Kevin and Dan go boating

The ups and downs of mid Atlantic forums!...

Last month Dan and I were ‘specially selected' to attend a customer forum event on an ocean cruiser where we were instructed to handle 73 meetings and subjected to severe "ground hog day syndrome" and potential sea sickness. Each day started with a breakfast meeting with selected delegates and then straight into pre-arranged 30 minute sessions with potential clients until 6.00pm when the real networking started.   

The forum runs on a meeting request basis, where delegates who are interested in the delivery of incentive, reward & recognition solutions could meet with us and discuss the benefit of using Corporate Rewards, cost savings that can be gained and new ideas.

This, I know, sounds like an account managers dream, but after a day of ‘selling ourselves' Dan and I would head back to our cabins and literally collapse on our bunk and watch Sky News (only channel available) or watch the Oriana channel.  Did you know that the Oriana has 795 employees, can take 1880 guests and its gross tonnage is 69, 153 tons??  Neither did I, but it was all I needed to lull me into taking a short nap before dinner!

Dinner was a networking event which, after a few bottles of vino, inevitably lead to the highlight of the evening - "Karaoke in the Lords Tavern Bar". This really was a sight to behold, and for the protection of my shipmates, what goes on cruise stays on cruise.  However had anyone had the sense to take a camcorder along, they would now probably be rich beyond their wildest dreams!   Dan and I did consider entering but thought otherwise when people started to perform the Britain's Got Talent heckling routine - off, off, off!!

After the Karaoke, and with fingers still wedged in ears, my shipmates and I moved on to Harlequins - the onboard night club - and this is where Dan showed off his perfectly homed dance routines to onlookers including some of our current clients, one of which commented  "Stick with what you're good at boys"!

Over the 2 day period we met some fantastic people and believe that some great business relationships have been forged.  In fact one organisation has already contacted us and are planning to launch an incentive campaign for their employees for the beginning of July...they obviously  didn't see Dan's running man on the dance floor!!