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When the Belgium team was named the 2023 winners of the “Switzerland Meeting Trophy,” they exclaimed with joy. The announcement was made at the “Halle Shipyard,” the largest event space at “8008 See Lounge,” which is located next to Lake Zurich. Boats that were being repaired were pushed to the side to create a unique urban city space where guests could enjoy the DJ, bars, buffet, and decking area while the sun set on three eventful days.
Teams of about 70 meetings and event planners from the UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Holland, the Nordic countries, and North America competed in a series of tasks and experiences that the Switzerland Convention & Incentive Bureau (SCIB) carefully selected between St. Moritz and Zurich.
I hear you asking, “Why mention the winners in the first sentence?” While the Belgian team deserves praise, it’s time to use some tired cliches like “it’s all about the journey, not the outcome” and “it’s not about the winning but the participating.” And what a “Journey” it turned out to be, helping participants see two different regions of this interesting and visually stunning country with the help of trains, boats, e-bikes, e-vehicles, and cable cars.
“The Meeting Trophy was a fantastic way for me to experience Zurich and St. Moritz and sample activities that I could provide my corporate incentive groups,” the participant said. Instead of sitting across a table in a conference room, spending time with the local CVBs at each site allowed us to converse and learn more about the destination in a much more casual setting, according to Rhian Morgan, MICE Manager, Abercrombie & Kent.
The “Switzerland Meeting Trophy,” now in its 17th year, captures why Switzerland Tourism, which includes SCIB, continues to be a trend-setter, innovator, and even disruptor within the tourism industry. This is especially important in relation to “Sustainability” and its “Swisstainable” plan, which is now Switzerland’s long-term travel future’s architectural blueprint.
The phrase “I need Swisstainable, I need Switzerland” was plastered all around Zurich Airport upon arrival, reminding visitors of their duties as well as the nation’s investment in protecting environment, their greatest asset for future generations.
Boarding the Train
Our journey started on the rail lines that departed from Zurich’s main station and circled a portion of Lake Zurich before passing into Chur.
The Swiss travel by train more than any other country in the world, and the Jungfraujoch in the Canton of Bern, which is 3,454 metres above sea level, is the highest railway station in all of Europe. It is also known for the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express; however, we were not passengers on the ‘Bernina Express’ and instead, thanks to our Swiss Rail Pass, boarded two private cars, one of which was called ‘Stiva Rustica’ (Rhaetian Living Room), to travel on the same ‘Albula’ route between Chur and St. Moritz. This rail line has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and for good reason—trains wind through stunning mountain scenery, passing through 55 tunnels and 196 bridges, the most famous of which is the “Landwasser Viaduct,” which crosses the Landwasser Valley and provided the inspiration for the first of our many memorable Instagram moments.
The train’s distinctive red carriages disappeared into the mountain tunnel before reappearing in the light, just in time to see the 65-meter high stone pillars recede into the verdant flora and fauna. Our group lowered carriage windows to capture the train gracefully curving across the 142-meter-long, six-arched viaduct.
Before we reached St. Moritz, our train had climbed over a thousand metres in elevation, with each carriage window capturing the pristine nature, only sporadically broken by chocolate-box settlements distinguished by church spires and alpine homes.
Source-Travel daily