YPO ICELAND

Client: YPO - Canada and NEUS Region

Type of event: Multi-day private luxury event

Number of guests: 55 + 6 staff

Event set-up: The global leadership organization, YPO, took 55 of their members on a world tour beginning with a 3-night stop in Iceland filled with exclusive events and activities. Discover Truenorth (DTN) planned and executed all aspects of their stay in Iceland. A carefully constructed never-been-done-before program was designed together with YPO to maximize their experience while on the ground in Iceland.

Day 1
– Arrival:

• The group’s private Boeing 757 landed at KEF Airport in the late afternoon. A convoy of luxury vehicles was lined up on the tarmac and took the guests direct to The Retreat at the Blue Lagoon. DTN had made special arrangements with the authorities so that customs and immigration was expedited and done on board so the guests could exit straight into the vehicles. Luggage was handled separately and delivered straight to the rooms.

• Upon arrival the guests had a welcome cocktail reception and were warmly welcomed by their personal hosts before being shown around the facility and their rooms.

• For dinner Discover Truenorth had arranged for a private opening of The Retreat Spa and restaurant.

Day 2
– Glacier Excursion

• Certainly, the highlight of their stay, the glacier excursion was quite the undertaking with a complicated logistics package and never-been-done-before program.

• A convoy of luxury vehicles took the group direct to Reykjavik Airport with a very successful expedited boarding process onto their private charter Bombardier Q400 for a 50min flight to the South-East corner of Iceland.

• Outside the airport a fleet of SuperJeeps was lined up and ready to take the group to Vatnajokull National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• At the world-famous Glacier Lagoon, all the zodiacs were reserved, and a private camp was setup away from the tourist. A large team of zodiac guides and Discover Truenorth guides helped gear up the guests for a zodiac trip amongst the Icebergs before arriving at a private black beach next to where the Glacier enters the Lagoon

• Here, another private camp was setup and an army of Ice Guides welcomed the group and equipped them with crampons, helmets and ice axes.

• A completely private Glacier Hike was next up on the agenda as the group trekked up the glacier with an amazing view over the Glacier Lagoon and the National Park.

• After a breathtaking hike the guides helped them out of their gear and laid out on a table was a spread of  fresh Beluga Caviar on crackers with Crème Fraiche and Vodka with Ice from the lagoon Icebergs.

• When the group arrived at the basecamp, a team of chefs and waiters had a feast of Icelandic grilled langoustine tail and reindeer burger laid out as well as wine, beer, coffee and drinks

• After the private black beach lunch by the Glacier Lagoon the group boarded the zodiacs and made their way back where the SuperJeep fleet awaited.

• On the way back the SuperJeeps went on an off-road excursion to discover hidden sights.

• Upon arrival at the Airport the private airplane is ready to takeoff back to Reykjavik where the fleet of luxury vehicles was waiting on the tarmac for a speedy exit direct into vehicles.

• Next the group went to the home of a local entrepreneur who had invited YPO over for cocktails before dinner. At his home, a setup for changing clothes and refreshing oneself had been set up.

• Before going to dinner, the group took a stroll downtown Reykjavik for some Icelandic designer shopping and to see the highlights.

• For dinner Discover Truenorth had reserved exclusively La Primavera restaurant in the Marshall house. In this house resided the studio of the world-famous artist, Ólafur Elíasson, who had invited them over for a private visit of the studio.

• After an excellent meal with Icelandic local entrepreneurs in attendance the luxury fleet took the group back to their 5-star retreat.

Day 3
– Whale Safari, Optional Activities and Viking Themed Event

• The morning of Day 3 was spent at leisure with time in the morning to sleep-in a little and have good time for breakfast.

• At around 10am the luxury vehicle convoy took the group to a nearby fishing village where a fleet of Rib Boats was waiting for them. 6x Rib Boats from Reykjavik had been sailed over the bay for a completely private Whale Watching tour with everyone seeing whales and dolphins.

• After the tour a catering truck offered hot chocolate, coffee and tea and some members took the opportunity to jump into the harbor for a true Polar Plunge.

• Back at The Retreat a private opening of Moss Restaurant has been arranged for the group lunch.

• After lunch the group was split up (as per choice) and off the went on their chosen afternoon activity. Mt. Thorbjorn Hiking, Snorkelling amongst an underwater geothermal fissure, ATV tour, horse riding, and massages and treatments at The Retreat Spa

• When back in their rooms they found a carefully selected Viking attire for each couple laid out in their rooms. Time to get ready for a Viking Feast on a black beach!

• By Lake Kleifarvatn, Discover Truenorth had special permission on make a completely private Viking Camp with a Black event tents, fire torches, fire pits, Viking actors, horses, axe throwing, Viking props from the movies, archery and much more.

• Inside the tent the group was treated to a 3-course gourmet meal complete with a bar, stage, DJ, lights, Viking decorations and audio.

Day 4
– Departure

• After an amazingly successful and fully packed program the guests get ready to go back home.

• Their luggage is picked up separately in the morning and loaded on the private 757 before they even arrive at the airport.

• The fleet of luxury vehicles takes them direct to the airplane with a short stop for customs and immigration. Discover Truenorth had made sure this process was very fast.

• On time, they flew off to their next destination on the YPO World Tour 2019.