Richard John of Meetings Review visited the eco-award winning Swiss Stand at IMEX 2010 and spoke with Renato Grieco, Director of Sales at Ovation Switzerland, Barbara Albrecht, Director of Switzerland Convention and Incentive Bureau (SCIB) and Neil Kirkman of the World Dental Federation about the attraction of Switzerland as a meetings destination.

Renato, as always spoke with passion about Switzerland and touted the country's passion as one of the key attractions of the destination. A unique meetings destination, Switzerland offers diversity and accessibility with short distances between its cities, lakes and mountains and a central location right in the middle of Europe. The diverse culture and tradition of Switzerland is also unique with languages of Italian, French and German being spoken in different parts of the country. Commenting on the types of groups that visit Switzerland for meetings, Renato said 80% come from incentive houses or agencies who have clients looking to Switzerland for a motivational excursion and who are looking for something really special in a destination.

Neil Kirkman, Conference and Exhibitions Manager of the World Dental Federation commented on Switzerland as it has been chosen as the destination for its 100th World congress in 2012. 300 councillors will visit Switzerland for the congress and Geneva was chosen as the destination because of its ‘aura for international medical associations’, 150 of which are based in the city. It was also the efficiency of the logistics, the safety and the beauty of the environment which attracted the congress to Switzerland.

Switzerland is ranked in the top twelve worldwide meetings destinations by ICCA and within the top ten in Europe, but Barbara Albrecht maintains that despite these impressive rankings it is the diversity and uniqueness of Switzerland coupled with its stability and reputation for running like clockwork that attracts meeting planners to the destination. When questioned about the expensive nature of Switzerland as a destination Barbara is confident that the value of the added services and service levels in Switzerland make it competitive against less expensive destinations. "Switzerland has invested heavily in its infrastructure in recent years making it even more accessible from all over Europe. Switzerland boasts a competitive VAT rate of only 7.6% in comparison to 19% or 20% in many other destinations and room rates in Switzerland come inclusive of breakfast so this is worth taking into consideration. In many of the major towns and cities in Switzerland visitors can avail of free public transportation, which is among the best in the world, so this is another competitive cost factor to be considered"

Renato’s final comments on Switzerland sum it up nicely. “Where else in the world would you take a helicopter ride to the top of a glacier to play golf?” It is this uniqueness and the diversity of Switzerland’s offering as a meetings destination which leaves people wanting to come back for more. Visit Switzerland during a different season and get a completely new experience of the country. There is little doubt that the Swiss offering is still as strong as ever and its strap line is truly fitting ‘Switzerland where the world meets’.

View the full meetings review video interview here

For further information on Switzerland for your next meeting or event please contact Renato at renato.grieco@ovationdmc.com.