After my first year at FAME, I was given the opportunity to develop a long-haul incentive trip from scratch. The destination? Brazil! Off to the land of samba and bossa nova – where football is king and caipirinhas flow freely along the sunny beach bars.
Trips like these are just a bit different from our European incentives. We dive deep into the destination, combining several regions that together tell its story, and building the experience day by day to reach new heights.
For us, Brazil had been uncharted territory for almost 20 years. The challenge? Choosing which regions to combine in such a vast country where distances are immense. At FAME, we not only carry out a thorough onsite inspection, but we also conduct extensive research with our client’s profile in mind. We leave the beaten path behind and approach must-see highlights from a fresh perspective – all to create an exclusive experience. An intense, fascinating quest!
One of the most memorable parts of this trip was the extension to the Amazon. In total, around 60 guests travelled in two groups to the heart of this untouched wilderness. Out there, far from civilization, you live at the pace of nature. But that calm required just the opposite from us: flexibility and resilience. And that was put to the test when, just weeks before departure, a severe drought struck the Amazon region. Suddenly, one of the lodges was no longer accessible. Within a single week, we restructured the program and found a new lodge – without compromising quality. On-site, it was all about a go-with-the-flow mindset, real-time coordination and doing whatever it took to guarantee a flawless guest experience. I can assure you: the adrenaline was real! And when it all came together in the end, the satisfaction was enormous.
As if that wasn’t enough, we were also hit with a strike at Brussels Airport on the departure day of our first group – 90% of flights were cancelled. Since our travelers were split over two international flights – one via Paris, the other via Frankfurt – we had to move quickly. Thanks to our long-standing relationship with our airline partner, we were able to reroute both flights and arrange buses to get everyone to their new departure points. This is exactly when strong partnerships make all the difference. And the result? All 65 guests arrived right on time in Brazil – a success that was only possible through teamwork, adaptability, and a healthy dose of determination.
To wrap up: for me, Brazil is a magical destination where the energy in the air is simply contagious. The vibrant rhythm of Rio de Janeiro, the awe-inspiring Iguazu Falls, and the laid-back coastal vibes offer a richness that’s hard to capture in just six nights. But it’s a challenge we gladly took on!
