Out of the city, into nature
Aren't employees and company bosses already condensed enough in everyday life? MK shows that there are locations outside the hustle and bustle that benefit precisely from offering something different.All the advantages seem to lie with the conference and meeting hotels in the cities: centrally located and with public transport connections, they allow participants to arrive quickly, and then you can [...]
Time, an expensive commodity
So everything seems to speak in favor of companies and associations holding their seminars, meetings and conferences directly and super-efficiently in the city centers and business hubs. Some protagonists of the Swiss MICE scene take a differentiated view and present good arguments why meetings should be held in the countryside and in the mountains. And because time has become the most expensive commodity, the main beneficiaries are those providers whose offerings can be reached quickly from the cities.
Out into nature
Jungfrau Park in Interlaken also benefits from these "new" needs. As the person responsible for events, Christine Raudner recognizes the added value for companies: "Outside of the office and away from the conference rooms, it is possible for team colleagues and superiors, sometimes even with customers, to meet in a different environment and to get to know each other a little bit 'anew' through joint activities," she adds: "Of course, the activities must be tailored to the target audience and, above all, correspond to the age. With highly mixed company groups (gender, age, hierarchy), it is also important that there is something for everyone. "And Jungfrau Park certainly offers this variety. There are multimedia shows on the themes of "Mysteries of the World" and "Swiss Alps" and, during the summer months, a Segway course and a bungee trampoline. And the park's large outdoor areas can be used for crossbow shooting, ice carving, alphorn blowing and much more.
Money can't buy
The importance of MICE events is also increasing for Andermatt. The multiple award-winning Hotel Chedi not only offers extremely elegant meeting rooms equipped with the latest technology, colorfully adapted to the style of the mountains, but also suitable supporting programs.Under the leadership of Jean-Yves Blatt, the director, Sven Flory is responsible for the acquisition work. And Flory uses the so-called "money can't buy" activities for this purpose. These include, for example, a goat trekking, a night snowshoe tour or a visit to the Sasso San Gottardo, the museum in the former secret fortress on the Gotthard Pass.Flory explains: "For our corporate customers, we use nature as much as possible and as in demand. And that includes the impressive character of the mountains around Andermatt. Wind and weather are simply part of the Ursern Valley, and some companies therefore want to hold outdoor talks or outdoor team-building activities."
Empathize with the mountains
Of course, this also suits the Rigi, and for Otz, authenticity is the most important element par excellence. This includes being relaxed with each other at corporate events, being flexible with regard to time and the course of events in nature, and basically empathizing with the mountains, just as you do in your private life.and that the organizers communicate openly about their program, for example about the alpine environment But also the weather conditions or the safety aspects, are part of it. Many Swiss providers in the countryside are getting involved in the MICE sector, expanding their offers and services and deliberately targeting companies in the cities. In particular, the region of eastern Switzerland, with its tourist attractions from the Rhine Falls and around Lake Constance to Bad Ragaz, is extremely active and successful.In Graubünden, it is rather individual places, Davos in the lead, that have made a name for themselves in the meeting and conference sector. And in Ticino, the efforts of the Ticino Tourism Agency (ATT SA) in Bellinzona, which has bundled the MICE theme and is marketing it for the entire canton, have been underway for three years.But otherwise, it is primarily individual providers who are marketing themselves in the business hubs of Zurich, Basel and Bern. Each of them is on its way to finding the right demand for its specific offer.
Good mix
One word in particular characterizes this sales work: added value. The factors mentioned above should motivate companies to hold their events in the countryside or in the mountains. Christine Raudner sees another argument: "Variety is relevant nowadays, so that participants don't get bored.And variety means first of all that you don't have to stay in the meeting room, but can actively experience nature and the surroundings. This is simply not possible in a city. I think that events with a good mix of information, training, motivation and fun give participants a nicely rounded feeling. This element of "nature" has also become relevant in the MICE sector. Stefan Otz also says that people are looking for the real thing, probably also the ideal world somewhere, and that can be found in the alpine environment. "The longer, the more people, especially city dwellers, no longer find access to alpine culture. Under guidance, therefore, experiences are created on the Rigi that fulfill this longing, and that in turn creates relaxation, satisfaction and humility."
Who has the choice, has the ...
"Out of the cities," then? Quite so, it seems. But those responsible must be aware that emotions are triggered there and the human, the interpersonal, is exposed. This may require a bit of courage. But anyone who makes use of the wide range of event agencies and other providers will certainly receive professional and helpful tips on how to maximize the entire experience of a conference, a congress or an event, including transfer times.www.rigi.ch/Erleben-Genuss/Gruppen-Seminarewww.jungfraupark.ch/eventswww.thechediandermatt.com/de/Seminare-Bankette
