Sausages
The annual IMEX show is held at the fabulous Frankfurt Messe Hall 8 and was a first time experience for me; how the city has changed since visiting as a young Army officer, to represent my then local squash club Paderborn.
Landing smoothly at Frankfurt airport and all thought of the ash cloud gone, we were met and spirited away to the show with the usual level of German efficiency! Despite the large numbers of visitors the show was a comfortable experience in a pleasant environment.
A series of appointments and group presentations opened my eyes and shed more new light on destinations which have not been on my agenda in recent times. Our hosts Dolce Hotels gave us a quick run down on their growing portfolio of properties, a precursor to something much more grand.
As the show day one drew to a close, some time with "old" Cypriot friends over a welcome halloumi snack and glass of delicious white wine, allowed for further product knowledge to be gained.
Then off to the hotel to check in and board a coach to Bad Homburg, where following aperitifs, we were guided into a magnificent theatre, worthy perhaps of a Wagnerian Opera; that was not to be but to the strains of some familiar music, dinner appeared in the centre of the stage and not a sausage in sight. A lovely evening with fabulous food, meeting new friends and an unlikely encounter with a Tour Op who organises some of my brother - in -laws golf trips; isn't the world...
Day two and more meetings planned and ad hoc, I even managed a few moments of me time, to have the strain of it all massaged away in the excellent hosted buyer lounge - thanks ladies!
Then back to the airport for the journey home; what a wonderful and worthwhile trip, not least because I discovered thanks to German passport control that mine has nearly expired.... and I a travel professional!
Smooth flight very bumpy landing, thanks to all for a great event!!