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The Magic of Oman- My personal account and why every team should have this experience!

admin — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 21:36:02 +0000

The magic of Oman

Anyone that knows me well will know that it is incredibly rare for me to be speechless, and for the past week since my return from Oman, I have been just that. Without words, or at least the proper to describe what a truly unforgettable experience I had.

Owning and running Corporate Peaks, as well as managing two children (one being a newborn), planning a destination wedding, and dealing with all that life throws at you, means my opportunity to enjoy Familiarisation Trips to our global destinations are exceedingly rare; but when Star-Your-World’s invitation to Oman landed in my inbox, there was little hesitation from me to RSVP ‘attending!’. And I am so glad I did, as it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Let me tell you why…

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I had the fortune of enjoying this place, rich culture and heritage, with a wonderful group. The food & hospitality were outstanding, and we were lucky enough to experience some awesome adventures (YES, I said awesome!). This was a seamless programme with surprises along the way that just kept getting better and better. Swimming with turtles and an overnight desert stay elevated this trip to that of simply ✨ magical ✨.

My business partner Ben had a feeling that this place was going to inspire me, and my creativity has gone through the roof! (just ask the team!). I have returned more inspired, ambitious, motivated, and energised than ever before which is why I implore you to take your team! For this reason alone, it is the perfect place to reward your employees, host a unique supplier meeting or whatever your business objectives demand. And that is before we have even started into the details…

So, what did we do exactly?

Day 1:

Meeting the team at Heathrow- standard procedure but with a few extra comforts of the business lounge and Oman Air treating us to business class. I rocked up as my usual lively self, and I think it’s safe to say everyone could see I was already beyond excited for this trip- having looked at the itinerary, we all were!

First impressions- the team at Oman Air were welcoming and made sure we had everything we needed to have the ultimate relaxing journey. The flight from Heathrow is at 20.3, perfect for post-office day departure and allowing you to sleep through the journey before an early morning arrival.

Our arrival into Oman and through Muscat Airport was a seamless experience and was swiftly followed by a traditional Omani breakfast. Immediately immersing ourselves into the beautiful culture, we got to know each other over some Arabic coffee – the perfect way to refresh after the flight and kick off our first day.

Day one was a Muscat Sightseeing tour which I loved. One highlight for was the Grand Mosque- stunning grounds and an elegant interior. I do not know much about the religions of the world, but learning about the Islamic faith and culture was insightful, and I could not stop beaming in awe at the grandeur and detail of every part of this Mosque.

From exploring volcanos to chasing waterfalls in less than an hour, lunch was at a lovely little spot in Vik, a remote seafront village in south Iceland, another impressive venue and menu that offered great vegetarian options. Following lunch, we visited the local ‘Black Beach’, which was quite simply profound. The landscape was almost haunting and beautiful at the same time. Despite the rain at this point, we had all fallen in love with this rare and unique land.

Upon checking in to our hotel, Al Bustan Palace – a Ritz Carlton hotel, we had a fabulous site visit of the function facilities followed by a few hours of personal R&R.

The facilities, hospitality and comfort of this hotel are 10/10. Boasting a superb location as everything is conveniently very close by.

Day 2 – THE BIG ONE(…OR SO I THOUGHT)

Another thing you may not know about me is my obsession with turtles- and my twelve-year search for the ‘top turtle destinations’. Only I seem to have the misfortune of them escaping my gaze each time I look. So, when I saw that there was a ‘full day on the ocean’ on the itinerary, I made a special request that turtles made an appearance!

Onboard our private boat, we set off into the beautiful waters and immediately came across an enormous pod of dolphins – the day was already off to a great start!

We then turned in a different direction, passing cliffs, coves, and empty beaches. As we pulled into our very own secluded beach for the day- the excitement was too much, and some of us jumped into the clear warm waters, grinning ear to ear.

On the beach, while an Omani lunch was prepared, we all felt like children again as we raced to the banana boats, kayaks, and snorkelling kits. Having bored everyone to death with my turtle swimming dream, everyone (presumably felt compelled) to tell me their location. Lo and behold, the next magnificent hour was spent swimming nearby four beautiful turtles, large and small and finally ticking this experience off my list!

Lunch was hosted in a tent with traditional floor seating, and as we sat and enjoyed the wonderful food, we talked, laughed and recalled stories of our past travels, concluding this trip was up there with the best of them. Lunch was rounded off with an almighty rendition of the Macarena by the group – the perfect afternoon.

That evening, we ate at a beautiful beach club venue and toasted what a lovely experience we’d had so far. What stuck out to me about this place was how perfect of a location it was for a group of any size. Taking the stairs down to the shore, there was a low-lit bar which provided the ideal location to finish the evening with a cocktail.

Day 3 – now Then…

This is the one that got me! Loving all things adventure, I was excited to get up into some higher terrain and explore. We were given a safety demonstration, donned our canyoning clobber and walked to the first waterfall of many. For anyone unsure of Canyoning, it involves attaching yourself to a secure line and walking backwards down a cliff edge/waterfall- easy!

I rarely ‘feel the fear’ in this way, but I had one heck of a wobble at the top! This was a 16m descent, and it certainly does not feel natural to take yourself down, but with the support of some strong team spirit, I sang my way down, and I had a GREAT TIME! Such a great time that I wanted to carry on all day, but of course, we had more ahead of us, and after such an adrenaline rush, I was up for it all!

Next up, we were on the road to Wahba Sands. At the starting point of the desert, we changed vehicles and embraced some fast and furious dune bashing in 4 x 4s. We laughed our heads off in the most exciting transfer to what would be our home for the evening.

As we got out of the car, our jaws dropped. We walked over a dune to see the most magical sight, a camp just for us and offering the perfect spot for watching the sunset over the desert sands. There were camels, sandboarding, and fat bikes, and we were met graciously by the team, who explained how this eco-friendly luxury camp runs and what to expect on our overnight stay..

It did not disappoint- the main tent was host to an outstanding meal, board games, more fabulous conversation, and the surprise of a Bedouin family who sang, danced, and mesmerised us with songs and celebration. After this was over, we walked along the candlelit route to the fire pit, where we danced and shared stories late into the night.

This, for me, was a night I will never forget. I was enchanted by the magic of this experience and believe that everybody should be given the opportunity to do this. It was also so refreshing to be entirely cut off from the world, with no Wi-Fi and no 3,4 or 5G; it meant we were more present than any of us have been in an exceptionally long time. In fact, the whole trip, I was rarely on my phone at all (other than choosing songs for the playlist). I remained present for the whole experience, and it was part of the reason that I have come back invigorated.

The ability to disconnect is one of the reasons I believe every business should use this location within its travel programme. It has been a strange and challenging few years for events professionals and I thoroughly enjoyed simply talking and learning from one another. It felt much more enriching than simply scrolling through LinkedIn and checking out Insta stories.

Day Four- the finale…

After leaving the desert camp, we headed to the oldest capital, Nizwa. We walked around the fort and enjoyed the morning market. We ate within an exclusive and traditional function room before setting off up the mountain towards our final venue.

The Anantara hotel is most definitely my personal preferred style; it was spacious and inspired (in my opinion) by multiple cultures whilst remaining Omani-focused. All the rooms overlook the dramatic mountains and are very different from the ones I am used to! They all face outwards, with gardens, viewpoints, and a gorgeous infinity-style pool by the cliffside. It encapsulated tranquillity and was the perfect end point for reflection during our final meal together. Before we knew it, we were returning home.

The very essence of our Global brand (Corporate Peaks) is exclusively fun, personable, and enriching experiences. We live and breathe adventure, excitement, and, most of all, connectivity. Connecting our clients is key to achieving those objectives and every moment of this trip felt perfectly aligned with everything we love to offer. Oman has the capacity to deliver outstanding events, from a small to large scale, and with complete ease. I implore you to consider this wonderful destination for your next event and to reward your team with such a deeply connecting and energising trip. It is one which I will certainly never forget and has left me feeling recharged and ready to go!

With special thanks to all the hosts, providers, and superb company, this wOman I will be seeing you again VERY soon.

Feeling inspired? Send me a message directly, and we will chat more.

Holly x

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A Luxury Croatian Experience

admin — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 17:51:58 +0000

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A Luxury Croatian Experience

Our m&i Private- hosted FAM trip to Dubrovnik, Croatia – as it happened…

Five industry professionals. Two wonderful hosts. The stunning Croatian coastline. Oh, and a yacht. The perfect recipe for an indescribable FAM trip.

Eye-opening in terms of business, sure – but a balm for the soul, too. Croatian National Tourist Board and M&I put such effort into our recent hosted visit, it had to be captured with a blog post.

High concept luxury experiences and the option of exploring multiple locations across one destination sets this trip location apart from others. Traveling by yacht allows for quality business family time that’s guaranteed to be fun, and exhilarating.

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Day 1:

When most people think of Croatia, their thoughts turn to the dramatic scenery of Game Of Thrones – but our sail began with a beautiful, humble farm visit.

Having transferred to Trstenik from the Sun Gardens Resort Hotel (the proud hosts of M&I Private’s event), we kicked off the trip with an authentic dinner in a local village before a well-deserved rest onboard the Avangard. Happy days.

Day 2:

Back on the yacht for a glittering early start in a secluded swim spot, en route to Hvar. Think paddle boarding and jumping into the clear waters from the top deck.

As the beauty of the historical port came into view, we were reminded that the area is brimming with authenticity and culture – full of superb event venues to suit most needs.

The 5-star, opulent Palace Elisabeth blew us away – a heritage hotel designed to bring its rich history to the forefront of the guest experience.

Our evening was spent in the Adriana 4- Star Spa Hotel boasting an exceptional view of the harbour. Ideal for guests who want to be as close to the water as possible – with phenomenal food to boot.

Following a delicious three course dinner with a phenomenal wine from the Zlatan Otok winery. It didn’t take much to convince our group to join the lively bar and enjoy an evening of dancing and fun.

Day 3:

The island of Brac provided a wholesome day out, including a visit to an historic museum, plus an insightful olive oil tasting in the village of Skrip.

Blue Sun Hotel hosted us for a plentiful lunch, with the most perfectly cooked lamb you could as for, following our site visit, rounded off with a wine tasting at the Stina Winery in the port of Bol.

Back on the yacht, a captain’s dinner took us into late evening – newfound friends, a bubbling hot tub and plenty of wine – a picture-perfect end to our time aboard the Avangard.

Day 4:

Our final day was spent exploring the beautiful city of Split, and carrying out site inspections. Staff welcomed us with open arms, and an extensive tour of the facilities. Inspired by the huge range of unique experiences on offer for corporate events this will certainly be a destination for our future events.

If this one in a lifetime trip is something you think your team would enjoy as much as these clients, please feel free to get in touch, and we can start planning and getting excited about your next corporate event!

Highlights included the Ivan Meštrović museum and a fascinating tour of the old town and Diocletian’s Cellars.

Split’s varied history takes in Greek, Roman, Venetian and many more timelines – all meeting in one truly memorable destination.

Dinner was a colourful Mediterranean spread at Le Meridien Lav hotel’s beautiful Conlemani Restaurant with a start of octopus salad, sea bass main and a creative take on tiramisu.

Day 5:

Saying goodbye to the wonderful group of industry professionals I’ve come to call friends was tough. A huge thank you to all involved for making this such a memorable (and above all, fun) experience.

So, should you consider Croatia for your next corporate incentive or conference?

In a word, yes.

Have your team previously chosen a luxury yacht for an incentive trip? I’d love to hear about your experiences. Get in touch!

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Iceland – The trip that stole our hearts

admin — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 21:00:00 +0000

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Iceland – The trip that stole our hearts

It’s taken a week of reflection, smiles and continued laughter to write this and in all our years of events, we’ve got to say, this trip is up there with one of our favourites!

The brief:

These existing clients wanted a “cold experience” for their annual high flyer incentive trip and having been on a couple of ski trips before, Iceland was for us, an obvious next choice.

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The trip:

Using our excellent Icelandic DMC partner Atlantik, we prepared an itinerary best suited to our client. Of course, working with a partner on the ground ensured we had the best local knowledge.

We arrived a day early to do some local orientation ourselves and discover a few hidden gems to add to the itinerary. On our first morning in Iceland, before all our guests arrived and while out for a run (yes, we’re the kind of people who exercise as soon they wake up), we scoped out Bernhoftsbakari, Iceland’s oldest bakery.

We decided the 188-year-old bakery would be the perfect first stop for our guests arriving at lunch. These early birds didn’t get any worms, but instead, they were treated to outstanding service, some history of the restaurant and an excellent lunch, with a few extras thrown in for us to sample, gifted by the restaurant team.

Einstök cocktail bar provided an inclusive experience for all our guests- by specifically tailoring all the drinks to each guest’s preferences meant even those who don’t drink alcohol had a wide variety of choice. With an impressive menu of cocktails, mocktails and one of the most knowledgeable mixologists we had come across, we were able to catch up with our clients while learning about the area-what better way to kick off a trip? Sufficiently filled with Icelandic baked goods, it was time to venture onto somewhere we’d been looking forward to visiting since we first started researching Iceland.

Our first evening in Iceland was spent having dinner in Hofnin restaurant, situated directly on the harbour, overlooking the beautiful sea and with even more outstanding cuisine (which we soon realised was something of a trend this weekend!) After discussing the itinerary for the next couple of days, it’s fair to say our clients were just as excited as us!

Day 1:

Our first full day was jam-packed! We were picked up in a 4×4 with wheels that rival monster trucks and drove to the most volcanic part of Iceland. Locals had told us about the recent activity, so we were equal parts wary and excited about the possibility of experiencing the tremors ourselves. Luckily, the volcano (that is 100 years overdue an eruption!) held off and allowed us to go ice caving and hike a short away around some of the volcanos. We even had the opportunity to enjoy (we say that hesitantly) one of Iceland’s oldest ‘delicacies’, fermented shark- around 800 years old and a smell that we certainly won’t forget! Haha!

We weren’t lying when we said this trip was one of the best we’ve hosted. In our time we’ve experienced a lot of restaurants and, given our affection for all things Spain, we’d consider ourselves somewhat of ‘tapas connoisseurs’, so to say that the tapas we had that evening was the best we’ve ever had is no small statement! Served with another evening of belly laughter from start to finish, this evening was a great way to end such an eventful first day together.

As we walked back to the Skuggi hotel, an excellent base for the trip, we certainly saw the bustle of the nightlife that Reyjkavik is famed for. Still, we caught that perfect balance of activity & socialising without overdoing it!

Day 2:

Nothing could have prepared us for the experience of our final day when we went whale watching- something we decided to add to the itinerary last minute due to the recent whale activity and the stunning weather conditions that travelling there in May had allowed us. We’d hoped we’d be lucky enough to spot the fin of a whale or a few puffins but what we ended up seeing was a once in a lifetime experience. We were fortunate enough not only to see puffins by the hundreds but to have front row seats to what we can only describe as a show put on by the whales with several different species out for the early morning. There was water spouting, a full jump and the infamous tails. Quite honestly, the experience was both emotional and a truly humbling experience. Everyone on the boat had a sense of how lucky we all felt to have been here, and we revelled in the magic of the land of ice and fire.

Shortly after, and following some free time, we headed to Iceland’s iconic, instagrammable Sky Lagoon for an afternoon of rest and relaxation. The Icelandic-inspired seven-step routine consists of a geothermally heated infinity lagoon pool, cold plunge, steam room, the cold spray room, salt scrubs (which smelt phenomenal), and a sauna with a view- this was the perfect way to finish off our trip.

We have been adding these spa experiences to many of our events now as it offers a sense of calm to round off our usually busy, fun-packed trips and prepare our guests for the journey home.

All in all, Iceland stole our hearts- there was an abundance of fun, adventure and excellent company but most of all, everyone had this sense of ‘a once in a lifetime experience’ which ultimately, high-flyer trips should be all about. The one thing that really took us by surprise was the standard of food. This Iceland trip is the ultimate experience for foodies, and we were blown away by the variation, presentation and high level of culinary quality at every venue- catering to all dietary requirements with ease and finesse. So if you are looking for gastronomical experience in addition to experience- look no further!

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MICE travel in Lisbon, Portugal

admin — Wed, 12 May 2021 23:39:51 +0000

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MICE travel in Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon has long been one of my favourite short stay travel destinations. Facilitated by a modern international airport with regular routes from most European cities, Lisbon has everything you are looking for in a corporate business trip, from conferences – product launches – incentives you name it.

It oozes culture and vibrant energy!

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Firstly I have to mention value for money; for a Capital city in western Europe I am pleasantly surprised by how reasonable things are and continue to be year after year upon return. Eating out is a delight with huge varieties from fresh seafood and alternative traditional and influenced options throughout the historic streets, Local bars and restaurants in Lisbon’s city centre and mostly good value for money. Another asset to the cities cuisine is how it plays host to a mixture of intercontinental influences from India to South America. Delicious!

Secondly, and one of the most notable things about this fabulous destination, is its colourful cobbled streets lined with mosaic-tiled backstreets that guide your business team throughout the city, it oozes culture and vibrant energy! Getting around doesn’t have to be all on foot, as we often opt for city bike tours for our business trips wanting to really explore their chosen destination, but here you also have the tram service, in operation since 1873 which helps navigate the hilly landscape, although for those wanted to stretch the legs after a meeting or two walking is fine, alternatively electric scooters have become a trend and are rentable all over the city for a small fee.

Here are my top five must-dos when visiting Lisbon.

Taste a Pastel de Nata, first cooked up by monks in the early 19th century, these sweet and creamy custard tarts are a beloved national favourite! Pastéis de Belém my recommended bakery of choice, in fact it is the birth place of the Nata!
Time-out market – 24 restaurants, 8 bars, a dozen shops, a cooking school and a high-end music venue, all showcasing best in Lisbon (the best chefs, the best steak, the best hamburger, the best sushi and the best live performances, amongst others); on the other hand the market is home to some of the city’s best known vendors of meat, fish, fruit and flowers.
Day trip to Sintra: Sintra is a town and municipality in the Greater Lisbon region of Portugal, located on the Portuguese Riviera. Sintra is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most popular attractions in Portugal is like visiting a theme park for architecture lovers. From the rainbow towers of Pena Palace to the Gothic mansion of Quinta da Regaleira, your Instagram will need no filter!
Ibo – (name inspired from the island off the Quirimbas archipelago in the North coast of Mozambique) This restaurant is inspired by Portuguese gastronomy combined with Mozambican flavours. This is one of my ultimate favourites and like no other.
If you are looking for a taste of life after dinner; Lisbon’s most flamboyant residents head to the energic bars of Bairro Alto, the whole district screams fun and continues way into the night.

With its top level infrastructure, outstanding selection of Meeting, conference exhibition and event spaces, and all easy to access, Lisbon has long been a favourite destination for MICE Event Organisers and we look forward to creating your next bespoke MICE travel proposal.

Want to hear more about business travel to Lisbon? Contact us on +44 (0) 208 0048675 today ?

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