Home FEATURED NEWS Leading MICE luxury professionals flocked to Bodrum for Luxe by M&I

Leading MICE luxury professionals flocked to Bodrum for Luxe by M&I

Turkey’s most lavish resort destination hosted an exclusive event for the MICE luxury sector

Oct 7, 2024

m_i_luxe — Photo: Luxe by M&I, David Pelham Photography

Luxe Bodrum

Acclaimed as one of the leading MICE platforms in the meetings industry, M&I is growing its portfolio worldwide. Luxe, the brand’s tailored event for the luxury segment, set sail for Turkey’s Bodrum this year, where 110 handpicked incentive buyers hosted vis-a-vis meetings with 100 select suppliers in the intimate and opulent setting of the Lujo Resort.

Luxe by M&I has established itself as the preeminent event for high-end luxury suppliers across Europe and beyond. This year’s event, hosted in Bodrum, could not have found a more fitting venue, as Lujo Resort specialises in all things luxury. The resort, dotted with private villas, verdant gardens, a music arena, a private strip of beach, and lined with infinity pools overlooking the azure Aegean, hides a modern meeting space and a grand ballroom where attendees could interact across two days.

Following one-to-one meetings, attendees ventured to sea, land and air, some heading for the discovery tours in the city, some opting for seaborne navigation and some soaring high on the seaplane tour. M&I yet again showcased how to pair immersive, hands-on destination experiences with effective meetings that result in concrete RFPs. Attendees hosted between 20 and 30 meetings on both days, with relaxed networking lunches in between where they could dig into Turskih cuisine par excellence.

The first day of the event culminated with an evening soirée at Susona Bodrum’s Frankie Beach Club, where attendees could network while enjoying the soothing Mediterranean breeze. In a similar fashion, the attendees said farewell to Bodrum with a closing show to remember in Lujo Resort’s open-air Puppet Theatre. At the closing, Richard Barnes, CEO of M&I, outlined that the advent of the event marked a milestone for the industry, connecting the industry’s high-end sector.

Niche event for the high-end sector

“We want to tailor meetings for our suppliers who can enjoy fruitful one-to-one meetings with the right buyers.”

Reflecting on the importance of a designated event for the luxury sector within the MICE industry, Elsa Harbourne, COO at Worldwide Events, outlined: “Luxe Bodrum is a niche event that caters to specific needs of the market. With this event, we want to tailor meetings for our high-end suppliers who can enjoy fruitful one-to-one meetings with the right buyers.” In light of M&I’s 20th anniversary, Elsa revealed their future plans: “We have several Luxe events lined up for next year, where we will tap into new markets. Bodrum was a logical choice for the Luxe event this year, as it blends exclusive experiences with the most scenic views. Next year, we have a slew of novelties lined up, including the M&I Express event in Zagreb, the Transatlantic event connecting buyers across the pond and much more.”

Bringing young Turks into the industry

M&I has been recruiting new talents for its numerous projects. A slew of young Turks are cutting their teeth at the events of the brand and learning the ropes of the meetings industry. This is one of the ways M&I is aiming to leave a positive legacy in the industry and mark twenty years of event excellence.

Barring the new faces, the community of M&I maintains the air of a family gathering, where old colleagues meet and network in arguably the best venues around the world. That is among the reasons the brand has become synonymous with memorable experiences.

Learn more about M&I’s upcoming events here.