With the FAM trip complete, the convention proper kicked off on Monday morning with a seminar programme to be genuinely proud of. Anthony Kingdon, the General Manager of Saunton Sands kicked off talking about the history of the hotel and how that history and family spirit still shapes the attitude of the hotel today. Jon Sutherland then gave delegates a presentation on Saunton Golf Club. Sally Everton of Visit Devon and Peter Hannaford of Discover South Carolina both gave standout talks — more on those elsewhere in this issue — and Jordan Edwards and William Wright of Tourwriter rounded off the morning with a presentation that left several operators keen to learn more.
Tuesday’s speed-dating session was, as ever, one of the highlights of the whole convention — but what stood out most this year wasn’t the format itself, it was what the small scale of the event allows in the run-up to it. By the time delegates sit down for their speed-dating appointments, there’s no need for introductions — those happened over the coffee breaks, drinks, golf and dinner the day before. The conversations are already familiar, which means they can go straight to something more directed and useful, rather than starting from scratch. It’s a level of intimacy and authenticity that’s very hard to replicate at a larger trade show, and it’s exactly why real relationships — not just contacts — come out of this convention.
The golf, unsurprisingly, was fantastic — Saunton’s East Course played fast and firm after a dry, hot spell with no rain, and the ball travelled miles as a result. It made for a proper challenge, but that didn’t detract from the enjoyment one bit — if anything, it added to it. And the gala dinner was a triumph in every sense: Brend’s own champagne flowed, and the food was, quite simply, magnificent. Head Chef Mathias Oberg and his team deserve enormous credit — delegates were still raving about the lamb the following day, with more than one describing it as the best they’d ever eaten!