Puglia is a region much loved by Italians, favouring it above all others for their domestic holidays. In a nation where you really have to eat your heart out to find bad food, it says a lot when somewhere is particularly renowned for its wine, olive oil and culinary delights.
When we were invited to be a Hosted Buyer by Connections Meetings for their final convention of the year, in Puglia, it was a short meeting to decide to go.
Having regularly attended huge industry trade shows such as the World Travel Market, IBTM Barcelona and The Meetings Show I know the benefit and you have the opportunity to meet potentially hundreds of colleagues. However it is my experience that I must know exactly what I am looking for and to take a specific shopping list. Over a week long event it can be hard to remember everyone.
Connections Meetings presented a unique and intimate platform to meet prospective suppliers in a beautiful setting and learn about new properties and destinations. 36 Buyers and Suppliers respectively were brought together to discuss business opportunities.
At each 1:1 meeting we were given the opportunity to try an experience together. Of a generous list, pasta making, wine or olive oil tasting, cycling and a traditional Pugliese musical workshop proved the most popular. The premise is that if you participate in a meaningful experience with someone, you are more likely to remember the moment, the person and that which was discussed.
[envira-gallery id=”464″]For a shared philosophy, it felt a lot like Disneyland, but with better cheese.
As well as the individual meetings, there were panel discussions and collaborative workshops led in part by Dynamo Academy, an Italian social enterprise that works with corporations to effectively combine business and social giving.
Connections Meetings were supported and sponsored by Italia and Puglia Tourist Boards, the local Destination Management Partner Inventure Life as well as the two beautiful hotels that hosted us: Masseria Torre Coccaro and Masseria Don Luigi.
It’s in the DNA of The Orange Side that positive experiences drive positive productivity, so to be a participant in this conference was a busman’s holiday with a big beaming smile and a gelato in place of a choc ice.
These memorable meetings educated me to a wealth of new and wonderful places with like-minded people. Places I would like to introduce to my clients, to plan their next experience.
Very best,
Natalie
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