If you haven’t heard, meetings mean business and face-to-face meetings to make deals are not fading away. The seasoned business traveler knows that there is little downtime when traveling for a meeting because their time is purely devoted to packed schedules of networking events and B2B meetings.
So how do meeting professionals keep things interesting while hosting in an exciting destination?
Whether you have 10 minutes or a 3-hour break in the schedule, Destination Management Companies (DMCs) all over the world have found perfect solutions for bringing in the best of culture and history of the destination directly to attendees.
The best of culture
Mila Nikolaeva, CIS, senior project manager at Tsar Events DMC & PCO in St. Petersburg, Russia, brings in an honored Russian tradition to any location: the bread and salt ceremony. “This is a traditional sign of Russian hospitality which can be combined with the folklore trio performance,” says Mila. “It can be arranged at the airport, upon check-in at the hotel, before the meeting, lunch, or dinner. Not only is it a beautiful ceremony, but the meaning behind one of the oldest Russian traditions is quite symbolic – to welcome important guests with bread and salt, the signs of wealth and prosperity.”
Finding solutions
If you are not sure where to start or what types of local activities to bring in to your meeting, turning to a local DMC for support can result in a natural solution that gives your attendees an enhanced experience.
“Our destination is known as the city of makers, so we’ve created authentic makers experiences including destination market-themed breaks and receptions,” said Denise Ker Waldron, President and CEO of Viva! Events. “Attendees meet local makers while tasting and touching products like sipping vinegars, honey, chocolate, and soap which are then made available for purchase at a pop-up shop.”
Finding accredited DMCs and their certified professionals has never been easier. Association of Destination Management Professionals (ADMEI) is the premier resource for education, standards, and practices within the DMC industry. Visit ADMEI’s website, www.admei.org, and click on “Find a DMC” to find more information about DMCs at your next destination.
Liz Liebeskind, Director of Marketing and Communications, ADMEI, [email protected]
Do you or your company host conferences and events?
Comment below to enter for a chance to win a trip to Boulder to see why it’s more than the average destination for association meetings and corporate retreats. Prize includes:
- Round-trip airfare for two
- Two nights hotel lodging
- $100 gift card to shop Pearl Street
- A guided downtown dining experience
- Two attraction tickets, such as live music at the historic Boulder Theater or CU football game