Global DMCs – a beautiful oxymoron? by Padraic Gilligan Allegedly, when asked for his favourite oxymoron Irishman, global entrepreneur and former international rugby player, Tony O’Reilly, said “Great Britain”. But it may be regarded as crass and unfair to explain the meaning of oxymoron by reference to O’Reilly’s wicked quip (although given the current rumblings… Read more »
Posts Tagged: Incentive Travel
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 »
EIBTM 2011 – Behind the Scenes
EIBTM 2011 – Behind the Scenes by Padraic Gilligan, VP, Ovation Global DMC and Global VP, Industry relations MCI 2010 v 2011 What a difference! What a difference a year makes! Exactly one year ago most of Europe lay under a thick covering of snow making travel in and out of Barcelona extremely problematical. This… Read more »
FICP – Day 2
FICP – Day 2 by Padraic Gilligan, Managing Director, Ovation Global DMC I’m not going to lie. The transfer from San Antonio to Knibbe Ranch was very, very long. At first it was long enough for me to desperately want a beer but then it became long enough for me to be glad I didn’t… Read more »
FICP – Day 1
FICP Day 1 by Padraic Gilligan, Ovation Global DMC On Sunday 13 November the Grand Hyatt in San Antonio dispatched its share of the 30000 participants at the city marathon and prepared for the arrival of 800 demanding, discerning FICPers. It’s the meeting from hell – you’re simultaneously playing host to your competitors and your… Read more »
FICP in San Antonio – Arrival Day
by Padraic Gilligan, Managing Director, Ovation Global DMC I’m 51 and I’ve never done it. There. I’ve said it. I talked to Dan Young and I know he’s done it. A good few times, it seems. So has Darlene Catan but not, I think, with Dan Young. And I’m unclear as to whether either of… Read more »
Hero or Villain? The true identity of the DMC!
At an industry function recently I found myself seated between two agency executives. I spent a fascinating and frightening evening listening to war stories about their experiences with DMCs around the world. In roughly half of the stories the war in question was won as a result of incredible acts of heroism and valour on… Read more »
A week in Las Vegas – Day 3
A Week in Las Vegas – Day 3 It used to be The Egg in Chicago. A perfect place for “Breakfast in America” – counter service, coffee and water upon arrival and a menu featuring eggs every way, waffles, pancakes and English muffins. I wanted the Las Vegas equivalent and tasked Moira Hearn with finding it… Read more »
A week in Las Vegas – Day 2
A week in Las Vegas – Day 2 Early this morning as the intensity of the cleaning, power hosing and sweeping along Las Vegas Boulevard seemed to increase, I had a blinding insight. I figured out where it all comes from. This is not WASP / Calvinist earnestness and endeavour but rather Catholic guilt and… 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 »