Around the Vaud in so many ways
SIMON GEORGE GETS CAUGHT UP BY THE CUP FEVER OF THE SWITZERLAND MEETING TROPHY AS IT MAKES A POPULAR RETURN IN PERSON AFTER THREE YEARS
C orporate event planners and international agencies descended on Switzerland ’ s Vaud region ( Lausanne is the capital ) in mid-June to participate in the Switzerland Meeting Trophy 2022 , which is now in its 15th year . Hosted by Switzerland Convention & Incentive Bureau ( SCIB ), the event was also a showcase for what Switzerland has to offer as a year-round meetings and incentives destination .
A hectic four-day programme began in the ski resort of Villars-sur-Ollon , before heading down to the shores of Lake Geneva , skirting the Lavaux vineyards along the lakeside road to Montreux and Lausanne , before ending in Geneva .
Seven teams , one dream Teams from the UK , France , Belgium , Netherlands , the Nordics , Germany and North America came to take part in a four-day programme of teambuilding challenges involving an eclectic selection of some of the region ’ s MICE highlights .
From a venue perspective , there was a visit to a lakeside medieval castle ( Chillon Castle ), Charlie Chaplin ’ s mansion ( Chaplin ’ s World in Corsier-sur-Vevey ), the Olympic Museum ( Lausanne ), stylish restaurants ( Lacustre in Ouchy ) and hotel inspections of the Fairmont and the belle epoque , grande dame du lac , Le Beau Rivage , in Lausanne .
Trains ( including mountain cog wheel train and funicular ), bus , self-drive cars ,
“ Usually we have a nice balance of funding from the government and from older convention centres and tourism organisations .” boats and lots of walking would provide a diverse mix of transport for the groups to circumnavigate the region , while the Swiss Alps and the tranquil waters of Lake Geneva would offer the picture-postcard backdrop . Not quite Around the World in 80 Days , but Around the Vaud in so many ways .
So , given the hiatus since the last Switzerland Meeting Trophy , the 2022 trip provided an ideal opportunity to find out how the country ’ s MICE industry is emerging from the pandemic . Well , physical meetings are very much on again and Switzerland lifted all Covid-19 restrictions on visitors in April .
Barbra Albrecht , the head of the SCIB ’ s Zurich bureau , and Alex Herrmann , director of UK , Ireland and Western Europe at Switzerland Tourism , took some time out of the programme to tell CMW how great it was to be able to meet face to face , to be back on the radar , to do business and to get away from Zoom calls .
Albrecht was quick to stress the importance of maintaining continuity during the dark days of the pandemic and said Covid-19 had not changed the SCIB ’ s MICE strategy : “ We are one of the convention bureaus that really remained in the market . That is very important . Our market presence is to be close to our clients , 365 days a year , to help them find the perfect location and the information they need .
“ We are now helping our clients more in trying to find availability , the right location , what they are looking for . During the pandemic , we were helping more with informing our clients about the situation and developments .”
She was bullish about the level of MICE demand the SCIB is currently seeing : “ We have a huge backlog .” And demand is not just from neighbouring countries , she noted . “ South-east Asia has really come back from mid-March . North America even earlier . So we are very happy . The only market that has not yet come back is China ( incentives ), but we expect it to be back at the end of
32 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / ISSUE 119