inTHE SPOTLIGHT - 2021 for inVOYAGERS
Kickstarting this year on a positive note, and with lots of great things on the horizon, we asked some of our inVOYAGERS to help us inspire the industry by constructively reflecting on the year past as well as highlighting some of their most valuable learning. Here’s what they said:
Paul Fallows, Charter & Incentives Sales Manager – UK, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Silversea Cruises (UK) Limited
1. Highs – what were standout moments for you?
Coming back to work following 20 months of furlough and doing the job I love, meeting with people face to face and talking about the world getting back to a new normal and the opportunities available to Silversea Cruises and myself. One of my biggest highs was attending our overseas events, such as inVOYAGE in Mykonos and being surrounded by my people, be it fellow suppliers, existing clients and of course new clients, catching up both personally and commercially, it really felt like we were back. I have to say that my enquiry book has never been busier, so all of the incredible hard work that my colleagues at Silversea Cruises had put in place is definitely paying off.
2. Lows – what were your greatest challenges / down points?
think my lows were very low, and I have doubted myself and my abilities a lot during the past couple of years. One day I turned a corner and realised that I wasn’t going to let this situation beat me, I applied for my job at Waitrose and made it through the selection process and landed a role in my local store. Instantly I had a purpose again and that was the day that I knew I was going to come out the other side. I know I have changed as a person over the past couple of years and not always for the better, but I survived and now I'm back doing what I love, representing an incredible brand with so much going on, with new ships and new products in development. It's hard to think that I was ever away. I realised that people I had met through our industry were more than just people on Facebook and I have some incredible relationships with them that were forged and strengthened over these past few months and these people are truly lifelong friends.
3. Learnings – what learnings will you take with you into 2022?
That I can adapt and overcome challenges that I didn’t even think possible. To have faith in myself and my ability to be who I am and do what I do. Don’t bottle everything up inside, talk to people, be it your family or someone else in your network. The biggest lesson learnt was that is it okay to not be okay.
Paul Fellows
Shigeki Urier
Shigeki Urier, Cluster Director of Sales, 7Pines Hotels & Resorts, Ibiza & Sardinia
1. Highs – what were standout moments for you?
The opening of the resort in June was a standout moment for me. It was delayed and there was a slow start to the season, as June was still “challenging” to travel around Europe with the “Green Light” concept appearing, but we opened. Compared to some other colleagues (Red Light…), I consider ourselves to be very lucky.
After such a long time of waiting for the possibility to travel, the guests throughout the season had different energy. They were all about enjoying the moment and this was truly beautiful.
2. Lows – what were your greatest challenges / down points?
We were supposed to open our new resort in Sardinia in May 2020 … then May 2021 … but we had to accept that the reality was pushing us towards July 2022. But let’s keep a positive mindset as all industry partners are showing an important excitement to finally have a new luxury experience on this highly sought-after, glamourous island of Italy.
3. Learnings – what learnings will you take with you into 2022?
This global pandemic has created so many unexpected situations for us and made everything so much more complicated. The positive side of this is that it allows us opportunities until the very last minute and we even sometimes don’t get leads and confirmation until the same day of booking! This isn't an easy lifestyle for anyone but it does allow us to keep pushing and getting business until the very last minute. So what I’ve learnt from this is that we need to be as flexible as possible and try to put ourselves in our clients’ shoes more often. I’ve learnt never to say that the worst is behind me now but instead to hope for the best and expect the worst and maybe something will surprise us.
Nicole Ireland, Director of Sales, INTERALPEN-HOTEL TYROL GMBH
1. Highs – what were stand out moments for you?
To finally get together in person again – with friends and industry partners. It started in early summer with small local events and then of course the InVOYAGE in Mykonos was one of the best highs of 2022: it was one of the very first international events that made me feel like we can get past these Covid times even stronger, more appreciative and grateful because we as an industry stand together and find new ways to prosper together.
2. Lows – what were your greatest challenges / down points?
One of the low points was definitely the lockdown we had in Europe again in December 2021 – when we had thought we were past this. Another low point for me personally was to see that politics all over Europe made it really hard for our industry to get back to working properly again. Instead of working it out together EU-wide it was just 1,000 different, confusing "solutions" everywhere… However, I am positive that we will also get past this and learn from it.
3. Learnings – what learnings will you take with you into 2022?
The only way to succeed in these times is to stay positive and to stay flexible enough to grasp an opportunity when it is there. As we say in a German proverb: you have to celebrate the festivities as they come. Another learning for me was that it always goes on, as long as we try and keep going. It is up to us to stay positive and find the strengths to move on and make the best of a situation. Finally, I will take into 2022 with me, the learning that online will not be able to take away live meetings and the joy of it. Our business so much depends on live interaction and inVOYAGE is one of those who help to make these connections.
Nicole Ireland
Hasan Dinc
Hasan Dinc, Managing Director, ODS Turkey
1. Highs – what were stand out moments for you?
Keeping the entire team without any restrictions and no losses during the whole pandemic, without governmental support, was a massive achievement. And, despite the very difficult period, we managed to be blessed with a significant amount of business. Becoming the first Turkish company to receive the SITE Crystal Award for the best destination-based experiential Incentive Travel programme was wonderful. We also won the SITE Kevin Forde Spirit Award for exemplifying the traits that Kevin Forde was known and respected for: generosity of time and energy for his fellow incentive travel professionals and volunteer roles. Taking part for the first time with inVOYAGE in Mykonos and other Exhibitions like IMEX LAS Vegas, IBTM and ILTM were real highlights, as was playing an active role in presenting a united voice to governmental organizations with 18 tourism associations.
2. Lows – what were your greatest challenges / down points?
There were none.
3. Learnings – what learnings will you take with you into 2022?
I do believe that I am cumulating some learnings from every single person that I meet and, thanks to our Industry, I managed to meet and add a lot of new people to my life, especially in 2021. I love to quote the poet Rumi: "Being a candle is not easy; to give light, one must first burn." I am sure you agree that we all burnt enough in the last two years, and we will shine bright in 2022 and onwards.
Andreas Krausz, Sales Manager, Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam
1. Highs – what were stand out moments for you?
Welcoming back clients, hosting events and seeing the smile on our guests’ faces. It felt great to be able to travel again, join live events and reconnect with clients, fellow hoteliers and industry peers. A great pick up over the summer brought a positive feeling and increased motivation across all teams. In 2021, we opened the second edition of our pop-up restaurant The Grand Beach with a Caribbean theme that brought a lot of joy to the local market as well as our staff. We’ve also been involved in lots of CSR initiatives, giving back to the community and spreading the true spirit of hospitality, including delivering tulips around Amsterdam, providing food for the food bank, donating cheesecakes to healthcare organizations and cakes for the police.
2. Lows – what were your greatest challenges / down points?
Clients cancelling and postponing their events as it was quite challenging to go through the entire process and find a new date for next year. Handling last-minute cancellations was an additional challenge for the entire team, and it was disappointing to see in-person events that we were due to attend being cancelled or postponed last-minute, due to new restrictions. Moving live events and tradeshows back to digital events was also a challenge as it just led to more zoom calls.
3. Learnings – what learnings will you take with you into 2022?
Be flexible, agile and quickly adapt to the new situations. Be compassionate towards your team members and clients. It looks like we are all in the same boat since most of the businesses are suffering around the globe, so it’s important to keep innovating and stay positive. Everything is last minute but be prepared for when business restarts and seize the opportunity.
Andreas Krausz