inCROWD: Dominik Leonhardt @ MICExperts
In our latest inCROWD feature, we catch up with Dominik Leonhardt, Head of MICExperts, on his love of sunsets, the importance of having a strong partner network and getting back out there to discover new destinations and experiences for clients.
MICExperts provides group business and meetings, incentives, conferences, events as part of DER Touristik Suisse AG, which operates travel agencies throughout Switzerland including Kuoni and Helvetic Tours.
Prior to working on the agency side, Dominik spent 25 years working client side, including a role as Global Head of Events at investment banking giant UBS. “This provided me with the opportunity to bring all my knowledge and experience of working on the client side to create an agency that really understands and focuses on our client’s needs,” he said.
I am really looking forward to attending my first inVOYAGE this year to find and meet new partners. It is important for us to have a good network of hotel and DMC partners worldwide. Our clients always want to see and experience new things, so it’s good to find and work with new partners.
The thing I most love about working in events is… making our end clients happy. It’s not only that my client is happy, but the client of the client is happy. After an event or an incentive trip, to see people sell more or stay longer at the company or have a better impression of their company, then we know we have done a good job.
Luxury to me… does not necessarily mean expensive. It can be two minutes before sundown, it can be the silence of the desert, it can be a very good hotel, or a simple curry with the most amazing smell. Luxury is about the experience – sometimes that comes at a cost, but you can also find and propose experiences to client at no cost.
I was born into a family that travelled all the time, so travel has always been in my DNA. My grandfather ran a big business in Switzerland and was always travelling. I was around eight when my grandfather took me on an aeroplane for the first time on a trip to London. He always travelled First Class and I remember him smoking a cigarette during the flight as that was when smoking was still allowed on aeroplanes.
City slicker or beach bum? Both. I would choose to spend half a day exploring a city and then half a day relaxing on the beach, so I try to choose destinations that offer both.
If I could get on a plane right now, I would fly to… Muscat in Oman because it’s warm, it’s not a long flight, and it offers the perfect blend of culture, luxury, and adventure. And the smell in Oman is really unique and special.
Suitcase essentials? To be honest, I’d have to say my iPhone and iPad chargers. Without those, I can’t close the luggage.
My favourite unique experience… is spending the night in a luxury private tent. There is a company that can organise for groups to do that in the desert in Oman. I also discovered the same tent idea in South Africa, where you can put tents in the middle of a wonderful vineyard.
Its essentially luxury glamping combined with a top location. We have discussed this idea with different suppliers so we can put tents for board meetings or for incentive groups. The idea of being outside but having all the facilities you need is something I like very much.
Most memorable event moment… to be honest there is not one event. I have seen so many people being happy during our events. It can anything from a private dinner for ten people on a rooftop terrace watching the sun going down, or coming back from a safari trip, and you have seen the Big 5 in one day. I have been responsible for so many small and big events, it is impossible to choose a favourite one. For me, the small moments and emotions are often more memorable than a big event for 1,000 people
Do you have a mantra you live and work by? My physical mantra is the sun. I love that moment just before the sun goes down and I love to see sunsets all over the world. It also renews my energy. When I am running out of energy, I like to fill my batteries with a wonderful sunset.
When I’m not working, I’m most likely to be… gardening. I love to dig a hole, put my hands into the earth and grow something. It’s very grounding, especially for people who are always in a hurry and always travelling. The second thing is enjoying a good quality shisha pipe and watching the sunset.
When the pandemic is over, I am most looking forward to… travelling to new destinations. I have already started travelling again. When clients ask for new destinations, we must be ready, and we can only be ready when we have seen them.
It is important for me to go and see and have contact with new people. This is also the main reason I am investing time to go to inVOYAGE – it’s an opportunity to meet people and hopefully find new partners, destinations, and hotel ideas that I can propose to my clients.