Bente Bratland Holm Paying attention to incentives
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Colophon
Forgotten Corporate Customers
MIM magazine is the european magazine for the meetings industry. It is published 4 times a year by meeting media company bvba/sarl, with a circulation of 5000 copies.
If there’s one group that’s been forgotten in the meet-
In exclusive partnership with
ings industry, it’s the corporate customers. Admittedly, my experience in Europe is that most Convention Bureaus (municipal, regional and national) always
Marcel A.M. VISSERS promoted corporate programmes vigorously. However, Editor in Chief more recently I’ve started noticing that associations
European Management Assistants Association. In partnership with
are receiving the most attention while companies are being neglected. I can understand what’s happening but that doesn’t necessarily make it right. Associations represent a certain business, which is future-driven while corpo-
European City Marketing
Site Europe
Editor in Chief Marcel A.M. Vissers T. +32 (0)3 226 88 81 marcel@mimmagazine.eu
rate customers offer fewer guarantees and focus on the current situation. The financial crisis has resulted in many companies cutting costs related to company activities such as conferences, incentive trips and events. Now, this is exactly the problem. Convention Bureaus should however realise that corporates are the best customers for their mem-
Managing Director Cécile Caiati-Koch T. +32 (0)2 761 70 52 cecile@mimmagazine.eu
bers because at the end of the day they generate direct turnover. And there should be more creative approaches to compensate for those difficult periods, such as organising
Account Manager – International Sales Kelvin Lu T. +32 (0)2 761 70 59 kelvin@mimmagazine.eu
promotional campaigns or events that take the difficult economic situation into account. For example, why not collaborate more intensively with DMCs and PCOs, the stakehold-
Managing Editor J. Samuel Doveri Vesterbye T. +32 (0)2 761 70 50 - +32 (2) 471 07 23 24 samuel@mimmagazine.eu Editor Rose Kelleher
ers in a city or country with very specific ideas. Corporate customers simply love wellorganised campaigns. Fortunately, we have a couple of examples in Europe who are on the right track again. Angers in France for example. London and Partners also want to target corporates again with their promotional tools. We must also mention some meet-
Address 59 rue René Declercq 1150 Brussels (Belgium) T. +32 (0)2 761 70 50 F. +32 (0)2 761 70 51 www.mimmagazine.eu press@mimmagazine.eu
ings exhibitions who care for the corporates. The first edition of the The Meetings Show
Publisher Meeting Media Company Marcel A.M. Vissers Mechelseplein 23, bus 1 B - 2000 Antwerpen (Belgium) www.MIMmagazine.eu
from across the world.
UK was a wonderful example of such an exhibition. The world fair IMEX in Frankfurt also concentrated on the forgotten group in our industry. Proof of this is Exclusively Corporate @IMEX , the new educational programme exclusively for corporate meeting planners
And what is MIM Europe magazine doing? We support all quality projects, which are dedi-
Design & Print Press Point Poelstraat 167 - 9820 Merelbeke T. +32 (0)9 362 52 50 - www.presspoint.be
cated to the concerns of corporates. And last but not least, we continue to publish the ‘Incentive Special’ every year.
» More stories on www.MIMmagazine.eu
Contents Cécile Caiati-Koch
J. Samuel Doveri Vesterbye
Kelvin Lu
Rose Kelleher
GENERAL
SPECIAL FEATURE
EUMA 4 ECM 6 SITE 9 Corporate Talk 13 IMEX America 15 Outlets – a new incentive? 33
Experiencing incentives
COVER INTERVIEW MIM Europe Magazine sets great store by sustainable development and therefore chose responsible FSC certified paper which comes from a controlled source. More info: www.fsc.org FSC, A.C. FSC-SECR-0045
Interviewing the new CEO of VisitOslo: Bente Bratland Holm 10
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DESTINATIONS Southern Africa 25 Prague 28 Switzerland 30
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EUMA’s progressive MICE efforts
River Thames cruise, London
European Management Assistants (EUMA) has a long history of working in the meetings, incentives, conference and exhibitions (MICE) industry. In fact, since the mid-1980s when EUMA established its first large-scale European Conference, this event has always been complemented by a trade fair or exhibition where local and international organisations are able to promote themselves, their products or services, to EUMA members. EUMA European Conferences are actually founded on MICE tourism, whereby every conference contains pre- and post-conference tours of the surrounding country, sites of interest and other specialties that the hosting country has to offer. MICE tourism, which is a relatively new concept, is a trial and error platform for EUMA and always includes a wellplanned agenda, centered around a theme or topic which will be of interest to members and – of course - the organisations and partners who are affiliated with the Association. The upcoming Conference in London in October this year – at the prestigious Grange St Paul’s Hotel – is entitled ‘Managing Today, Leading Tomorrow’ (see www.euma.org) and will be aimed at Management Assistants of tomorrow, whose Executives see them as being pivotal to the smooth-running of their businesses. So, whilst the Conference boasts great speakers who will speak in favor of the idea that Assistants take
the lead and ‘manage’ considerable activities in their organisations, often replacing middle or junior managers. The conference has been designed, like other EUMA Conferences, to incentivise those who attend, by choosing one of the most luxurious hotels in London, the Grange St Paul’s. In addition, the conference has many other add-on activities, which add as an incentive for delegates to attend, such as the tours to Oxford and Cambridge, in England, before and after the event. If that’s not enough of an incentive, then delegates will be treated to a cruise down the River Thames, where they can take part in a ‘Murder Mystery’ themed play whilst eating
About EUMA: European Management Assistants (EUMA) is the only European-wide quality network of top management assistants who focus on their selfdevelopment and professional evolution, and reflect the future of their profession. The association is a nonprofit association, has no political aims and does not engage in political or trade union activities. EUMA provides a forum for management assistants, employers and educators to promote an understanding of the training experience and career opportunities necessary for the development of its members. EUMA promotes an image of the management assistant as an essential element of the management team. EUMA was founded in 1974 and is currently represented by over 1,500 members in 26 European countries. Contact information: Adam Fidler European PR Officer adam.fidler@salfordcc.ac.uk
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EUMA supports the Office* Show in London EUMA has supported the Office* Show in London for the last four years; the largest UK show for Assistants with several thousand Assistants from both the UK and Europe attending each year. Held in October 2013, the Office* Show boasts exhibitors, trainers, and meetings planners who are keen to share their services with Assistants, who they know are the ‘gatekeepers’ to organisations and the Executives they support. www.officeshow.co.uk Bodleian Library, Oxford
their dinner. There will also be a superb welcome reception hosted by the Hotel in their Sky Bar, with fantastic views of London, including St Paul’s Cathedral. Incentive tourism, as we have described, can often be undertaken as part of an employee reward strategy for targets met or a job well done. But unlike MICE tourism in general – which tends not to be done for educational or professional purposes – EUMA’s Conferences are always educational. The ethos of EUMA is to provide training, education and self-development opportunities for its members, so every event, whether incentivizing or not, has to contain an element of stretching and challenging the mind-set of the Assistant, their bosses and their organisations. But, in fast-paced business world, the ability to combine MICE
“The world is a much better place as a result of efforts made early on by EUMA” tourism with education, is the unique selling proposition of EUMA that offers an unrivalled platform for its members. As well as arranging its own ‘in-house’ conferences internationally and domestically, EUMA is proud to join forces with other partners in the MICE industry. Here synergies are such that the
combined presence of EUMA members and a related partner come together to form an event, which sustains and promotes the role of the Assistant in a number of industries. In a competitive business market, organisations and their employees realise that collaboration through personal relationships, a mutual understanding and respect for common goals is at the heart of a successful business life. EUMA understands this, and even 40 years after its creation (EUMA will be 40 years old in 2014), this is as important as ever. In fact, one could argue that EUMA paved the way in supporting tourism incentives, with its early vision of providing Assistants from all over Europe with the ability to share, learn and experience difference cultures and nationalities, through education and ‘coming together’. For the European Assistant, business tourism and MICE, the world is a much better place as a result of efforts made early on by EUMA.
Grange St Paul’s Hotel, London
Sky Bar, Grange St. Paul’s Hotel, London
Expect to see EUMA at Carrefour des Assistantes Carrefour des Assistantes and Salon Réunir, which is to be held on the 19th and 20th of September 2013, also plays an important role for EUMA. The event is regarded as France’s leading MICE exhibition, held in the autumn in Paris. EUMA will be present, along with representatives from the France tourist industry, who are keen to develop links with other European countries, and promote France as a meetings’ destination. www.carrefourdesassistantes.com
© Mikkel Alexander Grabowski
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Dinner at ECM Annual conference © Mikkel Alexander Grabowski
Hosting a meeting when welcoming makes the difference “Hostmanship is more than a behavior, it is a practical philosophy, it is the art of making people feel welcome whether they are customers, clients, patients, students or colleagues.” The Meetings Industry – compared to most other sectors – naturally perceives everyone as a guest. And where there is a guest, there is always a host: excising Hostmanship. This is precisely what European Cities Marketing, the association of Tourist Board and Convention Bureaux in Europe, has been reflecting on during “City hospitality for tomorrow’s visitors”, its conference in Copenhagen last June. With the strength of its 110 members, representing over 100 major Cities in 30 countries, ECM strives for perfection through its network’s competitiveness and excellent performance. And in a
world of hyper competition where products, services and prices are becoming similar, the art of welcoming is a determining factor for real and sustainable success. Hostmanship guru Jan Gunarsson shared with ECM members his way of approaching people. The starting point is a welcoming and open attitude to people and situations we encounter. “Imagine a world where everyone feel welcomed and expected. A world where children and adults, friends and strangers, co-workers and leaders, customers and guests dare to meet each other with openness and trust.” We believe that this is something that is essential for true and sustainable success for us as individuals, for our organizations, our societies and in the final end, our planet.»
Undoubtedly, a welcoming approach adds value to our work. We live in a relational society, where our ability to interact with clients and colleagues is a key to success. A welcoming attitude makes it possible to realize the full potential of people and businesses. Hostmanship is first understanding the needs of our clients, the concept and philosophy of their event and the best way to showcase our cities through client requirements. Dealing with clients means taking onboard the opportunities and challenges. It takes courage to live that way, but it’s a gift that keeps on giving. And the pay-off? Satisfaction leads to loyalty and economic success for your destination. Strengthened by this positive philosophy, ECM members are now fully prepared to welcome tomorrow’s clients.
Hostmanship is about living in an open and inclusive way. Serving includes the following steps in the meetings industry: • perceiving the wholeness of the request and being caring with the client • searching knowledge about the aims of their meeting, attendants, etc • practicing dialogue with your clients • Then, taking responsibility and leader ship for the whole event
ECM Annual Conference in Copenhagen
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Numbers matter – even in the meetings industry Even the entertaining world of meeting has had to admit something important in recent years: numbers matter. Whatever way we put it, festivities won’t compensate for the undeniable importance of keeping track of empirical data. Keeping records has proven a success in all other business environments – the meetings industry being no exception. Whether a simple survey or statistics keeping track of attendees and venue spaces – deriving information from data remains an important step to maintain a coherent overview of any business. That’s why ECM publishes its annual ECM Meetings Statistics Report, featuring over 50 cities. With the client’s interests at heart, this robust collection of data helps ECM readers navigate through new ‘meeting trends’. This study attempts to build on and extend the scope of data collection exercise with four segments: international corporate, national, national corporate, non corporate national and non corporate international. In the upcoming ECM Meetings Statistics Report 2012-2013, readers
may be interested in knowing that corporate meetings have increased significantly. This is largely due to an increase in national meetings, which are estimated to be performing much better compared to their international counterparts. Judging from the data it’s obvious that the majority of successful corporate national meetings remain small-scale. We note a higher number of corporate meetings in 2011 and 2012. National corporate meeting are experiencing the highest increase at 26%, while International corporate meetings have risen by 11%. The vast majority of corporate meetings are small meetings with less than 200 participants. The average attendance rate is measured at 132 participants for international meetings and 105 for national ones. However, corporate meetings register the best increase in the number of participants compared to non-corporates, with 19% for national meetings and 12% for international ones. As far as venues are concerned, most corporate meetings take place in hotels, estimated at 82%. Attendance
About European Cities Marketing: European Cities Marketing improves the competitiveness and performance of leading cities of Europe. By providing a platform for convention, leisure and city marketing, we allow for professionals to exchange knowledge, best practice and widen their network to build new business. European Cities Marketing is promoting and linking the interests of over 110 members from more than 100 major cities in 32 countries. Contact information: Flavie Baudot Acting Head flavie@europeancitiesmarketing.com +33 380 56 02 00 isn’t the determining factor however, when looking at location. In 2012, international corporate delegates mostly met in hotels (57 %), while there was an equal breakdown of national delegates between congress centers and hotels. The 50 pages Benchmarking report also provides other fascinating insights into new trends from 2012, covering everything from market availability to standards and preference. ECM will also try to focus more on specific meeting statistics from individual cities in future reports.
The ECM Meetings Statistics Report is available for ECM members only. The report features 52 cities for 2011 and 2012. For its third edition, the data have become more robust, and the analysis more sophisticated and refined. However, the trends are non exhaustive because cities collect data in different ways. Corporate versus non-corporate in 2012
Average attendance by duration in 2012
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Incentive Travel:
The Smart Business Proposition Today companies worldwide are experiencing increased difficulty attracting and retaining highpotential and skilled employees necessary to compete on a global basis. A new white paper, Incentive Travel: The Smart Business Proposition, from the Site International Foundation focuses on how incentive travel and motivational events, when properly designed, can help companies achieve many corporate business objectives and provide a measurable return on investment. Like most serious business strategies, designing an effective incentive travel program is a task for professionals. To generate bottom line results, the process demands cooperative efforts among company managers who identify objectives, skilled planners who create a program to achieve those objectives and experts who can deliver an incentive travel experience that is meaningful, motivational and memorable. Motivational programs that fail are often due to poor program design in rule structures, award selection,
promotion and measurement. Understanding the objectives of a program, how they align with overall compensation and recognition and defining what motivates participants are keys to a program’s success and improved bottom line results. To learn more, download the Incentive Travel: The Smart Business Proposition white paper and other Site Foundation studies at siteglobal.com.
About Site and the Site International Foundation Site is a global network of meetings and event professionals with nearly 2,000 members in 90 countries and 29 local and regional chapters. It is the only global organization dedicated to linking professionals in the incentive travel and motivational events industry with companies seeking improved performance through these experiences. The Site International Foundation is the research arm of Site providing studies, white papers and educational programs that assist business executives, practitioners, and professionals worldwide.
Site EMEA Forum 2013
Olga Navarro
Olga Navarro Member Site Board of Directors Executive Director, ITB Dmc, Barcelona, Spain As a Site Member, you gain a broad perspective of what incentive travel means beyond your own local view. As a DMC, my role is to marry our client’s needs to what the destination has to offer to create an exceptional participant experience and an impactful ROI for the client. I can only aim for excellence in delivery if I have experienced both sides – that of an organizer and a participant. This is the most valuable gift Site has brought to my professional growth. Over the years, I have attended all kinds of Site events, most of the times as a participant, but also as a guest, a speaker and even as an International Conference Chair. Each time, I’ve returned to my life as a DMC motivated to become a better professional. The first time I saw the Site Crystal Awards Ceremony and learned what it took to create winning programs, I understood that many of my fellow Site members were already in the Olympus of excellence. Site members operate their programs guided by a strict Site Code of Ethics focused on the client’s success. I’m fully convinced if it wasn’t for Site I wouldn’t be the professional I am today, not only because of the experiences, but also because of the incredible people I’ve met. I thank Site members for sharing their best practices and enhancing the value of connecting motivational experiences with business results.
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Opera House, Oslo
Bente Bratland Holm
Bente Bratland Holm
Interviewing the new CEO of Visit OSLO Elected CEO of VisitOSLO this year, Bente Bratland Holm has played an important role in building and changing the Norwegian meetings industry with her long experience as the former director of the Norway Convention Bureau. In her new role lie challenges and opportunities ahead, as the changing nature of travel, meetings and incentives shape north European corporate tourism on a daily basis. She speaks to MIM Europe about her past experiences, best practice and what to expect from Oslo and the incentives sector in the following years to come. INTERVIEW BY Samuel Doveri Vesterbye, Managing Editor
MIM Europe: What was the situation when you started at the Norway Convention Bureau some ten years ago? Bente Bratland Holm: At the time, the situation was that there was no Norway Convention Bureau (NCB) at all. There used to be a NCB, but in 2002 the national tourist board got some heavy cut in their budgets and
they decided to close it down. The partners, including major Norwegian cities and Scandinavian Airlines, wanted to continue to work together and they contacted me. At the time IÂ had my own consultancy company and they asked if I could coordinate the work. Up until that time NCB had only worked within the convention segment. One year later we handed in
the legal papers to form NCB, partnering with hotel chains and a few more destinations. We also started to work on the incentive marked. But when I say we, I really mean myself, as it was running most of this for the first two years. Now we are twenty-four partners from all over Norway, working on three different segments, which include conventions, incentives and culture/sports.
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MIM Europe: What was your strategy for Norway and how long has it taken to obtain your objectives? Bente Bratland Holm: It was obvious that I needed two strategies. First came the strategy for the industry in Norway. It was important to set some rules on how we should work together with our owners, like for example clear targets on all activities. We sell what the market needs, even if the focus will be unfair, considering that all owners pay the same marketing fee. We share information between us, making sure that the meetings industry gets a better position within the Norwegian Travel Industry. Second came the strategy for markets in Europe. “Not better than anyone, but different from everyone” has been philosophy since I started. The strategy was to get the attention on Norway trough the incentive market. Norway has a spectacular nature, and in order to get some quick results we had to serve some concepts that gave us a good start in the European market. Why the incentive market? Had we competed on the conference market it would all have come down to seats, conference rooms and hotels. We would then have been competing with all destinations in Europe, and it would have boiled down to price instead of the experience of doing something, which is fundamentally different. That’s why we opted for incentives.
“The incentive market is very important because it’s where destinations have the opportunity to be different from one another” MIM Europe: What was your opinion of the Meetings Industry in general - when you started and today? Bente Bratland Holm: When I started I didn’t know much about the mechanism within the industry, but I clearly remember that I thought all destinations in Europe looked the same. Everyone seemed to use the same type of images, while presenting themselves with the same words and concepts. It can’t have been easy for the customers back then! I think the industry has been through a huge change for the better. It might have come as a result of the financial situation in Europe. The competition got tougher and destinations had to be more specific about their concepts, and really think about what messages make them stand out from the rest of the world. The meetings sector seems to be gradually getting a better position within the travel industry. Most countries put a lot of emphasis on the leisure industry, and that is where most governmental funding goes. But wealth is naturally accumulated in the meetings industry. In Norway we can see a slowly growing positive focus from our government regarding the meetings industry, in part because we produced a lot of statistical evidence showing its positive economic impact on the industry over the years.
Ski jumper, Oslo, Norway
Midnight golfing, Tromsø
Reinefjord, Norway
Stortinget, Oslo
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MIM Europe: What is your view on the incentive market within the Meetings Industry and what really defines Norwegian incentives today? Bente Bratland Holm: The incentive market is very important because it’s where destinations have the opportunity to be different from one another. And that makes the brand building of a destination much easier. When it comes to incentives in Norway there are of course many options. Some unique examples include a visit to the Munch museum in Oslo, where guests can paint their own “Scream” followed by an outdoor concert on the roof on the new opera house! After spending a lovely time in Oslo, you are invited to fly north to Tromsø where guests can participate in a midnight sun golf tournament. It starts at midnight and ends with champagne
“The meetings sector seems to be gradually getting a better position within the travel industry” breakfast at six o’clock in the morning – That’s quite unique to say the least! MIM Europe: The European Federation of Conference Towns merged with ECM quite some time ago. What is your opinion about Tourism embracing the Meetings Industry? Bente Bratland Holm: Its about time - we need both and they need equal attention! The industry in general has to improve when it comes to working together in the different segments. If we can’t do it ourselves, why should our politicians take us seriously? I’m going to be a part of the ECM network
in the future and my main task will be that the conference side gets as much attention as the leisure sector. MIM Europe: Can you already reveal some of your plans for VisitOSLO? Bente Bratland Holm: It’s still too early to reveal something concrete, but if you give me a few months, the situation might be different! Oslo is the fastest growing city in Europe at the moment and a lot of things are happening. Right now we are discussing whether we are going to apply for the Winter Olympic Games in 2022. If we decide to do so, Oslo will obviously get a lot of attention as the ‘World’s Winter Capital’ for years to come. Apart from that, it should be mentioned that one of my first tasks is to make local politicians aware that VisitOSLO can be used as an effective tool for marketing within many different areas.
Akershus Fortress and Oslo Harbor
IMEX Corporate Talk
Exclusively Corporate @ IMEX
New IMEX event for corporate planners sets high standard for future Feedback following the first ever Exclusively Corporate @ IMEX shows that 84% of the 70 corporate meeting planners who attended the private education and networking event rated the launch event either ‘excellent’ or ‘good’. Results also show that 49% attended specifically to hear from corporate meetings experts while a further 30% were attracted by the opportunity to network with their peers. 81% of respondents also confirmed they learned new ideas and approaches which they could put to immediate use – a key outcome for organisers, the IMEX Group. The objective of Exclusively Corporate @IMEX was to provide corporate meeting and event planners with a highlevel, private forum offering tailored education, expertly facilitated discussion and extensive networking opportunities. The programme, which ran from 12 noon to 18.30 the day before the IMEX in Frankfurt trade show opened (May 20), was divided into four sessions, plus a separate break-out session for senior-level executives only. Given the success of the inaugural event, IMEX Group CEO, Carina Bauer, has confirmed that IMEX will expand and develop the programme further in 2014. “Corporate planners represent a highly specialised part of the meetings market and are clearly an important group of buyers for us to host to the show. What is especially pleasing is that they really appreciated the quality of the speakers, facilitators and education formats we provided; the emphasis on private discussions plus the first-class location of the Villa Kennedy. Now we know we have an excellent model for an event that serves the needs of corporate planners.” The participants, from Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North and South America, represented blue chip companies and global corporations including
Amway, Aviva PLC, Barclays Bank, Bayer Healthcare, Estee Lauder, Fidelity Worldwide Investment, GlaxoSmithKline, HSBC, Johnson & Johnson, Lilly, Merck & Co, Microsoft, Novartis and SAP AG. Together they control annual meetings and events budgets in excess of $200 million. During a general session, which was webcast live and also facilitated online, the participants were invited to put questions to an expert panel comprising: Des Duggan, Manager Education and Staffing, IBM Inside Sales Europe (Dublin); Alise Long, Manager, Corporate Events and Meetings, DSM (Netherlands) and Meredith Smith, Director Travel and Meetings, Asia Pacific and Japan, Merck & Co (Singapore).
During a separate executive-level discussion, a nine-strong group shared both their successes and frustrations. Common themes were how best to manage and communicate with global stakeholders; working with agencies; proving the true value of meetings and events internally; strategy planning plus compliance and best practice. Corporate meeting executives interested in applying for a hosted place on next year’s Exclusively Corporate @ IMEX programme should contact donna.fung@imexexhibitions.com More info about the day: www.imex-frankfurt.com/ exclusivelycorporate.html View the webcast: www.imex-frankfurt.com/ exclusivelycorporate.html#webcasts
Editor’s notes To register go to www.imex-frankfurt.com/users_prereg_interest.php • IMEX in Frankfurt 2014 takes place 20 - 22nd May at Messe Frankfurt • RELEASES - www.imex-frankfurt.com/press.php • PHOTOS - www.imex-frankfurt.com/imexphotos2013.html • STATISTICS: www.imex-frankfurt.com/statistics2013.html • IMEX in Frankfurt is an award-winning trade show. Our main awards are listed here: www.imex-frankfurt.com/ourawards.html • The IMEX Group also runs IMEX America - America’s worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events. IMEX America 2013 will take place at the Sands Expo and Convention Center® at the Venetian/ Palazzo 15 - 17 October 2013 www.imexamerica.com • Follow IMEX on social media - www.imex-frankfurt.com/social.html #IMEX13
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Business growth set for IMEX America True to its industry reputation as a show on the rise, the number of new exhibitors at award-winning Las Vegas trade show, IMEX America, is set to rise this year. Interest from new hotel groups and technology companies has been particularly strong with around 33% of all previous exhibitor contracts received so far calling for larger stands. And this year’s new exhibitors will include Atlanta, Aman Resorts, Daytona Beach, Detroit, Charleston, Cirque du Soleil, Emirates Airlines, Kyoto CVB, Louisville, Le Reve, Mohonk Mountain House, Worldhotels, Viceroy Hotel Group and Visit Milwaukee, Fossil, and 360 Destination Group. Well over 2,500 US and international hosted buyers are expected to attend plus a further 1700 attendees. All will have access to over 100 professional development and education sessions plus a wide variety of networking and social events. During the show education will be delivered at several locations and in a variety of formats including drop-in campfires, seminars, deep-dives and interactive workshops. There will be a Sustainability Hub providing green meetings information and expert advice, Tech Hub, App Bar, Technology Pavilion and a new Networking Hub offering facilitated networking sessions. As at IMEX in Frankfurt, IMEX America will also cater to the specific educational and networking
needs of corporate meeting planners. Its Executive Meetings Forum (invitation only) will provide supplier-only, facilitated education with a special emphasis on Strategic Meetings Management Programmes and sharing individual success, tips and key industry knowledge. 2013 will be the third year for IMEX America, which has quickly established itself as an attractive new model of exhibition in the US. Its combination of a three-day appointment-focused trade show with a pre-show educational day – Smart Monday – in partnership with strategic partners and premier education providers, Meeting Professionals International (MPI), plus partnerships and co-located events in cooperation with all the major industry associations, has proved a strong market proposition.
About IMEX America IMEX America is America’s worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events and is the largest tradeshow for the industry in the USA. The third edition will take place at the Sands Expo, Las Vegas®, (which is connected to the show’s Headquarters Hotel, The Venetian®|The Palazzo®), Oct 15-17, 2013. The show’s Official Airline is Delta. IMEX America is a ‘Tradeshow Executive Fastest 50 Class of 2012’ Grand Award winner and winner of the 2012 Exhibition News ‘Best International Launch’ award.
More information: www.imexamerica.com Schedule at a glance: www.imexamerica.com/events/schedule-at-a-glance/ To register: www.portal.imexamerica.com/register.php
IMEX Online LOCATION - IMEX America takes place at the Sands Expo®, Las Vegas, Oct. 15 – 17 (Smart Monday is Monday Oct. 14). RELEASES: http://www.imexamerica.com/hosted-buyers/ PHOTOS: www.imexamerica.com/press/images,-audio-video/ STATISTICS: www.imexamerica.com/about-us/show-statistics/ SOCIAL MEDIA: www.imexamerica.com/social.html Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and iMeet and XING. Use #imex13 to follow both shows.
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becoming a buyer’s market? Anecdotal evidence tells us that for the past few years, Europe’s MICE buyers have held the economic reigns: hotels have slashed corporate room rates and meeting package prices, room availability is at an all-time high, lead times are down to a minimum and value-adds and extras are being heaped on. But does it still ring through? We asked a number of industry experts to weigh in...
Rob Davidson, Senior lecturer in Events Management: I think Europe is currently seeing a divide between the southern countries and northern countries whose economies are doing better, like Germany. They are experiencing the same thing that the US experienced last year when the economy over there was feeling buoyant. We saw rates rising and venues and hotels were less willing to negotiate and there was a lengthening in lead times for meetings and incentives. The same thing is now happening here. Planners are going to find that the venues and hotels are using this advantage to get people to book sooner. We are seeing DDRs going up in the northern countries and some planners have learned to their cost that they can’t play the game of waiting as long as possible. Hotel investment and expansion in popular destinations for meetings and incentives like London, Paris, Berlin and Geneva hasn’t really kept pace with the demand, so that’s leading to more power for suppliers like hotels. But in
the southern Europe, because of the state of their economies, it is still very much a buyer’s market. Here in the UK we’ve seen lots of signs that business is more confident and therefore more willing to invest in incentives.
“Venues and hotels were less willing to negotiate and there was a lengthening in lead times for meetings and incentives” Amaury Vanhoutteghem, founder Linkthree venue finder: The MICE market is definitely a buyer’s market right now. You have such flexibility as a buyer and it’s putting destinations in competition with each other. The response of the supplier, most of the time, is to cut rates. This kills everyone’s margin and it’s not the right response, in my opinion, because it shows you don’t have confidence in
CONTENTS MICE – becoming a buyers market?.................. 15 The experience generation ....17 New autumnal incentives .......21 ALL TEXTS WRITTEN BY ROSE KELLEHER
your product. It doesn’t look very professional. For example, it has happened lot of times that after one phone call a hotel reduces its rates by 20% without reducing the quality of the offer. So after only five minutes spent on the phone, I get a 20% reduction. Why they didn’t offer me the best rates in the first place? Maybe it’s a contradiction - due to the fact that I negotiate rates on behalf of my clients - but I am more impressed with a supplier who doesn’t go down on their rates all the time. For me, this is proof of the quality and confidence you can have in a supplier.
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Brian Dunne, President of Incentives Marketing Assocaition Europe: I think it’s partially true that it’s a buyers market but not just in the traditional sense, the oversupply sense. There are a number of things causing the current advantageous climate for buyers and technology is one of them. The buyer is in the drivers seat because the process has changed drastically. The visibility of choice, of what’s out there, is better than ever before, making finding lower rates so easy. In the old days you’d have to call up the hotel and find out about prices and wait for something to be delivered in the post. Nowadays all the information you need to buy an incentive programme is at your fingertips. Not only can you find out about offers from the supplier’s website, but there are also these aggregators and brokers, consolidators who are doing the work of giving you real time pricing visibility. But people who programme motivational experiences aren’t in the business just to get good deals and to scrimp and save and reduce costs. They are in it to give their client the best and most memorable motivational experience they can. And with all these technological changes, there are companies out there doing the comparisons for you, giving the kind of bargaining power that has never been seen before.
Chillon Castle, Geneva
Fernsehturm, Berlin
“Nowadays all the information you need to buy an incentive programme is at your fingertips” Sydney Paulden, Director of ITCM Website: What MICE buyers have to take into account is this changing flow of business. The world economic scene is seeing big shifts in the flow of business and this is affecting buyers’ leverage for negotiating prices. New sources of association and corporate groups are growing rapidly and are beginning to fill the gaps left by Europe and the US. On recent foreign trips, my interviews on the spot have elicited the fact, for example, that resorts in Mauritius are enjoying substantial new business from South Korea and from Brazil. South East Asian hotels are welcoming larger and larger groups from China and from India. Destinations in the Middle East and Africa are topping up their bookings with increasing business from Russia. These changes are not temporary. The new market sources are only at the start of meeting the demand for motivation and rewards and new experiences from scores of millions of newcomers to middle class prosperity.
Tour Eiffel, Paris
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The experience generation Tools for incentivising the talent have run the gamut from the whips of ancient Egypt to the more humane five-star motivational golfing trip. These days, while incentives still need to be fun and surprising above all else, they also need experiential, environmentally sound and socially responsible, thanks to the incoming Generation Y demographic. And catering to this most recent group of deserving doyens means more than simply plugging into a machine. Everyone’s chasing youth culture, and some of them are getting it right. Generation Y, also known as Millennials or Generation Next, were born between the early eighties and the late nineties and they grew up with the internet in their homes. And they are very very busy. So busy, in fact, that the biggest challenge might be getting them away from work to participate in the incentive. If you’ve been tasked with designing a head spinning incentive trip for a bunch of twenty-somethings, remember that while the business case for incentives has not changed, the nuts and bolts are slightly different. Luxury is out and experience is in for this tech-savvy and ultra conscientious bunch. But even
if you fall into that age bracket yourself, it’s not always obvious what elements of the traditional incentive travel programme require tweaking to really win over your youthful participants. We’ve all (hopefully) gotten over our fear of social media by now, but contrary to popular belief, getting
more so than any generation that has gone before. It is extremely important to recognise this, and to avoid in particular gender stereotyping or making casual assumptions. Because they differ so much, there’s a lot of scope for intergenerational or cross-generational misunderstandings with senior management.
“Technology needs to be used to enhance further aspects of the trip, for example, by allowing participants to vote online for the top five destinations” to grips with Facebook is not the only way to a Generation Y participant’s heart. Below are some important things to note when designing a heart stopping and awe inspiring sojourn for the younger awardees among us.
Diversity Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that all individuals in the twenty-to-thirty age bracket are the same. While we tend to generalise about demographics for the sake of simplicity, Generation Y are an extremely diverse group, much
Technology Senior managers running most companies grew up during a time when research was done in libraries. This generation have always had computers and they’ve nearly always had phones, smart phones, PDAs and other forms of instant communication. They have distinctly different behaviours, values and attitudes from previous generations as a response to the technological and economic implications of the Internet; they are used to instant gratification, and they expect it. Technology allows
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for the easy capture of data and paper and mailings just won’t cut it anymore, so a lot of work needs to go into electronic promotion, e-mail blasts and customised online registration and a lot of graphics, with pictures of the restaurants, the activities and the hotel. Incentive programmes should all be online now so that people can check their progress and get alerts like “You’re in first place”. It’s important that everyone involved can see this, too - but it’s also important that they can opt in and out of what information they want to be able to track – and not suffer a tirade of spam about the incentive if they don’t want to. And technology needs to be used to enhance further aspects of the trip, for example, by allowing participants to vote online for the top five destinations. Believe it or not, these are very low-tech elements.
Experience This is the big one. A travel reward is unique from other types of rewards because it is experiential, and
Generation Y’ers are all about experience. In one way it’s a generation highly suited to travel incentives because they value experience over pretty much anything else. They want to see the world, and not only from inside an air conditioned seminar room; they want to get their hands dirty. (They are more interested in making a cake than buying one) The Hilton might be acceptable, but at the same time, so would camping at an eco-tourism resort. This might make them harder to please, however, because whatever destination you offer, there’s a fair chance they’ve been there already twice. Unlike their parents, Generation Y sees everything as connected, tangible and available and they want to be able to opt in and out of what appeals to them in order to construct their identity, an individualism that is unique to Millennials.
Social responsibility Parents and employers might portray them as entitled, selfish and lazy, and call them “Generation Me,” a demanding population spoiled by technology
that values little over their number one priority: fun. But while millennials are still consuming, the crises and global connectedness has made this consumption more conscientious.
“One under-appreciated characteristic of this generation is their passion for socially responsible ideas” Generation Y represents a key portion of potential nonprofit volunteers, and they’re increasingly optimistic about business’ capacity to effect positive change. One under-appreciated characteristic of this generation is their passion for socially responsible ideas, products and services. While it is difficult to generalise, it would be fair to say that they are more prone to activism than any that has gone before. The belief that one has an obligation to act to benefit society at large is prevalent and with a bit of creativity and the right research, this can be reflected in a well-designed incentive programme.
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Tribal workforce Another shifting dynamic is the increasing number of people working in home offices or other remote locations. This “tribal workforce” is only digitally connected to their workplace and colleagues, and often miss out on the corporate culture – and so often feel disconnected to company goals and vision. Group incentive travel helps to mend that rift and bring those individuals back or closer to the company philosophy. The fact that more people are working from home is already having an impact on how incentives are planned, and it has definitely caused a need for more promotion of the programme because people working in the office have much more of a chance to communicate and talk with each other about the incentive. People at home don’t have this opportunity, so mailings and other promotional efforts, as well as social media coverage needs to be stepped up.
Money This generation is said to be highly independent and, perhaps as a result of the myriad crises that have happened in their lifetime, less likely to view money as the be all and end all. They value satisfaction and experience over cash rewards and are perhaps a little less competitive than those who came before. Some have posited that competition shift from being externally driven to being more internally driven – meaning if they have a goal, they force themselves to work harder to accomplish it for themselves as opposed to simply keeping score against their colleagues to get the corner office or some other perk.
Recognition The group incentive still provides the trophy value and a level of recognition that is very desirable. It’s just being
structured differently to allow for more choice. Despite this apparent autonomy and individualism of this group, recognition is just as appealing to them as any other generation. Millennials thrive on feedback; the yearly performance review is not enough. When recognition is well-deserved, they might act humble and play it down but it gives them that much-desired visibility, especially in a larger organisation where otherwise they run the risk of becoming lost. Senior managers, as always, should still, as always, be designed into the programme as visible supporters. When performers believe their efforts are visible to people who can make or break their careers, it’s human nature to try to do one’s very best to shine. Incentive trips are traditionally all about schmoozing, and despite the other major changes, this generation care about the wining and dining that’s characteristic of incentive trips. Everyone likes the pat on the back.
Award suitability Customised programs designed to fit the participants’ needs are a must to achieve maximum motivational results. Team building has become more athletic, more extreme, more ambitious. People want to come home with stories of what they did. Spas are still popular, but don’t assume they’ll like golf. Travel incentives work best when they allow the participant to do what they want, when they want.
Millennials need choice, flexibility and independence; they want a minimum of hosted activities with maximum time to explore and do as much, or as little, as they please. The Internet has created a scenario where travellers are much more informed, and participants can easily find out about a destination and decide if it appeals to them.
“Millennials need choice, flexibility and independence; they want a minimum of hosted activities with maximum time to explore” Programme designers, when choosing a destination, might have to assume that younger generations have probably been to Paris three times already and they’ll work hard to earn that incentive only so long as the reward is relevant to them. Programmes need to include more activity choices, with most of those choices geared to adventure or challenge. But with individual choice taking centre stage, you might wonder if group motivational trips are still relevant and the fact is that yes, they are relevant so long as programme designers are tuned into the individual’s needs and desires. Participant profiles need to be drawn up with stats like average age and income bracket, to assist in the planning stages of a programme.
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New autumnal incentives Every autumn, the crowds that throng Europe’s best destinations retreat as the air cools and nature puts on a great free show. While the islands of the south are still glowing with lingering warmth, the famed and fabulous cities of the north are still pleasantly walkable with leaves crunching underfoot. The downside? Shorter days and the increasing chance of rain, and the possibility of certain attractions being closed for the season. But with more breathing space and increased bargaining potential, autumn is the season for incentives... Canteras Beach, Gran Canaria
Santorini
Edinburgh
The immediately recognisable Greek volcanic outcrop of Santorini has a number of important historical sites and old wineries for perfect incentive activities. The picture postcard villages of Fira and Oia with their dramatic cliffs and whitewashed cottages, are great start off points for short or long hikes along the caldera, and offer breathtaking views of the constantly changing Mediterranean. Swimming in the still-warm crystal clear water and black pebble beaches is a delight for the office-bound, as are underwater trips with a submarine on the seabed surrounding the island. Boat excursions to nearby islands are still running in autumn, and visitors are invited to take a dip in the hot springs. And the weather is just perfect for horseback riding in Exo Gonia.
Thanks to its reputation as a rainsodden outpost, it might seem silly to suggest an incentive to Scotland at any time other than high summer. But with an extra layer and a bit of preparation, autumn is truly a beautiful time in Edinburgh, the incentive capital of Scotland. Highlights include a guided tour of the famed Edinburgh Castle and pub crawling on the city’s infamous Rose Street. For a city/ countryside incentive trip, set off from Edinburgh and drive west to the legendary Loch Lomond, Britain’s largest stretch of water where activities include boating and adventure safaris in 4x4 jeeps through the forests and slopes of a highland estate. Glengoyne Distillery, probably Scotland’s most beautiful, produces a subtle, complex whisky, a ‘dram’ of which can be enjoyed in magnificent scenery.
Blue domed church, Santorini
Loch Lomond, Scotland
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Gran Canaria
Whale watching, Iceland
Full of the marks and scars of centuries of marauding invaders, Gran Canaria resonates with stories of aboriginal people, colonisers, pirates and of course, Columbus. The landscape of the island goes from the green of the forests to the blue of the sea, from the yellow of the beaches to the ochre of the volcanos, and it’s like an open air theme park - just full of the kinds of unexpected surprises that make incentive trips memorable. Isolated for millions of years, Gran Canaria boasts innumerable endemic species, and here you can organise meetings and group activities in a particularly special natural atmosphere. Ride on a camel through an oasis of dunes, relax in a rustic property surrounded by a landscape of banana plantations, or take a trip on a catamaran in the subdued autumn temperature, or head back into town for a tour of the historical treasure trove that is Vegueta in Las Palmas.
Iceland
Edinburgh Castle
Most incentive participants are looking for adventure and experience, and Iceland is one place that can pack a punch. With hip Reykjavík and a host of therapeutic hot springs, this land of boiling mud pools, spurting geysers, glaciers and waterfalls is an adventure playground thanks to its famed pure and unpolluted magical countryside. The Blue Lagoon is a must-do; the most relaxing spa you’re ever likely to have, and as Iceland approaches winter, visitors are mesmerised by the undulating green, blue, yellow and pink lights of the aurora borealis in the night sky. Groups are invited on a whale watching safari, and a tour of nearby Puffin Island before coming back to Reykjavik, where a wild pub crawl awaits.
Munich
Hofgartentempel, Munich
Munich is a major international hub and the second most important city in Germany. Its many museums, shops and lively atmosphere attract millions of city trippers every year, as does its singular architecture. Come the end of September, of course, the big attraction is beer, when the famous local tipple is boss and drinking copious amounts of it becomes a national sport during Oktoberfest. It’s a fun time to be in Munich, and memorable experiences abound even for those who don’t like to get legless. Other activities include the obligatory city tour, as well as Alpine excursions to nearby countryside attractions like Lake Tegernsee, the salt mines and numerous Bavarian royal castles. Themed parties are popular; King Ludwig dinners are a pleasant mix of enlightenment and entertainment, while the Englischer Garten rivals New York’s Central Park - a great place to just kick back and enjoy a brew.
Take the stress out of travel arrangements MICE travel solutions from Lufthansa – for companies and event organisers Lufthansa complements its status as one of the world’s largest and most prestigious carriers, with a firm commitment to the MICE market, placing a strong focus on offering the best possible deals to trade fairs and exhibitions around the world. Whether you are looking to secure individual travel to a corporate event at short notice, or to block-book space for an association event a year in advance, the Lufthansa Meetings & Events product offers numerous advantages - not only for the organiser, but also for the participants to an event. Lufthansa has the flexibility and fare product to ensure a smooth outcome.
Initiators or Organisers As an organiser or initiator, you will have the benefit of receiving an offer that meets your needs. Depending on the type of event, this could include discounted transportation or special conditions for travellers. Lufthansa’s MICE product enables you to provide cost-saving opportunities for either the host of the event, or to the travellers themselves. With access to a dedicated, event-branded Internet booking engine that is exclusively accessible by the hosting company, the organiser or participants to your event, you can make use of the worldwiden Lufthansa network that connects more than 200 cities in around 80 countries. Flights can be also be booked conveniently via a travel agency of your choice.
Advantages for the Participants As a participant to an event booked via our MICE product, you will receive discounted fares from Lufthansa. Booking can be done online, quickly and easily. Enjoy excellent service with Lufthansa’s usual high standards and the best possible connections to international events, allowing you flexibility in your choice of travel times. Whatever type of event you are planning, no matter where in the world, for a few dozen participants or a few thousand, Lufthansa can support you with an offer that meets your needs.
Your contact person for BE and LU Yves Vanhaack +32 474 28 12 07 yves.vanhaack@dlh.de
You will find more information about the MICE services from Lufthansa, along with a practical enquiry form, online at lufthansa.com/MICE_en.
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THE WARM GLOW OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
A Tale of Two Cities and Two Hotels
Royal Livingstone Hotel, Sun Deck, Zambia
Jo’burg, South Africa – the Maslow hotel Johannesburg, or Jo’burg as it is widely known, will give you a contrasting mixture of what South Africa can offer. You will find the affluent suburbs like the elegant financial district Sandton and its surroundings which are equivalent in lifestyle to the very best the modern world has to offer whereas in Soweto, though it boasts some well off areas, you get the experience of how it has been (and still is) for a large group of the population. But wherever you go, be sure to always get a big smile and a warm welcome from the local people. Jo’burg will definitely leave an unforgettable experience of sheer human sincerity, added to the already warm and sunny surroundings of South Africa.
Since discovering gold some 125 years ago, domestic and international migration has helped shape Jo’burgs demographics, giving it a rich and diverse cultural heritage. A visit to the world famous Apartheid Museum will interest those who remember South Africa’s political struggles before the 21th century,
the absolute centre of Johannesburg. The suburb buzzes with commercial energy. It’s a multisensory experience peppered with expensive real estate, international brands, pavement cafes and skyscrapers that sit side by side with street vendors selling living art made from beads and wires.
“Whereas the magic of Jo’burg is something only found when you look beneath the surface, the charm of the hotel embraces you in one glimpse” while seeing Mandela’s House in 8115 Orlando West Soweto, now a museum, will remind visitors the vast, yet struggling, life of the former icon of liberty. But Jo’burg also has another side of life to offer; walking around Sandton for instance it’s easy to feel that one is in
Jo’burg’s Convention Centre is situated in this suburb and in close distance you will find the Maslow Hotel, part of Sun International group. Uniquely, the hotel has maintained a special charm, although it remains a real business hotel.
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Victoria Falls, Zambia
Maslow Hotel, Johannesburg
The huge open indoor-outdoor bar with its large covered terrace is an eye catcher; it offers an unexpected oasis setting for business and social events and meetings. Spacious facilities can accommodate banquets of up to 400 people and cinema seating for around 650 people. The 13 separate, private Meeting Rooms will enrich any meeting. The Conference Centre features a multi-divisible Ballroom, a smaller conference room, pre-assembly area and a 50-seater auditorium. Spa facilities are outstanding, as the hotel uses Africology Spa Products, based on natural ingredients and inspired by African cures. You will get energized through the truest African spirit!
Livingstone, Zambia – Royal Livingstone hotel
Royal Livingstone Hotel, Zambia
Paragon Meeting room, Maslow Hotel
Pool area, Maslow Hotel, Johannesburg
Arriving on a speedboat gives you a good first impression of the mighty Zambezi River – giving visitors the opportunity to spot the first hippos and crocodiles, while being welcomed by the bright smiles of immaculately dressed staff of the Royal Livingstone. This is truly an adventure, which fuels adrenalin, adventure and the overwhelming beauty that only Zambia can provide. In walking distance of the hotel, the mighty Zambezi River in falls down over the world famous hundred meter deep waterfall. You have of course arrived at the Victoria Falls, one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the world. It is indeed an awe-inspiring phenomenon, 1700 meters in length and generating a mass of water thundering down into the gorge. Whether you protect yourself against the spraying water, visitors always come back soaked, so enjoy this extraordinary natural experience as it comes! From over 30 kilometers you see the rising mist, that’s why the locals call it Mosi-aotunya, “the smoke that thunders”.
The Royal Livingstone is the quintessential 5-star African experience, surrounded by astonishing animals and wildlife, including Zebra’s grazing on the lawn, visible to visitors on the old colonial style terrace bar area. The rooms have been recently refurbished, and sunsets on the sundeck are breathtaking and an absolute must. The Royal Livingstone makes sure that sustainability remains a top priority, as the preservation of nature and wildlife are as important for visitors as for locals. The hotel has its own worm farm, which helps sustain vegetables bought from the local farmers’ association in the nearby village.
If Livingstone is Africa’s Adventure Capital, Royal Livingstone hotel must be Africa’s Luxury Top Hotel In walking distance to the Royal Livingstone you will find a second hotel managed by the same group, the Zambezi Sun (3* hotel), with a total of 212 rooms for larger groups. It also includes the Victoria Falls convention center, which offers everything from themed banquets to professionally coordinated conferences backed by state-of-the-art technical equipment. Of course, a safari in the spectacular African bush is a must! Although you never know beforehand which wild animals guests will see, it is worth a try, as this remains the quintessential African incentive! The Chobe National Park in Botswana is only a 1¾-hour drive from Livingstone and is one of the greatest game reserves in southern Africa, famous for its large number of elephants, as well as provides a haven for huge herds of buffalo, zebra, wildebeest and impala which are followed closely by predators including lions, hyenas, and the elusive leopard. Sun International www.suninternational.com
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KLM offers Economy Comfort free of charge to Flying Blue Platinum and SkyMiles Diamond/Platinum members and with a discount to Flying Blue Gold and SkyMiles Gold Medallion, SkyTeam Elite Plus (50%) and to Flying Blue Silver and SkyMiles Silver Medallion members (25%).
• Available on the whole long-haul fleet • Enhanced seat recline up to 116° • 12% more legroom • Between 34 and 40 seats offered, depending on aircraft type • Price: EUR 60 to 160 or 15.000 to 25.000 Flying Blue Miles per one way
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Arrange your seat online, at the airport or via your travel agent Reserve your Economy Comfort seat until 48 hours before departure at www.klm.be via “My Trip”. And, as from 30 hours before departure when checking in online or even the day of departure at the airport. Travel agencies can also reserve you your Economy Comfort seat.
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The search for excellence in incentives:
Prague
Beautiful and buzzing, Prague - the grande dame of old European cities - was my host for a Friday-to-Sunday stopover, a two-day scouting expedition on my personal search for Europe’s dream city incentive destination. I visited Prague ten years ago right after the flood that devastated much of the Malà Strana, the lowest and oldest part of the city that hugs the river Vlatava. It took quite a while to get the city back in shape, and local businesses have managed it with aplomb. Dare I say that it even looks better than it did before? And they’ve even managed to avoid the ‘fake’ feeling that often accompanies urban renewal projects in medieval cities. Gabriella, my Russian, Czech, Slovak and English speaking guide kept telling self-deprecating jokes about herself (“Not all ze guides in Prague are a big fat women like me!”) and made me laugh non-stop during a two hour tour of Mala Strana and its myriad riverside attractions, including the Kafka Museum and the Senate gardens, as well as heaps upon heaps of riverside terraces that can be hired for special sit-down dinners and networking cocktails. Hired through local DMC Maxin Prague, Gabriella is one of many know-it-all freelance guides
in in uber-walkable Prague, and can tell you everything you need to know. I also went to check out the Staropramen Brewery museum, which is connected to the working brewery itself and has developed a hi-tech tour with talking holograms and changing wall vistas and other such gadgetry, including a tasting at the end of the tour. Prague is old but it’s exciting. And as a “young person”, I can attest to that. There are groups everywhere, having fun, taking photos, and sampling the local brew. It’s a veritable museum of Art Nouveau to rival Paris or Riga, and draws a lot of fine art buffs particularly captivated by Alphonse Mucha’s decorative art genius. The Municipal House on Republic Square is the old town hall and now home to the opera. There are
Lobby and bar at Angelo
Summer terrace at Hotel Le Palais
not enough words in my vocabulary to describe the interiors of this masterpiece, but suffice to say I felt literally transported to a party thrown by the Great Gatsby. The cellar of this magnificent building houses a 1920s-esque American cocktail bar, and it’s all marble, vegetal curlicued wrought iron and crystal chandeliers and a big, wide rollicking beer hall and restaurant and on the ground floor, I passed the magnificent and chic French restaurant where the city’s upper crust dined. For truly special events with heaps of history and truckloads of charm, this is your venue.
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That night I dined at themed restaurant U Pavouka, a raucous and rambunctious affair replete with ye olde dark wood, dripping candles, serving wenches wearing what appeared to be old potato sacks and entertainment in the form of tumbling and swashbuckling pirates, half naked belly dancers and drum banging Celtic ensembles - and even a wandering tarot card reader. More my cup of tea was the after dinner trip to Jazz Republic where I found myself smoothly serenaded by what appeared to me to be a bona fide jazz maestro and her band plucked straight from the belly of old New Orleans.
Vienna International Hotels Prague is separated into two sides by the vast river, and the old town is reachable either by foot or by frequent tram. I stayed in Hotel Andel’s, a short tram hop from the centre. Part of Vienna International’s Czech chain. It’s joined to Hotel Angelo’s, and boasts ample space and facilities for top class meetings, as does the more central Le Palais, another great, uberprestigious sister hotel that makes up VI’s portfolio of great accommodation. Le Palais is très très chic with a lovely outdoor terrace for hire that overlooks
the dynamic business district. Hotel Diplomat is a humongous veteran hotel nestled amongst the embassies and diplomatic missions of the city, a hotel for big and serious meetings that require professionalism and flexibility, with large, separable conference spaces and plenty of naturally lit smaller rooms for breakout groups. Prague is super easy to get to: a very pleasant and timely Czech Airlines flight from Brussels was scheduled to take only one hour thirty minutes, and was twenty minutes early even at the height of the seasonal rush hour. And as it was high summer, the streets were crowded but not uncomfortably so; I even managed a Segwey tour, (thank you again, Maxin Prague) followed by an ice sculpting activity down on the grass by the riverside. But it must be said: as lovely as Prague is, there’s no denying the midsummer throngs, which is why for incentive groups I might recommend the relative calm (and increased bargaining potential!) of autumn. For extra special memories, on my final morning Maxin Prague arranged for an old timer tram (complete with accordion player churning out old Czech shanties) to bring me to Prague Castle, the famous relic
that supervises the whole city like a stern and sophisticated governess. Gabriella, my cheery and dry-witted polyglot guide, was waiting in comfortable shoes to regale me with the history of kings and queens, pogroms and pillagers. Exhausted, happy, I headed home, and I decided Prague is definitely a contender for the crown of best incentive destination. With so much to see and do, I’ll have to go back a third time just to fit it all in.
Airlines, Events and Hotels Czech Airlines has three flights a day between Prague and Brussels. Maxin Prague www.maxin-prague.cz/ en/ - contact Fanny Desbos Vienna International hotels www.vi-hotels.com/en/hotels/ contact Zuzana Ševčovičová Czech Airlines www.csa.cz contact Alena Soralova Hotel Diplomat**** Rooms: 398 Conference rooms: 22 Max space: 2000 sq m Max capacity: 1050 pax Hotel Le Palais***** Rooms: 72 Conference rooms: 5 Max space: 247 sq m Max capacity: 130 pax
Suite at Hotel Andel’s
Hotel Andel’s**** Rooms: 290 Conference rooms: 15 Max space: 650 sq m Max capacity: 460 pax Hotel Angelo**** Rooms: 168 Conference rooms: 4 Max space: 362 sq m Max capacity: 380 pax
Smetana Hall at Municipal House
Conference venue at Diplomat Hotel
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A winning trip to Switzerland
Flown in from across the globe, participants at this year’s 9th Switzerland Meeting Trophy witnessed a truly diverse selection of challenges, representing what the Swiss do best: panoramic landscapes and luxury venues, mixed with business efficiency and a healthy dose of spontaneity. This year Belgium won the Trophy, which took participants on an incentive-oriented tour of Switzerland, visiting Zurich and Basel, as well as the Alpine wonder of Arosa and Bad Ragaz, Europe’s top luxury thermal spa. As a press member on the Belgian team, I was lucky enough to witness the whole journey, partaking in all the planned outdoor and indoor activities meant to give journalists an idea of what Switzerland can offer the meeting and incentive industry. And I can only say that they didn’t disappoint! On the contrary, participants were met with 3 full days of jampacked excitement, challenges and luxury treatment. Without doubt, Switzerland flexed its MICE muscles and showed its capabilities with services ranging from luxury spa-treatment, winter sports and large to small-scale incentives, business meetings and extravagant venues. Starting in Basel, we were invited for dinner at the new restaurant of the Messe Basel, situated across the Swissôtel and the Ramada Hotel, two main business venues for meetings. With an accolade of Swiss wines and seating for one hundred people, we we’re presented with a three-country
menu, in line with the city of Basel, situated at the boarder with Switzerland, France and Germany. This included everything from Coq au vin and meatballs to potato soup, tartar and tobmouse. After the dinner, guests were showed the newly constructed Event Hall of the Messe Basel, which has
There we took old-timer trams and rode around the beautiful town for one hour. Apart from timely precision, the Zurich tram ride is highly advisable to incentive groups that wish to be transported around the city, while having the opportunity to dine on a selection of light-lunch
“Switzerland flexed its MICE muscles and showed its capabilities with services ranging from luxury spa-treatment, winter sports and large to small-scale incentives, business meetings and extravagant venues” already hosted part of BASELWORLD the World Watch and Jewellery Show. This new Event Hall has a capacity of 2500 people for all kind of events. The following day after discovering the city of Basel with its international museums and carnival traditions, we boarded the train to Zurich.
dishes, including Guildhouse salad with sausage and cheese, smoked trout and horse radish. At the end of the tram ride, we arrived at the Tram Museum where we got our Audi cabriolet by Europcar and continued the journey via ferry on Lake Zurich to Bad Ragaz, one of Europe’s top thermal spa destinations.
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Perhaps one of the most beautiful areas during our visit to Switzerland was Bad Ragaz and the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, which offers guests an exceptional stay pampered with the largest spa area in Switzerland, as well as two golf courses, several restaurants and the scenic tranquility surrounding the hotel. With rooms equipped with the newest gadgets, including the stylish Bang & Olufsen television and surround sound systems, Grand Resort Bad Ragaz grants incentive groups an exceptional experience not easily obtained elsewhere. With the purest of thermal water, visitors are guaranteed health and relaxation of the highest caliber. On the next day we continued from Bad Ragaz by yellow Postal Bus to Chur and then by Rhaetian railway to the mountain village of Arosa, a famous skiing resort nestled in the heart of the Grisons Alp. The train ride was an experience in itself: the special wagon Stiva Retica offers seven tables for four, a large communal table, a staffed bar with wine by the glass and big doses of country romance. Upon arrival the groups were called to the first activity of the day: duck fishing. Using pedalo’s on the senic Obersee lake in Arosa, the teams had to collect has many yellow rubber ducks as possible within five minutes.
Local traditions Switzerland
This was followed by a journey up the mountain with cable cars, reaching various mountain stations between 1800 meters and 2200 meters. At the peak of the Weisshorn, we enjoyed the magnificent panoramic views over valleys and mountain ranges, seeing into Italy and Switzerland simultaneously. On the top of the mountain there is a restaurant in the new ultra-modern 360 Weisshorn station. With a stunning 360-degree view over the area, we we’re treated with refreshments and the local specialty: walnut cake. Instead of taking the cable cars down, our group was offered an exciting incentive: driving downhill with bikes to the local dairy. For anyone with a desire to take a thrilling bike tour downhill, this incentive offers the best of Swiss nature and fresh mountain air!
“Switzerland keeps on outranking other countries when it comes to annual numbers of tourists and corporate trips” Back in Arosa, at the bottom of the hill, incentive groups can both organise open-air drinks, or more formal dinners or executive meetings inside the conference hall, with a capacity of up to 400 people. Located in
the proximity of hotels like the luxury Tschuggen Grand Hotel, the alpine chic Waldhotel National Arosa and the Sunstar, Arosa represents a perfect place for groups to enjoy a blend of incentives programs in summer as well as in winter. With Arosa’s reputation for snowboarding, skiing, ice-skating and ice hockey, this location is a great base for small and medium-sized incentives with a desire to aim for extravagance, culinary excellence, timely planning and stimulating incentives. In the end, I only had good things to say about Switzerland. And – beyond the fact that we we’re lucky enough to win the tournament – I confirm that there are good reasons for why Switzerland keeps on outranking other countries when it comes to annual numbers of tourists and corporate trips. A long history of hospitality incorporated into a multicultural country makes it a perfect combination of French, Italian and German traditions. Add that to Switzerland’s values of efficiency, service and know-how, and you have a perfect incentive. Contact information: Myriam Winnepenninckx Manager Meetings & Incentives myriam.winnepenninckx@switzerland.com +32 (0)2 345 83 57
Duck fishing on Lake Obersee
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Chic Outlet Shopping®
Reinventing incentives with a guilty pleasure The meetings, incentive, conference and events industry is facing an uphill battle, when trying to reinvent itself. With heightened client expectations and group activities becoming increasingly difficult, coming across a new concept is rare. Adventurous incentives and team-building activities no longer appeal in the same way to groups, as corporate planners and incentive houses look for the ‘next best thing’ on the market. That’s why the Chic Outlet Shopping® concept is appealing for the incentive market. Globally available, yet ‘marketable’ to everyone, luxury shopping at discounted prices fits the industry’s current needs. And what makes hosting a meeting, group, incentive or event at the collection of nine Chic Outlet Shopping® Villages in Europe by Value Retail special? They embrace what everyone hates to admit but truly loves: shopping! The Villages provide recognisable fashion brands, all offering their previous seasons’ collections with savings of up to 60% on the recommended retail price all year round, in a luxury environment within an hour or less of major gateway cities across Europe. With hospitality services such as multilingual hosts, chauffeur transport, a ‘shop and drop’ hands-free service, personal shoppers, VIP Lounges and valet parking and different tours to see cultural attractions in the near vicinity, the villages are synonymous with the perfect blend between event organization, culture and fashion. And as the outlets are located in regions of cultural and historic importance, the Villages have become international tourist destina-
are being introduced to the MICE market across the Collection of Villages. The strategy will see Chic Outlet Shopping® partner with corporate and agency organisations, venues, convention bureaus, congress centers and brand experience agencies to host bespoke events, groups meetings and incentives at the Villages. Chic Outlet Fidenza Village, Milan Shopping® aims to boutiques ranging from brands like host around 800 events at its Villages Baldinini and Simonetta to Gucci and in 2014. The Collection of nine Versace. With different packages Villages has already seen 22,000 offering visits to the famous Ferrari Museum, Fontanello Castle and National Art Gallery in Parma, guests are showered with incentive options! And most importantly, corporate groups delegates from 31 countries attend can host their own events in the village, 280 events at the Villages in 2013. combining meetings and large-scale Fidenza Village is located only sixty business dinners or cocktails with minutes from both Milan and Bologna an exclusive shopping experience. and offers shoppers over 100 outlet
“They embrace what everyone hates to admit but truly loves: shopping!” tions in their own right. Companies can access all of the hospitality services in the nine Villages across Europe for their staff and customers including pre-paid Gift cards. Four products
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And if Italy wasn’t enough, Chic Outlet Shopping® also offers its services at its eight other Villages across Europe, including at Las Rozas Village near Madrid and La Roca Village near Barcelona, where visitors have the opportunity to see Gaudi and Dali, while enjoying international and Spanish brands at bargain prices. With La Roca Village recent partnership with the Department for Employment, Tourism and Culture in Spain, incentive guests visiting Barcelona can expect the complete package, including for example a night at the designer OMM hotel with a dinner on the beach and a visit to see Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia. Some of the larger groups hosted this year at La Roca Village include 1,700 Indonesian incentive winners.
“That’s why we provide shopping packages and services including hands-free shopping and VIP Lounges to make their visit special” Similarly, at Las Rozas Village, groups will have the opportunity to visit endless bars and restaurants, while experiencing Madrid’s dynamic cultural
and art scene. With the availability of many upscale hotels, galleries and panoramic rooftop bars, incentive tours won’t be disappointed by the culinary wonders of Spain’s capital and its cultural options like Dali’s permanent exhibition in Madrid’s infamous National Contemporary Art Center. And to top it all off, Las Rozas Village is only a thirty-minute drive from the center of Madrid, located in the beautiful Sierra valley outside the capital facing the mountains. Finally, Maasmechelen Village near Brussels offers the ‘Tasteful shopping weekend Brussels’ package, valid until the 31st of December 2013. It includes a two day luxury shopping trip, including a return transfer from the center of Brusels on the Shopping Express™ luxury coach service. The package also includes an Italian lunch as well as a demonstration of the history and manufacturing of chocolate at Planète Chocolat. This typically Belgian and tasteful shopping experience is complimented with the Maasmechelen Village Prepaid MasterCard® Gift Card of € 25, which is a 15% reduction voucher for à la carte menu at Chez Léon in Brussels and a VIP Day Pass, granting visitors a 10% additional discount on nine boutiques of your choice or a VIP gift.
Lufthansa Miles and More Mastercard MICE event in Wertheim Village
La Roca Village, Barcelona
Chic Outlet Shopping’s® four new MICE products: 1. Groups - Convention or corporate standalone meetings and events, incorporating a shopping experience into the partner or main programme. Services include priority food and beverage reservations and access to a VIP hospitality area in the Villages and can be combined with visits to other sites of tourism interest such as Whisky tasting in Kildare or a Ferrari experience in Milan. 2. Special Events - One-off events incorporating sponsor branding and the use of the village on a large group or sole hire basis (generally between 300-2000 guests), including bespoke private access to boutique brands and hospitality options 3. Meetings - Use of VIP lounges or other facilities for a personalised ‘different’ location for a VIP meeting experience. 4. Incentives - Gift card based employee and customer reward solutions
Maasmechelen Village, Brussels
Las Rozas Village, Madrid
MIM Europe Magazine, the meetings and incentives magazine for European corporate planners, in exclusive partnership with EUMA, the European Association of Management Assistants, supported by ECM, European Cities Marketing and Site.
europe magazine #124
SPECIAL FEATURE Experiencing incentives
Prague Europe’s dream
Interview
Published 4 times a year: March, May, September, November Edition September 2013
Bente Bratland Holm Paying attention to incentives