James has written a great piece about his latest trip to St Petersburg in November 2008, which was co-hosted by our DMC Russian Event and the Rocco Forte Astoria Hotel...

When we think of St Petersburg we inevitably turn our attention to a city of culture, of beautiful architecture, set on the watery edge of the Bay of Finland, with a turbulent history. To those of us in the events industry old enough to remember Churchill’s Iron Curtain that separated us in the West from those in the East, it is a city of wonderful sites and sounds that was forever off limits. What a joy that for the right incentive group here is a city that ticks all the boxes when the proverbial “wow” is required!

November 2008 marked my second visit to the former Petrograd (1914-1924) / Leningrad (1924-1991). I knew from the first that here was a trip to be savoured and enjoyed to the max. MM and Company has represented Russian Event since 2001. Valeria Gorbokon and her team do a fabulous job of ensuring that clients leave Russia with a lasting impression of the sumptuous highlights of a city that the legendary Russian Emperor Peter the Great designed and embodied as his capital. And now it seems that the city has settled on its rightful name, taken from the Emperor’s spiritual protector St Peter, once and for all.

I visited with a fun-minded fam trip group under clouds laden with snow. Our home for two nights was the glorious, intimate, friendly Rocco Forte Astoria Hotel. The large windows from all aspects of the lobby keep the cold and the hubbub at bay while making the most of the winter light. I can only imagine the parties that accompany the White Nights of May and June when the UK long evenings are as nothing to the two hours twilight that masquerades as night here. In a whirlwind of vodka and champagne our spirits were uplifted by the Red Army choir’s folk renditions. We were fed in the magnificent surroundings of Duke Vladimir Palace – the last Romanov palace to be built – and in exquisite fashion by Russian Event’s preferred French caterers. We were surprised again by opera extracts from no less than the Mariinsky Opera itself (or Kirov to the Soviets). There is no greater professional joy than to witness the irrepressible smiles of seasoned event organisers truly inspired!

Smiles were once again the order of the day when firing Kalashnikovs in the army range, when entering the fabulous gold covered grand ballroom of the Catherine Palace, when once more sipping vodka (the urge to down it had long since passed) to the whirling, energetic troupe of Cossack dancers in Dacha Terem. Between these highlights there were visits to new rooftop restaurants with amazing views of the city as well as glimpses of yet more palaces, where Rasputin (the lover of the Russian Queen to you and me) was murdered, tiny theatres used for private ballet performances for the Romanovs and of course, caviar tasting. Snow fell thick and fast and created a romantic atmosphere reminiscent of bygone days.

St Petersburg is not a cheap destination but there are new hotels being planned which will help add choice. It may not suit a group of 20-somethings more used to personal holidays in Ibiza! But for a group who appreciate the finer things in life, the awesome history of royal extravagance, the struggles of the city’s people against repeated floods, war, siege and starvation, then this is the place. I am looking forward to my next trip there already.

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