This year, INTA came to London, and with it EIP had the chance to welcome the global IP community onto our doorstep. We held four events across four days including a box at the football, a launch party for Visser AI, a drinks reception at Victoria House and an exclusive dinner. In this feature, the team behind EIP's INTA success share what stood out (and pictures too).
Magnus Hallin — Looking back on how the firm approached INTA, what are you most proud of in the way EIP showed up, and what did hosting on home turf let us do that we couldn't have done anywhere else?
I am incredibly impressed by how well it all worked including the way we welcomed guests in the office and everything we provided for our guests, including amazing marketing material and give aways as well as how well the different events worked down to the smallest detail.
Being in the office when there were big client events, meetings with clients in every room, EIPers chatting to clients and contacts in the Mars cafe, made me incredibly proud. I wish we had this buzz in the office every day!
I am so grateful to everyone that made INTA such a successful event. London is also such a wonderful city to have a conference in with such abundance of attractions and great venues. Everyone coming here was so excited to be in London too.
Darren Smyth — How did opening our doors to foreign associates add to our relationships, and is there a moment or conversation that captured why face-to-face on home ground matters?
Meeting in the office is a powerful way to strengthen our relationship with FAs. First, our physical surrounding very much displays our brand and our working ethos, which they can immediately discern just by being there. Second, we can offer hospitality in a way that is not possible in a conference setting. And finally, in the seclusion of a meeting room there is space to have really meaningful conversations that would be difficult to conduct in a public setting.
Mark Lubbock — What was it about getting everyone together for a football game that you think left the strongest impression, and did the more relaxed setting surface anything you wouldn't get in a meeting room?
This was reflected by the take up from the guests who had to travel a fair way from central London. Football is a global game so it provided the perfect backdrop to a relaxed setting with snack food and good beer and other drinks. It helped that the weather was just about perfect. The only thing we did not pull off was the result. Unfortunately, the Dons having staved off relegation the previous week were in holiday mood and went down 4-0 to the gritty Northerners. There’s always next season.
Paula Flutter — Dinner at the Royal Automobile Club brought associates, clients and network together in a setting that's hard to beat. What made the evening special for you, and how do moments like that shift a professional relationship into something more lasting?
The most special aspect of the evening was having the opportunity to meet up with old IP friends, and meet new ones, away from the INTA fray. Being able to take time out to enjoy a relaxed meal together and properly catch up felt precious in the midst of everyone’s hectic schedules. Meeting one another in this kind of setting really helps to build lasting relationships and generate warm and memorable connections.
Gareth Probert — What did the drinks reception at Victoria House say about the firm to the people in the room, and what's your standout memory of bringing everyone together?
We had a lot of positive feedback from our guests about the event and their conversations with the EIP hosts. Several people had worked with us or seen our posts and articles and they really appreciated being able to meet us in person. I was impressed with how professional and impressive the event was on the day, especially as we had not organised such a large reception before.
Really useful guide, thank you. I've been to INTA a few times now and the hotel recommendation is spot on — book early or you'll be paying a premium for something much further away.