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Global DMC Partners President Catherine Chaulet shares why it’s Warsaw for Connection 2018.
Catherine Chaulet
Global DMC Partners (GDP), the largest global network of destination management companies (DMC), is bringing our first conference in Europe to Warsaw from 16-19 August.
European Connection, Connection 2018, will take place at the Sheraton Warsaw and will bring together global meeting professionals and DMC industry leaders from around the world. The event, which is a mix of education, networking, one-on-one appointments, and experiencing the host destination, will feature a general session about global trends and meeting industry disruptors, an interactive panel with roundtable discussions on attendee and data protection, and industry-specific meeting planner breakout sessions.
We chose Warsaw because it is unexpected and, for meetings, almost undiscovered. Some of the biggest challenges that planners are facing are budget constraints and compliance issues, and Poland has everything Europe has to offer at a great price. If meeting planners are nervous about bringing an event to Europe and they see Warsaw can provide a flawless experience, they will see how manageable other destinations in Europe can be too.
All of our DMCs are independently owned and chosen to join GDP because of their local and industry knowledge. This means that we have the ability to connect our clients with local experts — with fresh perspectives and creative ideas — around the globe.
The three main goals of the European Connection are to connect our clients with our DMCs face-to-face, to deliver thought-provoking and inspiring education, and to provide a space for stimulating discussion among meeting planners about the issues and topics that are most important to them.
According to post-event evaluations, our breakout sessions have received the highest ratings out of all the education opportunities at the Connection.
Also, we believe it is our responsibility to draw back the curtain and open up the world to our clients, so they can encounter different cultures and experience something extraordinary. This is part of the reason it is so important for us to showcase the host destination and let attendees experience it for themselves.
GDP was founded in 2013 and we have more than 65 DMC partners, serving over 500 destinations worldwide. We recognise that shared knowledge and appreciation within our group translates into more innovative, creative, and higher-quality programmes for our clients, so our DMC partners work together with us to drive excellence throughout the partnership.