Advisory board

Event: Two one-day day Advisory Board Meetings for a leading pharmaceutical company
Scale: 34 delegates
Date: January 2007

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THE BRIEF

A pharmaceutical client wanted to hold two back-to-back Advisory Board meetings to bring together top international European Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs). The meetings were to be held on consecutive days because a number of the attendees were required to attend both. The attendees were very important KOLs and would be travelling from many different countries. Our brief included finding an easily accessible European destination that would appeal to the KOLs. A small, high quality boutique hotel, in a city centre location and within walking distance of good quality restaurants was also preferable to the client.

THE SOLUTION

Our travel department carried out extensive research to establish which locations presented a viable option. Hotel Palace in Barcelona was selected because delegates were arriving from a multitude of departure points and the city has excellent flight access. The hotel is in a central location, offered preferable rates and booking conditions and had an exclusive area with its own pre function space for coffee breaks.

Unfortunately adverse weather conditions across Europe resulted in many of the KOL’s flights being delayed or cancelled. Our Travel Manager was immediately on-hand to check the status of each attendee’s flight and liaise with them directly to inform them of any changes to schedules. As a result most of the attendees arrived without significant delay.

THE RESPONSE

“Oxford International’s staff were outstanding and proved their worth as a fundamental partner in the organisation and management of this event. I was particularly impressed with the way that they worked hard to minimise the impact that the adverse weather had on travel arrangements and the level or personal service they provided each individual attendee.”

Business Unit Manager, leading pharmaceutical company