Four walls and a slide show will put anyone to sleep even before the keynote speech begins. For truly inspirational meetings, why not consider the polar opposite of this steaming region that we call home?
Wintry weather provides the perfect opportunity for truly memorable activities and in few places the snow is guaranteed such as in Scandinavia. Like the UAE suppliers and their desert activities, each country in this region works with the elements to create hybrid events in modern conference venues close to nature that make for exciting meetings and incentives.
Rovaniemi in Finland offers some of the most extreme incentives. Five kilometres south of the Arctic Circle, this northern city has a diverse range of venues, the largest of which can handle up to 3,500 delegates, according to Rovaniemi Congresses.
A well developed network of suppliers in and around Finnish Lapland provides a slew of action-packed incentives and post-congress trips. These include overnights in an ice hotel, husky safaris, moonlight walks on snowshoes, or our favourite, camping in the freezing wilderness, which provides a true bonding experience, complete with tent and fire building and transport on reindeer sleds.
There are even Olympic-style challenges for those competitive types in sales and marketing. At the Racing Olympics Stadium small teams compete in rally cars, ice karts, quad bikes and snowmobiles before stopping for a traditional meal and a song around a campfire.
There’s even space for family incentives. The city advertises itself as the official home of Santa Claus, and winter is the best time to visit the bearded wonder himself after a log cabin meeting at the Santa Claus Village. Santa Park, run by entrepreneurs Ilkka Länkinen and Katja Ikäheimo-Länkinen, creates a variety of indoor and outdoor themed events that promise a touch of magic.
And there’s something for design fans too — meetings at the city’s Alvar Alto-designed town hall start from €34 (Dh162) per day per person. Not so cheap if you factor in the flights, but excellent for clients who want something truly memorable.
— GN Focus Report
