The Value of Curated Experiences
For the past 5 months I have been traveling across the globe, enjoying exploring with family and friends, speaking and participating in a series of rather fantastic events. Some I have posted about and more still to come about these and the learnings in future posts.
What I am always asked is “what was my favorite?” and I honestly don’t have an answer because every day has held something special. On the most recent round of travel (Amsterdam to New York), it struck me that like everything we experience, it is about two key elements – moments and memories.
My travels began in Cancun speaking for the IRF – the Incentive Research Foundation Invitational, then to Atlanta for a photo shoot with some amazingly smart #eventprofs, New Zealand including speaking in the stunning city of Christchurch at Eventing the Future, then on to Australia for serious girlfriend time, then special time in Bali, speaking in Toronto and relaxing in Georgian Bay, leading a workshop on creative power in Denver (ILEALive) and more on event design in Utah (Connect) with a short stop at home to teach a class. Then it was off again to Amsterdam and a wonderful afternoon with MPI Netherlands sharing wellness and mindfulness tips with Jolien and possibly the most delicious steak lunch ever, then on the train for dinner in Cologne, a tour of Berlin before stepping into the Extraordinary College at Czocha Castle in Poland, a magical realm of experience design. Then I enjoyed a curated thematic weekend in London offering many highlights, before heading to New York which included great cousin time and so much more. This was all capped off with a deep immersion into IMEX18, including two days deep-diving into the Event Industry Council Sustainability Standards rewrite and leading event technology tours daily at IMEX18 in Las Vegas before heading home again.
At so many places along the way, friends curated experiences they knew we would enjoy together, and it is hard to describe how special this has been to me. This has ranged from hiking, Pilates and cuddling koalas in Australia, exploring underground caves in Mexico and New Zealand, and getting up close and personal with geysers and kangaroos. We navigated Comicon NY and Times Square, the Empire State Building and the powerful 911 Memorial. I was “Bettyanned” which if you know her, you know it’s a verb! On the road and closer to home, I am humbled meeting the babies and puppies of friends I can’t imagine my life without. Even though our time together is infrequent it is always memorable. From a weekend of wonderful cottage life, to hiking in some of the most beautiful vistas imaginable in New Zealand, Canada, Colorado and Utah, running on the Vegas strip and the seawalls of New York, staying healthy has been embedded. For the mind and heart, viewing delightful art and learning about global history in castles, museums and galleries around the world has been fantastic. So many planned experiences, and so many serendipitous happenings have been part of the journey- it is hard to slow down and remember it all.
There have been many meals with ocean views and more close-up opportunities to sink toes in sand, and nearly daily sunsets appreciated, and a few sunrises. An incredible tasting dinner at Modern at the MOMA in New York, Hampton Court and a Sunday roast, a simple salad, wine and cheese in Cologne with a friend who opened her home to me on a spur of the moment addition to my train trip and so many friends who did the same in New Zealand, including where I imagine my tiny home one day. The sounds… hearing the NY Philharmonic or the musical Six, riding a magical carousel, learning about Berlin in the pouring rain and the night sounds of crickets, or in Bali the cats, dogs and chickens of the neighborhoods; all these will stay with me. Learning more about my hosts, fellow participants and travel companions through endless thoughtful and thought provoking conversations… unforgettable. Gardens, hidden waterfalls, incredible temples and cathedrals and nurseries which bring peace to my soul were available in so many places and I remain nurtured by their presence and inspired by their resilience.
Experiencing deeply the places where so many people I like most in the world live their lives, and being present for meandering conversations and learning more about their lives now has been incredibly special. Learning about their cultures, what matters most to them, and to experience the places they have finally settled, so often their heart homes is something I will always be incredibly grateful for.
The #eventprofs Questions
Each step in this journey for me always ties back to how we bring these lessons to the events to be designed, I just can’t help viewing the world through the lens of the event producer I am. How do we more authentically integrate local culture into our programming? How can we rethink meals to be both nutritious but also inspired and nurturing? How do we bring more of a sense of permanence to our temporary installations? Ultimately how do we leave space and time for the conversations that will change the lives of our participants? How do we become the best hosts, who curate the most magical and memorable experiences? Let’s keep talking!
