The Brief
We were asked by our IT client to arrange their annual 4-day travel incentive programme at an aspirational destination in Europe. This is the 12th year we have arranged this special event for them.
The hotel needed to be of a very high standard, ideally close to the sea with warm weather and accommodate 180 guests in double bedrooms with a variety of dining experiences, city tours and fun activities to create an exciting itinerary. The venue needed to be easily accessible from 30 different departure destinations around Europe, preferably with direct flights.We also build a bespoke website and event app looking after all the registrations, flight bookings and transfers for all guests.
Scope Of Services
Results
The client chose to hold the event in beautiful coastal town of Sorrento in Italy. The town is located about an hour from Naples airport which has a good flight schedule from many European destinations.
We created a bespoke website with registration portal and were responsible for all registrations and transportation requirements. We booked all the flights from 28 destinations around Europe and they were met with their partners at the airport and transferred by to the Hilton Sorrento Palace Hotel, which has fantastic views of Mount Vesuvius.
We also built an event app that had an interactive itinerary and maps, local information, attendee list, an A-Z guide and free time suggestions. We were able to send push notifications throughout the trip to communicate useful information and reminders and guests loved posting photographs of their trip on the social wall. A post event survey was available for guests to give their feedback.
The first night after all the guests had arrived and settled in, we held an informal welcome dinner in the Citrus Gardens located at the hotel with BBQ and buffet stations, Limoncello tasting stall and guitarist strumming background music. The next morning after a Business Update meeting, we booked a private hydrofoil boat and took the guests to the infamous island of Capri for the day. The guests were split into teams for guided tours with some free time to look around the island and gardens themselves. We dined in pretty Ville Verde Restaurant for lunch.
After returning from the tour, dinner was held in a beautiful Sorrento Restaurant – Bellevue Syrene. This wonderful venue gives spectacular views over the sea and is a great place to watch the amazing sunset. The guests were delighted when surprised when the “waiters” started singing some opera classics!
On the second day the hydrofoil took us for a tour along the Amalfi Coast with visits to the pretty towns on Positano, Ravello and Amalfi. Lunch was taken in the Sigilgaida Restaurant which again provided amazing views.
That evening after two days of optional excursions, we had an informal dinner at the hotel and transformed the swimming pool terrace into a pool party. We removed the sun loungers and arranged for festoon lighting, LED orbs in the pool, sparkly palm trees along with live cooking stations, a disco, saxophonist and caricaturists. It was a lovely casual evening with some surprise entertainment by a pizza acrobat thrown in!
On the final day we arranged an optional morning tour to the ancient Roman city of Pompeii. This step-back-in-time city is on many people’s bucket lists and it was wonderful to have guided tours walking around the streets and look at shops, houses, theatres, swimming pools, saunas, fast food restaurants pools literally frozen in time since 79AD – a really fascinating insight into how they used to live!
For the grand finale we arranged for the gala dinner to take place in “Castello Mediovale” a local medieval castle. The guests were greeted on arrival by traditional flag wavers and drummers for a champagne reception while the sun set and dined amongst trees and fairy lights overlooking Mount Vesuvius before dancing the night away to a local band.
What a fantastic end to a wonderful few days. The guests are feeling fully pampered and eager to work hard to earn their place on next year’s trip!
“I’d like to thank you for what was again an excellent event on many levels, given all the feedback I have received the standard continues.”
“All excellent. No pressure or hassle with anything so we could relax and enjoy. All ran like clockwork”
“The app was super helpful for keeping up to date & for the social aspect of the event feed”
“Excellent guides guiding us easily through the crowed and also leaving time to explore the island (Capri) on our own”
“Perfect, great site, the view is enormous. Excellent idea with the singers (Bellevue Syrene dinner)”
“What a fantastic transformation, great night. For an “informal” dinner the ambience was fabulous and beautiful (pool party)”
“Very interesting, excellent tour guide Diana! Please give Diana our feedback! (Pompeii)”
“What a great place and ambiance, everything during the night was perfectly arranged. Great band! (Gala dinner)”
“I’d like to thank you for what was again an excellent event on many levels, given all the feedback I have received the standard continues”
“All excellent. No pressure or hassle with anything so we could relax and enjoy. All ran like clockwork”
“The app was super helpful for keeping up to date & for the social aspect of the event feed “
“Excellent guides guiding us easily through the crowed and also leaving time to explore the island (Capri) on our own”
“Perfect, great site, the view is enormous. Excellent idea with the singers (Bellevue Syrene dinner)”
“What a fantastic transformation, great night. For an “informal” dinner the ambience was fabulous and beautiful (pool party)”
“Very interesting, excellent tour guide Diana! Please give Diana our feedback! (Pompeii)”
“Every single one of the team members was fantastic, they are a valuable asset to the company – thank you each and every one for amazing time! (Event Team)”
“Just one word: PERFECT! What an energy and enthusiasm during the whole trip, you really made a difference! “
“Very good – smiley and helpful!!! Well organised throughout.”
“Love you guys, always available, absolutely spot on and really helpful. Thanks so much.”
“Always on hand to help, nothing too much trouble”
“Great team and excellent event management! Thank you!”
“Overall a wonderful visit – thank you all. We will always treasure the memories”