MIS International Brings Together Organizers and Spanish Exhibitors

It has been an intense 48 hours, shared among 40 organizers and 40 vendors. It began on September 27, when participants arrived in the afternoon via both the A Coruña and Santiago airports and got their first taste of the city and the group at a welcome cocktail reception at the Meliá María Pita (the event’s host hotel). Afterward, they boarded buses for a quick tour of the city’s historic center, arriving at the MEGA Museo Estrella Galicia, the city’s new landmark. There, they enjoyed a bagpipe performance, toured this modern museum, and had a relaxed welcome dinner. There, the local hosts welcomed the group: Álvaro Lens, manager of the A Coruña Convention Bureau; Antón Álvarez Olmo, manager of the A Coruña Tourism and Convention Consortium; and Carmen Pita, director of Tourism Promotion for Galicia.

On Monday the 28th, breakfast and then it was time to get down to business! In the hotel’s ballroom overlooking the bay, right on the waterfront, a full morning of pre-scheduled meetings took place—arranged according to the wishes of organizers and vendors—thanks to Meetmaps’ matching technology. At the end of this busy morning, the group was taken to Árbore da Veira, a one-Michelin-star restaurant with stunning views of the entire city, for a cocktail reception.

In the afternoon, there were group activities based on each person’s preferences, which fostered the kind of informal networking that comes from sharing experiences together: one group went surfing, another went sailing, another explored a local tea plantation, and yet another walked a section of the Camino de Santiago. Four ways to experience the destination and its offerings.

After a break at the hotel, a cocktail reception in the beautiful garden at Finca Montesqueiro, followed by dinner in its indoor dining room. Dinner included a queimada show, a key part of the region’s traditions. After dinner, we enjoyed drinks with live music, then returned to the hotel. On the third and final day, we had another morning of meetings, followed by a buffet lunch at the Meliá María Pita (Arado Restaurant).

It’s been 48 hours of deeply human connections, but it’s always good to keep a few statistics in mind: 903 meetings, 1,120 contacts scanned, 243 messages via the app. And a very personal reflection: remembering the magic of a shared experience—how, in just 48 hours, a group is formed, along with countless connections, memories, laughter… and opportunities to continue working together.