I recently had the absolute pleasure of attending DBF Events – All About People. A fabulous 3 day event bringing event management professionals together, connecting agencies with a range of venue suppliers across mainland Europe.
There aren’t many industry events that would prompt giving up your weekend but when it is an event of this calibre and the networking is to take place on Lake Como then it is an opportunity to be snapped up, for sure.
I’d heard mumblings of Lake Como’s beauty, so expectations were high and I wasn’t disappointed. We arrived at Hilton Lake Como to a very warm welcome, both from staff and from the 25˚C weather which was an absolute treat coming from a rainy England at the end of October. The hotel have a truly incredible rootftop space, the Terrazza 241, which is home to an infinity pool, and two terrace / bar areas, one of which was privatised for our welcome drinks. It was a breathtaking introduction to the hotel and its surroundings, with outstanding panoramic views of the lake.
The evening was spent at the hotel sampling delicious canapes in the Cube (great high ceiling, full length windows event space) whilst taking in the sights and sounds of a violinist with the most incredible floor length real greenery skirt, bringing in natural elements to highlight green initiatives of suppliers and also bringing a wonderful feeling of the warmth of autumn. Dinner was served in the restaurant with a range of delicious street food stalls, allowing guests to sample a variety Italian dishes and wider cuisines.
Across the weekend the hotel even managed to squeeze in a pasta making class for us with their Executive Chef. I am among the group of people who were once gifted a pasta making machine, immediately and enthusiastically using it precisely once and it has collected dust at the back of the cupboard ever since…so I wasn’t expecting to be top of the class. It was a surprisingly quick, easy and fun process – letting you feel like you had achieved something truly Italian!
We also sampled Pan Dei Morti, translation Bread of the Dead, which may not sound appetising but was a delicious sweet bread, harder on the outside and beautifully soft in the middle. Pan Dei Morti is from the local region, traditionally made by families and then eaten together to honour their departed relatives, as if they were there eating with them. It can now be found in bakeries across the Lombardy region at this time of year and is worth seeking out.
The next day, after a morning of 1-1 supplier meetings we set sail on a tour around the lake, (which is much larger than I’d anticipated), taking in the beauty of the landscape, water and variety of spectacular houses and boats – even having a go at star spotting and getting to see George Clooney’s Como residence. We were dropped in Como town giving the opportunity to wander through the cobbled streets and have a drink in the wonderful piazzas. This was followed by a gala dinner at the magnificent Villa Erba, a gorgeous 19th century property with climbing vines all across the outside which was beautifully lit in the autumn dusk as we arrived. Inside it is full of grandeur with frescoes, stone archways, carved ceilings, a balcony overlooking the main foyer and mannerist-inspired rooms – an incredible space for dinner and the food was divine.
On our departure day we had the good fortune to have our farewell lunch at the 5* Hotel Principe di Savoia. A hotel rich in history and with a long standing reputation of servicing many elite and famous guests. As you may expect the interior is stunning and service was impeccable. We benefited from private lunch in a space with spectacular chandeliers, a beautiful terrace and were even serenaded by a jazz trio. The hotel also had live music in their main restaurant for other lunch diners and all areas of the hotel were beautifully decorated.
This is just the tip of what the area has to offer so whether you want to delve in to the fashion history, architecture, music, throw yourselves in to Italian food and culture or are looking for something more adrenaline based, there is much to explore.
Being in the North of Italy, Milan is only 2hrs flight from London and with the south of the lake only 45mins from Milan Malpensa airport Lake Como is very easily accessible, either as a stand alone location or for longer trips to be combined with Milan itself. So if you’re looking for your next company adventure, conference or incentive then get in touch.
