A Taste of Iceland: An Evening of Discovery in London
Last Thursday, I had the pleasure of attending Taste of Iceland, a wonderful reception hosted by Visit Iceland, Icelandair, Blue Lagoon Iceland, Icelandia, Keflavík Airport, Iceland Hotel Collection by Berjaya and City of Reykjavík.
It was an evening that brought a little piece of Iceland to London and, more importantly, offered the opportunity to learn more about a destination that continues to capture the imagination of travellers from around the world.
Looking Beyond the Landscape
Iceland is one of those destinations we all recognise instantly. Dramatic waterfalls, volcanic landscapes, geothermal waters and, of course, the Northern Lights. But the evening was a great reminder of just how much there is to understand about the destination beyond the images we know so well.
I particularly enjoyed learning more about the Northern Lights, including the conditions that create the best opportunities for seeing them and some of the misconceptions surrounding this incredible natural phenomenon. One thing that particularly surprised me was learning that it doesn’t need to be freezing cold or completely pitch-black to catch a glimpse of the aurora. What matters is having sufficiently dark, clear skies alongside the right auroral activity. There is so much more to understanding when, where and how they can appear, which made learning about the science behind the spectacle all the more fascinating.
It is exactly this kind of destination knowledge that makes evenings like Taste of Iceland so valuable. The more we understand a destination, the better we can communicate what makes it extraordinary.
A Very Lucky Evening!
The evening became even more memorable when I was lucky enough to win the raffle! A huge thank you to everyone involved for the incredibly generous prizes. It was such a lovely surprise and a brilliant way to end an already enjoyable evening. With a wonderful selection of Icelandic treats and gifts to take home, the Taste of Iceland experience gets to continue for a little longer!
Iceland Through the Journeys Network
The evening also gave me the perfect opportunity to reflect on some of our fantastic Icelandic suppliers who have joined us at Journeys and helped our buyers discover the country through the people who know it best.
Blue Lagoon Iceland: One of Iceland’s most iconic experiences, Blue Lagoon Iceland brings together geothermal wellness, luxury accommodation and gastronomy within its extraordinary volcanic surroundings. Home to the Blue Lagoon itself, alongside The Retreat Hotel, Silica Hotel and a collection of spa and dining experiences, it showcases a very different side of Icelandic luxury.
Nine Worlds: A luxury DMC specialising in bespoke, tailor-made travel across Iceland and Greenland. From private guides and carefully selected accommodation to exclusive experiences and personalised itineraries, Nine Worlds uses its local expertise to create highly individual journeys for luxury travellers.
HL Adventure: An Iceland-based DMC specialising in private luxury travel, adventure and MICE experiences across Iceland and the wider Arctic. With more than two decades of experience, the team creates bespoke itineraries ranging from high-end escapes to extraordinary adventures in some of the region’s most remote landscapes.
Discover TrueNorth: With a focus on personalised travel and local expertise, Discover True North helps travellers experience Iceland through carefully curated itineraries and experiences, offering another way to explore the destination beyond its best-known sights.
360 Wanderlust: A boutique DMC specialising in high-end, tailor-made travel across Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Working with individuals, families and small groups, 360 Wanderlust creates bespoke journeys with a strong focus on authentic experiences, attention to detail and connecting travellers with the destination.
These are exactly the kinds of connections we love creating at Journeys. Having destination experts in the room gives our buyers the opportunity to move beyond simply knowing Iceland and instead build the relationships and firsthand knowledge needed to sell it with confidence.
Until Next Time, Iceland
A huge thank you again to Visit Iceland, Icelandair, Blue Lagoon Iceland, Icelandia, Keflavík Airport, Iceland Hotel Collection by Berjaya and City of Reykjavík for such an enjoyable and insightful evening.
Taste of Iceland was a wonderful reminder that even with destinations we think we know, there is always something more to discover. And after my unexpected raffle win, I have a feeling my own Iceland story may not be too far away!
Alessia and the Journeys Team
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