When we launched STAR Your World in January this year, we had big plans in mind. It’s always a challenge to launch a new company, but we were ready to put our DMC partners firmly on the map for the UK market. Just a few months down the line and it’s all systems go.
We might be new, but we’re already working in four regions, including Portugal, the Balearic Islands, Italy and the United Arab Emirates. All with short flight times and great accessibility, it’s perhaps no surprise that these destinations are among the most popular with UK event planners.
For each new Destination Management Company, we’ve started the partnership with a three day destination welcome visit. Helping us to gain valuable insight into the different types of accommodation, conference spaces, restaurants and activities on offer, we understand that it’s vital to know a destination inside out before we approach clients. We’re also relationship people, and we recognise how important it is for our Destination Management colleagues to get to know us, our expertise, and our brand.
After numerous visits to Portugal, you’d think we would know just about everything there is to know about the destination. But our DMC partner’s were able to show us more of Lisbon with new hotels, venues, congress venues and unique spaces that we’d never visited. Soon after we jetted off to Rome for a tour of the city. We explored the town by golf buggy before flying straight out to Ibiza. There we met with our partners Incentivos Ibiza, and were treated to a fabulous tour of the islands.
As veterans of the meetings and incentives industry, we know all the best forums and activities to participate in. Back in January we joined agencies at the AIEA (Alliance of Independent Event Agents) event in Chester, which now boasts 70 agency members. It’s a great coalition and a fantastic way to network. We also jumped at the chance to attend the HBAA annual dinner where new chair took the reins for the coming year.
It’s fair to say it’s been a busy year, because we became first-time exhibitors at the Buyers Networking Club, and spent a night being hosted at the M&IT awards. With more than 1,000 guests in attendance and plenty of drinks going round, we thoroughly enjoyed the evening.
We’re sure the next six months will be just as exciting, so stay tuned for our next adventures.
If you are interested in learning more about any of our destinations, feel free to contact us.
