Before the pandemic hit our industries, recent trends in destination marketing and management included sustainable development and action, the use of big data to shape content creation and the development of more personalised, one to one messaging. Collaboration was one more important trend which I talked about recently in my Musketeers article; I believe itContinue reading “The Digital Trends Interview”
Author Archives: hugoslimbrouck
Tried and Tested
One of the main challenges of being a Belgian is to know how to source the best chocolates in town. There is simply so much choice! Life is indeed like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get – unless you tasted them yourself! It’s the same with destination services; there areContinue reading “Tried and Tested”
Lead Generation
Content marketing is the fertile soil from which new business leads grow. Before any B2B client will reach out to you in person, they have already gone through a pre-selection process. According to a recent study, one out of 3 search queries for products and services started from Google. Not surprising – just ask yourselfContinue reading “Lead Generation”
Vision 2022
Re-designing your client portfolio for the post-pandemic era The time has come for me to share my career long know-how with individuals and organisations operating within the larger meetings, events and incentive travel industry. If you are a destination expert, a hotelier, a DMC, an association executive or event pro, you may want to continueContinue reading “Vision 2022”
Travelling Man
Throughout my career I have travelled extensively around the globe, often up to 120 days a year. Most of these trips were in relation to the sales trips, the DMC partnerships I set up on behalf of Ovation Global DMC or related to trade shows or meetings industry conferences. As a past president and longContinue reading “Travelling Man”
Masterclass
For years I have been speaking at international trade shows, conferences and events on a number of topics related to our business. Also I had, in association with some CVBs and media partners, the opportunity to present masterclasses to local DMO communities. Most topics are in the field of destination marketing and services, sales, businessContinue reading “Masterclass”
All for One and One for All
Bring back the Musketeers – united we stand, divided we fall! I’m a great fan of storytelling and this morning I woke up with the heroic stories of the Musketeers of Alexandre Dumas in mind. In the early Noughties, when Lex Granaada, Roger Tondeur and Yours Truly organised the ESNEPs for SITE in Europe and the Middle East, participants calledContinue reading “All for One and One for All”
The Lightness of Being a Beginner
It has been a long and beautiful ride. It all started with a daring move. On June 16th, 1976 I parked my bicycle against the wall of a hotel in my hometown Bruges and walked in to ask if they had a job for me for the summer months. Just like that. In from the deepContinue reading “The Lightness of Being a Beginner”
The Art of Serendipity
Incentive Travel is a business and motivational tool for the post Covid-19 age How healthy is your human capital post Covid-19? Many industries and trades have suffered from Covid-19 and bringing their people together will be a major need for corporations on the road of recovery. Initially an invention to boost sales organisations, incentive travelContinue reading “The Art of Serendipity”
DMCs in the Time of Cholera
(After ‘El amor en los tiempos del colera’ by Gabriel Garcia Marquez) Fifty years, nine months, and four days. That is how long Florentino had to wait, after first declaring his love to Fermina, to finally marry her. The book by Gabriel Garcia Marquez was written in a style called magical realism. The surrealistic novel thatContinue reading “DMCs in the Time of Cholera”
Destinations & Events 