BOUND TO BE REMEMBERED GIFTING WITHOUT BORDERS For planners organizing events in Mexico, premium gifting has long come with headaches: navigating customs and shipping costs. Canadian luxury leather goods company Monte & Coe has found a solution by taking production local. Already well known in the Canadian meetings and events market for its on-site gifting experiences, Monte & Coe has partnered with Mexican artisans to create a collection of locally crafted leather goods for incentive trips, executive retreats and leadership meetings. By sourcing and producing gifts in Mexico, planners can avoid customs delays, reduce shipping costs and support local makers, all while preserving the elements guests love—premium craftsmanship, live monogramming and the opportunity to choose their own memento of the trip. monteandcoecorporategifting.com BOOKSHELF WHY PLAY WORKS Beyond Trust Falls: The Definitive Guide to Building Teams That Click makes a compelling case that teambuilding is far more than a feel-good addition to an agenda. Drawing on nearly 40 years of experience designing programs for organizations including Google, Nike and Pfizer, TeamBonding founder David Goldstein explores the neuroscience behind play, explaining how shared experiences build trust, spark creativity and strengthen collaboration. “Creative solutions require the right brain for its imagination, pattern recognition and leaps of intuition. And nothing activates the right brain like play,” writes Goldstein. Blending research with practical strategies, the book offers event professionals fresh evidence to support investing in purposeful teambuilding activities—and plenty of ideas for creating experiences that deliver lasting impact long after the meeting ends. Fall 2026 | Ignitemag.ca | 49 Niagara-based book artist Hannelore Sotzek creates beautifully handcrafted journals and sketchbooks inspired by a love of books, storytelling and traditional bookbinding. Among her most distinctive creations are her vintage map journals, each covered in a genuine map reclaimed from discarded atlases and featuring destinations from across Canada and around the world. Equal parts practical and memorable, they make thoughtful room drops, speaker gifts or delegate keepsakes that celebrate both craftsmanship and a sense of place. Starting at $23; story-works.ca A Taste of Place A conference theme shouldn’t just appear on signage and stage backdrops—it should be something attendees can experience. When the Canadian Culinary Federation brought its 2026 National Conference to Waterloo Region, Explore Waterloo Region helped transform the theme—Rooted and Rising: Honouring Tradition and Shaping the Future—into a living part of the program. “When I shared the goal of showcasing our agri-food ecosystem to the Culinary Federation attendees, our members immediately leaned in, creating customized experiences and menus that reflected the best of our region,” says Jennifer Eddings, director of business development, Explore Waterloo Region. “I believe attendees left with a genuine sense of place and a deeper appreciation for what makes Waterloo Region so special.” By weaving together farm-to-table dining, immersive culinary tours, an authentic Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest celebration and experiences that highlighted the region’s agricultural heritage and food innovation, the destination became an extension of the event itself. “It was an insightful reminder of the deep connection between food, community and the environment,” says Sue Mercer of the Canadian Culinary Federation. PLANNER’S TAKEAWAY: The most memorable meetings happen when a destination’s culture, history and local expertise are woven into the agenda, creating experiences that feel authentic, reinforce your event’s purpose and leave attendees with a lasting sense of place.
