Safe conferences in the summer: plan ahead and book now

Opened in early 2020 with a congress of paediatricians, the gates had to be closed again immediately with the lockdown that followed. Since then, the development of the ultra-modern conference centre with its top location in the alpine region has been marked by ups and downs. Now, after almost two years of Corona-related emotional rollercoaster rides, one thing is becoming clear: The summer is the absolutely safest time to hold events. On the one hand, the number of cases decreases during the warm months, on the other hand it is precisely at that time of the year that the outdoor opportunities offered by Obergurgl can be optimally used. Obergurgl is located at an altitude of 1,900m and forests and pastures are at our doorstep.

“This summer was already well booked. And that although we have only been on the market for a relatively short time. But the demand has shown that our product is understood, that our offer works and that Gurgl, with its top hotels, perfectly meets the needs of demanding congress guests”, Felix Kupfer summarizes.

A well-known group from Germany selected the new Gurgl Carat for their conference. More than 100 people came to use the possibilities of the conference centre combined with the exclusive accommodation at a hotel in Obergurgl for their professional get-together. The event was rounded off with a varied outdoor programme from electric biking to hiking and climbing to yoga in the nearby stone pine forest.

For Felix Kupfer, this example shows the possibilities offered by the Gurgl Carat in conjunction with the village of Obergurgl and its surrounding high-alpine landscape. “This is a unique combination and we see that it is very well received by the meeting and conference guests,” says the managing director, who in addition to this position also is the Covid-19 officer for the Ötztal. The knowledge gained from this task allows him to look ahead to the summer with confidence: “All experience shows that this time of the year is safest. So one can reliably say that the months from June to September in particular can be used for meetings, congresses and incentives,” says Kupfer with conviction.

This will be specifically important in the coming year, because cancelled meetings and what was missed out on as a consequence will have to be caught up with. “If you want to use the next summer for events, it is best to book now. Because in the end there are only a few weeks when all the advantages of the summer, starting from a secure pandemic situation to perfect weather conditions for outdoor activities, can be enjoyed. Therefore it is important to secure your desired dates with us in good time,” advises Felix Kupfer.

He draws attention to a phenomenon that companies that have grown strongly during Corona are currently confronted with. Due to the home office regulations, they have many employees who have never met before. “Pure exchange of knowledge also works via video calls. But when it comes to conveying corporate culture or creating a sense of togetherness, personal meetings are extremely important. Above all, team-building measures are required here, and this exactly an argument for coming to the Gurgl Carat in Tirol, where we have perfect conditions for combining meetings and incentives,” says Kupfer.

In this context, he uncovers the prejudice that online events saved money. According to Felix Kupfer, this is only true for video meetings, but not in the case of an orchestrated event. “Proper events with studio, live connections, recordings etc. will be more cost effective compared to live events on site only if there are more than 1000 people attending. If there are less participants, it will be considerably cheaper to host the event live on site including hotel, travel costs etc. than to host a well-orchestrated online event,” compares Felix Kupfer.

Two other Tirolean event professionals see it also that way, namely Stefanie Turner from the Europahaus Mayrhofen and Andreas Ablinger from the SALZRAUM.Hall livelocations.  With the other two conference centres, the Gurgl Carat has formed a cooperation called “dieDrei.tirol – Tagungskristalle in Stadt.Tal.Berg“ (The three conference crystals – town.valley.mountain”).

Felix Kupfer on this cooperation: “For me, this cooperation of three competitors is one of the big successes of this year. It is actually quite courageous, but we are convinced that we are stronger together and can make good offers for the market. The enormous popularity that we have had since the start of the cooperation proves that we are right."

Sigrid Neureiter is both founder and owner of Dr. Neureiter PR Agency based in Vienna. Tirolean by heart and very committed to the MICE sector, Tirol as a conference region is a particular concern of Sigrid Neureiter. Together with her expert team and Gurgl Carat, she is responsible for editorial planning and implementation of the Carat.Blog. "Conferences held at Gurgl Carat stand for inspiration, foresight, tranquility in a truly incomparable ambience of the unique Alpine scenery. I am therefore very happy that I can contribute to bringing the advantages of Europe's highest conference center and its unique surroundings closer to customers."