The Swiss Summit Experience
SITE’s Incentive Summit Europe (ISE) took place this year in Geneva and Montreux, Switzerland — an incredible pair of destinations not just for incentive travel, but for events that run the full length and breadth of our industry.
From start to finish, the attendees enjoyed a truly Swiss experience. The sounds of Switzerland swirled around them on the opening evening of ISE in Geneva, from yodelling to the alphorn (alpine horn), to cowbells.
The attendees then continued on to Montreux, taking in its surroundings along the way. They kept right on time with a hands-on watch-making session by Initium, delighted in several unforgettable culinary experiences (including a dinner tucked up the mountainside at the Claude Nobs Chalet, the former home of the legendary Montreux Jazz Festival founder, and a final evening at Château de Chillon complete with magicians and a fire performer), soaked in the early spring sunshine at the terraced vineyards of Lavaux, and so much more in just a few short days.
ISE attendees, be they event buyers or suppliers, are also proven champions of combining business with the pleasure of discovering a destination: with this year’s event delivering exactly that.
Aoife Delaney took part in a session on the current state of incentive travel on the opening night of ISE, alongside the fellow past president of SITE David Sand and current President Kevin Edmunds. They discussed personal learnings from the pandemic, current client concerns, the strength of DMCs in 2022, and the value of association membership, with the panel providing a nice cross-section of backgrounds — and client, hotel and DMC perspectives all represented.
The motivational power of incentive travel
The incentive group used the fantastic Swiss rail system for much of the program, with ISE a standout example of effectively and efficiently using public transportation when operating an incentive program.
Not every destination is as blessed as Switzerland with its iconic transit timekeeping and ultra-clean train carriages. Still, working with destination experts in any locale will help meeting planners find natural sustainability strengths they can then incorporate into their program.
To learn more about ISE, incentive travel’s past and present states, or for an insider tip or two on bringing your next event to the Swiss Alps, click here.
Article by Aoife Delaney
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