Incentive trips to Swedish Lapland
We consider Lapland to be a fantastic destination for incentive travel and have proactively expanded our knowledge and network there in recent years. We would therefore be happy to advise you on a unique winter wonderland experience tailored to your target audience and travel objectives. Don't forget to get your participants warmed up for this “cool” destination in advance. We thoroughly enjoy creating a bespoke itinerary with multiple touchpoints before, during, and after your trip! This will help you get even more out of your LIVE moment, your relationships, and therefore your budget!
To help you get warmed up for this fantastic destination, I, Lotte Brandwagt, Project Manager at goMICE, will take you through my experiences and a look back at a recent incentive trip to Swedish Lapland for one of our regular clients from the secondment industry.
Following an impressive incentive trip to New York Following the successful organisation of an event in the summer of 2019, our client asked us to brainstorm possible destinations for an unforgettable winter incentive trip in 2020. We didn't have to think long about this: Lapland! This destination offers everything needed for a memorable incentive trip: think impressive, vast nature, the Northern Lights, thick snow cover, and activities that are nowhere else possible. Lapland is a true Winter Wonderland!
Lapland is located in northern Finland.
When people talk about Lapland, they often immediately think of Finnish Lapland (also a fantastic destination!). However, few people realise that a large part of northern Sweden also belongs to Lapland. Lapland is namely enormous and stretches across Norway, Sweden, Finland and even a small part of Russia. All the more enjoyable to discover the Swedish part of Lapland, including Swedish traditions!
Right then!
In January the time finally came, and I left with the group for Luleå (pronounced: Loelejo), located in Swedish Lapland. Most of the participants had also been on the previous trip to New York, it was great fun to see these familiar faces again! The atmosphere was immediately good, and after a SAS flight with a short stopover in Stockholm, we arrived at Luleå airport at the end of the afternoon. Not much later, the first snowballs were thrown, welcome to Winter Wonderland!
Brrrrrrr…
The average temperature in Luleå in January ranges between -8 and -16 degrees. Although it wasn't extremely cold for the time of year at -5 degrees, participants received a personal package of winter clothing upon arrival, including a thick overall, gloves, boots, and a hat. As Anita wrote earlier in her blog It is extremely important to dress warmly against the cold.
Swimming between the ice floes
During this four-day trip, a large number of impressive activities were scheduled. Between December and April, the Gulf of Bothnia is frozen, so how amazing is it to take a trip here with a local icebreaker! The group boarded the impressive ship in the town of Piteå. Immediately after sailing away, you are right in the middle of the breaking ice. It is enormously fascinating to see how the ship manages to break through the thick ice sheet and an incredible sound to hear how the cracking thick ice breaks apart into large chunks.
The highlight of the tour came after almost two hours of sailing: the captain stopped the ship and announced that it was time to… swim amongst the icebergs! Considering the Naturally, as the water temperature was below freezing, the participants didn't wear their swimwear but a specially developed waterproof survival suit. Truly an unforgettable moment to be floating in a still, white, frozen sea!
Enthusiastic Huskies
After this icy dive, we enjoyed lunch in a traditional wooden Kota. A cosy fire crackled in the centre, and participants savoured local specialities such as reindeer stew and fresh lingonberries. In the background, we could hear the enthusiastic barking of a large number of huskies, and after lunch, it was time for the next part of the programme: a husky sledding trip! Truly an activity that shouldn't be missed during an incentive trip to Lapland. Participants drove their own sledges, each pulled by 6 huskies. What enthusiasm these beautiful dogs have!
Into the wild
Another highlight of the trip was a four-hour snowmobile excursion. At high speeds, participants travelled through the impressive wilderness and across the Gulf of Bothnia, a perfect way to discover the surroundings of the Luleå Archipelago! Along the way, participants enjoyed an authentic outdoor lunch prepared over an open fire.
Travel Guidance goMICE
It is extremely important to us to travel personally with you on the trip as travel accompaniment. We have organised the itinerary from A to Z and know the destination and suppliers like no other. During the trip, we take care of everything for our client, making sure everything is arranged down to the finest detail and leaving nothing to chance. No matter how meticulously we plan everything in advance (check, check, double-check), something always happens during every trip that isn't in the script. These are the moments when we can react quickly and demonstrate our added value.
This trip, too, something unexpected happened: one of the participants injured his foot while out in the town, and the next morning he was still suffering greatly from it. While the other participants left for the snowmobile trip, along with our wilderness guide Rick, I left with this participant for the local hospital. Here it turned out he had a complex fracture of his metatarsal bone.
Flying with a cast
At that moment, it's a rapid turnaround, especially since we were flying back to the Netherlands the very next day. In addition to personal support, a lot needs to be arranged in such a situation: think of liaising with the Swedish doctors, contacting the health insurance company, and last but not least: ensuring the participant can fly home safely and relaxed the next day. For example, the doctor must provide a certificate stating that the participant is fit to fly, and it's important that the cast is not applied circularly (fully closed). Due to pressure build-up in the cabin, hands and feet can swell during the flight due to fluid retention. Tip: always ask for a thrombosis injection!
In addition, thanks to our IATA certification, we communicate directly with the relevant airline within our systems and try to make the flight as relaxed as possible for the participant. This includes arranging a wheelchair, pre-boarding, and the best possible seat on the plane.
Despite the hospital visit, the trip was more than successful. All participants thoroughly enjoyed all the beauty that Lapland has to offer and look back on a wonderful experience in Winter Wonderland!