INTERNATIONAL REUNION UK TOUR

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International Reunion UK Tour

A group of old classmates from Harvard Business School meet biannually to stay in touch and catch up on both business and personal life. Coming from all around the world, the location is chosen by a classmate who hosts the reunion at their home country. The host’s location for their 15th 7-day reunion is the United Kingdom – and that’s where we come in…

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The Harvard Business School’s OPM 36 (Owner-President Management Program) attendees are well-travelled, highly sought-after individuals who have all visited the UK on many occasions. The challenge was to offer an itinerary that went beyond the usual tourist experience and included activities they would all find enjoyable and interesting.

 

 

   CONCIERGE SERVICES    VENUE SOURCING    CATERING    BUDGET MANAGEMENT    FULL EVENT PLANNING    HOTEL LIAISON    TRAVEL MANAGEMENT    CHAPTERONING    TOUR GUIDE
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How We Delivered

In the months leading up to the event, we held recurring Zoom meetings with the two hosts and a select few from the group to collaboratively build the itinerary. The hosts had a clear vision of where in the country the events would take place, and over time we curated activities and locations together.

 

The chosen destinations included London, Marlow, Eton, Windsor, and then up north via Chatsworth.

 

After extensive discussions and gathering information from venues, restaurants, activity providers, tours, and transportation services, we finalised an agenda for the selected group. This was then shared with the wider group to collect RSVPs.

 

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Given that the OPM attendees are all highly successful, busy individuals, a few RSVP reminders were necessary. However, after some gentle nudging, we had our final headcount and were ready to bring the itinerary to life. We negotiated rates with hotels, secured exclusive private dining experiences, and organised luxury transportation—except, of course, when it was voted for the group to experience the London Underground!

 

The attendees were charged a flat fee to cover all festivities, and with everything confirmed, we secured a fantastic seven-day itinerary.

 

Each member was responsible for their own flights into London, where the week began. As soon as they checked into the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, we took over, ensuring every detail of the trip was handled seamlessly.

 

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Our event managers were on hand to meet and greet at every activity, ensuring that everyone was happy and satisfied. We chaperoned the group to each venue, making sure they arrived safely and that all their needs were met.

 

The London events featured premium restaurants with city views, a private canal boat journey from Paddington Basin to King’s Cross, catered by G&D, and a lecture at the Royal Institution. The group enjoyed private tours of Lloyd’s of London and the Houses of Parliament, including lunch at Parliament and a dinner cruise on the Thames aboard a private chartered boat. A business meeting day was arranged at one of the co-host’s offices, allowing attendees to catch up on each other’s ventures, with a working lunch provided by G&D Catering.

 

 

 

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The group then ventured out of London for a day trip, starting with sightseeing and lunch in Marlow, followed by a private and exclusive tour of Eton College, and finishing the day in Windsor.

 

From there, they left southern England and headed north, stopping at Chatsworth Estate for a private tour and lunch with the Duke of Devonshire, who gave a fascinating speech about the family’s connection to OPM, and a brief history of the estate.

 

Continuing on in a luxury coach, the group travelled to Cheshire, where they based themselves for the remaining days of the reunion. The second host’s business, a renowned bakery of over 130 years, provided an incredible start to the northern leg, with a tour of the giant bread factory—an experience for all the senses!

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Other activities in Cheshire included a visit to a historic English pub, an exclusive tour of an Elizabethan house with a rich and captivating history, and private visits to Quarry Bank and Jodrell Bank.

 

The farewell took place in Manchester city centre, where attendees enjoyed leisure time to sightsee, visit museums, or shop. They reunited for a final dinner in the Sir Henry Royce Room at The Midland Hotel, where heartfelt words were exchanged about their experiences and the success of the reunion in the UK.

 

 

Although this event wasn’t one of our usual large-scale events or parties, we embraced the challenge to use our event planning skills in a different way, adding another string to our bow. While we were transparent about it not being our everyday style of event, it was clear that it was event management—something we excel at. We simply broke the seven days into 24 mini-events, back to back, and crafted a seamless experience. The group were extremely pleased with the agenda and organisation, and we were truly honoured to have the opportunity to work with, and chaperone, such an inspiring and fascinating group of people.

 

 

What We've Done

G&D offers the assurance of organising your ideal event with confidence. Here are various case studies showcasing our expertise in executing events of different shapes and sizes, providing a comprehensive overview of our work.