The event for incentive professionals suppliers drew 230 incentive professionals and suppliers to the Budapest.
Budapest’s elegant beauty, fascinating history and vibrant arts and culture scene were showcased during Northstar Meetings Group’s Global Incentive Summit, which was held Oct. 19-22 at the Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest. The event drew 230 participants — made up of incentive buyers who organize programs outside the United States, and incentive suppliers representing global hotels, DMCs and tourist boards — who conducted business during scheduled one-on-one sessions, and networked and explored the city together.
Among the highlights was the event’s opening session, which was held in Hungary’s iconic Parliament. In the spectacular Chamber of Peers, Hungarian film expert Viktor Dudas detailed the strong roots and ties between Hollywood and the “Hollywood of Europe,” as the country is known. Following a reception in the Parliament’s exquisite Hunter’s Hall, attendees then boarded the River Diva for a lunch cruise on the Danube River.
An evening at the Gabor M. Szoke industrial studio immersed participants in Budapest’s modern arts scene. And city’s ties to cinema’s past and present were celebrated in an unforgettable gala dinner at the Museum of Fine Arts. From the red carpet to uniformed usherettes to a showstopping rendition of “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina,” (a nod to the movie Evita, which was filmed in Budapest), the event captured the glamour of the film industry.
We thank the generous sponsors who supported this Global Incentive Summit: Visit Hungary, Budapest Convention Bureau, Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest, Hilton Budapest, Maui Jim, Meet in Ireland, Microcosmos DMC Budapest, Senator DMC, Society for Incentive Travel Excellence, Special Effects, Switzerland Convention & Incentive Bureau, Costa Rica DMC, Visual Europe Group, PC Nametag and Madison Avenue.
Following are Global Incentive Summit highlight images; all photos were taken by Matt Klinger of Mad Pix Pro.