A definite highlight of the “trip” was a large gift box that was couriered to my home office a week prior to the FAM tour. We were given explicit instructions to not peek, but to open the three gift bags together during our virtual meeting time. Unlike Christmas as a child when I was always on the hunt snooping around for presents, I didn’t peek. And, you know, I’m glad I didn’t.
The gifts were thoughtful, meaningful and, admittedly gave me goosebumps when the MCPEI team told us the significance of each item. I could feel the love and I felt connected to PEI more than I thought was possible without being there in person. (Highlights, for me, included: gouda cheese from Glasgow Glen Farm, a signed cookbook by Chef Michael Smith, a virtual reality headset for my smartphone (to get as close to exploring the island in person as possible), jam from the Prince Edward Island Preserve Company and a copy of Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery, to name a few.
I’m grateful for the friendly connections I made with the other attendees on the trip and the team at MCPEI – thank you Treena, Susan, Mary-Hellen and Nicole and to all your partners that participated in the FAM. In these lockdown days, it’s nice to know I can still meet new, like-minded people and learn from their experiences during these uneasy times.
I’m also grateful for the experience to learn more about Prince Edward Island (a small island with a LOT of heart) and all it can offer our clients in the future.
But why wait?
The world is on a path of reinvention and virtual events aren't going anywhere. Could there be a market for safely executed virtual FAM tours that still connect people to each other and to geographic locations if travel bans or restrictions continue. As an event planner, I say yes, a big yes. Any day of the week, I’d be keen to work with the team at MCPEI to create a virtual PEI experience for clients who’d be more comfortable sitting on the sofa than risking travel during this period of transition and reinvention.
Meetings and Conventions Prince Edward Island, my heartfelt thank you for including me in your very first virtual FAM tour. Big smiles all around. Until we meet again . . . in person or virtually!
Our team has been working on virtual social experiences that are engaging and meaningful. Drop us a line anytime to create impactful collective interactions and keep the conversations (and events) going.