25 Jan 2017: Great HSMAI events in great surroundings

On the night of 25 January 2017 the Norwegian hospitality industry’s “Oscars” will be held in the Oslo opera house in Bj¿rvika, following the equally magnificent event, the HSMAI Meeting and Event Exchange, taking place at the same venue earlier in the day.

“The hospitality ‘Oscars’, which is a widespread nickname for the Norwegian HSMAI Awards, offers mingling, aperitifs, a dinner and top-notch entertainment, in addition to the highlight of the evening, the award ceremony,” says HSMAI Europe President and CEO Ingunn Hofseth, continuing, “And in January it is all going to be held inÊthe Oslo opera for the first time.” Article continues below photograph.

However, the day is a big one for Norwegian hospitality in more ways than one:

“We will start the day during the early hours, as the annual Meeting and Event Exchange commences Ð a vital hubÊfor buyers and providers of meeting, event and conference services, as well as for the various destinations, hotels, conference centres and other arenas,” Hofseth explains.

Both she and HSMAI are extremely pleased that The Norwegian National Opera and BalletÊagreed to host the events, as the venue rarely is able to accommodate requests of the kind.ÊArticle continues below photograph.

“We are very happy that we succeeded in finding an available day for the hospitality industry’s most important event aimed at Norwegian clients, and are proud that the Opera has been named Oslo’s primary tourist attraction, in addition to serving as the country’s leading stage for opera and ballet,” says Sigrid Tofte R¿iri, head of the opera’s commercial department, addingÊ”Also we look forward to this opportunity to show off our great arena, in front of representatives from this great industry and its clients.”

Afternoon seminar

Also next year’s HSMAI Meeting and Event Exchange will contain an invitation to an inspiring congress seminar during the afternoon, provideded by the Norway Convention Bureau.ÊArticle continues below photograph.

“Among the thing we bring to the table you will find knowhow and tricks of the trade, as well as inspiration and motivation that can come in handy for any individual or organisation seeking to host a meeting or congress in Norway,” says Norway Convention Bureau’s Managing Director Frode Aasheim, adding “We will attend with several leading experts prepared to share useful experiences from their successes in bringing international congresses to Norway, and the importance theÊhosting of international events has had for the domestic circle of professionals.”

Exquisite food and drinks

“During the evening hours we plan to use the opera lobby ahead of the awards ceremony, in which food and drinks will be served with the kind assistance of the renowned Fursetgruppen [Furset Group] , withÊseveral buffets, upon which we withdraw to the auditorium, where the award ceremony itself will take place, although in a swifter fashion than earlier years, as the ceremony and the dinner sequences are now kept apart,” Ingunn Hofseth assures us.

“And afterwards the networking resumes, with drinks and first-rate entertainment,” she adds, reminding us to save the date; 25 January 2017.

Article continues below photograph.

“In the Fursetgruppen we really look forward to working with HSMAI and to make sure we do our share in making this a successful event for the industry and its clients,” says the Fursetgruppen Head of Marketing & Communications Mariane NygŒrd-Hansen.

“Also we are thrilled to learn that HSMAI chose the opera as venue, and will of course provide lots of tasty experiences, in terms of food and beverage,” she adds.

Stay abreast of developments

During autumn the two events’ dedicated websites will be continuously updated with the latest developments in programme and competition data, at these addresses:

meetingeventexchange.no

hsmaiprisene.no

Top photograph: The Norwegian National Opera and Ballet by night. Photographer: Erik Berg.