In October we jetted a select group of high-end MICE professionals off to Montenegro’s most glamorous port and, if we’re being honest, we’ve been thinking about it ever since. Our inaugural Luxe by M&I event went better than we could have ever imagined, with positive feedback streaming in during and after the event.
You’ll be happy to know that while one Luxe event has come to an end, there are more in the calendar, with Mexico in Nov 2024 and Mykonos in May 2025.
Eager to find out what we got up to in Porto Montenegro? We’re not surprised – let’s get into it!
Luxe by M&I is a select and intimate experience for suppliers with exquisite properties and buyers looking to book high-end board meetings, VIP MICE events and high-end incentive travel. One of only a handful of industry events like it, it’s an exclusive space in the MICE sphere with an exclusive guestlist to match.
Similarly, the destinations and hotels we choose to host our Luxe by M&I events in have to meet the luxury criteria our buyers are searching for. From the destination’s activities and evening venues to the host hotel’s level of service and décor, every detail needs to be elevated – and that’s exactly why we choose Porto Montenegro in collaboration with Talas Montenegro DMC.
Guests touched down on Wednesday 11th October and immediately got settled into the exquisite Regent Porto Montenegro for 3 days of high-end networking. Upon arrival at the hotel, our high-end delegates were welcomed with a gift bag full of mindfulness goodies, event information and their badge.
Later that afternoon, Srđan Vukčević, our resident mindfulness expert and business coach, ran his first optional session named, ‘The science behind mindfulness’ in which we took a dive into the scientific benefits of mindfulness. At this event, we really wanted to highlight the importance of mental clarity and presence and how it can strengthen your business and personal connections.
Shortly after, those new to M&I were given a chance to get to know each other and the team at a first-timer welcome drink. This flowed seamlessly into M&I After Dark, an idyllic evening in the Regent’s Italian Garden located on the banks of its sparkling super yacht marina. Guests enjoyed a relaxed evening filled with welcome speeches, a Montenegrin spread and a range of local entertainment.
“To kick-off Luxe by M&I in Montenegro was a great choice. I really enjoyed the entire Forum and the very high level of showcased hotels in a very relaxed environment. I’m looking forward to attending the next Luxe by M&I event.”
– David Bjaouix, Director of Global Accounts at HelmsBriscoe
Our first day began with some morning meditation, led by Srđan, where participants practised focussed attention to kick start a productive day of meaningful connection. Shortly after, our first round of pre-scheduled meetings began, split across two beautiful meeting spaces within the Regent.
Our Luxe Forums feature 30 meetings across 3 days and are amongst the smallest of our roster with a focus on building stronger connections through a more intimate environment. Mid-way through morning meetings, we also offered delegates the chance to have a 10-minute ‘mindful refresh’ with Srđan which taught open monitoring as a means to mentally reset in-between meetings.
By the time the afternoon rolled around it was time for our destination discovery activities, giving our delegates vital time to grow their connections while experiencing everything that the destination had to offer luxury incentives. Our activities ranged from authentic village experiences, a speedboat trip to the private island of Mamula, off-road jeep adventures, painting masterclasses and more.
Next on the agenda: our second evening at the luxury Only & Only resort. Guests were whisked away to our evening venue in speedboats, starting as we meant to go on with an opulent evening from start to finish. A buffet filled with gourmet Asian fusion delights was served amongst glasses of local wine and, of course, plenty of connection. Finally, the evening ended with a spectacular fireworks display, rounding off an unforgettable night.
“I wanted to thank you for an outstanding Forum in Montenegro. It really ticked all the boxes, great venue, great suppliers, fabulous activities. I would say it was probably one of the best Forums I have ever attended, very bespoke. I look forward to attending future Luxe by M&I Forums.”
– David Reay-Scott, CEO and Founder at Blue Ice Enterprises Limited
Day two began with our last set of pre-scheduled meetings (which meant no meetings on departure day – yay!) intercepted by another ‘mindful refresh’ and then lunch at the hotel. After lunch delegates got the chance to opt into 1 of our 2 networking cruises: ‘Catamaran cruise 1: Connect, indulge, relax’ and ‘Catamaran cruise 2: Meditate, release, relax’. The second option allowed delegates the chance to practice some mindful meditation while the first provided a livelier environment for guests to connect.
And just like that, we reached our farewell evening at the exclusive Buddha-Bar, just 5 minutes’ walk along the marina from our host hotel. We tucked into a refined dinner featuring traditional flavours and were wowed by an array of entertainment including violinists, dancers and a house band that got everyone up and dancing until the early hours. Of course, our final evening also meant it was time for our Forum awards. This gives us the opportunity to celebrate the individuals who help make our events a success, the high-end delegates who sit at the heart of our events.
Among so many initiatives, learning how to assess genuine eco-friendliness can be challenging, with a sea of accreditations out there. Measurability is key and Hilton’s ‘Travel with Purpose’ initiative sets an excellent standard for transparency, measuring and reporting on energy, water and waste metrics in easy-to-understand reports.
And we couldn’t end our round-up without mentioning the amazing partners that contributed to this fantastic Forum. Without their support and insight, we couldn’t have showcased Porto Montenegro to delegates at such a high standard!
Couldn’t make our inaugural Luxe event? Interested in gaining access to an exclusive group of luxury MICE professionals? Want to save yourself a month of work in just 3 days?
Explore our event’s calendar for 2025.
© M&I is part of Worldwide Events, a division of Worldwide Events Group Ltd, 27 Furnival St, London EC4A 1JQ
Global Buyers
16-20 Mar 2025 | Morocco
American buyers
24-27 Mar 2025 | Canada
UK & EU buyers
27-29 Aug 2025 | Croatia
The M&I Forum experience streamlined into two impactful days
Open your property up to a new range of events and opportunities by taking advantage of an online assessment created by our event partner, Healthcare Venues, which will determine if your venue is capable of hosting healthcare meetings and events.
If your property passes, you’ll receive Healthcare Venue certification, verifying you to our buyer network as a specialist healthcare venue.
Tim Chudley
Managing Director, Sundial Group
