Global Events Partners (GEP), a leading partnership of Destination Management Companies (DMCs) worldwide, held its annual Executive Summit in Moscow from July 15-18.
GEP co-hosted the event with Russkie Prostori, A Global Events Partner, and welcomed more than 200 meeting professionals from more than 60 destinations worldwide.
The participants came from across the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia to discuss industry concerns, learn about new destinations, network, meet with prospective DMC partners, and enjoy the social and cultural offerings of the Russian Capital.
The business and social events were held at a number of hotels and restaurants in the city to demonstrate the variety of luxury accommodations now available in Moscow.
Topics among the business sessions were:
Demystifying Russia: A Global Look at Doing Business in Russia, a presentation on how far Russia has come since the since the collapse of communism and what planners need to know about bringing groups to Russia.
Destination Highlights: updates on new venues, hotel openings, expansions and service offerings from 20 of GEP’s DMCs worldwide.
The Global MICE Industry – What’s It Look Like Today? A panel discussion going in-depth on four key topics: Currency Conversion, Technology-Mobile & Virtual, Risk & Crisis Management and the latest implications on Going Green policies.
GEP Café Conversations, where attendees pre-submit topics they wish to discuss in person with peers. During the session the room is split into ten groups to discuss a range of industry concerns. During Café Conversations, much discussion was devoted to DMC pricing structures including transparency, cost plus, management fees, deposits, and payment plans prompted by more rigorous oversight of meeting planners’ budgets.
The Summit was also the stage for GEP’s announcement of the 2011 Partners of the Year, an annual award presented to an International and a US-based DMC that embody the standards of GEP, demonstrate exceptional customer service, and use creativity in the pursuit of excellence.
The 2011 winners were Destination Concepts Inc. (San Diego, Orange County & Palm Springs) for U.S. GEP Partner of the Year, and Creatur DMC, (Spain) for the 2011 International Partner of the Year.
Social highlights of the conference included:
- A welcome reception at the O2 Lounge located on the top of The Ritz-Carlton Moscow with breathtaking views of Red Square and the Kremlin.
- An evening strolling tour of Red Square.
- Excursions to the Tretyakov Gallery, Kolomenskoye Estate, and Underground Bunker “Tagansky” which is now a Cold War Museum.
- A dinner and sightseeing cruise along the Moskva River sponsored by Radisson Royal Hotel Moscow.
Ola and Elena Kastensson, proprietors of Russkie Prostori, with offices in Moscow and St. Petersburg, announced at the Summit that they were opening a third office in Sochi in the Black Sea region of Krasnodar, site of the 2014 Winter Olympics.
“Russkie Prostori was one of the founding members of GEP,” Chris White, GEP CEO, explained. “The excellent program and arrangements they made for our guests in Moscow not only showed off this marvelous destination well but also the high quality reputation that this partner brought to our organization from the start. I have no doubt that, as a result of this Summit, Russia will be high on many lists for future meetings and incentives.”
The next GEP Executive Summit will be held in New Orleans June 28 to July 1, 2012, hosted by BBC Destination Management, A Global Events Partner. The group last met in New Orleans just months before Hurricane Katrina.
“Next year’s Summit will give participants a look at how well the city has recovered and how it can once again provide unforgettable experiences for all who visit there,” White said.
