he high-end incentives market for smaller exclusive groups is tipped to come back ahead of some of the larger conference business . There are few places , in Europe at least , positioned so well as Switzerland to take advantage of the return of exclusive business events .

The Snow Polo World Cup St Moritz in January is the only polo tournament in the world played on a frozen lake . This exclusive event exudes a unique atmosphere both on and off the field . It takes a total of 5,600 man-hours over three weeks to erect 2,600 tons of tents , fences , grandstands and other infrastructure on the lake in preparation for 18,000 visitors .

A tournament budget of CHF2.5m ( USD $ 2.79m ) brings estimated revenues for the Engadine Valley of CHF12m .

St Moritz ’ s winter sports pedigree is high , having twice staged the Winter Olympics and the Alpine World Ski Championships five times . It is a place designed for exclusive events , culinary indulgence , offering organisers that Higgs-Boson ingredient of glamour and glitz .

St Moritz also stages horse racing on snow and cricket tournaments on ice . Its Bernina Grand Turismo mountain race continues the tradition of classic car races held in the St Moritz area since the 1920s and ’ 30s . In summer , the Sailing Champions League continues the prestigious event tradition .

It is not all sport , with the NOMAD art event a regular draw and hiking trails available for delegates wishing to get out and sample the fresh air at a slower pace .

There is a regular jazz festival and the St Moritz Gourmet Festival which traditionally fills the local top-class hotels .

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Paul Dutschmann , PR manager for the destination ’ s tourism bureau believes the resort also ticks the boxes of likely increased demand relating to cleanliness and hygiene as organisers become much more sensitive to these topics . “ We also think that sustainability will play an even bigger role in the future ,” he adds , noting the destination has impeccable practices and delegate options in that department .

urich markets itself as a financial powerhouse and also for being at the heart of Europe , with a fairytale landscape that is not just a playground for the ‘ financial gnomes ’. Easily accessible for European business travellers in particular , Zurich melts cultural and culinary influences from its nearby German , Italian , French and Austrian neighbours into a tasty treat of an incentives offer .

Zurich is a destination where tradition meets innovation and the city ’ s Park Hyatt hotel has traditionally relied on events as a key business generator . Its team , pandemic permitting , is able to

plug in groups to sophisticated group activities including luxury watch-making courses and cheese and chocolate tasting .

Of course , the pandemic has meant some big changes , with travel still challenging and safety paramount . Park Hyatt Zurich has introduced its ‘ HY-brid ’ meeting solution for connecting participants around the globe . “ Small meetings are slowly coming back and we are focusing on a more holistic sense of wellbeing from pre-arrival to checkout and beyond ,” says Laura Amanzi , director of marketing at the hotel . The HY-brid product idea reimagines places and spaces . For example , a meeting of 200 participants can be planned in Paris , but be split into five smaller individual events , each happening simultaneously at various Hyatt hotels while being virtually connected and centrally organised . A single pricing structure sees Day Delegate Rates from $ 99.00 .

arly in 2020 , the Bürgenstock Resort hosted a Fortune 500 company for a full buyout of its 383 rooms and suites . The client was attracted by the picture-perfect location 500 metres above Lake Lucerne , albeit sadly one of the last to experience such a grand incentive before the world changed .

Lucerne , and Switzerland in general , is well-known for its safety , hygiene , medical excellence and easy accessibility . Sven Flory , director of sales at the Bürgenstock Resort , sees small events followed by incentive management retreats leading the way back for business visits this year .