“In Italy, eating and drinking is a lifestyle not just nourishment,” quipped a tour guide on a recent foodie trek during DMC Network Exchange in the more than 2,600-year-old city of Milan in the North of the “Old Country.” That full-throated approach to everything from risotto and pasta to caffe and wine also extends to hospitality and even human interaction. A visit from “Voice of the Body” nonverbal communication expert Luca Vullo confirmed that an abundance of hand gestures and hugging is a natural way to embrace the enthusiastic global energy of this city of 1.5 million people known for its art, fashion and Fiera Milano convention business.
As magical experiences designer Ferdinando Buscema shared with the group, bringing everyone together in surroundings that have as many sensory stimuli as Malin is a dynamic way to make a lasting impression. He celebrated the power of doing tiny noticeable things (TNT), small, personalized touches that make everyone feel special. “Be surprised and amazed by something every day,” he encouraged the group. Those special touches happen to be the specialty of Terra Events, the DMC which hosted the group at a private festa Italiana dinner (along with a diverse menu of curated excursions that included tiramisu-making and architectural tours) and operates in Italy, Spain, Portugal and France.
Stay Smart
In a city where the past and future are in constant conversation, finding a home base that marries those two sensibilities is an easy way to infuse the city’s anima in the agenda. NH Hotel Group boasts 350 unique hotels in 33 countries. NH Collection Milano CityLife glows in the refurbished Chiesa Cristo Re church with modern sensibilities, 185 guest rooms, meeting space for up to 520 people and a rooftop swimming pool.
Read More: How to Host a Brava Meeting in Italy
It is around the corner from the MiCo Convention Center (330,291 sq. ft.). Five-star NH Collection Milano President hotel offers easy access to the historic Duomo Square, Scala Theater and the fashion district with 274 guest rooms and meeting space for up to 250.
Must See
A day spent in the Brera District translates to immersion in the historic architecture, café life and shopping the area is famous for the world over. Pinacoteca (art gallery) di Brera houses some of the greatest masterpieces of Italian art from the 13th to the 20th Century and dates back to 1809 when Napoleon established it in a former monastery in what was at one time the capital of the Western Roman Empire. A tour follows the evolution of European painting styles and leaves visitors with the beauty of Italian Romanticism master Francesco Hayes’ signature painting “The Kiss.”
Read More: Elevate Local Art and Inspire Connection
Milan is also the gateway to Y-shaped Lake Como, an Alpine resort area that invites group cruises and shopping excursions. Bellagio, one of the red-tile-roofed villages spilling down the green hillsides, is fronted by 18th century terraced gardens.
Eat This
Did you know that Italy—particularly the Lombardy region in the north—is the largest rice producer in the European Union? Arborio, Baldo, Carnaroli and Roma lovingly cooked with white wine broth, saffron and butter is a delicacy for special occasions dating back to 1809. But much of the bounty also goes to massive Arancini fried rice balls sold in market stalls with a side of marinara for lunches on the go. However you enjoy your primo, save room for creamy, crispy, sweetly powdered cannoli dolce at the end. Salute.
This article appears in the September 2023 issue. You can subscribe to the magazine here.
