Photo: Storms Pakhus CASE STUDY: Destination FAM tour Length of program: 5 days Attendees: 4 travel writers from Canada and the United States Goal: “Visit Fyn (Funen in English) is fortunate to offer a wide range of activities suitable for group travel. My goal was to incorporate as many aspects as possible into the itinerary, allowing participants to experience this diversity without feeling overwhelmed—that’s why I structured each day around a specific theme,” says Swantje Niphut, key account management & in- ternational PR for Visit Fyn. “It was also important for me to connect the participants with passionate locals at each stop, as they are, in my view, the best ambas- sadors for our destination.” Vibe of program: Niphut wanted the tour to feel like a vacation—authentic, relaxed, and laid-back. “I made sure the schedule had enough free time to unwind and process the new impressions,” she explains. “By ensuring direct contact with locals and myself, I wanted the participants to feel like they were ‘visiting friends’ and to have the freedom to be themselves.” Accommodations: The 234-room Hotel Odeon— located in the heart of Hans Christian Andersen’s hometown—was home base for the first three nights, offering casual luxury steps from the Odense Congress Center, train station, local eateries and attractions. In Ærø, ‘the pearl of South Funen,’ a 19th century lantern factory and schoolhouse were transformed into the cozy På Torvet hotel, which has seven rooms, three apartments and a suite. Logistical challenges and solutions: “We faced a last-minute change on the island of Ærø, when a beachside dinner was at risk due to strong winds. BY WENDY HELFENBAUM Thanks to our close collaboration with the locals, we quickly relocated to a charming Danish beach cottage, which ended up being the most ‘hygge’ dinner experience of the entire tour,” says Niphut. Planning takeaways: “It’s incredibly important to incorporate down-time into the schedule to give participants a chance to catch their breath,” says Niphut. “I was particularly happy about how smoothly everything fell into place, despite some last-minute changes. This flexibility, thanks to the helpfulness, creativity and relaxed nature of the locals on Fyn and the is- lands, turned out to be a real advantage and contributed to the overall success of the trip.” Ideas planners can steal: “Involve small, unique local initia- tives that can be hard for outsiders to find or research on their own,” suggests Niphut. “As a DMO, we’re happy to assist with suggestions, as we know the locals best and can help identify what would complement the rest of the program.” → INCENTIVE TRAVEL REPORT Hans Christian Andersen House Museum, Odense Storms Pakhus market in Odense Denmark The island of Funen Winter 2024 | Ignitemag.ca | 59
