by Padraic Gilligan, VP, Industry Relations, MCI and VP, Ovation Global DMC At break of dawn 04:55 Alarm goes off. To avoid subconscious and ill-advised use of the snooze facility it has been placed far from the bed. It’s an ugly sound. I fall out of bed and snap it off. I head for the… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Destinations
Coming Home – Revisiting Ireland’s Incentive Icons: Killarney Park, Europe, Dromoland, Adare
by Padraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua I’ve greatly enjoyed the opportunity over the past 4 weeks to re-acquaint myself with Ireland as an incentive destination. A combination of familiarisation trips and live programmes brought me, in quick succession, to two of Ireland’s premier locations for corporate meetings and incentives, the Shannon area renowned for its… Read more »
Ovation Trophy 2012 – the Epilogue
Ovation Trophy – the Epilogue Yesterday’s activities took us all to such heights it seemed impossible to go any higher. But this is Switzerland, remember, and the highs are limitless. The morning after the night before came way too soon for some of us but, regardless, nearly all were present and correct at our Sunday… Read more »
Ovation Trophy 2012 Day 1 – Lucerne to Interlaken
“I will not attempt to describe the beauty of this country … I will merely tell you that is is literally impossible to tear oneself away from this lake and these shores ” Leo Tolstoy It didn’t take long for it to start. Once the teams were assembled and the lanyards distributed the new identities were… Read more »
Ovation Trophy 2012 – the Prologue
“Yesterday evening I arrived at Lucerne, and put up at the best inn there, the Schweitzerhof” [Count Leo Tolstoy, “Lucerne”] I looked around the Cirrus as we pulled away from the dock opposite The Schweizerhof, one of our host hotels. What an eclectic mix we were – Danes, Germans, Italians, French, various Swiss, many Brazilians,… Read more »
Paris for Meetings and Events: Not down and certainly not out
Padraic Gilligan, VP Ovation Global DMC and VP Industry Relations, MCI Behind me a guitar was being tuned. The tuner then addressed the crowd and launched into the Rod Stewart version of “Sailing”. He was truly terrible and gave the lie to Tanenbaum’s thesis that music on the underground leads to a decrease in crime…. Read more »
An Island Story – in the footsteps of J.M. Synge
by Padraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua Heavy showers quickly clear to reveal a bright blue early autumn sky as you arrive at Connemara Regional Airport. There are no lines at the airport, no endless security queues, no loudspeaker announcements, no numbered boarding gates. Instead you’re subjected to a “weigh in”, the results from which determine… Read more »
5 key ingredients for a successful incentive travel programme
Five Key Ingredients for a Successful Incentive Travel Programme Padraic Gilligan, Managing Director, Ovation Global DMC For the past five days I assisted my colleagues at Ovation Switzerland in the operation of an incentive travel programme for a US based Finance & Insurance customer. On departure day I listened with great interest as the Incentive… Read more »
“Munich: a world of its own”
“Munich: a world of its own” by Padraic Gilligan, VP Ovation Global DMC He wanted a regular soak in hot suds and, lacking the facilities under his own roof, His Majesty Ludwig I of Baveria decreed that a luxury guesthouse be built. Thus over 170 years ago the Bayerischer Hof opened its doors offering a… Read more »
“Muddy Waters, Headhunters and very tall buildings – getting beyond first impressions in Malaysia”
by Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Director, Ovation Global DMC There’s so much more to Malaysia than Nasi Goreng, Langkawi, Proton cars and politicians wearing funny hats. A week in Kuala Lumpur on Peninsular Malaysia and Kuching in Sarawak, East Malaysia leaves you feeling you’re only scratching the surface of this fascinating territory which, incredibly, traces its… Read more »