Testimonial from Landmark Incentive Marketing Inc.
Switzerland continues to deliver as much today as it did 20 years ago to our most well traveled clientele. Each time we return with a group we discover new venues and alternative activities to enhance an already top notch itinerary. Our client was most impressed with their wonderful stay in Interlaken with day trips to Bern, Zermatt and Lucerne. It is comforting to have a destination that simply gets better with age! One of only few destinations in the world I'm confident in the high quality products and experiences to every client.
Jason Altman, Account Executive (June 2013)
Testimonial from BI WORLDWIDE
I recently had the opportunity to travel to the Switzerland Travel Mart in Bern, Switzerland at the end of May.
This was by far one of the most organized events I have attended and all the information the Switzerland Convention & Incentive Bureau provided up front, during and after the event made this one of the greatest trips ever.
I was amazed at what I learned about Switzerland as a destination and I have already begun to share this information with my clients and my team.
As part of the MICE group we met separately with various areas of Switzerland and this proved extremely beneficial. The suppliers are so passionate about Switzerland and truly enjoyed describing their home/region. I came back with a wealth of knowledge regarding destinations, hotels and transportation throughout Switzerland.
A huge THANK YOU to the SCIB team: Caroline, Virginie, Guendalina – you are all fabulous. Thank you for all the work you put into making this trip successful. You all made the trip even more exciting & I enjoyed meeting and spending the week with each of you!
Deanne Petersen, Individual Travel Manager (June 2013)
Testimonial from Incentives and Conference Planners Kolkata about a FAM trip
This trip was an eye opening for me in many senses. My abstaining in
participating in such conference was due to my conception of having these
conference as eyewash for participants and fam trip as things which is more
of an obligation rather than educative in many ways. Plus the degree of
participation of other industry partners.
But, I have no shame in admitting that I might have been an ostrich putting
my head in my own backyard sand. It was an amazing experience.
It was more of the experience with people along with the destinations which
were simply mesmerizing.
I would like to thank Aishvarya, for putting all her marbles, in my favour
and giving me opportunity to tag along with some of the most marvelous
people of the trade. The views and experience of fellow travelers made me
more aware of the nuisance of the trade.
I had fun learning from all you beautiful people out there.
The trip was well conceptualized by Swiss Tourism Board, harboring
destinations that are still not in the map of outbound MICE travelers. But
I hope we can work some magic out there and bring MICE people to this part
of Switzerland in hordes.
I hope I will see you more in coming future.
Ritesh Joshi, Head Corporate Travel (May 2013)
Testimonial from Hexaware Technologies about a FAM trip
Though I have been to many European countries before both officially and FAM trips, this visit to Switzerland (my first time) was indeed a unique and memorable experience for me. This one stands out as the best country I have ever visited. No wonder, people call this place a "Heaven on Earth" as I could experience this as well.
I was touched by the beauty of your country. I liked everything, literally! Nature, Beauty, Facilities, Hospitality, Friendliness of people, Security and Safety, Food, Culture, etc. I felt so good as you made all of us so comfortable by explaining everything in detail throughout the trip.
Hats off to you and your team in Swiss Tourism. The Choice of hotels selected was Great, Very comfortable beds and room, Convenient location, Excellent choice of Food , Wonderful tour guides arranged throughout the journey who explained the minuscule details of the places we visited with clarity and perfection along with the rich history associated with those places, and to top it all the locations visited was worth visiting in one's life time!! Though I sold Switzerland earlier to so many of our people, from now on I will be able to do it more confident than ever.
So far I had an impression of Switzerland as destination of Tourism. But this visit has showed me a new facet of selecting your country for our Meetings and Conferences as well.
Ramadoss Ganesan, Manager - Administration (July 2012)
Testimonial from International Sustainability Conferences
From 29th – 31st August 2012, the 3rd International Sustainability Conferences (ISC 2012) will take place at the University of Basel. The theme of ISC 2012 is "Strategies for Sustainability: Institutional and Organisational Challenges". The International Sustainability Conference discusses sustainability from a socioeconomic perspective what differentiates ISC from other "Sustainability Conferences". It is the third time in a row after the successful ISC 2005 and ISC 2008 that the organizers – the Institute of Management at the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, School of Business and the University of Basel, Program Sustainability Research – selected Basel to host the conference. The organizers never discussed to move ISC 2012 to a destination other than Basel. The city is easy accessible, offers professional conference infrastructure, offers free public transportation for all hotel guests and is with its picturesque Old Town as well as its rich history an attractive touristic spot. Another advantage is that many hotels are in walking distance to the conference venue which makes the morning and evening transfer for delegates and speakers very easy. And last but not least Basel is home of both organizing institutions, the University of Basel and the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland!
Yvonne Scherrer, Conference Management ISC 2012 (June 2012)
Testimonial from PHB Events
From the second my client and I decided Switzerland was the chosen destination for our 2012 event, the Switzerland Convention & Incentive Bureau was there for us every step of the way. Switzerland is truly one of the best tourist boards I have ever worked with. Their response time was impeccable and they carefully guided me in the right direction when considering venues. Their working knowledge of all Switzerland has to offer is priceless to a planner like myself. Switzerland is really the perfect destination for an event offering something for everyone!
Pam Block, CMP, President, PHB Events (April 2012)
Testimonial from Ovation Global DMC
Padraic Gilligan, Managing Director (November 2011)
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Testimonial from Carlson Wagonlit Travel Source/Connection Tours
The Switzerland trip for the group was a success. Everybody loved it. "Best of Switzerland" did a very good job and at the end I did not need to go along. They used all different classes of hotels from 3-5 stars. In Interlaken they stayed at the Hotel Victoria Jungfrau where they were treated royally. In Zürich they used the Hotel Adler and the location made up for any shortcomings from the hotel. The other hotels used were: Best Western Speer in Rapperswil, Grand Hotel Europa in Lucerne and Hotel Steffani in St. Moritz. The Glacier Express was impressive. Also they had a French speaking tour guide as per request since the guests were from Quebec.
All in all they had only good things to report and we are very please that it was such a success.
Maya Wagner, President, Carlson Wagonlit Travel Source/Connection Tours (June 2011)
Testimonial from Excellence In Motivation, Inc.: Switzerland - one of my favorites!
Switzerland is a great location for meetings and incentives. From arrival into Zürich the transportation system air, rail, road and even boat are all well run and efficient. I visited 8 cities in 8 days crossing the country with no delays or hassles. Each town was beautiful and unique with a variety of offerings for all. There are many different accommodations to choose from with hotels at every price point including 5 star resorts with world class service. From the quaint towns, to the stunning mountains, the beautiful lakes and the amazingly friendly people Switzerland has so much to offer. Skiing, parasailing, biking, gondolas, tours, the Montreux Jazz Festival the activities are endless. I have traveled to a number of countries around the world and I have found Switzerland to be truly stunning and now among my favorite places!!!!
Lisa Leach, Manager, Travel Account Administration, Excellence In Motivation, Inc. (August 2011)
Testimonial from Benchmark destinations
Dear Caroline,
Thank you so very much for all of your assistance in making our program in Switzerland a resounding success.
From the very onset of our planning process your expertise, guidance and patience were very much appreciated. A very special thank you to Anja Loetscher and David Cougoule who spent so much of their valuable time with us showcasing their beautiful city of Geneva. Anja and David were always available and were a fantastic resource for us with no question to small to ask. You are a wonderful team and certainly one of the very best tourism bureaus that we have ever had the pleasure to work with.
We had a terrific experience in Geneva and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a first class destination. SWISS (Airline), the Inter-continental hotel, off-site venues, visit to CERN, ground operator and activities were all superb. When one adds the incredible natural beauty of the countryside, the wonderful people that we worked with and Swiss efficiency, the program was destined to be a success. In fact our client commented that it was their best program ever.
Thank you for your hard work and hospitality and we look forward to our next visit. Warmest Regards,
Garry Hallinan, Senior Partner, Benchmark Destinations (June 2011)
Testimonial from Creative Group Inc.
I have operated programs and travelled in a number of Swiss cities and resorts and have had nothing but the most positive of experiences. From the hotels and tour operators to the shops, restaurants and taxis not only have my operations run smoothly and efficiently, but with a warmth that makes my clients, attendees and staff feel like we are amongst friends.
As well, Switzerland is one of the most diverse and interesting destinations I know, offering possibilities for tours and offsite functions from vineyards to mountain peaks, castles to world class museums and medieval villages to sophisticated modern cities.
It is truly a delight when I am able to take a program to Switzerland as I know that every detail will be handled with the utmost care and precision and my clients and attendees will have a distinctly memorable experience.
Laurie Turpin, Account Manager, Creative Group Inc. (April 2011)
Testimonial from Site Search & Select and Shire: Another Swiss success story...
Switzerland is one of the easiest, most flexible and business friendly country to work with in Europe. The North American office [of the Switzerland Convention & Incentive Bureau] processes and disseminates our MICE requests to its local vendors with true Swiss precision. Switzerland is truly a valued and globally minded partner.
Michael Hudson, President, Site Search & Select (January 2011)
The Hôtel Des Trois Couronnes setting is simply beautiful. The hotel staff is to be commended for their pleasant and efficient services. Our compliments to the chef, for the food were incredible. Our stay at the Hôtel Des Trois Couronnes in Vevey was truly a memorable experience.
Gin Cromer, EA, Shire, client of Site Search & Select (January 2011)
Testimonial from WRMI Radio Miami International: Switzerland - where else?
Our international radio conference at the Mövenpick Zürich-Regensdorf Hotel went very well. I think all of the 112 delegates from more than 40 countries were very pleased as well. The meeting facilities were excellent, and the personnel were extremely professional and first-class. They were able to meet all of our requirements quickly and efficiently. On one day, we had a bus tour to the Thomson radio transmitter plant in Turgi, followed by a very enjoyable reception and dinner in Bottstein Castle. Regensdorf was a good location for the conference. The hotel is immediately adjacent to a large shopping center and is only a 17-minute train ride to Zürich main station. Many attendees went to downtown Zürich for dinner. All of the comments we have received from delegates have been very positive, and they have asked us to organize future conferences in Switzerland.
Jeff White, General Manager, WRMI Radio Miami International (September 2010)
Testimonial from Cascadia Motivation: Switzerland has it all.
Cascadia Motivation has used Switzerland as a destination for many years. It has been host to countless Canadian Corporations Incentive, Meeting and Conferences we have managed. The country is absolutely beautiful, it is rich in culture, history, and scenery. The hotels are tremendous, the food fantastic, and the value is unmatched in Europe. It is a very safe, clean, and beautiful country. Zürich, Basel, Montreux, Geneva, and Interlaken are all worthy of hosting any type of group event. We certainly always consider Switzerland as a leading contender when looking at European destinations for our clients.
Rob Thorsteinson, President, Cascadia Motivation (June 2010)
Testimonial from Creative Group, Inc: Beauty & friendliness!
The beauty of Switzerland is breathtaking! We recently had a group of about 50 attendees in Interlaken - all from the Middle East - most had never even seen snow; it was amazing to see the wonder and astonishment in their eyes. Along with its beauty, the people are the next greatest asset of Switzerland - always friendly and willing to help - they truly understand the incentive market. Bucher Travel did a tremendous job with transportation and activities and the Victoria Jungfrau is truly a gem of a property. I can't wait for my next group to Switzerland!
Chuck Czaplewski, Account Executive, Creative Group, Inc. (March 2010)
Swiss Hit: The fifth annual Switzerland Meeting Trophy puts the country's allure on display (5.69 MB)
Article in "Successful Meetings", edition November 2009
Testimonial from Mfactor: Switzerland's great diversity!
"If you are looking for top notch event facilities, a variety of indoor and outdoor activities, responsible environmental practices, and stunning natural beauty, you need look no further than Switzerland! Having recently toured Luzern, Geneva and Montreux, I was truly blown away by all that Switzerland has to offer. The people and places exceeded all of my high expectations. I will not hesitate to bring incentive groups to the region and truly look forward to returning to this wonderland."
Molly Elazier | Senior Account Manager | Mfactor. (August 2009)
Testimonial from ITAGroup: Switzerland is Europe's most beautiful place!
"As an Event Planner I have several treasured memories of travel through Europe and have hundreds of candidates for the accolade of "Europe's Most beautiful Place" but none are comparable to Switzerland. The unending picturesque historic towns, beautiful countryside, and the unique way the Swiss have balanced the modern and historic is unequaled by others. It is clear the Swiss recognize their most valuable asset as their land and have worked hard for centuries to preserve their country's natural beauty. Practically speaking most of us look for this "Outer Beauty" first when deciding on destinations and rarely look underneath. As an event planner what lies beneath can often be challenging and more important when choosing a destination. Attitudes toward foreigners, service levels, product availability and affordability can all play for or against a destination. The Swiss successfully recognized this and know that without this inner beauty there is not much value to their outer beauty. When both come together like that - You have created a place that elicits awe-inspiring emotions. Switzerland truly is "The Most beautiful place".
David Abers | Travel Account Representative | ITAGroup, Inc. (June 2009)
Testimonial from Carlson Marketing: Switzerland Great Value!
"When we started our search in 2008, our client tasked us with finding a European destination at a great value in 2010. With the exchange rate of the Dollar to the Euro, our initial reaction was to focus on countries that didn't use the Euro, which led us to Switzerland. After sourcing several properties throughout Europe, we kept coming back to Switzerland. Not only were the prices a great value, the fact that Hotels of Switzerland offered a guaranteed USD package rate that included rooms, F&B and some decor only confirmed that Switzerland was a great value and made the most sense. The fact that they were able to lock in pricing for 2010 weighed heavily in their decision. Montreux is the perfect destination for incentive program, offering easy access, fantastic hotels and a wealth of activities to fit every interest.
Although the program has not yet operated, we are confident that it will be a great success with such a fantastic destination and great Swiss organization."
Deb Skoine | Senior Buyer | Engagements & Events | Carlson Marketing (March 2009)
