Community and collaboration at Cowdray
Paul Harvey reports from the SITE GB Leaders Retreat at Cowdray House in West Sussex
Is the traditional incentive programme dying?
That was the debate of the day at the annual SITE GB Leaders Retreat at Cowdray House in West Sussex, where I got the chance to rub shoulders with an impressive group of agencies, corporate clients, hoteliers and DMCs.
MDs of agencies including Top Banana, Strata , Goose Live Events and Nteractive attended alongside senior representatives from luxury hotel brands, DMCs and destinations and enjoyed engaging content sessions, a polo experience and fireside dining set within the estate’s woodland.
The stunning house and estate offered a quintessentially English incentive experience, and on arrival we enjoyed a networking lunch in the grandeur of the opulent main hall.
The informative panel discussions asked whether the traditional incentive programme is dying, a provocative subject that produced some juicy chat and fascinating takes from the wide array of opinions in attendance.
The key takeaways from the panel discussion and subsequent workshop were that incentive programmes are not dying - but adapting.
Some of those in attendance questioned whether fam trips are working as they should, and it was noted that the semantics of the word incentive can be challenging internally for some corporates. However, everyone agreed that the three Rs – reward, recognition, and retention – are more important than ever in every sector.
Corporate panellist Maria Tsierkezos from BT Enterprise said: “I was delighted to be invited to share the perspective of a corporate marketeer in the incentives and events space. The relaxed and open conversation certainly pushed the boundaries of common perspectives and misconceptions about what clients want.
“After so many years in the industry, it was brilliant to take the day to immerse ourselves in thought leadership and understand each other’s obstacles and drivers.”
One of the highlights of the day was a private group polo lesson with the team from The Cowdray Park Polo Academy. Cowdray Park styles itself as the “home of British polo”, having hosted the prestigious Cowdray Gold Cup since 1956.
We got a crash course in the history and rules of the game, before we grabbed some mallets and started knocking the ball around the pitch – very satisfying. There was also the chance for the more intrepid among the group to get on a horse and have a little taster of polo as it ought to be played – an incredible opportunity.
After polo, we enjoyed pre-dinner drinks on a first floor terrace connected to one of the house’s elegant bedrooms. The canapes and English sparkling wine were served with aplomb by the house’s young events team as we chatted and looked forward to dinner, soaking up the none-more English atmosphere.
A two-minute walk across the beautifully-manicured garden took us to a fireside dining experience surrounded by Wellingtonia trees, enhancing the evening's ambience.
We were greeted with apple and elderflower cocktails and a huge firepit with a hunk of pork suspended over it, smoking away. The dining table itself was hidden in an avenue of trees, beautifully dressed with wildflowers from the garden and lit by twinkling strings of luminescence.
Everything we ate was sourced from as close to Cowdray as possible – beef from the estate, wine from nearby Nutbourne, all fruit and veg from trusted suppliers. The venue has a passion for locally sourced produce, priding itself on its fresh, seasonal offerings, many of which are available at the award-winning Farm Shop. We enjoyed stunning Argentinian style beef, huge king prawn skewers and hot smoked salmon straight from the grill, with an incredible array of lovingly-composed salads that really showcased the Cowdray attention to detail.
SITE GB board director, Caroline Lumgair Wiseman, said: “We are delighted with the outcomes and positive feedback following the event. Working alongside an exceptional venue, captivating corporate speakers, and our esteemed guests, we curated an event experience focused on fostering community, learning, and collaboration. It was a joy to host such a valuable and memorable gathering."
Neil Georges, GM of Cowdray House & Estate, said: “Our team at Cowdray Estate were honoured to welcome and host the Site GB Leaders Retreat to Cowdray House.
“The event showcased the way in which we seamlessly blend business and leisure activities, an emerging trend the estate is witnessing from both corporate groups and UHNW family stays.
“Cowdray aims to provide exceptional experiences that seamlessly blend business and pleasure, creating unforgettable memories for our guests."
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