Company Offsites and Team-Building Activities With a Wow Effect
So we went to Portugal again.
Yes, it's the 4th time Goho is in Portugal this year (for work), and it was not the last one. We can't really complain. This time, I was there for the m&i Autumn. m&i is one of the biggest networking events in Europe for MICE professionals. They create global networking events with a firm focus on building lasting business relationships as well as unforgettable memories among suppliers (venues, hotels and destination management companies) and buyers (agencies like us!). Like all destinations picked by them, Porto was a great surprise.
The itinerary is jam-packed - we have about 15 meetings a day in the morning and then participate in networking activities in the afternoon. This time, we could choose between walking tours, boat trips (a must-do in Porto), tours around Porto classics - wine, cork, cuisine, etc, a shopping session in the city's fashion quarter, or just an afternoon at the beach (not bad at all). We wrapped up the days with toast and dinner somewhere WOW.
So let's talk about WOW.
When working at events, it's common to walk past popular sights thinking 'can I hire this space?' and events like m&i serve exactly to show us what these events would be like. It was not different in Porto, and I got the Wow effect very early on. With a panoramic view divided by the city and the ocean, Porto de Leixões was the choice for the first night's cocktail and dinner, where we were greeted by the event's partners. For our gala dinner, on the second night, they couldn't have picked a better venue than the Palácio da Bolsa. The live Fado performance added to the evening. On the next day, we said goodbye at the incredible Baron's Hall and Gallery, celebrating the last night around dozens of barrels of Port wine (of course).
Not to mention the location where the meetings were held. The Congress Centre Alfândega is the typical blank canvas that can bring any type of event to life. And during the meetings, I met other amazing venues, which offer the most different types of experiences. Destinations included the UAE, Turkey, Belgium, Croatia, England, Scotland, Spain, France, Germany and Luxembourg to name a few. Have you ever thought about having your event at the Atomium, in Brussels? Or hold your management meeting aboard a train with panoramic views of the Swiss Alps? Everything is possible. From a team building on an official Formula 1 circuit in Abu Dhabi to a gala dinner on the walls of Dubrovnik. Think beach, forest, mountain... Everything. When it comes to events and WOW experiences, the sky really is the limit, and these events inspire us even more.
