A meeting in the Winkel van Sinkel
We have various clients with whom we have been working for quite some time. It is, of course, a pleasure to have mutual trust when organising MICE: Meetings, Incentives , Concepts and Events.
An oil and gas industry client wanted to host a special meeting. The theme of the meeting was: “Ready for tomorrow, together”. Our client wanted this to take place at a unique location. Our client also wanted help with a wonderful filling-in of the programme.
The location for the meeting
Our team's first thought was to propose a futuristic venue. However, because we know the target audience of the participants well (after all, we have known them for years and have collaborated before), we came up with a different, more suitable venue, namely the Winkel van Sinkel in Utrecht.
‘Reflecting ’Old‘ and ’New' times
The participants were all independent entrepreneurs from the oil and gas sector. Entrepreneurs with a petrol station, combined with shops (forecourt shops). With the Winkel van Sinkel, we wanted to create a nice contrast between the ‘old’ and the ‘new’ era.
The Winkel van Sinkel is traditionally a department store with a rich history. Today, it is a magnificent restaurant as well as an event and meeting venue.
Our client was also very enthusiastic about the location! Great, the preparations could begin! During the preparations for such a meeting, we take care of as much as possible. For instance, we go through everything together, print the badges and make arrangements with all suppliers. This is where the expertise and experience of goMICE really come in handy. We leave nothing to chance!
Below, I will briefly take you through the agenda of this meeting.
The meeting in the Winkel van Sinkel
Naturally, I didn't want to be late, so I arrived at a freezing cold multi-storey car park at 6:45 am, waiting for my colleague who was coming by train.
At 7:30 we were both at the venue to set everything up, get things ready and discuss the final details with our contacts. Furthermore, we worked on things including:
- Setting up the registration desk with badges
- Fill bags with gadgets and get them ready
- Placing banners
- Technical inspection
- Set up the Illy coffee bar
- Check the room decoration
- Managing Food & Beverages
There is a lot involved in holding a meeting at the Winkel van Sinkel. My colleague and I were therefore thoroughly satisfied when we were able to welcome the first guests from 9.30 am.
Illy coffee bar in the Winkel van Sinkel
Serving Illy coffee in the forecourt shops is one of the company's new concepts. To introduce the participants to Illy coffee, we have placed an Illy coffee bar at the entrance.
For some participants it was a long drive, so a welcome with a good cup of coffee and an “Anton's Cake” went down a treat. An “Anton's Cake” is a delicacy from the old days, a combination of apple pastry and traditional currant loaf.
A good preparation is half the work.
Thanks to the good preparation, the registration went smoothly. The weather was fine and everyone was in high spirits. The hall quickly filled up, after which the presentations could begin. Several innovative concepts were presented, including the launch of a mealworm roll!
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend in the afternoon, as I was flying out to Dubai for a meeting/inspection for a few days. Nadia, the project manager for this meeting, would certainly hold her own.
A mealworm roll
During lunch, delicious sandwiches and drinks were on the menu.
The participants could also taste the mealworm rolls! The ingredients had been brought by our contacts themselves and we prepared these very special rolls for them, together with their intern.
We were curious to see how many participants would dare to try the mealworm sandwich. In the end, around 30% of the 140 participants took the plunge. Admittedly, some were a bit more enthusiastic than others!
Relaxation on the water
After that, it was time for some relaxation on the water. We had arranged 5 sloops, which were able to moor in front of the Winkel van Sinkel. With the wonderful weather, everyone was really looking forward to it!
After 1.5 hours of sailing, we docked again and it was time for the farewell drinks. We checked everyone out and handed out the little bag of gadgets. We saw a lot of smiling and satisfied faces, and that is ultimately what we do it for!
At 20:00 that same evening, I received a WhatsApp message from our contact person:
“Hi Anita, it was a super day, with lots of happy faces! Nadia is great! Thanks and good luck/enjoyment in Dubai.”
Now having arrived in Dubai, it was of course very nice to read that this meeting was a huge success! You can read more about my programme in Dubai next time on the goMICE blog!
Would you also like to organise a meeting or event? Then please feel free to contact us via Hello@goMICE.nl or call us on: 088-202-30-40.
Customer Experience: It was brilliantly organised again. A successful gathering at a lovely venue! Thanks again for the great collaboration,