At the forefront of the bustling events industry, event and communications agency Live Group redefines how events are produced. Using audience insights, Live Group unlocks the full potential of their clients' events by shaping environments which bring people together and create moments that matter.

Ahead of the inVOYAGE event at Doha, we spoke to Stephen D. Pickett, Chief Strategy Officer, to find out what he’s most looking forward to when joining the event, how he feels this will be transferable with regards to Live Group’s clients and how he plans to use his time there to enhance Live Group’s offering to its clients.

Why do you feel Qatar and the Middle East offer such an interesting destination for the luxury Incentive Travel industry and what aspects of the upcoming trip do you think most beneficial to the type of work Live Group specialises in?

I’m looking forward to my trip to Doha with inVOYAGE. The Middle East is an increasingly important region for many of our clients, and I will enjoy meeting local vendors and networking with other business leaders operating in Qatar and beyond. For me, there is no substitute for face-to-face communication, and I know the scheduled meetings with potential event suppliers will be very productive.

The visit will also enable me to experience some of the incredible venues in Doha. We will be staying at the five-star Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl, which I understand offers breathtaking views of the Arabian Gulf and the Pearl Doha. I know this will make for a superb few days.

How can you see your clients benefit from your time in Doha?

We specialise in delivering extraordinary content and ideas for our clients’ events. Immersing ourselves fully in new experiences and destinations enables us to inject true authenticity to these innovative concepts.

Qatar is obviously a major player as a Middle East destination, and part of their strategy for diversifying the economy involves growing their events industry. The most talked about event at the moment is understandably the 2022 FIFA World Cup, but Qatar is host to a number of other significant political and business events too. A key aspect of their National Vision 2030, is to take a managed approach to sustained growth, while investing in the needs of its current and future generations.

These values align with Live Group’s core pillars of security, inclusivity, accessibility and sustainability. I’m hoping to meet new suppliers and event partners who can work with us to weave these values seamlessly into the events we coordinate for our clients in the Middle East.

What aspect of the Doha event are you most looking forward to?

I am excited about the opportunity to broaden my own personal understanding of business and the hospitality culture in the Middle East. It will also allow me to practise some of the Arabic greetings which, in my experience, go a long way to establishing a friendly connection! It’s so important to fully appreciate business etiquette when operating in this region. Even though I would consider myself knowledgeable about the rich tapestry of culture and customs, I learn something new every time I visit.

Partners from across the region are all set to showcase a flavour of the luxury incentive experiences this fascinating destination has to offer, and we can’t wait to welcome Stephen to Doha at the beginning of October for what promises to be a really unmissable event.