Richard Joslin, Co-Founder of inVOYAGE shares his views on the importance of immersive events and why they play such a crucial role within luxury travel, an industry that depends so much on the ability to experience the ambience, atmosphere, mood and true character of places and people…

I cannot tell you how much of a joy it’s been to get back into the real world, to meet people in person and escape the WFH doctrine.

It’s just the best feeling in an industry that depends so much on the ability to experience the ambience, atmosphere, mood and true character of places and people. 

When you’re selling dreams, you really want to be able to vouch for them personally, and where possible, and that’s been a huge challenge for our industry over the last two years.

Yes, technology has been a boon, bringing us together in a virtual space, allowing us to continue collaborating when the future seemed so uncertain during and post-pandemic. It bridged an important gap, enabling relationships to continue in a world when face-to-face was not an option, and it has developed in a way that will stay with us, and make us all better. But honestly, I’ve had enough of seeing my face on a screen (no funny comments please!!!) so I’m delighted to see ‘live’ returning.

This much was evident in the gorgeous Burgenstock Resort this week, where we partnered with both the Lucerne Convention Bureau and the Switzerland Convention and Incentive Bureau for our latest inVOYAGE global luxury incentive travel business gathering.

Working with great partners on a live event and welcoming some of the world’s finest luxury brands and high-end senior level event planners and travel partners in person was so fulfilling and productive, in a way that, in my view, just can’t be achieved in a digital setting.

Seeing everything through the prism of a screen is something we’ve had to get used to, but now we’re back from our second post-pandemic in-person event brings into sharp focus just how beneficial and important the return of immersive events and incentives is for business – for us, our partners and clients.  

And there are several reasons for that. Getting away from the daily working environment can really help industry insiders gain fresh perspective and clarity with their business-making decisions and immersive events create an opportunity for people to take a mental break from their day-to-day job.

We’ve spent months in isolation, trying to hot desk between the kitchen table and the home office, simply to try and gain a fresh perspective with a new view from the window. It’s literally impossible to step outside of our daily responsibilities and gain clarity when we are living and working in these conditions, so it’s more important now, than ever to start bringing people back together and inspiring them with new and exciting environments. 

Having the chance to meet in person also enhances co-operation and understanding – relationships formed through shared experiences are always much more meaningful. Spending time together with a group of peers engenders a sense of community and greater togetherness, fostering more powerful connections.

The same is true for our daily working environments and as people have become so siloed, it’s so important to bring them together to connect again and remind them of why they feel so deeply in love with this industry in the first place – after all, the pandemic left us amongst those affected the worst so I think it’s fair to say we could probably all do with a sizable dose of TLC. 

And, of course, tangible experiences create more fulfilling, lasting memories, both professionally and personally. Our events create opportunities for so many shared experiences and this is something that Zoom will simply never ever be able to compete with. Whether that’s dinner and drinks as the sun sets over Lucerne or snowmobiling across the Titlis Mountains, sometimes we simply need to experience something to feel it from our hearts. 

We’ve weathered the storm in travel and incentives over the last couple of years and there’s no doubt we’ve all shown how resilient and inspirational our industry can be. As the resurgence continues and  more immersive events flourish, it’s really a win-win situation all round.